Emirates First Class Lounge Evaluation: Dubai Worldwide Airport

Having attended the Altitude 22 convention hosted by Amadeus in Dubai, it was time to fly again to Frankfurt. I used to be booked to fly with Emirates in enterprise class however was in a position to evaluate the primary class lounge in Concourse C of Terminal 3 at Dubai Worldwide Airport as a visitor of Emirates.

Attending to Dubai Worldwide Airport

Emirates affords a complimentary chauffeur service for all passengers flying in enterprise class and top notch, aside from these booked on a enterprise class particular fare. Top notch passengers may even benefit from a complimentary dwelling check-in service.

I may e-book my Dubai chauffeur pick-up fairly simply on the Emirates web site. As soon as I reached the reserving kind, I used to be requested to pick my resort and the way far prematurely of my flight I needed to be picked up. (The utmost was 5 hours earlier than the flight, with choices in 15-minute intervals). To maximise my time within the lounge, I opted for a pick-up 4 hours and Quarter-hour earlier than the flight was resulting from depart, or 23:30.

Emirates despatched two texts concerning the chauffer service. One confirmed the reserving, and one other confirmed the motive force had arrived. Picture: Easy Flying

I acquired numerous notifications on the day of journey concerning the switch service, and at 23:15, I acquired a message that my chauffeur, Muhammad, had arrived within the resort foyer. (It additionally jogged my memory that I have to put on a seatbelt all through my journey.) At 23:30 on the dot, my resort room cellphone started to ring, with the reception informing me that my journey had arrived.

After I checked out, the resort workers directed me to the ready again BMW. The resort workers loaded my suitcase into the boot, and I acquired into the again seat. Muhammad requested me to substantiate my title and flight quantity, after which we have been off.

A black BMW arrived to move me to the airport. Picture: Tom Boon – Easy Flying

It was a brief 10-minute drive from my resort to Dubai Worldwide, and the time flew previous. Earlier than lengthy, we have been approaching Terminal 3, the Emirates terminal.

Departing Dubai as a premium passenger

I had been anticipating that Muhammad would simply drop me exterior the principle terminal like every other passenger, however as we approached the airport, I seen a lane on the appropriate labeled “enterprise & top notch solely”. We moved throughout into the lane, then took a pointy proper flip, arriving in a small courtyard earlier than the principle departure stage at T3.

Right here we entered a separate wing, away from all of the hustle and bustle of the principle terminal, with loads of check-in desks for all enterprise and top notch passengers. I may have used the self-check-in machines, however as there was no wait, I walked as much as a staffed counter to interact in just a little little bit of human interplay.

Emirates has a very separate wing for checking in its premium passengers. Picture: Emirates

Earlier than I knew it, the check-in agent despatched my bag down the conveyor belt into the stomach of Terminal 3, and I used to be strolling away with my boarding go. I proceeded down the lengthy corridor previous extra first and enterprise check-in desks and located a small passport management facility on the finish, with two staffed desks and a financial institution of e-gates. There was no queue for both of those, although, on this event, airport workers directed me to make use of the e-gate.

After this, there was a small safety facility. Solely a single lane was open, which might normally strike worry into anyone’s coronary heart at a serious worldwide airport, however once more, there was no queue. It took me not more than ten minutes to get from the terminal door to the principle departure lounge.

Discovering the lounge

As my flight was resulting from depart from the C concourse, I used to be invited into the related top notch lounge subsequent to gate C19 as a visitor of Emirates. This turned out to be a every day lengthy stroll from the place we have been dumped into the terminal, as we needed to stroll via most of Concourse B and portion of Concourse C. After round 10-Quarter-hour of strolling, I discovered the lounge.

Getting in

Not like the comparatively new lounge that takes up a whole flooring in Concourse B, the primary class lounge in Concourse C doesn’t have biometric entry gates. As a substitute, I handed my boarding go to the gate agent the old style method. She confirmed that I used to be eligible to enter the ability and wrote my gate on the boarding go, as this had not been out there after I checked in.

A brightly coloured fountain welcomes visitors to the lounge. Picture: Tom Boon – Easy Flying

The agent knowledgeable me that bulletins weren’t made within the lounge and identified after I would wish to depart to succeed in my allotted gate, Gate C7. Nevertheless, I did hear a single announcement for a passenger touring to Rome to contact workers on the welcome desk throughout my keep.

