HKG to AUH...via KUL, SIN, BNE, ADL, SYD, MEL and DXB - Emirates F, Qantas J + more

[bmcc]

Prologue

In March of this year, I realised I had separate engagements in Sydney, Adelaide and Abu Dhabi, and that I would have to make a trip out to those spots, one way or another, in the next couple of months. Being Hong Kong-based, I decided to stitch these trips up into a larger QFF Zone 10 192,000 point award, together with a few one-way sectors on Etihad Business and Malaysia Airlines (MH) Business.

Final routing, and approximate costs, was as follows:

1. HKG > KUL (MH Business Class)
2. KUL > SIN (MH Business Class)
(total cost of this sector was HK$810 for the one-way in discount economy, plus HK$2,050 in total for the two upgrade requests, for a grand sum of HK$3,860, or around AU$670 at the time of writing. Note that I had a 1 hour layover in KUL).
3. SIN > BNE (Emirates First Class)
4. BNE > ADL (Qantas Business Class)
5. ADL > SYD (Qantas Business Class)
6. SYD > MEL (Qantas Business Class)
7. MEL > DXB (Emirates First Classs)
(this sector was booked as a QFF Zone 10 Class Award, with a <24hr stopover between each leg, for a sum total of 192,000 QFF points plus AU$187.35 in taxes. Note that taxes were less than I would have thought - I believe this is because the ticket was originally routed ex-Hong Kong, where fuel surcharges are outlawed, before being changed to a SIN departure).
8. AUH > HKG (Etihad Business Class
(this sector was booked as a one way, full Y class economy ticket for approximately AU$830, paired with a successful bid upgrade offer of AU$922, for a sum total of around AU$1,750).

I know this will draw the ire of some readers but I am sorry to say that I don't include photos with my report. I'm not a fan of taking photos on planes or in airports - but I definitely appreciate the efforts of those on this site who do! My amateurish photography skills are easily surpassed by those who treat it as a hobby; so if you want to see what the Emirates shower suite looks like, or view the quagmire that is the Brisbane domestic J lounge at 6:00pm on a Sunday night, you will be best served by a quick Google image search.

Without anything further ado, please read on...

First Stop: Qantas Lounge, Hong Kong Terminal One

Compared to local heavyweight Cathay Pacific, Qantas has a modest presence in Hong Kong, with flights departing each evening to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. It is surprising, than, that Qantas hosts what I consider to be the best Business lounge in HKIA. If you hold a business ticket with a OneWorld airline or have Sapphire OneWorld status by virtue of your frequent flier membership of a OneWorld airline, this should be your first port of call when flying out of Hong Kong.

OneWorld travelers are well catered for in Hong Kong, and most will be directed to, or will head of their own volition, to one of Cathay's (excellent) facilities, being either the G16 Lounge, the Pier, the Bridge or the Wing (the latter of which is my pick of the Cathay bunch). But you would be well-advised to take a peek at Qantas' offering, which you will find immediately to your right as you pass through immigration.

If you've visited the Qantas lounge in Singapore than you will feel right at home here - the design aesthetic is similar, with polished concrete floors and well-defined 'spaces' throughout. This is a large lounge - I would estimate its capacity to be in the 200-350 pax range - but with clever partitioning of the space and an open outlook onto the terminal gates and apron, it manages to avoid the slightly 'warehousey' feel that afflicts its Singapore counterpart.

Upon entering, you first see the long bar on your left, which is used as a mixed dining an socialising area. This is the perfect spot to perch if you are a solo traveler and is where you will usually find me on my travels out of Hong Kong. The bar staff are superb. Most of my visits here have been in the evening when all of Qantas' Australing flights are departing and demands on their time is great - yet their service is, without exception, polite and cheery. On this particular visit, at 1:00pm on a Friday afternoon, I was asked whether I would like to try today's signature coughtail, a zesty mix of citrus, soda and beaten egg white which hit the spot after a morning spent in Hong Kong's oppressive humidity.

Of an evening, Qantas run a yum cha-style service throughout the lounge with dumplings and the like delivered by trolley service (highly recommended). There is also the expected buffet area, with Western and Chinese options. Your selection here is solid but uninspired and definitely catered to a budget. I tried a Japanese-style curry, some potato salad and some Moroccan-spiced cauliflower - all perfectly adequate but a restaurant-style dining experience this is not. With that being said, the offerings here are at least equivalent to what you'll find at the Cathay lounges and so my comments should be considered in that context.

