Ideas wanted: First Class Flight

[MEL_Traveller]

Okay so BA is off the list.

BA offers somewhat cramped accommodation in First class, probably more so than any other airline. And their seat is a good business class seat, rather than a First class one.

Service is also more... well... reserved. There aren't the bells and whistles you'll get with Emirates - which has the sense of 'fun' (if you want to partake).

 

[dalereardon]

The other F I really liked was Malaysian. We did F from KUL to CDG and the service and the seat was terrific. Emirates was better due to a full sliding door on the suite but MH was really excellent. Harder to get now on points though especially with the restructuring.

In terms of BA, their service was just terrible compared to Emirates and MH. CX service was also terrific. BA service was really slow, had a didn't care attitude and just really poor compared to the others.

Others have obviously had better BA experiences but to us it was way below par.

Dale.

 

[coyote25]

Okay. It's looking like Emirates is the winner. Does using QFF points to get the 1st seat impact the chauffeur transfers I saw referenced somewhere else?

 

[Nizar]

Okay. It's looking like Emirates is the winner. Does using QFF points to get the 1st seat impact the chauffeur transfers I saw referenced somewhere else?

As far as I know, no. You still get EK chauffeur if booked through QF with points.

I agree that EK is the best F award available with QF.
However CX F for me is probably second though QF I enjoyed as well. Hard to go wrong with either of them I think.

Have only flown all of the above once each so things like crew and soft product however can vary so I'm just comparing the hard product below.

EK F on the A380 is something you need to try at least once in your life for the glitz and the glamour. Also great food (I mean that relative to what I have experienced in F which is EY, QF and CX). and a great lounge at DXB.

CX the food I thought was poor but I liked it because the seat just left so incredibly spacious. And I'm not sure why (perhaps the incredible width) but I slept better on my CX flight than I did on my other F flights.

And the concept of open suites (CX, QF) I think I prefer compared to closed suites (EK, EY) but YMMV so best to try as many different products as you can for yourself so you can compare.

Enjoy.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I agree that EK is the best F award available with QF.
However CX F for me is probably second though QF I enjoyed as well. Hard to go wrong with either of them I think.

It's the 'bang for the buck' with EK... OTT with showers, amenity kits, bars. You simply won't get those with QF or CX... the latter who are more 'reserved' and your experience on any particular flight may come down to what you (the passenger) make of it.

A common complaint with CX F is that they simply aren't as proactive as some passengers are used to on other airlines. People have commented (for example) that they weren't offered to have their bed made, or there aren't regular checks to see if they need anything. CX sees this differently... if the passenger wants their bed made, or wants a drink (or snacks) they simply need to press the call bell and ask. But as a first time passenger, if you don't know that, you could miss out.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Why does no-one ever mention the chocolates? EK has boxes of Godiva chocolates available - the nice Belgium ones not that American stuff - for F passengers. That and the shower won my heart. I actually prefer Qantas' bed on the A380 but EK wins in most other directions.

 

[Nizar]

Whey does no-one ever mention the chocolates? EK has boxes of Godiva chocolates available - the nice Belgium ones not that American stuff - for F passengers. That and the shower won my heart. I actually prefer Qantas' bed on the A380 but EK wins in most other directions.

Good point !
I also enjoyed the classy EK amenity kit, pick of the bunch for me.

 

[coyote25]

Okay thanks for all the input. Thinking about Emirates and needing to be on the A380 if possible and a day travel I've come up with the following option:
EK415 Sydney to Dubai Depart: 06.00 Arrive: 13.20 Duration: 14.20 (A380)

Stay in Dubai for less than 1 day and then:
EK348 Dubai to Colombo Depart: 07.00 Arrive: 12.45 Duration: 4.15 (777-300ER)

The 6.00 am flight seems to be the easiest for F awards seats on A380 (not surprising I guess). Limited chance to use F Lounge in Sydney but means I can see a show in Dubai. The trip to Colombo allows for chauffeur service (I expect I'll stay at closest hotel in Sydney). So 168k points for 18+ hours in the air seems reasonable for all the services.

While this isn't a trip to Europe I do want to go to Sri Lanka next year to watch Australia play a Test Match and then stay on to see the country.

Ideally there would be a 10.00 flight from Dubai to Colombo in the plan, which I could find yesterday but doesn't come up in searches today.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Good point !
I also enjoyed the classy EK amenity kit, pick of the bunch for me.

Agreed - we normally leave the kits behind after using what we need, but we both brought the contents back for the 3 we got last year!

 

[RichardMEL]

my 2 cents.

if it's only one "big splash" flight or couple of flights to europe then definitely EK is the way to go just for the bling, the lounges, the onboard F&B, showers, lounge etc. that's all good.

