Emirates sets the bar sky high

Christine Retschlag Business Class Brisbane to Dubai EK435 A380-800

With a broad range of entertainment, whether it is from the comfort of your own seat, or at the ultra-swish sky bar, about the only issue passengers will have flying Emirates Business Class is finding the time to enjoy everything, even on a long-haul flight.

Emirates Business Class offers the works, starting with 76 lieflat seats in a 1-2-1 configuration that convert to fully flat beds up to 200cm long, 47cm wide and a roomy 112cm seat pitch. There are also private mini-bars with beverages in personal seat areas, large retractable tables and electronically operated separate foot-rest extensions. As for stowage, Emirates has a space for your laptop and shoes, as well as adjustable headrests, noise-cancellation headsets and dual USB ports.

Last year, Emirates invested more than US$140 million on quality wines. And it shows. Business Class passengers are invited to indulge in a five-course meal. Menus on international long-haul flights are changed monthly and designed to reflect the individual route.

The Emirates Business Lounge in Brisbane features a business centre with individual workstations and complimentary broadband and wireless LAN access. There’s a dedicated dining area with an expansive bar. A delightful surprise is the direct access to the aircraft via an air bridge straight onto the upper deck of the plane.

Like something out of a futuristic sci-fi flick, Emirates really delivers in style with its Onboard Lounge at the rear of Business Class on the upper deck of its A380. Amid the Moët and canapés this is where you will find the highflyers in every sense of the word, networking on two sofas, while a 42-inch LCD screen plots the flight’s course. Bulgari. Yes. A team of leading chefs creates a menu to reflect the preference of Emirates’ international customers. Moët & Chandon NV Brut Imperial. www.emirates.com