Emirates Business Class

Business Class has emerged as one of the most fiercely contested air travel classes and airlines are now pulling out all stops to woo the business traveller. Take for instance Emirates Airlines that focuses on making the business classes one of its best-known USPs. I had the opportunity to ascertain this first hand recently, when I flew from Mumbai to Paris via Dubai. The first leg of my journey was on the Airbus-330 200, Mumbai-Dubai and on a Boeing-777 300 ER, Dubai-Paris. Nothing sums up the entire experience better than Emirates' Business Class being truly a class apart.

The experience starts much before you have boarded the aircraft with exclusive check-ins and comfortable fully equipped business lounges. The split level business lounge at Dubai International Airport is fairly impressive. The three-hour wait for my flight to Paris swooshed by as I had a shower, grabbed a bite and cleared some pending email. The spacious (1,243 square meters) lounge, which accommodates up to 270 passengers is equipped with five guest bedrooms (three double, two single) with en suite showers, television and trouser press and two massage chairs prepped to serve those waiting for connecting flights.

On board, the scenario is almost like flying in your living room with both the A-330 (42 seats) and the B-777 (49 seats) that have a 2-3-2 configuration with seat rows pitched at 48 inches (A 330) and 47 inches (B 777) making it considerably roomy.

The sleperette seats although not completely flat recline quite a bit and are comfortable with electronically operated footrests and lumbar support. Adjust the headrest and catch up on some sleep through the long flight.

Refreshed after the stopover at the business lounge, I decided to sample the in-flight entertainment options and was frankly spoilt for choice. I could either choose to watch one of the 18 video channels on the personal back-of-the seat 10.4 inch high definition touch control screen or load the in-seat individual video cassette player from the 50 titles (classics, Hindi, Chinese, Disney) which included 15 latest releases from the onboard film library. Music aficionados are in for a treat with 22 audio channels offering a range of genres.

External cameras relay live view of take-offs, landings and the scenery below so everyone can have a window seat. Meet that deadline in-flight with a central fax machine facility, personal satellite telephone in each seat and a laptop recharging facility.

Raising the bar with F&B options, Emirates Business Class meals are serious affairs with a choice of six course meals prepared by master chefs. I thoroughly enjoyed the roast chicken breast washing it down with some fine vintage port. Apart from the port they serve a selection of six award wining wines and champagne. Praline au chocolat topped with a praline mousse, finished with a rich chocolate ganache and served with forest berry compote comprised the deserts on offer. Ending this veritable feast with a freshly brewed cuppa java left me with a contented smile.

All this comes gift-wrapped with warm, attentive service with a smile of the multi-lingual cabin crew making one feel seriously pampered. Perhaps the best way to describe the seven and half-hour flight is `relaxing.'

- Achal Dhruva