Class conscious

After Singapore Airlines and Jet Airways, it is the turn of Emirates to unveil new, premium cabin products.

What is it?
Another airline known for its service standards has pumped in millions of dollars to enhance its cabin products. Dubai-based Emirates will unveil the revamped cabin products this month as the spanking new Boeing 777-300ER (extended range) ULR (ultra long range) joins its fleet. These changes will also be introduced on the Boeing 777-200LRs (long range) aircraft that will join its fleet next month.

What's new in the first class?
You already have your own little space on the aircraft. But now, it will be more like flying in a corporate jet. You will have a fully flat bed with an in-seat massage, a personal mini-bar, sliding doors to give privacy and room service to bring you the dinner of your choice. The airline has also modified the existing suites to give its passengers more storage space for hand luggage, a bigger personal wardrobe and the overhead storage bins have been removed to give more headroom. To make it more corporate jet-like, leather upholstery has been used and the entire cabin has been designed in a honey and walnut colour scheme.

And if I'm flying business class?
Not much has changed here other than the seats. Seats are longer "" they recline into a 78" long flat bed "" and have an in-seat massage system as well as taller privacy dividers.

How about economy?
Seats have a fully adjustable winged headrest (something that was, until a while ago, the prerogative of first and business class passengers) and a wide, flat footrest. The boxes under the seats, where the inflight entertainment (IFE) system was placed earlier, have been removed for more legroom.

What about IFE?
Emirates will provide its IFE, "ice", in all three classes. It will have the usual stuff like the latest movies, music albums, sitcoms and news. It has also installed wide-screen LCD touch screens "" 23" in first class, 17" in business class, and 10.6" in economy.

Why are we writing about it?
Well, as airlines induct long range aircraft like the Boeing 777-300ERs and 777-200LRs, or the Airbus A340-500/600s, they are also spending monies on changing cabin products to suit passenger needs. In the past few months, Singapore Airlines and Jet Airways have announced new cabin products. And with many airlines opting for non-stop travel, there may be more passenger-friendly changes like these in the coming few months.

Take it or leave it?
Most of what Emirates is offering is what Singapore Airlines and Jet Airways provide on their new Boeing 777 aircraft. In fact, Singapore Airlines has a more comprehensive suite of office tools "" spreadsheets, presentation tools, and word processing "" on its latest KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system.