- Introduction: Five Country European Adventure
- Review: KLM Business Class Boeing 787-10
- Review: KLM Business Class Boeing 737
- Review: Bank Hotel Stockholm (SLH & Hyatt)
- Review: SAS Plus Airbus A320neo
- Review: Four Seasons Grand-Hotel Du Cap-Ferrat
- Review: Hotel Fiester Hannes Burbach-Holzhausen
- Review: Hyatt Regency Mainz, Germany
- Review: Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam
- Review: Aegean Airlines Business Class Airbus A321
- Review: Grand Hyatt Athens, Greece
- Review: Emirates’ Disappointing 777 Business Class
After an amazing few weeks in Europe, it was time to return to the United States. I decided to return from Greece to the United States in Emirates business class. While I had flown Emirates’ A380 business class before, I had never flown Emirates’ 777 business class on a long haul flight.
Long time readers know I’m a massive fan of Emirates’ first class. It’s one of my favorite products in the world. Business class is a very different story, unfortunately, at least on the 777.
I knew what to expect going in, and I guess the experience was exactly what I was expecting. At the same time, I can’t help but be shocked that this is the product offered on the plane that’s the backbone of the Dubai-based carrier’s fleet. It’s hard to imagine that Qatar Airways’ Qsuites business class is even marketed as the same class of service as Emirates’ business class, because both the hard and soft product are so vastly different. Anyway, let’s get into the review…
In this post:
How I redeemed miles for Emirates business class
I love Emirates’ fifth freedom flights between Europe and the United States (from Athens to Newark and Milan to New York), and award availability tends to be really good on these flights. For the date I needed, Emirates had business class award seats available from Athens to Newark on the following flight:
07/26 EK209 Athens to Newark departing 5:35PM arriving 9:20PM
The ticket cost just 62,500 Skywards miles, plus around $100 in taxes (it was just me traveling, as Ford was staying in Greece a bit longer, and I managed to get him a first class award seat #HappyHusbandHappyLife).
Emirates Skywards miles are easy to come by, thanks to the program partnering with all major transferable points programs. This includes Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou.
Unfortunately my flight had no first class award availability, and since first class was full, I wasn’t able to use the trick for upgrading to Emirates first class on the day of departure. On the plus side, this would allow me to review Emirates’ long haul business class product.
Emirates check-in, lounge, & boarding
Earlier in the summer I flew Emirates’ 777 first class from Athens to Newark, so I won’t review the ground experience too much. The experience at Athens Airport was easy enough, as the queues at check-in and security weren’t long.
Emirates uses the Goldair Lounge at Athens Airport, which is okay, though not up to the typical standard of Emirates lounges.
The flight boarded from gate A12, just a short walk from the lounge. Boarding started at 4:50PM (45 minutes before departure), with first and business class passengers being invited to board first.
Emirates Boeing 777-300ER business class cabin & seats
I boarded through the second set of doors, where I was greeted by the purser and one of the business class flight attendants, and pointed right towards the main business class cabin. Emirates’ 777-300ER business class cabin consists of a total of 42 seats, spread across six rows in a 2-3-2 configuration.
There’s a mini-cabin ahead of the second set of doors with two rows, and then the main business class cabin is behind that, and features four rows. The plane I was flying on was roughly 15 years old, and it sure showed its age too.
It’s hard to imagine any half decent airline still has middle seats in business class nowadays as part of its standard product on its most common long haul aircraft.
I assigned myself seat 10A, the window seat on the left side in the second to last row of business class (I was trying to be strategic and get an empty seat next to me, and it paid off — the cabin ended up having 33 of 42 seats occupied, and the seat next to me remained empty).
It’s funny, because in first class I find Emirates’ cabin finishes to be oddly charming, or at least part of the experience, because the product is otherwise so impressive. However, with the outdated business class seats and purple upholstery, I find the faux-wood to be much less appealing.
In the center console between seats were cupholders, as well as trays where drinks could be placed.
Privacy in Emirates business class seats is very good. There’s a huge partition between seats, so you really do feel like you have some privacy from your seat mate. I imagine that’s especially nice for those stuck in a center seat, with a stranger on each side.
Also in the center console were the entertainment controls, seat controls, and a touchscreen that could control various seat functions. They all felt outdated.
There was also a 110v outlet. However, Emirates’ older 777s don’t have USB outlets, which shocked the person seated a few seats over. The airline does have a few converters onboard, though, for those who need a USB outlet. Make sure you ask for one early, as there aren’t many onboard.
The tray table folded out from the center armrest, and could be folded over in half.
There were some basic seat controls on the left armrest, with three pre-set options.
While the rest of the seat is quite outdated, the entertainment monitors in business class are huge. There was also a seatback pocket, as well as a compartment where you could store shoes.
Emirates has individual air nozzles at each seat on the 777, which is a useful feature for those of us who tend to get hot on planes.
One other nice feature of Emirates’ 777s are that the business class seats have window shades that can be controlled at the push of a button. These aren’t like the 787s with dimmers, but rather you can open the window shade completely, lower blinds so that you have natural light but can’t see anything, or make them completely dark.
Just for context on the location of my seat, I had great views of the engine from 10A. You’ve gotta love 777 engines!
I also had a nice view of the cabin, as I enjoy watching the service flow.
As I’ve often said, I think Emirates gets a huge halo effect from its Airbus A380 fleet and incredible first class product. But the reality is that the 777 is the primary aircraft Emirates flies, and a vast majority of 777s have this product (the exceptions are 777-200LRs, which have a slightly different product, and nine new 777-300ERs, which have the same product but with better finishes).
I’m sorry, but this is just plain embarrassing, especially when you consider what other airlines are offering nowadays. It’s woefully uncompetitive. Fortunately Emirates is considering introducing a new business class product on at least some 777s.
You know how you know Emirates’ business class isn’t great? Often when people walk past business class to go to economy, you’ll hear them say something like “wow” or “I wish I were sitting here.” I heard none of that, and instead just heard one person say “this doesn’t look very nice for business class.”
Emirates business class amenities
When it comes to amenities, there was a pillow and blanket waiting at each business class seat. The pillow had decent padding, while the blanket was simple. This definitely isn’t industry-leading bedding. There were also mattress pads distributed after takeoff, which I’ll talk more about later on.
There were a pair of headphones at my seat, which were okay.
Amenity kits were distributed during boarding, and were probably the best of the amenities. They featured products from a variety of brands, including BVLGARI, Gentlemen’s Tonic, and more. The number of items in the kit was impressive.
On top of that, there was a separate pouch with socks and eyeshades, as well as a kit with a face mask and hand sanitizer.
The menu and wine list were also distributed during the boarding process.
Pre-departure drinks were offered in proper glassware, with the choice between champagne, orange juice, and apple juice.
