Emirates Airline Tips
 Emirates A380 at the Auckland airbridge |
The Auckland Dance
Emirates has made Auckland its second hub - most flights to Australia carry on to New Zealand. However this creates a major log-jam at the small and rather run down airport, where there aren't enough gates for the rush of flights in and out at lunchtime. At one point, there can be six Emirates planes on the apron.To get around this, most Emirates planes disembark some distance away from the terminal, and use coaches to ferry passengers to the building. The airbridge is reserved for the A380 from Sydney. Accordingly, it can take over an hour to get off the plane, with passengers at the back of the aircraft waiting longest. You may need to time your onward transport accordingly.
Emirates Chauffeur service
NEWS: Emirates Chauffeur service for Business Class has been dramatically scaled back, and in many cases is no longer availableIf you are travelling in Business or First class, you can take advantage of Emirates chauffeur drive service. With this you are offered a car to pick you up at your origin, and deliver you at your destination. It is a great perk, but there is little publicity about it. You need to either book this online once your ticket has been confirmed, or just phone Emirates. There are no mileage restriction within the United Arab Emirates, but other than that the mileage limits for this are a little random: around London, it is offered within a 70-mile radius of LHR, however it is 40 driven kms of Sydney, 60 driven miles of New York JFK Airport, and 30km outside St. Petersburg.
 Dubai Emirates Chauffeur service arrivals counter |
If you are taking advantage of Emirates chauffeur drive service at Heathrow can now make use of the LHR Arrivals lounge, outside Terminal 3, and offers facilities including tea and coffee, drinks and snacks, newspapers and magazines, a business area with computers, and free wifi.
There used to be an Emirates arrival lounge at Dubai, however it was closed as so few people used it. There is now just a very spartan counter for Chauffeurs, with separate queues for Business and First. It is just after immigration and customs: turn right, and join the queue.
Beware of the loophole that Chauffeur-drive is not available for passengers travelling solely between destinations in Australia and New Zealand (known as trans-Tasman routes), however for passengers travelling beyond Australia and/or New Zealand on Emirates, but making a stopover in Australia, you can use the Emirates Chauffeur-drive service.
 Emirates A380 plus a B777 and A330 at Dubai |
Emirates Operational Upgrades
One of the common questions is "How do I get an upgrade on Emirates to Business or Club class?". Alas, getting upgraded to business class on Emirates really isn't that easy. The airline has the Western, rather than American, model for upgrades longhaul. Which is to say you'll only get an Emirates Operational Upgrades if your paid for class is full, and then upgrades are processed accordingly to a pecking order of elite frequent flyer status. You are very unlikely to ever get an upgrade unless you are at least a Gold Skywards member.To start with, make sure you are a frequent flyer, and you do fly frequently: after all, if Emirates are going to upgrade anyone, they will upgrade those passengers who fly with them pretty regularly, and hence will enjoy the upgrade enough to put more business Emirates' way. Then if the flight is full in economy, and someone needs to be moved up, the check in staff will first look at Gold members, and then Silver level. Another thing that Emirates look at is how much you paid for your ticket: it's much more likely to happen with a full fare ticket (although occasionally you can get lucky with a discounted economy ticket). On Emirates the airline has heard - probably hundreds of times a day - requests for an upgrade: the general consensus seems to be that if you ask for an upgrade, you're less likely to get it, although opinions differ on an upgrade strategy for Emirates.
As always, my advice on dressing properly for an Emirates Operational Upgrade in the pages on how to get an upgrade applies.
Brisbane Boeing 777-300 from Singapore to Auckland in a tropical storm at Brisbane
Emirates website
Emirates website is very flashy, with lots of animation. The graphics on the new A380s is particularly good, with nice pictures of the First Class cabin. It is possible to book flights online, and to check your Skywards miles balance. Alas, there are no online flight entertainment listings.
Main Website: www.emirates.com
UK version:
www.emirates.co.uk
Emirates Chauffeur service.
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