Route: DUBAI (DXB) to LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT (LHR)

Departure date and time of flight: February 2011, 14:30pm local time (Dubai)

Flight number: EK003 (ICAO callsign “Emirates 003”)

Flight duration: 7 Hours 30 minutes

Class: BUSINESS CLASS

Aircraft type: Airbus A380-800 (SUPERJUMBO)

The Airbus A380-800, dubbed the super-jumbo, is just sensational compared to; say the (now former) jumbo-jet of the skies, the legendary Boeing 747-400 aircraft. Emirates was the second airline to operate the A380-800 aircraft with 14 aircraft currently in service and 76 aircraft on order. As a keen aviation enthusiast I still find it hard to swallow that such a huge piece of metal tube can run along for 2 miles and fly half way across the world while carrying so much luggage, so many people, so much food, so much garbage and tons of fuel. It’s a shame that even in today’s day in age the vast majority of passengers have no idea what kind of aircraft they are flying on. All they want is plenty of legroom, excellent quality of food while they get from A to B in comfort. This aircraft had 535 seats in a 3 class configuration (First, Business and Economy), though the plane has the ability to accommodate a staggering 853 passengers in an all Economy Class configuration (though no airline has ordered this yet).

Punctuality of the flight: Departed on time and landed on time as well.

Any baggage issues:

None. On Emirates Business Class passengers can carry a maximum of two luggage bags totalling 40KG in the hold.

Comments on the check-in staff and any issues:

At Dubai international airport Emirates Airlines have a separate part of the terminal building allocated specifically for their First and Business Class passengers. This comes complete with a separated security control channel only for those travelling on Emirates Airlines First and Business class compartments'. I was driven straight from my hotel to the Emirates Business Class check-in area by the special Emirates Airlines chauffeur driven car. The smooth and efficient journey from downtown Dubai to the airport terminal took only around 20 minutes.

Comments on the Emirates Lounge:

At Dubai airport's terminal 3, Emirates have a whole floor dedicated to HUGE lounges for passengers that are travelling on either First Class or Business Class. There are separate lounges for First and Business Class passengers. Just the sheer scale of each of the lounge is enough to make you give the “WOW!” factor. With a seating area for over a thousand passengers, and a round the clock catering facility that enables passengers to enjoy almost every kind of food and drink under the sun (depending on the time of the day), the Emirates lounge is a bit on an adventurous place. Sitting on the top floor, one can get excellent views of the airfield as well as the city’s skyline in the background with the signature building, Burj Khalifa sticking out into the sky like a sore thumb. The entire cutlery in the lounge is made from bone china in the U.A.E. by the R.A.K group. 

After passing security, Dubai airport looks a bit more like a huge shopping mall. Unlike most airports around the world where you have just a few “Duty-free” shops selling the usual perfumes, liqueurs and other tax-free goods, at Dubai airport, however, there are various shops where you can effectively do your weekly shopping if you like because they sell everything including fresh fruit & vegetables, general household goods and even luxury cars.

There are plenty of washrooms, showers provided with complimentary toiletries and towels, as well as baby changing facilities. Emirates have really made the flying experience a memorable one, and this is exactly what the industry needs in the 21st century. With the high quality of service that Emirates have offered to its passengers (irrespective of the cabin they are travelling in), its quite clear that flying should still be seen as a luxurious way to travel as opposed to just getting you from A to B.

Comments regarding the pre-meal service:

Drinks of Champagne (Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial NV), freshly squeezed orange juice and apple juice were offered. Hot towels for refreshment were offered prior to take-off. A selection of cold canapés that included filled mini red bell peppers, marinated feta cheese and mixed olives. Priceless at 40,000 feet!

A selection of white and red wines were offered. I went for the red wine (Chateau Olivier 2003 Pessac Leognan). There was also the Calera Pinot Noir 2007 from California. The texture is rich, smooth and savoury with a nice firm tannix structure that expresses accents of bright cherry, berry fruit while rewarding us a clean, smooth lively finish.