Emirates business class lunch service
Let’s talk about the meal service on this 10hr15min flight. Lunch was served after takeoff and dinner was served before landing (there’s no dine on demand in business class on Emirates). The food menu read as follows:
The drink list read as follows (the wine list in particular is quite good, if you ask me):
About 30 minutes after takeoff the service began. The crew came through the cabin to take meal and drink orders using smartphones. Drinks were served around 20 minutes later, just under an hour after takeoff. I ordered a dirty martini, and was offered some warm mixed nuts to go along with it. I love how Emirates has proper cocktails, which not many airlines offer.
About 20 minutes after that the meal service began. A tablecloth was brought out, and then the meal was served on a tray, along with the glass of Cloudy Bay sauvignon blanc that I ordered. As you can see, the side salad and bread were covered and wrapped.
For the starter I selected the seared prawns served on wakame salad with beetroot and pepper chevre, dressed with wasabi and onion seeds. There was also a side salad, along with some garlic bread. The food quality as such was great.
The problem with Emirates business class service is that it very much feels like an assembly line and isn’t personalized at all. For example, after I finished my starter and salad, my starter was removed, while the rest of my completed dishes, along with the covers and wrappers, were just left there. You’d think they’d remove them, but instead they just remove what they have to in order to make room for the main course.
Similarly, even though my martini glass was done, it was just left standing there, even when the crew brought and removed stuff multiple times.
The main course was served once starters were cleared, and there were three choices. I selected the grilled salmon with coriander pesto, saffron rice, sautéed carrots, snow peas, and courgettes. The dish tasted pretty good, though the presentation left a bit to be desired with the casserole-style dish.
Once main courses were cleared, it was time for dessert. There were several choices, and I selected a delicious salted caramel and custard tart with mocha chocolate sauce. I was also offered a cappuccino, along with some chocolates.
I’d say overall the meal tasted good, but the service flow, presentation, and lack of customization was rather disappointing.
Emirates business class entertainment & Wi-Fi
Emirates’ ICE system is one of the best in the world for inflight entertainment, and there are literally endless TV shows, movies, and more. The selection is endless. I also love listening to the Emirates World Interviews, hosted by Steve Harvey. They’re equal parts interesting and hilarious, given the obvious spin. For example, one of the interviews I listened to talked about how prisons in the UAE are so humane, and are about helping people, rather than punishing them.
There’s also an airshow function, though it was fairly low quality in terms of resolution.
Unfortunately the 777 I was on was really old:
- It was so old that it didn’t have a touchscreen option, so you had to use the remote controller
- The remote controller was ancient, and was extremely unresponsive; it probably took about five seconds after pushing a button before the system responded
Emirates’ Boeing 777s also have Wi-Fi. For $19.99 you could buy Wi-Fi for the entire flight with no data limits, which is what I did. Emirates offers OnAir Wi-Fi, which is known to be among the slowest out there. On the plus side, the speeds were pretty decent on this flight, and I was able to work for most of the flight. I’ve generally found Wi-Fi on Emirates 777s to be better than on A380s.
Emirates business class bed
Emirates has angled seats in business class on the 777. In fairness to Emirates, the angle is really mild. It’s not like one of those seats where you’ll horribly slide down the entire time, but rather you just feel like your head is elevated a bit. So the angle doesn’t bother me.
For that matter, one positive of these types of seats is that there’s no small footwell you have to put your feet into, so you can stretch out pretty nicely. That’s especially true if you have an empty seat next to you, like I did.
Immediately after takeoff the crew distributed mattress pads. These were placed on seats even when it wasn’t time to sleep, and added a bit of padding.
I’ve always liked how Emirates has lights on the ceiling that are meant to look like stars.
Emirates business class lavatories
Emirates has two lavatories in business class on the 777-300ER, located by the second set of doors, between the business class cabins. The lavatories were a good size, though otherwise were pretty no frills. While I wouldn’t say the bathrooms were filthy, they definitely weren’t as clean as I’ve had on past Emirates flights, especially later in the flight.
Emirates business class service & snacks
Between meals there was a small setup in the galley with some packaged snacks, which passengers could help themselves to.
Drinks were of course always available on demand, so I ordered a couple of cups of coffee during the flight while working. I was proactively offered some cookies to go along with that.
The flight attendants working business class were friendly and showed personality, so I have nothing bad to say about them. They were good.
My general issue with service in Emirates business class is how impersonal it feels. There’s no dine on demand, and you really just feel like you’re part of an assembly line that the crew is trying to get through. There’s very little about the service that feels proactive rather than reactive. It’s just in such contrast to service on other top carriers, where personalization and interaction between passengers and crew is encouraged.
Emirates business class dinner service
About 2hr30min before landing at Newark, pre-arrival meal orders were taken. The meal was then served around two hours before arrival. Once again, dishes came covered.
To start I ordered the Greek mezze with grilled aubergine with feta, octopus salad, dolma, tzatziki, and marinated olives. This was served with a side salad and a roll.
For the main course I ordered the chicken with mushroom sauce served with honey-roasted pumpkin, steamed broccoli, turnip, and fingerling potatoes with herbs.
Then for dessert I had the cheese board, which was nicely presented. I was also offered a box of chocolates.
A warm towel was offered after the meal, which was the first time during the flight that a towel was offered.
After the meal I enjoyed the beautiful sunset views, since at this time of year the flight arrived around sunset time.
We touched down at Newark Airport at 8:45PM, and had a very hard landing. From there it was a short taxi to our arrival gate.
Bottom line
Emirates, I love you. Your first class is my favorite in the world, and the A380s are incredible, and a nice ride in business class. But the experience drops off very quickly when flying 777 business class on a long haul flight.
Angled flat seats, a middle seat in each row, no USB outlets, no touchscreen TVs, woefully outdated cabins and finishes, mediocre bedding, assembly line-style service, and no dine on demand? This is simply uncompetitive at this point. not just compared to Qatar Airways Qsuites (which is a totally different league), but even compared to your average, run-of-the-mill business class.
I really hope Emirates follows through with its plans to introduce a new 777 business class product, and that the rollout doesn’t happen at a glacial pace. Even then, there’s improvement needed with the soft product.
If you’ve flown Emirates’ 777 business class, what was your experience like?
We flew BNE to LHR and back on Emirates 777, April 2024. Never again. The seats are FAR TOO NARROW.
Emirates 777-300 business class should be re-named premium economy class. For the price one now pays for a business class ticket on Emirates, one expects an excellent business class product and not have a 2-3-2 cabin layout!! Their business class product should be the same on all their aircraft!!
