Emirates » Business class » User reviews

blendLondon flew Emirates First class, on a B777-200 (three-class) (13/02/2012 09:07)

I have flown Emirates First Class more than 30 times, the most recent was 2 weeks ago.

The aircraft should have been an A380, but was changed at the last moment to a 777-300. I was told that the 777 had suites in first, however, when I boarded I found they had used an aircraft with their old (non suite) type first class - and very uncomfortable it was too!

Service was almost indifferent, has it has been in their first class on several occasions recently. Same old tired wines and style of food that they have had for the last 2 years at least.

The ICE system was the old type that had a tendency to drive you nuts having to move a cursor around the screen, rather than the newer touch screen ICE system which is better. The TV was smaller that recent types, and a lower resolution. I have to say that the popular new ICE systems are not all they are made out to be either. OK, you get the cameras, but after that it sort of falls apart.

The most irritating English radio DJ type voice is constantly in your ears every time you change between areas of the ICE system, and adverts, adverts, adverts. Why should I be forced to watch adverts in any class, least of all first!

The suites on the 777 and the 380 are brassy looking, although comfortable. Emirates don't provide amenity bags in first on the 380, as everything is in the very spacious shower room. I suppose it is novel having a shower at 38,000 feet, but when you have done it a few times, it does lose its appeal a little.

One thing that never fails to irritate me is the size of the loos in first class, especially on the Emirates 777 and on many other airlines I have flown, especially when you have been provided with a sleep suit and are expected to change in a space about the size of the average rat hole..

However the A380 could not be criticised for the size, the loo/shower room is absolutely huge. The price supplement which Emirates have been charging in First on their 380 flights is presumably due to the amount of water that needs to be carried for the showers. Do we want to pay several hundred £ extra on your ticket price just to have a shower on board - I don't.

Emirates always seem to score highly in passenger surveys. I don't know why this should be so particularly, they are OK, but frankly not that spectacular in terms of service and what is offered on board. In the last couple of years they have been expanding rapidly, and it seems to me that they are "stretching at the seams", and this is becoming all too apparent in their service delivery.

I am moving back to British Airways, and trying Etihad for the first time in March. Lets see how they fare.

TominScotland flew Emirates Economy class, on a B777-300 (two-class) (05/02/2012 23:46)

This review incorporates two aircraft types, B777-300 (two class) and B777-300 (three class) for a routing from Glasgow to Melbourne via Dubai.

I checked in on-line for this journey and was able to confirm pre-reserved forward aisle seats for both legs of the journey, 18G (the final row of the forward Economy cabin within the centre block of a 3-4-3 configuration) and 21G, again centre block but not at the back of the cabin. Baggage was checked through and a 'Priority Business' tag added in recognition of my Gold status with Emirates.

I used the Servisair Lounge at Glasgow which I know well and which holds no surprises (or joys!!). The inbound flight was a few minutes late to boarding commenced later than expected and was its usual chaotic self in Glasgow although rear steps for high row Economy passengers alleviated pressure on the one air bridge used. I was able to board quickly by using my Gold status again and settled into a reasonably comfortable Economy seat.

Take-off was some 30 minutes late but the announced flying time was less than normal so an on-time arrival was predicted.

Drinks and lunch service commenced quite quickly and offered a reasonable choice of lamb or chicken although my neighbour, who had not pre-ordered vegetarian, was clearly unhappy with the options.

The IFE is really second to none and offers such a wide range that you (almost) wish for a longer flight. Its a great opportunity to catch up with new movies or to wallow in nostalgia by reliving your all-time favourites.

The cabin crew were friendly and reasonably attentive but did not acknowledge my Gold status, which they have done in the past on this flight. Drinks and a light snack were offered before landing in Dubai which took place 20 minutes behind schedule after a number of holding circles over the Persian Gulf.

We parked to terminal stand (not always the case) and, after a healthy walk through the terminal, I was able to find a place in the very crowded Business Lounge to catch up on the world via wifi.

My next flight left from gate 121, a good 15 minutes back down the terminal to where we had arrived (great for the circulation) and boarding for the melbourne via Kuala Lumpur flight was on-time. However, some passengers did not show and with a long queue for take-off, we were about an hour late into the air.

A snack was served soon after take-off and then I slept until breakfast service, about 90 minutes out from KL. The breakfast omelette was not attractive to the eye so I passed, just eating fruit and pastries. Landing was a few minutes late in KL and all transit passengers and their luggage had to disembark, thankfully with immediate access back into the departure area.

Reboarding my luck changed and I found myself upgraded into Business, in the front row (8J), a good location with ease of access to facilities yet quiet enough. A really good lunch was offered and I chose a lamb curry which was tasty and hot. (in both senses). My neighbour (also an up-grade) happened to live just 3 miles from where I stay so we had a pleasant exchange of experiences. A good sleep followed, substantial snacks were served and we landed in Melbourne bang on time.

Immigration at 02.25 was a breeze (the only in-bound international flight at that time) but my luggage, despite its tag, was among the last out - a pity. Despite this, a 5 minute walk to my pre-booked airport motel and I was in bed, asleep, within an hour of landing.

A great service from Glasgow, to be doubled from the summer, adequate in Economy but really enhanced by the upgrade from KL.

DisgustedofSwieqi flew Emirates First class, on a B777-300ER (three-class with suites) (02/02/2012 23:23)

I was transferred to this flight from Austrian Airlines and check in at the gate, so cannot comment on the normal experience. The flight was from Vienna to Dubai.

Once in the gate, EK staff had cordoned off a section next to the gate with moveable barriers, which made waiting a little more comfortable, as it prevented the normal 'jockeying for position' that one sometimes encounters.

Boarding was on time and I was shown to my seat 6F) by a courteous flight attendant. This configuration has the fully flat business beds, which are comfortable and appreciated, even on a short 5 hour flight. My seat was on the right aisle side of a middle block of three and the sides of the seat shell are quite high, with a divider available via the push of a button, which neither my neighbour nor I felt the need to use.

We were offered a choice of fruit juice or champagne (Bollinger NV) before pushback, which was on schedule, followed by a mid length taxi and departure.

The aircraft was fitted out beautifully, with clean carpets and plenty of faux walnut, even around the window frames, which gave the aircraft the ambience of an executive jet.

Service was outstanding, efficient and friendly, delivered by an FA who (I guess) was Indian and both charming and attentive (knowing when to offer service and when to leave me alone with the in flight entertainment.)

Post take off drinks arrived very quickly after the captain released the crew and we were handed a wine list to complement the menu cards left in the pocket holding the safety card - also I found a 500ml bottle of water in the same place, a nice touch to quench the thirst before the drinks service.

There was a menu choice of starters and mains and I received my preference, even though I have no status with EK. Some other airlines would do well to understand how much this is appreciated when one has paid a premium for a ticket.

The starter I chose was mezze and it was a good selection of cold bites, with warm bread of different types, quite delicious. The main was pike-perch and was lovely. I would have been happy to have this meal in a restaurant, especially as it was lubricated with another glass of 'bolly', which was a difficult choice given the main wine list and the temptation to try that.

After dinner, it was time to have some entertainment and there is little to add to previous reports of Emirates ICE system (information, communication, entertainment.) It is very comprehensive and the screen was huge.

Before running a newly released movie, I did quickly call my wife using the facility to make mobile calls for 4 euros per minute; As I was going to arrive later than scheduled, I wanted to let her know in advance and this is a perfect use for the system, worth it despite a tariff nearly nine times more expensive than my normal roaming rate.

One movie and one documentary later and we were descending into Dubai, from the west. Arrival was at a remote stand and the usual separate bussing of premium pax was the order of the day. Although handed a fast track immigration card, this was not really required at circa 2230 and the arrivals hall was quiet.

Nonetheless, baggage delivery took over 30 minutes and this was a little disappointing, although my case arrived amongst the other premium baggage, which was a relief considering the late switch of flights.

Once painlessly through customs, the Emirates chauffeur drive desk quickly found a large Chevy Caprice with my name on it and the transfer to Jumeirah was fast and painless.

In summary, the flight was exemplary and a demonstration of how the pain can be removed from mid haul flying.

I have been critical of EK in the past for highly variable product and still feel this way, but on the basis of this flight, give the company top marks.

SBingham flew Emirates First class, on a A380 (Config. 2) (01/12/2011 12:41)

Hong Kong to Bangkok first class A380 28 November.

