EK F SYD-AKL-SYD, Waiheke Island, Taupo

[haydensydney]

I decided to write a trip report not because of the fantastic F flights on EK between SYD-AKL-SYD but also because we stayed at two great properties on Waiheke Island and in Taupo.

I haven’t gone too photo crazy on the flights as everyone has seen the EK A380 first product en masse on a number of different forums online. There were some great moments on both flights and I look forward to sharing these with you.

Preface

My partner was soon turning 40 so we decided to throw a birthday party / trip combination that would encompass a Saturday-Wednesday duration. Some of the options were Hamilton Island, Melbourne, Fiji, Vanuatu. Due to the costs involved in flying 11 of our nearest and dearest + accommodation, all of the above options were fairly costly and ended up between $10 - $15k in total.

My partner and I had previously gone on a weekend trip over to Auckland and we spent a day on Waiheke Island. Checking Emirates flights, we determined that we could fly our friends from both Brisbane & Sydney to Auckland return for around $400 ea + my partner and I could go in F for about $2000 ea. These flight options were cheap as chips so our choice was easily made – Waiheke Island it would be.

The timings for both the BNE-AKL and SYD-AKL flights meant that we could all meet up airside, all go through customs together and catch a charter bus to the Fullers Ferry Terminal in the city. The same applied to the return journeys, with both BNE/SYD flights leaving close to one another.

EK412 SYD-AKL in F

We were dreading the OMG o’clock departure (being a 7:40am flight) but after a early night the wakeup wasn’t terribly difficult. The limo arrived to take my partner and I, along with a friend who was flying in Y, to the airport. We met up with our other three friends who were flying in Y, fit in a few more cigarettes and proceeded to the check-in counters.

Checking in wasn’t terribly exciting, except for the friend who came with us in the limo also checked in with us in the F line, so he received F tags on his luggage which was appreciated. The others all checked in in the Y lines.

My partner and I had a look around the new airside duty free areas but decided to leave the group and head to the lounge. We didn’t really have much time before departure so had a Veuve each and checked a few emails. The flight was called and we proceeded to the gate (which was PACKED – the Y pax line stretched right back and was quite a sight). Thank god we were flying F.

Nice Sunrise in Sydney

Not very exciting lounge vista

Onboard, we were shown to our seats and were promptly given a glass of Dom. – which was expected, but as usual so very very appreciated. Yum. Quickly followed was the normal procession of FA’s offering Newspapers/Magazines/Arabic Coffee/Dates… all of which I declined. I instantly turned on Avatar and realised that after being spoilt by 3D in theatres, no 23” TV screen was going to do that movie justice.

Great Emirates Experience #1. My partner decided to have a chat to the Purser to see if it would be possible for our four friends down in Y to come up to the J bar later on in the flight – lucky for us, the purser agreed to our request. I made a quick phone call to our mates in row 80 and told them that the purser would come grab them later on in the flight. Awesome stuff.

I think I had two more glasses of DOM prior to departure – it really is a bit of a blur…. Before we knew it we were quickly up in the air.

 

[haydensydney]

After takeoff, I was asked if I wanted another glass of champagne. I politely declined but wanted to try the white wines on the wine list. Both were fabulous, particularly the French white which was devine (the NZ Sav was also very nice indeed).

Breakfast was served shortly after the wine, I decided to skip the fruit starter and grab two mains - just in case one of the mains wasn't the best. I'm happy I did this as one of the mains had the most ferral eggs i've ever had on a aircraft - chewy & rubbery.

This main wasn't too bad - the steak was quite tough however

Partner enjoying a salad

Main #2 - the offending eggs were under the mushrooms

Very, very nice Banana bread in the bread basket

 

[haydensydney]

Delicious dessert - Business class also had the same dessert

By this point, we decided to catch up with our friends in the business class lounge. A quick chat to the purser and we were on our way down the back. Once we were all there and we had drinks in hand (the crew sent down some Dom for us) the purser arrives with a birthday cake! This was unexpected and it was a really nice touch. Soon after, a Polaroid camera pops out and the photo is given to us with all the FA’s signatures – awesome.

Friends

Empty business class

 

[haydensydney]

So we continued to drink and be merry until well after descent – at which time we all decided to return to our seats. The approach and landing into Auckland was very stock standard and went as per usual.

After departure, the purser came up and asked if I wanted to check out the coughpit, which I did.

AKL vistas - EK flight from BNE arriving in the background - good timing!

 

[haydensydney]

Once we all arrived, we made our way to the fullers ferry terminal where we were soon on our way to Waiheke Island.

For those that don't know, Waiheke Island is a 30-45min ferry ride from Auckland city. It has beautiful scenery and has a great laid back NZ feel to the place. The accommodation we chose for our stay was booked through Waiheke Unlimited - a holiday letting company that has a great range of luxury/executive properties.

Website for our property: Beach Villa Duplex - upmarket beachfront holiday accommodation, perfect for Corporate, Family or Wedding groups

We decided to choose this property because it had seven bedrooms and it could comfortably sleep all of us. It had great views in the photos and we were certainly not dissapointed.

