Emirates Flight EK384 Bangkok to Hong Kong.
22 December 2010
Airbus A380-800
First Class passengers enter from the first door on the bottom floor (L1) and then ascend the grand stairway at the top of which is a lighted waterfall (see next picture). In the First Class cabin, each passenger has his own private cabin with door and a refrigerated mini-bar pre-stocked with selections made at booking, and a private coat closet adjacent to his cabin (for carryon luggage, etc). There are no overhead bins in the cabin. The very front of the cabin (above the cockpit) has the shower/spa facility with TWO staff members attending. (Side note: a full complement of flight attendants when staffed for an Ultra-Long-Haul on this plane is 48)
Those less fortunate have to sit downstairs. Typical boarding is through the 2nd downstairs door (L2). The entire downstairs is Economy Class.
Having crossed paths with the entire crew (cabin and cockpit) of this flight at the crew immigration line (might have been quicker to go through the passenger line, haha) and coaxed a cockpit invitation from Captain Raj (pictured below allegedly preparing for the flight...looks more like he is sending an email)
Business Class is upstairs with boarding conducted through an upstairs aircraft door, just aft of the First Class cabin. This offers an unimpeded boarding process, separation of classes, and gives First Class passengers a completely uninterrupted cabin during boarding. On other airplanes, First Class is usually boarded first and then all the remaining customers tromp through the cabin bumping your head and shoulders with their oversized cabin baggage making for a not-so-first class atmosphere. Business Class is replete with extras befitting royalty. The Business Class cabin has a lot of wood trim, ultra-articulating seats, a personal mini-bar at each seat, a large television, 1000+ channels of audio and video on demand (not exagerating), a tremendous amount of leg room extending well into the shell of the seat area in front. Each seat is staggered from the next. EVERY seat in the cabin is an aisle seat. Every passenger has direct access to the aisle without stepping over anyone. They were very careful in designing the seat layout and the shape of each shell and the result being that NO ONE has immediate eye contact with any other person from seat-to-seat. In order to look at anyone else that is seated, one has to lean way out of a normal sitting or laying position and make an effort to look at someone else. This gives a very specific and intended feeling of privacy in each seat space. Each seat space has a work area, storage area, plenty of pockets and shelves for computers, iPods, iPads, and mobile phones. The airplane is equipped with wifi and mobile-roaming. A cell phone works in flight and can be used (in roaming mode) to make calls as one would in any normal city street. Each seat has a handset for making calls (other than from a mobile phone) and can be used to make local calls from seat to seat anywhere in the airplane.
A Personal Mini Bar in every seat (Business Class), a wireless remote control for the 1000+ channel TV and the seat (including in-seat electric massage)
Tail-Cam. There are three camera systems available for viewing: Tail, belly looking forward, belly looking down.
...It's always about the food...Business Class seafood meal (special order by internet prior to departure).
The Business Class In-Flight Lounge is located in the aft section of the upstairs cabin.
This is the back of the lounge (55 inch LCD screen on the wall). Beyond this are a few bathrooms, the Business Class Galley, and the aft stairway leading downstairs.
Isaac from the Loveboat?
The left hand video is of the TAILCAM (displayed on in-seat TV for takeoff from BKK. Sorry so jiggly...was holding the camera by hand. . Video on the right is the landing in Hong Kong...and the Flight Attendant speaks over the PA System and says "Welcome to Hong Kong", in Arabic. I think they just have more syllables in their words than we do :-)
