Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
As so here I am; flying first to Dubai, then on to Bangkok and finally to Chiang Mai. I am extremely lucky to be flying with Emirates, and so far it has not disappointed! One of my projects for school is trend watching and cool hunting. This means that wherever I go I need to keep my eyes open for cool and trendy things in the hospitality business, ranging from touch point experiences to cool city hospitality to on-life experiences and much, much more.
Therefore, I believe, Emirates deserves such a blog, as it is a great example of a terrific touch point experience and a trending air travel company.
Emirates Airlines, a UAE based airlines, is a market leader for luxury air travel. Its newest acquisitions, the Airbus A380-800 models are the epicentre of luxury in the sky. A fully double decked aircraft with First, Business and Economy classes; it offers high quality service, matching its luxurious feel and look.
This 74m long beast accomodates 500 passengers, each seat being equipped with its personal HD TV screen, USB port, and electrical socket. The on-board media centre offers more than 1,000 movies to choose from, hundreds of TV shows, dozens of international radio stations and podcasts, CD's and playlists and a large collection of games for all ages and types. Another feature available on each screen is detailed and current flight information, including live video footage from three cameras mounted on the aircraft allowing birds' eye view of your trip.
Its First Class section is fitted with single, private cabins and a superb in and out-flight service. Business and First Class passengers enjoy complimentary Emirates services such as chauffeured cars to and from the airport, luxurious airport lounges and personalized service.
Flight attendants are impeccably dressed and more than helpful and kind in all flight classes! And might I add the male ones, not a punishment to look at, at all
A few things that I noticed which greatly improved the whole on board experience, and some which I have not yet experienced aboard other carriers:
- Upon entering the airplane you are greeted and directed to your seat by name! The purser and his first officer stand at the door checking all the boarding passes and then hand them back saying "Welcome aboard Ms. Van den Berg, your seat is to the right!"
- Before take-off, everyone, from First to Economy receive a humid, scented towel, and again just before landing!
- The usual welcome aboard talks given by the flight captain and cabin purser included not only a very warm welcome, but also an introduction of the whole crew. Emphasizing the diverse backgrounds of the crew members and giving passengers the freedom to converse in their own language
- In each of the personal bags, besides a blanket and headphones, they also gave you three stickers, to stick onto your seat when sleeping, with the option: do not disturb, wake-up for meals and wake-up for duty-free (I found this quite remarkable, as this isn't usual on flights, but can greatly improve guest experience as often people get woken up for things in which they have no interest)
- Instead of walking through the cabin with large garbage bags collecting the garbage, the flight attendants used small Emirates plastic bags (this gives a different aspect of everything)
- A menu card is handed out at the start of the flight, giving the passenger time to choose between the two dishes and to know what exactly is in them
- Free internet (up to 10MB) is available for everyone throughout the entire flight
- It is now possible to make phone calls from your cell phone whilst being 40,000 feet in the air!
- During night flights, after meals have been served and the lights are dimmed, a pleasant blue/ purple glow goes through the cabin, giving a soft light perfect for sleepers, and the roof of the cabin is dotted with "stars"
- When lights are on, no more of that cold white/ yellow light illuminating the cabin, instead warm colours, like peach, soft orange and pink give all the light you need. This is also a pleasant way of waking up, instead of being greeting by those glaring lights.
- Overhead storage areas are spacious and have an automated spring, facilitating opening and closing of the latches
-
Arriving at Dubai airport was also an experience. First of all, to get this great bird on the ground, we came down with quite a bang, and I thought we would never slow down.
For those that don't know Dubai Airport, the airport is striving to become the World's #1 airport. It is a humongous building with multiple terminals all connected by an internal metro system. The buildings themselves are all extremely modern and new, high ceilinged and a lot of open space. Large fountain decorate some of the halls and shops dot the terminal halls. But beware… The shops are not for the weak, only brands such as Gucci, Hermés, Prada and other haute couture establishments can be found… Even a macchiato cost me €7.00!! Yet never fear, a McDonalds is also present, although not my cup of tea. Dubai airport is dominated by Emirates incoming and outgoing flights. Some other carriers also fly here, but everything in this airport screams Emirates. Sitting here in Terminal A, I am surrounded by a multitude of nationalities, even at 2 in the morning, all waiting to board planes to exiting destinations, Tehran, Islamabad, Hong Kong, Brisbane, Washington, DC… you name it!
Apparently it is a job here to just sit around, or walk around the airport and be available for questions! These "information" people, as far as I can see have no other tasks than wait to be approached by a lost traveller.
A spa is available to the weary traveller, prayer rooms for the devout and showers for the hygienic.
- comments
Mama Bom relatório, Ertie! Interessante! Não se pode reduzir o tempo de viagem e de espera nos aeroportos, mas esses pequenos confortos ajudam muito a melhorar a experiência. xxx
Paulo Excelente relato/publicidade à Emirates ;) Já estou com vontade de fazer uma viagem no A380 deles!! Beijos