After unexpectedly finding ourselves in Dubai Airport at just shortly before 6am (as I covered in my last post), for our onward flight EK161 to Dublin, we headed to a very busy Business Class check-in area for bag drop. It struck me how I’ve never actually departed Dubai by beginning my journey there and had no idea what the departing passenger flow was like, as opposed to being a transit passenger.

Despite the very large premium passenger area, and the multiple check-in desks outflanked even still by the number of business class passengers, we were quickly checked-in and sent on our way through immigration and onwards to the departure hall.

As luck – and good timing, on our drive – would have it, and remembering that Emirates’ Business Class lounge offers direct boarding, I realised we would actually manage to squeeze in a well-deserved visit to the lounge. Possibly, at 6am, not quite for a G&T, but at least some water and a trip to a slightly more salubrious bathroom than what was presumably on offer in the main terminal concourse.

I used to be absolutely fascinated by the Emirates Business Class Lounge; imagine a lounge the same footprint as the entire terminal, with direct boarding, endless walkways, and multiple places to relax, dine, and refresh.

Well, the lounge is much the same, still a wonderful place to while away a few hours – but I will say at this time of the morning, it was also surprisingly busy. I never could even imagine how this lounge could get busy, considering its size, but clearly Emirates is doing exceptionally well with premium travellers.

Boarding started shortly after I’d found time to devour two double espresso’s back-to-back (no champagne, I told myself, at this early hour…lies, as it would turn out).

We were quickly boarded directly from the lounge, and found ourselves making our way on-board, in Emirates’ gigantic 777 business class cabin, with its elderly 2-3-2 seating.

There’s no doubt, Emirates is increasingly far behind with these business cabins at this stage – far from any sense of privacy or modernity, the cabins are looking increasingly tired, worn, and uncompetitive.

Nevertheless, the crew on this flight were excellent – friendly, attentive, and detailed – and really made up for the slightly retro cabin experience (which they’re due to change on the Dublin route imminently by the way, if not already, to the newer business class cabin along with the introduction of premium economy).

We were quickly offered pre-departure beverages, with a glass of champagne being very proactively offered as the first choice – and really, even though it was just a touch past 7am, what kind of people would we be to say no?

One positive aspect of this elderly cabin product surely must be the unmetered legroom available to the lankier members of society, like myself. I was able to completely stretch out if I so desired (I didn’t, but I did it anyway just to prove to myself that I could) and still not quite reach the seat in front.

While I necked my champagne with my ever-present unquenchable thirst, the safety video played and we were reminded, as always on Emirates, of the very extensive entertainment options available on-board.

After a scenic take-off out over the coast with views back towards downtown Dubai, we settled in and despite insisting we’d share a single pastry from the breakfast menu, our crew very kindly plated a small selection for us both – which went well not with a coffee as you might expect, but with a champagne for one and a breakfast martini for the other!

I managed a few hours’ well-earned sleep afterwards, especially after our late night traipsing around the UAE, and woke to find the cabin already being prepared for the more elaborate lunchtime meal service.

I couldn’t manage another beef tenderloin, having had one on the earlier Etihad flight, and so opted for the roasted chicken, accompanied by several glasses of wine – it felt like a true dereliction of duty not to partake in the ‘full’ meal service, and the crew seemed only too happy to oblige.

After dessert, followed by whole snack plates of fine chocolates being passed to each passenger, there was time only for one last mini-nap before our descent into a very busy Dublin Airport.

We landed right on-schedule after a far greater whirlwind return journey than we expected – thus wrapping up our fantastic trip to Borneo and Kuala Lumpur, which had plenty of drama, changes of plan and interruptions; which I began to think maybe I secretly enjoyed.

Overall, while we didn’t book Emirates, I really enjoyed this flight; the crew were excellent, Dubai Airport is so well set up for business travellers, and the flight was right on-schedule. The downside surely has to be the older business cabin product, which lacks privacy and is clearly showing its age. But on the whole I was positively impressed; we’d certainly be open to Emirates again, especially when the revitalised cabin starts flying to and from Dublin.