On 18.08 I am on EK409 MEL - DXB with an extraordinary departure time of 5.15am... I am curious as to others experiences, as to what to get up to at 3am at MEL? I presume the QF Flounge will be closed which is a shame, but guess EK may have their own? I'm a QF Plat flying in EK J class if that helps.
Any advice is much appreciated! Even if just where to get a good coffee at 3am at MEL? :)
EK has an own lounge, its pretty good, much better than QF Business. And they open it even at such night times.
QF First class is closed, yes. I think opens 5:15 ... ?
EK's lounge is located near Qantas First class lounge, walk a bit further and you'll see another escalator going up (to EK's lounge which is upstairs left, and opposite "The House" I think - the old Etihad lounge).
I suggest you check with Melb Airport, as I recall that whilst check in opens three hours before the flight ~3.15am, the gates to security and passport control do not open until ~4.00am (possibly 4.30am - its been a while). Nothing worse than having to hang around waiting for the gate to open, with nothing else to do.
I have the same recollection as Meandering from some time ago. Got to the airport nice and early but had to wait outside security in a huge line until they opened up. May have changed now? Not unlike the early QF to Melbourne in Auckland.
I can't think of any circumstances that would see me catch a flight that early! Awful!
Depending on your destination the 5am EK flight (or 6am from Sydney) are very handy - it is the only option that gets you to Europe that night. Leave Australia Sunday morning, land that evening in Europe, get a night's sleep and you are good to go Monday morning for the week ahead!
Quick report now that I've returned from this trip. There was a surprising number of people at MEL int'l given the very early departure as a couple of flights leaving between 5 and 6am.
Security and passport control were open after I checked in at 245am and a short walk later was in the MEL EK lounge. Lovely lounge with full buffet, bar and tarmac views. As others have said, much nicer than the QF J lounge, which was closed at that time anyway.
And agreed, the early departure was compensated by the early summer evening arrival at LHR, which meant a good nights sleep and almost no jet lag.
I'd do it again.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on
EK409 - any advice on lounge given the v/early departure?
justcallmeryan
justcallmeryan
VA Platinum
Member since 21 Nov 2013
Total posts 7
Hi all,
On 18.08 I am on EK409 MEL - DXB with an extraordinary departure time of 5.15am... I am curious as to others experiences, as to what to get up to at 3am at MEL? I presume the QF Flounge will be closed which is a shame, but guess EK may have their own? I'm a QF Plat flying in EK J class if that helps.
Any advice is much appreciated! Even if just where to get a good coffee at 3am at MEL? :)
Hellboy666
Hellboy666
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 13 May 2018
Total posts 25
EK has an own lounge, its pretty good, much better than QF Business. And they open it even at such night times.
QF First class is closed, yes. I think opens 5:15 ... ?
EK's lounge is located near Qantas First class lounge, walk a bit further and you'll see another escalator going up (to EK's lounge which is upstairs left, and opposite "The House" I think - the old Etihad lounge).
rob01
rob01
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 10 Nov 2011
Total posts 110
I can't think of any circumstances that would see me catch a flight that early! Awful!
JB123
JB123
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
Member since 09 Jun 2016
Total posts 17
Trying to work out what is worse, this departure time or the EK departure from BNE at 250am
Meandering
Meandering
Member since 07 Nov 2018
Total posts 9
I suggest you check with Melb Airport, as I recall that whilst check in opens three hours before the flight ~3.15am, the gates to security and passport control do not open until ~4.00am (possibly 4.30am - its been a while). Nothing worse than having to hang around waiting for the gate to open, with nothing else to do.
APACPete
APACPete
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 09 Jun 2017
Total posts 46
I have the same recollection as Meandering from some time ago. Got to the airport nice and early but had to wait outside security in a huge line until they opened up. May have changed now? Not unlike the early QF to Melbourne in Auckland.
Theviewfrom1a
Theviewfrom1a
British Airways - Executive Club
Member since 06 Apr 2018
Total posts 7
Originally Posted by rob01
I can't think of any circumstances that would see me catch a flight that early! Awful!
justcallmeryan
justcallmeryan
VA Platinum
Member since 21 Nov 2013
Total posts 7
Quick report now that I've returned from this trip. There was a surprising number of people at MEL int'l given the very early departure as a couple of flights leaving between 5 and 6am.
Security and passport control were open after I checked in at 245am and a short walk later was in the MEL EK lounge. Lovely lounge with full buffet, bar and tarmac views. As others have said, much nicer than the QF J lounge, which was closed at that time anyway.
And agreed, the early departure was compensated by the early summer evening arrival at LHR, which meant a good nights sleep and almost no jet lag.
I'd do it again.