The Qantas transit guide to Emirates' Dubai Airport first class lounge
By David Flynn, December 30 2017
Over the Christmas / New Year break, Australian Business Traveller will be revisiting some of our most popular articles of 2017. We’re still around to report on any breaking news during this time, otherwise our regular publishing schedule will resume on Monday January 8, 2018.
Hundreds of travellers jet to London each day on Qantas' flagship QF1 and QF9 flights from Sydney and Melbourne, with a stopover at the sprawling Dubai airport – and hundreds more shuttle back to Australia on the QF2 and QF10 return trips.
The stopover at Dubai is relatively short, at least on the Sydney QF1/2 service: around 90 minutes from landing to wheels up, which means little more than an hour in the lounge (for Melbourne's QF9/10 flights you get two hours on the ground, making for a slightly more leisurely transit experience).
If you're a Platinum-grade Qantas Frequent Flyer, or bunked down in Qantas first class, this hands-on guide shows you how to make the most of your limited Dubai transit time at Emirates' first class lounge.
(A future version of this guide will cover Emirates' business class lounge at Dubai, for business class passengers, Qantas Gold frequent flyers and Qantas Club members.)
Transit: follow the red signs
When you step off your flight, watch for and follow the red 'Connections' signs.
These will take you to a security checkpoint which is often also a choke-point, given the hordes of passengers changing flights at Emirates' A380 'Concourse A' mega-terminal, at what now rates as the world's busiest airport.
There's usually an express lane for premium passengers and top-tier frequent flyers which brings you closer to front of the queue – but either way, be prepared to spend at least five minutes of your transit time in this line.
Once you're through security, head upstairs and onto the main departure floor.
Watch for signage directing you to the Emirates lounges: the first class lounge is on level 4, directly above the departures floor, with the business class lounge up on level 5.
Stretch your legs by climbing that flight of stairs to level 4, or catch the elevator.
Book a free session at the spa
One floor up, Emirates' flagship first class lounge awaits...
... but before you enter the lounge proper, consider making a sharp left turn to visit the Timeless Spa.
This offers a range of free 15 minute treatments to first class travellers and Qantas Platinum, Platinum One and Chairman's Lounge members – the sessions include massages for your back, hands and head, while the leg & foot 'reflex therapy' and 'Thai body stretch' are very welcome after the long flight from Sydney.
Those complementary treatments are quickly snapped up, especially once QF1 lands – so if you want to book a session, make the Timeless Spa your very first port of call and then plan the rest of your lounge visit around that.
Now, back to the lounge itself...
... and it's a massive lounge, occupying almost the entire floor.
The Emirates first class lounge is divided into two halves which are effectively mirror images with identical facilities. Once you're past the reception desk, you can turn left (for gates A1 though to A12) or right (towards gates A13 to A24).
Turn left or turn right
Choose to head towards the gate from which your Qantas flight will be departing – that'll be announced when your plane arrives into Dubai.
(For those who've never visited the Dubai lounge: yes, there are boarding gates in the lounge itself, so you don't need to tromp back down to the departures floor. This is a welcome time-saver for these short stopovers.)
There's always the temptation to do a little duty-free shopping so the lounge has its own premium outlets for jewellery, watches, alcohol and more.
But time is tight, so don't dawdle!
Most passengers will head straight for the dining areas: especially if they're coming from the QF2 flight, having slept from London to Dubai, as a bit of breakfast is in order.
Booking a shower
If you want to freshen up with a shower after the 14 hour trek of QF1 or QF9, this should be booked first: there are shower areas in each half of the lounge (adjacent to gates A11 and A14), with six shower suites for men and three for women.
But given the short stopover of QF1, you might prefer to allocate your limited lounge time to a short spa treatment and then linger over a decent meal.
And the dining options at Emirates' first class lounge are, well, first class.
Note that each half of the lounge has two quite different dining areas.
Fine dining and light bites
Most travellers make a beeline for the 'fine dining' areas located between gates A10/A11 and A14/A15...
... where you'll find formally dressed dining tables, an extensive buffet of hot and cold dishes, salads and fresh-baked croissants that are hard to resist when they come straight from the oven.
But don't overlook the delights of the smaller dining areas at gates A1/A2 and A23/A24.
The seating is more casual but there are top selections of sushi and sashimi (including rich Balik salmon)...
... as well as cheeses.
Note that both of these dining areas offer the same extensive a la cart menu: you can choose any dish from the breakfast, lunch and dinner selection on a 24 hour basis. Just be mindful that it can take around 15 minutes for the meals to be delivered, so factor this against the boarding time for your flight.
