I'm trying to decide whether to use Etihad or Emirates for an upcoming trip.

I'm trying to decide whether to use Etihad or Emirates for an upcoming trip. For both airlines the stopover (flying right through this time) time is 2 hours on the way over. Is this enough time for a shower in the lounge, or will I be cutting it short?

Both airlines have excellent F products. However, the 2 hour stopover has been thinking maybe Emirates is easier as I can just shower on the plane.

Yet I think Etihad's F seat is nicer.

First World problems...

I find both airports a bit of a circus. 2 hours can be a bit tight in Dubai as there is currently a lot of ATC related delays on the inbound to DXB. Out of interest what is your destination? I actually would take SQ or CX over EY or EK unless Im getting the EK A380 the whole way.

London on the way over (out of Sydney) and Athens on the way back.

Where are you going, and which FF program are you with?

SYD-LON on the way out and ATH-SYD on the way back. 

Im currently with Etihad FF which is good and I've got a fair amount of points already. 

In a nutshell, EK comes on top. Having flown both for many years, here's my take:
- EY F seat is more comfrotable in all modes. Properly sized duvet and pillow. 
- EY food service is slightly better as they load fresh meats/eggs and cook them on board.
- Transit in AUH is slightly easier being a smaller airport minus the security line, which even for F/J is a pain.

By contrast:
- EK F experience is superior overall. Amenities provided are far better quality.
- Proper lounges at SYD/MEL/BNE instead of the NZ lounges that EY uses (this is set to change soon I think).
- A380 makes a more comfortable ride with the cabin pressurised at lower altittude.
- The spa is a great feature but have to have it booked as soon as you go on the plane, otherwise you might be stuck with a time slot like 4 hours from landing, a time you'd rather be doing something else.

The new EK F lounge in concourse C is a major step over the old one -especially the showers, and direct boarding from the lounge is a plus (if you're lucky), but I don't like how big it is. EY lounge feels a bit more at home with low ceiling and the no-annoucements policy.

Both airlines and with 2 hour layover, it's easy to take a shower in the lounge if you're in F. In J it's a different story with constant line ups in the case of EK at least in concourse B.

Thanks for that. I've flown J mostly in the past, but have experienced F with EY last year. They were great. I admit the Air NZ lounge at SYD isn't anything special, although the EY lounge will be open by the time I fly. Their lounge in LON is good. With EK F am I right in believing that I could now use the QF First Lounge in Sydney prior to my flight? That might be nice to experience. 

Again, EK A380 J is good. Am flying with them this Dec in F, so I will get a chance to finally compare both for F service and suites. The SYD-LON flight next year I'm looking at is A380 all the way. The ATH-SYD return flight is A330 ATH-DXB and A380 DXB-SYD. Both return legs are in F. 

EY ATH-AUH is only J class in contrast to EK, then F from AUH-SYD. The J leg doesn't bother me too much naturally. EY food and beverage service in J and F is wonderful. That said, I'm not a fussy eater. 

It's just a difficult choice. I feel both airlines have excellent service, although I have yet to experience EK F. 

As for the EK F spa I will actually prefer a shower closer to arrival time as I hate leaving a plane feeling unclean.  Sounds like I wouldn't be disappointed then. Will see how it all works in Dec this year.

You can indeed use the QF F lounge in SYD when travelling EK in F. The louinge is one of the best in the world in my opinion and you'll definitely enjoy it. The shower onboard the EK A380 is a nice novelty and convenient if you have to work when coming styraight off the plane, but as mentioned, Spa orders are taken accoridng to status and if you are unlucky you might only get a mid flight slot. I have not yet flown EY (scheduled to fly in F with them mid October) but EK is in general very comfortable and servcie outstanding. Food and bevergaes great (Dom Perignon, fine wines, caviair) and the suite is comfortable and as mentioned the A380 is a great bird to fly in terms of cabin pressure. Not sure how much you value your FF status and mileage, but if you are with EY it might make sense to fly them, although it is always great to sample different airlines and compare them. The EK F on the A330 is nothing to write home about, almost like a domestic F class seat. Food is good but so is EY (from what i have heard - I think the seat on EY might be more comfortable actually).

Trying the QF First lounge would be a real treat. 

Does EK First have anytime dining like Etihad offers? The chef on board experience with EY is fantastic. 

My experience is indeed that you can eat whatever you want whenever you want. Not sure if they actively advertise this feature, but if you are on the evening departure and you want to have scrambled eggs the FA will oblige. The menu also does not state a specific sequence, just all the dishes available. Quality is good but not as good as QF First (more in line with TG First). They do not have a dedicated chef, just an FA manning the galley and prepping all food which is cooked on the ground and prepped and plated in the air.

Forget both and fly with Qatar Airways..Far better experience than the two cattiers combined...;)

http://www.qatarairways.com/global/en/homepage.page

I'm not a fan of their seat product and a number of people have told me to steer clear.

Its either EY or EK. 

Fair enough..Google this....qatar airways vs etihad vs emirates

Thought I'd post my decision. Booked Etihad First this past weekend after a great deal where I got F for the price of J. Can't complain, especially with window seats on each leg. 

I was tempted to go Emirates as they updated the ATH-DXB to a 777-300ER. Etihad only offers business on this leg, but it's only 4.5 hours. 

End of the day, keeping miles within my largest FF program and the very good price means Etihad wins out. 

I'll still sample Emirates F in just over a month, so it will be great to compare the two airlines F product.