An African Adventure

[zig]

Definitely subscribing for this one. Have a fantastic trip.

 

[tgh]

subscribed

 

[ALH]

Following with interest. I’m heading to East Africa over Xmas. I have to laugh. The seat you secured (5B) on the 21st January was mine until I decided to change my trip and come home much earlier

 

[coyote25]

I hope you don't mind a few of us coming along for a ride.

Absolutely fine, watching others adventures helped me pick this one!

 

[coyote25]

While I’ve taken more taxi rides to an airport then I care to remember this was my first ever chauffeur service. I had booked the service four hours before the flight at 2.45 pm but the driver showed up early at 2.30 I’m, funnily enough just as I finished my last gear check but I wanted a little bit more time.

Driver: “No problems at all, take your time”. He had a very possible attitude as we chatted on the way to the airport. The Hyundai Genesis was in good condition.

We ended up getting to the airport in record time, I guess driving their in the middle of the day means no traffic.

 

[coyote25]

Checkin opened 3 hours and 30 minutes before departure time. I was handed my Dubai Connect vouchers at that time and it was explained her this service will work including that my checked bag will be check though to Nairobi. The backpack only weighed 9.5 kgs so I guess I was wasting the baggage allowance but I need to carry it during the next 2 months, plus the daypack weighed a ton.

Security / customs / immigration was quiet so it was quickly though. No need for the Fast Track pass this time.

Once airside I had to walk past all the ‘mandatory’ duty free shopping and then past the extremely busy Hungry Jacks, which wasn’t for me since I had Qantas First Class Lounge and Emirates First & Business Class Lounge to visit.

 

[coyote25]

Following with interest. I’m heading to East Africa over Xmas. I have to laugh. The seat you secured (5B) on the 21st January was mine until I decided to change my trip and come home much earlier

Well thanks for releasing that seat to me

 

[coyote25]

So it was time for the Qantas Melbourne First Class Lounge. I have been here before but not for many years when as a WP on an Oneworld Y Award ticket I got access. At that time I was blown away, now having recently experienced the Sydney First Class Lounge I was just ‘impressed’ boy I’m becoming a travel snob





Being in the lounge during the day meant 1) no spa treatments and 2) not many people.

I selected the Lucky Duck Noodles which I could get addicted to they tasted so good. No alcohol for me on this visit. That was for the Emirates flight later. While this was only a short visit I really enjoyed the visit.

Full lounge review is here.

 

[coyote25]

So next stop was the Emirates First-Business Class Lounge this was to be my first Emirates lounge experience and give me a taste for the flight to come later in the day.


I have to say that while I would rate this highly as an international business lounge I wouldn’t has a first class lounge mostly due to the food options. The showers looked good and the views were very nice, lots of natural light which is way better than the Qantas Business Lounge in the basement.

Wifi was good and there were power points to charge device at almost every seat except the dinning area seats. Nice and comfortable lounge.

Full review is here.

I did quickly visit Qantas Business Class Lounge later and this Emirates one beats it easily.

 

[coyote25]

Emirates EK405 Melbourne to Singapore First Class Full Review is here.

This was the bucket list item, a real international first class experience. After doing all the research on what airlines I could use Qantas points to book on I selected Emirates First Class on an A380 evening flight. This flight is in two sectors and is later followed by a 10 hour transit in Dubai and than EK721 Dubai to Nairobi on B777-200.

Turning left into the first class cabin was in itself an experience. This former backpacker (well still current given the upcoming camp safaris) who has spent almost of his time in Y gets to experience one of the top F products.

Part 1 The Seat and Amenties Kits
Emirates describe their features fairly well here. The suite is really huge. You can’t really use the touch functions on the HD TV as you are to far away but you can adjust your seat to get closer for meals. The gold colours could overwhelm some people.

You get a snack kit (removed for take off and landing), pyjamas and slippers (very nice), a writing kit, an amenties kit with everything you could want, and even more amenties in the vanity mirror location. Dom Pérignon was served as a welcome drink as well. Dates and arabic tea is also offered.

 

[coyote25]

EK405 Part 2 - Meal Service
I opted for dinner before my shower. I skipped the canapés (I had eaten in the Qantas First Class Lounge earlier) and went for my first ever caviar experience. Definitely a sweet taste, the Russian vodka burned a bit on the way down.

For my main meal I selected seared beef tenderloin with a side of streamed basmati rice. Dessert was red orange brioche puddling. All up very nice. The full menu is here.

 

[coyote25]

EK405 Part 3 - The Shower and Bar
Here is a short YouTube video of me in the Shower area (safe for work!)

The highlights of the A380 Emirates experience is the shower at 40,000 feet and the Business Class Bar on the Upper Deck.

It’s hard to describe the luxury of taking a nice warm shower at 40,000 feet. The bathroom area is huge, bigger than most hotel I’ve stayed up over the years. The floor is heat, they is a large range of lotions, a scented flower relaxes you and you get 5 minutes of water over a 25 minute appointment. This service definitely didn’t disappoint and was worth the upgrade from business point redemption to first class points redemption by itself!