Comments regarding the first meal:

There was a selection of appetisers for this flight including:

·         Selection of authentic Arabic mezze included shanklish and vegetable salad, moutabl, stuffed vine leaves, bamia bil zeit and kibbeh al rahib, tomato and zaatar fatayar, with an assortment of Arabic pickles and garnishes;

·         Honey and ginger salmon with cured salmon, served on a bed of rocca leaves, topped with roasted shredded ginger, accompanied with a ginger dressing;

·         Seasonal salad- a seasonal salad served with a choice of dressings’.

I went for the honey and ginger salmon. Very brightly coloured and a wonderfully presented dish. The decorated plate came with freshly cut slices of cured Scottish salmon absorbed with the sweet flavour of lemon blended in with honey. The blend between the honey and lemon is one to die for because not only is it a healthy option, but it brings out the juices of the fish, the ginger and the rocca leaves. The neatly cut slices of lemon make it easier for passengers to squeeze the juice onto the dish without squirting the lemon juice all over the place. Now, that’s what I call a healthy salad dish.

For the main course there was a choice of:

·         Roast rack of lamb served with mustard and herd crust, and simmered lamb jus, accompanied with a potato ragout and an assortment of roasted vegetables;

·         Chicken teriyaki that included a teriyaki glazed chicken served with steamed onigiri rice, stir fried kai-lan, shiitake mushroom and carrot;

·         Truffle ravioli including pasta casings with a truffle flavouring filling, tossed in fresh basil pesto, topped with a mild mushroom and parmesan cheese veloute and mixed grilled capsicums);

·         Baked tilapia consisting of a slow baked fillet of white fish served with fennel cooked in a thyme broth, provencal style vegetables and wild rice pilau.

I went for the chicken teriyaki option. Given that a Business Class in-flight meal is meant to resemble a similar feel and touch to that of a five star restaurant experience, I must say that the freshness, as well as the high quality of the chicken meat was the key to the success of this dish. Equally attractive and providing enough colours were the correctly boiled carrots and shiitake rice.

The salad accompanying the main meal consisted of topped tikka marinated prawns, crumbled feta cheese, quail eggs, croutons and marinated olives served with a creamy Caesar dressing. A lovely selection of hot soft and hard breads’ was offered along with the main meal.

Choices for the dessert included:

·         The blueberry crumble cake served with a cinnamon cream sauce.

·         The yoghurt raspberry terrine (a low fat yoghurt raspberry terrine topped with shortbread wafer, and served with raspberry coulis).

I opted for the blueberry crumble cake served with a generous helping of cinnamon cream sauce. Now, if there was ever a competition on this flight, then this would be the dish of the flight without a doubt. Lovely crunchy feel to the crumble cake, and as one takes a spoonful they can easily absorb the strong flavours of the blueberry and the cinnamon. Oh, and as the crumble cake melts in your mouth, only then can you start to smell the cinnamon. This dish was so good that it reminded me of those large American style cinnamon bagels that you can get in the bakeries back in London.

Comments regarding the in-flight snacks (if any):

The on-board lounge: a sensational Airbus A380 experience on EMIRATES

Hot and cold snacks offered in the on-board lounge included:

·         Feuillete of parmesan cheese straws

·         Marinated kalamata olives

·         Salty nut selection

·         Assorted cocktail sandwiches of mini salmon bagel, laugen pretzel with air dried beef and cheese mille-feuille

·         Japanese crisps

·         Nachos and cheese dips

·         Hot snacks offered:

·         Tandoori chicken pizza

·         Prawn satey skewes

·         Mediterranean vegetable quiche

·         A free flow of drinks and appetisers, snacks were available in the social bar.

·         Fresh fruit slices.

International cheese selection (always a favourite), chocolates by Godiva accompanied with tea or coffee (freshly brewed at 37,000 feet!). There was also a wide range selection of hot and cold drinks, liqueurs, cognacs, cocktails and whiskies.  

