EMIRATES AIRLINE (Bangkok to Dubai)- BUSINESS CLASS, Boeing 777-300ER

An Emirates Boeing 777-300ER (similar to the one I flew in on EK373) taking off from Shanghai Pudong Airport: Photo copyright Navjot Singh

An Emirates Boeing 777 parked at Dubai International Airport: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

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