The bar area is also a lovely place. I could easily imagine myself spending a bit of time there over the course of a 10-14 hours flight. For this 7.5 hour flight I only did a short visit but it gave me a chance to speak to the flight attendants in more depth which I enjoyed finding out about their lives plus bonus tourist photo behind the bar!

 

[coyote25]

EK405 - The Bed
I’ll cover the bed and sleeping arrangements more in EK405 Singapore to Dubai leg but I did manage to have 1.5 hours comfortable sleep on this leg.

 

[coyote25]

The second leg of the EK405 Singapore to Dubai was a very diffierent experience being that it was an entirely night flight. We left later than planned but the flight was amazing. I slept for over 4 hours during this 7+ hour flight.

I did turn down the Dom Pérignon for this flight, I know silly right but their are limits to alcohol comsumption especially at what back home was like 4 am in the morning.

This flight let me really sample the ‘bed’ and it is heaven. The bed is really comfortable and I have no problems stretching out like a very comfortable and happy cat. The stars on the cabin roof continued to be a nice touch.

I selected a shower time closer to landing this time so after sleeping. At the appointed time I had another shower at 40,000 feet experience. This one I enjoyed even more coming after a solid sleep and knowing better how to best utilise the time.

I did however stay in my PJs and on returning to me seat found some slices of fresh fruit including an orange and strawberry. Not long afterward a full breakfast was served a the time I ordered it for.

The Emirates A380 first class experience is an exceptional commercial flying experience. I loved every minute my only regret was the flight was direct to Dubai so I could enjoy more solid sleep and that the flights ended. Highly recommend the experience.

Full review here.

 

[coyote25]

If anyone is interested here is a review of the Singapore Emirates Lounge which I found to be okay only.

 

[coyote25]

Dubai Connect Service
I already had my Dubai Connect vouchers so when I arrived at DXB I headed straight to arrivals, well I thought I was I actually got lost not sure if it’s the airports fault or I was just impacted from the long flights. I did feel well relaxed so likely my fault.

As I didn’t need to pick up a bag it was straight to Chauffeur Drive area after immigration (no visa needed), the chauffeur desk organised a Mercedes Benz (nice) to my hotel at the Roda al Bustan. The weather was about 28 at 5.40 am in the morning. I organised for my return to the airport for noon with an 11.30 wake up call. The room provided was very nice with lots of room. The included wifi allowed me to back up my photos to the cloud while sleeping.

I didn’t brother trying the pool or the included buffet breakfast. I just wanted to sleep and the bed was very comfortable. I still woke before my wake up call which I almost always do. Check out was simple and a van this time was waiting to take me and another passenger back to the airport. The other PAX was flying business and leaving in 1.5 hours while I was aiming to get to the airport with 3 hours to spare.

No need to pick up boarding pass, I had it from checking in in Melbourne so it was a long walk in Terminal B to Immigration but I was quickly back airside. Unfortunately my flight left from Terminal C so I walked over there to sample the First Class Lounge in that terminal.

 

[coyote25]

The Emirates Terminal C First Class Lounge
The Emirates Dubai (Terminal C) First Class Lounge is located opposite Gate C22 and unfortunately is not the terminal long lounge that is in terminal B. This lounge is spread across two levels, with the second level having a small eating area, a sleeping area and is for smokers.

The service was attentive without being over the top. I selected entree of spring rolls and mail meal of wagyu beef burger with fries, damn it tasted good. The buffet area has a very wide range of options. Unfortunately I only had a short time in the lounge but I very much appreciate it.

Full review is here.

 

[coyote25]

EK721 Dubai to Singapore
This flight was my chance to try the Emirates First Class B777-200 service after experiencing the amazing A380 with the Bus/First Bar and Shower (First only). Today’s flight was only 5.5 hours and there was only two PAX (including myself) so the flight attendants come around regularly looking to help. The plane pulled back almost on time but one metre back it then sat there for around 25 metres.

As this was a day flight there was a lot less amenties handed out (no PJs for starters). Dom Pérignon was freely handed out and welcome on this flight. I also tried out Hennessy Cognac on this flight as recommended by a friend (which turned out to be extremely strong drink).

The B777 suite is a slightly older version than that found on the A380 with the HD TV screen being smaller (but still large enough) and the entertainment system controller was smaller and less responsive but still a great hard product.

I used the short time on this flight to take advantage of the included wifi to catch up on events back home in particular the cricket. The speed was slow but fine for 40,000 feet. For my meal I selected for an appetiser roasted tomato soup and for the main meal I selected stir-fried beef in oyster sauce. I skipped a canapé and dessert (actually I forgot about dessert).

On landing there was a bus for first class PAX to go to Immigration but they let high status Emirates on as well. My bag was the eight out, which was good to see it after 34 hours.

Full review here.

 

[coyote25]

The view from EK712 leaving late afternoon.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I have to read any trip report with Africa in it . That’s a large number of countries you are covering. It will help pass the time until our trip in September