[AMA] Tonight I'm Flying Emirates First Class to Europe Thanks to Ozb QFF Points, with Wi-Fi All The Way

Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 07:55
Last edited 06/09/2019 - 17:34 by 1 other user

Tonight I'll be enjoying the fruits of all the time spent / wasted applying for, and cancelling, credit card deals found on OzBargain.

Flight is about 12 hours away (EK407 departing MEL @ 21:15) so I'm currently hydrating to prepare for all the champagne and whiskey ;-)

Because I'm a dedicated OzBargainer, I've just bought my Skybus ticket (with a 10% discount code) to get to the airport. Sadly the chauffeur drive option is no longer available on reward bookings.

Ask me anything… and I'll have Wi-Fi for the whole flight so I can post pics from the bar on request. Not the shower :-P

All photos here

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closed Comments

    • Rdmelbourne on 03/09/2019 - 23:33
      +1

      Just a correction - catch Tram 59 to Airport West and not Tram 57.

    • Hirolol on 04/09/2019 - 16:36
      +3

      Can’t remember where from but I know someone that did that.
      Took them 2 hours.
      They fully regretted it afterwards.

  • Islund on 03/09/2019 - 09:27

    Is it 1st class from Melbourne to Dubai only? Or where in Europe if you don't mind me asking?

    • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 10:08
      +5

      MEL DXB, DXB BCN, all in 1st.

  • PoorStudent on 03/09/2019 - 09:36
    +1

    How long in advance did you book?

    • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 10:10

      About 40 days in advance. Was watching dates like a hawk and got lucky (which is pretty much all you can do if you want to redeem QFF points for anything worthwhile!) Still trying to find a return flight, though!

    • knobbs on 03/09/2019 - 10:39

      For my RTW J booking we had this year, you literally have to be online and booking 1yr ahead of the flight. All the spots go on the 1st day available on anything decent.

      • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 10:52

        Yeah. I'm a last minute kind of guy generally.

        • meowmeowmeow on 03/09/2019 - 14:10

          If you are flexible, Qantas usually open up left over seats in the last couple of weeks before the flight. You'd have to fly outside of peak times as a minimum.
          For example, I had a business award flight booked LAX to SYD but it was via Melbourne, since that's all I could get at the time. A few weeks before, the direct LAX to SYD flight opened up and i called and changed to it.

          • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 15:01

            @meowmeowmeow: Yeah I've noticed that; I'll be angling for a flight on just a few days notice this time. Fingers crossed.

          • vasya on 05/09/2019 - 12:10

            @meowmeowmeow: Guys could you please explain how early booking works in case of RTW. For example I want to start my journey on 1st January 2021 from Sydney then a couple of legs like on 10th January, 15th January and 20th January and finally my last leg from Singapore to Sydney let say on 1st February.
            So in order to secure the ticket I'm logging in to QFF site 361 days in advance on 5th January 2020 and assuming tickets are available book my tickets for the 1st January 2021. But what happens with the rest of my RTW legs?
            1) should I login 4 more times to book the rest of the legs (each time when I have 361 day before respective leg's date) or
            2) QFF site will let me booking all the legs including the final one on the 1st February 2021?

            And if only the first option above is available does that mean that I have to login to QFF site 361 days in advance of my final leg on 1st February 2021 in order to ensure that I can book all my RTW legs at once?

            • meowmeowmeow on 05/09/2019 - 13:30

              @vasya: I would be interested in the answer to this also. So far i've only ever booked return flights, and it's safest and easiest to do this as two one way tickets and just pay the slightly higher taxes. I have been wondering how anyone books a RTW.

  • DarthAntz on 03/09/2019 - 10:46
    +1

    What bargains have you found on www.hotukdeals.com to buy while you are in europe?

    • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 15:00
      +1

      I did actually buy something off there a few years ago.. can't remember what it was. Not sure there's any relative bargains given the AUD these days, though!

  • [Deactivated] on 03/09/2019 - 10:51
    +1

    Do you have a middle seat? Why pick a window seat when you can sit next to a virtual one ? :)

    P.s: Turn on and off the water to stretch out that 5mins shower experience 🚿

    • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 15:00

      Already picked window seats :-) Though most of the flights will be in darkness, in any case.

      I've done the shower a couple of times in the past, might skip it and just have one in the DXB lounge this time.

      • [Deactivated] on 03/09/2019 - 15:07
        +1

        Bon voyage :)

      • vetopower on 03/09/2019 - 16:21

        Have you not been tempted to try first class on another airline then?