I should pause at this juncture to take note of the bar stock, which in my opinion is very good. You won't find any real champagne here (nor will you in Cathay's lounges, although you will strike gold in the Emirates lounge in Hong Kong, if non-vintage commodity French swill is your thing). But you will get some very decent Australian wines, including a sparkling, and their quality belies their retail price on home shores in Australia.

I did not have cause to avail myself of the shower facilities during this visit but have on numerous other occasions and can vouch for their quality. There are perhaps 8 or 10 shower suites available, which are meticulously clean, stocked with decent toiletries and amenities (including hair driers) and possess properly hot water and good water pressure.

I have not taken the time to measure the wi-fi speeds, but can report that it has always been sufficient to allow browsing and video streaming without issue.

I think my opinion of Qantas' Hong Kong lounge is self-evidence from what is written above, but for the avoidance of doubt, know that I rate this facility very highly. OneWorld Emeralds and first-class ticket holders should head to one of Cathay's first class offerings, but the Qantas product here in HK is exceptional and has its own unique Australian flair - Highly recommended.

First Leg: Hong Kong to Singapore, via Kuala Lumpur, in Malaysia Airlines Business Class (737-800)

Malaysia Airlines has had a tough couple of years. Despite having a sterling safety record in prior years, the airline was rocked by two tragedies in 2014 and, until recently, it was unclear to what extent the Malaysian government was willing to continue to financially support its operations.

Such recent difficulties aside, I did ask myself, as I settled into 1A on this tired 737-800, why I was flying MH to Singpaore this afternoon. I had previously flown with the carrier from Sydney to KL in a decrepit 777-200 in economy in a 2-5-2 configuration that was an experience I'd sooner forget. I had also taken flights from KL to HK back when MH ran an A380 between the city pair, which was an exceptional service. Most recently, I had taken this very flight to HK in business when it was served by MH's now-retired 777-200. My travels on MH had always been driven by cost - while not quite Air Asia territory, MH has always undercut its competitors, on the routes I fly, by a sufficient margin such as to make them a viable option.

Today's tri[p was no exception. I needed to get from Hong Kong to Singapore to connect to an itinerary SIN-DXB, via Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne, in Emirates First Class and Qantas Domestic Business Class. My options to Singapore were plentiful, but almost all were expensive.

The most direct and obvious option, for this OneWorld-aligned flier, was Cathay Pacific - but having flown their regional business class on that very same route last year, and having paid close to US$2,500 for the privilege, I was not keen to send more money Cathay's way on this occasion. Jetstar was briefly considered (it is a short flight, after all), but the flight timing was not suitable. A quick visit to MH's website revealed a HKG-KUL-SIN fare, in discount economy, for approximately HK$800, a third of what Cathay and Singapore were asking. The expected upgrade email landed in my inbox shortly after making the booking and an (over-generous) bid of HK$1,200 and HK$800, for the HKG-KUL and KUL-SIN legs respectively, secured a business ticket to Singapore for a grand total of HK$2,800. Not an insignificant sum for a one-way to Singapore, but nevertheless a fraction of what any of the other carriers were asking for a business ticket outright.

First impressions were not good. After a pleasant visit to the Qantas lounge, I walked out at 2:00pm for my 2:45pm flight. Upon checking the flight displays, I discovered that I had the misfortune to be departing from Gate 501, a satellite gate, which necessitated a decent walk and then a bus ride which took some 20 minutes owing to airline traffic. I was the last to board, just as the gate was closing, and walked into a tired-looking, leather seat Malaysian cabin in the conventional 2-2 configuration which would be immediately familiar to those readers who have traveled in business class on Qantas' 737-800s.

My expectations were low but I am pleased to report that this was actually a very pleasant flight. Flying time from Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur is around three and a quarter hours, and with plenty of space and a comfortable seat, this was an effortless trip. The Malaysian 737-800 cabin is tired, and their hard product on this route is outclassed by their competitors SIA and Cathay, but their soft product is perfectly adequate. MH's staff have had a tough time of late, with the various restructurings invariably resulting in the laying off of hundreds of crew. But today's kebaya-clad crew tending the business cabin were terrific and epitomised the brand of warm hospitality that Malaysia is known for.

