Inside Emirates’ A380 premium economy cabin – so good it surpasses some airlines’ business class

Men in crisp white shirts tap away at their laptops, immaculately dressed cabin crew greet passengers by name, and glamorous women in bright red lipstick take selfies while lounging in their cream leather seats.

I feel a little underdressed as I board the Airbus A380 plane in jeans and white sneakers. In fact, this premium economy cabin has such a corporate feel that I’m forced to check with the cabin crew manager to make sure the giant 37A seat is indeed mine.

‘Yes, Miss Sime,’ is the reply, pointing me back to my throne and offering to take my coat.

I am traveling from Heathrow Terminal 3 to Dubai International Airport aboard Emirates’ new premium economy cabin. My window seat is upholstered in cream and beige leather, with huge window openings where I can place my two bags, and a walnut-trimmed cocktail table to the side for my drinks.

The seats are arranged in a 2-4-2 layout, with two window seats on either side and four in the center.

There are several pockets around me, one on the right side of my feet where I find my headphones, and another under the huge 13.3-inch high definition touchscreen where I find some branded chocolate and put my flight essentials – water, phone, ear plugs and lip balm.

Once I feel sure I’m in the right seat, I sit down and squint at niggles. But I can’t find anything. The 40in legroom and 19.5in wide seat means there are acres of space both above, below and on either side of my 5ft 7in frame.

There are USB points under the screen and free Wi-Fi (it’s so good the passengers in the front can watch a live Premier League football match for the entire flight). There is no amenity package, but that’s not to be expected if you’re flying premium economy.

I sit next to a rather large businessman from Dubai who tells me how he recently switched from flying Emirates business class to premium economy because the latter was so good.

“It’s the best premium economy seat in the world,” he says, sipping an orange juice served in a glass beaker.

“I have always flown business with Emirates, but I switched at the end of last year. It is actually better than some business class cabins offered by other airlines.

“It would cost me two and a half times more to fly for business and I just think the premium economy seats are too good to justify the extra cost on this route.”

I have also flown business with many other airlines and agree. This version of premium economy comes very close.

We fly on the day of the coronation and the captain tells us that we are grounded because King Charles needs clear airspace for the Red Arrows to do their thing for the next 45 minutes. But everyone is in good spirits and the cabin crew supervisor, Sarah, assures those transiting through Dubai that they have to catch their flight.

We are served a packet of salted nuts and a menu of wine options, information about our three course lunch and options for ‘light bites’ later in the flight.

The cabin is about 75 percent full, and once boarding is complete, my new friend is offered a seat farther back so he can have a row to himself. He asks me what I want him to do, but we both agree there’s enough room for the two of us for the next six and a half hours.

The passenger in front of me reclines her seat once we’re airborne, which means I’m a bit boxed in. , and the wings of my headrest pushed out, I’m back in ultra-comfortable mode and confident that if this was a red-eye flight, I’d fall asleep immediately. But it’s not – and I’m eager to explore every offering on board.

We are given warm, fluffy clementine-scented towels to freshen up before I check the toilets. They are huge, with cream and gold walls, a floor-to-ceiling mirror and White Company hand cream and eau de toilette.

As we fly over Brussels to Luxembourg, I am offered a glass of sparkling Chandon Brut Vintage 2016 wine (also served in business) and ask to sample South African Ken Forrester FMC Chenin Blanc, priced at £35 a bottle. sold . Both are delicious, but the Chenin Blanc is one of the best white wines I’ve tasted.

I go for the vegan meal option and enjoy sweet corn rice and black beans, a lemony asparagus couscous, and fresh fruit for dessert. The packet of raisins makes me feel like I went for the kid’s option, but the rest is delicious.

After lunch I put the blinds down with the push of a button. There are two modes: one that dims the light and the other that provides blackout blinds for bedtime.

However, Emirates had not stopped pampering us. After lunch we are offered coffee and tea (or more wine) as most passengers sit back and immerse themselves in a movie.

It’s not often you’d wish a flight to be longer, but I could have comfortably spent twice as long in my seat. An hour or so before landing we are offered an assortment of sandwiches and a scone with strawberry jam and clotted cream.

It’s pretty much the same on my return flight a few days later. This time I am at the very front of the cabin. A young man boards the plane and asks the cabin crew ‘Is this first class?’ to which they politely reply with a smile, ‘No, sir. This is premium economy.’ The boy looks at his father and says, “Daddy, that’s how I’m going to fly when I’m older and rich.”

Fortunately, you don’t have to be either when you fly Emirates’ groundbreaking premium economy. Let’s hope other airlines catch on soon.