What a poor show for Emirates. Food was poor, service terrible and I think the A380 is over rated, will never fly with this airline again.

Shower was only cool part, the on board bar is useless and not enjoyable as crew back and forth when I gave up waiting to be served asked for a drink and was told to wait a minute. Do not waste your money or sky miles unless you do not mind feeling part of a production line.

romeofoxtrotpapa flew Emirates First class, on a A380 (Config. 2) (05/11/2011 06:11)

What a sheer delight. A once-off experience! Taking a shower at 40,000 feet, Wow. This flight was absolute class. Whether it is business or first class travel, Emirates is so far ahead of the others and then throw in their limo service plus their competitive pricing & you do have excellent value for money.

romeofoxtrotpapa flew Emirates First class, on a A380 (Config. 2) (05/11/2011 06:05)

TominScotland flew Emirates Business class, on a A380 (Config. 1) (12/10/2011 11:48)

This journey relates to a journey originating in Glasgow on two class 777-300 and continuing upstairs on the A380 to Hong Kong via Bangkok.

The limo pick-up was not as efficient as normal due to poor communication but this did not matter as the inbound flight was a bit delayed which meant an extended wait in the Servisair Lounge at Glasgow which I know all too well. Boarding was, to put it kindly, chaotic and tested the patience of the ground staff!!

The first section of the trip, on the two class 777, was average because the business class seating on this aircraft is fine but nowhere near the quality of that on offer on 3 class aircraft. It is a pity that Emirates persist with the two class offering on many regional UK routes. I was in Row 1 which is a good location, far from the madding crowd!!

Business is always full and there is probably some scope for upgrading the service. There was one meal service, lunch, and drink available towards the end of what transpired to be a shortish flight so that we actually arrived early. Miracle of miracles, we did not remote park (see my last Emirates review) so I was in the vast and unfairly criticised Business Lounge within 20 minutes of landing. I must complement the purser who sorted out a meal preference error for me where no one else has been able to help in close to 5 years of trying!!

The A380 boarded smoothly - its great to have a separate access route for the upper deck on the same level as the lounge. I was seated in row 8, towards the front of Business and, thankfully, away from the bar at the rear which appeared to get quite lively en route.

Food was excellent on this flight, breakfast prior to landing in Bangkok and a light lunch on the Hong Kong leg. The A380 is a great way to travel but this particular routing is really let down by the stop over in Bangkok, where transit passengers remain on board while the aircraft is serviced around them. A through flight on this route at a timing which connected with UK regional flights would be wonderful, even on a 777!

We arrived in Hong Kong 10 minutes early at the A380 gate which is just about the furthest from Immigration where queues where extensive - no priority access. Luggage was disappointing as, unusually for Hong Kong and Emirates, priority bags did not emerge first so I had to wait quite a long time. The limo transfer was at hand and whisked me into the night lights of Hong Kong with speed and efficiency.

ecbatana flew Emirates Business class, on a A380 (Config. 1) (28/09/2011 17:52)

JFK-DXB. This is an exceptional flight at an exceptional timeslot. The 23:00 departure from JFK is ideal to allow for a night cap in the Emirates A380 lounge located at the rear of the plane on the upper deck. (The upper deck serves first and business class passengers only). Then a restful flight in a comfortable, private seat for the remainder of the journey.

The staggered seating for business class passengers ensures privacy rather than an awkward long 13 hr. journey next to an unknown passenger (as is the case on Emirates fleet of 777's). The seat configuration is unique to their A380's.

TominScotland flew Emirates Economy class, on a B777-300ER (three-class) (04/09/2011 20:40)

This review relates to the non-stop Brisbane - Dubai service with onward connection on a 777-200 (two class) to Glasgow. On the outbound, I had used miles to upgrade to Business for the Dubai - Brisbane leg and, ironically, had hardly slept so was in some trepidation about the return, timetabled as 14:40, in Economy.

Check in in Brisbane was fast and very well managed. I had pre-selected seats for both legs (no cost) but when I tried to check-in online, could not print my boarding pass. This was not a problem at check-in. Baggage allowance is very generous (up to 32kg) which is way above most carriers and as my case was heavy (28 kg) I was pleased with my airline selection. Security and Immigration were a breeze with no queues and I went into Departures to wait for the flight. No Lounge access as I have been downgraded to Silver (back up to Gold now on the back of these flights!).

Boarding was well organised and I was able to use the Priority Line with my Silver card. Seating on the 777-300 ULR is very good for this class - reasonable legroom and comfortable seats. I had my preferred aisle seat two rows behind Business Class. Push back was on time and the Captain announced a short flying time of 13:20 which would get us into Dubai some 75 minutes early. A simple amenity kit was handed out as this was a night flight. Drinks service commenced soon after take-off, followed by dinner of prwn salad, with a choice of beef and chicken (both appetising) and a chocolate dessert. Emirates ICE selection is second to none with both current and classic movies and, my favourite, of all UK No1s by week back to 1952!! I slept far better than in Business and only woke for the welcome chicken pie and fruit service about half way across. Breakfast was served some 90 minutes out of Dubai and we landed, as predicted, well ahead of schedule.

This is when Dubai gets a bit silly. We taxied for 25 minutes to a remote gate and deplaned into buses for another 25 minute tour of the airport before reaching the terminal. I guess this will be the reality (and getting worse) until the new airport opens in, I think, 2020. It appears to be random whether planes are allocated remote or terminal gates - my outbound ex-Glasgow deplaned into the terminal - a first time for me on this route.

With my Silver card, I was able to use the Emirates Business Lounge in Terminal 1 (not the main Lounge which is Business and Gold only). This was fine, with a welcome shower, good food and drinks and strong, free wifi. Boarding for Glasgow was on time. Again, I was in an aisle seat in the second row of Economy but the two class 777-200 has rather more cramped seating and overall has an older, rather more tatty feel. Catering was an extensive continental breakfast followed by a lunch choice of lamb or chicken. Arrival was on time and my luggage came though in reasonable time.

These are clearly very popular services as both legs appeared to be 100% full. It is obvious why other airlines are pulling out of services through to Australia and New Zealand as Emirates (and Ethihad, Qatar by all accounts) are offering far asuperior Economy product in terms of seating, service and routing options (6 Oz and Kiwi cities and 6 UK destinations) than the competition.

ghostwrita flew Emirates First class, on a A340-500 (12/08/2011 16:45)

stefanomalagodi flew Emirates (16/07/2011 18:26)

My seat 8D was ridicolous: small monitor, old seat.

Temperature of the flight extremely low: passengers very disappointed about Emirates

majalih flew Emirates Economy class (07/07/2011 20:29)

I had a very painful experience where Emirates made my wife travel alone and they did not allow my kids to travel and promised to send them in the next flight as unaccompanied minors. later they did not fulfil the promise they give and my kids left alone in Syria during the violence and hostile envirnment there. I was forced to travel by myself to get them back after a 24 hours of suffering and difficulty for kids in a war zone.

Lujoleasing flew Emirates First class, on a B777-200 (three-class) (21/06/2011 07:27)

I must say this was a experience of a Life time, we book via orbitz 2 SCL to DUB , And we seré schedule to start trip on AA via Miami then London to Dubai , Volcanologa erupts on April 2010, and for some odd reason we where reschedule VIA SCL /JFK AND JFK O DUBAI ON EMIRATES ....ON FIRST CLASS..This is where ive 2 stuartes to your own and may Enjoy dining at sur conviniences , pijamas where handed and the bed made.....truly the best Of all was getting to DUBAI ..on EMIRATES , how ever when I got to the ship , there was something missing from my suitcase, I Put the complaint and no resolving...may be TSA IN JFK ...

AlpineCY flew Emirates First class, on a A330-200 (three-class) (09/06/2011 17:18)

I traveled with the A330 first class from Larnaca to Dubai and back. The seats don't recline as much as on the B777 or A380 but it's totally ok for medium haul flights. The cabin was pretty much empty so the service was great with nice food and so many hot towels that I started to feel like in a spa. The lounge in Larnaca is beyond 'average'. I expected somewhat to have an exclusive flair but it looked pretty much like a modern version of Starbucks with a very small selection of snacks. The one in Dubai was great and there is nothing bad I could say about it. The only downside in Dubai was that they park these less important flights in the middle of nowhere and it took 15 minutes by bus to reach the gate. So in total, definitely a nice plane/cabin for shorter trips (less than 5 hours).

