I'm new to writing trip reports, but have somewhat of a different angle which might be interesting to some. During September/October 2017 my partner Hugh and I used Emirates (and a little bit of Qantas) airlines to fly Sydney - Bangkok - Dubai- Larnaca - Malta- Dubai- Perth in economy. The attraction to us is that each flight could be done during the day time.
Hugh is quite old (82) we organised a wheelchair when making the booking. That meant he had to go into the Emirates office here in Adelaide and show a doctor's certificate. In return they allocated us nice seats. This is free of charge and avoids the seat booking fee. It also means we are taken through security and passport control very quickly.
As for ticket price, what is interesting is that Emirates allows you to make stops along the way. Of course you must pay airport tax, but that added only a little to the ticket cost and we got an adventure.
The flights:
Sydney to Bangkok
We chose to fly out of Sydney on the 10 am Qantas flight to Bangkok. That has good and bad. Sydney airport is a mad-house at that time as so many flights are departing. However on the flight you get a lunch and a snack. Both were served in snack boxes, rather than as bits and pieces on a tray.. They tasted ok. I had the kale salad and smoked trout. So the food itself was good quality. Interestingly, if you look carefully on their drinks trolley, Qantas have sparkling wine bottles in economy. You can ask for more. So we arrived happy. Bangkok airport at 5pm is an off peak time, so things work smoothly. The problem is going in to Bangkok at 5pm turns into traffic gridlock. Perhaps if we were to do it again, we'd choose the Emirates flight at 6pm from Sydney and arrive at Bangkok at midnight. But then Bangkok airport is so busy...so it is swings and roundabouts. That said, when I was playing with the Emirates booking engine, they were selling the Qantas flight cheaper than their own.
Bangkok to Dubai
There are 6 flights a day from Bangkok to Dubai. We chose a mid-afternoon flight to arrive in Dubai about 7pm. The wheelchair in Bangkok airport is really useful as it can be up to a kilometer to the gate. At mid-afternoon, the airport is nice and relaxed, so we could get some rest before the flight on a sofa not far from the gate. This was actually more restful than using the business lounge . As for the flight, it was expected, full. I'm amazed how well organised the crew are at getting everyone fed and given drinks. I watched some videos before, so knew to ask for a red and a white wine when the drinks trolley passed. We tried their gin and tonic, but to be honest their tonic water has sugar in it so isn't so refreshing. You get one meal and that's it. If you want more drinks, that's ok. The meal is quite good.
We were offered business upgrade, but the price was ridiculous. And anyway on the 777 it is 2-3-2 in business. It looked a waste of money for a day flight.
Arrival in Dubai using the wheelchair service was excellent. Everything was friendly and no problem. I picked up some pre-ordered duty free on arrival. You get a good discount if you do it that way. And changed money. Be aware that rates of exchange are better in town than at the airport. The guy took us right to the metro station and made sure we got the correct tickets. At that time of day, Dubai airport was a dream.
Dubai-Larnaca
Most of the flights out of Dubai leave at around 8am. There is a special check-in desk for special assistance. That makes it breeze. A wheelchair comes in a moment and you are taken to to a lovely hall with tarmac view. it is full of seating and lounges. it is quiet. Again, it is better than the business class lounge in terms of relaxation. At the last minute a guy takes you to your gate. So you only see all the crowds while passing. It is like 2 worlds that airport.
As for the flight, again we were sent an upgrade offer. Again it was a stupid price (about $700 each) for a 3.5 hour flight. So we just ignored that again. Economy was full as this flight serves both Cyprus and on to Malta. You are served breakfast of omelette or eggs....There are plenty of movies to watch and the drinks trolley comes around and the coffee is ok. Before you know it, you are there. Larnaca airport is about the same size as Adelaide airport and just as modern. The wheelchair guy was waiting and we were through and out the door within minutes. There are public busses up outside the departures door to the left. Euro 1,50 to Larnaca or to Tersafanou where we stayed. A taxi would cost 20-25 Euros.