        Qatar can be booked with QF points. As can Cathay.

        • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 19:43
          +1

          Yeah I was considering HKG LHR in CX first for this trip (with the added bonus of only ~$300 in fees to book).

          Qatar of course has a very compelling J product, but as we know it's very hard to find QFF reward availability.

          Really I'm only interested in burning all these points for this very long haul stuff - going direct to/from Europe. For shorter flights I don't think it's worth it.

          And let's face it, EK F is one of the very best out there.

          • slknv on 05/09/2019 - 12:26

            @z0s0:

            Qatar of course has a very compelling J product, but as we know it's very hard to find QFF reward availability.

            I used asiamiles to book qatar J for next march europe to melbourne (can't wait to try out the q suites), was plenty of flights available out of Milan. Of course depends on your dates and departure port. Wonder if asiamiles shows more availability than qff? The asiamiles booking system is better than qff, much easier to see adjacent dates.

            Agreed - don't waste points on short flights

    • Chumly on 06/09/2019 - 10:55
      +1

      I don't think this is the new first class on the 777 with the virtual window

      Reward bookings can only be done on the A380 with the old first class. Not that it is old.

      • TheMindsetTraveller on 06/09/2019 - 13:50

        You can book the new 777 with virtual window but EK has only two of those planes in service; so they are pretty rare in the scheme of things (I believe one of the flights is to Brussels). It is my opinion that the new First Class was a bit of a marketing ploy but that said, it looks much nicer than the dated First Class product.

        • [Deactivated] on 06/09/2019 - 15:05

          EK has only two of those planes in service

          Only 2? I took it ex DXB to HND and a mate caught it a week prior to MLE.

  • meowmeowmeow on 03/09/2019 - 15:59
    +2

    I feel like I'm right with you waiting to head to the airport…looking forward to the pics later :)

    • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 19:38
      +14

      It's on! https://www.instagram.com/ozbargain.firstclass/

      • [Deactivated] on 03/09/2019 - 20:09

        Are you travelling alone?

        • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 20:29

          Yep

          • [Deactivated] on 03/09/2019 - 20:49
            +5

            @z0s0: You know what would make this AMA even more exciting? What if… What if you were to meet your soulmate in that luxury metal tube, 30,000ft up in the sky?! Apparently the chances are 1 in 50, which is higher than on any dating app.😀

            Less excitingly, 15% of passengers add a new business connection to their network.

            So go make new friends. We'll still be here when you land :)

      • Serapis on 04/09/2019 - 16:58

        Thank you!

        We can now proclaim this trip OZBARGAINED

  • herecomestheoost on 03/09/2019 - 17:24

    I can't stop laughing at this post.. Well done! True dedication!

  • WordsToSayIt on 03/09/2019 - 18:00

    Can I ask if you had to "increase" spending? How did you meet minimum spend, if you don't mind me asking? :)

    Why no pics from the 🚿? I'm personally only seeking G-rated ones of the furnishings….😁

    • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 19:37

      No, I find it pretty easy to meet the minimum spend TBH. Tend to get a bit creative with prepaying various bills etc. Plus I run a business so that can help with expenses also (but mostly it's just personal spend)

  • iceborg on 03/09/2019 - 18:02
    +4

    Enjoy.

    At the end of the month, the wife, myself and my 5 year old are flying return to San Fran from Adelaide on QFF with CC points earnt… Total cost for the 3 of us, $1030.

    Melbourne to San Fran should hopefully be premium economy on points too.

    So rewarding and satisfying knowing it should have cost around $3600 on a good day, $5000 regular price.

    • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 19:35
      +4

      Yep. It's OzBargain paradise. Some of the wine I plan to drink tonight retails > $400/bottle.

      • Cheapskate Paul on 03/09/2019 - 19:53
        +3

        $400 is the cheap stuff lol. Enjoy the caviar.

  • dufflover on 03/09/2019 - 18:09

    So you plan on eating much in the First Lounge?

    I had the 1st World Class problem of eating too much in one F lounge then struggling to try everything in the next F lounge or plane. And I wasn't even flying First but Business, WP at the time.

    • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 19:34
      +2

      In there now.. it's a little underwhelming to be honest. Doesn't appear much better than business class lounges I've visited (Muscat, KL Golden Lounge).

