On a recent trip to Australia, Mel was a guest of Emirates, flying Heathrow to Sydney in Business Class.
From door-to-door chauffeur service to Bulgari toiletries, on-board bar and a seemingly infinite supply of champagne and cakes, this extravagant whirl around the world would make it hard to fly any other way.
But is it worth the expense? Here, Mel gives her verdict for anyone eyeing a seat up front.
Mel, over to you.
The background: I like to romanticise my flights.
As soon as I shut the front door, I’m ‘on holiday’. From stocking up on books in WHSmith to applying skincare on flights, I want the experience to be as comfortable as possible, no matter how I’m flying.
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Which is, I should add, always economy.
What were the highlights? The flat-lie beds feel like a cop-out to mention as a highlight because, let’s be honest, it’s what you expect from a business class seat in 2025.
So I’ll go beyond that.
The lack of airport faff was a real delight. A chauffeur picked me up at my door and dropped me off at Heathrow, and there was a dedicated (and empty) business-specific bag drop, as well as a special security screening section that delivered me from car to Emirates lounge in 10 minutes.
It goes to show how quick and painless the process of getting through airport check-in and security *could* be…for a cost.
What other perks do you get? If you’re flying from Heathrow, there is a dedicated gate within the Emirates lounge, meaning once you’re settled in with a snack and glass of bubbles, you don’t have to leave the cushy confines to venture back to the general terminal to board the plane.
The same goes when flying out of Dubai, where you can board directly from the gate. It’s a stealth convenience I didn’t realise I needed.
What is the cabin actually like? I flew on an Emirates A380, which is the newer configuration with a 1-2-1 layout.
This is, I’m told, the more elite set-up (compared to the 2-2-2 layout), where every seat has aisle access, meaning you don’t have to climb over a sleeping neighbour should you want to visit the bathroom or bar, or stretch your legs mid-flight.
I loved having easy access to the aisle and a window view (even if I did have to lean quite far over to spot the glistening lights of Sydney as we landed).
Back to the Bulgari freebies — what were they? It’s no surprise that Emirates supplies a bougie toiletries bag on board. There’s one for women and another for men (I took bot home, they have different products).
The women’s bag — a large silver case — included rich hand cream, fragrance, lip balm and deodorant, as well as the usual toothbrush/toothpaste (which was also stocked in the bathroom).
The men’s — which was a simple, black bag — upped the game with a disposable razor, which I thought was a practical inclusion. My husband and I still use the bags for weekends away as they’re the perfect size to fit your essentials.
Do I dare mention the noise-cancelling headphones, the soft cotton pyjamas, the eyemask and the slippers I also got on board?
What was the food like? I’m one of those people who like plane food, even in economy. Give me a little pot of pasta salad and a slice of lemon drizzle cake any day. But the food in business was ridiculous.
After asking the flight attendant to help me locate my tray table (the best way to look like a total business class newbie…) a white cloth was placed atop, with olives and nuts to start.
I then feasted on thick cuts of smoked salmon with horseradish cream, a main of seared beef tenderloin and potato gratin, and I ended with a cheeseboard stacked with Stilton blue, a Dutch goat’s cheese and Gouda.
Breakfast was banana pancakes with a berry compote (which I chose over bircher muesli), while I snacked in between on cakes and fruit from the bar.
Anything else? The onboard bar was a brilliant touch and I still enjoy the flashbacks of seeing fellow travellers — who I appreciate were likely C-suite, or very important business people, not journalists who only dream of flying this way every time — sitting in their blue-grey Emirates pyjamas and slides, quaffing back top-shelf spirits in the seating area.
Scouting a mid-flight Bloody Mary made with Belvedere vodka was a lovely way to travel, no less the welcome ability to grab a packet of crisps, a sandwich or fruit to take back to your seat to quell mid-journey tummy rumbles.
What didn’t you like so much? The fact I can’t live this life every time I fly?
I don’t think there was any aspect I didn’t like, which is saying a lot for a 24-hour long haul to Australia. I could say the Entertainment options weren’t as good as other flights I’ve been on, but that’s got nothing to do with Business and I’d have the same experience in Economy.
If I had to be really picky (which you want me to be, don’t you?) I’d say food service was a long affair, where I had to wait quite a while for entrees to be removed for mains, then mains to be removed for dessert, then dessert to be removed so I could put my table away and go to sleep.
We could’ve shaved off a solid 40 minutes of waiting there. But truly first world (or at least business class) problems.
Ok, it sounds great. How much does business with Emirates cost? London to Dubai in Emirates Business is around £2,995 return. Flying business to Sydney, like I did starts from £5,435.
It’s not something most people can afford, but if you can spring for it, it’s certainly a lovely experience.
Final thoughts? I can’t deny there wasn’t a slight smugness that came from turning left, or, rather, boarding through the dedicated business queue and heading up the stairs because I’m always the sneering economy class passenger trying to pretend I’m totally fine with my tiny cattle class seat.
For 24 hours (well, 48 if you count it as a return journey) I felt utterly pampered. And I got to pretend.
My chauffeur chatted to me like I flew in luxury all the time, and I was addressed by name by attentive flight attendants as they dropped by to take my dinner order.
As someone who’s made the journey from the UK to Australia several times over the years, I’d never believe it if someone told me I wouldn’t want the flight to end.
Even if you don’t care for creature comforts, the whole process of flying was made horrendously convenient. I’m ruined for life.
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Our Opinion Editor, Jess Austin, recently flew business class from London to Toronto with British Airways.
It was her first time travelling outside economy, and the experience was a world away from the flying she’s accustomed to.
From excessive leg room to White Company freebies , you can read her honest review here.
