Flying from Toronto to Dubai on the Emirates A380 superjumbo

Posted on 01 August 2011 with 2 comments from readers

Flying across the world is now far more comfortable thanks to the introduction of the A380 superjumbo, and not surprisingly these planes are a big hit with the traveling public.

Emirates Airline has 15 A380s in service and by the end of the decade will have a fleet of 90. ArabianMoney traveled for the first-time on the A380 from Toronto to Dubai and is a complete convert to this aircraft as the future of aviation.

Very spacious and quiet

For a start you simply have more space in first, business and economy class. The flight is also exceptionally quiet and stable. It is like being in a large ocean liner rather than a smaller yacht.

Upstairs the first and business class passengers live in a world of luxury and excellent service. The contrast to the awful service standards of Canadian airlines could not be greater.

The much younger Emirates crew work with dedication and professionalism to justify the high cost of the tickets. In Canada the airlines offer a no-frills, budget carrier service with full-service prices.

First class passengers have their own private cabin with minibar and maxi-TV screen. They also have a shower room as shown above.

At the back of the upstairs is a spacious bar area where both business and first class passengers can enjoy complementary drinks and snacks, with red wine at the Grand Cru level and cognac only XO.

Business class seating is splendidly comfortable with separate upper mattresses for sleeping, the same trick that makes the Ritz-Carlton beds so good. Many of these seats offer considerable privacy and all have a soft-drinks minibar. Choose the sweetheart seats in the middle of the cabin if you are traveling with a significant other.

Great entertainment

The TV screens are also big enough to actually enjoy watching a movie, and the ICE entertainment system has more films that you could watch in a year, let alone on the 13-hour flight from Toronto to Dubai.

Airline food is not noted for its quality but Emirates has genuinely pushed the boundary out on what is possible with inflight catering. The food is piping hot without being soggy, something most airlines fail to achieve. Canadian airlines have given up entirely and just sell fast-food if you are lucky to be on a flight long enough for this ’service’.

Even after a 13-hour flight nobody seemed in a hurry to get off the A380. You arrive more relaxed than normal after such a long flight and immediately start to think about how to book the next one.