Singapore Airlines have a vastly superior business class seat and product!!
emirates biz class should be considered as premium economy. The seats are cramped and dont lie flat. The 2-3-2 configuration means people are in middle seats. And imagine having to climb over or ask people to stand up to get out in biz class. Unacceptable for a long flight.
I got rerouted to Emirates from Air France due to the recent strike. It was miserable and disappointing. There were too many peoples in biz...
emirates biz class should be considered as premium economy. The seats are cramped and dont lie flat. The 2-3-2 configuration means people are in middle seats. And imagine having to climb over or ask people to stand up to get out in biz class. Unacceptable for a long flight.
I got rerouted to Emirates from Air France due to the recent strike. It was miserable and disappointing. There were too many peoples in biz class. People have to stand on the bus out and back to and from the planes. The flight attendants were nice but they barely have time to serve one meal on a 7 hr flight, not sure why Emirates kept advertising two hot meals.
We have been flying Business Class from India to SFO and India to Denver each year round trip.
I was super happy when they flew us on Airbus A380 but totally disappointed when they changed the Airbus to 777 , without any notice. We did not know until we were on flight. I think I was so discouraged that I slept most of the flight, and my husband read most of the time. I...
We have been flying Business Class from India to SFO and India to Denver each year round trip.
I was super happy when they flew us on Airbus A380 but totally disappointed when they changed the Airbus to 777 , without any notice. We did not know until we were on flight. I think I was so discouraged that I slept most of the flight, and my husband read most of the time. I watched one movie but did not finish it due to very poor TV quality.
We are flying back on A380 .....and very happy about it.
Now we refuse to fly if our trip does not include traveling in A380, we would rather fly Singapore or Cathay Pacific or Korean Air.
Frequent flyer with Emirates Business Class but oh, boy, have standards dropped. Not even offered an amenity kit on the 777-ER Manila to Dubai. Dubai to Gatwick flights. Otherwise it's ok but Emirates need a pick me up and fast.
Having travelled with Emirates a lot, the business class looks fantastic, lucky you, I have to travel economy and the seating should be made illegal as there’s no leg room and especially no width. Try getting dumped in the middle seat, it’s appalling and I hate the 777 because of this. Emirates should be very ashamed of their economy class.
Totally agree about the service on Emirates. Just flew A380 then 777 in BC. Have to say service is impersonal. Food was cold and dreadful.
Have to return all the way from Europe to Singapore on 777.
Had I known Emirates are trading on past reputation I wouldn't have flown them.
Very poor BC product that I won't waste my money on again. Feel really let down if I'm honest. Was our first flight since covid and what a disappointment.
It is really weird for me to see people loose their mind over Lufthansa’s Business Class product, and even their very good First Class, and yet rampantly defend Emirates in the comments. Besides the 747-400s, only 8 of which are left in the fleet, none of Lufthansa’s planes have middle seats in business class. All of Lufthansa’s aircraft offer fully flat beds, and I personally find the seats much more comfortable
My wife and I flew Emirates business class from Houston to Dubai and back to Houston. The plane was a 777 200. The middle row had no overhead bins. On both flights we had to walk back to find space to put our carry on bags. It was a hassle to get our bags when the flight was over.
The author comes over as pretentious. Any Business Class travel is a privilege, Criticism is fine, but this is just down right whiney. It’s
like comparing a Porsche with a Ferrari as if the Porsche was a Hyundai.
ok sure, but it's a privilege you pay for, and if other products are superior at same price, that's worth knowing
Having spent years walking through Business to Econmy I have always envied the space given on Business in 777. I now fly Business to UK and back from Aus. Yes I agree with while the seats in A380 offer more privacy but with the 777 you can still people watch - which helps to pass time when fed up of sleeping/ movies. Of course you don't have the bar which is a let down. My...
Having spent years walking through Business to Econmy I have always envied the space given on Business in 777. I now fly Business to UK and back from Aus. Yes I agree with while the seats in A380 offer more privacy but with the 777 you can still people watch - which helps to pass time when fed up of sleeping/ movies. Of course you don't have the bar which is a let down. My flight this year has been changed to the 777 but I reckon thats due to less people travelling. But I would still choose this level of comfort over an Economy seat. I've never flown where there is dine on demand but I wonder does that make the cabin constantly smell of food? I would find that off putting.
The best part is that I booked business class on an A380 for the first week of April, and they decided to do equipment swap for a 777. Thanks Emirates. Really knocking it out of the park these days.
I am so sad to read this. I have just splurged on business class on the emirates from Oslo to Bkk. We were going to fly the airbus from Dubai to bkk so this was the main reason we chose this Arline . Now just by coincidence, I found out they changed the plane to a 777 and canceled the Airbus. I am so upset. And feel that I am not getting the product I paid for.
A similar thing has just happened to me.
I am flying to Brisbane from Birmingham via Dubai in November and the Birmingham to Dubai leg (and return) have changed from Airbus 380 to Boeing 777. I am not happy about this.
The reason I booked this flight was for the privacy etc. that the Airbus gives plus direct aisle access.
Same here. SFO has all flights now 777.
Not completely relevant, but your mention of comments (or lack of) as people walked through the cabin reminded me of an AA flight I took in one of the newer F class cabins (about 6 years ago). Young boy, about 12, walking through with his father said, "Sweet Jesus!!". His father just nudged him and replied, "keep walking". I'm not a F class traveller usually so knew just how he felt with the fully flat seats, etc.
Carol, luck isn't your ex-spouse. Please save your commentary until after your meds have kicked in and I've called a Code 51. You're out of control, dear.
Is that gold plastic on the seats? . And that menu looks gross. Weird. I don’t know how long your flight was, but I might eat the salad and take 2 Benadryl and call it a day. My spouse would bust out the 6 protein bars. Just like coach.
Emirates 777 from Dubai to BLR, and from BLR to Dubai business class experienced an outdated aged product very uncomfortable and untidy seat. The Jet looked worn out and visibly not clean. Emirates did not even give the amenity kit for both the flights.
I will not fly in this airline till they fix the issues.
Emirates Business class price is not cheap either. The only reason I flew Emirates was for A380 JFK-Dubai
My exact same experience in 2017(before covid). I was so looking forward to our flight. Boston to Dubai was terrible both ways. The plane was old, the service was assembly line, and they did not account for my vegetarian selection despite selecting it 4 months in advance and the customer service to confirming twice that they saw it registered. They had it registered for the leg forward, but not on their longest haul flight. So...
My exact same experience in 2017(before covid). I was so looking forward to our flight. Boston to Dubai was terrible both ways. The plane was old, the service was assembly line, and they did not account for my vegetarian selection despite selecting it 4 months in advance and the customer service to confirming twice that they saw it registered. They had it registered for the leg forward, but not on their longest haul flight. So I was basically snacking on nuts and a no show left over from the economy. The only saving grace was the free transportation offered. I was fairly disappointed with my business class experience with Emirates.
