Dubai Airport busy with shoppers.

Emirates gourmet dining teases the tongue with nuanced flavours

Emirates ICE system has easy to use, touchscreen controls

Fresh flowers add an elegant touch to the Business Class cabin

Flight Review – Emirates Flight EK418 DXB-SYD
Wednesday, 1 February 2012

Carrier: Emirates

Flight Number: EK418 departing DXB @ 09:05

Duration: 5:40 Dubai to Bangkok; 8:40 Bangkok to Sydney

Class: Business Class

Configuration: B777 2-3-2

Check-in experience:
No check-in was necessary since the boarding pass for this flight had been issued on departure from VIE.

Lounge:
Aside from the shopping experiences for which Dubai Airport is famous, Emirates' superb Business Class lounge at DXB is an attraction in itself, and that is no exaggeration.  For travellers who may have a lengthy stopover between flights, a nice lounge with full facilities can be a major consideration in their choice of airline.  The Emirates Business Class lounge at its DXB hub offers the busy traveller everything necessary to make a change of planes as pleasant as possible:  first and foremost is space, plus an appealing selection of full gourmet meals, not just packaged snacks.  A quiet zone, business rooms, TV areas, shower facilities, newspapers and magazines from around the world—when can I move in?

On-time performance: 
The plane departed on time.  Strong tailwinds helped to bring about an early arrival at SYD.

Seat/Cabin conditions:
The Boeing 777 was remarkably quiet on takeoff, a fact that set the tone for a relaxing overnight flight during which a full stretch sleeping under the starry sky of the aircraft ceiling was punctuated by enjoyment of several films.  Sitting in a bulkhead seat of Business Class on this aircraft is like sitting in a private suite for relaxing with a movie, resting with a pillow, and dining with gusto. 

Food And Beverage:
With Middle Eastern, Thai, and Western options, the menu spoils passengers when choosing which flavour sensations to enjoy next.  Dinner and breakfast are both well balanced in their options. 

Service:
As in all customer experiences, it is the human element that has the ability to make the best impression, and flight attendants such as Cláudio who effuse an effortless affability while busy working in the middle of the night show why flight attendants should be respected and appreciated without reserve.  And what is it about Brazil that makes its people so generous with their friendliness?

Entertainment:
Emirates' advanced ICE programming hands passengers total control of their entertainment experience.  There are no less than three methods of interaction: a traditional, wire-connected hand-held device; a remote control wireless console that manages everything in the traveller environment from the entertainment screen to the seat itself; and by direct contact with the touchscreen menu.  That menu includes a wide array of films from little-known classics to the latest releases as well as a crossrange of television and audio selections.

Arrival:
EK418 arrived in Sydney on schedule and the luggage for Business Class passengers was already on the baggage carousel by the time Immigration was cleared.  Several flights arriving at the same time caused a queue to depart the Baggage Claim area, but Emirates Fast Track card for its Business Class passengers with nothing to declare allowed for a speedy departure bypassing the queue.

Overview:
Reliability, comfort, courtesy, and class.  I'll be back.