Emirates' Business is really First Class

A surprise upgrade at the gate on a flight from Istanbul to Dubai courtesy of friends at Emirates Airline provided the opportunity for AME Info to sample the latest in airborne hospitality from the carrier often voted the best by business travelers.

It was not a disappointment. On such short haul regional flights, Emirates does not offer its superlative First Class service. But the Business Class offering on Emirates in many respects is First Class.

Let us start with the in-flight entertainment system. The back-of-the-seat TV screen is at least eight inches across. This means that you can really see the films while you are flying. Some airlines still only offer a five-inch screen in First Class, while on Emirates the Economy passengers actually all have five-inch TV screens.

Business Class passengers also have there own personal video player and select their choice of video from a library of more than 50 films. Thus the possibility of not being able to select a good movie is eliminated. If you don't like films, the video games are equally plentiful.

Now as far as in-flight food and drink are concerned, Emirates has also raised the bar, so to speak. Business Class dinners are a serious affair. A choice of starters, several main courses and a desert-trolley and fine cheese board. Caviar is not on the menu but this ample fare would constitute fine dining on terra-firma let alone five miles high.

Needless to add, the wines are of the highest quality, although not the premier cru that a First Class passenger might enjoy. Vintage port with the cheese is a nice touch.

Seating in Business Class is also very comfortable, and on short-haul day flights there is hardly need for the First Class bed-type seats. The little details are also well thought through with fresh flowers and adequate magazines.

A final word should also be reserved for the flight attendants whose youthful enthusiasm is coupled with the fact that there are enough of them to really take care of you. In short, Business on Emirates really is First Class.