      Will report back once I've eaten dinner :-)

      • TheMindsetTraveller on 04/09/2019 - 07:11

        I agree, the DXB First Lounge is definitely underwhelming in my several past visits. It's basically an entire terminal level that is so big and so impersonal. Flying First is all about the personalised experience where staff are there to serve, greet you by name, welcome you, take care of you, find you and escort you to the plane when its time to board, and generally to go above and beyond - you get nothing like that at this lounge.

  • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 18:27
    +10

    Status update: now onboard the skybus and am the only passenger! First class experience has already begun!

    And so begins my Instagram stream for this journey: https://www.instagram.com/p/B18WH2YF2fj/?igshid=853v4sr3fatd

  • Maybe on 03/09/2019 - 19:12
    +1

    What amazing benefits do you enjoy once you set foot through the airport doors? I've always envied the super short lines at check in with the red carpet all rolled out whilst us commoners wait forever for that one person to rifle through his/her luggage to reduce that 2kg extra baggage weight.

    • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 19:32
      +5

      So this is interesting… today I arrived at the Emirates First Class check-in desk and noted that there was hardly anyone waiting at the economy desks either. So didn't save any time there at all.

      Then I proceeded to security, where I waved my Express Pass which sends you down a different lane where you can effectively jump the queue ahead of all the normal people (and feel like a bit of a d**k doing so). But again, there were no people so it really made no difference.

      Contrast this to other airports: In Dubai you have a whole seperate terminal area where you never mix with economy passengers, not in security screening or anywhere else. In Muscat (Oman), Oman Air Business Class even has a dedicated check-in and security area.

      BTW Qantas First in Melbourne does have a dedicated check-in area, but as I'm flying Emirates I couldn't use that.

  • nomoneynoproblems on 03/09/2019 - 19:17
    +6

    I don't know why, but I'm compelled.

  • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 19:28

    Oh no! There's no availability in the Qantas First Lounge Day Spa for a massage :-(

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B18aXmmFjKF/

  • Excelsior on 03/09/2019 - 19:44

    Get on Instagram Live while you're on board!

  • Captain M on 03/09/2019 - 19:48

    Tell us about the service at checkin. Do they weigh you bags and make sure they fit?

    • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 19:51

      haha. Well my suitcase only weighed 13kg and my carry-on was tiny. Normally I don't even check a bag actually.

  • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 19:51

    So… dinner choice reccommendations anyone?

    https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kenasDCwWVOnYeugS3PkGz3pN3…

    • Aureliia on 04/09/2019 - 08:44
      +1

      Picture doesn't work.

  • GourmetFoodie on 03/09/2019 - 19:52
    +1

    Love this. True Ozbargainer. Look forward to hearing full trip review. Particularly interested in food options, drink options and perks that go beyond typical business class.

  • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 19:53
    +3

    Whilst I'm deciding on dinner… https://www.instagram.com/p/B18doCtFvd8/

    • Cheapskate Paul on 03/09/2019 - 20:01
      +1

      I enjoyed the brisket there once. The Pavlova is good.

      • vetopower on 03/09/2019 - 20:11

        Pavlova is a favourite of mine too.

    • tanoshiiki on 03/09/2019 - 20:07

      Never tried, but I would choose gua bao, the salt and pepper squid and earl grey ice cream.

  • dufflover on 03/09/2019 - 19:59

    Are you going to do the OzB thing of grabbing the "wooo branded travel toiletries" from the First Lounge shower?
    (* I don't actually remember if they have that or if it's fixed dispensers; only remember the nice high rain shower part)

    • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 20:27
      +2

      I will do my best! I will take all the things.

  • smoothymcmellow on 03/09/2019 - 20:37
    +11

    Enjoy OP! Fun to follow along on your journey.

    Last night I finally booked my Qantas "round the world" business class trip for me, my wife and bub. Got in before the point cost goes up and bub crosses over the 2 year mark
    280k points each, years of saving cc signups and work trips
    Melbourne to Milan
    Milan to Lisbon via Madrid (spend whole day there)
    Lisbon to London
    London to Copenhagen
    Copenhagen to Helsinki
    Helsinki to home
    All business, mix of Qantas, Cathay, JAL, BA and Iberia
    Can't wait. Worst thing is the Qantas app is going to tease me for a year with "upcoming flights"

    • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 20:47
      +1

      Good job! It must have been incredibly frustrating and time consuming to find availability for everyone on a rtw booking. Years ago I found it difficult enough just to book one for cash, in economy!

