We soar through the skies on Emirates’ A380 to see for ourselves what passengers can look forward to.

Flight: Sydney to Dubai

When: Thursday 30 April 2015

Aircraft: Airbus A380, Flight EK413

Class: Business (76 seats total)

Configuration: 1-2-1

Seat: 17G (middle row, right seat, 10^th row).

How long: 14 hours, 30 minutes

Verdict: 9/10

Frequency: Emirates flies to Dubai twice daily

Frequent Flyer: Skywards Miles.

Lounge: Business Class passengers are welcomed to Emirates Business Class Lounge with a valid business class boarding pass for flights on the same day.

Baggage:

Business Class passengers are offered a 40kg baggage limit, quite standard for business travellers and more than enough for myself. Economy passengers were allowed a 30kg baggage limit. No negotiation was needed when hopping on board the plane, there seemed to be no issues with me carrying a handbag as well as a carry on suitcase.

Checking in:

Check-in at Sydney airport is easy and straightforward. The queues were non-existent, though I believe this was reflective of the time I departed. I progressed almost immediately through immigration and security and was able to relax in Emirates’ Business Class Lounge until departure.

Onboard the plane:

Business class passengers were welcomed from the front of the plane and taken straight to their seats. Upon arrival, we were welcomed by an individual flight attendant who double-checked we were comfortable and asked if we had any questions.

Food:

The food itself was not quite what I was expecting. The menu boasted meals of fine dining including entrees such as a salmon trout confit, a creamy mushroom soup and a smoked duck pate. I had the duck which I found to be more flavoursome than my main. Once again the main dishes on offer indicated we would taste authentic cuisine of the region. I chose the prawn biryani, which unfortunately was a let down. Upon arrival of my dish, I believed what I had been served was simply rice, I had to delve into my food to find the prawns that lay underneath it. I wasn’t awfully hungry for breakfast but for most passengers around me, breakfast looked to be quite a treat. Passengers indulged in a large variety sweet breads, creamy omelettes and waffles.

Entertainment:

Entertainment on board the A380 is a 10/10 for several reasons. One of the benefits would have to be the free Internet. All passengers on board receive 10MB free of charge. Needless to say that isn’t much, and it was quite patchy in parts, but for $USD1 I was able to buy another 500MB which was more than enough for the flight and worked a lot faster. I wouldn’t say that the internet would work for business purposes, but it was definitely handy to have my emails easily accessible. I also got the chance to grab a drink and a few mini canapés at the A380’s Lounge. The area, with two spacious lounges (with seatbelts of course) and a mini bar at the centre, was a perfect way for me to stretch my legs and enjoy good company. With a capacity of 18 passengers standing and sitting, the flight attendant even mentioned that sometimes it turns into an on-board party. The ICE in-flight entertainment system was everything I expected. The movie selections were endless-  from the entire Middle Earth series, to Arabic, Bollywood, Disney, Indian Regional movies – I had a hard time selecting what I would watch on board. Better still, they offered 9 live television channels, allowing me to keep up with daily international news. I didn’t quite get a chance to delve into the nitty gritty bits of the system – it was as if 14 hours wasn’t long enough to fly.

Staff:

The Emirates staff were welcoming and accommodating for the most part. It was wonderful to see the 21 different nationalities on board working together to make us feel comfortable and entertained. At times, the staff were slow upon request of something, but eventually got the job done.

Comfort:

The business class seating itself was spacious and extremely comfortable. Whilst the seats looked misleadingly small, I was able to comfortably stretch myself out, enjoy the mini bar, and select a few movies from the inflight-entertainment system through my smart touch tablet. As the flight was during the night, each seat was also given an added mattress-like cushion to rest on if we chose to do so. The table easily slide out and I had plenty of space to place my magazines, computer and phone.

Did you know?

The lighting on board is set to create an ambience that eases your body clock into the new time zone. With settings for sunrise, sunset, night and day, the lights try to make the shift in time zone easier. I was even able to enjoy twinkling stars above me as I lay down to rest.

An added bonus:

Onboard the flight, I was greeted by the head steward, Waleed who gave me the opportunity to see First Class for myself. The seats appeared similar to business, only a lampshade stood by the TV, the passengers had a bit more space, and a sliding door that closed off the seat was a definite selling point, especially for those looking for privacy. Walking towards the cockpit I was stopped by two bathrooms. These are the first two bathrooms in the world with on-board showers. The Emirates’ shower spas were a sight for sore eyes. The interior like a mini version of what you’d see in a hotel, with heated flooring, a mural of the Dubai skyline and extensive amenities for both men and women. The two showers accommodate for five minutes of flowing water, and guests are provided a total of thirty minutes in the bathroom to freshen themselves up. It’s a unique touch to the A380, a true luxury for the aviation industry.

Zoe Samios was a business-class guest on board Emirates’ A380 Airbus.