In Economy on Emirates' A380: lots of tech, little attention to detail

Emirates is practically a compulsory choice for those who have to fly to Dubai. In fact, the Middle East's largest airline has as its hub the new Dubai International Airport (DXB), from where it connects the emirate to about 160 destinations on 6 different continents. So, to travel to Expo 2020, I resorted to an Emirates flight departing from Milan Malpensa (MXP).

Specifications

Aircraft:

A380

Class:

Economy

Treat:

MXP - DBX

Book

As I did not personally book the tickets (I belonged to a delegation), I flew in Economy: but given the reputation of Emirates' national airline, which has been the protagonist of enviable growth (passenger numbers have steadily increased every year since 1985 until the Covid-19 pandemic), I still had good expectations. Let's see how it went.

Before we leave: Malpensa, it can be improved

The airport welcome could be better. At fast track, an attendant mixes up and, after letting us through, calls us back to complete the procedure a second time. Once we pass through the checkpoint two things leave me baffled.

The first are bathrooms: I have to wait because. as many as 3 out of 5 are out of service, as well as all urinals. In practice, despite 9 theoretical "locations," 2 people can use it at a time.

The second Partial disappointment comes from the Montale lounge: clean and welcoming to the point, for goodness sake, but the sealed single portions of the buffet are really miserable.

First contact: lights and shadows

Upon boarding I am greeted by a smiling hostess, which shows me the seats. The plane is full, so the atmosphere in Economy is obviously a bit chaotic: in this the difference with Business is felt. Good reception, everything is "Covid-friendly": on my chair I find a blanket (cellophane wrapped) and a pillow with disposable cover. The headphones are themselves still sealed.

And once seated, before leaving, the staff distributes a spare surgical mask and a tube of sanitizing hand lotion to everyone.

Less well the post itself. Meanwhile for space: I'm in Economy, of course, so I don't expect either aisle access for all seats or a lot of legroom. But the kind supply of pillow and blanket actually turns out to be a boomerang: since I don't want to use them (at least not now), I don't know where to put them. There is a pocket in the seat in front of me: I end up stuffing everything in there, creating a not inconsiderable bulge that will bore me for the entire 6 hours of the trip. Given the small space, perhaps it would have been better to provide them on demand.

Then I open the coffee table in front of me and find a paper handkerchief, obviously old: It was embedded in the bent upright of the coffee table. It must have escaped cleaning.

Finally, the seat back in front of me is okay, but the one next to it has instead a conspicuous crack.

Not bad, of course, but added to the handkerchief it contributes to a first impression of poor attention to detail. Little smudges that I don't expect from Emirates, even in Economy.

The infotainment: excellent catalog, less so the resolution

While I wait for takeoff, I turn my attention to the infotainment, embedded in the back of the seat in front. At first glance it is promoted: the screen is large, the touch responds quite well, the software seems endless. And underneath is some kind of gamepad, which can also be detached from the backrest for use as a remote control. Completing the "equipment" are usb ports (for charging, but also for plugging in one's own music) and a "multistandard" electrical outlet (it is used without adapters) for every 2 seats. In short, the wow effect is there.

On first use However, the system does not prove to be so intuitive. At least in the hardware part: more than one passenger, in trying out the buttons on the "gamepad," clicks the one in the lower right-hand corner depicting a little man to see what happens. He thus discovers that it is used to call the cabin crew. The good news is that the hostesses are coming, and very quickly too.

Once I understand that it is much more straightforward to use touch than remote control, I start exploring. The system is called ICE, or "Information, Communications, Entertainment," and is actually divided into three sections.

Tapping the "I" gives access to everything about the flight: altitude, speed and course data can be read and displayed on a 3D map.

Alternatively, it is possible to show shots of the 3 cameras available. One is at the top of the plane, one at the tail (perfect for admiring takeoff and landing), one below (beautiful when close to the ground, useless on the ground or at altitude).

There is also no shortage of a shopping button and various destination information, with descriptions of Dubai and a specific section on Expo 2020.

The part "Communications" is perhaps the least useful: it gives access to a survey, electrical outlets, and Allows dialogue with other passengers using the "gamepad" as a kind of intercom. In fact, it will appeal only to those who, for some reason, sit far away from other friends.

The section Entertainment is instead - inevitably - the most nurturing. The catalog is vast, both for music and movies, and it helps in the search that the libraries are organized into many categories. Often intelligently: for movies, for example, you can view only those with dubbing in a certain language, or those in a certain genre, or those in a specific saga. Too bad about the resolution, which is far from mind-blowing: "blame" a screen that is not exactly the latest generation, but also a definitely pushed video compression (That's the price you pay for having such a varied video library in your memory).

The music selection is if possible even more endless, and if that is not enough you can also plug in your own usb key. Alternatively, it is possible to listen to a podcast or engage in video games, with remote control finally making sense.

The catalog is significantly less rich, and they are often clones of dated games: a pastime and nothing more, but to pass some time (or have the children pass it) can go.

To close credit note to the headphones: these are not just cheap earbuds, but on-ear ones. Nothing sublime, mind you, but they are comfortable even when worn for a long time and don't sound bad.

The menu: challenge accepted--and won

Dinner is served during the flight. The menu, however, remains a mystery to several travelers: it is indeed visible only online, by accessing the on-board wi-fi with one's smartphone. A procedure that not everyone implements: viewing the menu is free, of course, but usually those who try to connect do so to surf. And given the costs (sensible only if it is essential to work online) few try their hand at it. Not to mention that on the iPhone it is not so intuitive: since the actual login never happens, it all has to be viewed from the window that appears when you first try to connect. If you close it, you have to disconnect the network and do the procedure all over again.

As for the food and service, the feedback is pleasant. The cutlery is real, and the kit includes a serving of salt, a butter, and a wipe. The menu, of course, does not include the extensive "a la carte" choices of First Class, nor the gourmet menu of Business. One appetizer, one dessert, bread, water, the only possible choices come down to the drink (with a fair amount of choice) and to the main course (only two options).

In my case, the menu proposes chicken with polenta or pasta with meatballs. Proposing pastasciutta to an Italian is a real challenge, which I decide to accept. The result is not bad: strozzapreti are nothing much, of course, but they let you eat them. One tastes worse in some Italian canteens.

Comfort: it is okay, of course the Business...

Mind you: to expect to fly 6 hours in economy and complain would be silly. There is all there needs to be: The hostesses are always very courteous and prompt, the lights dim throughout the middle part of the trip to facilitate rest, the backrest can be reclined (without exaggeration), and legroom is not so skimpy. Of course, the gap with the single seats in the upper grades, where you can even sleep almost lying down, is obvious.

In conclusion, the trip is promoted, all in all with good grade. I would have liked to upgrade to Business, but unfortunately-being part of a group-it was not possible: or rather, Emirates' online check-in only allowed it for all 4 passengers in my group, at a cost of $640. A missed opportunity for the company as well: having the option of a single-passenger upgrade, $160 I would have gladly spent.

This is just one of many reviews you can read on our site. Every Wednesday we publish a review of a lounge airport, while every Friday you can read the review of one of our flights or a hotel where we stayed.

The verdict

The flight offers all there is to offer, in a gracious environment. Promoted almost with flying colors are the entertainment system and the dining, while on the attention to detail there were a few smudges. Comfort is within the norm; we are still in Economy.

6.5

Service

8

IFE

8

F&B

7

Cabin and Armchair

5

Pro

• ICE Infotainment
• Dinner
• Courtesy of the staff
• Welcome kit

Against

• Available space
• Attention to detail