The Emirates First Experience - What to Expect?

  • Don't eat or drink too much before the flight as mentioned above.
  • The ex SIN departure experience can be a little underwhelming. I wouldn't arrive too early, the EK lounge is fine but nothing to write home about.
  • Some of EK's popular First dishes are quite carb heavy, e.g. the mezze. Take care not to end up in a carb coma on the 7 hour flight!
  • Say yes to pyjamas even if you're not planning to wear them during the day flight, they're very comfortable, well made, and come in a useful tote bag
  • The amenity kit includes a rather expensive Bvlgari perfume so don't leave it behind. If you have no interest in keeping the kit, they fetch $150-200 online...
  • The wine list is extensive and you might struggle to try everything as a full pour. The crew can do a wine tasting if you'd like to try a bit of everything
  • Some bloggers and reviewers suggest EK crews will do a takeaway cup of the Paradis if you ask nicely before they prepare the cabin for landing 😂
Enjoy one of the best in-flight experiences available!

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Hi everyone,

I Luckily snagged a reward F ticket using QF points for tomorrow, and I've never flown first before and may not ever again as its rare I fly alone without the fam.

Is there any advice to ensure I maximise the best of the the first class experience? I understand there's no F lounge open in the morning in Singapore, but anything I should know is appreciated!!

Thankyou!
Firstly, congratulations. Secondly, drink as much expensive booze as you can. It might not even taste that much better than other good booze you’ve had, but you will have talking points to last a lifetime. I’ve even been known to tell strangers about the $800 Dom I had on an EY F flight.
 
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My personal opinion and experience:
  • Wine - google search which is the most expensive one and drink that - most likely a French Bordeaux that's $300-500 per bottle.
  • Cognac - Hennessy Paradis
  • Champagne - Dom Perignon (Only after takeoff, DO NOT drink the cheap option on ground)
  • Two servings of caviar.
The SIN-MEL flight is quite early in the morning though, so try to be well rested the night before (tonight!) so your body is ready to consume the large amount of food and alcohol.
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Firstly, congratulations. Secondly, drink as much expensive booze as you can. It might not even taste that much better than other good booze you’ve had, but you will have talking points to last a lifetime. I’ve even been known to tell strangers about the $800 Dom I had on an EY F flight.
Or more than half bottle of Paradis I had ;)
 
  • Don't eat or drink too much before the flight as mentioned above.
  • The ex SIN departure experience can be a little underwhelming. I wouldn't arrive too early, the EK lounge is fine but nothing to write home about.
  • Some of EK's popular First dishes are quite carb heavy, e.g. the mezze. Take care not to end up in a carb coma on the 7 hour flight!
  • Say yes to pyjamas even if you're not planning to wear them during the day flight, they're very comfortable, well made, and come in a useful tote bag
  • The amenity kit includes a rather expensive Bvlgari perfume so don't leave it behind. If you have no interest in keeping the kit, they fetch $150-200 online...

Omg. I gave the perfume to the housekeeper in my hotel 😥
  • The wine list is extensive and you might struggle to try everything as a full pour. The crew can do a wine tasting if you'd like to try a bit of everything
  • Some bloggers and reviewers suggest EK crews will do a takeaway cup of the Paradis if you ask nicely before they prepare the cabin for landing 😂
Enjoy one of the best in-flight experiences available!

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I'm trying to recall Singapore ... for First isn't there almost a "lounge" for checking in there?
It's been a while but my vague recollection (we were flying Y on QF but my wife was QF Platinum at the time) was that the F check-in "desks" were in a separate room away from the plebs, and you checked-in by sitting on big comfy lounges with zero waiting, and the exit from the check-in room is a really short security line which was really close to where most of the J & F lounges are airside.

Could be only some airlines use that system, could also be that 7-8 years later it's changed too.
 
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I'm trying to recall Singapore ... for First isn't there almost a "lounge" for checking in there?
It's been a while but my vague recollection (we were flying Y but my wife was QF Platinum at the time) was that the F check-in "desks" were in a separate room away from the plebs, and you checked-in by sitting on big comfy lounges with zero waiting, and the exit from the check-in room is a really short security line which was really close to where most of the J & F lounges are airside.
That wasn’t my experience in April. I just walked up to the Emirates First check-in counter which was next to the other check-in counters. Maybe I missed something but the check-in agent certainly didn’t give any indication that I should have been somewhere else.

From memory of T1 there are two distinct lounge precincts; the Emirates lounge is in the precinct that’s furthest away from the airside entrance.
 
From memory of T1 there are two distinct lounge precincts; the Emirates lounge is in the precinct that’s furthest away from the airside entrance.
At least 3?
  • EK/QR/Plaza Premium (towards B/C gates)
  • BA/QF J/SATS (between C and D)
  • QF F/Marhaba (towards D gates)
 
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From my research there is a first check in lounge type deal for SQ, but im not sure it this extends to other airlines check in?
 
From my research there is a first check in lounge type deal for SQ, but im not sure it this extends to other airlines check in?
It may have changed since ... 2016 I think it was, but maybe it's not widely advertised & we just turned up, and maybe some airlines use it & others not? We were on QF, so it's not a Star Alliance thing.
If I were trying to maximise the F experience I reckon I'd just go there first, expect to be redirected but hey why not try? :)
 
I'm trying to recall Singapore ... for First isn't there almost a "lounge" for checking in there?
You may be referring to the SATS Premier Check-in Lounge located on the left of the entrance to immigration? Unlike QF, ground handling agent for EK is dnata and not SATS so they may not use it?
 
Oh -- in case you're reading this and still on the ground...

If you want free internet, you need to have your SKYWARDS number entered on your boarding pass BEFORE takeoff. The Lounge staff will be able to do this; even the cabin crew after you've boarded. But once you've taken off, if you haven't given your Skywards number, you won't get free internet.
 
Oh -- in case you're reading this and still on the ground...

If you want free internet, you need to have your SKYWARDS number entered on your boarding pass BEFORE takeoff. The Lounge staff will be able to do this; even the cabin crew after you've boarded. But once you've taken off, if you haven't given your Skywards number, you won't get free internet.
Last few times in 2023 I flew EK First redemption using QF points, my QF number was attached to the itinerary and BP. The check-in counter, lounge staff couldn't change to Skywards number.
 

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