Emirates A380 Business Class review

Hi Frugalistas!  Regular readers will no doubt recall my review of the Emirates A380 First Class Suite last year.  It was very, very good, but in my comparison with Etihad Diamond First Class, I had to give it to Etihad.  I’ve travelled numerous times on the Etihad Pearl Business Class, so was curious see what Emirates had to offer in Business Class.  I was also interested in exploring the wonderful A380 aircraft further – even though there was no shower in Business Class.  Travelling back from TBEX last month I was fortunate to experience the Emirates A380 Business Class from Dubai to Sydney.

Emirates Business Lounge in Dubai

As I’d flown through from Athens on Emirates short haul (and unfortunately I didn’t have time to stay in Dubai) my first real experience of Emirates in Dubai was the Business Class lounge.  Dubai airport is very big, but well sign posted so the lounge is very easily found.  When I arrive it is undergoing refurbishment – and to my horror the Spa is closed.

Entrance to the Business Class lounge

Like the Emirates First Class lounge in Dubai the Business Class one overlooks the main shopping concourse, making it quite noisy.  It is also very dimly lit for some reason (I’ve brightened the photos I’ve taken so you can see the lounge properly).  That, combined with the lack of passengers in it, makes it all look a bit forlorn.  I wander down to the dining room, which has a very institutional cafeteria feel, then settle into a comfy chair to take advantage of the free wifi.

I had to lighten this photo so you could see it properly

There is plenty of food and choice of drinks, and the staff are very attentive.  Given the time of the night and the 14hour flight ahead I stick to some mineral water.

Emirate Dubai Business Class lounge dining room

Emirates A380 Business Class Cabin

Upon boarding the first thing I notice is how vast the Business Class Cabin is.  Everyone gets an aisle seat courtesy of the staggered seating arrangement.  While the openness of it gives the cabin a lovely light, airy feeling I imagine it could get quite noisy at times.

The extensive Business Class cabin

Settling into the seat, I’m immediately impressed with the amount of storage built into my window seat.  A little hutch built into the floor for my shoes, as well as side storage bins for my handbag, book and other bits and pieces.  It’s like a modern business class suite/seat, but with old fashioned 747 storage capacity.  The seat also comes with its own minibar of drinks (not chilled)

Settling into that really comfy seat – 2am, so yes, I was a little tired!

What really impresses me about the Emirates Business Class seat though is just how comfortable it is.  I found the First Class Suite seat a bit hard (particularly when in lie flat mode) and uncomfortable, but not this baby.  Supremely comfortable for the entire 14 hour trip and easy to adjust to that “just so” position regardless of what you want to do, it’s an absolute winner for me.  In sleep mode with the mattress slipped onto it, I slept supremely well without any real effort (my flight was due in at 10.30pm Sydney time so I wasn’t looking for a huge sleep).  I’ve slept on less comfortable beds in hotels…..

There are four toilets at the back of the cabin, that given the size of the cabin seems a little light on to me.  Once we take off it becomes obvious that the indicator lights for the toilet availability are not working properly, so venturing down there is a bit of an experiment.  More than once I’m caught in lengthy lines……

Emirates Business Class Food & Service

There are no pyjamas in Business Class (but if you recall they are truly dreadful in First Class so I’m not fussed), but the Bulgari amenities kit is a class act.  A beautiful satin pouch and full of some lovely goodies, all stored in a linen drawstring bag.  It definitely gives the First Class amenities kit a run for its money, and comes home with me for future use.

The Bulgari amenities kit

I hate to say it, but I’m not a huge fan of either the Emirates Business Class food, or service.  While it’s not bad and I’m maybe being picky I think there are others who definitely do it better (both JAL and Etihad for example……)

Like in First Class, I found the service to be perfectly respectable, just not terribly personal.  Wandering down to the back of the cabin to the much-publicised (by Emirates anyway) Business Class Bar I find the service very underwhelming.  Both flight attendants seem more interested in primping and preening the food on display to make it look pretty than to actually serve.

Attractive display at the Business Class bar

During meal services I find the very mechanical tour of the cabin with all the wines and spare glasses like an economy service a bit disappointing.  It’s not poor service, just impersonal, and as I said, mechanical…..

Food is served attractively on trays, and courses are brought out one at a time as you would expect.  I’m horrified at the end of the meal service though, when I see flight attendants dashing up and down the aisles with trays stacked up one on top of the other.  It looks awful.

Where the service on this flight does win a big tick for me this time is the setting up of my bed.  On the equivalent flight in First Class last year it was all self-service, but this time round I return from the loo to find my mattress and pillow waiting for me after we take off.

Now the food.  This sounds terribly snobby I know, but I don’t like Veuve Cliquot Champagne which is what they serve in Business Class.  Having said that, the rest of the wine list is good, featuring a range of French, Australian and other wines.  A French Bordeaux is sensational.  A choice of cocktails are also available for those like me who pass on the Veuve.  All round, the wine and other drinks on offer is good, and I think you would have to be extremely picky not to find something to your liking.

The excellent meze plate

The food itself is good, but dare I say it, very “airline”.  Again, others do it better, with a more restaurant style offering.  The big exception is the gorgeous meze plate I enjoy as an entrée (appetiser).  A very generous serve, appetising plating and fabulous flavors it is definitely “restaurant worthy”.  Which makes up for the Arabian chicken and rice main course (entrée) which, while a generous serve is really just chicken and rice with a few spices.  I pass on dessert and cheese plates, but see other guests with them, and I must say, they do look good.

The underwhelming chicken and rice…..

Down in the bar area a number of snacks are available during the flight, along with wines, spirits and mixed drinks.  My little bagel and sandwich are very, very fresh (and not overly chilled as you often find) and also very tasty.  Apart from my mezes, they are definitely the best food on the plane.

Mid flight snack

Emirates A380 Business Class review summary

Despite my lack of enthusiasm for the service and meals, I do like the Emirates A380 Business Class.  The seat is amazingly comfortable with a luxurious amount of storage.  The food and service are fine, just not “the best” I’ve experienced.  I’ll suspend judgement on the Dubai lounge  for the moment while it is refurbished, but the noise from the concourse and the dim lighting was a bit underwhelming.

Despite the shower, the caviar and suite, I really don’t know if I would bother with the extra money (or in my case points) to pay for a First Class Suite.  The seat is far more comfortable, and you will have more than enough room in Business Class.  There is not a discernable difference in service.  So really, First Class makes for a very expensive shower, awful pyjamas and glass of Dom Perignon (which to be honest is much more to my liking).  If I’m flying Emirates again, it will be in Business Class – even if I don’t like the champagne!

If you can only dream about Business Class you can check out what it’s like to fly on Emirates in Economy Class here.

Author’s note:  I paid for my own ticket for this flight.