There's also a bar service with a wide selection of wines, spirits and champagnes, plus healthy fruit smoothies and of course Arabic coffee.
A popular strategy for QF1, which arrives into Dubai at 12.30am, is to have your 'supper' in the lounge to maximise sleeping time over the remaining seven hours from Dubai to London.
Other diversions
Among the other Emirates first class lounge options for travellers in transit there's also a cigar bar/smoking room (behind this slab of fancy mosaic glasswork)...
... a business centre where you can plough through some urgent work without interruption...
... and, for longer stop-overs, these daybeds in the relaxation rooms.
Back on board
When it's time to rejoin your Qantas flight to London, Sydney or Melbourne, head to the lounge's boarding gate.
After checking your passport and boarding pass, make your way to the bank of elevators which will whisk you straight to the A380's upper deck or main lower deck, depending on where you're sitting.
As you can see, there's plenty to fit into your short stopover time, so consider your strategy in advance.
On QF1/QF2, for example, there's just enough time for a spa treatment or a shower, and a leisurely meal, but trying to squeeze in all three is just going to add stress when you should be winding down between flights.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
12 Oct 2011
Total posts 23
Has it been only a recent development that the 15 minute treatments are extended to Qantas Platinum members? I've asked on some previous transits through and the spa staff have always refused. I'll be passing through tomorrow, and would really like to be able to take advantage of a body stretch if possuble.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 May 2012
Total posts 30
I just can't get past the weird placement of the capital letters for level 2 in the very last photo...
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1040
oneworld status holders can also access the concourse A DXB EK lounges, provided they are traveling on QF1/2/9/10.
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 49
If you are travelling with young kids there is also a play area which is very useful. They will deliver a la carte meals there. I found this made the journey to London just about bearable with kids
21 Jan 2011
Total posts 1
Hi David,
Brilliant article! I'm flying P/C on the QF9 and have always wanted an insight into the lounges at DXB. Can't wait to try it out. Is it true there is a cigar lounge in the First lounge? Thanks!
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2545
Yes, it's mentioned in the article.
04 Jan 2014
Total posts 42
You have to buy the cigars with several choices. Amazing that the smoke smell does not travel through the lounge, though it is pretty well sealed off from other areas.
I was in the First lounge a few weeks ago. Never ceases to amaze me of so much space and facilities, and so few pax, with staff everywhere wanting to serve you. We arrived at 8 pm local, left at 2:45 local, until about 12:00, we were the only pax there.
When I previously used the Emirates Business lounge, it compares to the Sydney Qantas club on a Friday afternoon...not a very nice experience at all.....
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Dec 2014
Total posts 56
Great article! Can platinum QFF get access to this lounge when transferring to other Emirates flights on a QF ticket (after arriving on QF9)?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Dec 2014
Total posts 56
Also, what if I'm on a QF ticket on an a Emirates flight to Melbourne or Sydney instead of QF10?
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 1
Can use for QF2 to Sydney as well.
04 Jan 2014
Total posts 42
I was on a Qantas points J ticket, BNE-BXB-CDG return with Emirates metal. We are Plat QFF, so no issues with using the First lounge.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Jul 2015
Total posts 221
Showers! After a 14 hour run to dubai a shower is bliss
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Nov 2013
Total posts 7
My first stop is head for the showers. The queue grows very quickly after the arrival of QF flights. There are a limited number and the wait time can be longer than the stop over.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Dec 2010
Total posts 11
Indeed - having only six showers for a lounge this size is ridiculous. Past 3 trips through Dubai and even after making a beeline for the showers they've always been booked up with more than a dozen people on the waiting list. In short - don't count on it when factoring in your travel planning!
10 Sep 2012
Total posts 151
I couldn't agree more... Bugger shopping or sitting-down to eat and drink, on a short layover I want a shower, and I want it hot and strong.
22 Dec 2016
Total posts 3
What's the business lounge like in Dubai (any advice). Flying F into Dubai with a 4 night stay then onto Rome in J. Also you can check-in like 4 hrs before your flight in J?
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
11 Mar 2015
Total posts 194
Avoid at any cost,you have to wait for even the loo at least for 5minutes,zillions of people can hardly find a vacant chair since anyone can buy their way into it,simply disgusting
19 Aug 2011
Total posts 52
What you didnt mention was the design of both first class and business lounges are affected by noise from the concourse below.
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 606
Whilst Emirates is the main tennant of the building, it doesn't own, nor did it design or build it. Though your point is valid as you would have thought they would have had at least some input.
