In summary, this was my first Emirates Business Class experience, and overall I found it excellent. However, if you are paying for your flights yourself, I would recommend giving serious consideration to the Premium Economy seats available on other airlines, if available on your route, unless you are sure lie-flat seats are available on your particular Emirates flight. The actual Business Class seats on our flights were basically no better than the Premium Economy seats we have had on transatlantic British Airways flights, for example. The difference is in the extras – food, the ICE system, etc. and the use of the dedicated airport lounges – and you may want to consider whether these extras are good value for money. In this respect, though, I was very impressed by the chauffeur drive service. We had requested this service x 4, and on each occasion it worked perfectly; a good start to anyone’s journey, with all four cars exactly on time, comfortable and with very pleasant and friendly drivers.

EK038 BHX-DXB
The shared Servisair lounge at Birmingham is not very impressive – just light snacks (packets of biscuits, etc.) plus drinks available, but there was plenty of room. The lounge staff were very pleasant and helpful, though, and I noticed that an elderly, somewhat nervous, passenger in a wheelchair was very well looked after. On the aircraft: we were in seats 4K and 4J on an A330-200. These were in the back row of the cabin and I had been concerned about not being able to recline the seats. This proved to be no problem as the back row seats recline sufficiently to be very comfortable. The business cabin was more or less full. These seats have masses of leg room – I couldn’t reach the document pouch on the seat in front without getting out of my own seat – but the seats themselves were on the narrow side. Perfect service throughout the flight from very attentive and friendly cabin crew.

EK352 DXB-SIN
As per posts here, I was not expecting much from the Emirates lounge at Dubai, but was pleasantly surprised. It certainly was crowded, but I think most users were able to find a seat, there was masses of good hot and cold food and drink available, and the staff worked hard to keep all areas clean. On the aircraft: seats 4K and 4J on a 777-300ER. I found the seats more comfortable than on the A330 – less pitch, but still masses of leg room, and just a little bit wider. The entertainment system worked well. Our cabin staff were outstanding, nothing was too much trouble, and they were very busy for the whole flight. I noted with interest, on a walk through the economy cabin to stretch my legs about mid-way into the flight, that in that cabin the lights were dimmed right down –I wonder whether this was to encourage people to sleep, even though it was a daytime flight? If so, I think this is a dubious ‘crowd control’ practice (though the ‘starry’ cabin ceiling were quite pretty!).

EK344 SIN-DXB
On check in at the Emirates Desk in Singapore we were given invitations for the Emirates Lounge at Dubai, but nothing for a Singapore Airport lounge. I asked why – was there no Business Lounge in the airport we could use? (Of course, I knew from the wealth of knowledge available on this site that there was a lounge.) I was told, “Unfortunately, no, there isn’t one”! (And my husband and I were both smartly dressed, in case you are wondering….) We found the Emirates Lounge with no difficulty and were admitted on production of our boarding passes. The lounge itself was excellent. On the aircraft: seats K4 and 4J again, on a 777-300, very clean, comfortable and roomy. The only difference I noticed from the 777-300 on the way out was the lack of a starry cabin ceiling. Again, the cabin crew were outstanding and did everything possible to make the flight enjoyable. My footrest fell to bits about an hour before our descent into Dubai, but as we were so near our destination I didn’t bother to ask for it to be fixed. The real disappointment with this flight was the food – just a breakfast served shortly before arrival, as to be expected on a night flight, but this breakfast denies description - the worst meal I have ever been served on any aircraft, ever. The congealed egg and wizened sausage were just plain inedible, and even the bread rolls were too stale to break open, never mind chance your teeth on. Why not just serve a good quality cold continental style meal?

EK039 DXB-BHX
Seats 5E and 5D on a 777-200. I was not looking forward to the middle seat of the middle row, which is all that was left when we booked our flights, but the flight proved as comfortable as all the others. An excellent flight. One advantage of the middle seat in the middle row is that you tend to get offered service from both aisles….

Sue E.
Birmingham, UK