On the Airbus A380-800, Emirates provide every Business Class and First Class seat with a personal mini-bar consisting of the following drinks: tomato juice, coca-cola can, cranberry juice, sprite can and mineral water (sparkling).

Comments regarding the second meal (if any):

Afternoon tea on the EMIRATES Airbus A380 aircraft (BUSINESS CLASS)

A traditional English afternoon tea was served with a selection of classic reception sandwiches, delicate mini pastries, banana chocolate chip cake, freshly baked scones served with a rich clotted cream and strawberry preserve. Tea and coffee was also free flow! So, sit back in your Business Class seat, watch a lovely movie or listen to some golden oldies on the audio system, absorb the ambiance of flying with one of the world’s five star airlines on the most advanced and largest aircraft in the world. Enjoy all of this while feeling like royalty in a genuine place at 40,000 feet. 
                  
Emirates feed you like there is no tomorrow. I mean they really do feed you. So you don’t have to run down to MacDonald’s once you land at your destination!

Comments on the in-flight system (if any):

The Emirates ICE (Information, Communication and Entertainment) touch screen system is the main platform used for providing a truly amazing in-flight entertainment to passengers with over 1,200 channels which YOU control with the flick of a button. Effectively there are enough movies and music to keep one busy throughout the flight and in actual fact there is something for everyone. The ICE programme is perhaps one of the best I have seen on any flight and far more efficient and sophisticated then some other airline companies have to offer. In the First Class and Business Class cabins, 17-inch flat screens are used. With the communication programme you can send an e-mail, SMS and use the phone anywhere around the world.

Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

Quite possibly the best flight I have ever taken in my entire life (so far). The A380 experience is just sensational. It is definitely the future of flying and I can say that as a frequent flyer, I can confidently say that even the Boeing 747-400 is no match to this outstanding aircraft (really, it isn’t). One of the key things that fascinated me, as much as it would fascinate you as well, was that while cruising at 40,000 feet it’s remarkably quiet. There is no confusion or clutter and it feels as if you have never left the ground. I have to give kudos to the amazing crew and the pilots of this brilliant flight. On the whole everything has just that little bit more space and legroom, and this includes the Economy Class seats, the windows, the toilets and the wider aisles.

The flight experience was even made better that my friend was in the right hand seat of the aircraft. Senior First Officer James Nixon took some awesome photos from the cockpit. It's always nice to know who is sitting in the cockpit! James, an Aussie, is a fine example of what hard work, sheer dedication and perseverance can achieve in life. He has been flying all kinds of aircraft for over 28 YEARS and has even written a book about- go and buy a copy - it's worth it for long haul flights.

If this article makes you feel as if there was nothing wrong with this flight then you are not quite off the mark because everything was just perfect as one would wish for in any flight. 

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort): 

The Airbus A380-800 has a 1-2-1 configuration for the First Class cabins (known as suites, each of which comes with an 86-inch flat bed), 2-2-2 configuration for the Business Class cabins (each seat with a 79-inch flat-bed), and 3-4-3 configuration for the Economy Class cabins (each with an 6-inch recline). All of the Business Class seats can be turned into a 79-inch flat bed. In the Business Class cabin, the added feature of a mini-bar for all business and First Class seats in the Airbus A380-800 aircraft brings along a nice touch, but tends to take up some of the space that could be used to make the seat a bit wider. In essence a Business Class seat on Emirates is effectively equal to one that may be ranked as a First Class seat on some other airlines (no names mentioned!). Though this was a rather short flight but the electronic in-seat built massage system is very helpful to help with blood circulation and also with fighting fatigue.

On the Airbus A380-800 each seat has an independent access to the aisle, an in-seat power supply for laptop or mobile phones (which you can use on-board on some flights), and a personal storage area. This is useful especially for those passengers who would be, say for example, going straight back to the office after they arrive at their destination (like me!). After all, Business Class is made essentially for those on a business trip (“business is for business” as they say!). The first class cabin only had one passenger aboard on this flight (just another young Arab prince going to London on a shopping spree- he had his Lamborghini waiting upon arrival at Terminal 3!).