 

[haydensydney]

As you can imagine, everyone was loaded with duty free so a very messy afternoon/evening was underway. It had to happen.

Mass consumption. This was only the beginning

Too much of a good thing?

Back of property

Property from the beach

 

[haydensydney]

Sunset from Mudbrick where we had the 40th Birthday Dinner

Goodbye Waiheke

So we rented a car from Hertz and drove down to Taupo where we booked a room at the Clarion Sacred Waters - the website did the property justice and was right on the waters edge (well - the room we booked was further back as you will see in the pics).

Apartments - Sacred Waters Luxury Apartments Taupo

 

[haydensydney]

Thermal hot tub on the balcony!

 

[haydensydney]

After our two night stay, we checked out. What I most disappointed in was that between the time I booked the room, to the time we checked out (a 4 week period) the hotel had decided to leave the Clarion/Choice group. So no Velocity points for me :evil:

We drove back to Auckland (a drive that took just under 4 hours including cigarette breaks) and were a little early for our flight, so we decided to do a little bit of spotting for an hour between 2 - 3pm - apparently a boring period in terms of movement in AKL *sigh*

Does anyone know who owns that learjet with the 4 x Aces on the tail

 

[haydensydney]

We arrived into madness because of the ripple effects of the volcanic ash dramas in Iceland... the terminal was packed and the queue for the ticketing counter was miles long. Poor passengers. We were told that all passengers going on to Europe were being turned away. Not us however, and we were quickly checked in and on our way to the lounge.

This is where we got a little naughty. Because on this flight there were my partner and I + 1 Y passenger, we put our boarding passes together (both F passes on top) and handed the tickets to the attendant. She scanned all three and let us in. A little while later, my Y friend and I decided to leave the lounge to go to the smoking balcony. The Emirates lady then came up to us and said that our Y friend was not entitled to use the lounge - I said "I thought F pax could guest a friend in?" - she corrected us, we apologised, but she said that she would allow it on our occasion which was Emirates Great Experience #2. She did the whole thing with poise and didn't make us uncomfortable with the whole situation.

Time flew and it was time to board - we were the only pax in F for this flight - AWESOME! The usual preflight novelties were provided and we were soon on our way in the sky.

Dinner service was much better than the breakfast (naturally). I don't have a pic of the main, which was the Trout, because by the time I had realised to take a pic I had ho'ed into it like a savage. Yum.

 

[haydensydney]

Emirates Great Experience #3. A quick word to the purser later and we were soon having a drink or three with our friend in the J lounge. It was a very lightly loaded flight, so we were the only pax using the bar (with the exception of the random German man in the below pic).

Y friend, Partner, Me, Random German Guy

Emirates Great Experience #4. The purser then agreed to let our Y friend sit with us in F for the remainder of the flight (say 45mins) until landing. A very nice touch that was very much appreciated by us and my friend.

 

[haydensydney]

Friend in F suite

About to land in SYD

Emirates exceeded our expectations on all counts. They made our trip memorable, and made a few Y pax feel extremely special in the process. I know that those Y pax will certainly remember the flights for years to come.

And that my friends is my trip report. It has taken forever but i've gotten there.

Ta....

 

[docjames]

Great pics and TR overall.

How full was Y? EK would seem to be capacity dumping as i cant believe that they make any money if you're the only pax in F, and J is empty....

 

[haydensydney]

How full was Y? EK would seem to be capacity dumping as i cant believe that they make any money if you're the only pax in F, and J is empty....

Y was full on both legs!
The flight over, F was full - so I guess it depends on when your flying. On all legs, J was close to empty, probably more full on the return.

 

[wannaflynow]

wow great TR hayden - when I get to 40 hope I can do something like that too!!!

 

[djfuzz]

Thanks for some great photos and a terrific TR.

 

[apophis21]

Great TR Hayden, and as the lucky recipient of EK's fantastic hospitality a big thanks to you and your partner for the trip, it will certainly be one I remember for a very long time. Also a big thankyou to the pursers of both flights for bending the rules just a little and our fabulous bartender in the J Bar - Jared & Maggie thankyou both for lookig after us so wonderfully.

I am normally a DJ flyer but will definately consider EK for all international rutes in the future (earning velocity points doesnt do any harm).

Thanks again Hayden, had a blast, cant wait for your 30th in a few years ;P

 

[ejb]

Sounds like a great trip. EK certainly know how to look after their premium pax.

As to the Lear Jet, I don't know who owns it but it spends a fair bit of time at SYD Executive Jet Base. I guess a Trans Tasman business owns it.

ejb

 

[haydensydney]

Thanks guys.... by the way - why is there a six photos per post limit?
When posting over 60 photos, it takes forever!

 

[Andyzx]

Does anyone know who owns that learjet with the 4 x Aces on the tail

Thanks for the TR, very good and I liked the shots of Taupo, need to go back there some time. Waiheke is always fun with a group. A few hours in F would be very nice any time.

N900EM Is an Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy. Private ownership but my uninformed opinion is that a casino owns it.
It was in SYD in early April but travels the world. Like Italy, Nevada, Puerto Rico, Hungary. Search the registration in Jetphotos dot net and will give you an idea where it has been. what a way to fly:arrow: