The final segment!
February 26, 2017
Emirates 215, DXB-LAX
A380-800, A6-EOL
Depart: 8:30am
Arrive: 12:45pm
Duration 16:15
Seat: 9F
View from the jetway
This was only my second flight on the A380 and I’m still in awe of the size and smoothness of flying aboard the behemoth. We boarded straight from the “A” business class lounge through the upper deck jetway and were pointed to our seats near the front of the massive business class section.
Emirates A380 business class seat
As we oriented ourselves to the seats, we were offered juice, the wine list, and an amenity kit (which was striking similar to the one I got in first class on the outbound) as boarding continued. The menu, headphones, pillow, and blanket were already at our seat. Emirates business class on the A380 seemed a bit cozier than the 777 due to the narrower cabin and the nested seats which allow for them to lie flat. At the same time, when traveling as a couple the middle pair of seats gives a sense of privacy that doesn’t exist on a 777 (as due the “inner” window seats when traveling solo).
As boarding concluded, the captain got on the PA to announce a flight time of a relatively quick 15:10 and a slight delay at the boarding gate due to congestion on the ground in DXB. While we waited, hot towels were offered and the crew came through to take breakfast orders (if anyone's interested in menu images, please let me know in the comments and I can post them, but Emirates menus are available on their website and tend to be fairly similar from month-to-month).
We eventually took off about 40 minutes after our scheduled announcement time and heard the ever-so-Emirates announcement that our cabin crew came from 20 countries and spoke 18 languages. As we neared our cruise altitude, the breakfast service began quickly with placemats and full-meal trays delivered quickly. As I was looking forward to some sleep, this suited me well but others may prefer a more leisurely pace on such a long flight. The breakfast tray was followed by a breadbasket, carafes full of juice, pitchers of coffee, and champagne.
Cold plate for breakfast, entire meal served at once
Although the meal service started quickly, sitting near the front of the cabin meant a bit of a delay before trays were cleared and the crew coming through the aisle with hot towels to conclude the service. Mattress pads were offered and I reclined my seat for a nap.
Several hours of sleep were much-needed but we still had a long ways to go when I awoke over the North Pole. I rang my call button ordered a couple of selections from the Light Bites menu and browsed Emirates extensive IFE selection.
Pizzette from the light bites menu
Vanilla dome from the light bites menu
I empathize with the crew who work on these flights as it’s a long run from the galley at the back of the plane to the forward rows of the business class cabin, yet the passengers expect relatively personalized service from an airline of Emirates’ caliber. Furthermore, the length of the flight means that virtually every passenger is awake and ordering drinks and snacks on-and-off for at least part of the journey.
Our route today took us straight up-and-over to the otherside of the world. We actually departed Dubai heading slightly eastbound (but mostly north) over Turkmenistan and the polar regions then south over British Columbia, entering US airspace near Port Townsend, and flying down the US Pacific Coast.
We're on top of the world!
Lights were turned up and meal orders for the second service were taken about 3:45 out of LAX. The service began with drinks and tepid nuts, while meal trays made an appearance about 45 minutes after orders were taken.
The Emirates Mezze is always reliable but the salad was less enjoyable than the one we’d had out of DAR the day before. Like previous services, meal trays were followed by the breadbasket and the wine caddy.
When on Emirates, try the mezze
It was another 45 minutes before appetizers were cleared and entrees were served. I felt a bit brave ordering shrimp that had been sitting on a plane for the past 14 hours but it was reasonably tasty.
Shrimp on a plane!
As is often the case, the dessert was the highlight and a pleasant end to a long, but pleasant flight.
Last airplane food of the trip
The meal service concluded about 1:45 prior to landing. The captain came on the PA to announce our impending arrival about 45 minutes before landing and we touched-down in a rainy LA at about 12:20 local time—our initial delay out of Dubai had been made up for by a relatively brisk flight time, if such words can ever be used to describe a journey of that length.