The A380 features a bulb less illumination system, which is known as “mood-lighting” in non-technical terms. LEDs are deployed in the cabin, cockpit and cargo areas. The cabin lighting features programmable multi-spectral LEDs capable of creating a cabin ambiance that simulates daylight, night, or the various levels in between depending on the time of the day/night. On the outside of the aircraft, HID lighting is used for brighter, whiter illumination. The mood lighting displayed by Emirates inside all of their cabins during the various phases of the flight (bright orange during sunrise and dusk, and dark shades of blue during the cruise at night-time) is a sensational piece of art and not just technology being applied.

Added luxury- the Emirates chauffeur driven service

Emirates provide a complimentary chauffeur driven service for passengers travelling on their Business Class or First Class cabins. Only a handful of other airlines offer this very welcoming, handy and unique service. In Dubai I was whisked from my hotel straight to the special Emirates business class check-in building in a comfortable Mercedes complete with neat leather seats, in-car TV and plenty of drinks and refreshments on offer.

Similarly when I arrived at Heathrow, I was met by my driver at the Emirates arrivals desk at terminal 3. I can tell you with my hand on my heart that once someone lands in London, especially London Heathrow at the rush hour because it looks and feels like a funfair rather than an airport; this service is very much welcomed with more than a smile. I suppose, when it comes to transportation in London, the worst thing is getting in the hellhole that is the London Underground or being stuck in a horrendous traffic jam on the M4 while on the way back to the city. But rest assured that the Emirates chauffeur driven service will take you straight to your door in a smooth and comfortable way without the hustle or bustle.

Overall rating 1-10 (worst-best): 10

Route: BANGKOK (BKK) to DUBAI (DXB)

Departure date and time of flight: February 2011, at 20:50pm local time (Bangkok)

Flight number: EK373 (ICAO callsign “Emirates 373”)

Flight duration: 7 hours and 15 minutes

Class: BUSINESS CLASS (FIRST CLASS COMBINED)

Aircraft type: BOEING 777-300

Punctuality of the flight: 

Departed on time, but was delayed by about 20 minutes due to heavy evening traffic at Dubai. It had just finished raining when we landed.

Any baggage issues:

None. On Emirates Business Class passengers can carry a maximum of two luggage bags totalling 40KG in the hold.

Comments on the check-in staff and any issues:

The staff were very professional. Everything went smoothly at check-in. I was whisked through the “Fast Track” security check that is used by either passengers travelling First and Business Class, or crew members’.

Comments on the Emirates Lounge:

At Bangkok airport, the Emirates lounge has the same high quality features as one would expect in another Emirates lounge anywhere else in the world. In true Emirates style that resembles the colourful ambiance of the desert region of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), complete with beautiful colours of beige, red and green (representing the national flag of the U.A.E.). As a show of respect and affection for Sheikh Mohammed, and for his fondness of horses, there is a large bronze statue of horses. In fact, you’ll find similar bronze statues of horses in every Emirates lounge around the world. The entire cutlery in the lounge is made from bone china in the U.A.E. by the R.A.K group, and imported especially to Bangkok for the Emirates lounge.  

Complimentary access to the internet, showers with designer toiletries to freshen up before a flight, an electronic massage chair and a lavish display of luxury snacks and main course dishes along with all kinds of wines, spirits and drinks are offered. It’s so good that you may even end up going to sleep here if you get carried away!

Comments regarding the pre-meal service:

The award winning cuisine commenced with the following:

Drinks of champagne (Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial NV) freshly squeezed orange juice and apple juices were offered prior to departure. The provision of hot towels for refreshment was also offered prior to take off.

A selection of white and red wines was offered. I went for the red wine (Torbreck Old Vines GSM 2005 from the Barossa Valley) and the Chateau St. Georges 2002 from the St Georges St. Emilion. Both were fine. Very good length for both wines. Elegant and friendly to the tongue because one can easily taste the plentiful of succulent seasonal fruits lingering at the back of the mouth as one sips a lovely glass. At first, a slightly spicy oak tends to dominate the aroma profile. The flavour than drives through and widens on the middle palate, delivering a clear, clean complex.

