The Platinum Experience - our 20th wedding anniversary

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We’re calling this our Platinum Experience because our research tells us the modern gift for 20 years of marriage is Platinum (we understand an older tradition considers China the appropriate gift but we felt we couldn’t call it a China experience when we’re going to the UK, and we might have felt compelled to post pics of Royal Albert, Royal Doulton and Waterford offerings 😜, and we don’t want to do that).

Our Platinum Experience commenced in the best way possible - flying First Class! For our 10th wedding anniversary, we flew to the US and Mexico in Business Class, so felt it more than appropriate to fly to the UK in First Class (thanks to saving years and years worth of frequent flyer points from both of us). A wise decision, it would seem.

We were originally booked to fly on Thursday 14 Nov on Qantas Melbourne to Sydney, Sydney to Singapore, then Singapore to London (not our choice of routing but one takes what one can get when one is using FF points). Due to cancellation of our flights out on Thursday, we were most fortunate to be offered Emirates First Class Melbourne to Dubai then onto London Heathrow.

We commenced our experience in the Qantas First Lounge in Melbourne. We have been here a number of times due to Richard’s frequent flyer status and have always enjoyed the quality of food and service in the lounge. But this time, it was different. We were able to enjoy a beautiful meal, washed down with Mumm champagne.

Then we both enjoyed a massage to relax and de-stress before boarding our flight.

We boarded and turned LEFT (for a change) and were escorted to our seats - 2E and 2F. Our first offer? Dom Perignon champagne, thank you very much. The Emirates First Class suites are huge and include personal hanging space for jackets, plenty of storage space for belongings. Personal mini bar stocked with Evian still water and Perrier sparkling and 3 different soft drinks, a basket of snacks including chocolates, popcorn, chips, mints, muesli bars, etc., and the a la carte menu and drinks list (including cappuccino, a vast array of wines and spirits) which can be ordered at any time. The Emirates First Class suites include doors that can provide some privacy.

We chose Dom Perignon (which we subsequently found duty free at Dubai airport to be US$402 per bottle!!!), Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, and bourbon for our drinks.

Our amenities bag included pyjamas, slippers, eye mask, toothpaste and toothbrush, and Bulgari and Voya products.

Our food choices included the following:

  • Caviar - a traditional selection of finely chopped onion, grated egg, sour cream and lemon, served with Melba toast and blinis.
  • Gingerbread French toast - with raspberry compote, cinnamon poached apple and lemon curd butter
  • Poached egg with hollandaise - served with veal sausages, sautéed. mushrooms, asparagus and grillled sourdough

All the food was delicious.

We were asked if we would like to shower at some stage during the flight. Did you say, SHOWER??? OMG! YES!

So, an hour before landing in Dubai, we both went to separate bathrooms, and showered at 11,500 Metres in the air! The array of quality products seemed endless - shampoo, conditioner, hair brush, body scourer, face cream, body lotion, toothbrush and toothpaste, etc. The showers are timed but neither of us used the entire time and shut off the shower earlier. It was pretty surreal to be able to shower in a plane at 11km above the ground.

We landed in Dubai clean and refreshed, and made our way through an enormous airport to one of the few Emirates First Class lounges. This lounge seemed to run the entire length of the airport. Fresh sushi, local baklava and ma’amoul (sweet pistachio sweets), and coffee.

Then we boarded our next flight to London. Seats 1E and 1F this time. Again, more Dom Perignon, Bloody Mary and Mojito. We also had Arabic coffee and dates with orange peel.

Food delights we indulged in on this flight included:

  • Canapés - sweet potato tartlet, houmous with lamb baharat, smoked salmon crepe parmentier with poached pear
  • Roasted beef carpaccio with feta, edamame and passionfruit jelly
  • Beef steak sandwich
  • Cheese board with Yarra Valley feta, Dutch Gouda made from goat’s milk and a red leicester

And, of course, we HAD to do it again. Another glorious shower way up high an hour prior to landing in London.

Our thoughts on the Emirates First Class experience? Um, WOW!!! We are unbelievably grateful to be able to have had such a quality experience. Everything about Emirates First Class was amazing.