AlpineCY flew Emirates First class, on a B777-300ER (three-class) (09/06/2011 17:12)

I was traveling first class on the B777 from Sydney to Bangkok and I have to say that I much prefer it to the A380. Even though there is no shower and no bar at the back, the cabin has only two rows and you get a much more customized service. Also, the plane, even though they are older, seems to be in better shape. The suits are very comfortable and the food was excellent. The lounge in Sydney was overcrowded and the food selection was mediocre which was not the best experience but as I didn't mind as I only had 45 minutes before boarding anyway. I think, even though many people like the A380 better, I would try to get on a B777 the next time.

AlpineCY flew Emirates First class, on a A380 (Config. 2) (09/06/2011 17:07)

I traveled first class on the A380 from Dubai to Sydney and then back from Bangkok to Dubai. In general, it was a great experience. The staff is very friendly, the food selection was good and the little cabin adds a lot of comfort (especially when flying for 15 hours). The check at the airports was quick and pleasant as well as the express customs lanes which speed up the entire process a lot. Also the lounges are a great bonus if you have some time to kill as you can indulge yourself a little.

The few downsides were that the A380 has an outside hull which is extremely thick and the window is rather like a peep hole. Also, the service on board (as friendly as the staff may be) was very inconsistent. One time I got a sleeping suit, the next time I didn’t. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t need one but it would be nice to either give one every time or none at all so you know if you should bring something comfortable with you or not. My mini bar was half empty on the return trip etc., the toiletry bag was always a little surprise moment as its content always changed. In general the plane looks a little worn out with things were broken such as the air vents, the shower (on the return flight), the privacy doors, etc. I would say that the money I paid for Sydney was very OK for what I got but I had a look at prices for Dubai-US and I would not in life pay that much for this. I believe Business Class is very sufficient as you get pretty much the same comfort just without the extra luxury touches.

wkspang flew Emirates Business class, on a A380 (Config. 1) (25/03/2011 13:23)

I have now experienced both business and economy class on Emirates. You get a flat bed on Business and in the A380, the bar is a bonus, although after that, it is above average, but not amazing.

The food is good, but I find the service can be quite personnel dependent. Some, especially the staff from Asia, are amazing, whilst the staff from Western countries can be poor. I find it strange that they always have to refer to a list to welcome me back when they see a frequent flyer number next to my name, to deliver me the correct choice of food.

The economy is good, with great entertainment, but food and service is average. I still fly with them because of their great choice of routes.

herrybirch flew Emirates Economy class, on a B777-300ER (three-class) (05/03/2011 11:59)

DBX to LGW. We were sat at the back of the cabin only 2 seats instead of 3 so wider aisle and ICE AVOD fab as always and food good. Seats were fab, can't see why people complain and 6 hours felt like 2.

RajeshYadav flew Emirates Economy class (05/03/2011 01:02)

I recently flew to Mumbai from Dubai. Emirates operates daily five flights to Mumbai with Boeing 777 and Airbus A320 aircraft which mostly goes more than 85% seat load.

This particular equipment was Boeing777-300. I usually choose my seat online since I prefer aisle seat but on this occasion since I was travelling with my wife I chose window and the adjacent seat. Emirates has 3-4-3 seat configuration in their Boeing777 aircrafts in economy class unlike Qatar Airways and many more other airlines.

We felt cramped in the seat and literally touching each other while having the food. I am also upset in particular regarding the service by the crew on this route. Its understood that the journey time is short and there is not enough time to serve the capacity of this aircraft travellers but I feel that the crew shouldn't be ignorant about the request of the passengers.

The service for drinks passes through the aisle only once and if any passengers requests for another glass of wine the crew agrees to bring but never shows up.This has happened at least with me on a few occasions.

I guess Emirates needs to improve its service and on the Asian sectors.
The food was also bland.This was the first time I experienced such a bad test of food on Emirates flight which brands itself big and speaks high about the standard of food it offers.

During my return flight I faced a similar discomfort since the IFE box was placed below the seat in front which didn't allow me stretch my legs...Emirates please don't only expand the routes but improve the quality standards as well...

mehmood0 flew Emirates Business class, on a A380 (Config. 2) (10/02/2011 17:07)

this plane is really nice and specially the a380 versions in it.

Age_of_Reason flew Emirates Economy class, on a B777-300ER (two-class) (20/01/2011 08:23)

The formerly invincible Emirates DXB experience is a thing of the past. A late takeoff (90 minutes) mostly recovered by a generous schedule gets wasted by ATC making the flight circle for 20 minutes, then trundle to the perimeter parking wastes another 20 minutes then an appalling ly slow bus trundles us bumpily to a chaotic arrival gate. So connection time is tight but the 02.30 Doha should still be available?

But no mustering of the connecting passengers. No PAX list in the (in)capable hands of the Emirates rep. The Doha is still on the ground (somewhere) , it is 40 minutes since landing and the reception crew had 20 minutes with the flight in Emirati airspace to prepare for airside connections and onboard mustering for prioritised disembarkation. Perhaps?

Then a fight to get the first available flight ... 4h rebook with Qatar. But the bag can't make it.

No such luck - next time go Qatar direct. or save money on Gulf.

glenlivet flew Emirates First class, on a A380 (Config. 1) (25/12/2010 11:09)

I have flown during the last 18 month 11 times with the A-380 of EK. There is nothing you can fault EK on those flights. Food and beverage: excellent. Suites: best in industry with Swiss new F seat. On board lounge and shower: what a treat.

MEMEMEMEME flew Emirates Economy class, on a B777-300ER (three-class) (18/12/2010 14:42)

We flew from LGW - DBX and I heard we would be going on an older Boeing 777-200 but was happy to be going on a 300er model. Worried because read that seats were too narrow but they were fine and the AVOD and food were great. The only annoying thing was that we were waiting and waiting at Gatwick to board with no info and waited in a small queue for about an hour to get our passport stamped. Very surprised how good it was.

Rohan-Ghosh flew Emirates Economy class, on a B777-300ER (three-class) (13/12/2010 14:55)

I have been taking this flight EK203 Dubai to New York for the past couple of years (this will be my fifth trip). Everything about this flight is well planned and thought off.

Love the schedule. You take of at 0200 from Dubai but get 14 hours to sleep. It lands in New York in the morning. Great for catching connections from JFK.

Love the menu. They feed you a lot! Starts off with a quick dinner and then a nice breakfast, also a midnight snack. I don't drink on planes but they serve a nice selection of beers wines etc.

If you are bored you can catch probably 150 channels of movies, documentaries and also video games!

The boarding is on a different floor than the your normal flights (maybe because of security) but it adds a quiet touch

The economy seats are really good with tons of legs space (if you know where to sit :)

The only negative thing - if there was any - is that the cabin crew are not seen once after the food is served. I think they tend to sleep... I am not sure though.

Here is a video on a complete economy class trip on Emirates I took last year, it will be give you a nice idea of what to expect

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh9HQzWBG78

Cheers

TOLOSAN flew Emirates Business class, on a A380 (Config. 1) (04/12/2010 18:16)

Superb business class cabin, efficient boarding process in Dubai Inflight service needs a bit of synchronisation between food and drinks - limited choice of entree while seating in row 11E in business. Crew stuggle to serve everyone in a timely manner in such a big cabin; superb inflight entertainment and information system flying the A380 is a pure pleasure, wishing the flight to last longer

frustratedflyer flew Emirates Business class, on a B777-300 (three-class) (29/10/2010 18:44)

A short flight from Mumbai to Dubai. The Lounge in Mumbai is one of the better ones at the airport. I was not hungry but there was a reasonable selection of hot and cold food.

Boarding was chaotic. No fault of Emirates but loads of people crowding around the gate stopping the priority boarders getting close easily!

Service was swift with a coat taken and drink and newspaper offered. The flight was delayed due to probems at the airport so Emirates offered a drinks service.

The plane had the new and wonderful ICE IFE system with large screens. You can watch this before take off so this helped pass the time.

I skipped the food but did have a great glass of NZ Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc.

The new Emirates seats are a great improvement but narrow. I was in 10D but I found the seat narrrow and had nowhere to rest my right arm. For this reason avoid the centre seat in the middle 3 as I imagine you have nowhere to rest both arms!

frustratedflyer flew Emirates Business class, on a A330-200 (three-class) (26/10/2010 17:26)

A short flight of 3 hours from Dubai to India.