Preliminary impressions

My preliminary impressions of the lounge have been principally optimistic, although I did notice that it appeared just a little bit dated. Concourse C felt prefer it was an older facility with dated jet bridges, and the lounge additionally had this really feel. In comparison with the principle top notch lounge, it was comparatively small, comparable in dimension to the Aer Lingus lounge in Dublin or the Royal Air Maroc lounge in Casablanca.

The primary lounge space does not appear significantly huge on first impressions. Picture: Tom Boon – Easy Flying

On the entrance to the lounge was a water fountain illuminated with brilliant colours, a cell phone charging station, and a shoe shine station, although the latter was unstaffed all through my complete go to.

Turning left into the lounge, you go a small lounge seating space with possibly 20 seats earlier than passing a hall and staircase on the left. Bogs and showers are situated down the corridor, whereas a smoking lounge and quiet relaxation space are situated upstairs. (To honor the privateness of these sleeping within the quiet relaxation space and never disturb them, I didn’t take any photographs of this room and solely poked my head briefly via the open door.) Persevering with ahead, you reached the tremendous eating space, laid out like a restaurant.

The tremendous eating space options tables laid out like a restaurant. Picture: Tom Boon – Easy Flying

Meal time

After taking a look across the lounge, I proceeded straight to the tremendous eating space and took a seat at a desk for 2 overlooking the apron and each runways. Sadly, the gate proper in entrance of the lounge was closed for upkeep, however on both facet of the lounge have been a pair of Airbus A380s.

Whereas the gate in entrance of the lounge was closed, there was nonetheless an awesome view of site visitors taxiing previous Terminal 3. Picture: Tom Boon – Easy Flying

As quickly as I sat down on the desk, a waiter came visiting and gave me directions on accessing the menu through QR code, a change that Emirates introduced in resulting from COVID-19. He supplied me nonetheless or glowing water and requested if I would love one other drink, resembling wine or champagne. I ordered a nonetheless water and a glass of champagne whereas I browsed the menu.

Whereas plates have been disregarded for these utilizing the buffet, they have been cleared for these ordering from the menu. Picture: Tom Boon – Easy Flying

My drinks have been delivered shortly afterward, together with a choice of bread and butter. At this level, I positioned my meals order. I skipped the appetizer menu, diving straight into the principle course.

Bread and butter shortly appeared. Picture: Tom Boon – Easy Flying

Whereas I used to be torn between a number of choices on the menu, I finally opted for the Wagyu Beef Topside Steak. This was served with a alternative of fries or mashed potatoes, roasted greens or spinach in a cream sauce, and peppercorn of mushroom sauce. I selected the fries, spinach, and mushroom sauce, with the steak cooked medium.

The total Wagyu beef meal. Picture: Tom Boon – Easy Flying

Cooks cooked my meals to order, and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than it arrived on my desk. All in all, it was scrumptious and simply what I wanted forward of a seven-hour evening flight. Right here’s how every part tasted,

• The wagyu beef was completely cooked, not too nicely completed however not too uncooked. It was tasty and never stringy or chewy, making it good and simple to eat.
• The spinach was contemporary and engaging, with the creamy sauce pairing nicely. This was noticeable, because the spinach I used to be served on the flight after my lounge expertise noticeably didn’t style contemporary.
• The fries have been additionally cooked excellently. They only had a tiny little bit of crispiness to the surface whereas remaining fluffy and mushy inside.
• The one disappointment was the mushroom sauce, which didn’t actually add to the steak. Nevertheless, it tasted glorious when paired with the fries.

The steak was cooked completely. Picture: Tom Boon – Easy Flying

My principal criticism of the meal was how a lot sauce I used to be given. Along with the mushroom sauce, I used to be given two giant pots of sauce, one with ketchup and one with mayonnaise. This was way over what was wanted for the meal, so I left each moderately full and picture the leftover sauce went straight into the bin.

My principal criticism of the meal was that it got here with far an excessive amount of sauce. Picture: Tom Boon – Easy Flying

The waiter collected particular person plates as and after they have been completed, versus unexpectedly on the finish of the meal. My glass of champagne was additionally refilled when it was practically empty. Earlier than I completed my principal course, the waiter tried to take my dessert order in order that it will be delivered as I completed my principal course. I requested to attend till I had completed the course to order dessert and defined that I didn’t thoughts ready for it.

The vanilla ice cream scoops appeared a tad on the small facet. Picture: Tom Boon – Easy Flying

I opted for vanilla ice cream for dessert and was supplied considered one of two scoops. Fortunately I mentioned two as they have been fairly small scoops, and I feel three would’ve made for a greater portion dimension. The vanilla ice cream was tasty, although as a fairly widespread taste, there’s not an excessive amount of to be mentioned about it.

