Dubai-based Emirates (EK) is the dominant carrier from the UK to The Gulf with 133 weekly flights utilising a fleet mix of Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft. About 60% of the passenger traffic make connections to the 137 worldwide destinations served by the airline.
With a suggestion to review the QE2 hotel berthed at the old Dubai cruise terminal this was an opportunity to try out EK’s highly praised Premium Economy, at least one way.
The airline currently serves Heathrow with six daily A380 flights; Gatwick three times daily A380; Stansted (with a brand-new gate lounge) now twice daily 777, Manchester three times daily A380; Birmingham twice daily (including a daily A380); Newcastle daily 777; Glasgow daily A380; and Edinburgh daily Boeing 777.
Check-in was a special desk at the far end of Heathrow Terminal 3 Zone 2. I had already visited the booking page on the airline’s web site to use the seat selection tool. This features a fully interactive 3D rendition of the cabin so that you know exactly what you are getting and can choose the seat you like. It features the in-flight dining menu for your flight as well as all the films and TV shows loaded on board. You can also order a speciality meal including vegetarian and kosher.
No fast-track security for Premium Economy, but if you are a disabled Blue Badge holder that will speed things up and pre-booked assistance can be requested. I forgot to book outbound but did so for the return to Heathrow which made passport control easy to negotiate. I neglected to book this service at Dubai. A mistake. The walking went on and on!
You can pay for use of the superb Emirates T3 Business Class lounge (£155 plus 20% VAT) with direct access to the aircraft. A full meal service is provided and an extensive bar.
I chose a night flight outbound and was happy enough to sleep after dinner in the very comfortable semi-reclining seats.
My selection was row 35 main deck (for practical purposes the third row) and aisle. No four centre seats at this point, with the staircase up interceding. The 56 Ricardo cream leather chairs were very comfortable. The pitch is 40-inch and recline 8-inch according to the airline. You are offered a fold-down footrest and fold-up calf rest plus a headrest that slides up and down and features folding wings. An amenity kit is provided and a water bottle was tucked into the back of the seat pocket. No need to ask. A real quality product.
A quick look through the rear curtains noted 14 rows ten abreast in the next cabin.
There are three toilets for the Premium Economy. These are all at the front of the cabin behind the flight deck. Very easy to reach from my seat.
The A380 provides ample charging points; each passenger gets a dedicated USB-A and 60W USB-C port under the in-flight entertainment screen. There is a single mains socket, located between the two seats.
Emirates Premium Economy features an excellent 13.3-inch in-flight entertainment screen. If you do not fly on a regular basis you can find it fiddly. Clients on the way to Australia would have worked it all out by the second leg. It also includes three external TV views. Inbound to Heathrow it was interesting to watch a ‘go-around’ on runway 27L and a further 15 minutes in the air, but another chance to see London from above (window seats only). There were numerous physical buttons underneath the screen to pause/play, adjust the volume, call an attendant or turn on the overhead light.
Emirates offers free wi-fi text messaging on board with Premium Economy. Multiple packages were available to upgrade, including a 30-minute bundle for $9.99, or much better value for the full flight at $16.99. Streaming is blocked for both.
Emirates is renowned for its extensive entertainment library. I chose a documentary on Samual Adams, one of the founders of the United States. Whilst he signed the Document of Independence it seems he was an Anglophile. I emailed from the aircraft a cousin Stateside who refused to believe my tale. He apologised later.
The Premium Economy service started with pre-departure drinks served in real glassware. Some airlines do not even provide their Business Class passengers pre-departure beverages in a glass. Whist it is part of the anti-plastic use campaign it was a welcome upgrade. The choice consisted of water, orange juice or lemon-mint juice.
After take-off, the crew handed out one-page menus and offered another round of drinks served with a bag of nuts. In Premium Economy, Emirates provides 2016 vintage Australian Chandon sparkling wine.
Lunch was a broad bean salad, choice of roasted chicken or fisherman’s pie and a passion fruit and mango delice for dessert with a choice of wines, spirits, juices, and soft drinks followed by tea and coffee. The meal is delivered as a one-tray service with quality crockery and metal cutlery. A bread roll was offered too, and I asked for (and got) an extra pat of butter. Some airlines' Club Class are not so attentive.
Shortly before landing a light meal service was offered in the form of a natural yogurt, an assortment of fruit, croissants and roll. Fight time is scheduled as 6hrs 50mins and we were on time.
Transiting Dubai Terminal 3 was very easy regarding passport control, but wearying. It is a long walk. The taxi rank provided a splendid BMW for a £13 journey of 12 miles but be aware that major road construction in the Sheik Rashid Road area can slow you down if your final destination is the QE2. There is still six months work to do!
Return was in Business Class, a different experience.
www.emirates.com
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