HIGH FLYER - EMIRATES
High Flyer - Emirates - Luxury Travel Magazine
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High Flyer - Emirates |
| By: Jenny Caspersonn, Issue 46 – Autumn 11 |
| (Emirates, Dubai, Sydney) |
| JENNY CASPERSONN REVIEWS EMIRATES FIRST CLASS SERVICE ON THE A380 FROM DUBAI TO SYDNEY. |
| Check-In |
| Arriving at Dubai International Airport it’s difficult to not be impressed. The airport is a vast, gleaming, white columned affair that seems to extend forever. There was no wait for the efficient check-in from the super-friendly Emirates staff-member. |
| The Lounge |
| The Emirates lounge in Dubai is impeccable. Like the airport it’s a large space and while busy it is not even slightly crowded. Emirates lounges feature a Business Centre with independent workstations and internet facilities using complementary broadband access, gourmet cuisine and shower facilities with Timeless Spa accessories. |
| The Cabin |
| The interior is a pleasant grey, with walnut veneer trimmed with gold metal. The layout is a one-two-one configuration so companions travelling together can enjoy their adjoining suites but singles can simply raise their dividing screen for total privacy. The inkling mood lighting system adjusts throughout the flight to reflect the time at the destination to combat jet lag. On the A380 First and Business Class passengers have an exclusive onboard Lounge on the upper deck where they can enjoy the full service bar and hot and cold snacks. There are also two ensuite bathrooms located at the front of the cabin. But more about showering at 30,000 feet a little later... |
| The Service |
| The crew, in their distinctive beige suits, red hats and headscarves, was attentive and friendly without being obsequious. Emirates staff is drawn from over 140 nationalities, all trained and based in Dubai. Routinely four cabin personnel attend to the 14 First Class passengers. |
| The Seats |
| Each “seat” is in fact a private suite, a teensy hotel room in the air right down to the Do Not Disturb and Room Service features. There’s a bedside lamp, next to an enlarged 23-inch LCD touch screen sitting atop a desk or dressing table. Indeed there is a mirror complete with glamour dressing-room lighting. The mini bar retracts for take off and landing. There’s loads of stowage space for laptops, handbags, footwear and the leather seat with inflatable lumbar support reclines from upright to fully-flat sleep position 2.08 metres (82 inches) in length. The seat has a memory function so the ideal position can be recalled. A mode controller determines seat layout, massage setting, ICE in-flight entertainment system and suite lighting. There’s a telephone handset for passengers to call room service or make international calls. Each suite has a PC power outlet, dual USB port and RJU headphone jack. First Class passengers are offered comfort covers, sleeping suits and slippers, down pillows and cotton-lined blankets. |
| The Entertainment |
| The in-flight entertainment system, ICE (information communications entertainment), features a selection of more than 1,000 channels of entertainment, satellite phone services, SMS and email, live BBC news headlines and an air show map and external cameras for a bird’s eye view of the journey en route. Passengers can see what will be showing on their flight before they fly by visiting: emirates.com/au/english/flying/inflight_entertainment/ice_widescreen_listing.aspx |
| Food And Beverage |
| The menu is a what-you-want-when-you-want arrangement with a multitude of choices ranging from simple sandwiches and omelettes to sophisticated gourmet dishes. Emirates aims to offer choice and quality along with food and beverages tailored to the region in which it is flying. |
| The Extras |
| The bathrooms! In First Class there are two spacious Onboard Shower Spas with shower cubicle, vanity unit and wash basin, toilet, hairdryer, full length mirror, 15.4-inch LCD monitor that displays the live air show and tail camera output and heated flooring. There are products by Bvlgari and Timeless Spa and even fresh flowers. Passengers are asked to “book” for a shower by nominating a time and the showers are limited to five minutes. All Emirates’ First and Business Class passengers are offered complementary airport limousine transfers on departure around the world and on arrival in Australia. The service operates free within a 40-kilometre radius of Sydney and Perth and within a 60-kilometre radius of Melbourne and Brisbane. First Class passengers can travel with 50 kilograms of checked baggage. |
| The Gripes |
| Stepping from the shower snuggled in the super-fluffy bathrobe, liberally applying Bvlgari bath products, I’m heading back to my suite for some Dom Perignon. What could I possibly complain about? That all airlines don’t have showers? That I can’t always fly First Class? |
| Flight Frequency |
| Emirates currently operates 63 flights per week between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth and Dubai, with onwards connections to 104 destinations in 63 countries across Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian subcontinent and Asia-Pacific. From Dubai it’s comfortable timing departing in late morning and arriving early next morning. This direct service to and from the Middle East negates the dreaded early morning transit in Asia of other European/Australian routes. It’s around 15 hours with a network of connections including new routes to Amsterdam, Tokyo, Dakar, Prague and Madrid. Emirates also flies direct from Dubai into Manchester which is a winner for UK-bound travellers wishing to avoid Heathrow. |
| On Time Performance |
| The flight departed 15 minutes late, arriving 10 minutes early. |
| Fares |
| Between April and June 2011 return to Sydney/Dubai from A$13,500 First Class. Prices vary so shop around. |
| emirates.com/au |
| At the airport, no queues for Club World Check-In desks and a friendly and efficient staff member made my boarding pass collection and baggage drop swift and painless. Club World passengers also receive a British Airways Express pass which expedites processing through security and immigration. |