My Emirates Experience

Some of the most breathtaking natural wonders in the world are the majestic fjords to be found in New Zealand.

New Zealand has always held a fascination for me with its gorgeous landscapes, rich history and vibrant culture. It had also been on my bucket list for way too long. Several years ago, I decided to turn that dream into reality and started planning my journey. It was good to learn that the US is on the list of Visa Waiver countries for New Zealand, making entry fairly easy with a current passport. I did have to secure an NZeTA which is a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority but that was fairly easy to accomplish online. With that detail finalized, it was time to figure out the dates and the itinerary. I wanted to make the trip flying First Class on Emirates Airlines (it's every AvGeek's dream) so I eagerly transferred enough American Express Membership Rewards points into my Emirates Skywards Frequent Flyer Program. I was able to put together an excellent award itinerary for travel in November, first through their Dubai hub to Auckland and returning through Sydney. It was was going to be quite a trip! This post will detail the carrier's outstanding First Class service to Dubai.

I relaxed in style at the Marhaba Lounge at the O'Hare Airport, enjoying Arabian hospitality and runway views.

My initial stop was Chicago and American Airlines took me there easily and safely from the Raleigh-Durham Airport on a Sunday afternoon early in the month. On arrival at Terminal 3, I took the Airport Transport System (ATS) to Terminal 5 for international departures. The ATS is a convenient, fast and reliable automated “people mover" at O'Hare Airport. The fully-automated train system transports passengers to and from Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 5, as well as the Multi-Modal Facility (MMF) for rental cars, and the Economy "F" Parking Lot. Emirates First Class passengers traveling from Chicago are permitted entry to the Marhaba Lounge. This contract, Arabian-themed lounge proved to be a comfortable oasis from the terminal hustle and bustle. With hi-speed Wi-fi, great runway views, along with a diverse culinary selection and solid beverage offerings, it helped to set the mood for the great journey I was about to undertake.

The B777-300ER has been the workhorse of the fleet for well over a decade. It has a range of 7,888 nautical miles.

Emirates flies the B777-30ER from Chicago to Dubai. In fact, with 153 of the type in the airline's livery, they fly the world’s largest fleet of 777s. With this aircraft, they’ve served one hundred nineteen destinations on six continents and carried two hundred ninety-eight million passengers aboard since 2004. That’s quite an accomplishment! There are only eight individual suites in the exclusive FirstClass cabin laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration with two rows. The purser warmly greeted me on arrival and escorted me to Seat 2K, on the starboard side which was to be my enclave in the sky for the next thirteen hours and twenty-five minutes.

This is a bird's eye view of my spacious Emirates First Class suite en route to Dubai. Note the three windows!

The cabin styling won’t appeal to everyone’s taste, with faux burl wood and gold trim as far as the eye can see. However, once I settled into my private suite, I saw beyond the bling. There was no escaping the feeling of luxury and the expectation that it was going to be an amazing flight. Storage space was abundant. While there was no overhead bin (enhancing the feeling of spaciousness), there was plenty of room under the foot rest to stow my carry-on luggage. A small closet to hang my jacket was just outside the suite and a storage compartment with a lid directly next to the seat itself. An Emirates-branded writing tablet with pen was located in a separate drawer and toiletries were housed in a facing compartment which was also equipped with an illuminated mirror. To top it off, a mini-bar stocked with water, juice and soft drinks was located alongside the windows. Next to the minibar is a niche for the in-flight tablet which controls the entertainment system and other suite functions. If you prefer to use the remote control, it’s conveniently located in the armrest. The seat itself was nearly 21” wide with a generous pitch of 69” but the best feature of this suite were the double doors that closed with the simple touch of a button, offering me a level of privacy not normally found in an aircraft cabin.

Emirates invests more in wines than any other carrier, securing the best vintages years before serving them.

Soon after boarding, the flight attendants came by to introduce themselves and I was offered Arabic coffee and dates. They next distributed amenity kits and pajamas. The amenity kits featured BVLGARI toiletries and were customized for men and women. Mine contained lotions, a shaving set, mouthwash toothpaste, toothbrush and eyeshades, along with BVLGARI cologne. The pajamas were referred to as “hydra-active sleepwear,” designed specifically to moisturize the skin and prevent dehydration. They felt quite comfortable so I didn’t waste any time changing into them before takeoff. On returning to my suite, I was offered a glass of 2008 vintage Dom Pérignon Champagne served with some warmed nuts. A personal snack basket was placed in front of the lighted mirror and filled with all sorts of goodies like peanuts, pretzels, candy bars and mints. Before too long, we were taxing to our departure runway and soon lifted off into the night sky.

