Airline review: Emirates A380 Economy

Airline review: Emirates A380 Economy

Flight Number: Ek406
Route: Melbourne to Auckland
Emirates A380 Economy Class
Seat numbers: 56j and 56k

The Emirates flight from Melbourne to Auckland is the A380 daily service from Dubai.
The flight departs at 8:10 am, however, our service was delayed by half an hour (as expected on a Christmas season flight) with the breakfast service. The boarding process was done by zones which speeds up the process, or so the theory goes. We were seated quickly, and I noticed the space within the economy was substantial. 

The seat pitch is 32-34 inches and the width is 18 inches. Which is noticeably more roomy than the 777 economy seating. Leg space was great. As a 5’9 tall person, I was able to stretch out and not knock my knees when the seat in front of me reclined. The seatbacks all feature a universal plug along with a USB port. It’s perfect for anyone needing to charge their laptop or phone while travelling. Luggage space also seemed greater, and the design of the overhead compartments meant the cabin felt more airy and spacious.

One of the perks of being a travel agent, or I guess, booking a holiday through a travel agent, is the ability to include a Honeymoon/ Bon Voyage/ Birthday cake onboard Emirates flights. I had ordered the Bon Voyage cake on a previous trip (you can read about that here)  But I wanted to see how different the Birthday cake was from the Bon Voyage cake.

The only difference? The writing on top of the cake, and the lack of glasses of champagne. Although, given we were on a morning service, a glass of champers was hardly a priority!

emirates birthday honeymoon bon voyage cake
Emirates birthday /honeymoon /bon voyage cake

Emirates call their entertainment system ICE which stands for information, communication and entertainment. Basically, a do-everything system with more than 14,000 channels of entertainment on demand. Movies on board varied from the current blockbusters through to Bollywood greats me Arabic cinema. This month there was a special feature on Latin American cinema. To keep the kids occupied (and the parents sane!) on a long flight, there is also a dedicated Disney classics channel.

To date, there are 49 movies listed, and 20 odd tv shows just for little ones.
To check what movies are shown on your flight before you travel, visit this link

The table folds in half too, which is perfect for a longer flight where you just need a small ledge to put your water, book, or glasses between meals. It’s the small things…

Screen shot 2014-01-26 at 2.26.04 PM

Children on board were given soft toys or backpacks with an activity pack, depending on their ages. These were given out at the same time as the adults were given the hot wet towel and the breakfast menu.

For breakfast we had two options (for those who didn’t pre-order a special meal such as a gluten intolerant meal or a vegan meal)  a plain omelette or chive scrambled eggs. I opted for the latter. It was standard aeroplane food, but still better than an overpriced sandwich from the terminal cafe.

emirates breakfast
emirates breakfast

In terms of space, comfort and service, Emirates tick the boxes. Fares start at around $300 per person one way from Melbourne to Auckland. Less when there is a sale on, more in high season. Sure, prices are about 30% more booking with Emirates, over an airline such as Jetstar. But having a 30kgs checked baggage limit, a comfortable roomy seat with seatback TVs and entertainment, a meal and a glass of wine, it’s worth it.

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Round The World Rachel
Round The World Rachel

Rachel Cunningham is a Superyacht Chef and World Adventurer.
With over 110 countries visited in the past 15 years, Rachel wants to you to come along for the ride! Bring a bottle of rum, and a bikini, oh yeah, and your passport. You could end up losing all three items by the end of this journey!
Round the world Rachel takes you off the beaten track to beaches, bars and restaurants of the unknown!

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