Lounge in Dubai was very good with plenty of seats, places to eat and drink and power for laptops. The aircraft seat is quite old and narrow but better than you would find on shorthaul routes in Europe. The IFE controls are in the side of the seat so I kept changing channels as a moved my bottom. I was in 7D which I think is one of the better seats. I would avoid row 6 as they are in a cabin all on their own in it feels rather cramped.

IFE was reasonable, had been upgraded except the contols so these were confusing. It was easiest to touch the screen but the screen was not easy to reach! A good selection of films. Service was friendly but mixed.

Prompt drinks and then food service but then nothing else. My neighbour's food was spilt by the crew in front of my seat but they never cleared it up! Food service was extensive - Mushroom soup, Chatpatti or lobster salad followed by chicken curry, veg curry or seafood pie. There was an Indian dessert (Rasmali), cheese and chocolates. I just had the chicked curry which was OK. The wines included Moet, a reasonable Mersault, Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc, a 2002 St Emilion and a 2005 Torbreck Shiraz.

My priority bags were slow to come out - almost last. If I had this plane for long haul I would be hugely disappointed but if I compare it to a three hour shorthaul flight in Europe or US it was great.

The flight was 20 minutes late to depart and we then circled at Delhi for some time. Neither was explained or announced by the crew.

KLTCONSULTS123 flew Emirates Business class, on a A380 (Config. 1) (30/09/2010 15:05)

Boarding for Business and First Class passengers is on the same leval as and close to the lounges on the first floor of the terminal. Because the Emirates layout of the A380 has all premium seats on the top deck getting onboard is quick and convenient. At first glance the Business class section of the aircraft seems vast and the cubicles containing each seat seem to be constricting. However once in my seat I was delighted with the comfort and storage space on offer. Not only in the overhead bins but around the seat too, including plenty of space for placing your book and drink prior to take off. Each seat has a little mini bar stocked with soft drinks, juice and water. When reclined the seat forms a very comfortable bed and I had no trouble in getting off to sleep as the plane is very quiet. The seat table is generous and the only problem I had with the food is that they have an individual service with food brought to your seat from the galley. With 76 to 80- business class seats this can take some time. There was a good choice of meals and drinks including a good quality champagne. The only downside is the birdsong the airline broadcast before breakfast service which I personally found annoying. The inflight entertainment system on emirates has been a market leader for years and on this plane has been enhanced by a tail camera showing the flight pointing forward from a camera sited on the aircraft tail. This gives a fantastic view of take off and landing. I travel to Australia from the uK about three times a year and always book this flight now direct from Dubai to Sydney.

TheFamousJames flew Emirates Business class, on a B777-300ER (three-class) (05/09/2010 08:26)

17/12/2008. We arrived into DXB from GLA in the old-style business class cabin and headed for the First Class Lounge in DXB T3.

The terminal had only been open about two months so it was interesting to see how it functioned, especially in the aftermath of the LHR T5 debacle.

The first disappointment was that we were parked on a remote stand and bus'd into the terminal. Upon arrival we discovered a very large queue waiting to pass through a security check. There was no equivalent of the UK Fast Track to which we have all become accustomed. Once through security, we headed up an escalator expecting to head for the lounge only to discover another security checkpoint with another massive queue. To their credit, the ground staff worked as fast as possible and remained friendly, but it was still an unwanted experience at 1am. The First Class lounge however does not disappoint and one quickly forgets the trials of getting from the plane. After a couple of hours in the lounge, a spa treatment, quick shower and a nice meal, we headed for our JNB flight.

Fortunately we were boarding from a gate not to far from the lounge. Unfortunately, and again quite surprisingly, there was no premium boarding option in the gate area and so it was a free for all to get to the bridge. Once there, there was a choice of two jetways, one for premium and one for economy which at least made boarding the plane a straightforward and rapid process. The First Class cabin was almost full and we we found ourselves in the original flat-bed seat rather than the new Private Suite.

Whilst roomy and with all the amenities expected of a "modern" seat, it was quite uncomfortable, especially where the seat padding seemed insufficient to prevent contact with the seat frame in places. I actually found myself wishing for the business class seat from our GLA flight. Otherwise, service was as expected - attentive but not overbearing, and prompt. Food and drink were excellent and though we hardly needed anything else after our lounge experience, it was difficult to refuse.

deepak.sapra flew Emirates Business class, on a B777-200LR (three-class) (23/08/2010 14:33)

As a frequent traveller from India to Brazil, I find Emirates to be the most convenient connection from most Indian cities, especially so from Hyderabad, where i live. Three hours to Dubai, a three hour layover at Dubai airport, followed by the 14 hour haul to Sao Paulo.

Boarding is usually from Gates 203 to 205 at Dubai, which is not at the lounge level, unlike some other Emirates flights like the ones to New York and Heathrow. At the gate, there is quite a bit of confusion and even though there is a separate queue for Business and First class, it takes a bit of manoeuvring to get there. Getting in is a three stage process: the passport and visa check, followed by the boarding pass swipe leading finally into the boarding gate.

First Class has a separate air bridge for boarding while Business and Economy passengers use the other one. Emirates has this annoying habit of keeping newspapers just outside the entry into the aircraft, which causes a bit of a bottleneck at entry.

Once inside the craft, it is quite easy to find your way to your seat. There is adequate luggage space on top, adequate even for the big and heavy Duty free bags that almost everyone seems to be carrying.

Emirates has recently replaced its years old safety video with a new, animated one which is a lot nicer.

While the seats are not very comfortable to sit in; they almost a lot better to sleep in. Almost completely flat, with the quilt laid out by the crew, it is quite relaxing to be on this long flight and make adjustments to your biological clock.

Food is served multiple times; first a light snack followed by lunch and finally another snack a couple of hours before landing. Being a vegetarian, i find the Emirates vegetarian offering quite nice compared to those offered by other airlines. Otherwise, there are a large number of choices, and those include dishes from Italian, Brazilian and Arabic cuisines.

Emirates has a large selection of wines and beverages on this flight. As a teetotaller, I love the tomato juice with salt and pepper that is on offer.

However, the area Where this flight is miles ahead of all others is in terms of its ICE offering. Almost everything, from movies to TV programs to radio shows to music of all genre is on offer making it one of the most comprehensive selection of entertainment options that i have ever seen. I know of people who see as many as half a dozen movies on this flight, and secretly hope the journey continues.

The information section is very well done too, as it has a air-show, front camera view, downward camera view and very comprehensively and interestingly compiled destination information. The communications section provides you the facility to make phone calls from your seat to the ground via the satellite phone along with Email and SMS options. Easy to operate and moderately priced (US$1 per SMS) make it a very attractive way to be in touch on this long journey.

I have done this sector more than a dozen times in the last two years and only once have i had the experience of the flight landing beyond the scheduled 18:30 Sao Paulo time arrival. On all other occasions, we were well before that. The one occasion we landed late, take off from Dubai was delayed by almost an hour because of off-loading the luggage of some no-show passengers.

On arrival at Sao Paulo, the luggage carousel is chaotic but quite fast. By the time one clears immigration, luggage is usually there. Emirates also has the facility to order for a chauffeur drive to the city, which is quite a nice thing given the long flight.

All in all, for all those going from Asia to Brazil, I would highly recommend taking the EK-261 via Dubai as one of the most efficient ways of getting there.

bishandrach flew Emirates Business class, on a A380 (Config. 1) (27/07/2010 17:02)

Rezwan1 flew Emirates Economy class, on a B777-200LR (three-class) (25/05/2010 14:39)

I have been on this route several times so far, and each time I felt that there should be another meal added to this flight. This flight is 16 hours 20 minutes long and only 1 meal is provided along with some dissatisfying mini wrap for a snack.

I have made several suggestions after each of these return flights, but Emirates is probably too big to listen these days. Perhaps it is time to ditch my loyalty, and switch over to Qatar or Etihad?

Rezwan1 flew Emirates Economy class, on a B777-200LR (three-class) (25/05/2010 14:30)

luv2travel flew Emirates Business class, on a B777-300 (two-class) (01/05/2010 21:33)

Flew EK344 from Dubai to Manila with my son. Check in was a breeze with very courteous staff. Checked in baggeage was more generous at 30kgs. compared to Cathay Pacific's which my wife flew at 20 Kgs. Flight were always punctual, so no worries on this.

