Making the most out of the whole glorious Qantas First Class Experience

[amaroo]

Is anyone able to quickly summarise the DBX 1st lounge experience in terms of accessing it from the plane after SYD-DBX and the special gate boarding from the lounge when catching the LHR flight? Thanks

Deplane, head up escalator and enter lounge ... join queue at gate/lift (lounge level), cram into busy lift, punch in desired level, enter airbridge/cabin ... sit down and guzzle a couple of flutes of champagne

 

[TheRealTMA]

Is anyone able to quickly summarise the DBX 1st lounge experience in terms of accessing it from the plane after SYD-DBX and the special gate boarding from the lounge when catching the LHR flight? Thanks

Find the departure terminal ( normally B or C ) for LHR, get to terminal (concourse) and follow signs to lounges. Take lift to appropriate floor (often 1 for F and 2 for J, but depends on concourse). F, QF WP/1 get access.

Enjoy. ( Do ask for their veal bacon which is not on the menu if you are having breakfast. Nice poached eggs.)

Board direct from lounge depending on flight or go to gate next level down 30 mins prior.

No boarding announcement.

Do have a shoeshine.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

... sit down and guzzle a couple of flutes of champagne

or, to maximise appreciation, ask for your champagne to be served in a white wine glass (since this thread is all about making the most out of the experience )

 

[TheRealTMA]

or, to maximise appreciation, ask for your champagne to be served in a white wine glass (since this thread is all about making the most out of the experience )

Pint glass? :shock:

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Pint glass? :shock:

well... that'd be one option! The consensus seems to be moving away from flutes as the best vehicle for enjoying complex champagnes. In the absence of a specialiased glass, a white wine glass may be an acceptable alternative.

 

[TheBOSman]

Is anyone able to quickly summarise the DBX 1st lounge experience in terms of accessing it from the plane after SYD-DBX and the special gate boarding from the lounge when catching the LHR flight? Thanks

You'll have maybe an hour overall to enjoy the lounge. You will disembark the plane, go through DXB transit security, then go back up the elevator to Level 3. Then you will walk over to the lounge elevators, up to Level 4. Show your ticket and you're in. Note your gate assignment; while the lounge stretches the length of the concourse, the entrance is in the middle and the lounge is almost a carbon copy on each side, same amenities on both sides other than possibly a high end alcohol shop if you go left after the lounge desk check in. So, since you don't have that much time, simply proceed to whichever side has your gate, unless seeing giant bottles of Moet & Chandon is your thing . You could sit down and have a restaurant meal with servers, or get a shower in, or pick from the multiple prepared food areas if you don't want to wait, including pretty much anything you can think of (I'm partial to the sushi).

You will board directly from the lounge, which involves going to the gate sign for your flight and proceeding to a gate desk, where an agent will check your documents as normal. Then, you go around to a set of elevators, and you'll go down to the lower level. With EK, you would get off at the upper deck level as F is on the upper level, but with QF you'll get off at the lower level since F is on the lower level, and then walk over to the F jetbridge. You'll have to share this part of the boarding area before the jetbridge with the economy people for a precious few seconds, I know this is a big ask of some people here . However, you won't have to share the elevator with the business class customers (you possibly could if boarding an EK flight out of the Concourse A F lounge) so that is a plus .

In short: Exit plane, transit security, up to lounge, enjoy eating/showering/relaxing/photos, board directly from lounge via elevator, back on plane and on your way to your next destination.

Experience: I've done LHR-DXB, DXB-SYD, and MEL-DXB-LHR (under the old schedule), and also passed through the Concourse A lounge a third time with a much longer connection on EK F.

 

[k_sheep]

Spa is definitely open for the re-timed QF9. I had one last week at just before boarding.

Apparently it is - there are reports here of the MEL spa being open later to cater for the retimed departure and that the info on the website is (still) wrong.