Larnaca-Malta
Again we were sent an upgrade offer. About $300 each for a 2 hour flight, so we ignored it. The flight leaves Larnaca at lunch time and gets to Malta early in the afternoon. A snack is served. This flight wasn't full. Your passports are checked out of Cyprus and checked again into Malta. I guess that's because Cyprus isn't part of Schengen agreement. But at either end, it only took a moment.
Malta-Dubai
No upgrade offers any more. This flight departs mid afternoon and stops in Larnaca on the way back to Dubai. You don't get off the plane in Larnaca, but the crew has to check every piece of cabin luggage as having an owner before the people from Larnaca can get on. So the stop takes about 90 minutes or so. You are served a snack from Malta to Larnaca and then a proper dinner from Larnaca to Dubai. Plenty of drinks. You arrive into Dubai about 1am. Your body clock is telling you it about 10pm, so you feel ok about it. Again the wheelchair guy whisked us through quickly and out to the taxi rank. The metro stops around midnight. Catching a taxi is a bit of a trick at 2am. The place is a madhouse as so many flights arrive all at once from Europe. We were directed to the executive taxi, but stood our ground and were soon in a normal airport taxi. You pay a 20 Dirham (that's about $8) fee to use a taxi from the airport. We were staying just near to ADCB metro, and that cost in the end 50 Dirhams all up with road toll and airport toll. It was about 35 Dirhams going the other way. The metro costs 5 Dirhams.
Dubai to Perth
This flight leaves at 10 am and gets to Perth after midnight. A 10 hour flight. This was the longest one. We used the metro to the airport, and went to the special services counter to check in. The wheelchair guy took us straight through security and immigration as quick as a flash and then into that same waiting lounge for their special customers. Again, it was a as quiet as can be. At the last minute a guy took us to the plane and again we passed the throngs of people in the main part of the airport. Not a nice sight! The flight was fine. We were served 2 meals... salmon and then lamb. How good is that! Because it was day time by our body clock, you only had to watch movies and snooze. You didn't need to sleep in an economy seat. So we arrived all ok at midnight. Perth airport was quick and easy.
We didn't choose to use the Adelaide service of Emirates as that is 13 hour overnight flights.
Hugh is quite old (82) we organised a wheelchair when making the booking. That meant he had to go into the Emirates office here in Adelaide and show a doctor's certificate. In return they allocated us nice seats. This is free of charge and avoids the seat booking fee. It also means we are taken through security and passport control very quickly.
As for ticket price, what is interesting is that Emirates allows you to make stops along the way. Of course you must pay airport tax, but that added only a little to the ticket cost and we got an adventure.
The flights:
Sydney to Bangkok
We chose to fly out of Sydney on the 10 am Qantas flight to Bangkok. That has good and bad. Sydney airport is a mad-house at that time as so many flights are departing. However on the flight you get a lunch and a snack. Both were served in snack boxes, rather than as bits and pieces on a tray.. They tasted ok. I had the kale salad and smoked trout. So the food itself was good quality. Interestingly, if you look carefully on their drinks trolley, Qantas have sparkling wine bottles in economy. You can ask for more. So we arrived happy. Bangkok airport at 5pm is an off peak time, so things work smoothly. The problem is going in to Bangkok at 5pm turns into traffic gridlock. Perhaps if we were to do it again, we'd choose the Emirates flight at 6pm from Sydney and arrive at Bangkok at midnight. But then Bangkok airport is so busy...so it is swings and roundabouts. That said, when I was playing with the Emirates booking engine, they were selling the Qantas flight cheaper than their own.
Bangkok to Dubai
There are 6 flights a day from Bangkok to Dubai. We chose a mid-afternoon flight to arrive in Dubai about 7pm. The wheelchair in Bangkok airport is really useful as it can be up to a kilometer to the gate. At mid-afternoon, the airport is nice and relaxed, so we could get some rest before the flight on a sofa not far from the gate. This was actually more restful than using the business lounge . As for the flight, it was expected, full. I'm amazed how well organised the crew are at getting everyone fed and given drinks. I watched some videos before, so knew to ask for a red and a white wine when the drinks trolley passed. We tried their gin and tonic, but to be honest their tonic water has sugar in it so isn't so refreshing. You get one meal and that's it. If you want more drinks, that's ok. The meal is quite good.