Have flown with Emirates 7 times before. 6 with their B777-300ERs and once with their Airbus 380 but was always delighted with the attentiveness of the FAs in taking care of our needs. This time me and my son were upgraded to Business class upon boarding which was a lovely surprise.

Wide and comfy seats with more than 60 degree pitch makes sleepong truly a relaxing experience and was given amenities like eye covers and socks as well as decks of playing cards for my son... a cute personal touch to keep busy on a long flight.

Food was superb starting with the aperitiffs and salads. Main course star was of course the beef tenderloin steak which my son relished with gusto. The dessert was a tasty strawberry shortcake.

Emirates IFE consists of hundreds of choice movie titles from the more recent Hollywood blockbusters. Watched several during the flight.

There were also nice touches in their lavatories with separate kits for shaving, combing and brushing as well as provisions for hydrating creams and 2 choices of colognes.

The mood lighting of their B777s sets one to have a restful flight indeed. Overall flying with Emirates is always an amazing experience and this flight was no exception. I will definitely recommend Emirates to my friends. Emirates truly earned its stripes!

scorpio72 flew Emirates First class, on a B777-300 (three-class) (26/04/2010 04:35)

hamisha flew Emirates Business class (24/04/2010 13:31)

Skyobserver flew Emirates Economy class, on a B777-200 (three-class) (23/04/2010 18:18)

I have travelled EK Economy on their B777 and have always come away with an aching lumbar .... as a rule I carry my own cushion now to supplement the hard seat ...... avoid at all costs sitting in the middle seats ..cramped and uncomfortable

dutchman flew Emirates Business class (23/04/2010 16:17)

Full flight from Dubai to Heathrow in Business class, departed at 02:30 and was offered a light meal before the cabin was dimmed for night flying.

Seated in 8B, bulkhead behind the business class galley, and probably the worst place to be seated. Crew were extremely loud (even the purser joined in on the party) and despite several requests, the continued through most of their flight with loud conversations and generally larking around.

If you are on the 777-300 in business class on Emirates avoid this part of the cabin!!

frustratedflyer flew Emirates Economy class (23/03/2010 16:49)

Was surprsied by how good this flight. New seats, felt like plenty of legroom. Service was first class. Food average. Kids meals had plenty of choices and toys were good. The inflight photo for children a nice touch. IFE - an amazing number of choices. Best I have encountered.

flyebos flew Emirates First class, on a B777-300ER (three-class) (20/03/2010 20:02)

Recent flight Dusseldorf-Dubai-Cape Town. The first leg we had the suites configuration (1-2-1) and the second leg was the "sky cruiser" seats (2-2-2)

Dusseldorf lounge:

The Emirates lounge in Dusseldorf only opened a couple of months ago and still has that new look. As we were pretty early, only a couple of people were using it, but it seems the lounge can easily seat at least 50 people. The food and drink bar was not that big but still has everything you need. No staff to wait you, all self service. There was a choice of cold and hot starters (the carpacio looked delicious), and for dinner there was a choice between meat, fish, vegetarian and Italian. We opted for the fish and although it was only lukewarm, flavours were alright. For desert there was a choice of creme brulee, chocolate cake and a fruit platter.

Boarding:

Twenty minutes prior departure a general call was made. One floor down and we were straight at our gate, through the first and business line, and welcomed aboard with a big smile.

Flight to Dubai

This was our first experience in First class, and we were lucky by having the private suites. I felt like a 5 year old in a huge toy shop! The suites are absolutely wonderfull! There are only 2 rows of suites, with 1-2-1 seating, and we were 4 couples on this flight, wich in practice means that each couple is seperated by an alley. This was not a big deal for us because I don't mind being seated 4 feet away from my husband but for one other couple it was huge problem, but nobody changed seats for them.

Flight attendants came along to help us with securing the hand luggage, and we were promptly served with a glass of Dom Perignon 2000 and the Arabian coffee. After takeoff the menus, amenity kit and pyjamas were handed out. Unfortunatly I'm not a caviar fan so I opted for the Arabian mezze wich was nicely spiced and tastefull. For dinner there was the classical choice between beef, fish, chicken or pasta. Having dinner was an experience on its own, the huge table, white napkins, little pepper and salt set, some hot garlic bread... The best part however was desert, a hot coconut and pinaple cake with ice cream.

The sleeping experience was wonderfull, no cramped economy stile sleep but a big comfy bed, with matras and duvet, all made up for you when you change into the pyjamas. (Unfortunatly the toilets are standard size, which makes it a bit cramped for changing clothes!). Once installed a press on the button turns your bed into a private bedroom with closed doors. Since I wasn't tired yet, I browsed through the inflight entertainment and watched a couple of Friends episodes with one more glass of champagne (my fourth by that time). Somehow I did manage to get some sleep and still wake up ontime for breakfast. As it was only 3am for my body I wasn't really hungry for eggs so I opted for the delicious muesli with yoghurt and a cup of green tea.

In contrast to Dusseldorf, we had a separate deboarding gate for First class, which adds to the special experience. However, what I did find annoying was the lack of a fast lane security, we ended up queing for more then 20 minutes (lots of flights arriving in Dubai at the same time). Most airports have them, so why not the Emirates terminal in Dubai??

Dubai Lounge:

I was expecting a lot here, and the experience was rather dissapointing. The lounge is huge, but right on top of all the shops and all the noise passes on into the lounge. It has been written before and I must agree that Emirates could have done so much better here! The food bar was nice and the waitresses helpfull. To my enjoy there was also a smokers section, not a glass box but open aired, and with drinks being served aswell.

Flight to Cape Town:

No private suites on this flight but the more classical seating in the sky cruiser seats. The "wow-effect" is not as big, but if your flying as a couple you are seated more closely together (2-2-2 seating). This time we were the only people flying first and we got a real threat by the staff, especially by a really nice purser. She spoiled us through the whole flight. As there was plenty of food, and choosing on the menu is sometimes hard, she prepared us a mix of starters and hot meals, so we could have a bit of each. The lack of suites was definatly made up by the quality of the staff! The sleeping experience was quite similiar to the suites. A big comfy 180 degree flat bed, with matras, duvet and pyjamas. We each installed ourselfs at one end of the cabin and this gives you a bit of a suite experience if you have the divider up. After a 6h sleep we were presented again by a lovely champagne breakfast, with scrambled eggs, bacon and sausages.

Main conclusion of these flights: Flying first in Emirates is a wonderfull experience which everybody should enjoy at least once in his lifetime. Only things to improve are in Dubai, the lack of fast lane security and the chaotic, noisy lounge.

HumphreyWright flew Emirates Business class, on a A340-500 (04/03/2010 14:24)

My wife and I have just travelled to New Zealand with Emirates business class. On our journey we encountered 5 different seating types across the fleet. Our journey from Auckland to Dubai was on the A340-500. The seats on this aircraft type leave a lot to be desired. I might almost say that they are the most uncomfortable business class seats we have had the misfortune to sit in. A great shame because the other aircraft seats were either very good or excellent. 18 hours on the A340 was purgatory. TRAVELLERS BE WARNED.

2old4coach flew Emirates First class (28/01/2010 18:25)

Emirates 4 September 2008 Mauritius to Dubai, UAE EK702 MRU-DXB 777-300 FIRST Class Seat 1A (SKYCRUISER SEAT) 2255-530.

Inconsistent service: There have been quite a few reviews about Emirates. The two reviews I am submitting September 2008 and 6 Sept 2008. In another review by this poster a flight from DXB-SIN was wonderful.

Lounge in Mauritius:

The lounge was a joint use lounge. The same lounge Air France, Air Mauritius and other airlines use. Small sandwiches coffee and a service bar are complimentary.

Boarding: I waited until most of the passengers were through the gate before I boarded. I found my own seat and was not offer any beverage even though there were only 3 passengers in first. This crew did not offer the Arab tea or dates that ALL EK flight usually offers. After the door was close I was served a warm glass of flat Champaign.

Seating:

This 777-300 had the “sky cruiser” first class seats in a 2-2-2 configuration. This seat has a mini bar and a divider between the seats that can be raised or lowered. (A similar seat is used on the newer 777-300 in business class.) In this configuration the seat is lay flat seat. (180) I found the seat to be comfortable though somewhat narrow. The seat is rich leather and rich looking. Entertainment: Top of the line audio and video entertainment with a large screen. Even the most jaded audiophile videophile will be satisfied with the quality and selection of the audio and video programming.

