I lived the luxe life for two hours as I embarked on Emirates’ inaugural flight to Phnom Penh on Business Class.
One of the joys of adult life is enjoying that adult money. Budget travel (not that it’s a bad thing!) takes a back seat every now and then to welcome a jazzed-up experience. And that, my friends, is Business Class. Yeah, there’s also First Class but we’ll take it one step at a time.
As someone who’s never flown on Business Class – I was already pleased with Premium Economy – I got a taste of what it’s like to live the high life with Emirates’ inaugural flight to Phnom Penh from Singapore. And it was giving Fergie’s ‘Glamorous’.
Flying Business Class on Emirates: A first-timer’s review
The EK348 flight kicked off in Dubai 1.30am, and touched down in Singapore at 1.35am, before continuing the journey to Phnom Penh at 3.35pm, marking Emirates’ debut direct link between Singapore and Phnom Penh. With this new service, Emirates ups its connectivity game within Southeast Asia, making travel between Singapore and Cambodia a breeze.
Now let’s talk about the ride itself. Emirates is rolling out its swanky Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in a three-class setup for these flights. That means eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat seats in Business Class (where I happily lounged), and 304 seats in Economy Class. Talk about flying in style!
The occasion was commemorated with a ceremonial event at the Emirates Lounge where we were treated to a buffet spread by a viewing gallery. Then, it was time for the flight. ‘One day’, I whispered to myself as we walked past the First Class seats. But hey, our Emirates Business Class seats weren’t too shabby.
Let’s talk specs
The first thing you’ll notice about the Business Class seats? So. Much. Legroom! Yup, these revamped seats go from lounge to sleep mode with a press of a button. Each guest is given a pair of comfy slippers, an eye mask, and a blanket for evening flights. There are also privacy screens between seats, an individual USB port, a universal plug, a decently-sized seat pocket, and a compartment to put your shoes in.
Pro tip: Steer clear of the middle seat in that 2-3-2 configuration. Trust me, you don’t want to be doing acrobatics just to grab your carry-on or visit the lavatory.
“Champagne?” The flight attendant enthusiastically asked as she brought over a tray of bubbly a la Moet Chandon Imperial Brut and soft drinks. ‘Hell yes’, I said.
Emirates doesn’t mess around with the drink selection, with an impressive list of cocktails, spirits, and a mix of red, white, port, and sommelier’s choice wines. If alcohol isn’t your thing, fear not – there’s a whole lineup of juices, sodas, and caffeine fixes to choose from.
As I made myself comfy and ready for takeoff, I turned to the world-class in-flight entertainment, ICE, to pick out my show. Am I the only one that picks guilty pleasures like roms-coms or chick flicks? If you can’t relate, the portal has up to 6,500 channels of on-demand entertainment in over 40 languages, including movies, TV shows, and an extensive musical library along with games, audiobooks, and podcasts. It’s like having your own personal cinema at 30,000 feet. Too bad my flight was only two hours!
Fine dining in the skies
After a breezy takeoff, we swiftly started lunch – it was a choice between Chinese-style braised chicken and pappardelle pomodoro. I picked the former, which was decent for plane food. But the free-flow bread and salted caramel cheesecake were the highlight.
There was nothing to scream about for the lavatories – the space is similar to economy – but you do get some basic amenities and perfume to spritz on. The starry lights on the ceiling during my evening flight back to Singapore made my lie-flat seat extra comfy for a quick shut-eye.
Before I knew it, we were about to land. All good things must come to an end, so like Cinderella, the clock struck midnight (somewhere) and brought me back to reality.
Overall, I’d say that if you’ve got the means to splurge on a two-hour business class flight, you do you. Since I only took the short-haul flight, the whole business class experience might be different from longer flights. My eye’s set on Dubai next. Who’s with me?
Emirates now flies daily from Singapore to Phnom Penh.
