Hello from the UAE, as I just flew Emirates’ Airbus A350-900 business class on the 7hr10min flight from Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) to Dubai (DXB). The A350 joined Emirates’ fleet a little over a year ago, and it’s the carrier’s first new aircraft type since 2008, so it’s a pretty major development for the airline.
Emirates opted not to go for a cutting edge business class hard product on this aircraft, which many of us found a bit puzzling, as the airline instead installed an evolved version of its existing staggered product.
However, I’ve gotta be honest, I think Emirates’ overall A350 business class experience is stellar, and I walked away with a more favorable impression than I was expecting. On paper, Emirates’ business class might not look that impressive — there are no doors at seats, no dine on demand, etc.
What makes Emirates special, though, is the totality of the experience. Emirates has the Gulf’s best flight attendants, an excellent drink selection (with real cocktails!), good food, incredible entertainment, and extensive amenities. And I have to say, while Emirates has long been known for its gaudy interiors, the updated cabin finishes are super elegant, and I think the aesthetics of the cabin might be among the nicest out there.
In this post I’d like to share some initial thoughts, and then soon I’ll have a full review.
In this post:
This might sound minor to some, but I think this is such a small but smart investment on Emirates’ part, as it’s not something you’ll find on many carriers. For example, I had a negroni, served with mixed nuts and olives.
I find Emirates food to be very good, though admittedly the menu typically isn’t as huge as on Qatar Airways, and there’s also not a full dine on demand concept.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on One Mile at a Time.
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