Food and beverage: Emirates has a full selection of fine wines and beverages. This flight departed at 2255, therefore a small snack was served. The snack, the same warm flat Champaign and warm nuts were all served within 5 minutes of each other. I rang the service button and 10 minutes latter the flight attendant finally arrived. I requested she open a cold bottle and after 10 minutes more the Champaign arrived, this time cold. I watched a movie and my plates were still on my tray. Finally I got up brought my dish into the galley to find three flight attendants and the purser eating.

Arrival: The new terminal in DXB was to open the next month after this flight. We arrived at a bus gate and deplaned in the sweltering heat and were bussed to customs. (With the new terminal in DXB the arrival is much better.)

Conclusion: The Aircraft was beautiful. The service was a huge disappointment. I thought this flight was an anomaly but this year were traveled from JNB to DXB and had a similar experience. Review of that flight and 3 other excellent EK experiences to follow, including first class on an EK380!

RBrown9 flew Emirates First class, on a A380 (Config. 1) (23/01/2010 17:02)

Check-in was efficient and quick. The Koreanair Lounge used is modern and clean although I would say that in terms of seating "comfortable" has been replaced with "modern". Very limited range of food and drinks offered. Boarding was efficient.

I was the only passenger in First Class. The suite is very comfortable in most respects. However, the flight started off on a bad note for me when after going to the bathroom (First Class shower suite) prior to take-off, I was approached by the on-board manager and told that their was a smell of cigarette smoke in the suite. I was then given a lecture regarding smoking on-board and the consequences. It made me feel like I was being accused! I wanted to sleep so had a quick onboard shower after take-off (not just a novelty, very pleasant and relaxing!). Then a quick meal. Although the food was edible, it was not exceptional (like the food experienced on numerous other Emirates flights).

I played with the ICE system for a while and am sure it could keep me amused for hours. I then had my bed turned down and managed to get more than six hours sleep. My only two gripes with the first class suite are as follows: 1. A duvet would be much nicer than a blanket. 2. I definitely needed numerous pillows to fill the gaps and make myself comfortable. These were provided.

A pleasant flight but I still feel that Emirates should train their staff to handle "situations" more tactfully. I am not a smoker in the first place but the feeling that I was being "accused" of smoking did not rest well with me. I also felt that the staff could have been more attentive and done more to make the flight special.

A three hour connection in Dubai for my flight to Bahrain. Spacious and modern first class lounge and managed to get some more sleep on a sofa! It would be nice if a sleeping area was provided.

A short and pleasant flight to Bahrain and arrived at 8.30 in the morning refreshed. The crew on this flight did make me feel "special".

Colouredhearts flew Emirates Economy class (01/12/2009 18:01)

I actually rather enjoyed my exprience on board emirates. I was on emirates on the 29th of November, EK004, from London to Dubai.

The service was especially awesome! The crew members were really nice. And one of them in particular was so gracious as to helpme put up my coat about 10 mind before takeoff.. :) the food was really tasty abshe entertainment was pretty awesome, although I didn't really get to enjoy it much due to my motion sickness.

But overall, it was an awesome experience although there was a casualty in board the plane which caused a slight amount of chaos..

I was seating in 42D although I was assigned 43E, but the flight was very comfy and I espcially applaud the service rendered by the crew. They were so attentive an very polite. I woul have written the name of the air steward who had graciously helped me but I didn't have a chance to peek at his name tag. :( also, we were especially lucky to be able to be on board the same cabin as the rugby players from London. :) so yeah, emirates was pretty lovely and I can't wait to be on board it again.. :)

Bristraveller flew Emirates Economy class, on a B777-200 (three-class) (17/11/2009 07:46)

I wish I had found your website before I travelled in Emirates Economy.

Having had a satisfactory experience with Air New Zealand in the past year, I was deeply disappointed with the (lack of) comfort of the Emirates Economy Cabin for a 6 hour flight from Paris to Dubai (yesterday). From the time I sat down, it was clear that the seat had no adequate lumbar support and the entire trip was unpleasant.

Your website already identifies the obstacle created by the 'box' under the seats for the entertainment system, making it impossible to stretch properly.

Other aspects of the flight were OK but none of this makes up for extremely uncomfortable seating for general sitting and for sleeping.

theavidtraveller flew Emirates Business class, on a B777-300ER (three-class) (08/10/2009 19:40)

Reviews - London to Dubai - B777-300ER

Flight logistics We flew on flight EK004 - one of Emirate's seven daily flights from London Heathrow to Dubai. The flight is scheduled for departure at 20:40 arriving 0630+1 and we arrived 2 hours prior to departure.

Check-in The business-class check-in process was smooth and there was no queue in front of us. We quickly proceeded through the fast-track lane of security and headed straight to the Emirates Lounge which is located just by the gate.

Lounge facilities As a regular traveller, I have been fortunate to visit my airport lounges in my time, I'd happily say that the Emirates Lounge as Heathrow is truely exceptional and one of the best I've visited. The main seating area is upstairs and on arrival you are greeted with vast airside views. We watched the Singapore Airline's A380 pull in the the gate next door while waiting for our flight.

The lounge is fully stocked with a good selection of hot and cold food to suit all tastes, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), a business centre with free internet access, showers, toilets, magazines, etc. The lounge was fairly busy but not crowded and everyone was able to enjoy their own private space.

One of the best features of the lounge is that you are able to board directly onto the aircraft from the lounge. A first for me and I can see how this may save a lot of time when trying to board the A380 which also serves the LHR-DXB (EK002 at 14:15)

Boarding and seat choice On the 3-class B777-300ER, business class is situated in a separate cabin behind the 12 first class suites (see seatplans.com) on board. We were located in the front of the two business class cabins on board (rows 6 and 7 in the forward cabin and rows 8 - 11 in the rear cabin). Seats are in a 2 - 3- 2 format and we had the two seats together in the window and aisle. Only the middle middle seat (E) does not have a window or an aisle access. Sitting in 7J and K in the front cabin was a very private experience and I would recommend this forward cabin if you get a choice (you can pre-book seats on the Emirates.com website). While the toilets are located behind row 7, this is behind a wall and we were not disturbed at all.

Boarding was efficient and quick (perhaps because boarding for the front of the plane was left to the last minute). On locating our seat our coats were taken, we were offered drinks (champagne, juice or water) and were on our way shortly after.

The seat While at first we were slightly disappointed that we weren't able to fly on the A380, our flight experience on the B777-300ER was actually exceptional (and departs in the evening which means you get a full day in London). The aircraft benefited from Emirates' lie-flat seats and the latest entertainment system (ICE), which featured a touch screen tv (17 inch), front and back cameras, flight map, selected internet news (which did not work on our flight) and hours and hours of on demand entertainment. My only 'complaint' would be that there were so many features it took a while to get a hang of it, especially the separate remote control device which was attached to the chair which controlled the entertainment as well as the seat functions. Very effective noise-cancelling headphones were also provided.

One quite unique feature that existed on the aircraft was the presence of electronic blinds on the window which allowed you to open and close the shades at a touch of a button. I found this an excellent if not gimmicky feature and played with it until I started annoying my fellow passenger! :)

Emirates' flat-bed suite differs slightly from the newer suite on the A380 but extremely comfortable. Adopting a 'shell' like style, it can be converted at a touch of a button - just make sure you make use of the personal storage space for your shoes otherwise they may get crushed. Due to the fixed shell seat type, watching the tv is slightly more difficult to watch than on other business class designs like Virgin or Air New Zealand where you are able to tilt to viewing monitor.

The seats are 78" long and more than adequate for all but the tallest of travellers. They also feature room for personal storage, a power supply and USB stick interface - if you need to work or look at your holiday snaps.

I was also pleased to receive an overnight amenity bag which contained designer eau de toilette, toothbrush and the rest of the usual amenities. There was a male and female version and having seen amenity bags being phased out on many airlines I was pleased to receive such a comprehensive one.

The food A good choice of food was available on board which catered for most tastes. Note that Emirates allows you to pre-order 'special' meals and I noticed that their menu of special tastes seemed more vast than normal catering for tastes such as 'oriental', seafood, etc.

The most notable course was the starter which featured lobster on top of a fresh crisp salad and warm bread. The main course was also perfectly in-line with my high expectations and my dessert choice was chocolate brownie with ice cream followed by fresh fruit. Needless to say, by this stage of the flight I was somewhat ready to snooze and enjoy the flat-bed.

