Qantas to Dubai We're planning to travel from New Zealand to Europe on QF1 or QF9.

Qantas to Dubai

We're planning to travel from New Zealand to Europe on QF1 or QF9.

I know this is a ridiculous question, but I'm travelling with kids in Economy this time.

Are the flights usually full?

Will there be spare seats for our family of 4 to stretch out?

Thanks

What dates? As this may obviously have an impact on how full the flight may be (i.e. school holidays, Christmas, Easter, New Years etc).

I've done Emirates and Qantas on this route in economy, I cannot emphasise how much better Emirates are. My colleague just returned from this route yesterday and remarked how much of a step backwards Qantas was when flying economy. I'm sure Qantas business product is much closer to Emirates but there's daylight beween them at the back of the plane!

Are we talking EKA380's or EK's 777's?

A380 becuase Qantas don't have 777s. My only EK 777 experience was good although I slept the majority of it due to sleeping tablets.

I am yet to fly the EK777, but by all accounts I am happy to avoid it. 

As for the A380, I don't think I can argue that EK's product tops QF's

Hi riley!

And what is exactly so much better? I am curious because my son flown MEL-DXB in Y by EK and QF and actually prefer Qantas.

Speaking purely on economy, as I said above, I'm sure the J and F products are much closer.

* The quality and taste of the food

* The frequency of the service

* The availability of drinks on call (I don't get boozed on flights but enjoy a nightcap, very hard to get on Qantas)

* The friendliness of the hosties. (Qantas were so mechanical, Emirates were engaging, chatty, asking where I was off to, where I was from. Qantas couldn't get back to the trolley quick enough!)

* The option for Wi-Fi. Might be a gen y trait, but I love staying connected. 14 hours without news is too long!

* The amenity kit (Qantas look like a dog grooming kit, the Emirates ones actually have real colgate toothpaste, which again is important to me.)

-         My son believes that Qantas food way better. And he believes that seats better also (we talking here direct 380 service DXB-MEL, EK 777 via KUL much worse, read next point)

-         He flew DXB-KUL-MEL in EK instead of direct DXB-MEL with QF because FRA-DXB by EK was late. He hates this DXB-KUL-MEL route and so do I because it arrives 2:30 am or so. May be there are more EK flights, but they IMHO useless.

-         He said that booze was abundant (though I agree that sometimes it getting difficult to get attention from Qantas staff even in J)

-         He did not find problem with either

-         Yes, WiFi is boon in EK

-         Amenity kits in Y in any carrier is nothing to speak about

So basically he (and I) would agree that only WiFi is "significantly better" in EK. YMMV though.

No I'm comparing A380 Sydney to Dubai for both.

The amenity kit is great. It's a little zip up bag with actual colgate toothpaste in it. I've stockpiled them in my travels. The little toothpastes are my overnight staple. I ahve used the zip bag as a small toiletary bag for overnight trips / gym / pool trips.

Much of it is down to opinion, my opinion being that the overall offering for Emirates trumps Qantas.

I believe the lower deck might offer up some chances of spare seats. The upper deck is mostly snapped up.

My travel plans are flexible

Usually how full ar the planes during the Asutralian Summer?

and Usually how full are the planes during the European Summer?

We have a travel preference to Qantas due to additional frequent flyer points

My preference is QF, only because there is nothing better than getting onto a plane home after a trip and being greeted with a friendly accent.

Planes are just about always full in the European Summer, Im not sure about the Australian Summer though, although I would assume it is the same.

Normally the shoulder seasons outside school holidays are your best chance of getting spare seats.

Also, so long as you fly with a QF flight number on an EK flight you will end up with the same frequent flyer points as if you flew with QF

I thoroughly agree. And you don't need an annoying song to remind you of that either.

Even when the QF crew is a bit narky, disinterested or jaded a Qantas flight is always more pleasant, particularly on the A380.

I agree it's always some thing I do is make sure my trip home is on Qantas metal