I also am a fan of CX F, but routes ex-oz are zero so that kind of counts that one out, unless you wanted to get to HKG in J and then go F to europe/USA. I do like their product, and the Wing lounge in HKG is spectacular.

re choccies on EK.. sure, the godivas are great, but then again I remember getting Godivas in J (!) on ***UNITED** maybe 15 years ago (oh how times have changed) maybe that has cheapened them for me!

 

[kelvedon]

The trip to Colombo allows for chauffeur service (I expect I'll stay at closest hotel in Sydney).

I'd check on chauffeur availability at the Sri Lankan end. I'm sure I read that it wasn't offered. I'll try and find that info

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

We have just returned from London on our first F flight with Qantas a few weeks ago, left London at about 1.30pm and the staff/food etc all fantastic, the next leg from Dubai to Melbourne was different, the staff were great but not as friendly as the first leg, but no issues in making up beds etc. as it was a night time flight too, most of it was spent sleeping or watching movies, the only thing was that after being seated next to each other for all our previous flights it was a bit weird to be sitting alone. Probably just as well as Mr. DGMS had a virus and slept most of it anyway. If I have the opportunity again though I would definitely try EK, we used them for J on the way over and it was brilliant.

 

[pagingjoan]

I'd check on chauffeur availability at the Sri Lankan end. I'm sure I read that it wasn't offered. I'll try and find that info

Does not seem to appear in the list of eligible cities but perhaps that's not an exhaustive list, as coyote25 says CD is available on that route.
Chauffeur-drive | The Emirates Experience | Emirates Australia

 

[Alanslegal]

Oh YES I see what you allude to - thanks a million for that I just never knew.

Damn. Another competitor for F and J seats.

Not just another competitor, but an ultra-competitor for F seats Just be mindful that EK taxes are pretty steep but I guess since Cruiser Elite is coming from hundreds of SQ R redemptions, the SQ and EK taxes are pretty comparable.

 

[RooFlyer]

Okay thanks for all the input. Thinking about Emirates and needing to be on the A380 if possible and a day travel I've come up with the following option:
EK415 Sydney to Dubai Depart: 06.00 Arrive: 13.20 Duration: 14.20 (A380)

Stay in Dubai for less than 1 day and then:
EK348 Dubai to Colombo Depart: 07.00 Arrive: 12.45 Duration: 4.15 (777-300ER)

The 6.00 am flight seems to be the easiest for F awards seats on A380 (not surprising I guess). Limited chance to use F Lounge in Sydney but means I can see a show in Dubai. The trip to Colombo allows for chauffeur service (I expect I'll stay at closest hotel in Sydney). So 168k points for 18+ hours in the air seems reasonable for all the services.

While this isn't a trip to Europe I do want to go to Sri Lanka next year to watch Australia play a Test Match and then stay on to see the country.

Ideally there would be a 10.00 flight from Dubai to Colombo in the plan, which I could find yesterday but doesn't come up in searches today.

Do you need to turn around in Dubai so quickly? Lots to do and see there. I actually got the EK flight in First with the 6am departure - trip report and some pics here

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Not just another competitor, but an ultra-competitor for F seats Just be mindful that EK taxes are pretty steep but I guess since Cruiser Elite is coming from hundreds of SQ R redemptions, the SQ and EK taxes are pretty comparable.

No I don't think so - SQ will still be main pillar but I will certainly look to EK to burn some of those QF pts - given most of my flts are MEL-PVG/PEK SQ just too convenient in terms for freq and duration - but who knows what the future holds.

 

[coyote25]

Do you need to turn around in Dubai so quickly? Lots to do and see there. I actually got the EK flight in First with the 6am departure - trip report and some pics here

RooFlyer that's an amazing TR. I'm now thinking of going to Jordan instead since its on the future list anyway.

I was keeping turn around under 24 hours to count for point calculations as one trip happy to extend of you have a few recommendations.

I expect I'll be travelling though Dubai a bit now with the QF-Emirates link up.

 

[pagingjoan]

RooFlyer that's an amazing TR. I'm now thinking of going to Jordan instead since its on the future list anyway.

I was keeping turn around under 24 hours to count for point calculations as one trip happy to extend of you have a few recommendations.

I expect I'll be travelling though Dubai a bit now with the QF-Emirates link up.

Jordan is brilliant!

 

[Flying mermaid]

re choccies on EK.. sure, the godivas are great, but then again I remember getting Godivas in J (!) on ***UNITED** maybe 15 years ago (oh how times have changed) maybe that has cheapened them for me!

you have to be careful - you get Godiva made in the USA which is not all that nice (and not expensive) and Godiva made in Belgium which is excellent and priced to match. Anytime I see Godiva in a shop I check where it is made before purchasing......

 

[coyote25]

Thanks everyone in now wishing it was July 2016 already to experience F with EK.

I'll post a trip report if I recover from the luxury experience