Mark,
I'm in Emirates FF scheme too, which was partly why I was so miffed at having to fly Crab Air out of Heathrow rather than an airline that I knew out of Birmingham. Got a fair few miles, so like you was hoping for a free upgrade and extra luggage allowance.
But no, instead I've got to fly via an airport that has been universally voted as having taken the Black Hole of Calcutta's crown for grottiest dump known to man, (and apparently Abu Dhabi airport is almost as bad!) somehow cram all my belongings into a 3.5kg luggage allowance and then sit looking out of the window for 31 hours because the inflight entertainment consisted of one middle aged flight attendant holding up a book and flicking through it, whilst I'm sitting snacking on something that has the taste and nutritious qualities of the contents of a cat litter tray.
At least this way I might be pleasantly surprised!
Dave