StarwoodGuy: Around the World With Starwood Hotels in 30 Days - Day 10 Travel on Emirates, Business and First

Well no hotel this time, this day is strictly a flying day with Emirates. After I left the Plaza Athenee in Bangkok in my complimentary Emirates car, a perk when flying in Business or First, I made it quickly to the Bangkok airport. The Emirates counter was surprisingly in a little confusion as their last flight had just left but the next, mine, was not leaving for another four hours but since it was 9:45 pm many people came to the airport early having been forced out of hotel rooms and were really just ready to get on the plane. I picked up my ticket at the Business counter and made my way through the premium immigration line (APEC and/or Business/First gives you this perk). It was a long stretch to the Emirates Lounge which was large and functional with very good foods focussing on some Thai and Indian options as well as meats and cheeses, a fully stocked bar, and Moet for me! I managed to get some work done and then headed to the plane. We were around fifteen minutes late but when we finally boarded it was a bit of a mess. The boarding gate area is really not equipped for the large number of passengers on an A380. Once I squeezed through and onto the upper deck of the A380 I found the large business cabin almost too large. The pods were wonderful and there was plenty of staff but it felt like a busy hectic situation, very different from Business on my Cathay or Jal flights. I was wishing they had divided the cabin up a little more. I knew there was a Business Lounge at the back of the plane but since it was 2:00 am by the time we had our first drink and the plane took off, virtually everyone went to sleep instantly. The pod was comfortable as was the duvet, I opted for the Express breakfast so that I could sleep longer but the noise from other passengers being served two hours before landing made this impossible. I turned down omelettes and other more elaborate options and chose a croissant and coffee. Before I knew it my coffee cup was gone and when I asked for more it was as though it was an inconvenience.

After de-planing at the A380 Terminal in Dubai I was expecting something great, instead the upper and lower cabins of the plane were squished together into one connected security line where we had to go through a security scan again, even if you were just getting on another flight. I had only managed four hours of sleep and it was 5:00 am Dubai time and I, like many, were confused and unprepared as we went through security. Twenty minutes later I found the elevator to the lounges. With three hours until my flight to Amsterdam I was excited. The elevator was crammed and I was at the back and the only one flying in First on the next flight out of that group. The First Lounge is on Level Four, and everyone else in the elevator was headed to the Business Lounge on Level Five. People I had just been sitting next to now threw me daggers as I squeezed out and into the First Lounge. I was instantly disappointed. There were just two attendants blocking two narrow doors. I checked in and walked inside to find a long hallway going in either direction on both sides of an open mezzanine. I was confused and wondered what all of the hype was about with this terminal and Lounge. Then I saw the map showing the six or so various eating areas, the full service restaurants, the various shower rooms and the spa. The entire floor of this A380 wing at the Dubai airport is one massive First Class Lounge! I meandered around, the Lounge was like a ghost village. I looked at one of the duty free stores then the other shops that were on this floor, just for those in First, before going to one of the shower rooms and having a relaxing twenty minute shower and shave. When I came out I settled on the eating area closest to my gate. Tea with steamed milk, croissants and foie gras (sorry I could not resist) and more Moet. The staff kept coming up and asking why I did not want to go to the restaurant and have a full meal, or if I preferred they would make whatever I wanted off of the menu and bring it to me wherever I chose to sit. I explained I had been eating for what seemed like forever, and I knew I had food to come onboard. I finished a bit of work and finally it was time to board.

A separate elevator takes you right to the First and Business boarding area when it is time for your flight and once there I made it right to my seat 2K. The Dom was poured and I was watching Downton Abbey in seconds on my large tv, though I could have used the hand held tablet that was available as well. My seat was stocked with refreshments as my business class pod had been, but here there was a devilishly tempting basket of cookies and chocolates staring at me. The A380 being a wonderful plane meant that I barely knew when we had taken off. Menus are provided and the flight attendants tell you everything is on your schedule, pick anything or everything from the menu and eat when you want. I opted for canapes and champagne for the first two hours, then I ordered my full meal, starting with caviar, then the duck, a chicken main, and the cheese platter and both the dessert wine and port to round of my meal. There were many other desserts but since I was now stuffed I opted for the chocolate that came with my tea and that was it, until they came and told me it was my turn for the shower. Having a shower at 38,000 feet is, well extraordinary. We all know how showers make you feel so good especially after a long flight, and I had only just had one at the Lounge in Dubai, but from the fluffy towels to the warm ambience of the shower suite, I was in heaven. I made it back to my suite for one last cup of tea before landing. The service was unbelievable, I managed to chat with my server for a great deal of the flight, everyone else had their first pod sealed up. I went back to the Business Lounge but there was not much happening and the drinks were better in First, and the First Lounge is less a seating area then just a self-serve bar and food area though I have no idea who would use it since they bring you everything you need. Before landing I popped my head downstairs to see the economy section which looked packed, though if I were flying there I would definitely try to get the legroom from their first row which seemed endless. To sum up, the Emirates Business was not as good as JAL or Cathay, but the First was beyond anything I have experienced outside of Singapore Airlines, well worth the price of my Business ticket upgraded by using miles. Next time I would book to have extra hours at the lounge in Dubai to allow for work, a complimentary trip to their hotel at the airport, and a stop in the spa. Emirates First is amazing!