Comments regarding the first meal:

The choices for the appetiser included:

·         Honey roast duck served with sweet mango salsa and pickled ginger slices, fresh water cress and radicchio leaves;

·         Smoked tuna rolled with fresh crudities, grilled scallops and a light horseradish cream;

·         Seasonal salad served with a choice of dressings’.

I went for the smoked tuna. Four fresh brightly coloured tuna slices neatly rolled like a fine spring roll and filled in with fresh crudities and grilled scallops were neatly presented as a feast for the eyes and the tongue. The two rolls were generously garnished with the light horseradish cream providing a rich and authentic flavour to the otherwise lovely dish.

For the main course meal, the choices were as follows:

·         Chasseur chicken (Pan-fried chicken thigh served with a classic creamy mushroom sauce, duchesse potatoes, grilled zucchini and roast tomatoes)

·         Stir-fried beef (Wok fried beef slices with a rice oyster sauce, served with fragrant red and white rice and steamed baby pak choy)

·         Shrimp curry cooked in a spicy Indian masala, served with vegetable rice, peas and paneer vegetable curry.

I went for the chasseur chicken. I could easily have opted for the equally tantalising “shrimp curry”, however my stomach was craving for some decent chicken meat. I was glad that I had made a good enough choice. You just can’t go wrong with chicken thigh drowned in a succulent creamy mushroom sauce. It goes rather with the thought of a “chicken and mushroom soup”, with the big difference being that this dish contained a generous portion of a well-cooked chicken thigh and a above average mushroom sauce that was fabulously decorated with roasted tomatoes, grilled zucchini (which is a priceless addition by the way) and plentiful of the mashed potatoes. You just can’t argue with good food. All the main meals are accompanied with a choice of freshly cooked bread from the “bread basket” that contains a variety of soft and hard breads’.

The choices for the dessert included:

·         Cashew nut nougatine served with whipped cream and candied curry.

·         Apple fritters served with vanilla sauce and almond ice-cream.

I opted for the cashew nut nougatine that came complete with a minute slice of a fresh strawberry. The whipped cream and the candied curry assisted in softening the rich and thick nougatine as it entered the mouth. With a ridiculously delicious dessert like this it’s best to take every spoonful slowly so that you absorb the full flavour as it melts while making its way towards your stomach. Simply irresistible.

Chocolates by Godiva were offered accompanied with either tea or coffee (freshly brewed at 37,000feet!)

Comments regarding the in-flight snacks (if any):

On the Boeing 777-300 aircraft, Emirates have their in-flight snacks available all throughout the flight. Passengers can simply request the service from their seat or they can go to the front of the Business class cabin. There is a wide variety of international cheese selection available along with a choice of fine red and white wines. In the bar service there was a selection of Thai and other international beers, cocktails’, spirits’, champagne port and wines and liqueurs. Fresh fruit selection (healthy) was on offer as well various cakes, pastries and Godiva chocolates.

Comments regarding the second meal (if any):

There was no second meal because this was a medium haul flight of less than 8 hours’.

Comments on the in-flight system (if any):

The Emirates ICE (Information, Communication and Entertainment) programme is the main platform used for providing a truly first-class in-flight entertainment to passengers with over 1,200 channels which YOU control with the flick of a button. Effectively there are enough movies and music to keep one busy throughout the flight and in actual fact there is something for everyone. The ICE programme is perhaps one of the best I have seen on any flight and far more efficient and sophisticated then some other airline companies have to offer. In the First and Business Class cabins, 17-inch flat screens are used. With the communication programme you can send an e-mail, SMS and use the phone anywhere around the world.

Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

As with the majority of Emirates flights’, the cabin crew of this flight were overall professional in all that they accomplished during the flight. The food was delivered at the right time; the cabin crew were friendly and had a smile on their faces even when under high pressure. Special thanks to the fantastic and professional crew and the pilots for allowing me to take photos on this flight.