We were offered business upgrade, but the price was ridiculous. And anyway on the 777 it is 2-3-2 in business. It looked a waste of money for a day flight.
Arrival in Dubai using the wheelchair service was excellent. Everything was friendly and no problem. I picked up some pre-ordered duty free on arrival. You get a good discount if you do it that way. And changed money. Be aware that rates of exchange are better in town than at the airport. The guy took us right to the metro station and made sure we got the correct tickets. At that time of day, Dubai airport was a dream.
Dubai-Larnaca
Most of the flights out of Dubai leave at around 8am. There is a special check-in desk for special assistance. That makes it breeze. A wheelchair comes in a moment and you are taken to to a lovely hall with tarmac view. it is full of seating and lounges. it is quiet. Again, it is better than the business class lounge in terms of relaxation. At the last minute a guy takes you to your gate. So you only see all the crowds while passing. It is like 2 worlds that airport.
As for the flight, again we were sent an upgrade offer. Again it was a stupid price (about $700 each) for a 3.5 hour flight. So we just ignored that again. Economy was full as this flight serves both Cyprus and on to Malta. You are served breakfast of omelette or eggs....There are plenty of movies to watch and the drinks trolley comes around and the coffee is ok. Before you know it, you are there. Larnaca airport is about the same size as Adelaide airport and just as modern. The wheelchair guy was waiting and we were through and out the door within minutes. There are public busses up outside the departures door to the left. Euro 1,50 to Larnaca or to Tersafanou where we stayed. A taxi would cost 20-25 Euros.
Larnaca-Malta
Again we were sent an upgrade offer. About $300 each for a 2 hour flight, so we ignored it. The flight leaves Larnaca at lunch time and gets to Malta early in the afternoon. A snack is served. This flight wasn't full. Your passports are checked out of Cyprus and checked again into Malta. I guess that's because Cyprus isn't part of Schengen agreement. But at either end, it only took a moment.
Malta-Dubai
No upgrade offers any more. This flight departs mid afternoon and stops in Larnaca on the way back to Dubai. You don't get off the plane in Larnaca, but the crew has to check every piece of cabin luggage as having an owner before the people from Larnaca can get on. So the stop takes about 90 minutes or so. You are served a snack from Malta to Larnaca and then a proper dinner from Larnaca to Dubai. Plenty of drinks. You arrive into Dubai about 1am. Your body clock is telling you it about 10pm, so you feel ok about it. Again the wheelchair guy whisked us through quickly and out to the taxi rank. The metro stops around midnight. Catching a taxi is a bit of a trick at 2am. The place is a madhouse as so many flights arrive all at once from Europe. We were directed to the executive taxi, but stood our ground and were soon in a normal airport taxi. You pay a 20 Dirham (that's about $8) fee to use a taxi from the airport. We were staying just near to ADCB metro, and that cost in the end 50 Dirhams all up with road toll and airport toll. It was about 35 Dirhams going the other way. The metro costs 5 Dirhams.
Dubai to Perth
This flight leaves at 10 am and gets to Perth after midnight. A 10 hour flight. This was the longest one. We used the metro to the airport, and went to the special services counter to check in. The wheelchair guy took us straight through security and immigration as quick as a flash and then into that same waiting lounge for their special customers. Again, it was a as quiet as can be. At the last minute a guy took us to the plane and again we passed the throngs of people in the main part of the airport. Not a nice sight! The flight was fine. We were served 2 meals... salmon and then lamb. How good is that! Because it was day time by our body clock, you only had to watch movies and snooze. You didn't need to sleep in an economy seat. So we arrived all ok at midnight. Perth airport was quick and easy.
We didn't choose to use the Adelaide service of Emirates as that is 13 hour overnight flights.
