EK434 - DXB to BNE
I wandered down to gate 288 about an hour before my departure on the 434 to Brisbane. Gate security was negotiated and then F and J class passengers were called. I was in my seat with a glass of Moet before Y started loading. As usual I was astonished by the number of passengers needing wheelchair support when embarking. Well actually more astonished by the proportion (100%) of them who seemed pretty sprightly on the plane and needed no such support on arrival!!
The business cabin layout on the extended range 777 is quite different to the 380, being a conventional 2-3-2 configuration across the cabin. The only problem that arose was when I, in a window seat, needed to go walkies when my aisle companion was asleep. I had thought that my high hurdling days were behind me – apparently not!! He was charming, by the way, heading to New Zealand and Oz to “quality control” purchases of beef and lamb for his international trading employer, and we had a some fun.
The entertainment system was again excellent – I watched The Artist (wonderful) and the latest Mission Impossible (loud) movies. Otherwise I listened to music, slept for a couple of hours and ate and drank as and when. The flight, 14 hours, had absolutely nothing wrong with it at all.
As well as from my own experience, I have read many times on this forum about the cabin crew making or breaking the flight experience. Well the two crew looking after the business cabin on the 777 were simply outstanding and took what was already a very good experience to another level. A couple of Aussies, one boy one girl, they just had the “right” attitude as far as I am concerned –they were charming, fun, interested and attentive. And most importantly, they were proactive. I really do not need to be treated as a superior being because I have spent a bit of money (which is probably as well as Y awaits!!) as some seem too!! I completed a very complimentary crew report form onboard and I received a non-standard reply from Emirates Dubai a few days later. Excellent stuff.
The food and booze were both plentiful and delicious. I was still trying to watch my weight so again was careful-ish. The mixed grill breakfast looked very impressive – I shall have that on the return. And there really is something rather sophisticated about having breakfast accompanied by numerous glasses of Moet at 4am in the morning.
We landed at Brisbane 40minutes early, at 6am. There are a number of long haul flights timed to arrive in Brisbane shortly thereafter and we got in first before the chaos of zillions of passengers arriving at security at the same time. From leaving the plane to being outside the airport was about 15 minutes. Passport control, Border Control level one, collected suitcase (second on the carousel), three more levels of security including the sniffer dog. It was also the first time that a security officer has referred to this aged hippy as a “dude” (which I rather liked). It really was all a piece of cake.
So Emirates. Based on this journey I will make no criticism of them at all. The J product on both the 380 and 777 was excellent as was service delivery, the pod on the 380 is particularly impressive. The food was high standard and the booze, well, give me a bottle of fizz and my default setting becomes “happy David”.
My return flights proved to be superb too, the product seemed all about excellent service delivery. For routes where they are available they will now be my carrier of choice and, assuming that their prices remain competitive, next year’s trip to OZ and NZ (negotiations have already begun!!) will be on their planes. I cannot say better than that.
Regards,
David
Last edited by HWVlover on 10 May 2012, 14:41, edited 3 times in total.
