Update: See this post for a full, updated review of the recently renovated Concorde Room. The driver was waiting for us at the Park Hyatt on-time in a 150,000km+ Mercedes stationwagon. I'm still a bit confused by why the first class Emirates chauffeur fleet isn't any nicer than the business class fleet, not that I'm…
Continue reading: A380 Extravaganza: Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai
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How can anyone have any stomach to eat, after the overkill FC concourse buffet.... 🙂
I still think it's way overkill, where they could just merge 4th/5th floors together and that's still a world's first "concourse lounge"
Anyway, first world problems indeed
Wow! Thank you for sharing! Was there a kids area too? I recall the business class lounge in T3 had one that was quite fitting for kids.
The old one is large as well, almost too big, but we enjoyed the ala carte menu as well. Concur on the check-in and ground service, we had the same experience, just no beating TG and LH in my view at their home airports. TG is a hair better than LH in my view, especially with the spa, but the immigration, security, and Porsche at the FCT evens it out.
Cool! How early did you get to the lounge? Do they have time restrictions (let's say someone has a 15 hour layover in Dubai)?
Great Report, Mr. Schlappig.
I thought the UAE, as a Muslim country, would not have pork products available.
I am waiting for your next report!
@ Joey -- We got there about four hours before departure, though you can stay there for as long as you'd like.
the lounge impresses with its over-the-top luxury, for sure, but I couldn't help being a bit sad about the waste involved. So much energy wasted to power an often empty floor, and food on countless lounge buffets that will only be pecked at and likely tossed at day's end.
Absolutely amazing! Such opulence... I thought the crazy bling in Dubai would end with the financial crisis but they keep it coming. Oh and the farting chair cracked me up 🙂 I am curious what the lounge access rules are. I am planning a trip to Maldives (yet again - I know!) with the whole family and was thinking of Emirates but have just my wife and I go in F and make the kids "suffer" on their own in business now they are old enough. But would we all be able to access the F lounge I wonder? I am wondering if there is a guest policy?
@wowed but sad - have to agree, that is what i mean by the bling opulence. it is crazy really when you think about it.
I was in the new A380 Concourse lounge two weeks ago on my way to JFK.
Isn't that lounge a kick? I thought the duty-free shop was hilarious. I mean, god forbid one should have to shop next to the hoi polloi!
It is a shame that they don't have individual quiet rooms, like the Concorde Room cabanas, or LH's First Class Terminal in Frankfurt. I think that's about the only complaint I would have.
And the showers are far superior to the other lounge. The other showers are tiny cubicles, barely large enough to disrobe and dress. Had I not just showered on the A380, I would have tried them out. Did you avail yourself of one? I imagine they have the horrid shampoo found in the other lounge or on the plane; it took forever to comb my hair after using that stuff. I have learned to bring my own shampoo and conditioner!
Do you know if all A380 flights are going through that terminal yet? Or how one determines that? It would be such a letdown to find one's self in T3. Almost as bad as connecting from the A380 to an AA 737 : (
I'm hoping they start flying to ORD soon.....
@ meegs -- I'm not positive, though I do believe a vast majority of A380 flights depart out of the new pier already.
Lucky, Question- Do any of these lounges have coat checks so I can leave my winter coat and pick it up when I fly back?
@meegs. You should take the shower anyways. If my layover is long enough i even hit the showers at the UC in EWR when all i have flown is BOS-EWR 🙂
hmmm i will fly business from dubai to venice in about 10 days. unfortunately not a big a380. we will departure in terminal 3. is the new lounge far away? or will we not have acess since our flight is not on a a380? THANKS
No Mercedes to the gate? Geez I was expecting at least a Rolls Royce.
Double yawn!!!
🙂
if the spa in the lounge was not ready... did they offer to go to business class lounge spa?
Wait till all the Qantas Platinums start using it when access is granted. Lots more people then!
@ Rowena -- If you're not flying an A380 your flight won't leave from there, though you may still have access to the lounge.
@ Nick -- I didn't notice any, though frankly in these types of lounges I feel comfortable just leaving my belongings unattended somewhere for hours at a time.
Lucky, you as half-german should know that 150.000 km is just the beginning of the lifecycle of many Mercedes... I have driven with a taxi driver in Germany that had over 350.000 km on his car, and according to him he just recently had his first gearbox changed...
Just wanted to point out- that particular garlic bread was not naan. Naan is a special flatbread; it comes in many varieties such as garlic, butter, peshawari, etc.
Anyway, loving this trip report and that food looks tasty!
Emirates is introducing a new status tier that should increase the ranks of people allowed into that lounge. Plus the Qantas partnership might swell it as well
@ Pranav M.
In many Muslim countries, pork products are available at different levels. In Dubai, you won't see it on the menu at restaurants, but you will find it in many supermarkets in rooms marked "For non-Muslims" only.
Don't forget with the impending commencement of QF-EK, platinum status members of both programmes can access the first class lounge irrespective of travel class & bring an additional guest.
The first class lounge will start to fill up soon.
Why would they not make the 5th floor F and the 4th floor C?
I always want my (hotel) status to get me on the highest floor!
Finally, an airline that correctly identifies those chocolately, nibbly things! Look deep into the a la carte menu...Petit Fours! Lucky, I think you were led astray by Cathay, who lists them as Pralines.
Lucky, how was the quality of the food in the lounge compared to the LH FCT and TQ lounge in Bangkok?
Also, someone mentioned something about the crazy bling in Dubai ending with the financial crisis, but Dubai keeps it coming...well, as long as Abu Dhabi keeps bailing them out when the bottom drops out, Dubai will keep it coming 😉
@ wwk5d -- I thought the food quality was comparable to Lufthansa's lounges, which I consider to have the highest quality lounge food of any airline.
Lucky - quick overview... How many miles for the one-way? How many seats are open to awards (guessing two). Best miles currency to transfer to from MR points? Thanks and keep up the good work!
@ Pointsloverrrrr -- I was on a paid ticket so didn't use miles here. Emirates often releases two award seats per flight, though it does require a bit of flexibility. From Membership Rewards there's not really a way to book Emirates. The best programs are Japan Airlines and Alaska (transfer partners with Starwood), as well as Korean Air (transfer partner with Chase Ultimate Rewards).
[...] F lounges? Looks like an 11.25pm arrival and 1am departure. ie similar to those posted here: A380 Extravaganza: Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai - One Mile at a Time FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Six days in India via Swiss, Emirates and British First Class [...]