DUBAI — We are at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and are about to board flight EK147 to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS). Operated by Emirates (EK) A380-800, this is one of three daily connections between Dubai and the Dutch capital. 

Flying in Business Class, I took advantage of the complimentary chauffeur service from my hotel to the airport, which conveniently dropped me off at the Business Class check-in area.

I set my alarm for just 15 minutes before the transfer service at 4:55 AM, and by 5:30 AM, I was already relaxing in the Emirates lounge in Concourse B.

The lounge is simply enormous. Spanning half of Concourse B, it features amenities such as a Costa Coffee station, the iconic Moët & Chandon bar, numerous food areas, and more.

Despite being crowded during my visit, finding a comfortable spot wasn’t a problem. While in the lounge, I assembled a new A350-900XWB model, which looks stunning in EK livery.

The day before, I was lucky enough to attend the presentation of EK’s first new aircraft type since 2008. The airline has equipped its new A350 with a three-class layout and is planning to receive 65 units, 50 of which are destined for the long-haul network and 15 for the medium and regional haul.

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After enjoying a traditional breakfast, it was soon time to board at Gate C22. Our A380, A6-EOU, was parked near DXB's ATC tower, lined up with several wide-body aircraft. The early morning view from the gate included another A380, as the jet bridge partially hid ours.

The boarding area wasn’t as full as I imagined, especially for an aircraft carrying over 500 passengers.

Boarding

We boarded on time and headed straight to the upper deck, where the First and Business Class cabins are located. This A380 is configured in a three-class layout but doesn’t feature EK’s new Premium Economy product. Instead, it has the older cabin design, with the Business Class arranged in a 1-2-1 layout. 

I had pre-selected seat 11A, a private window seat at the front of the cabin. This cabin contains the majority of the 76 business-class seats. It spans most of the upper deck on the A380, between 12 First-Class suites and the famous onboard lounge.

I found a blanket, pillow, mattress, noise-canceling headphones, slippers, and an eye mask in my seat. The seat also includes a small minibar, two spacious storage bins on the left, and excellent privacy. 

As a welcome drink, I was offered a choice of water, juice, or champagne and provided with dining and wine menus. Being a daytime flight, there was no amenity kit, though the other amenities more than made up for it.

Boarding took quite some time, during which I explored the seat. I first explored Emirates' world-class in-flight entertainment (IFE). With thousands of titles available, it’s one of the best systems I’ve experienced, even on older aircraft. The monitor offers three camera views and can be controlled via a touchscreen tablet or remote. 

The seat also includes convenient features like a universal power outlet, USB port, HDMI connection, reading lights, and individual air vents. While I’m not a massive fan of Emirates' older cabin design and wood colors, this seat is among the most comfortable and well-equipped in the skies.

In-flight

We pushed back on time and taxied to Runway 30R, taking off with breathtaking views of DXB’s Terminal 3 and Dubai’s skyline. Once we reached 10,000 feet, the cabin crew set up the onboard lounge. The service included breakfast and lunch, but I skipped breakfast to catch up on sleep. This was much needed as I received from an intense and exciting day before.

The lie-flat bed on the A380 is exceptionally comfortable. With the mattress and blanket, I slept soundly for over four hours. Afterward, I freshened up in the lavatory, which is well-stocked with hand cream, dental kits, perfume, and other essentials. 

Two of the four lavatories at the back of the aircraft have windows, offering a unique view. At the onboard lounge, I enjoyed a much-needed espresso and chatted with the crew, who were genuinely curious about the A350 event.

The lounge experience is surreal—it almost makes you forget you’re flying at 85% of the speed of sound. It’s a relaxing space with a fully stocked bar, snacks, and bites. The wine selection features some premium bottles, such as the 2015 Veuve Clicquot, and an excellent range of reds and whites. 

The chocolate, snacks, and sandwich selections made having lunch at my seat almost redundant. Two large sofas on both sides enable passengers to chat while enjoying a drink.

As we approached Dutch airspace, it was soon lunchtime. Lunch service began with a small aperitif of drinks, nuts, and olives. I chose the tataki salmon appetizer and the seared lamb as my main course. While the appetizer was anonymous, the main course was delicious and well-balanced.

I finished with a chocolate mousse cake and another espresso. The cabin crew provided impeccable service throughout the flight, frequently checking in and offering refreshments and more drinks.

The seat is relatively private and shows minimal wear and tear. EK’s iconic minibar includes some sweet and salty snacks. Above, a small storage area can house small personal belongings like passports and phones. The large tray table is stored immediately under the console, which provides ample storage for my camera and tech. 

On the left, two large storage bins can store the pillow, blanket, and mattress. These got occasionally stuck, but it was not an issue as the cabin crew knew how to unlock them.

Conclusions

As the cabin was prepared for landing, I reflected on an eventful and enjoyable 48 hours, including my first EK flight, an A380 experience, and a visit to the airline’s A350. In over 25 years, and after hundreds of flights, I had never flown with the Dubai giant. 

They have always appealed to me—significantly more than other carriers in the region—yet I had never had the chance to experience EK. However, I must say the A380 experience lived up to my very high expectations. 

The flight felt as different as it could have been from any other business class trip I have taken recently. This is partially thanks to the onboard lounge, extensive service, excellent on-ground amenities, and much more. 

At some point, I thought airlines like EK, Etihad (EY), and Qatar (QR) were mainly overhyped compared to large carriers in Asia and Europe. But I must say, EK lived up to its expectations—and possibly exceeded them.  

Each airline stands out uniquely, and there is always a unique reason to fly with every airline, from the ultra-low-cost ones to some of the most premium ones. Similarly, there are distinctive reasons to avoid other airlines or choose them only if they are the only option from A to B.  

There’s more to come, so stay tuned for the March issue! We landed on time at AMS, touching down on Runway 06 and taxiing to the usual gate G9. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this special trip report.