One of the most powerful elements of Emirates` A380 is the ICE (Information, Communications, Entertainment) in-flight entertainment system. Content is displayed on large 23-inch touchscreens in the backrest and each seat is equipped with two handheld controllers – a standard handheld remote and a tablet, both of which can be used to control the ICE system as well as surf the web. Browsing ICE reveals an astonishing range of content, from a huge selection of on-demand releases and classic movies, TV shows, box sets and an eclectic mix of music for all musical tastes – 2,500 channels in total! There`s also an HDMI port for streaming content from your personal devices directly to your screen. For gamers, there are a number of games and for aviation geeks like me, there is a feed on tail, nose and belly cameras outside the plane. There`s also onboard Wi-Fi – enjoy 10MB of free data (that`s enough to search, email, and update Facebook) or do what I did and pay just $1.00 to use up to 500MB and stay connected throughout the flight. For your return, relax before your flight in the Business Class lounge in Concourse B of Dubai International Airport. Some airlines offering business class flights to Dubai offer access to their lounges during a stopover, such as Turkish Airlines in Istanbul. I enjoyed this flight as an Emirates guest, with WIFI, business centre, shower rooms and prayer room, Emirates ensures that every need is met. And at Heathrow, you can take in the views and watch your plane approach while relaxing in the lounge, located right next to the door. My Business Class experience with the 777-300ER, arguably Emirates` “least enjoyable” First Class and Business Class options in their fleet of aircraft, always ticked all the boxes: freshly prepared in-flight meals chosen from a menu that seems impossible to offer in the air, served with white tablecloths, heavy cutlery and all the drinks, from cappuccino to cocktails, all included in the price; a selection of entertainment on a giant television screen; There is so much legroom left that there is even storage space left for anything you want to keep handy.
and an elegantly dressed crew member ready to satisfy any whim during the flight. I really enjoyed this flight with Emirates. I`ve always been excited about Qatar and Etihad and Emirates are certainly at a similar level. This confirmed my view that I would almost always take a business class flight with a Middle Eastern airline. I will definitely be travelling in Emirates Business Class again. The Business Class cabin is set up in a 1-2-1 configuration, with all passengers having direct access to the aisle. I was sitting in 25K, the second-to-last row of Business Class, and I was in the mini-cabin in front of the bar on board. Emirates uses generous wood and gold tones throughout the cabin, but not in an overly flashy way.
Oh, I`m a big Emirates fan and I`m thrilled if you like to fly with my favorite airlines. And it seems that Emirates` food is much tastier than any other airline`s, even though I only travel in economy class. Emirates` business and first class flights are legendary, but not all upgrades are created equal. While researching and reflecting (read: I`ve seen far too many reviews on YouTube), I quickly discovered that there was a big difference between the two planes they fly, the Boeing 777 and the Airbus A380 – namely the 2-3-2 seat configuration on the 777, which throws the business class community into turmoil. No business-class bigwig should risk getting stuck in a middle seat at the top of the plane, one critic pointed out; Another lamented the “outdated” design almost flat, but not quite. There are also four versions of the 777, some of which (like the 777-300ERS I flew) have 2-3-2 flat seats. Yes, food is served in Emirates Business Class, although food depends on the time of flight. Special fare passengers do not have access to the chauffeur-driven car, the possibility to switch to first class and can only select a seat 48 hours before departure.
While passengers are willing to let go of most of these things, one crucial benefit is missing: the lounge. This means you won`t have access to Emirates` Business Class lounge in Dubai. Emirates Business Class is one of the most luxurious, from chauffeur-driven pick-up to lounge, very comfortable seating, excellent service and restaurants. It is also one of the most expensive and difficult to update. The Emirates Business Class lounge at Dubai Airport was huge. I think this might be the biggest business class lounge I`ve ever visited. There are several dining areas in the lounge, including a Costa coffee stand, playgrounds, and everything else you can imagine in a business class airport lounge. The second leg of my business class flight from London to Sydney with Emirates was also on an A380. However, this one had a different configuration. The seats were only four opposites, for example those sitting on the window seat have to climb on top of the person next to them to get to the aisle and bathroom. Emirates offers four types of fares for its business class tickets, ranging from `Special` to `Flex Plus`.
My flight started in Delhi and flew to Dubai on a 777 (reviewed here!) before meeting the A380 bound for Heathrow. I was booked in the “special” fare class, which was much cheaper (~$160 approximately) but did not include any significant benefits. Emirates Business Class is available on most routes, but is best used on long-haul flights to fully enjoy the experience and amenities. Business class seats on Emirates` 777 aircraft are slightly larger than seats on the A380, but the A380 has an onboard bar and wider aisle access due to the seating arrangement. Flights from Los Angeles, New York and Washington DC to Dubai fly on the A380, while all other routes from the United States use the 777. Emirates` A380 Business Class meets all the requirements of excellent flight. With an attentive crew, comfortable seats, and excellent entertainment, there`s little room for improvement.