The flight This was an overnight flight and the only difficulty with the flight is that 6hr 50min flight to Dubai isn't long enough to enjoy the food, watch the entertainment and get a proper sleep. I managed to get a couple of hours of sleep before waking up for a light breakfast about 45 minutes out of Dubai. This was served efficiently and we landed on time at 0630, where we were greeted with the vastness of DXB airport (although most people were connecting rather than staying) and our driver to the hotel.

Service The flight attendant to passenger ratio seemed good (especially compared to other flights) and service was attentive yet not overbearing. The food services were conducted with efficiency and a smile. I felt that the service was particularly exclusive which may have been helped by sitting in the forward business cabin.

Conclusion This was an excellent flight and is highly recommended. Top quality service was shown throughout the flight from pre-boarding in the lounge, the flight and arrival. Food was tasty and well prepared. The seat comfortable and more than adequate for anyone wanting to catch some sleep on the short flight.

The key highlight would be the Emirates lounge in Heathrow and the entertainment system on board.

The only downside for this particular flight is that you land at 0630 Dubai time which is in the early hours of the London time (if you haven't changed your body clock) which makes navigating around the airport and Dubai slightly more challenging. Also, the flight length makes is a little difficult to get a proper sleep during the flight. Fortunately, business class tickets (as well many hotels) offer a free chauffer service so you can just step out of the airport and get some extra sleep in the car.

Recommendations

1) Pre-book your seats in the forward cabin 2) Make sure you leave yourself an opportunity to catch some sleep before or after the flight if possible 3) Remember that Emirates offer a free car and even hotel stop-over in Dubai on most business flights.

farmerslodge flew Emirates Business class, on a A380 (Config. 1) (06/10/2009 20:12)

Great aircraft, extremely quiet to fly in, and a superb J class product.

Seatplans have their facts wrong mind - non of the seats face backwards, they ALL face forward.

Service was really slow due to Emirates not using a trolley service on this aircraft, preferring to carry individual trays to seats, great idea but too many (78) seats to serve, dinner service took 3 hours, plus my wife and I sat in the centre seats to sit together but my side of the aircraft was served 20 mins ahead of the other so we could not eat together and it felt disjointed. They failed to advertise that the sandwiches prior to landing were "on demand" so we sat there and got nothing, on other aircraft with Emirates this service happens without request - we need to be told if its on request.

Small points but simple to fix if they put their mind to it, and look from the passenger point of view, and not assume we all travel every week on this new service.

Great lounges at both ends, and on board!!

Overall a great product, just a couple of tweeks to finish it off.

Pat_travels flew Emirates Business class, on a A380 (Config. 1) (13/09/2009 07:28)

Great product and service, though the drinks and meal service was rather slow BUT I appreciate the enormity of the aircraft. This comment is no reflection on cabin crew they worked fast and efficiently throughout and were really smiley, happy people. very pleasant flight

dennisri flew Emirates Economy class, on a B777-300 (three-class) (11/09/2009 18:37)

Emirates puts a big hype on branding but in reality does very little for its gold level (the top tier) passengers. The seats in economy are very narrow and seem tailored to smaller asians rather than western businessmen. The service is ok, but the aisles in the plane are too small to wheel a carry on. Through. I have traveled 7 roundtrips to Dubai and Saudi this year and am changing to economy plus on British Airways. I just can't take the small seats any more. The washrooms are tiny

camholgate flew Emirates Business class, on a B777-300ER (two-class) (16/08/2009 09:55)

Flew on this aircraft to Birmingham from Dubai after coming to Dubai on a B777. The seating was excellent and the legroom was very spacious and the seat reclined well. Cabin crew were fantastic and the service was fast and well co-ordinated. The in-flight entertainment(ICE) was surely the best IFE I have experienced. Food and Drink was excellent and the overall experience was one me and my family will never forget. Boarding was also great as we were the first people on the plane.

HenryJones flew Emirates Economy class, on a A340-500 (18/07/2009 19:39)

My wife and I recently travelled Dubai to Brisbane in economy class: a long flight of over 13 hours. We were in Row 38,middle section. I had the aisle seat and my wife was in the inside seat. The flight was fully booked. the seats were probably the most uncomfortable airline seats we have ever encountered. Neither of us are tall (about 5feet 6 inches in the old scale) and our legs did not touch the floor so the pressure on our legs was significant and more so as the flight went on. To try and relieve it I put some shoes under my feet and that helped. The service was good under the circumstances:as I said the flight was fully booked and the hosties were working quite hard.

CptTeirney flew Emirates First class, on a A380 (Config. 1) (15/07/2009 06:14)

I have flown First Class with Emirates before on their B777 First Class Service, but this is my first time on the A380 using the First Class Suite SYD to AKL Return. It is so different form the old Seats, everything is controlled by your Mode Controller. This easy to use touch screen handset includes controls to your seat position, in seat massage, suite lighting, in-flight entertainment with 1200 channels on a 23” screen, opening and closing your suite doors, and calling for 1 of the 6 crew members that are dedicated to the first class Cabin. Even though my flight was only for 3 and a half hours I still took a shower at 41,000ft… there are 2 bathroom attendants allocated to the 2 shower/toilet rooms at the front of the first class cabin the shower spa, features under floor heating, leather seats, a range of incredibly luxurious towels, large mirrors shower mats, an LCD monitor and hairdryer too. The food on the flight was great it would be something you would get at a 5 star Restaurant; you can eat what ever you like when ever you like. You also have your own personal mini bar. Your every need has been anticipated and every comfort lies at your fingertips. And as normal when you fly Emirates First or Business class there is your free chauffeur service to and from the airport & access to the lounge. I would recommend Emirates First Class Suite to anyone how wants privacy, comfort & luxury.

graemelws flew Emirates Economy class, on a A380 (Config. 1) (02/06/2009 19:17)

excellent

Pinglun flew Emirates Business class (20/05/2009 11:46)

Seats in Business class not terrible. No flat bed and the aisle is very cramped. Can also compare with Economy class aisle. Service is acceptable.

drdavid flew Emirates Business class, on a A380 (Config. 1) (17/05/2009 05:58)

For ultimate J Class privacy, choose a window seat! be careful if you are traveling with a colleague or friend, as it is only every alternative middle row which offer the facility to chat to each other. Good flat bed, although you feel like you are laying on the floor, individual mini bar, then social stand up bar at the back of the aircraft. Alround a great J Class product!

mkhoory flew Emirates Business class (15/05/2009 21:36)

I flew on this flight from Dubai bound to Bangkok very recently. I was really surprised to see that Emirates has refurbished their flight cabins, and more surprised to see that the aircraft is equipped with lie flat seats!! As for the ICE entertainment system, it is considered as one of the best and the entertainment screen is LARGE!! The seats are very comfortable for sitting, but when it comes to sleep, the seats lie flat but in an angled position, so you will find your self gradually sliding down during turbulence. In any case you fly aboard the aircraft, be sure to ask the flight attendant for a duvet before you go to sleep. Those are only offered to first class passengers, and also offered for business class upon request.

mkhoory flew Emirates Business class, on a A330-200 (three-class) (15/05/2009 21:24)

I flew on this aircraft from Dubai bound to Dusseldorf, Germany. This aircraft is very comfortable for long haul flights as its very quiet, stable and produces less noise compared to other aircraft in Emirates fleet. However, the business class seats which are offered on this aircraft are not up to Emirates standards, compared to the new flat bed business class seats on B777 and A380, which is really disappointing. The seats are tight, almost similar to premium economy seats on other major airlines. You won’t be able to watch the entertainment screen if the person in front of you reclines his seat!! So better go for the seats on row 6 or 7. And unfortunately, this aircraft is not equipped with ICE entertainment system. Also, it flies to major destinations in Europe, so before buying your flight tickets, make sure you check whether there’s another flight with a better aircraft flying to the same destination on the same day, you’ll be paying the fee but will be offered with a better seat and entertainment!! Despite the disadvantages of this aircraft, the service was excellent and the flight attendants were very friendly.

