First impressions
Walking through the Dublin departure gate onto the upper deck of the A380 is still one of the great moments in aviation. The scale of this aircraft never gets old. Emirates runs a daily A380 on the Dublin to Dubai route, and it remains one of the most popular flights out of Ireland.
The business class cabin on the upper deck is configured in a 1-2-1 layout, which means every passenger gets direct aisle access. That is non-negotiable for a flight of this length, and Emirates delivers.
The seat
Here is where things get interesting. The seat is the same design Emirates has been using for over a decade. It is perfectly comfortable for sleeping - the lie-flat bed is generous in width and length. But compared to what Qatar, Singapore, and even some newer European carriers are offering, it feels dated.
There is no door. There is no real sense of privacy beyond a small divider. If you have flown QSuites or the new Singapore Business, you will notice the difference immediately.
That said, the seat works. The controls are intuitive, the storage is adequate, and the reading light is well-positioned. It is functional rather than flashy.
The food and drink
This is where Emirates earns its reputation. The menu offered three starters, four mains, and a cheese course. Every dish was restaurant quality. I had the Arabic mezze to start followed by the lamb cutlets, and both were excellent.
The wine list was equally impressive. A good selection of champagne (including Dom Perignon in the glasses, not just on the menu), solid reds and whites, and an extensive cocktail menu that the crew were happy to freestyle with.
Breakfast before landing in Dubai was a highlight - proper scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, fresh pastries, and strong coffee. No airline does catering quite like Emirates.
The service
The cabin crew were attentive without being overbearing. Drinks were topped up regularly. The crew member looking after my section introduced herself by name and remembered my preferences from the first service.
One small detail that stuck with me: when I asked about the Wi-Fi (which is complimentary in business class), she walked me through the setup rather than just pointing me to the card in the seat pocket. That is the kind of service that separates good from great.
The lounge
The Emirates lounge at Dublin is a third-party affair - the airline uses a shared lounge that is adequate but unremarkable. Hot food, decent coffee, showers available. It does the job.
In Dubai, the business class lounge is a different story entirely. Massive, well-stocked, with a huge food spread and proper barista coffee. If you have a connection in Dubai, build in time to enjoy it.
The verdict
Emirates Business Class on the A380 delivers exactly what you would expect from the brand - outstanding food, good service, and an aircraft that still turns heads. The seat is the weak link, and if Emirates ever refreshes the business class cabin on the A380, this would be a 9/10 product.
For now, it sits in the 7-8 range: excellent value, especially on sale fares, but not quite matching the hardware of its Gulf competitors.