I love Emirates..This is my favourite airline..
when i saw a emirates first class,it melts me...
I traveled from Dubai to Newyork on 28th September by business class,when I purchased the tickets it was informed to me that they are are going to provide free cab service, that they did it in Dubai but in Newyork when I landed after a long journey no body was there to pick me up nor any help desk ihave to spend almost one hour in the airport in search of in formation ,highly disgusting...
I traveled from Dubai to Newyork on 28th September by business class,when I purchased the tickets it was informed to me that they are are going to provide free cab service, that they did it in Dubai but in Newyork when I landed after a long journey no body was there to pick me up nor any help desk ihave to spend almost one hour in the airport in search of in formation ,highly disgusting experience, now iam traveling on Ek 202,from New York to Dubai ,in business class, but no information on cab service,here afterwords don't give any false information before booking,when you are unable to offer the service
This partitions are awful. Like a prison. And will I appreciate wood as natural material it is the wrong place and doesn't look good. The current Lufthansa business (which will be replaced soon) is more comfortable and looks more pleasant. The amenities look great and meals also. But putting bread in plastic is just showing bad taste and creates unnecessary waste. LH serves warm bread, fresh from the stove.
Is your nasty post really necessary? Jeez. He's here to give his advice on exactly this topic. Obviously you were interested, otherwise, why are you here? If you don't have anything nice to say....keep scrolling troll.
"..........you feel like you are part of an assembly line that the crew is trying to get through." BINGO! You hit the nail on the head, Ben. This is exactly what Emirates business class looks and feels like. It's also why I rate Qatar and Etihad ahead of Emirates. And I haven't even touched on the obsolete 2-3-2 seating! I liken Emirates business class to McDonald's. Sure, you'll get a somewhat satisfying meal, but it...
"..........you feel like you are part of an assembly line that the crew is trying to get through." BINGO! You hit the nail on the head, Ben. This is exactly what Emirates business class looks and feels like. It's also why I rate Qatar and Etihad ahead of Emirates. And I haven't even touched on the obsolete 2-3-2 seating! I liken Emirates business class to McDonald's. Sure, you'll get a somewhat satisfying meal, but it hardly compares to the competition. Thanks for the review and also reminding me why avoid Emirates.
Having flown EK 777 “business” class several years ago, I have resolved never to fly it again until they introduce a 1-2-1 seating configuration. What an embarrassment the current hard product is. Pre COVID I was making about 5 or 6 trips from the UK to SE Asia, South Africa and Australia. None of them were on EK. All of that business could have gone to them if they had an acceptable hard product.
You are lucky you got to fly in business. You could have been in economy.
My observation is this,why didn't emirates upgrade to the new business class seats during the 1st major lockdown when they had plenty of time to do so and the planes were on the ground. They can't use the excuse of fund's. Wasted opportunity.
Hi Ben,
Love your blog! Have been reading it for quite a while and always enjoy reading about your experiences and views.
I do have a question - and it comes from genuine curiosity and I'm not taking a particular view here as to what you 'should' do.
But I'm curious as to what your views are on sustainability? I.e. your work/lifestyle generates a huge carbon footprint, far above what any person should emit...
Hi Ben,
Love your blog! Have been reading it for quite a while and always enjoy reading about your experiences and views.
I do have a question - and it comes from genuine curiosity and I'm not taking a particular view here as to what you 'should' do.
But I'm curious as to what your views are on sustainability? I.e. your work/lifestyle generates a huge carbon footprint, far above what any person should emit to bring ourselves in line with Paris. How do you balance that and what are your views?
Genuinely asking because I'm curious and I'm also trying to figure this out myself as I travel heavily myself.
I´ll take this business class any time over what Lufthansa offers in Business! In Germany we are basically stuck with a LH product with significant less space and privacy! BA´s regular Business product is also a lot worse. If you travel with a companion I really love this Emirates 777 configuration, a window on the side and lot´s of space in front of you. Although I never flew the Qsuite, I think it looks claustrophobic.
REALLY... Color of the Interior of the planes decor is a reason to complain??? Hell, when I can afford to fly 1st class/business class I fly it to get away from people and comfort, I don't do it for the color of the interior of the plane... REALLY THE COLOR??? Get a grip and enjoy the ride and service you get up front and appreciate that your not packed in like sardines...
A similar thing has just happened to me.
I am flying to Brisbane from Birmingham via Dubai in November and the Birmingham to Dubai leg (and return) have changed from Airbus 380 to Boeing 777. I am not happy about this.
The reason I booked this flight was for the privacy etc. that the Airbus gives plus direct aisle access.
You seem to be disappointed not only with the product offered but also the service.
I cannot comment much on the product as it is clearly evident that the airline is making as much as they could from their existing products without investing much.
Talking about the crew and services, the current crew compliment in the airline specially in the premium cabins has over stayed in their particular grades without any promotions and...
You seem to be disappointed not only with the product offered but also the service.
I cannot comment much on the product as it is clearly evident that the airline is making as much as they could from their existing products without investing much.
Talking about the crew and services, the current crew compliment in the airline specially in the premium cabins has over stayed in their particular grades without any promotions and salary increment. Not only that, their is no motivation left as was evident during the pandemic when a majority were redundant and jobless.
On the 777 there is only 1 crew on each side taking care of 21 passengers at a time. A lot of service related pressure is being imposed on them as the service is time bound and not always they get to work with supportive seniors. So the service offered by the crew is the bare minimum as per requirement. Hence, do not expect much!
The airline needs to take into account various factors which not only includes up-gradation of existing products, but also looking after their employees.
I agree totally! Emirates business class on 777’s is pathetic, stale and uncomfortable
Funny thing you forgot to mention this is the old business class and you flew in one of the few that has not been transformed to yet.they are in an huge expansion and upgrade process
Yes, Emirates' 777 business class is disappointing, but you still have quality service, amenities, and food. A few other airlines also have middle seats in business class. United's dorm style 777s are worse. And think about economy - 3-4-3. At least, you're not cramped in economy!
S.V. What does economy class have to do with anything here?? This is a review of Emirates' business class so newbies can have an idea/yardstick with which to compare other airlines' business class products.
I am so sad to read this. I have just splurged on business class on the emirates from Oslo to Bkk. We were going to fly the airbus from Dubai to bkk so this was the main reason we chose this Arline . Now just by coincidence, I found out they changed the plane to a 777 and canceled the Airbus. I am so upset. And feel that I am not getting the product I paid for.