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort): 

The Emirates Boeing 777-300 aircraft has a 2-2-2 configuration for the Business Class cabin and a 3-4-3 configuration for the Economy Class cabin. This Emirates Boeing 777-300 aircraft had a two-class configuration (Business Class and Economy CClass). Some of the features of the Business Class in this Emirates Boeing 777-300 aircraft are comparable to that of First Class on other airlines and this is perhaps one reason why Emirates is not afraid to offer just a two Class flight (no First Class cabin on this aircraft). The features that distinguish Emirates Business Class as being comparable to a First Class included electronically operated window shades, the Business Class seat that can effectively be classed as a First Class seat because it turns into a 79-inch flat-bed, the HUGE 17-inch LCD entertainment screen, the high quality of the food service, the ever-lasting high quality of bed linen, and the high level of customer service offered by the cabin-crew. Oh, I forgot to mention that all the Business Class seats have a built-in electronic body massage system to sooth those aching muscles while helping you to relax prior to your arrival. 

Added luxury- the Emirates chauffeur driven service

Emirates provide a complimentary chauffeur driven service for passengers travelling on their Business or First Class cabins. Only a handful of other airlines offer this very welcoming, handy and unique service. In Dubai, Emirates have a 24-hour dedicated counter for those arriving on Business or First class. I was whisked away straight to my hotel in a comfortable Mercedes, complete with neat leather seats, in-car TV and plenty of drinks and refreshments on offer.

Overall rating 1-10 (worst-best): 10

Route: HONG KONG (HKG) to BANGKOK (BKK)

Flight number: EK385 (ICAO callsign: “Emirates 385”)

Flight duration: 2 Hours, 55 Minutes

Date and time: February 2011, 21:15pm (local time in Hong Kong)

Class: BUSINESS CLASS

Aircraft type: Airbus A380-800 (SUPERJUMBO)

The Airbus A380-800, dubbed the super-jumbo, is just sensational compared to; say the (now former) jumbo-jet of the skies, the legendary Boeing 747-400 aircraft. Emirates was the second airline to operate the A380-800 aircraft with 14 aircraft currently in service and 76 aircraft on order. As a keen aviation enthusiast I still find it hard to swallow that such a huge piece of metal tube can run along for 2 miles and fly half way across the world while carrying so much luggage, so many people, so much food, so much garbage and tons of fuel. It’s a shame that even in today’s day in age the vast majority of passengers have no idea what kind of aircraft they are flying on. All they want is plenty of legroom, excellent quality of food while they get from A to B in comfort. This aircraft had 535 seats in a 3 class configuration (First, Business and Economy), though the plane has the ability to accommodate a staggering 853 passengers in an all Economy Class configuration (though no airline has ordered this yet).

Punctuality of the flight:

Very efficient. The Airbus A380-800 aircraft has a special gate allocated at Hong Kong airport, which allows passengers to board quickly, smoothly and efficiently on both decks of the aircraft.

Any baggage issues:

None. On Emirates Business Class passengers can carry a maximum of two luggage bags totalling 40KG in the hold.

Comments on the check-in staff and any issues:

The check-in staff at the Hong Kong airport were very professional, proactive and efficient.

Comments on the Emirates Lounge:

The Emirates airline lounge used by First and Business Class passengers is located on the 2nd floor after security and just a comfortable 2 minute walk to the gates where Emirates airlines park their aircraft at Hong Kong.

In true Emirates style that resembles the colourful ambiance of the desert region of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), complete with beautiful colours of beige, red and green (representing the national flag of the U.A.E.). As a show of respect and affection for Sheikh Mohammed, and for his fondness of horses, there is a large bronze statue of horses. In fact, you’ll find similar bronze statues of horses in every Emirates lounge around the world. The entire cutlery in the lounge is made from bone china in the U.A.E. by the R.A.K group, and imported especially to Hong Kong for the Emirates lounge.  

