Emirates Business Class

Buying a business class ticket is about travelling in style. It is associated with shorter queues, executive lounges and the stewardess motioning passengers to the left rather than right. In essence it is about making travel easier and less stressful. But one problem when travelling business class on Emirates from Dubai is that everyone wants exactly the same thing.

As standard when travelling Emirates business class, passengers are picked up and dropped off at the airport on departure and arrival so the in-flight experience actually begins outside your home. Once at arrivals bags are loaded onto a trolley and passengers are guided into the separate check-in area where they are greeted by a live musician - despite it being 5am.

Gliding through passport control into the executive lounge only to be confronted by a long queue and no free seats was disappointing and for someone trying to send last-minute emails in a quiet environment this would pose a small problem. Grabbing a fresh orange juice from the selection of drinks on offer I headed to the gate early in anticipation of the endless queues. Instead passengers are ushered onto the plane, directed left and handed a drink away from the rabble.

It is the small touches that make a long flight a more enjoyable experience - the first name terms with the crew, the crisp white serviette on your lap while you dine and the real cutlery. On a long-haul flight, it is quite easy to lose track of time because on a six-hour journey you are either eating or waiting for the next course to arrive.

The food was fresh, tasted good and was far from the soggy finger food usually served at the back of the plane - but you get what you pay for.

Passengers can choose from a variety of dishes including a fresh low calorie fish option, all of which are served with an extensive choice of drinks and according to Emirates business class ‘etiquette'.

Other than food, comfort and entertainment are paramount, particularly on a long-distance flight. For a business person or someone flying directly to a meeting, the amount of space in which to either work or relax is equally important. In terms of comfort the plane could not be faulted, however, the entertainment was slightly disappointing. While individual television screens are the norm on the majority of flights, having individual choices which allow passengers to browse films or listen to music whenever they want is also becoming standard. On this plane, however, the television screen was blurry and lacked choice. On a new plane this would not have been a problem.

Getting on and off the plane is much more efficient while you are still clutching a business class ticket. Whisk through immigration and then join the masses while you sit and wait for your luggage before battling the queue for your complimentary drive home.

Verdict: overall, a business class experience on Emirates is excellent, however the busy lounge and the queues while waiting for your car home does take some of the shine off.

Price: return trip from Dubai International Airport to London Heathrow starts at US$3900.