The champagne served on today's flight was terrible - I did not catch the label, but it is not good. Avoid. The meal - lunch on this sector - made up for in flavour what it lacked in presentation. I started with the mixed chicken and lamb satay, before moving on to a lamb rendang main course. The latter, in particular, was perfectly suited to service at altitude and was a solid dish in its own right.

Before I knew it, we were descending over the palm oil plantations into KLIA. Although it was a stormy afternoon, with flashes of lightning punctuating the sky, touchdown was uneventful and I was soon disembarking into KLIA.

I had a 60 min connection and, due to the arriving aircraft's punctual arrival, had time to pop into the Golden Lounge (regional) for a quick beer. I have spent some time in this lounge in the past and far prefer it to the larger business class offering in the satellite terminal. There is a staffed bar and a decent, if unimaginative, buffet spread. Good tarmac views round out the package. There does seem to be a bit of a "legacy-MH" tone to the staffing here, but overall it is a pleasant-enough space and, teamed with KLIA's transit-friendly layout, meant that I remain open to KLIA as a potential transit port through Asia.

My next leg was the short hop to Singapore, in another 737-800 and seated again in 1A. I should note at this point that MH has recently removed alcohol beverages from the menu on all flights of < 4 hrs, which obviously included this short hop to Singapore. This is not the place for me to make comment on the religious alignment of MH's (primarily state-held) shareholders, but personally this gives me a reason to to choose to fly MH Business on regional routes. A full-fare ticket on even this short route is an expensive proposition, and quite frankly at these kind of price points the withholding of beer, wine and spirits seems a dubious commercial practice. I fully appreciate that for much of MH's customer base this might be a complete non-event, but I feel obliged to make note of this change for the benefit of the readers of this post.

MH somehow manage to fit in a satay service on this 40 min hop and we were descending into Singapore before I knew it.

It's always a pleasure arriving in Singapore, even here in Terminal 1 which is SIA's original terminal opened in 1981 and lacks some of the modernities of T3. Immigration was a complete non-event - and is, in my opinion, the best in the world - and soon I was on my way to my hotel on Orchid Road to overnight before my flight the next afternoon.

Coming up next - The Emirates Lounge in Singapore and Emirates First Class to Brisbane.

 

[mmchow]

Re: HKG to AUH...via KUL, SIN, BNE, ADL, SYD, MEL and DXB - Emirates F, Qantas J + mo

Well written bmcc. Looking forward to your next instalment.

 

[24601]

Re: HKG to AUH...via KUL, SIN, BNE, ADL, SYD, MEL and DXB - Emirates F, Qantas J + mo

Also looking forward to the next installments. You don't need pictures, your writing does the job nicely, thanks.

 

[bmcc]

Re: HKG to AUH...via KUL, SIN, BNE, ADL, SYD, MEL and DXB - Emirates F, Qantas J + mo

Second Leg: Singapore to Brisbane, in Emirates First Class (777W, feat. Emirates Lounge Singapore)

Traveling into and out of Singapore is such a magnificently effortless experience. A twenty minute, SG$20 taxi ride whisked me from my hotel on Orchid Road to kerbside at T1, where Emirates flights depart to Brisbane, Melbourne, Colombo and, of course, the airline's mega-hub that is Dubai. I was eligible for, and had booked, the chauffeur service from my hotel to Changi but the car was late by more than 15 minutes and I could not be bothered calling, so just hopped a cab. This was the first time EK's chauffeur drive has let me down and I do not consider it a representative experience of the service as a whole.

Check-in was a painless affair, as was customs, and I soon found myself at the Emirates Lounge. Funnily enough, this was my first visit to an Emirates lounge anywhere in the world outside of Dubai. My usual choice ex-Singapore T1 would be the Qantas Lounge, the refurbished version of which opened a few years ago. Although I was eligible to access that lounge, as a QF Gold in First on an EK flight, its doors do not open until 3:00pm, too late for my purpose.


Emirates' lounge in Singapore is, at least in terms of fit-out and design, more or less identical to each of the airline's outstation offerings around the globe. Personally, I find the look a little bit dated and lacking in any real personality, especially compared to Qantas' refurbished Asian offerings and Cathay's new lounges in Manila and Bangkok. I suppose that consistency has its own charm though, and I understand Emirates comes in first on that front - it is very much a case of you know what you're getting when you visit one of their facilities.


