On board the super jumbo: A lifetime experience

Dubai: If you want to be in the lap of luxury 43,000 feet above sea level, you have reached the right destination. Emirates today launched the country’s first commercial A-380 flight, from Dubai to New Delhi, that touched down at the airport’s new Terminal-3.
The first thing which strikes you about this giant aircraft waiting to take off from Dubai’s swanky terminal, the largest airport in the world, are the two aerobridges — one which connects to the business and first class passengers and the lower aerobridge meant for the economy class.
As you board the upper deck business class, a new world opens up — 76 fully flat seats, each having mini bar and aisle access stacked with soft drinks and juices.
The extra space you get is reflected in the fact that unlike other business class travel, where you have a seven-seat configuration, each row in this aircraft offers only four seats. For those planning a long haul flight, you would experience the comfort of your bedroom — the seats can be converted to a two-metre flat bed with a small store underneath to place your shoes.
The only problem for someone like me – someone with a more than average waistline – is the food tray. When you try to pull the tray placed in the side table, the extended midriff invariably comes in the way and the passenger would have no other option but to have his food served on the side table.
You have a 17-inch screen (23-inch in the first class), much bigger than the ones you see in other business class travel, and a choice of 1,200 channels.
There is an array of choices through which you can control your programmes on the screen – just tap the screen or use the traditional wired control that doubles up as a phone.
For those who want to socialise over a drink, the giant aircraft offers a lounge and a bar stocked with the best wines and whisky from across the world.
To use the shower spas, the first class passengers need to take an appointment to experince the pleasure, prepared by a well-trained hostess.
16/07/10 Surajeet Das Gupta/Business Standard

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Categories: Foreign Jul 2010, New Jul 2010