A NICE Way to NICE

Consistency is key as discovers on a recent Emirates flight between Dubai and Nice.

THE LOUNGE

I was connecting through Dubai from Hong Kong so I already had my digital boarding pass and, arriving at Dubai’s sprawling international airport at an ungodly time of day (4am), I made my way to one of the airline’s equally expansive business class lounges, where staff welcomed me warmly despite the time, and directed me to the shower area where I could freshen up.

While the lounge is refined and wellappointed, I think they could work on the shower suites, which were drab, utilitarian spaces akin to a public changing stall at the local swimming pool.

Refreshed, I grabbed some coffee and caught up with emails at one of the lounge’s work stations before making my way down the busy concourse to gate C13, where boarding for my 8am A380 service to Nice began soon after.

THE SEAT

The A380 whisking me to France featured a newer iteration of the Emirates business class than my in-bound flight, with 76 business class seats, each with a width of 18.5-inches and a pitch of 48-inches; a cleaner finish, a bigger and more easily deployed tray table, and with the headphone jack beside the AC socket at shoulder level rather than under the screen.

In addition, the seat, which converts into a 70-inch-long lie-flat bed, featured all the functionality that makes it so popular with travellers, from the large 18.5-inch personal monitor, personal air vents, and easy to reach controls, to the personal mini bar and all that glorious storage under the window.

Throw in the mattress topper, duvet and plump oversized pillow and you have all the makings for a great sleep.

Crew served fresh juice and water while the captain advised a flight time to Nice of seven hours and after a lengthy taxi, we were jetting our way northwest.

DINING

The meal service began quickly after take-off and commenced with a chilled platter of poached chicken, crunchy cucumber, hard boiled eggs, and tangy goat’s feta. This was accompanied by a fresh fruit salad, yoghurt, and warm bread rolls.

Mid-way through the flight the lunch service began, and included warm flatbread, and a mezze platter of silky hummus, zesty tabouli salad, vegetarian dolma, olives, and muhammara, a roasted red pepper dip. For the main I opted for the beef tenderloin, which was served with roast potatoes, asparagus, and a rich jus and paired nicely with a glass of Pesquera Reserva 2019 from Spain.

ENTERTAINMENT

Emirates’ ICE (Information, Communication & Entertainment) system has won pretty much every award that an inflight system can win and for good reason – it’s a treasure trove of television shows, podcasts and blockbusters and there’s more than enough to keep you amused through the hours.

THE ONBOARD LOUNGE

As we neared France, I slipped back to the Onboard Lounge in search of coffee and a stretch. This is a great space, not just to stretch your legs, but also to graze – there’s always a selection of deserts, nibbles, and sandwiches and a fully-stocked bar and bartender. I opted for an Arabic coffee and before long we were beginning our descent to the French Riviera.

SERVICE

One of the best things about Emirates is its consistency in terms of dining, product, and service, and while every crew has their off days from time to time, I found Emirates cabin attendants to be diligent, attentive, efficient, charming, and only too willing to attend call bells, grab a spare pillow, or make a movie recommendation.

SUMMARY EMIRATES

Travelling to Nice is no hardship, especially when you’re doing so in Emirates’ A380 business class which, in my experience, remains one of the world’s consistently best business class products, both on the ground and in the air. Emirates business class Dubai – Nice return from US$4,230.

The author travelled on a full business class ticket without the airline’s prior knowledge