I live in the Middle East and fly Emirates and Qatar almost exclusively. When (rarely) I'm back in the states, I fly first, mostly United (some Delta, some AA). US domestic first is abysmal after you fly biz routinely over here. So, careful what y'all are bitching about. Emirates first is the best, but sometimes it's not available for upgrade, so biz it iz. Would you rather be in steerage? I think not! Enjoy EK...
I live in the Middle East and fly Emirates and Qatar almost exclusively. When (rarely) I'm back in the states, I fly first, mostly United (some Delta, some AA). US domestic first is abysmal after you fly biz routinely over here. So, careful what y'all are bitching about. Emirates first is the best, but sometimes it's not available for upgrade, so biz it iz. Would you rather be in steerage? I think not! Enjoy EK biz on outdated 777s - it's not the worst thing you'll encounter traveling.
Has your authour ever been in the disappointing 343 seating in economy even a dwarf would find it cramped
My observation is this,why didn't emirates upgrade to the new business class seats during the 1st major lockdown when they had plenty of time to do so and the planes were on the ground. They can't use the excuse of fund's. Wasted opportunity.
As bad as the hard product is, the 777 business-class on Emirates still has been amenities, service and food/drinks (soft product) than competitors. That's what makes Emirates, Emirates. Also, doesn't Turkish still have middle seats in business? And, I think, technically British Airways does as well due to their configuration. I just wish one of the US airlines could offer food and drinks on par with Emirates in their business-class.
Agree! That's what a lot of people don't understand. Sure the seats are outdated - but there's a reason that Emirates still is ranked among the very top, whereas AA, UA and Delta almost never are.
I am really not impressed about the wine list, only cheap product.
I remember few years ago some great wines on Emirates menu, seem old story.
Reviews like these are always nice to read, but not all seasoned travellers have unlimited points to claim their J or F seats for next to nothing in monetary terms. I would appreciate a reference on the price of the same flight, same day and same class, for people paying with cash/credit card. It could be checked the day before on Expedia or something. I usually fly in coach, and would be hesitant to pay...
Reviews like these are always nice to read, but not all seasoned travellers have unlimited points to claim their J or F seats for next to nothing in monetary terms. I would appreciate a reference on the price of the same flight, same day and same class, for people paying with cash/credit card. It could be checked the day before on Expedia or something. I usually fly in coach, and would be hesitant to pay more than 400 euros for a transatlantic return flight. With a 1000+ euro price difference for just one ten hour flight leg it would put things in perspective for those who wish a better value for their money. It's amazing what you can do with it in Greece, e.g. stay in a nice hotel and be drunk for a week.
I have an A380 biz flight booked for next year (DXB-KUL). I'm happy to see this review as I had a choice of the 777 overnight or A380 daytime, and I'd already chosen, luckily, the daytime flight. That said, Emirates had F available, but 28K miles more for a 7 HR flight seemed excessive.
Maybe I am not back in the travel mindset to where I am excited to fly, but you would have to pay me for that experience! I don’t think “dated” really describes the interior. Ben could have written that entire trip review in 2005 and just republished it…Did you?
Emirates interiors are a bit tacky, IMO. All the marled wood reminds me of the fake wood dashboard on a '99 Ford Taurus. :-)
Emirates' cabins are tacky. Qatar has a much better, muted cabin interior scheme,
EK regularly dispatches the oldest versions of its 77W on the EWR-ATH-EWR sector. This is a low yield route, with plenty of VFR, lots of discounted business class tickets, and hardly any corporate traffic that is meaningful. They are also the only airline flying between the US and Athens year round so there's no competition and as dated as this product is, it works for this market.
Agree! That's what a lot of people don't understand. Sure the seats are outdated - but there's a reason that Emirates still is ranked among the very top, whereas AA, UA and Delta almost never are.
I didn't realize that EK is the only year-round airline with service on the ATH-NYC route. Interesting, but understandable given that the US carriers cater to the leisure market on the route.
Flew AA ATH-ORD in August of this year, in economy (not used to that cabin, to be honest), but the cabin crew turned out to be the best I've ever experienced in my 7 million-ish miles of flying (not to discount other great...
I didn't realize that EK is the only year-round airline with service on the ATH-NYC route. Interesting, but understandable given that the US carriers cater to the leisure market on the route.
Flew AA ATH-ORD in August of this year, in economy (not used to that cabin, to be honest), but the cabin crew turned out to be the best I've ever experienced in my 7 million-ish miles of flying (not to discount other great crews I've had the pleasure to experience on many other airlines).
Only flown the EK A380, and loved the product, but had always heard the 777 was inferior...so maybe not surprised by the review.
Give me Qatar any day...
Thank you for another sincere, thorough report. Ben. EK needs to update this worn out gawdy hard product in business. If you flying a high demand route where nearly everyone is paying full fares, you’re lucky to fly on the whale Jets, otherwise you’re out of luck & stuck with these undesirable cabins. EK doesn’t have to wait for the B777-9s to be delivered. It’s a poor excuse for them to not have to spend...
Thank you for another sincere, thorough report. Ben. EK needs to update this worn out gawdy hard product in business. If you flying a high demand route where nearly everyone is paying full fares, you’re lucky to fly on the whale Jets, otherwise you’re out of luck & stuck with these undesirable cabins. EK doesn’t have to wait for the B777-9s to be delivered. It’s a poor excuse for them to not have to spend the millions of dollars to install updated, modern classy cabins. This is actually the best time to start a modernization program as it’s going to be sometime before demand is back to peak levels pre-pandemic.
Being an airline geek & saving my hard earned money to treat myself to business class once or twice a year for long haul flights, I value & appreciate your thoughts very much. I hope to take a ULH flight to the Maldives in the next year. I will either fly QR via DOH or SQ via SIN from LAX.
The catering on your flight didn’t look great, the mattress pad looked like it was a year beyond its time to be turned in for recycling can.
The disappointing & sad part for many is not knowing the things we mention amongst ourselves in these incredible forums when people have stretched their budgets, to a save their hard earned money wasted on tepid hard & soft products like this. I pride myself in sharing reports like this to friends & fellow coworkers to help educate them on who, who not travel with when they are putting out thousands of dollars foe a special flight they want to have special memories of.
I also appreciate your thoughts about amenitiy kits. I agree EK has a really nice business class kit. QR does as well but do feel this is the one & only area where EK surpasses QR and only by a very narrow margin 5 stars versus 4.5,stars.
Not really interested in what someone who enjoys flying in style on an airline owned by a government guilty of daily human- and womens -rights violations has to say. Keep enjoying your slavery-subsidised luxury.
...and yet you read the article and CHOSE TO COMMENT. Seems you're plenty interested.