Such subjective matters aside, first impressions here are quite good. The lounge is configured in an "L" shape, with the second half having terrific tarmac views out on to the gates and runway 02L/20R. The bar was a self-serve affair, with decent, non-vintage champagne (Veuve Clicquot, as I understand is the Emirates outstation standard), some middle-of-the-road French reds, a Marlborough sauvignon blanc and your standard house spirits. What was deeply impressive, for a lounge which although catering for both First and Business class passengers is definitely targeted more at the latter demographic, was the wide selection and good quality of the food on offer. I had intended to grab a late lunch once settled on the flight but instead helped myself to a lasagna dish, which was flavoursome and an absolute stunner by airport-lounge-standards, as well as some cheeses and deserts. Really good stuff here and will make me think twice about heading directly to the Qantas Lounge when I'm next flying through Singapore.


The bathrooms were a bit of a let down. Perfectly clean, but it's clearly been years since they have been renovated and that time is really due. I didn't need to use the showers but had a quick peek and they were quite dark and 'cupboardy' - but looked perfectly serviceable.


I found a seat facing the runway, fixed myself a strong drink and easily whiled away the 90 minutes to my flight. This was a really pleasant visit and I wouldn't hesitate to return. My conclusion - Very good, for a business class lounge offering.


My flight today was short - just seven hours between wheels up and touchdown and Brisbane, so I was really just looking for a comfortable seat, some good food and wine, and a pleasant view out the window. Emirates delivered all that, and more. This was a very enjoyable flight.


The measuring stick for the views I set out below are my previous, limited, first class travel experiences. Namely, long-haul emirates flights on both the A380 and the 777, mid-haul Qantas on their A380, and long-haul and regional flights on Cathay's 777. To get the suspense out of the way, I put Emirates in first place, overall, simply for reasons of flight availability, food and drink selection and, on their A380 services, the in-flight shower which may seem gimmicky at first but is a godsend after a long-haul, early morning arrival into a new city. Cathay's product I also rate very highly indeed. Their 3-suite-across configuration on the 777 is incredibly roomy and very private, especially when you are seated in 1A or 2A on the left-hand side. The soft-product on Cathay is superlative (if you are accustomed to Asian service culture) although the food and drink offerings can be hit and miss. Qantas' first class product on the A380 is a bit of a mixed bag. I think cramming 14 seats into the nose area of the plane wasn't the best idea, although I know that BA, and certain other carriers, do the same. Qantas also comes up lacking a bit in the food and drink department, which is a shame as I never got to fly the service in years gone by when they sported a world-class wine selection and the tasting-menu was up to scratch. I will say though that flying with a Qantas crew is always a great pleasure and something I look forward to on each occasion.


Today's flight featured the slightly-older configuration of Emirates' first class suite. There are a million reviews of this product floating around online, so I won't delve into too much detail. It is a surprisingly narrow seat, especially compared to Qantas' and Cathay's equivalents, and this is mostly down to the inclusion of the "minibar" on the window-side of the seat, which I personally view as a pointless indulgence when space is as limited as it is on an aircraft. Still, this is a very comfortable place to be for hours in the sky, and the novelty of the mechanised sliding doors does not wear off quickly. I usually leave mine open at all times when I am awake, but when you want to get some proper shut-eye there is nothing like closing the doors and looking up at the (fibre-optic-recreation) light of the stars in the sky.


Order of affairs for this afternoon's flight was champagne to start (Dom Perignon, 2006 vintage), caviar, arabic mezze platter, changeover to the 2000 Chateau Montrose, then desert, a cheese platter, a cognac (Hennessy Paradis) and then a cup of tea for good measure. I definitely overindulged. Although I should add that I tend not to usually eat too much on planes, and that I happily worked my way through 5 courses is a testament to the quality of what is served onboard in Emirates first. For first-time fliers, I would suggest you start with the caviar and mezze platter, and defer until later any subsequent courses - the mezze in particular is a large meal. Emirates offer a full dine-on-demand service so you may choose when to take your meal. On this trip, I waited until a couple of hours into the flight, had a leisurely meal over the course of a few hours, then had the bed prepared and even had time for a couple of hours of sleep before landing in Brisbane.


A few other brief observations. Crew on this flight were superb and couldn't be more helpful. It probably did not hurt that I was one of only two in the first class cabin today. The suite, once made up, was very comfortable although it falls behind Cathay and Qantas in this respect. A token payment of US$1 secured 500MB of in-flight wifi service, and so long as you are aware of the inherent shortcomings of such a system (i.e. don't expect to be streaming video or transferring large files) this is very satisfactory indeed.