Complimentary access to the internet, showers with designer toiletries to freshen up before a flight, an electronic massage chair and a lavish display of luxury snacks and main course dishes along with all kinds of wines, spirits and drinks are offered. It’s so good that you may even end up going to sleep here if you get carried away!

Comments regarding the pre-meal service:

The award winning cuisine and service commenced even before we set off the ground, consisted of the following:

Drinks of Champagne (Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial NV) freshly squeezed orange juice and apple juice was offered prior to take-off. Hot towels for refreshment were also offered prior to take-off

A selection of fine white and red wines was offered. I went for the red wine (Torbreck Old Vines GSM 2005 from the Barossa Valley) and the Chateau St. Georges 2002 from the St. Emilion selection of wines. Both had an exceedingly good length that had an elegant and friendly touch to the tongue. One can easily taste the plentiful of succulent seasonal fruits lingering at the back of the mouth as one sipped a lovely glass. At first, a slightly spicy oak tends to dominate the aroma profile. The flavour than rigoursly drives through and widens on the middle palate, delivering a clear, clean complex finish.

A choice of various appetisers consisted of:

·         Lobster Medallions (accompanied with balik tartar and caviar that was generously garnished with lime wedge),

·         Noya Duck (roast duck breast glazed with plum sauce, served with a sliced pear and potato salad).

I went for the lobster medallions. A tantalising touch to the tongue where one can feel the smoothness of the caviar flavoured in with a neat dash of lime. To have the luxury of caviar on any flight is just a delight, but on Emirates it was a sensational feeling when washed down with a glass of fine Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial NV.

Comments regarding the first meal:

There were three choices provided for the main course meal consisting of:

·         Oriental Lamb Curry served with briyani rice, sautéed okra and paneer mahkani,

·         Stir-fried Chicken with Cashews accompanied with soya and vegetable Sauce, served with steamed rice, pak choy and Chinese mushrooms,

·         Steamed Fillet of Salmon with wasabi sauce, kaffir lime and celery, served with boiled new potatoes, turned carrots and broccoli.

I had ordered a special meal for this flight (Asian vegetarian). Even though the special meal was scrumptious, I do, however, wish I had not ordered it because the normal three options looked equally tempting to tuck into.

The Asian vegetarian meal consisted of a starter traditional north Indian saag paneer with a small roti (Indian chapatti bread) and some raita (Indian sweet and sour yogurt). For desert I had 3 balls of rasgula which were incredibly delicious! As far as the provision of Indian food during an in-flight meal, Emirates provide an above average standard taste and experience. With strongly flavoured cuisine such as Indian food, it is always best to provide a meal that is nothing but more than just fresh because it has the high expectation from the passengers’, and the flavour has to be fresh as well.

Another positive factor of this meal was that it was neither oily, spicy nor salty but just at the right medium taste that caters for everyone. For those that preferred a slightly spicy flavour, a traditional Indian pickle was provided as an added delight. During the meal service a bread basket was offered that contained a variety of soft and hard breads’.

For dessert there was the red bean cake (Chinese pudding garnished with mango puree and fruit). Because I had ordered the Asian vegetarian option so I was provided with a traditional Indian desert of rasgula (sweet white balls made of wheat and dipped into a generous amount of syrup).

Comments regarding the in-flight snacks (if any):

The on-board lounge: a sensational Airbus A380 experience on EMIRATES

Hot and cold snacks offered in the on-board lounge included:

·         Feuillete of parmesan cheese straws

·         Marinated kalamata olives

·         Salty nut selection

·         Assorted cocktail sandwiches of mini salmon bagel, laugen pretzel with air dried beef and cheese mille-feuille

·         Japanese crisps

·         Nachos and cheese dips

·         Hot snacks offered:

·         Tandoori chicken pizza

·         Prawn satey skewes

·         Mediterranean vegetable quiche

·         A free flow of drinks and appetisers, snacks were available in the social bar.

·         Fresh fruit slices.

