In-flight service

The crew member mostly serving my side, Kim, came around shortly after to take the breakfast orders. The menu seemed rather extensive, but I knew from reading previous reports that it at least had elements from Business Class if not the entire menu.

Here is the menu and wine list:








I ordered the mixed grill as my main course. Kim asked if I wanted any fruit, but I declined. One thing that I have consistently noticed about Emirates crews when it comes to taking food orders, they don’t make much of an effort to point out items on the menu, and it is not always clear what is optional, or could be had in addition to the main course. Subsequently, I often end up missing out. I wasn’t offered any cereal or yoghurt which was slightly annoying. I think that crews need to recognise that perhaps people are not 100% familiar with the menu and therefore they shouldn’t have to explicitly state that they want everything on the menu, as opposed to the current method of assuming that they don’t. For example, just because I said that I didn’t want the fruit it didn't mean that I wanted to skip the other selections in that ‘course’ as well. Maybe it is a cultural thing. Drinks orders were also taken, and I chose to have some apple juice, along with some more Champagne.

Anyway, Kim returned promptly and laid a table cloth out on the rather large table. The table itself does not move backwards or forwards, but unlike Business class, the seat does, so it is possible to find a comfortable position for dining, rather than feeling trapped in.

Kim noticed that I wasn’t watching anything on the IFE (just the moving map) and asked if I wanted to. She offered to hand me the headphones, since they were difficult to reach once the table was in position. This was really good service, as she recognised a need that I might have had, without me having to ask. I took her up on the offer and started to explore Emirates’ ICE (Information, Communication and Entertainment) system whilst waiting for my food to be prepared.



Noise cancelling headphones


Kim returned with my apple juice, and a fresh Champagne glass, which she ceremoniously filled with Dom Perignon, presenting the bottle to me first for inspection. At least now I knew that I was drinking the good stuff!

My meal arrived, with a water glass, cutlery, condiments and a side plate. Kim then arrived with the bread basket and I selected a croissant which I started on, before my main course arrived. The tray arrived with marmalade, which I am not a fan of, so I asked if it could be swapped. Kim apologised and then reeled off the jams that they had for me to choose. She then came back with strawberry. I know that it’s only a little thing, but it’s these little things that make or break good service. So far, Kim was doing a fantastic job and I made a note to contact customer services after the flight to send in my praise.



Meal tray – mixed grill, croissant, Champagne, apple juice and water


Mixed grill


The food itself wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. It was properly cooked, but the portion could have been larger. I know that this a Business Class main course, which might explain it, however, I do think that it is pretty poor of Emirates not to at least offer separate catering for First Class, even if it is a cut down service. This is another example of how, on short flights such as this, the First Class experience becomes diluted somewhat.

I finished at about 9.50am Sydney time, only 50 minutes after take-off, so that would leave me plenty of time to tick off a couple of things, the shower spa and the on-board bar.

The purser came around to say hello to the First Class passengers, to welcome us on-board and ask if there is anything that he could do to make our flight experience better. I asked about a shower, which was met with an initial look of surprise on his face, as if he hadn’t actually expected to get an answer to the ‘anything I can do’ question. I had seen the shower attendants going back and forth through the cabin throughout the flight so far, but I didn’t see them talking to any of the passengers, or taking appointments. I wasn’t sure how to book a time, and I mentioned this to the purser. He said that a shower was no problem and that he asked what time I would like one. He mentioned that he should be able to sort something out for me in the next 10 minutes and said that someone would be along to soon to take me through to the shower spa.

Sure enough, 10 minutes later, one of the crew came to my seat and invited me to use the shower. Yay!