I love their 380 business class but their 777 is one to avoid. I only Evey did it once, never again
I read somewhere that Emirates Business on 777 would be getting a makeover with a new hard product
Been a long time Emirates fan but I still hate their business class seats on the B777. Most of my flights with them are long-haul biz and unfortunately they don't offer the A380. I heard that Emirates is planning to change their biz to 1-2-1 config by the end of next year. It's about time they did that.
I flew this 10 years ago and it was outdated then. So disappointed then and wouldn’t compare it to others now.
I totally agree, business Class on 380 great but not do good on 777 .twin side seats very poor.with all else
I agree that EK's B777 Business Class is sub-par compared to even KL. EK does have a few B777 ULR that they fly to the Americas which have a much improved business class in a 2-2-2 configuration. While not as wide as one would have hoped, the business class hard product is much better and looks much nicer.
Flying 10 years with EK on a very regular basis, I found the soft product to...
I agree that EK's B777 Business Class is sub-par compared to even KL. EK does have a few B777 ULR that they fly to the Americas which have a much improved business class in a 2-2-2 configuration. While not as wide as one would have hoped, the business class hard product is much better and looks much nicer.
Flying 10 years with EK on a very regular basis, I found the soft product to be deteriorating a lot, or at least not keeping up with international standards. There's no on-demand dining, but also the quality of the food - particularly the main dishes - is going down year after year. A very basic Bombay Saffire Gin was changed to an even cheaper, and to my taste very bad, Sipsmith Gin. Wines are a hit and miss. Coca Cola products replaced by Pepsi products, etc.
Based in Dubai, I unfortunately don't have a lot of options not to fly Emirates without losing hours in connections, but at this point, the joy of flying is gone.
Free wifi is so slow on 777. I couldn't download any photos. The entertainment system is outdated. Thru the night we got no drinks in the morning no drinks. And then we landed.. With no drinks service.. This was from johannesburg to Dubai.
While I completely agree with the review, I am one of few that likes 2-3-2 or even old United 2-4-2 seating. Why - it’s all nice and dandy when you’re traveling alone or with partner, but why would a parent stop flying Business? There’s a large number of parents that fly in business with kids and Cocoon approach is perfectly suitable to have an eye on kids.
Yes, perfect set up for a couple with a kid. My wife and I appreciated having the seat between us.
I think it's worth pointing out that you had the oldest of the Emirates 777 business configs and I agree, it's pretty bad by today's standards - rust buckets! I fly Emirates 777 business a lot and I've seen 3 different generations. The latest (with the quilted leatherette seats) is far more acceptable, although it does still maintain the 2-3-2 layout, which I agree is unforgivable.
Maybe EK use these haggard 77Ws due to less competition and it’s not a make or break it market since it’s a fifth freedom route. It seems like EK really relies heavily on their A380s & if you’re flying a route without that kind of demand you’re out of luck having to fly in a very dated, subpar product.
I have just returned from Portugal to South Africa, the 777 was so ancient, it belongs in a grave yard. Terrible seat 8J. Nothing worked, very disappointed.
Never received a toiletries bag.
No chauffeur driver was available to & from airport. Function to order one was greyed out.
Wrote to Emirates, but had a unfavorable response. Never recommend them again.
My thoughts exactly. I flew J class MNL-DXB-IAD over the weekend with the first leg serviced by the outdated 777’s and the second leg on the A380. Hard product on 777 was terrible; J class on A380 was much better, although nowhere near Qatar’s QRSuites. Service was impersonal on both segments. Meal on the first segment reminded me of cafeteria food (i was served a small plate of lomein for my ‘seafood’ special meal; food...
My thoughts exactly. I flew J class MNL-DXB-IAD over the weekend with the first leg serviced by the outdated 777’s and the second leg on the A380. Hard product on 777 was terrible; J class on A380 was much better, although nowhere near Qatar’s QRSuites. Service was impersonal on both segments. Meal on the first segment reminded me of cafeteria food (i was served a small plate of lomein for my ‘seafood’ special meal; food service on the A380 was much better. it highlights the inconsistency of the airlines’s catering service.
I've flown Emirates JFK to MXP a few times. If the a380 is still absent from the route, I'd honestly prefer to go with La Compagnie EWR to MXP. La Compagnie is considerably cheaper, and has real lie flat seats. I'll be headed to Milan in the summer again. It's certainly something to think about.
I agree 100% with Ben on his analysis. Pre COVID I was traveling monthly to the Middle East. I switched from Emirates to Air France Business Class. A much better product; food and 1-2-1 seating versus the 2-3-2 on Emirates.
Even worse on Emirates is the business on the Airbus 330. It is narrower than the 777 but keeps the 2-3-2 seat configuration versus Air France 2-2-2.
I also agree that Qatar is...
I agree 100% with Ben on his analysis. Pre COVID I was traveling monthly to the Middle East. I switched from Emirates to Air France Business Class. A much better product; food and 1-2-1 seating versus the 2-3-2 on Emirates.
Even worse on Emirates is the business on the Airbus 330. It is narrower than the 777 but keeps the 2-3-2 seat configuration versus Air France 2-2-2.
I also agree that Qatar is without a doubt exceptional.
Even more surprising is that Air France Business is typically half the price from NYC to the Middle East. Qatar is more but usually much less than Emirates. Like Ben, I do not understand how Emirates gets away with this.
By the way Ben, you were luck not to be on the Emirates Dubai to Boston Flight Business Class 777... 13 hours....ughhh!!
Emirates retired the A330 a few years ago. They are gone. Emirates gets away with this because of their brand halo and they fly nonstop to Dubai.
A very honest review Ben, thank you. I’ve spent too many hours in those seats over the last 7 years traveling across the globe and I always dreaded the old 777s business class on a long haul. It certainly made you appreciate the newer planes with better screens, USB ports, and enhanced lighting. Always suggest you get either rows 6 or 7 since it’s a bit more private than the other rows towards the back....
A very honest review Ben, thank you. I’ve spent too many hours in those seats over the last 7 years traveling across the globe and I always dreaded the old 777s business class on a long haul. It certainly made you appreciate the newer planes with better screens, USB ports, and enhanced lighting. Always suggest you get either rows 6 or 7 since it’s a bit more private than the other rows towards the back. In some ways, the long haul AA business class is certainly a better product and the flight attendants have a heavy hand on the wine and alcohol pours which is very much appreciated. However, I would always take EK old business class over any AA US domestic product hands down. In the end - having a less than stellar EK business class experience makes you appreciate the first class and A380 business class experience EK offers. If EK gets their new 777 business class close to Qatar’s - look out! It may take some time but would definitely be a welcomed change!!
consists of a total of 42 seats, spread across seven rows in a 2-3-2 configuration
???
Maybe 6 rows?
And, of course, no onboard lounge on the 777.
They are flying to Newark. What’d expect?