What is, I think, most impressive about this flight was that despite a 7 hour flying time I was able to enjoy some decent champagne, an excellent meal, and still grab a couple of hours of sleep before a midnight arrival into the Queensland capital. This is a really exceptional service which should be considered alongside the incumbent Singapore Airlines and Qantas on this route. For those looking to burn QFF points, this trip would set you back 90,000 points plus fees and taxes, and I understand that availability is generally good. Excellent & highly recommended.

Next up - 3 domestic legs with Qantas in business class...

 

[bmcc]

Re: HKG to AUH...via KUL, SIN, BNE, ADL, SYD, MEL and DXB - Emirates F, Qantas J + mo

Third, Fourth and Fifth Legs: Brisbane to Adelaide to Sydney to Melbourne, in Qantas Business Class (737, feat. Qantas Domestic Business lounges in BNE, ADL, SYD and MEL)

Most readers of this site will be very well acquainted with Qantas' domestic business class on their narrowbody aircraft and so this review will simply set out, in a summary fashion, the noteworthy aspects of my experiences on these three domestic flights and in these four domestic business lounges.

1. Brisbane Domestic Business Lounge

My visit to the Qantas Domestic J Lounge on this occasion was on a Sunday evening and the lounge was heaving with passengers travelling to Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and an array of destinations north of Brisbane. Qantas' planned renovation of this facility simply cannot come soon enough - it was packed, noisy and a generally unpleasant place to be. I found a seat near the window in the back of the lounge where the carpet smelled of beer but I was at least modestly distanced from the racket near the bar area. I'm sure that Qantas' new facility here will be a stunner but for now, unless your visit is outside peak times, I find you are probably best served heading through the left door at reception into the Qantas Club where it's cleaner, quieter and altogether a nicer place to wait for your flight. Shamefully crowded - head next door.

2. Brisbane to Adelaide - J Class

The business cabin was around half full tonight and seat 1C next to me was left unoccupied. I have always found Qantas' domestic crews to be excellent and tonight was no exception - I was greeted at my seat, provided a drink (non-alcoholic on the ground on Qantas domestic) and boarding was completed efficiently, with about a 75% load in economy. Dinner was an artichoke and chicken pasta which was actually very decent, paired with an Australian chardonnay which I enjoyed but which name escapes me now. The 2:45 flight passed comfortably and uneventfully; glasses were topped up without prompting and soon we were on descent into Adelaide, where I was met by my driver (thanks, Qantas award transit rules!) and soon on my way to my hotel. A very pleasant flight indeed.

3. Adelaide Qantas Lounge

I was picked up my driver and, courtesy of the close proximity of Adelaide airport to the CBD, was at domestic check-in within fifteen minutes. I was not due to fly for another 3 hours but was keen to get to Sydney and could see on ExpertFlyer that seats were available on the earlier service. Upon enquiring at the service desk, the check-in agent cheerfully accommodated in my preferred seat on the earlier service - full marks for Qantas here.

There is no separate domestic Business lounge in Adelaide, with just the one facility shared by Platinum and Gold frequent fliers, Qantas Club members and those flying business class. Adelaide is also unique in that although international flights depart from the terminal (i.e. MH to KUL and SIA to SIN), no dedicated OneWorld international lounge is available, with such fliers directed to the domestic Qantas Lounge. As most Adelaidians will agree, this is a Very Good Thing for the South Australian Qantas flier, as the lounge here is above the standard of most Qantas lounges in the domestic network.

I had time for a quick beer before heading to the gate to board. Nothing eventful to report, but as always I enjoyed my stay here in the Adelaide lounge and look forward to returning. A great domestic lounge and brilliant on-ground service.

4. Adelaide to Sydney - J Class

Another half-full business cabin with great flight attendants and all-round good service. Wine kept topped up - almost too enthusiastically. Meal declined but snacked on some cheese and dip which was perfectly adequate. Arrived into Sydney feeling relaxed. Pleasant flight and a good example of Qantas consistency in (domestic) premium cabins.

