Hello from Germany, as I just traveled on Emirates’ Boeing 777-300ER business class for the 6hr35min journey from Dubai (DXB) to Frankfurt (FRA). I was thrilled about this flight, as it was operated by one of Emirates’ recently retrofitted 777s, showcasing the airline’s new business class.
Overall, I had a delightful flight, enjoying a cozy cabin, a very amiable crew, and excellent food and beverages. Nevertheless, if I had to make a choice, I definitely lean more towards Emirates’ A350 business class, which I experienced on the previous leg. In this post, I’d like to share some preliminary thoughts on this 777 flight, followed by a complete review soon.
Emirates’ new 777 business class seats represent a significant enhancement
Emirates’ previous 777 business class is undoubtedly one of the more underwhelming business class offerings around, as it featured a 2-3-2 layout with angled seating. Therefore, boarding a 777 equipped with new business class seats was fantastic.
Emirates’ upgraded 777 business class closely resembles the airline’s A350 business class. The cabin includes 38 seats, crafted by Safran, and is arranged in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration. While this may not be the latest hard product, I believe it is quite competitive. It’s a meticulously designed product with luxurious touches.
The bedding significantly contributes to comfort, as I found the mattress pad, pillow, and blanket quite pleasant. The personal air nozzles are beneficial too!
Although the business class seats on the A350 and 777 are largely the same, I have a strong preference for flying on the A350, all things considered:
– The A350 has only 32 business class seats, creating a more intimate cabin compared to the 38 seats on the 777.
– The A350 offers a superior lavatory ratio, providing four lavatories for business class passengers, in contrast to just two.
– The A350 is a quieter aircraft and features a more sophisticated cabin with some unique elements (like the ghaf tree on the window shades), along with an updated entertainment system.
– The A350 lacks a first class, and there’s definitely something appealing about being in the “top” cabin (in terms of deplaning, oversight by the purser, etc.).
Emirates’ 777 business class features great entertainment, sluggish Wi-Fi
Emirates’ ICE inflight entertainment system is exceptional, ranking among the best in the skies. The 777 does not quite feature the latest entertainment system available on the A350, but seats do come with 23″ personal screens and bluetooth audio. The selection of entertainment is vast, ranging from movies and TV shows to live broadcasts.
While the 777 lacks a tail camera, it does include a nose camera, which is surprisingly decent.
Unfortunately, a drawback of the experience, at least for now, is that most 777s come with OnAir Wi-Fi, which is one of the slowest systems available. At least it’s complimentary for all Skywards members. Emirates is presently in the process of installing Starlink on these aircraft, which will be a significant enhancement once operational.
Emirates’ business class cuisine, beverages, and service are outstanding
I was on Emirates’ very early morning flight from Dubai to Frankfurt, departing around 3AM and arriving just around 7AM. Departures at this hour are quite common in the Middle East, so Gulf carriers excel at optimizing the service flow for these flights.
As is customary, Emirates offers a flexible “light bites” menu after takeoff, allowing passengers to select from various options (most patrons usually opt to go straight to sleep). I chose a tofu poke bowl and a cheese plate, both of which were delightful. To drink, I ordered a martini — you’ve got to appreciate how Emirates serves them in proper martini glasses!
What a perfect snack for a flight departing at this hour. Moreover, this was served roughly 20 minutes after takeoff, which truly maximizes rest.
The main meal was breakfast, and choosing from the options, I went for the cheese omelet with spinach and potato cakes. It was accompanied by a side of fruit, yogurt, and a choice from the bread basket.
Service on this flight was exemplary as usual, with a wonderful Egyptian flight attendant tending to my section of the cabin. A funny incident — at the start of the flight, we were conversing, and I asked where she was from. She encouraged me to guess, and I suggested Morocco or Tunisia. She then replied “close,” prompting me to guess Egypt.
She confirmed my guess was right, and asked if