Ben, you should definitely fly Finnair and review their post-covid business class. Boy, have they stripped it down. JFK-HEL, an 8-hour flight, gets a salad. No real meal service! Other flights have a one-tray servicewith two simple main course choices only. Prearrival meal is a tasteless veggie pasta, take it or leave it.
Feels like premium economy, really. In comparison, this Emirates meal service, with two full meals, feels like heaven.
The business meal on AY even pre-covid looks indeed already premium economy to me...
Emirates business is disappointing. It’s 10 years passé. With the increase in direct flights to many destinations, Dubai and Qatar are increasingly irrelevant. Dubai is nice but it’s not nice enough to go to on a detour just for a fake city built for tourists with a ridiculous legal system (europe criminalizes speech so we have a lot of problems as well but the UAE is on another level loco).
I don’t understand why...
Emirates business is disappointing. It’s 10 years passé. With the increase in direct flights to many destinations, Dubai and Qatar are increasingly irrelevant. Dubai is nice but it’s not nice enough to go to on a detour just for a fake city built for tourists with a ridiculous legal system (europe criminalizes speech so we have a lot of problems as well but the UAE is on another level loco).
I don’t understand why airlines don’t do what AA did on their 772 aircraft. AA has nice bathrooms with dark faux tiles and a rectangular white porcelain sink that sits on the counter. The service on AA leaves us wanting but the hard product is decent.
Love this review.
It is like your classic reviews lucky and the reason you are still overall my Favourite premium airline travel reviewer, you have been more direct
and honest about it without flowering it up like too often Anglos do. And I like that honesty here a lot.
Surprised that at least they bothered to take your meal orders instead of simply rolling a cart down the aisle asking do you want the beef, chicken or fish ;)
Yes, perfect set up for a couple with a kid. My wife and I appreciated having the seat between us.
Not a good experience
Toilets are very bad I bussiness class and have to wait lo g time to use it.very impersonal. I can say service is somewhat shocking
For the brand
Totally agree. I am scheduled to take Air France BKK-CDG-LAX December 7th and I'm cancelling because they have this same exact configuration with horrible seats. A 13 hour flight no less to Paris! No thanks. I'll take my miles back and fly Japan Airlines in first to the US and skip dinner in Paris with friends.
As I have previously mentioned I’ve travelled on those horrible 777’s several times ex ADL Australia and for over 14 hours it’s just uncomfortable, the flight is always full in business and getting the middle seat is just awful- We were delayed last time when an unsuspecting passenger refused to sit in it and told the crew he wouldn’t be flying tonight and that they can get his luggage off !! You can imagine that...
As I have previously mentioned I’ve travelled on those horrible 777’s several times ex ADL Australia and for over 14 hours it’s just uncomfortable, the flight is always full in business and getting the middle seat is just awful- We were delayed last time when an unsuspecting passenger refused to sit in it and told the crew he wouldn’t be flying tonight and that they can get his luggage off !! You can imagine that panic…. fortunately for everyone on this full flight the Purser swapped out some staff and all was well …but all in all I totally agree with Ben it’s just not competitive.
" I heard none of that, and instead just heard one person say “this doesn’t look very nice for business class.” "
That was the first class purser
Or the "Karen" about to sit down next to Ben....??
Seems like these planes and cabins were constructed in a different era of international travel. I guess the question is does it make sense for Emirates to redo all of these cabins on all of these planes if international business travel demand/pricing is going to be lower for several years.
We took this flight from ATH-EWR pre-pandemic and we’re so disappointed that we likely will never fly in Emirates Business Class again. The crew was great but the food was horrendously and the crew was clearly embarrassed by how bad it was. The purser apologized and said they had a ton of complaints about the catering out of ATH. Glad at least your food was better.
Hi Ben
Very informative and well presented review as usual.
I only fly on Business Class. If theres a A380 available on my route then its with Emirates. If only the 777 is available then I use Qatar.
BTW the several times that I did unfortunately have to use the 777 i.e. on my connection from DXB to BOM, I have hardly seen anyone using the middle seat in Business. It doesnt...
Hi Ben
Very informative and well presented review as usual.
I only fly on Business Class. If theres a A380 available on my route then its with Emirates. If only the 777 is available then I use Qatar.
BTW the several times that I did unfortunately have to use the 777 i.e. on my connection from DXB to BOM, I have hardly seen anyone using the middle seat in Business. It doesnt make sense economically as it just occupying space and has something like 20% usuage maximum.
Lets hope the new 777's will get a 1-2-1 configuration as you said and the exisiting ones get refitted quickly instead of at a snails pace.
I dunno, Steve. I'm not sure I would trade AA's marginally better seat, for Emirates overall far superior food and service - at least not on a daytime flight. Maybe if I was traveling alone I would feel different, but as a couple traveling together, I don't mind a window and aisle on the side, especially with a proper footwell (I'm looking at you, Turkish Airlines.)
The worst AA longhaul J seat is a million times better than a 2-3-2 angle flat. Angle flat haha what is this 1998?
Have to agree with Steve. Angle flat is the pits. I enjoy ripping on AA, but would rather fly their rocking Zodiac seats on the 777-200 than deal with an angled seat on Emirates.
That drink selection on Emirates sure is nice, though!
Oh no….thanks for the review. I will be flying on the 777 in a few weeks from EWR to Dubai and I was looking forward to their Business class. It’s my first time on this airline. I wanted to compare it to other USA airlines for long hauls to Europe and beyond. No USB ports? Ughhhh I have to pay for WiFi/internet? I paid full fare for this trip.
First, I haven’t flown EK. Ever. Hopefully in 2022, I can change that. However, I am a 45 year veteran of the airline industry and have flown my share of F and J. I therefore have the requisite experience to judge these products.
First the hard product: EK’s 777s are not competitive, full stop. If you are intending to fly in J class on one the ME3 carriers, then Qatar is your first and last...
First, I haven’t flown EK. Ever. Hopefully in 2022, I can change that. However, I am a 45 year veteran of the airline industry and have flown my share of F and J. I therefore have the requisite experience to judge these products.
First the hard product: EK’s 777s are not competitive, full stop. If you are intending to fly in J class on one the ME3 carriers, then Qatar is your first and last choice. Etihad’s new J class that debuted at the DXB Air Show will be competitive with everyone except QR. It will be well ahead of EK on the 77W. Since the 77W operates most of their ultra long haul flying, this is a problem for EK. The A380 J class is far better, although it is quickly becoming uncompetitive owing to the advancement of privacy doors in J class. A good many carriers are moving to this with a few notable exceptions.
What is even more bizarre about the current state of the 77W J class product is just how good their F product is on that aircraft…but I digress.
