Review of Emirates Business Class – BusinessClass.com

Emirates never fails to make an impression regarding cabin design, with a penchant for flashy décor. The airline is famous for its rich wood panelling and gold and beige design tones that make a bold statement. Travellers fly on the double-decker Airbus A380 or Boeing B777, the only two aircraft in the airline’s fleet.

However, there are various seating types and layouts, as Emirates has numerous configurations. Emirates offers complimentary seat selection on all Business Class tickets except Business Special, which provides seat selection within 48 hours of departure.

On the flagship A380 aircraft, the staggered, forward-facing 1-2-1 seating is a plus for many passengers who prefer sitting alone. Solo travellers will prefer one of the single seats, while those travelling together should opt for pairs of seats. Seats alternate between being closer to the aisle with a side table closer to the window or closer to the window with a side table closer to the aisle.

Seat maps show which seats have a small table closer to the aisle for those that prefer that more private option. Aviation fans will also appreciate being close to the window for superb vistas.

In late 2020, Emirates started implementing a refreshed and significantly more stylish cabin design for the A380 fleet in what will be the largest aircraft refurbishment project in commercial aviation history. With an expected completion in 2025, Emirates will undertake to completely refurbish 67 Airbus A380s and 53 Boeing 777s with over 5,000 new Business Class seats. 

The new Business Class cabin on the upper deck features Emirates’ sleek new champagne-coloured leather upholstery and complimentary light-toned polished woodgrain finishings seeking the executive jet look. The new-look A380 will have refreshed seats, and the brand-new design theme will continue throughout the interior with new carpets and side panels. 

On B777 aircraft, multiple seat layouts depend on if the aircraft has received the retrofit of the newest product. All B777-300ER planes have a 2-3-2 configuration – a stark contrast to the 1-2-1 configuration offered by many competitors on the same aircraft type. On newer B777-300ER planes or those refitted with new cabin products, the Business Class seats recline to 180 degrees fully-flat. On older versions, the seat reclines to more of an angled lie-flat position rather than completely flat.

The dense configuration of the Emirates B777-300ER planes also means that there are middle seats worth avoiding in Business Class. Those in the centre or window seats will have to climb over a seatmate to access the aisle. The middle seats are, however, usually filled last, so solo travellers may prefer any of the aisle seats on this aircraft, while couples should opt for one of the window-aisle pairs. Families may like choosing the three seats together in the centre section.

Dividers fold out from seats for those that want more privacy when not travelling with someone they know. Power and USB ports are easily accessible.

The retrofit of the B777 fleet is planned to take place once all designated A380s have been completed in 2024. We may see a new Business Class seat configuration of 1-2-1 to match that of the A380, though specific details have yet to be released.   

On more recently updated B777-200LR planes, the seating is in a more spacious 2-2-2 layout, which does away with the dreaded centre seat and offers a fully flat, 180-degree recline bed. Centre seats remain on the updated B777-300ER aircraft with the new seating product. Study the seat map for your flight to determine which plane you will be flying, as there are many permutations.

Emirates Business Class seats on the A380 recline into a fully flat bed ranging from 1.78 to 2 metres (5.8 – 6.5 feet long) depending on location (aisle seats are a bit shorter than centre and window seats) with various positions for relaxing or lounging. Most of the B777, seats recline into a fully flat bed measuring 2 metres (6.5 feet long).

Waiting at each seat on boarding is a thick pillow and wrapped duvet blanket, which is welcome since most Emirates flights are long-haul.

A novelty feature in Emirates Business Class is the in-seat mini-bar stocked with water, soft drinks and juices. Unfortunately, the mini-bars are not refrigerated, so passengers who prefer a cold drink will have to request ice cubes from the cabin crew.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes images, videos, and seat maps for most airlines and aircraft Search results also include details such as seat pitch, width and recline. This way, you can see the seat and cabin configuration of the flight you are interested in before making your choice.