Flew on Emirates metal for the first time recently with this new AU - NZ code share arrangement.
Was a QF booking with a QF flight number in J class. AKL to MEL.
As a QF WP/ OWE, after reading all these upgrade stories, I was hoping to see the First Cabin, but no luck.
Got to the airport about 2.5 pre flight. Big queue at Y check in. 2 people in line at J, and no wait at first.
They also have pre cleared customs agent like QF does at AKL.
Only a short segment, but given the QF metal option being a 737, and the EK code share being an A380, there is a big difference between the two J class offerings. (the well known difference in noise level being the most appreciated!)
The EK lounge at AKL is amazing. Nice and quiet, well spaced out, you don't feel like you're surrounded by people. Huge choice of food at the buffet, (cant comment on the alcohol as a non drinker) I would rate the QF AKL lounge a 3 /10 and the EK lounge a 8/10. Wait staff very prompt and not obtrusive. Empty plates / bottles were cleared away frequently.
Onboard the J cabin seats gives alot more privacy than the QF A380 offering. Loved the A row seats, up against the window, with the individual bar/shelf area to the right hand side of the seat. However i did note the drinks in the individual bar were room temperature/warmish, hence I preferred to order a fresh drink from staff than utilise the mini bar.
Service was attentive and pleasant. I lost count of the number of cabin crew serving, and for my leg i'd estimate J was only 1/3 full.
Food onboard was lovely, good choice for such a short segment. Even the warm nuts pre dinner were lovely. Had a lovely rack of lamb, done nicely medium rare.
Loved the large tv screen with individual ipad type controller. However mine did get a little "touchy" towards the end. Eg when in its holder, any shake or bump seemed to make it start self selecting things. Problem fixed by removing from the holder.
Seat was very comfortable, great for reclining and watching tv. Didn't sleep , but did test out the lay flat position and was impressed.
I will be going out of my way to choose the EK metal now for all my MEL - AKL return flights, and would be happy to pay the little bit more the EK metal flights seem to cost ($100 ish dollars each way seems to be the normal)
Checked out the bar at the back of the J section on the top deck - I don't really get the need for this, but there was 2 people using it. Would prefer this space was used for bigger bathrooms or even a J shower if Im going to dream! Having flown in Y and Y+ long haul before so I get the need for a self serve bar for drinks and snacks. But in J class, if I want, the staff are so attentive, they bring everything to you, and if I don't have to walk down an aisle with a drink during possible turbulence, I'm all for it.
My only negative I could pick them up on would be - I noticed they were showing other customers how to work the seat, iPad type controller, window blind controllers etc, but seemed to pretty much ignore me pre take off. (maybe because I was about 30 years younger than just about everyone else on the flight they assumed I knew what I was doing, and yes I did figure it out in the end) They did come round with a preflight drink and welcomed me back - at this point I even said - its not welcome back as its my first EK metal flight ever.
Call it my imagination , but I do find as a single female traveller who doesn't usually travel in business attire, I do feel a little neglected when it comes to on board recognition/service. Im a fairly shy and meek type, and do often find myself getting barrelled out of the way in Dom J lounges by a hoard of business men in suits with wheelaboards slamming into me as they come at me 4 wide across a corridor. (maybe this is the so called DYKWIA brigade!) You would think they'd see the almost 6ft tall red haired girl coming the other way!
Speaking of the DYKWIA brigade, there was definitely one on board, who halfway through the flight (I believe with the assistance of alcohol) went mental. Started yelling and screaming about his credit card being stolen by the flight attendant when he was ordering duty free. I kept on hearing "I've got $15,000 limit on that card" He became quite abusive and threatening, but the cabin crew kept their cool, found the card and the "gentleman" settled down eventually.
If there was a way to fly domestically all the time on EK , I would ditch QF for sure, but unfortunately 95% of my flying is domestic. Loved the fact that the QF flight number on this trip meant I got to earn my status credits, and have now re-qualified for WP only 5 months into my membership year.
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