Flying Emirates from Dubai to Budapest last summer, I was fortunate enough to be upgraded to business class. This year, I was not so lucky.
Instead I received an email a few days before travelling offering an upgrade, one-way, without limousine or lounge privileges for about US$500 (Dh1,836).
With my return ticket only costing around Dh2,700, it did not seem worth the extra money and I’ve written before in this column about how you can achieve a near-business experience in the back of the plane. So I decided to put my advice to the test once again.
Getting to the airport without a chauffeur is hardly difficult. Dubai’s trusty taxis have a rank right outside my apartment building and the security guys on the door were helpful with my weighty summer-leaving baggage.
To be fair so was Emirates with its 30kg economy allowance that ensured my bags made it on board without additional payment, despite a 1kg excess.
My travel partner and I arrived at the airport within two hours of the flight, having checked in online; the baggage drop was quick with no queue. A first or business class passenger could not have been dealt with any more efficiently.
At passport control, there were long lines then I spotted a sign saying that Emirates ID cards now operate the Smart Gate, so we dodged the queues and exited electronically without having our passports stamped.
Being a Citibank credit cardholder I qualified for a complimentary stay in the Marhaba lounge for two, close to the Budapest gate. It was early so I took the full cooked breakfast with my free coffee.
On board we had pre-booked two seats on the 46th row by the window, at an additional cost of Dh100 each. From this point on the Boeing 777-300 aircraft there are only two seats from the aisle to the window. You don’t have any fellow passengers at your elbow and a bit more space besides.
The disadvantage can be that the service trolley tends to reach these seats last, but that was not the experience on this flight. These seats also have two table options: from the armrest, or from the seat in front of you. With both in use you can open your laptop and have a drink safely stowed on another tray behind it.
q&a maximise the experience
Peter Cooper elaborates on his experiment to achieve a business class experience in economy on an Emirates flight:
What about the entertainment?
If you don’t want to work then the ICE entertainment system offers many distractions. It is exactly the same system you get in the front of the plane, albeit with a smaller screen.
But the dining experience isn’t the same?
True, but the continental breakfast platter was quite pleasant. Fortunately this was a day flight and only five hours long, and I am not a large person who needs a big seat. I still think flatbeds for sleeping on aircraft are value for money if you can afford it.
How about your airport exit on arrival?
A fast-track pass through Budapest airport would have been nice as the passport queues were long, although they moved fast enough. We had to wait a few minutes for my baggage to emerge, but that might have been different if we were on priority.
And there is no chauffeur service?
Yes but the taxi stand operates very efficiently with an English- speaking receptionist booking your cab and sending them the destination to avoid confusion later. You get a ticket with a number which is on the window of the taxi as it approaches.
The verdict?
Overall, on this occasion, economy worked out fine. A final tip: if you can book your return flight from Budapest to Dubai, rather than vice versa, it costs half as much.
