This business class hack will change how you travel

Lifestyle

By Riah Matthews, News.com.au

April 1, 2023 | 12:54 p.m

I am looking forward to sitting in an Emirates Business Class seat on a B777-300 for the first time and trying out all its features.

I push a button and the wooden barrier near my head starts to rise. Pushing up and down, I realized it would create a wedge between me and the head of the person next to me.

A great feature, yes, but how do you raise this shield without offending your neighbor? It could be considered a very barbaric move.

To add even more drama, they have a single button on their side that raises and lowers a shield. What if you put it away and save it?

Obviously, this is a first world problem. But sitting in business class can make you feel very spoiled.

From a glass of Moët champagne to a hot towel and a three-course dinner menu, it’s flying like no other.

Being an economy girl all my life, I always told myself that business wasn’t much different. And it probably wasn’t ten or so years ago – but these days the business has upped its game.

I traveled 20 hours in business class from Entebbe, Uganda to Kingsford Smith, Sydney and was lucky enough to try out both the Emirates Boeing B777-300 and the Airbus A380.

Privacy Shield is on the Emirates Boeing B777-300 that I took for the first time from Entebbe to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This is only a five hour flight so being in business class is a luxury but not a necessity for a short stay.

The seats allow you to lie flat and the big TV screen and space are the biggest plus points. The seat width is over 20.5 inches, giving you 3.5 inches more than Economy.

They had a selection of favorite dishes on offer and I made the most of the free bar with two glasses of champagne and a cocktail. It was a day flight but the seat was so comfortable that I still snuck in.

But it’s on the Airbus A380 that things start to get really serious. My 13 hour leg on the A380 from Dubai to Sydney was business class on steroids.

I have traveled from Sydney to Dubai more times than I care to remember and it can be quite tiring. Neck pain, restless sleep, frustration and cramped seats are the lasting memories of those flights.

Taking a long-haul flight on the Emirates A380 kicked things up a notch.

Attentive staff, cocktails, on-demand snacks, three-course menu, wine list, authentic cuisine and steel knives and forks are all fantastic – but what sets it apart from economy is the seat/berth, or even any other business class. Provisions.

The seats are individually divided in a clever design that means you have your own cubicle with mini bar. When it’s time to sleep, you’ll find a thin mattress and pillows and blankets that go up on your seat.

The seat width is 18.5in, much smaller than the B777-300, although still wider than economy seats, which range from 17.5in to 18in. However, Emirates is introducing a new Premium Economy offering that offers a larger 19.5in width.

But the legroom is where the A380 business really wins. The Jenga-like design of the seats means you can stretch your legs out to place them under the minibar of the person in front, allowing for a proper sleeping position.

The seats have four buttons that allow you to recline your seat to watch TV or fully recline to sleep.

This false flat ability is an absolute game changer for long distance travel. Being able to sleep without having to sit up is heaven. I can only imagine how much better tall people or disabled people feel.

You can easily spend the flight in your own world of movies and sleep if you want.

I got about seven hours of good quality sleep on my flight and could have gotten more had the jet lag and time change not been on my mind.

When you’re not watching TV, you can step into the bar area to have a drink and relax.

After the sun came up I went to the bar, did some work and drank tea, and it wasn’t all that different from sitting in a cafe. It’s easy to forget you’re on a plane.

Upon arrival in Sydney, I felt rested and human – for the first time after such a long flight. The travel business won’t end that dreaded west-east jet lag, but it does mean your neck won’t look like it’s twisted in the wrong direction for 14 hours.

To be completely honest with you, I can’t always travel this way lest my economic days end. Flying this way is no doubt a luxury, but it’s also a joy to afford – especially for those hellishly long flights.

Riah Matthews upgraded her flight from Entebbe to Sydney on Emirates.