5. Sydney Domestic Business Class Lounge

There's nothing particularly outstanding about this lounge but it is a nice place to while away the time - and (in my eyes) a marked improvement on the Qantas Club down the corridor. I always enjoy the tarmac views and even at peak hour I have never had too much trouble finding a place to sit. Much appreciated, in the morning at least, is the barista service, although today my choice was sparkling wine which was perfectly fine. Another uneventful visit but this should not be taken as a criticism - This is a good lounge.

6. Sydney to Melbourne - J Class

I was on the 5:00pm commuter flight tonight, in 1F this time. Flight was mostly full in business and packed to the gills in economy. I had originally hoped to be able to change to the 4:30pm A330-200 service but was informed on check-in that the flight was full. Not a bad thing - as it turned out, both the 4:30 and the 5:15 services were cancelled by Qantas while I was in the lounge. Capacity management, or Melbourne weather, I predict.

I stuck to wine on this flight despite the crew's encouragement for me to dine. A sneaky glance at my seatmate's meal suggests that it was pretty good. This is a short flight, but once again the Qantas crew were flawless and I arrived in Melbourne relaxed and ready for my international transfer. Terrific domestic service.

7. Melbourne Domestic Business Class Lounge

Although my ultimate destination upon arrival in Melbourne was the International F Lounge, I made a quick pit-stop at the Domestic J Lounge to have a beer with a friend who was also travelling that day. To my mind, this is the pick of the east-coast business lounges - being quite spacious and having a decent-enough view onto the tarmac. My only criticism would be the speed of the bar service, although this probably reflects the weeknight commuter's voracious thirst (for beer...to which I can relate!) rather than any issue with the lounge staff. Qantas' best domestic business lounge on the East coast.

Next up: QF F Lounge visit and the long-haul to Dubai in Emirates First Class on the A380...

 

[kermatu]

Re: HKG to AUH...via KUL, SIN, BNE, ADL, SYD, MEL and DXB - Emirates F, Qantas J + mo

Nice reports - thanks for this.

Agree with many of your views. The EK lounge in SIN is my preferred lounge for the exact reasons you mention. Consistently good QF service can also be relied upon.

 

[bmcc]

Re: HKG to AUH...via KUL, SIN, BNE, ADL, SYD, MEL and DXB - Emirates F, Qantas J + mo

Sixth Leg: Melbourne to Dubai, in Emirates first class (A380, feat. Qantas First Lounge)

A belated addition to my trip report which had hitherto gone unfinished...

Tonight's flight was the A380 direct service from Melbourne to Dubai, departing around 9:00pm and arriving in Dubai in the early hours of the following morning.

I had previously flown this route in First on the 777 with a stop-over in Singapore. Although that was a very enjoyable flight, the Singapore intermission was pretty unwelcome at 2:00am and so I was pleased to be on the non-stop this evening.

First call was the Qantas First Class Lounge, which I was looking forward to after a pleasant visit last year. Not much had changed this time around. To my surprise, I was offered a spa appointment upon checking in at the front desk, although with only an hour 'til boarding and needing to fit a shower in the interim, I unfortunately had to decline the offer. A quick shower to freshen up, and I moved towards the dining area in far right corner of the lounge. The champagne selection was decent (Veuve, Moët and Tattinger, all non-vintage) but I must say the meal offerings were a bit disappointing. This season's menu seemed a bit spartan compared to what I had seen the year before. With nothing jumping out at me, I (adventurously) settled on a club sandwich and it was a pretty lackluster plate. Service was also not brilliant - I waited a good 15 minutes and ended up having to flag a waiter down to have my order taken from the dining area. I hope this isn't reflective of the direction that Qantas (and Sofitel, who I understand manage the lounge) are taking the lounge, as I truly did enjoy my previous visit and had always rated it a world-class offering. With all that being said, this was hardly 'roughing it', and as I left the lounge for my departure gate I was still perfectly relaxed and well-sated for my upcoming long haul flight.

