I am flying from London Heathrow to Perth, WA next month - I am travelling in business class.

Having never travelled on Emirates before, I am hearing very good things about service, but mixed reactions to their business class product. There have been several comments about Emirates growing too quickly and not being able to keep up with themselves...

I have had a good look around this forum, and have read with interest those flight reviews and other discussions, but just wondered if anyone had flown recently and if you could comment on their experience?

I believe the aircraft I will be flying on is the 777-300 from LHR to DXB, and the A340-300 from DXB to PER.

Having recently flown on BA and Qantas (and United Airlines, though there's not really a comparison) in business - I was wondering how Emirates might compare? Obviously the seats are not flat beds (as they are on BA & Qantas), but do other services make up for this, and how comfortable are the seats for a 6'3" bloke? Any suggestions as to the best location to sit (although I don't think there's a lot of choice left now!)?

The limousine is obvuiously a winner, especially as I can use it both in London and when I arrive in Perth, anything else I should be aware of?

Your comments would be appreciated....

jakesterUK Welcome to FT, but can you please let us know why so many questions???

You've been asking all sorts of info about Air Canada, Canadian Airports and CATSA, and now this about EK.

The FT community is all about sharing info, but to me something doesn't smell right here, especially since you asked these very same questions just 4 months ago...

This particular board seems to be very quiet, there's not a lot of information about Emirates available on the web, so I thought I'd ask people who knew.... I am going to Perth (5th time now) for a sunny Christmas (1st Christmas) in 4 weeks time, and I'm looking forward to it... Some of the previous suggestions referred me to the Emirates web site, which I've already looked at. I was just after personal recommendations...

This is a relatively quiet board, just trying to stimulate it a little...

I don't recall asking any questions about Air Canada, Canadian Airports, or CATSA (I don't even know what CATSA is). I've never flown on Air Canada, and have no plans to, although I have been to Toronto twice (horrendous food posioning the first time from some swanky hotel - not going there again)....
I apologise if you think I'm repeating myself, but a few months have passed since my origininal posts, and I thought I'd ask again - as you can see, I didn't get a flood of information. My trip is rapidly approaching, and I am looking forward to it.

If you also look at my other posts today, you will notice that I posted some information which updates people on the developments at Terminal 5, and some musings about Aer Lingus and the Oneworld alliance, so I don't think it's one way - just trying to be part of the community....

jakesterUK Can I apologise for that - crossed wires and I had you confused with another user who has been asking those questions.

Regards

Tony

we've just flown LGW-DXB-MRU and back with EK in J. (booked though emiratestours which have some very good J class holiday offers).

777-300 and 777-200. 300 was newer but has seats that you can't put your feet under as they're solid all the way to the floor. also has big fold out flat panels for IFE but i actually preferred the 200 as you could use the space under the seat infront and i thought the 6" screen was better then the 10" one. seat pitch was fine. i'm 6"4" and it didn't feel cramped. Ok it's not BA (but neither is the price).

on board service was excellent on all flights. multi nationality crews were all very friendly. food was fine. only critisism would be that the meal service on night flights was a little slow. it's nice to eat, clear up and get some kip. IFE dull. take your Ipod/AV420. no in seat power.

DXB is a zoo. full food and bar service in the lounge, but very crowded (will depend on time of day of course). duty free disappointing (actually, who cares these days? i can't be bothered to lug a bottle of scotch around to save �4).

chauffeur service was excellent (and would cost at least �80 each way). baggage was tagged priority all the way through and were first ones off when we returned to LGW. we actually took around 35mins from wheels down to being in the chauffeur car on our return (inc luggage reclaim). eat your heart out, LHR.

anything else, please ask.

About DXB: I would rather spend $30.00 and have a meal at one of the restaurants if I am hungry, which I was not on all occasions I passed through that airport.

They have a very nice airport hotel in terminal and I had a fantastic 5 hour nap there once (long layover prior to NBO flight). It was something like $70.00 for six hours but worth every penny. Huge bed and rooms have illuminators for windows and the plushest, shiniest bathroom you can imagine. Fluffy huge towels. It was heaven.

Duty Free is overrated, I agree: unless you want to buy, like, 5 kg of gold in all shapes and sizes, it is pretty average - except cigars, which I found very keenly priced. I also bought a few DVDs.

If you're stopping over in Dubai, DXB shopping is quite humble compared to the shopping in town the scale of which is breathtaking. Gold shop quarters look like someone went insane and King Medas was a contractor there, and malls are huge and the selection is enormous.

I could think of a few far less agreeable places in which to change planes than DXB.

The cigarettes are very cheap there. I don't smoke myself, but always take 1 or 2 boxes for addicted colleagues.

If you have flown BA and Quantas you will be disappointed regarding seat pitch and recline in the Emirates 777.

If you have flown BA and Quantas you will be disappointed regarding seat pitch and recline in the Emirates 777

...but pleased with the price. companion fares from LON-AUS at around �1700 in J are about the same as BA WT+. i like WT+, but i'd rather be in EK J for the same money.

It sounds like the service is very good, but the seats are like an American carriers, allright, but nothing special. That's OK, I can deal with that, especially at the price!

I have heard this, I probably won't be buying much, as I am off to the states in January - strong pound and all that! I will have a jolly good nose though!

This I am looking forward to, it should make the travel far less stressful.

Thanks for your comments! ^ ^