First business award flight + roundabout routing!

[lovedbymarylane]

Hi all!

I mostly want to share my excitement - I've just managed to book a business class flight from Melbourne to London via Perth, Singapore and Dubai!

I had originally booked a far more sensible award from MEL-DXB-LGW but I had to change the date due to work. I thought it'd be impossible since I booked the first one almost a year out and there didn't seem to be much availability, but I just spent half an hour on the phone with a lovely QF agent and he figured out this crazy itinerary for me!

MEL-PER QF475 - almost 24 hours in Perth, which is great as my family live there
PER-SIN QF71 - 24 hours in Singapore
SIN-DXB EK355 - 2 hours between flights to quickly check out the DXB business lounge
DXB-LGW EK11

It might seem like a lot of travel but it'll be split up, and I'm super excited to check out the business products on QF and EK.

What are your tips for first time business flyers? Any tips for a 24 hour layover in Singapore?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi all!

I mostly want to share my excitement - I've just managed to book a business class flight from Melbourne to London via Perth, Singapore and Dubai!

I had originally booked a far more sensible award from MEL-DXB-LGW but I had to change the date due to work. I thought it'd be impossible since I booked the first one almost a year out and there didn't seem to be much availability, but I just spent half an hour on the phone with a lovely QF agent and he figured out this crazy itinerary for me!

MEL-PER QF475 - almost 24 hours in Perth, which is great as my family live there
PER-SIN QF71 - 24 hours in Singapore
SIN-DXB EK355 - 2 hours between flights to quickly check out the DXB business lounge
DXB-LGW EK11

It might seem like a lot of travel but it'll be split up, and I'm super excited to check out the business products on QF and EK.

What are your tips for first time business flyers? Any tips for a 24 hour layover in Singapore?

Emirates usually has pretty good availability - although their non-stop flights AU-Dubai (and v.v) can be the exception. Flights out of Asia to Dubai are generally pretty open, as are flights between Dubai and Europe and Dubai and the USA. This is a result of Emirates having so many flights, and so many seats Which is good for us as passengers.

The MEL-PER QF475 can be operated either by a A332 (flat seats) or 737. The latter is not ideal. If it's a A332 you should try and select a single seat by the window. The PER-SIN flight will be a 737 unfortunately. Select an aisle seat if you think you may want to use the WC more than once in flight - when the seat in front is reclined it can be very hard to get out to the aisle.

On Emirates flights. if they're the A380 you should again choose a window seat, and away from the back of the cabin near the bar where it could get noisy. (You also don't want to be too close to a galley).

24 hours in Singapore - so many hotels to choose from. Find one you like (the Hotel 1929 in Singapore is an excellent mid-range hotel in the $100-120 category - I really liked it). Jump in a taxi at the airport to get you to your hotel (very cheap). Enjoy Singapore! On returning to the airport you will be eligible for the Emirates Chauffeur Drive program. Just enter your address into the field in the Emirates 'manage your booking' page.

Take your own PJs for use on Emirates as they don't supply them in business class.

Also choose you Dubai business class lounge carefully. If you have time, they have a champagne tasting bar at their lounge in Concourse B. Here you'll get to taste four different varieties of Moet ranging from standard to vintage and demi-sec.

 

[lovedbymarylane]

Thanks MEL_Traveller! Yep, I unfortunately have the 737 for both MEL-PER and PER-SIN. I'm not used to business so even if they're not great seats, it's still an upgrade from Y (and fortunately I'll get to sample the fancy Emirates A380 later on).

I'd forgotten about the Emirates chauffeur! Awesome. And I'll investigate that lounge for sure!

 

[RooFlyer]

It might seem like a lot of travel but it'll be split up,

Ha! There is a saying here on AFF "Why fly direct when you can connect." Welcome to the club

Singapore: Have a look at other AFFer experiences there, here: Destination Trip Reports

Don't worry about the shops - its not the deal it used to be. Think Little India, the zoo, Clark Quay, the merlion and walking around the area. Use the metro from the airport. You can store your carry-one land side, if you want. Where you stay is a matter of your timing of flights in/out. There are hotels at the airport for late/early, else many others to choose from of course.