*happy dance*

 

[anna2103]

You'll have maybe an hour overall to enjoy the lounge. You will disembark the plane, go through DXB transit security, then go back up the elevator to Level 3. Then you will walk over to the lounge elevators, up to Level 4. Show your ticket and you're in. Note your gate assignment; while the lounge stretches the length of the concourse, the entrance is in the middle and the lounge is almost a carbon copy on each side, same amenities on both sides other than possibly a high end alcohol shop if you go left after the lounge desk check in. So, since you don't have that much time, simply proceed to whichever side has your gate, unless seeing giant bottles of Moet & Chandon is your thing . You could sit down and have a restaurant meal with servers, or get a shower in, or pick from the multiple prepared food areas if you don't want to wait, including pretty much anything you can think of (I'm partial to the sushi).

You will board directly from the lounge, which involves going to the gate sign for your flight and proceeding to a gate desk, where an agent will check your documents as normal. Then, you go around to a set of elevators, and you'll go down to the lower level. With EK, you would get off at the upper deck level as F is on the upper level, but with QF you'll get off at the lower level since F is on the lower level, and then walk over to the F jetbridge. You'll have to share this part of the boarding area before the jetbridge with the economy people for a precious few seconds, I know this is a big ask of some people here . However, you won't have to share the elevator with the business class customers (you possibly could if boarding an EK flight out of the Concourse A F lounge) so that is a plus .

In short: Exit plane, transit security, up to lounge, enjoy eating/showering/relaxing/photos, board directly from lounge via elevator, back on plane and on your way to your next destination.

Experience: I've done LHR-DXB, DXB-SYD, and MEL-DXB-LHR (under the old schedule), and also passed through the Concourse A lounge a third time with a much longer connection on EK F.

Thanks very much for the considered, detailed reply. with the QF 1 Syd flights being so late in the last few weeks, its good to know what to do in advance.

 

[Rugby]

View from MEL Flounge of QF9 being prepared for tonight

 

[anna2103]

just a data reference chauffer drive booking ok for an AA award ticket

 

[TheBOSman]

just a data reference chauffer drive booking ok for an AA award ticket

Yep, should still work on a ticket from Australia to DXB or LHR, or reverse. Just not Australia-USA or reverse.

 

[Anna]

I can't help thinking about this thread every time someone starts another thread about 'glorious' F experiences such as aircraft substitutions leading to enforced downgrades to J, lost F luggage or (horrors!) no F champagne loaded.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I can't help thinking about this thread every time someone starts another thread about 'glorious' F experiences such as aircraft substitutions leading to enforced downgrades to J, lost F luggage or (horrors!) no F champagne loaded.

We've experienced most of those but fortunately not the no F champagne - that would have been truly horrific.

 

[TheRealTMA]

We've experienced most of those but fortunately not the no F champagne - that would have been truly horrific.

LOL. What about no pyjamas in your size? (as apparently happened on QF11 one time where the 2 F PXs refused to fly and walked off the plane.)

 

[Flying mermaid]

LOL. What about no pyjamas in your size? (as apparently happened on QF11 one time where the 2 F PXs refused to fly and walked off the plane.)

Well that is just plain silly - it is not as though they are more than a way of keeping your clothes fresh - I never take mine with me! Almost as bad as the woman who threw a wobbly over the nuts! Champagne is a whole different issue - don't mess with the bubbly

 

[TheBOSman]

Well that is just plain silly - it is not as though they are more than a way of keeping your clothes fresh - I never take mine with me! Almost as bad as the woman who threw a wobbly over the nuts! Champagne is a whole different issue - don't mess with the bubbly

Many glasses of quality champers can smooth over a lot of other issues .

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Many glasses of quality champers can smooth over a lot of other issues .

That's provided it is loaded which seems to be a bit irregular lately if reports are accurate!

 

[Kangol]

That's provided it is loaded which seems to be a bit irregular lately if reports are accurate!

Seriously? No F champagne loaded? Can you link to where you found out about this?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Seriously? No F champagne loaded? Can you link to where you found out about this?

Um yep - http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ogram/they-forgot-load-f-champagne-68292.html - and the thread is just starting to get interesting!

 

[Kangol]

Um yep - http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ogram/they-forgot-load-f-champagne-68292.html - and the thread is just starting to get interesting!

Whoops I only just saw that before coming back to edit my post. Ahhh