Eoinnz From New Zealand, joined Jul 2003, 226 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 16402 times:
Happy New Year everyone.
Welcome to the return journey of my Auckland - Melbourne - Auckland trip on Emirates First Class flying onboard the A340-500. If you would like to read the first sector - follow this link.
Again this report over several posts so make sure you expand them all
After a brief stay in Melbourne it was time to return home. However I must say was looking very forward to flying home knowing what was ahead. I stayed at the Hilton Melbourne Airport for my last night - I find it easier just to wake up shower then walk straight to the terminal rather than get a taxi early morning. Plus the extra hour sleep comes in handy when you've had a big night out.
Check in was easy - Someone was already at the counter but it wasn't long before it was my turn. Headed towards duty free for a little browse - had a sample of the new Baileys Caramel and Baileys Mint - very delicious. Headed towards gate 11 where the new Emirates lounge is upstairs with a great overview of the airport. Here are some photos of the lounge.
Dining Area
My friend - the bar area
Business Centre
The A340-500 taking me home
The first boarding announcement was made about 30 minutes late - No major deal though I was happy using the computer chatting to friends etc. They had dual bridge boarding today with the first bridge for First Class and the second bridge for Business and Economy.
This time the head sets were preset in the magazine storage on the left.
Shortly after taking my seat a flight attendant came round offering the usual pre-take off drink selection of water, orange juice and Champagne (Dom Perignon). After last nights rather large consumption of alcohol I thought I should give my body a little break and took an orange juice.
Soon after she returned with a snack basket with about a 7 chocolate bars, Pringles and mints
The amenity kit compartment
After I finished my juice she came around with Arabic Coffee - It is very tasty and is offered with dates by another flight attendant
With the door shut and the world's longest safety demo played we began heading towards the runway on a rather gloomy Melbourne day
Eoinnz From New Zealand, joined Jul 2003, 226 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (6 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 16397 times:
The seat-belt sign came off and the crew jumped straight into service. The table was setup with salt pepper, jam, water, a flower, butter, bread basket with assortment of breakfast bakery - raisin bread, toast, croissants, and the first course of fruit. I forgot to take the menu off so can't tell you what the menu was today - only what I had.
The flower was an extra nice touch
I think I got the ripest fruit in Australia
The bread basket
Next the main course which consisted of lamb chop, steak, hash browns, tomato, spinach and mushrooms. From memory the other choice was a 3 cheese omelette.
Now I know I said I would give my body a break from drinking - but come on - not every day you get to drink Dom so I had ONE glass with brunch.
For dessert even more fruit and on my most favorite type of dessert - Pavlova
Engines busy at work
To finish fresh coffee and Godiva chocolates (yes more chocolate)
Eoinnz From New Zealand, joined Jul 2003, 226 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (6 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 16393 times:
The First Class cabin
Time for a bit of privacy so I shut the doors
and enjoyed the rest of the movie
The in seat mini bar
After eating all that food I got a call from mother nature. The bathrooms were very clean with a good range of amenities and even a window.
Some photos of the control unit
Various compartments
And before I knew it we landed and taxied to a bay and were shuttled by bus to the terminal. Again was very impressed with Emirates service and product. Thank you for reading - Sorry it isn't as detailed as the journey over - was a bit forgetful at that time of the morning. Hope to bring you more reports this year. May 2007 bring you all the best
The Pavlova is very similar to a meringue. The outside is crispy and the inside soft and moist. It's usually served with a ton of whipped cream on the top with fresh fruit - in particular strawberries, raspberries and kiwifruit. For it's origin I recommend you look that up on the net - I don't want a trans-tasman battle in my thread
767747 From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 1750 posts, RR: 26 Reply 8, posted (6 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 15933 times:
Excellent report and pictures!! Emirates F looks excellent.
FlyDreamliner From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 2759 posts, RR: 15 Reply 10, posted (6 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 15815 times:
certainly a fantastic product on Emirates C, probably the nicest anywhere flying, though perhaps Singapore may have something to say about that, my question is, why don't they use these luxurious long legged A345's for longer routes? Like DXB-JFK or DXB-LAX nonstop?
"Let the world change you, and you can change the world"
Eoinnz From New Zealand, joined Jul 2003, 226 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (6 years 4 months 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 14332 times:
Quoting B-HXB (Reply 12): By BUS? At Auckland??? I am shocked!
So was I - I had 1 normal size carry on bag, a slightly smaller one, duty free bag and a gift from the crew in a emirates bag and no one offered to help me. Then had to lag them back up stairs to get on the bus.
Corsair1107 From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 121 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (6 years 4 months 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 14076 times:
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