The choice of cocktails. Picture: Emirates

I opted to clean the meal down with a cocktail and ordered the one referred to as “An Unexpected Voyage”. This was made with Darkish Rum (8 years), Apricot Brandy, Lime Juice, Apple Juice, Pineapple Juice, and Angostura Bitters. Whereas the remainder of the service appeared extremely speedy, I questioned whether or not the cocktail had been forgotten at one level, although it did finally arrive. The cocktail was tasty, although I wouldn’t rush to order one once more.

An Surprising Voyage was tasty however took too lengthy to arrange. Picture: Tom Boon – Easy Flying

There was additionally a sizeable self-serve buffet adjoining to the eating space for these with much less time to spend on the lounge or searching for a distinct consuming expertise.

Bathroom & bathe expertise

The bathrooms appeared constructed to a fairly excessive commonplace. Three or 4 cubicles have been constructed into the ability as little rooms with marble partitions and full-length picket doorways. On the finish of the room have been three urinals, although two have been labeled as out of service to permit for social distancing.

There have been 4 sinks in a row, every supplied with lime and mandarin cleaning soap and hand moisturizer. Moreover, there have been shaving and dental kits and combs. The faucet on the sink I used seemed just a little previous its finest and had a wobbly deal with.

A choice of amenity kits have been on provide within the bogs. Picture: Tom Boon – Easy Flying

I discovered no hand dryers or paper towels contained in the restroom. As a substitute, a pyramid of small material towels was supplied, although they didn’t appear to have the perfect drying capabilities. (In all honesty, the hand dryers and paper towels would’ve been preferable).

After dinner, I opted to check out the lounge’s bathe services. I spoke to the attendant and mentioned that I wish to take a bathe. He suggested me to make use of the accessible bathe because it “has way more room” and spent a great deal of time exhibiting me find out how to lock the door. (You have to hit a lightweight change to disable the big pads that slide the automated door open).

The door lock was disguised as a lightweight change. Picture: Tom Boon – Easy Flying

Passengers utilizing the showers are given a big physique towel and a shower mat and now have entry to the aforementioned shaving and dental kits. There was additionally a big sink, although this was fairly low given the ability was designed to be accessible.

A big, mushy towel was supplied. Picture: Tom Boon – Easy Flying

The bathe itself was good, however nothing to write down dwelling about. The water stress was respectable however not excellent, although I appreciated that the bathe shortly acquired heat. There was no barrier between the bathe and the remainder of the room, apart from a line of raised flooring, so I stored the bathe head towards the wall to keep away from making an excessive amount of of a large number.

The bathe acquired scorching shortly. Picture: Tom Boon – Easy Flying

After a fast rinse with some extra mandarin and lime cleaning soap, I felt good and contemporary, which was glorious earlier than the seven-hour evening flight to Frankfurt. Finally, I’d’ve survived and not using a bathe, but it surely was a pleasant additional, and I can see the attraction for passengers altering between two long-haul flights. I used to be the one individual to make use of the showers throughout roughly three hours within the lounge.

There was ample house to alter within the accessible bathe. Picture: Tom Boon – Easy Flying

How busy was it?

After I entered the lounge, it wasn’t in any respect busy, with single digits of visitors. Round an hour into my go to, it had grown fairly busy, with possibly 50-60% of the downstairs seats occupied, however by the point I left, the occupancy had once more fallen to single digits. I used to be below the impression that lots of the visitors have been taking a London-bound flight, with many maybe accessing the lounge with standing.

With round Quarter-hour to go till boarding was resulting from shut, I left the lounge and requested the desk attendants for instructions to my gate. They mentioned to show proper and preserve going and confirmed my title as I used to be leaving the lounge, presumably, so that they knew to not search for me there if I went lacking.

After I reached the gate, first and enterprise had already boarded, and there was a protracted queue of economic system passengers ready to have their paperwork checked. There was a separate queue for first, enterprise, and premium economic system passengers (although the airline supplied no premium economic system cabin on this flight).

As a enterprise class passenger, I entered the premium queue, which was empty, and was instantly referred to as as much as the entrance to indicate my passport to inspectors earlier than reaching the gate test.

Boarding was accomplished through two jet bridges hooked up to doorways one and two. First and enterprise passengers have been directed to board through door one, whereas the economic system passengers have been boarding through door too. Bizarrely, door two was situated midway via the enterprise class cabin, which means that I needed to rejoin the movement of economic system passengers midway to my seat.