Is Flying Business Class a Class Above?

Last year I flew Business Class on an international flight for the first time in my life. It was an indulgence. It was a mid-life splurge. It was a self reckoning that, at this point in my life – my era of having empty nested, of having worked forever, and of having prioritised everyone else for much of my adulthood – it is actually OK to start putting myself first…and a little closer to First Class.

To everyone who warned me that my ‘one off’ indulgence – my choice to turn left instead of right – would ruin me for life, you were quite right. I have become quite attached to travelling at the pointy end of the plane.

However, not being made of money, on my most recent international trip I mixed it up and sampled Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class on various Emirates legs between Melbourne and Rome, return. There was a clear winner and I’m afraid my bank account will not be happy.

 Let’s break it down.

Leg #1 Melbourne to Dubai: Premium Economy
13 hours 55 minutes
Airbus A380  

As a Qantas Gold member, I get to enjoy the pre-flight comfort of the Emirates Business Class lounge in Melbourne (and around the world) and my partner gets the bonus of coming along – for free. Emirates do a really nice lounge – a stylish little club with lush bathrooms, excellent food and an abundance of alcohol for those who wish to partake before their flight (on a side note – I have never understood the whole desire to drink copious amounts of alcohol in an airport lounge at any hour of the day, simply because it’s ‘free’ and it’s there…and yet, I digress.)

Premium Economy on a long leg is a very good option for those who want wider seats with more legroom, a deeper seat recline, bigger bathrooms with fewer queues, a more hands on service etc, etc, without the cost of a Business Class fare.

To be honest, while all of these benefits are nice, my primary objective on any long haul flight is to have enough of a seat recline so that my very long legs, tight lower back and inflexible hip flexors can stretch out enough to allow me to sleep. As such, the additional recline (not a full flat bed experience) in Emirates Premium Economy, along with the additional leg room is very welcome.

Despite it being after 11pm and well past bedtime (mine at least), the lady behind me pulled a poo face and harrumphed as I reclined my seat ready to sleep. She then proceeded to use the back of my chair as leverage to heave herself to and from her seat repeatedly for the next 13 hours and 55 minutes. Regardless, I got some good sleep in – so much so that me neighbour expressed a little sleep envy.

8/10
Leg #2 Dubai to Rome: Economy
6 hours 15 minutes
Airbus A380 

We have all flown economy, so not much to report. You all know the drill. No sleep. No room. No fun. Just… no.

5/10  
Leg #3 Rome to Dubai: Business
hours 40 minutes 
BOEING 777-300ER  

Business Class seats on this flight are in a 2-3-2 configuration and are angled-flat rather than full recline. My seat was in the ‘3’ part of the configuration on the aisle. To be absolutely honest – having forked out a kings ransom for a Business Class seat, I would be pretty pissed off if I had found myself in the middle seat of the ‘3’ configuration. How are you supposed to get out to go to the loo when both of your neighbours are in full recline?

The amenity kit was a lovely bag of Bvlgari toiletries, an eye mask and some slippers. Compared to my previous (and only ever) Business Class flight, I was a little disappointed. No little cubby house with a door (think Q Suite), no PJs, and a bed that, whilst it mostly reclined, had a foot rest which means that someone tall (like me) isn’t actually able to fully stretch out. I get it – hardly a crisis, but even so…

Next time I fly this leg, I will pay to travel Economy and save my money (or points) for an upgrade to Premium or Business on the longer leg between Australia and the Middle East.

4/10 
Leg #4 Dubai to Melbourne: Business  
13 hours 10 minutes 
Airbus A380  

Week hello. This is more like it.

I arrived at my own little pod in seat 14A, with seats set in a configuration of 1:2:1. I strongly recommend you go for a seat ‘A’ over a seat ‘B’ (which alternate down the window) as ‘A’ seats are right on the window, with your little nook for water, food, desk, tray, power points etc to your right, and between you and the aisle – offering a cosier, more secluded experience.

This Business Class experience was all class:

Complimentary private car pick up and drop off: Yes!

Slippers- Yes!

PJs – Yes! (while me and my fellow travellers looked like a tribe of the lesser known ‘grey’ tellytubbie, these are now my go-to winter jarmies…)

Divine swag bag from Bvlgarie – Yes!

Noise Cancelling headphones – Yes!

Loads of private storage – Yes!

Fully reclinable seat with a comfy mattress and duvet – Yes!

Loads of legroom – Yes!

An onboard private bar and seating area – Yes! (I didn’t use it, but it seemed like a nice offering, and on my various trips to and from the loo there were a number of people set up with their laptops doing work)

And most importantly, a comfortable sleep – Yes!

10/10

Oh Business Class how I love thee. And how on earth can I ever go back?

Written by Kate Christie.
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