As some long time readers might recall, I’ve got a special interest in the Airbus A380.  Two years after its introduction, I’ve still not managed a flight on one, yet they do regularly turn my head or inspire jealousy as I’m taxiing by (the sting is especially sharp when I’m doing it in some ragged old MD-88 . . . ).  So I found this a pretty interesting look at the first and business class offerings of the Emirates version of the A380:

The first class is a bit naff in places – gold trim and starlight mirrors?  Yeah, not for me.  That aside, though, it looks really well done.  I’m impressed with details like the screen that lowers if you’re traveling with someone (most airlines don’t have that capacity). And the bathroom, well . . . yes, please.  Some of the features – say, the in-seat refrigerated section for your own selection of drinks – reflect a definite departure from the usual (the idea would normally be that a flight attendant would be available to give you want you wanted the moment you thought about it, so no need for an in-seat selection). 

I don’t expect I’ll be experiencing it any time soon (just priced a similar flight at US$8500), but I have to say that it looks like it would definitely top my current record holder for transoceanic luxury (a JFK-LHR segment in Virgin’s “Upper Class” – complete with bar (like the video), and not just in-seat gaming (in 1995!), but in-seat massage). The Emirates offering is definitely over the top, but anyone who has flown transglobal segments like Toronto to Dubai, Newark to Hong Kong, etc., has probably experienced that moment about 10 hours into the flight where you think “Yes, I *would* pay several thousand dollars (or 100k+ airline miles) to not be in this particular hell.” Unless you are short (say, 5’8″ and under), the space afforded by business class is absolutely a benefit worth paying for. Thankfully, even if the premium for that space is a more than a reasonable person might pay, all this luxury produces something of a trickle-down effect on Emirates – this was my row in coach a few years back.