      • smoothymcmellow on 03/09/2019 - 20:55
        +5

        Actually it was relatively easy and nailed it in 4hrs, the hardest leg is the Helsinki to home, so I picked the latest available date, looked like only 3 dates in August 2020 were available. I thought it would be Finnair but pleasantly surprised it ended up being JAL.
        I then worked backwards from that, Milan had heaps of dates and the internal Europe legs always had availability. We tried to go to St Petersburg instead of London, flights were available but kept erroring when trying to book.

        Think picking a non busy/traditional destination for the long flights helps. The tactic of working backwards from return flight seems a winner.

        • ChickenTalon on 04/09/2019 - 08:37
          +1

          Tip from me, book the flights for the route you want and then call Qantas asking for different dates. You might get some straight away, or they'll put you on the waitlist. I was able to secure otherwise unavailable reward seats for my Oneworld RTW this way, if you've got status with Qantas it helps heaps. Also helps if you're willing to take econ or premium econ, rather than sticking to business class.

    • 1Kenobi on 04/09/2019 - 09:15

      Where does the bub sleep? In your seats?

      • smoothymcmellow on 04/09/2019 - 13:48

        Aim for a bassinet, if you don't get one or she is too big, she cuddles up.

        On the long hauls we will have flatbeds so there is plenty of space.

        Hardest part will be keep her entertained when awake!

      • smoothymcmellow on 04/09/2019 - 17:29

        Just went into all the manage booking pages for the flights and managed to nail a bassinet for 3 of the 4 long haul legs, ironically the only one I can't reserve is the Qantas one!

    • serpserpserp on 04/09/2019 - 09:36

      Doing all that flying with a <2 year old makes ne shudder (even in business class).

      • smoothymcmellow on 04/09/2019 - 13:47
        +2

        I know, it's gonna be tricky but if I waited the cost rises to 954k points for the 3 of us, that's a big big difference.

        Is it ideal, no, is that parent life, seems that way!

    • slknv on 04/09/2019 - 17:29
      +1

      Well done! I wish I had enough time to do a mini RTW but can't take too long off work at the moment. Doing March 2020 Melbourne-Dubai Lisbon in Emirates J, then Milan-Doha-Melbourne in Qatar J (q-suite) on redemption. Hoping to accumulate sufficient points in 8 years to semi retire and do 5 RTW in J on points, unless they further increase points required by then!

    • nickj on 05/09/2019 - 09:20

      So I'm working towards this for a family of 3 (business class Oneworld rtw award), but where the child definitely needs their own seat.

      You may or may not know the answer, but I would be very interested to know if there were ever/many instances where 3 business class seats were available or was it pretty much only two business class award seats ever? Just trying to get a handle on how hard it will be to book for a family of three or whether we'll need to to do separate classes (eg 2 business, one premium economy) or separate flights. Thanks for any help or advice.

      • meowmeowmeow on 05/09/2019 - 09:21
        +2

        I know Qatar usually release 4 business seats on their SYD to DOHA flight, but you'd have to be ready to book the day it becomes available, which i imagine is tricky with RTW flights.

      • vetopower on 05/09/2019 - 09:28
        +1

        It is possible to get 3 business class award seats on some flights on some airlines, but it is going to be hard.

        It is hard enough to get 2 business class award seats, and many airlines cap it at 2 seats per flight.

        You are going to need to do a lot of research to work out which routes have 3 business class award seats. A general tip is to look for less popular/low demand routes. Eg I found Qantas release more business class award seats on the MEL-SIN flight that doesn't quickly connect with QF1 (QF35) rather than the one that does quickly connect (QF37).

      • TheMindsetTraveller on 05/09/2019 - 21:13
        +1

        If you have Qantas Platinum or above, you could ask Qantas to release some award seats for you which can help. I have utilised this in the past to open up a business class seat where it was almost impossible to book (I am staring at you Sydney to Santiago flight).

        Now Qatar releases four seats on some flights, you got to be quick though. Last night we booked 4 seats on Qatar (CDG-DOH-SIN) for a flight in August 2020 for me, wife and my parents but the taxes were likes EUR1200 which is so not cool. If I am in business class at least we its the nice Q suites and the nicer DOH lounge.

        Also just for your reference, we have previously also flown 4 x first class seats on Thai Airways, 4 x business class on Cathay Pacific so it is doable but can be difficult. If you are travelling in three, probably expect one to fly first (if offered on plane type) whilst the other two in business.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/09/2019 - 20:42
    -2

    Lol l has a Ozbargain Instagram account.

  • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 20:50
    +4

    And now onboard: https://www.instagram.com/p/B18jThbl5JP/?igshid=m6u83edvfrtj

  • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 21:06
    +3

    So much air-conditioning https://www.instagram.com/p/B18l6hQFL16/?igshid=go165aayr8w4

  • Shaman on 03/09/2019 - 21:10

    Can we see your seat and space!? Amazing work. I'm so envious. A solo trip in luxury sounds like such a good way to relax. I hope you thoroughly enjoy your trip and stay safe.

  • FareEvader on 03/09/2019 - 21:13
    +1

    How did you get 10% off your Skybus?

    • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 21:14
      +3

      St Kilda skybus. Code is "theespy10" (I think)

  • Alderson on 03/09/2019 - 21:15
    +1

    Nice work! Not sure if this has been asked yet, but I assume you could have got more free trips out of those points if used on economy class. Just curious what made you choose to use them to buy first class? I do hear people saying it's better value, but I'm not sure I fully understand that line of thinking…

    • smoothymcmellow on 03/09/2019 - 21:31

      It's to do with the taxes cost and overall cost of equivalent ticket ($1500 return to Europe economy vs $10k plus for business). Biz class is around double the points but more than double the value. I believe the taxes don't change based on class.

      • Alderson on 04/09/2019 - 08:29
        +2

        But is value necessarily defined by the discount VS the dollar value assigned by the airline?

        If you're saying I could fly return Europe in economy for the same number of points that would only get me one way in Biz… Aren't I getting twice as much 'value' from the economy option? (admittedly that assumes additional comfort is worth negligible additional value, which would depend on the person).

        Not meaning to start an argument, just want to know if I'm missing something.

        • vetopower on 04/09/2019 - 09:37
          +6

          You're correct in that, if a person would have never spent $10K for a business class ticket, they are not getting $10K in value from using their points for a business class ticket.

          In my opinion, the best way of determining the value of QFF points is as follows (all hypothetical figures).

          Say I am looking at a one-way flight from SYD-LAX.

          It costs $900 cash in economy, 50,000 points + $200 tax for an economy reward seat & 100,000 points + $300 tax for a business class reward seat.

          If I say I would be happy to pay $1800 cash for a business class ticket (given the extra comfort, better food & drink, extra luggage allowance, lounge access, etc), then this is the calculation of value.

          For economy class: I am getting 1.4c/pt of value (700/50,000).

          For business class: I am getting 1.5c/pt of value (1500/100,000).

          Thus I am getting marginally more value by redeeming a business class ticket.

          If I am acquiring QFF points for less than 1c/pt, I am also coming out considerably ahead.

        • smoothymcmellow on 04/09/2019 - 13:52
          +1

          Correct, value was maybe not the right word as the definition differs for everyone. Biz class is double the points but more than double the cost, if you don't find the extra perks valuable, then it may not be worth it

    • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 21:41
      +2

      Yeah as smoothymc said it's about value. If you use them to book economy flights you're not really getting a great deal.

      Whereas for first class, you're getting about 10x the value of what you're spending.

  • ozricoy on 03/09/2019 - 21:18
    +10

    Good on you bro.. Not really asking a question but just wanna say that this makes me happy knowing someone from the community was able to experience and share this with us. Hope you have a safe trip and back home.

  • tanniesjunk on 03/09/2019 - 21:19
    +1

    Henessey Paradis ftw

    get a polaroid behind the bar wearing the Emirates hat thingy (apologies for any cultural offence)

  • fxwwj on 03/09/2019 - 21:55

    Very nice to know your experience

  • Bunnyburger on 03/09/2019 - 22:02

    Live it up for us!

  • cashie on 03/09/2019 - 23:01

    Any updates? come on we paid for this flight… :-)

  • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 23:12

    Current status: https://www.instagram.com/p/B18wOLrlHg1/?igshid=wc2hibjc3sir

  • SimBer on 03/09/2019 - 23:12

    What is your status credit rating to get access to this flight?

    • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 23:13
      +4

      Status credits: Big fat zero.

  • deeeno on 03/09/2019 - 23:15

    Love it, thanks for sharing your stories! :)

    And safe travels!

  • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 23:31
    +6

    Currently sipping: https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_774000/ch-teau-la-f…

    • Associatedz0s0 @ Emirates on 03/09/2019 - 23:55

      Ok time for a nap. See you in the morning for espresso martini!

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