SeanAfrica flew Emirates Business class, on a B777-200 (three-class) (18/02/2009 10:24)

Dec 08. DXB>FCO. Good new seating - at last - with proper sleeping seats. Excellent experience, in sharp contrast to the economy cabin. Highly recommended, but now getting pricey on European routes

SeanAfrica flew Emirates Economy class, on a B777-200 (three-class) (18/02/2009 10:22)

Dec 08. SIN>DXB. Usually travel EK business, so long time since economy experience. EKhave squeezed in another column of seats now, making 3-4-3. Seats narrow and pitch poor. Uncomfortable offer, would not do it again. Shame

Spartan flew Emirates Business class, on a B777-200 (three-class) (16/02/2009 17:15)

EK2-LHR-DXB.Great disappointment for most passengers as the promisewed A380 not in service due to technical reasons. B777 instead but at least one with the new flatbed on board which is a huge improvement to the old seat configuration.

AGilchrist flew Emirates First class, on a A340-500 (15/02/2009 17:15)

Flew DXB-KIX on 01/02/09, this aircraft offers superb privacy and you arrive relaxed and refreshed. Service was excellent, another good performance.

canoepunkie flew Emirates Economy class, on a A330-200 (three-class) (14/01/2009 10:41)

ICE is very good and some of the programmes even have the swear words left in! (Specifically 'The Sweeney'). Seating is nothing special, try to avoid getting a seat with one of the large boxes that restrict legroom - row 39 middle - left hand seat is my recommendation.

Henryp1 flew Emirates First class, on a A340-500 (02/01/2009 11:55)

Superb 1st class cabin, very private and able to get ultimate sleep when travelling from SYD to DXB. But some of the planes now very shabby.

AGilchrist flew Emirates First class, on a B777-300 (three-class) (01/01/2009 08:21)

Travelled on this aircraft LGW-DXB-BKK and I find the seating extremely comfortable, the seats are very firm but supportive and the possible positions of the seat make sitting and sleeping very easy and very good. The ICE IFE system is extremely good and the size or the screens and programs are and excellent selection. The cabin feels spacious and the overhead bins are extremely accomodating for any size of bag.

The at seat mini bar is really useful when you just want a quick drink the only thing I would complain about is the menu which is given to you but does not fit into any of the pockets, so it is either forced into one or thrown on the floor.

AGilchrist flew Emirates First class, on a A380 (Config. 1) (01/01/2009 08:11)

Flew LHR-DXB on 20/12 and second time in A380, last time on Singapore Airlines. Whilst Emirates have tried, the feeling is that this is the product from the A340-500 with a few changes. Seat was reasonably comfotable for sitting but had to use the massage function as it became a pain. The Wi-Fi controller for the entertainments kept breaking down all the time and 11 resets later it was working, then failed again just before arrival. As seats and privacy goes this is good, it lacks the room compared to the singapore product and their excellent bed but it is comfortable. What is with this stupid seat belt around the bag to keep it in place, you have to go crawling around underneath to strap your hand baggage up. It does not feel like and improvement just the same old, thank goodness for the showers I suppose

AGilchrist flew Emirates First class, on a A330-200 (three-class) (01/01/2009 08:05)

For a long 8 hour flight this has to be one of the oldest seats in the fleet, and it shows, the lack of comfort is not really made any better by the old entertainment system. Why Emirates insist on operating these older configurations on longer routes I have no idea. I can say I am not looking forward to the 9.25hr return this evening from CAN-DXB

AGilchrist flew Emirates First class, on a A330-200 (three-class) (01/01/2009 08:04)

For a long 8 hour flight this has to be one of the oldest seats in the fleet, and it shows, the lack of comfort is not really made any better by the old entertainment system. Why Emirates insist on operating these older configurations on longer routes I have no idea. I can say I am not looking forward to the 9.25hr return this evening from CAN-DXB

mmolloy flew Emirates Business class (23/12/2008 11:05)

Flew Dubai to LHR in aisle seat 6J on the front row of business class. 2-3-2 configuration. Comfortable fabric seat with a decent recline, though not lie-flat (all seats in business have same recline, even those in front of bulkhead). Plenty of legroom and easy enough for person in window seat to get out without disturbing you. IFE screen folds out from shared armrest which is fiddly to fold out and stow away. Shared arm rest is not that wide and you feel quite close to your neighbour. Plenty of overhead locker space but no storage space in front for my handbag so that had to be stowed away during taxiing and take-off. Fold-out food tray. I found my seat fine as I had good access to the aisle and was the first person to get served. Was behind the bulkhead separating first and business but didn't feel my view was restricted. Layout of business class was two rows (6-7), then the galley/WCs and four more rows (8-11). Any of the business seats are good except rows 7 and 8 closest to galley as these are noisier. ICE system is AVOD and features a wide range of old and new films, TV and radio shows and a great choice of music. Service was excellent and food tasty. Good selection of drinks/wines; no toiletry set was given out. A pleasant flying experience, though the aeroplane model itself now seems rather dated compared with the superior B777-300ER I flew out to Dubai on. Seats not near as good either. Short wait for baggage at Heathrow but mine was among first out.

mmolloy flew Emirates Business class, on a B777-300 (three-class) (23/12/2008 10:45)

Flew LHR to Dubai in aisle seat 11B on the back row of business class. 2-3-2 configuration. Bucket-style seat, comfortable and wide, that allows you to lie flat. Bulkhead behind me but bucket style means all seats recline to the same degree. Good view and access. Sizeable TV screen in back of seat in front (top row in business had fold-out ones which aren't as good). Lots of legroom and easy for person in window seat to get out without disturbing you (unless you are lying flat, in which case they have to climb over you). Excellent ICE system with handset in arm of seat. Large shared arm rest with holes for drinks and an adjustable privacy panel that separates you from the person next door. Control panel in left-hand arm allows you to adjust your seat in every direction, adjust privacy panel, control your overhead light and send SMS and email. It also contains several massage pre-sets for your seat. Plenty of overhead locker space. Box-shaped storage spaces built into back of seat in front. Smaller storage areas built into seat (very handy for a book or pair of glasses). Flip-down drinks tray built into arm and fold-out food tray. In-seat power socket for laptop recharging. I found my seat ideal as I had good access to the aisle and was the first person to get served. Position in back row of business meant I was closest to the baby bassinets in the front row of economy - there was a child in one but I wasn't disturbed. Layout of business class was two rows (6-7), then the galley/WCs and four more rows (8-11). Any of the business seats are good except rows 7 and 8 closest to galley as these are noisier, have less storage space and fold-out IFE screens. ICE system is AVOD and features a wide range of old and new films, TV and radio shows and a great choice of music. Service was excellent and food tasty. They were short of my first choice of main course but were still able to give it to me. Good selection of drinks/wines and Bulgari toiletry set was a nice touch. A very pleasant flying experience. Only complaint is that my baggage took a long time to come out at Dubai which was not too welcome at 4am in the morning.

mohammad2 flew Emirates Economy class, on a B777-200 (two-class) (14/12/2008 16:59)

Poor

mohammad2 flew Emirates Economy class, on a B777-300 (three-class) (14/12/2008 16:57)

Poor

Stephen787 flew Emirates Economy class, on a B777-300 (three-class) (19/11/2008 07:57)

SYD-BKK-SYD EK 419/8 Hard, narrow uncomfortable seats. 3x4x3. No footrests as they have been removed. Minimal service from the crew. No drinks/water service after the meal was served. Safety quesionable as crew left seats in reclined position for landing. Bags were not stowed under seats and passengers allowed to get up and open overhead lockers during taxiing. The ICE system was the only saving grace. Will never fly on Emirates again. Only tried them due to a special cheap fare.

Spartan flew Emirates Business class, on a B777-200 (three-class) (04/11/2008 13:06)

Excellent check in and boarding but disappointed yet again to discover that old class configuration still in place.I was told that a few of the evening flights LHR-DXB are fitted with the new business and first class cabin but I have yet toexperience one. Flight and service very good but seats old and not entirely comfortable.As this route attracts travellers with family, it is worth mentioning at checking not to be seated near young children especially on an overnight flight.

hadison flew Emirates Business class, on a B777-200 (three-class) (13/10/2008 07:53)

The aircraft which has been used between Bangkok and Dubai

jimvold flew Emirates Economy class, on a B777-200 (three-class) (30/09/2008 11:31)

Good class with good food.Seat is to high and not good to sleep.

jimvold flew Emirates Economy class, on a A340-300 (30/09/2008 11:30)

A good class with good seat and food.

abdullaali flew Emirates First class, on a A380 (Config. 1) (30/09/2008 09:02)

Good, but too much fake wood trim!