The soft product on the 77W and frankly on all EK J class services of late is clear cost cutting that has taken place. Some of this is pandemic related, to reduce touch points, but there are carriers who are now replating the main courses. EK is not one of them. Hopefully this is a temporary measure, but they are not the only carrier who isn’t quite back to pre-pandemic service levels. Let’s give this another year before we get really snitty about the soft product.
EK is very far behind the curve in solving this problem. They are putting a lot of emphasis on their new W product, which is fine, but they need to quickly solve this hard product issue.
Otherwise, business flyers will only go via DXB if there is no other option.
Overall I agree with the reviewer’s comments.
Furthermore since I have flown this route many times, I find the seat very narrow and confined, making it difficult to be able to sit. Getting up is also difficult. Some main course options with attempted Greek flavors are unsuccessful. The lack of trolley service for dessert gives the feeling of rationing.
Emirates was the most overrated business class in the airline industry the seats are narrow and uncomfortable. Food was nice but what matters is seat comfort in business class because most business class travelers don’t care about the food . The seats on 777 are terrible as well as screen which is outdated and hard to operate . I would never fly them again
Something that is starkly memorable about airline hard product, to me, is lack of consistency. I found this on Etihad when I flew the A380 in business from JFK - DOH, but the 777 in business DOH - JFK. It was like flying a different airline. It puts a bad taste in in the mouths of frequent travelers when it’s a toss-up as to what you’ll be getting on any given flight. (God, I sound...
Something that is starkly memorable about airline hard product, to me, is lack of consistency. I found this on Etihad when I flew the A380 in business from JFK - DOH, but the 777 in business DOH - JFK. It was like flying a different airline. It puts a bad taste in in the mouths of frequent travelers when it’s a toss-up as to what you’ll be getting on any given flight. (God, I sound like such a d-bag with these #firstworldproblems but it’s an interesting discussion re: brand loyalty and impressions).
Lol! Youre allowed to express that. I flew the 777 from ORD to Doha twice and it was pretttttty garbage (compared to the 787 studio). Food was average, seat was bad (I was half hanging out into the aisle on one occasion. Luckily the second time I was connecting to my one and only trip on the apartment. By far my favorite flight.
"I had never flown Emirates’ 777 business class on a long haul flight" might be the most surprising thing I have ever read on this site, and I've been reading a long time!
@ pstm91 -- Hah! In fairness, I had flown Emirates' 777 business class on a short haul and medium haul flight, and never got around to fully reviewing it. But indeed, this was my first time flying it on a long haul route. In the past I was smart enough to avoid this product, I guess. ;)
Yes the hard product is dated (and it seems from the pictures you were on one of the oldest 77Ws), and the major limitation is the seat itself which neither goes horizontally flat, plus the 2-3-2 layout. But the soft product seems pretty good.
If you talk about the seat in isolation, sure, it is not particularly competitive but if you view the full product line (chauffeur service, lounge, dedicated boarding in Dubai, food...
Yes the hard product is dated (and it seems from the pictures you were on one of the oldest 77Ws), and the major limitation is the seat itself which neither goes horizontally flat, plus the 2-3-2 layout. But the soft product seems pretty good.
If you talk about the seat in isolation, sure, it is not particularly competitive but if you view the full product line (chauffeur service, lounge, dedicated boarding in Dubai, food and service, ICE, reliability and frequency of service) Emirates is still top notch. That's the reason the airline is so consistently highly rated despite a fairly meh Business class seat.
@ AT -- You're absolutely right, Emirates' overall value proposition is quite good. However, none of those points really apply when we're talking about Athens to Newark (chauffeur drive was suspended, Emirates doesn't have its own lounge in Athens, etc.).
I'd also argue that aside from chauffeur drive and direct boarding from the lounge (which isn't guaranteed at Emirates either), Qatar Airways offers all of those things too, with a far superior business class product.
@ AT -- You're absolutely right, Emirates' overall value proposition is quite good. However, none of those points really apply when we're talking about Athens to Newark (chauffeur drive was suspended, Emirates doesn't have its own lounge in Athens, etc.).
I'd also argue that aside from chauffeur drive and direct boarding from the lounge (which isn't guaranteed at Emirates either), Qatar Airways offers all of those things too, with a far superior business class product.
True. QR is consistently and significantly superior in just about every aspect (though I don't think QR offers chauffeur service). Even their non-Q-suite products on the 787s and A350s (never flown their A380s) is superior to Emirates' best.
Until recently the one plus for me for Emirates was their connectivity and flight schedules. They just had so many more options and I always found better timed connections with them. But with EK reducing during...
True. QR is consistently and significantly superior in just about every aspect (though I don't think QR offers chauffeur service). Even their non-Q-suite products on the 787s and A350s (never flown their A380s) is superior to Emirates' best.
Until recently the one plus for me for Emirates was their connectivity and flight schedules. They just had so many more options and I always found better timed connections with them. But with EK reducing during the pandemic (albeit temporarily) and QR growing and glowing, that advantage too is diminishing.
I think where EK does shine, and is extremely competitive is in Economy. Comfy seats (esp on the A380), the best inflight entertainment, and again good connectivity.
What a pathetic seat, everyone love ripping AA for plenty of reasons but give me the AA business seat that that turkey sandwich Ben posted today over this 2-3-2 configuration anyday. I fly business for the seats not the food you can get good food before or after your flight. I would never book Emirates business imagine booking the a380 and getting plane swapped to this business class. Pathetic.
I feel the same way. I fly business class for the seat not the food.
You're right, it is a generation's past Business Class, but having Patz & Hall Chardonnay makes up for that. Excellent white wine!
Thanks for the great review.
@ Mike -- Indeed, the wine selection was quite good!
Honestly, dine on demand, while a great concept, can be annoying, especially in a rather large cabin. I've flown Etihad business many times. The concept for dine on demand is nice. But in a cabin when there can be upwards of 40 seats, it creates chaos. There is ALWAYS activity in the aisles. It can take a long time for food to arrive. It's just not always executed well. Does Air France J have dine on demand? Does Lufthansa? I dont think so, and I find it fine.
@ Jason -- I largely agree with you (I've also found dine on demand to sometimes be annoying), and perhaps my emphasis on that was misplaced. My point was more generally that the dining experience doesn't compare to Qatar Airways, even if you take out dine on demand. Qatar Airways offers a restaurant style dining experience, from the variety of options, to the plating, to the lack of trays, to the personalized service.
Just wondering whether it is only QR which offers such a great dining experience, or any other airline as wel?
Cool. I enjoyed this review very much. It did seem like the chief complaint was no dine on demand, and the larger point you mention here wasnt as pronounced. I do agree that QR delivers a more polished experience. Thanks for the review!! Always fun to read.
Chaos is easily avoided by selecting the very last row in business class ;)