In the on-board lounge there were a selection of beers, cocktails’, spirits’, champagne port, wines and various liqueurs. Snack food consisting of canapés, various nuts, pastries and cute little sandwiches were also offered. A generous layout of international cheese selection (always a favourite) was displayed in the social bar area. Irresistible chocolates provided by Godiva were accompanied with either tea (green tea or black tea), or freshly brewed coffee. You just can’t beat having a freshly brewed coffee at 37,000 feet. As with the typical Emirates service a huge plate full of traditional and exotic fresh fruits was available to tuck into as well.

On the Airbus A380-800, Emirates provide every Business and First Class seat with a personal mini-bar consisting of the following drinks: tomato juice, coca-cola can, cranberry juice, sprite can and mineral water (sparkling).

Comments regarding the second meal (if any):

None. This was a short hop across the waters from the most happening part of greater China to the most happening place in south-east Asia.

Comments on the in-flight system (if any):

The Emirates ICE (Information, Communication and Entertainment) touch screen system is the main platform used for providing a truly first-class in-flight entertainment to passengers with over 1,200 channels which YOU control with the flick of a button. Effectively there are enough movies and music to keep one busy throughout the flight and in actual fact there is something for everyone from the latest PC console games to the latest movies from the world’s cinemas. The ICE programme is perhaps one of the best I have seen on any flight and far more efficient and sophisticated then some other airline companies have to offer. In the First and Business Class cabins, HUGE 17-inch flat screens are used. With the communication programme you can send an e-mail, SMS and use the phone anywhere around the world.

Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

Special thanks go to Captain Dwayne Malone and First Officer Amos Desanker for this short haul flight from Hong Kong to Bangkok. Captain Malone was kind enough to give me a short tour of his enormous office. Both the take-off and landing phases were very smooth. The aircraft was exceedingly quiet (could hardly know that we had taken off from Hong Kong)! The aircraft is also remarkably quiet even during the cruise. This is very much true because unlike on most other aircraft where passengers have to talk loud because of the noise of the pressurised cabin and the engines in the background, with the Airbus A380-800 it feels like you are talking to someone at ground level rather than at 37,000 feet! It feels rather like sitting inside a high-speed train, except that the high-speed train has the occasional sound of the horn and the plane does not.

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort):

The Airbus A380-800 has a 1-2-1 configuration for the First Class cabins (known as Suites, each of which comes with an 86-inch flat bed), 2-2-2 configuration for the Business Class cabins (each seat with a 79-inch flat-bed), and 3-4-3 Configuration for the Economy lass cabins (each with an 6-inch recline). All of the Business Class seats can be turned into a 79-inch flat bed. In the Business Class cabin, the added feature of a mini-bar for all Business and First Class seats in the Airbus A380-800 aircraft brings along a nice touch, but tends to take up some of the space that could be used to make the seat a bit wider. In essence a Business Class seat on Emirates is effectively equal to one that may be ranked as a First Class seat on some other airlines (no names mentioned!). Though this was a rather short flight but the electronic in-seat built massage system is very helpful to help with blood circulation and also with fighting fatigue.

On the Airbus A380-800 each seat has an independent access to the aisle, an in-seat power supply for laptop or mobile phones (which you can use on-board on some flights), and a personal storage area. This is useful especially for those passengers who would be, say for example, going straight back to the office after they arrive at their destination (like me!). After all, Business Class is made essentially for those on a business trip (“Business is for business” as they say!).

The A380 features a bulb less illumination system, which is known as “mood-lighting” in non-technical terms. LEDs are deployed in the cabin, cockpit and cargo areas. The cabin lighting features programmable multi-spectral LEDs capable of creating a cabin ambiance that simulates daylight, night, or the various levels in between depending on the time of the day/night. On the outside of the aircraft, HID lighting is used for brighter, whiter illumination. The mood lighting displayed by Emirates inside all of their cabins during the various phases of the flight (bright orange during sunrise and dusk, and dark shades of blue during the cruise at night-time) is a sensational piece of art and not just technology being applied.

Overall rating 1-10 (worst-best): 10