For the next portion of my trip, it was time to try FlyDubai's Boeing 737 MAX 8 business class from Dubai (DXB) to Belgrade (BEG). I've been wanting to try FlyDubai's business class for a long time, and was very much looking forward to this flight. So, how was it? Good(ish) -- the hard product…
Continue reading: Review: FlyDubai Business Class Boeing 737 MAX (DXB-BEG)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Regarding headphones: Time for the airlines and IFE vendors to enable Bluetooth on their systems. I'm sure most if not all would prefer their own headphones and at the same time, it'll save both the airlines and vendors money as they eliminate the headphones as well as the port, so win win for everybody!
As someone who flies this very route on Flydubai around 5 times per year, here is some of my feedback:
- Service on Flydubai is mixed. Sometimes you get very pleasent hardworking crew (who I always get the impression used to work for Emirates but I might be completely wrong) and sometimes very unmotivated crew.
- Usually there is a drink service before the meal and they offer it with a bag of nuts or pack of dried fruits and nuts, don't know why they didn't offer it now.
- Regarding wifi I believe they have abandoned it or it might be only available on the 737-800s. None of the new MAXs have it, while the older ones that have an antenna don't actually work. I haven't had wifi on this route for 2 years now.
- I know you travelled using an upgrade but I think their business class fares on this route are ridiculous. It is never under 1800 EUR (and that is the cheapest it will get while in season i.e winter it is over 3000 EUR). I was hoping this summer fares would go down on the route with the introduction of a second daily service but unfortunately it didn't happen. Ironically their flights to Ljubljana for example, which are longer than Belgrade have much cheaper fares.
@Ben I think the meal service was good considering FlyDubai is a LCC, perhaps that’s why things were different to what you would expect on a full flag carrier business class service.
Either something's changed, or you caught her on a bad day (not that it's a valid excuse for a pricey business class product) - I've flown flydubai's business 3 times in September-November 2021 on 4.5-6 hour flights.
Had pre-departure drinks which were refilled promptly, food was same quality as you've described but was served within 30-50 mins of departure every time (and in one case, business was full). Service was similar - friendly, but that's it.
While not the greatest experience I've ever had, all 3 were really solid flights and more than enjoyable. Footwell in "throne" is tiny, no way around it.
Surprised to hear about your experience, as again, some things don't sound like what I considered flydubai's "normal".
Who wouldn't want to watch "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolfe?" again. I might dig my copy out and rewatch it.
Well to be picky. The EK Biz lounge doesn’t have “endless” seating 😉
The Universe maybe endless but little else. 🙂
FWIW, on my Airdubia DBX-MCT afternoon flight we also didn’t have a pre-dining drink, but our meal and a drink (glass of wine) was served within 15 minutes of take off. In fact I was amazed how well our FA serviced the entire short ~ hour flight. Very professional.
Very good and informative post. I agree with you Ben that the footwell in the throne seat is really awful and not at all comfortable as I had to squeeze myself in it and felt like a coffin. The toilets are an utter disaster and I really do not know how a heavy-weight passenger would be able to complete his "job" without making a mess! I would never classify FZ as an LCC for many reasons and their fares are sometimes even higher than EK and the miles redemption is an utter joke.
Lucky does like to use "endless" a lot. I remember he once used it in a lounge review stating there was an "endless" amount of snack towers...apparently, "endless" means just a dozen or so lol
So what happened to business being 'empty' as described in the bidding post? The seat maps on an airline that charges for seat selection are not really a good indicator of inventory...
I also don't understand why this is considered 'expensive', since it is a direct flight from the carriers home market with expats and locals making a ton of money, so of course prices are 'high' for these direct flights of 5/6h.
The service seemed to be a bit all over the place, but I never understand why you would not just ask for a pre-departure beverage? Especially in case of a delay the majority of airlines happily provide a refreshment. Food looks bang on average, but their strategy seems to knock you out with the drinks anyway!
Their hard product is cool though, I applaud any airline that installs serious business seats on a narrow body. Well done to FZ!
Never going too fly with Boeing they have not shown security what about the MCAS system?
@ TheBestBlackBrent -- Most of the passengers in business class were operational upgrades, as economy was oversold.
@ Creditcrunch -- But it's really not a low cost carrier? The airline charges business class fares that are on par with or in many cases higher than Emirates. With the prices FlyDubai is charging in business class, I don't think customers should expect a low cost carrier product.
Regarding the service flow, senior is taking care of business class. So just 1 person. This same person is in charge of taking care of flight deck as well, plus if anything extraordinary happens in economy class, the senior would go there. The reason why service was slow is due to lack of cabin crew onboard.
I'm tempted to try FlyDubai; but haven't, as long as Qatar Airways flies to the same destination (e.g., Kathmandu. )
Even if it’s expensive fly Dubai still low cost...... More than decent service with full-flat beds
This is much nicer than the older product. I flew FlyDubai business from KWI-DXB as part of a Virgin Atlantic ticket to IAD in 2018 and the cabin was the same as US domestic first. Nothing wrong with it, just not as nice as this cabin.
Did they really fail to include Delhi and Bombay on the map, but included just about every other major city in India?
@Ben yeah I see where your coming from maybe it’s a hybrid LCC with a premium business product.
You do on occasion see a FZ 737 pull up and use a jetway at T3 (especially at C gates).
I've boarded one that way myself, also flying to BEG - or at least attempting to before having to divert, but that's another story 🙂
When you mentioned air nozzles, followed by the ringing of the noise cancelling headphones, all I could think was they should have put in an audio enhancement that said, "Tonight we are featuring a choice between personal air nozzles, or ringing headphones. Due to inventory and staff shortages, we apologize that we cannot provide you with both."
Hard product looks good (seat).
but meal service is better on Emirates economy(!) class.
Yes. Agree with you that 2E seats the footwell is toooo narrow to sleep although you get extra spaces somewhere. Choose other business class seats and not the middle throne seats.