Caviar was presented beautifully with selections of finely chopped chives, grated egg, sour cream and onions.

Emirates planes have two external cameras; one positioned directly above the cockpit and the second on the aircraft underbelly. These cameras are hooked up to the inflight entertainment system, giving passengers the opportunity to observe the take off roll from the pilot’s perspective and, once in the air, to view the ground from above and watch it recede. As an avowed AvGeek, I thoroughly enjoyed the camera system and give Emirates high marks for its installation. Shortly after takeoff, hot towels were offered individually to each passenger followed by a cocktail of choice, served with canapés such as a sweet potato tartlet and smoked salmon crépes. The drinks menu included any number of top-shelf aperitifs, beers, spirits and liqueurs. The airline also offers a wide variety of interesting mocktails for premium passengers who don’t wish to consume alcoholic beverages. One of the most wonderful aspects of flying First Class on Emirates is their dine-on-demand service, allowing passengers in the forward cabin to eat when they want and what they want from a truly extensive menu. Since this flight departed after 8:00 PM, I opted to enjoy dinner first and grab some sleep afterwards. Once I'd conveyed my preference to our flight attendant, my very large tray table was expertly set. From the seven appetizers on the menu, I selected the Caviar served with Melba Toast and Blinis and followed this up with a very nice Seasonal Salad topped with Creamy French Vinaigrette.

The Grand Cru Classé Saint Émilion wines are produced under strict production methods in Bordeaux, France.

There were five entré choices presented on the menu and it was difficult to make a selection. These included a beef dish, two chicken offerings, a mushroom risotto and an octopus doused in olive oil and fresh coriander. I selected the Beef Sofrito, a grilled beef tenderloin with vegetable reduction, served with roasted potatoes, peppers and blanched spinach. All meals were served with freshly baked bread and additional side dishes of blanched asparagus and grilled baby zucchini were also made available. Four whites and four reds were on the wine list and I chose a glass of the 2016 Chåteau de Pressac Saint Émilion Grand Cru Classé to accompany my main course. The wine was outstanding and everything served was hot and exceptional in both taste and presentation. Serving carts never roll down an Emirates First Class aisle. Each course is delivered separately and all beverages are served in sparkling glasses and hand delivered on a tray. Very civilized. I finished with a selection of outstanding cheeses and a chocolate ricotta pudding for dessert. After all that, it was definitely time for bed!

Sleep is easy to come by in the Emirates First Class cabin when the "stars" magically appear in the "night sky."

While there’s a button in the suite that transform the seat into a bed, I simply advised the crew and they took care of it for me. The bed extends nearly six and a half feet long and was topped with a mattress pad, comfortable duvet and pillow. Once I’d tucked in, I used the tablet and explored the “privacy” tab where I found settings to help ensure a good night's sleep. For example, once I activated the privacy light, the “Do Not Disturb" sign was illuminated on the outside of my suite next to the seat number. Under those circumstances, the flight attendants would only have ensured I was awake for landing or when necessary for safety concerns. For even more privacy than the first class cabin typically provided, I closed the motorized doors to my suite. As there was a gap between the top of the doors and the ceiling itself, I didn’t feel at all claustrophobic. Rather, I quickly drifted off to sleep with the stars shining overhead. That’s right, Emirates programs twinkle lights which appear on the aircraft ceiling when the main cabin lights are turned off. Ahh…

Whether watching a movie, television or the moving map, the massive screen in my suite made viewing a pleasure.

After roughly six hours of the best sleep I’ve ever enjoyed on an airplane, I awoke and busied myself with the Emirates ICE System. The letters stand for Information, Communication, and Entertainment and it allows passengers to keep up with current events via news programs, send emails, or browse over 1,800 channels of movies, games, and television programming throughout every flight. Those of us lucky enough to fly First Class had a more immersive viewing experience as the screens were increased from 27 to 32 inches. That 40 per cent increase makes it the largest screen on any aircraft! I’m not sure how, but after a while, I started to feel a bit hungry. The Light Bites menu offered a variety of sandwiches, as well as Pasta Bolognese, Asparagus and Porcini Mushroom Quiche or Sweet and Sour Prawns with Egg Fried Rice. I enjoyed the prawns and a few of the pastries presented for dessert. To be honest, my stomach was happy when we began our descent and later landed at the Dubai Airport about 8:00 PM on Monday evening. Flying First Class on Emirates was a wonderful experience not soon to be forgotten (and this was just the first of five flights I’d make with them on this trip). tell you all about my quick overnight visit in Dubai and my onward journey to Auckland in a future post.

Until next time…safe travels.