17 Jan 2017
Total posts 6
Good morning, I will be transiting thru DXB on an Emirates flight with QF flight number with my wife in J. I am QF Platinum. Can i guest my wife into the First Lounge? Tx
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Aug 2016
Total posts 59
yes you can
19 Aug 2017
Total posts 3
Any chance Q would slightly extend the layover time in Dubai? 1hr30min is just a bit tight when having a relaxed dinner in the F lounge....
05 May 2016
Total posts 623
QF would probably need to swap slots to do that.
23 Feb 2015
Total posts 262
I suspect this would cause uproar amongst the 80%+ of passengers that are waiting in the terminal!
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1445
It strikes me as underwhelming. No table service; which QF offers in Singapore business lounge and it seems what is on offer is the same as EK Paris or Düsseldorf business lounges which admittedly cater for first class passengers. Poor shower offerings with women getting half the number as men. Why not share the nine as most others do. Overall QANTAS seems to offer a better deal for the top level fliers.
12 Feb 2015
Total posts 89
The article doesn't really make it clear, but the dining areas do have table service. In my experience the food is pretty good, but not as interesting as the Qantas or Cathay first lounges.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
11 Mar 2015
Total posts 194
Last year I used first class lounge on my flight from Budapest to Adelaide,it's the less fancy one but still ok,2 days ago used business lounge in Dubai-what a crap -zillions of people,even had to wait in line for 10 minutes to get to the loo-it's a bloody joke-since people can buy their way in it's nothing sort of than a battered hen's cage,never again,last time I flew with this crap airline,not to mention the connecting flight is ut in the Sahara somewhere zillion mile away,chaos at the long corridors,waiting for the bus for 15 minutes like sheeps,this became one of the crappiest airline,food is mediocre the best,staff looks bored out there brain and act that they do a favour for you to serve.Avoid them if u have the money fly Qatar which is light years ahead of this overblown megalomaniac Arab money making scam business model
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
31 Oct 2016
Total posts 72
Please,
07 Jan 2016
Total posts 37
It's almost as if Akbar Al Baker wrote that himself ...
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
16 Dec 2015
Total posts 41
Which data is being cited when stating that DXB is the world's busiest airport?
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
31 Oct 2016
Total posts 72
World's busiest by PAX numbers, Dubai led the world in 2016 with 83 Million and change. Then LHR with just over 71Million.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
16 Dec 2015
Total posts 41
Both Beijing and Atlanta carried more than 83 million passengers in 2016. Either the statement need qualification (given that the assertion only holds for international passenger traffic) or retraction.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
31 Oct 2016
Total posts 72
Fair Comment.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
12 Jun 2016
Total posts 41
Considering the size of the First Class lounge,very little (if any) thought was given to the shower facilities.
I transit Dubai 5-6 times a year and there is ALWAYS a waiting list.
When you do get in you'll find it's like a sauna inside.
You leave hotter than you went in!
There's more than enough room to expand the facilities and improve the air conditioning.
22 Aug 2017
Total posts 2
I'm turned away always now as a Platinum member flying Premium. It seems you only get access if your next onward flight is Qantas. I travel to Singapore frequently and when the next flight is Emirates, they don't let you in. Even if it is Qantas ticketed. How stupid and frustrating is that? Some partnership.
30 Oct 2017
Total posts 1
Anyone else find this? I'm QF Platinum facing 7+hrs coming on QF1 and connecting onto ACC with QF economy ticket but EK metal and then another 5hrs on the way back down to SEZ (EK econ ticket and EK metal). I had no problems getting into Business lounge with QF Gold 12 months ago on these same tickets and routes and was looking forward to first lounge this time around! That will be dissappointing!
19 Aug 2011
Total posts 52
Unlike QF's First lounge in Sydney or Cathay's in Hong Kong Emirates First lounge in DXB is exactly like their business lounge except less people. Hardly worth getting excited about if you don't get in as long as you can get into the business lounge at the very least.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Mar 2013
Total posts 173
22 Aug 2017
Total posts 2
Could someone answer this puzzle. I have been refused entry a couple of time in Dubai and I am not sure why but I have a theory. If it is wrong I'd really like to know how to make sure the guards in the first class lobby let me into the lounge. I'm Qantas Platinum but I fly economy return from London to Singapore on Qantas ticketed flights. My theory is that when I change from QF10 at Dubai the next onwards flight to Singapore is Emirates and they refuse me. On the way back from Singapore my next onwards flight is QF9 and they let me in! Is this right or are the guards wrong to refuse entry to me. I thought as long as they are Qantas ticketed flights I should be let in regardless of carrier???? Thanks for the help in advance.
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