Emirates First Class, First time

You wouldn’t believe where I’m sitting.

I can hardly believe it!

I’m on an Emirates Airbus 340 [Pictured right] heading for Dubai and I’m perched in seat 1K, which, I have to say, is not a seat…………it’s a suite.

I’ve made it into first class (legally this time) and have 14 hours to explore my surroundings.

First Class on Emirates is an experience every traveller should try at least once in their life, with the experience starting at the check-in counter where literally, the red carpet is rolled out.

From the counter to the lounge where fine French champagne flows freely -it’s a relaxing prelude to the main event with a separate entrance to the aircraft allowing first class passengers complete privacy but the first real point of difference is the size of the cabin.

There are no overhead lockers – there’s no need, your cabin bag is stowed in front of you within easy reach and without the overhead lockers, the cabin appears much larger and more open.

The ceiling is illuminated with thousands of tiny fibre optic lights creating a starry starry night effect from the moment the passengers board……….a really nice touch.

I’m met at the door and ushered to my seat, sorry, suite and there is enough room here for at least 10 of my closest friends who would be right at home at the moment in less comfortable digs than my temporary airborne home………Poor things!

Once seated, I start to play with all the toys.

I don’t have a tray table; it’s a mahogany dining table thank you very much.

I don’t have a screen, it’s a full sized plasma, there’s a pop up make up mirror with lights and all sorts of creams, balms and lotions (not quite sure what to do with any of those) and another pop up button to my left, which I press and discover I have my own personal mini bar stocked with soft drinks for the flight……….personal mini bar, thank you!

And that’s not all, a silver basket sits on my side table and is stuffed with chocolate bars, all for me.

My coat it taken and hung up in my own wardrobe, yes my own and I’m now free to make myself comfortable.

Now for the fun bit – the seat, this is not seat it is a luxurious chair.

An LCD screen beside me gives me total control of the motorised seat and while I’ve had similar ones in business class on other airlines before but I have never experienced anything like this little baby, with the massage feature having five separate zones and varying levels of intensity………….the chair reclines, goes forward, up, down and of course turns in to a flat bed when the time is appropriate.

I feel like Homer Simpson –“chair goes up, chair goes down….”

Just after takeoff, I have no idea when as I am too busy enjoying myself, I’m served a glass of Moet and offered some canapés, my leather amenities kit is presented to me along with my slippers and sleep suit – a really comfortable light weight track suit.

I’m also told dinner is a la carte and I can order anything I desire from the menu at any stage during the flight and tough decision though it is, I settle for the oven baked veal with roasted vegetables and there’s more silver and china in front of me than at Myer.

After a couple of glasses of extremely fine wine, bugger, it’s time to plug in the computer and do some work before heading off to the movies in my seat (a couple of hundred to choose from)………..then of course, with the flick of a switch my seat will be a bed and at the risk of looking like a Tellie Tubby, I don my yellow sleep suit and hit the hay.

There really is only one way to travel on a long flight and that’s prostrate, with the suites on Emirates allow total privacy………sliding doors close your personal zone from the outside world…………..no passing parade up and down the aisle, eyes are clsoing! 

Pavarotti apparently had the gall of saying “Get me out of this tomb” but we’re not all as monolithic as old Pav and we do not need the publicity, just sleep!

Inside the “zone” it’s the best environment for working or sleeping in the air – you’re totally private.

Emirates have First Class down pat with not a detail overlooked and well done – good night as we hurtle through the air towards Dubai!

A Report by Kevin Moloney, international travel writer and TravelMole correspondent……….on board Emirates on his way to Ireland!