I booked my ticket from Dubai to Brussels a couple night before the trip using Emirates Skywards. The same trip would have been 75, miles with Qantas, which has now been added as an American Express transfer partner. I began the day with a A. Although I tired to sleep, I was too excited for the upcoming journey.
Pulling up to the Emirates premium class check-in area Dubai, a line of uniformed staff were waiting to assist with luggage, but today I was traveling only with hand baggage. Inside, I found myself the only passenger in a huge terminalβ¦it felt a bit surreal. After checking in, I proceeded down a long hallway toward the security checkpoint and passport control.
After a couple hours in the first class lounge , I headed to the gate for boarding, which began ahead of schedule about an hour prior to takeoff. B1 is used for aircraft departing from remote stands and passengers were being funneled down a single escalator and onto a waiting bus.
So I waited. And waited. I was getting antsy. So were the three other first class passengers. We were the only ones left in the gate area. We soon began what turned out to be a minute bus ride to the aircraftβ¦which seemed to be parked in Abu Dhabi I jestβ¦.
Upon reaching the aircraft, we were invited to carry our own bags up the fairly steep air stairs onto the ER that would shortly be departing for Brussels. I was grinning ear-to-ear as I stepped into the beautiful six-seat cabin. Wow, this was spacious! My suite, 2K, included a large table, screen, closet, cabinet for hand luggage, and an oversized, plush chair. What I appreciated most about this new cabin was the attention to detail Emirates placed in making it practical.
