The case for flying business class - 19 hours in economy from Berlin to Abu Dhabi

The importance of added service and space becomes more apparent when your aircraft breaks down and the flight is delayed.

An Emirates A380 takes off over Dubai. Ali Haider / EPA

We’ve banged the drum for flying economy on business trips, saving thousands of dirhams on flights to the likes of northern Europe, where a lie-down and snooze is just not a necessity.

But the importance of added service and space to rest became more apparent during a 19-hour economy class journey back to Abu Dhabi from Berlin.

How did it take so long, I hear you wonder.

Well, I left the hotel in Berlin at 7am local time for an 8.55am airberlin flight to Frankfurt to catch the connecting Emirates Airline flight to Dubai International.

After a five-hour scheduled wait in the airport, I started boarding the Emirates A380 aircraft at 2.20pm, hoping for a more comfortable journey than that provided by the 777-300ER on the way to Berlin, which was short on leg room and had overhead lockers so overcrowded that my hand-luggage ended up 10 yards further down the aisle.

By this stage, I was ready to sprawl out in my cramped economy seat, even though it was covered in crumbs and food stains (we were told there was a shortage of cleaning staff at Frankfurt Airport). Three hours later we were still on the ground, yet still in the plane.

As we started to taxi to the runway the aircraft stopped and stayed motionless for some time before the announcement that a generator had failed. The aircraft was then led, with passengers still on board, to a temporary stand that appeared to be in the deepest German outback.

As we waited with the power switched off, the temperature on board rose significantly. While those of us who reside in the UAE may be comfortable in 30°C or more, many others were struggling to cope in such a confined space.

Thankfully, before we all collapsed into a puddle of our own sweat, the cabin crew opened the doors to let in some fresh air and we were offered the consolation of a small cup of water.

Come 6pm we were airborne and relieved to be on the move.

However, on both the 777-300 outbound and A380 return there was insufficient room to get into a position comfortable enough to sleep, and this in turn would have made concentrating on work nigh on impossible. The continuous shifting of food trays and drink cups meant the laptop stayed in its bag.

I eventually exited a taxi in Abu Dhabi at 4am feeling as though I had crossed every continent on the planet.

Of course, flying business class would not have made the trip any quicker, but it could have provided the comfort and rest needed to be able to function lucidly when back in the office the following day.

At what cost a clean seat and a good night’s sleep?

Q&A

The passengers must have been peeved at this delay, so what did Emirates have to say?

From an Emirates spokesman: “We understand that nobody likes being inconvenienced by a delay or missed connection, and we do continually strive for on-time performance. However, safety will always be our top priority, and there are times when delays are unavoidable for operational reasons. When this happens, our teams will be activated to provide the best possible options and support for affected passengers.”

Did anyone miss their connection then?

The spokesperson told me there was a sizeable group of passengers travelling on to Kuwait and “because it was operationally possible, we made the decision to hold the Dubai-Kuwait flight to accommodate them”. Should a flight delay result in an overnight stop, Emirates offers affected passengers a hotel stay, meal and transfers.

Anything positive to say about your economy experience?

Well, I was served the most delicious blackberry streusel cake on the outbound Emirates flight. In fact I’d say it’s the best cake I’ve tasted in the vicinity of the UAE – it was just a shame that it was served, along with a chicken roll, at about 5am when I had an appetite only for sleep.

Surely there’s a quicker way to get from Berlin to Abu Dhabi and vice versa?

Yes, indeed there is. You can fly direct with the Etihad Airways equity partner airberlin.

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