Again, Emirates first class has been covered off by so many reviews that I won't do too much of a deep-dive here. Order of proceedings was champagne ('06 Dom Perignon, and to be honest, probably too much), caviar, arabic mezze, cheese, desert, sleep. Service was polished but friendly - really very good. After a leisurely 2 hour meal service, during which I caught up on emails and watched a few shows, I had my suite made up (in 2K tonight) and settled in for the night. To my great surprise, I ended up sleeping for almost 8 hours, and awoke at around 4:00am UAE time, about an hour out from top of descent. I have previously said that I find the Emirates first class suite a little narrow and uncomfortable compared to some of its competitors, but there is nothing like being able to shut the door, gain some privacy and then settle in for a decent sleep. I took a shower a half hour later, the last appointment prior to descent. The Emirates shower suite is such an over-the-top decadence, and seems a gimmick, but after 13 hours of flying, and arriving into a 38 degree morning in Dubai, it really is a treat. Skipped breakfast, instead opting for a black coffee and another glass of champagne (hey, I was on holiday), and before I knew it we were touching down in Dubai. Given this is a ~14 hour sector, it was really an effortless and very enjoyable flight. A long walk through immigration and then to Emirates' chauffeur drive desk, before bundling into the Emirates car (E Class, clean) on my way to my home for the next two nights, the Le Meridien at Jumeirah Beach.

To sum up: An effortless and highly enjoyable trip on Emirates. A very solid offering.

 

[bmcc]

Re: HKG to AUH...via KUL, SIN, BNE, ADL, SYD, MEL and DXB - Emirates F, Qantas J + mo

Seventh Leg: Abu Dhabi to Hong Kong, in Etihad Business Class (feat. Etihad Premium Lounge in AUH)

Three nights in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, catching up with good friends and generally (over)indulging, and I was ready to head back home to Hong Kong.

Having made by way from Hong Kong to Abu Dhabi on a mixture of one-way and award tickets, I was surprised to find that it was actually not a particularly simple affair to make my way back home. There seems to be a dearth of carriers on the Abu Dhabi>Hong Kong route, I have to imagine because most travelers will simply make the hour-long drive back to Dubai and hop onto an Emirates or Cathay service from there.

I had instead chosen to buy a one-way economy fair on Etihad, which set me back around US$680, with a 10:30pm departure. I then used the "bid upgrade" function on Etihad's website to submit an US$750 bid for an upgrade to business class which, fortunately, was confirmed the day before travel. This was obviously not a cheap sector, but given that the previous ~15,000kms had been more or less 'free', and that it was a red-eye arriving in Hong Kong on Sunday, I really wanted to get some sleep before work the next day. It would also be my first trip on Etihad, and so I was looking forward to sampling their mid-long haul product on this route.

Passengers who have received an op-up or bid for an upgrade to business are not eligible for Etihad's chauffeur service, and so I bundled myself into a taxi at T-3 hours before my flight for the drive to AUH. Etihad has a dedicated check-in area for first and business class passengers, and I was ticketed and through the (premium dedicated) immigration within 5 minutes of reaching the airport. Very nice.

There are two terminals which Etihad departs from at AUH, and two Etihad premium lounges (I understand there is also a dedicated first class lounge). As I now understand it, I ended up using the older and less impressive of the two lounges. It was indeed a pretty tired looking place. There was a single shower stall in the (very cramped) toilets, and the whole place was dark and generally needed an update. I understand the newer lounge is actually a very impressive facility and would recommend that other passengers choose this option, accounting for the 10-15 minute walk you may need to reach your departure gate if you are departing from the other terminal.

Although it was a sad little place, there was a very good buffet spread and a staffed bar. There was also a dedicated dining area, although no table service to speak of.

Boarding was a bit of a scrum - although this is more to do with AUH airport than Etihad. Business and status passengers were called first with a dedicated boarding lane which worked well, and I was boarded and at my seat (8H) very quickly indeed.

Tonight's flight was on one of Etihad's A330-200s, which feature a full lie-flat business class seat with 1-2-1 seating. As I was travelling solo, I was pleased with the privacy afforded by this configuration. It is also a very handsome interior, with understated colours and a comfortable and relatively wide seat in the upright position. I would rate this product above the business class seats on Emirates (both A380 and 777), Cathay and Qantas. Qatar's new business on their 787 and A350 looks very good and may well surpass Etihad here, but I can't report on that until after my first trip with them in October...

Tonight's menu looked good - memory now fails me but if I had been minded to eat I'm sure it would have hit the spot. Instead, I ordered a cheese board and had a few glasses of desert wine, before having my bed made up and settling in for the 8:30 flight to Hong Kong.

6 hours sleep later, I was gently awoken by the stewardess and informed that we would shortly be beginning our descent into Hong Kong.

There's not much more to say other than that I had a very favourable first flight with Etihad. Between the class-leading hard product, good onboard food and wine offerings and unobtrusive yet attentive service, I would not hesitate at all to fly with the carrier again.