EY Apartments vs. LH First Class

[boomy]

A recent trip to Europe gave me the opportunity to experience for the first time two of the best F products:
EY A380 Apartments and LH First Class.
I thought it will be interesting to compare between the two with the addition of JL F that will make it the ultimate "battle" between the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

The route:
SYD-AUH-LHR EY F A380
FRA-HND LH F B748
NRT-SYD JL F B773

 

[TomVexille]

I'm onboard for this one

 

[zainman]

I've flown LH F on the 744 which has the separate bed + seat and really liked it, but having recently flown on the apartments, nothing compares IMHO.

 

[vantage03]

Great itinerary

 

[boomy]

SYD-LHR EY Apartments

Nothing fancy about EY F check in process. Standard F signed counter operated by Menzies staff who didn't seem too enthusiastic.



Used express pass, only short queue through security and I'm inside the DF in no time.

The EY SYD lounge.

EY has a mixed J & F lounge and it was crowded. There are a few sitting areas: relaxing, dining, working and the bar.

 

[boomy]

All tables were occupied so I sat on the bar and was given food menu.



I was a bit hungry but knowing I'm about to have a meal onboard soon I chose the "light" option - grilled ocean trout which was very good.



There is also nice looking self-serve area.



Champagne on offer was something French, can't remember the brand but there is a rule: champagne onboard F will almost always be better than what is offered in the lounge so I limited myself to 2 glasses.

 

[RooFlyer]

All tables were occupied so I sat on the bar and was given food menu.
<snip>

Champagne on offer was something French, can't remember the brand but there is a rule: champagne onboard F will almost always be better than what is offered in the lounge so I limited myself to 2 glasses.

Positively abstemious

Sensational itinerary, plane and class selection.

 

[boomy]

Ok, time to move onboard. What can I say about the apartments? In one word - WOW!











There is no doubt this is the best hard product available today. It makes all other airlines suites look completely outdated.

 

[deka2]

Subscribed

Looking forward to the report on the F lounge in FRA

 

[LadyC]

Sounds awesome! Look forward to reading more.

 

[pagingjoan]

Boomy,
I just caught up with your thread and it reminded me that I had meant to ask if anyone here had visited the Etihad Lounge at Expo in Milano?

Apologies for being late to post on this - and forgive me if it is slightly off topic - but I was there in the closing days of Expo at the end of October. Etihad's pavilion had a Premium Lounge on the upper level, open to Etihad Guest Gold and Platinum members - and it was brilliant.

We were with friends, so there were four of us, but we had two Gold membership cards (courtesy of AFF, of course ), and we and our friends were welcomed as if we were royalty. In sharp contrast with the general Expo site, the Lounge was a haven of peace and space, the food was excellent and - another surprise - the Champagne, wine and spirits were free flowing.

Included in the package was a tour of the display units, featuring all classes of Etihad travel, with the jewel in the crown being The Residence. Without doubt it's the nearest I will get to the full experience of The Residence but I did get to lounge there, sipping bubbles, for a while. Great fun. And quite made the Expo visit worth while.

 

[boomy]

Boomy,
I just caught up with your thread and it reminded me that I had meant to ask if anyone here had visited the Etihad Lounge at Expo in Milano?

Apologies for being late to post on this - and forgive me if it is slightly off topic - but I was there in the closing days of Expo at the end of October. Etihad's pavilion had a Premium Lounge on the upper level, open to Etihad Guest Gold and Platinum members - and it was brilliant.

We were with friends, so there were four of us, but we had two Gold membership cards (courtesy of AFF, of course ), and we and our friends were welcomed as if we were royalty. In sharp contrast with the general Expo site, the Lounge was a haven of peace and space, the food was excellent and - another surprise - the Champagne, wine and spirits were free flowing.

Included in the package was a tour of the display units, featuring all classes of Etihad travel, with the jewel in the crown being The Residence. Without doubt it's the nearest I will get to the full experience of The Residence but I did get to lounge there, sipping bubbles, for a while. Great fun. And quite made the Expo visit worth while.

Feel free to post any interesting photos here.

The EY CSM agreed to give me tour of the Residence but asked not to take any photos.

 

[boomy]

Now, what I'm curious to check is: can EY's soft product be as good as their apartment?

The start was promising. First the purser came to greet and explain all the features in the suite:
The makeup cabinet, loaded with goods from Bergamote and a traditional amenity kit.



The chilled mini bar.



Doors close for maximum privacy.



It was obvious she was very proud of the product (apparently seats are made with the same leather as used in Ferrari cars! I suppose that's a good thing).



Later one of the FAs came with champagne.

 

[boomy]

Food menu

 

[Danger UXB]

Onboard for the F fest

 

[boomy]

Drinks menu





The drinks menu looks very disappointing, one of the worst I've seen in F, it even makes QF look good! The champagne is great, no complaints there but what about the rest? Jim Barry Shiraz, a $16 wine in F, Really?!

 

[pagingjoan]

<The champagne is great, no complaints there but what about the rest? Jim Barry Shiraz, a $16 wine in F, Really?!>

Even the Rose bubbles are a bit disappointing. Stick with the Bollinger!

 

[RooFlyer]

Drinks menu

<snip>

The drinks menu looks very disappointing, one of the worst I've seen in F, it even makes QF look good! The champagne is great, no complaints there but what about the rest? Jim Barry Shiraz, a $16 wine in F, Really?!

T'was 2011 Xanadu for Aussie red and the same NZ SB a few months ago.

 

[Kangol]

Great report, looking forward to the rest! How did you book LH F? Miles?

 

[boomy]

Great report, looking forward to the rest! How did you book LH F? Miles?

Thanks!
Booked using LMs (115,000 + $US114).