EMIRATES BUSINESS CLASS travelling 2017 summer

Upgrading to Emirates Business Class using Skywards miles

I upgraded from Emirates Economy to Emirates Business Class using skywards miles at the check in desk – Dubai airport terminal 3. The upgrade was from Dubai to London, about a 7 hour flight. It was a last minute decision.

How many miles does it take to upgrade to Emirates Business Class?

It took 39,000 skywards miles to upgrade one way from Dubai to London. I did it as it was a 7 hour flight on a smart A380 Emirates plane. There have been many occasions when I’ve wanted to redeem my miles but there is no upgradable availability. I had to redeem my miles from one card.

What do you get for 39,000 skywards miles?

You get entry to the Emirates Business class lounge at Dubai airport terminal 3 and of course a business class seat on the A380 aircraft.

The Emirates Business lounge in Dubai

The lounge was large but very crowded and there weren’t many free seats near the food stations. Your flight will NOT be announced so keep an eye on the time! Food is good but hot drinks are only dispensed via a machine.

There is also a spa in the lounge and you pay for whatever services you choose.

You can board almost directly onto the business class section of the aircraft from the lounge. Be aware though if you’re an economy passenger but had access to the lounge you may be asked to go downstairs to board as it’s genuinely easier to get to the economy section of the aircraft from there.

Can you take in guests to the Business Lounge?

Yes you can but at the hefty price of US dollars 100 per person! I sent my kids down to Costa! If you’re travelling with an Emirates gold cardholder – or higher, you can access the lounge on a complimentary basis as their guest. Only one guest allowed though.

What you don’t get with your last minute upgrade

I couldn’t avail the car pick up service at the other end as it was a last minute upgrade. That’s why I didn’t cancel my cab service, but if I was travelling alone, I would have cancelled and asked at the Emirates Chauffeur drive on landing at Heathrow just taking a chance.

At Duty Free in Dubai airport

On June 22^nd and 23^rd there was a flat 20% discount on almost all cosmetics. Check on line to see if there are any other dates with promotions like this, maybe as part of the Dubai Summer Surprises initiative.

I bought a few products from Kiehls. The wheat and rice shampoo, the midnight recovery concentrate and the regenerating face cream. I bought the serum based on a sample I was given on an earlier flight. It was magic!

What’s it like on board while travelling Emirates Business class

1. Much larger seats and more space than in Economy
2. Higher quality blankets
3. Much better headsets that don’t hurt your ears or your head!
4. Plenty of space for your shoes and bags
5. A good selection of magazines – I chose to read The Economist, Business Traveller and The Australian Women’s Weekly.
6. An almost on demand service for food, drink and snacks throughout the flight
7. And of course the dedicated bar area where there are very tempting morsels asking you to pick them up!

They did make a note of my Asian vegetarian meal and offered it to me in Business Class early on in the flight, but due to some mix up, I didn’t get it! They were hugely apologetic about it though and said they’d make a note.

I really enjoyed my Arabic mezze starters, mushroom soup and cheese board. Hot coffee in a china mug with a Godiva chocolate was a huge change from the economy equivalent!

How far away is the Business Section from the economy cabin?

It’s really quite a walk, down to the main kitchen of business class, then down some very spirally stairs then you arrive at the back of economy! I had to walk almost the length of the plane to get to where my kids where at row 44!

Size of the Business Class cabin

There are 76 seats in Business Class, 14 in First Class and a whopping 429 in Economy on the Emirates A380 aircraft! There are only 4 seats per row in Business class and you’re closer to the person in the aisle than the person next to you in the middle section of the cabin.

Champagne on board

Yes there is champagne on board business class, on an almost on demand basis. The brands we were offered were Veuve Cliqot , white or rose. There is also usually Moet but that’s not available today. However do take note, if you’re travelling in First Class you get served Dom Perignon! One day – maybe! But well travelled friends suggest you try the Hennessy Paradis when in First!

ICE cool entertainment 

There are 3 different ports in Business. The normal ICE plug, an area for adaptors if you have a different type of plug and also an area for your USB sticks. It’s great being able to work on board! I’m writing this post on my Mac Book Air on board!

There are much larger TV screens, nicer head sets and of course the full ICE suite of entertainment. I chose to watch Life….but the Korean thriller Confidential Assassin was also good.

Would I spend another 39000 miles to upgrade again? Absolutely, but it is a high number of miles to redeem just a one way journey.

Let me know any top travel tips you think are worth sharing in a comment below!

Happy Travelling whatever class you’re in and stay tuned for some great new London posts coming up.

Thank you Monica.

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