Emirates Business Class Review: What It’s Like Flying Singapore-Phnom Penh On Emirates’ Boeing 777-300ER

Check-in, lounge and boarding

Business Class passengers get a dedicated check-in counter, priority boarding and lounge access, which makes it feel like your holiday has started even before you step on the plane. 

In Singapore, the Emirates Lounge in Terminal 1 was just steps away from my boarding gate, which was an added bonus. Though spacious and bright, the lounge still has enough nooks to chill should you need some peace and quiet. Passsengers also have the option to feast on a lavish buffet spread in the dining area that overlooks the runway. 

At the Phnom Penh International Airport, Emirates does not have its own lounge — all airlines here use the Plaza Premium Lounge, which has a bar, dining area (food selection is okay), and even a massage area (additional charges apply). 

First impressions

The Biz Class cabin is spacious and has all the luxurious touches you’d expect of the airline’s premium offering — lush leather seats, pristine fittings, the whole works.

The Business Class cabin is separated into two — a smaller one upfront with two rows, and past the galley and lavatories is a larger cabin with four rows. These smaller cabins lend a more exclusive feel if you will. 

Seats are configured in a 2-3-2 layout, which means is that if you’re flying in pairs or groups, you get more options to be seated together. But some passengers seated at the window seats and middle seats may find themselves without direct aisle access. However, not all 42 Business Class seats on this flight were taken, so aisle access was not a problem. In comparison, Business Class on the A380 is in a 1-2-1 configuration.

The seats

These seats are among the widest I’ve come across in Business Class, and no, it’s not just my imagination. A check with Emirates shows that the seats had a 20.5-inch width (vs 18.5 inches on the A380). Seat rows were pitched up to 65 inches apart, so there’s plenty of legroom to stretch out, whether you’re vertically-challenged like me, or much taller. 

All seats convert to 78-inch fully flat or lie-flat beds with the touch of a button. However, with this being just a two-hour flight, no mattress pads were provided by the cabin crew for the bed. 

But while I didn’t have enough time to lie down for a nap, it was still a superbly comfortable experience, thanks to the adjustable headrest and a footrest extension, which, together with the recline, leaves you feeling like you’re cradled in a large massage chair. 

Each Business Class passenger gets a bottle of water, bedroom slippers and eye mask, and noise-cancelling headphones.  

There’s enough space around the seat to store small personal items — the usual front seat pocket is spacious enough for a water bottle, and there are even cubby holes for shoes. I liked the small storage compartment at the side of the seat which fits a small handbag, flight essentials I like to have in one pouch and headphones during takeoff and landing.

Some of my favourite travel essentials to take on a flight:

-  Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones, $423. Shop now
-  Beauty of Joseon matte sun stick, $15.26. Buy here
-  Summer Fridays lip balm, $35. Available here  
-  Ray-Ban 0RB3025 Aviator Large Metal Sunglasses, $149.90. Buy now
-  Carhartt hip pack in pink, $44.47. Add to cart
-  Cotopaxi Kapai 1.5l hip pack, $72. Shop now

Food and drinks 

Upon boarding, passengers are served Moët & Chandon champagne or a juice. Cabin crew also take the chance pre-takeoff to take our meal order. And though this was a short flight, they managed to serve a full meal. For lunch, I picked the pappardelle pomodoro (above), which also came with a salted caramel cheesecake, a bread roll, and cabin crew came round to offer more bread (pro-tip: do not refuse the warm garlic bread). 

You’ll never go hungry (or thirsty) since there’s always an array of snacks and drinks available throughout the flight. 

On the flight back to Singapore, it was a dinner service — this baked cod with pine nuts and rice hit the spot, as did the vanilla cheesecake with raspberry coulis.  

Other perks

Wi-Fi is available for Emirates Skywards members — enough for WhatsApping but don’t expect to be scrolling through TikTok. Amenities kits are usually only available on longer flights, but if there’s something you need, ask and the friendly cabin crew may just be able to whip one out for you.

Emirates B777 Business Class : Worth it or not?

Business Class on a two-hour flight is undoubtedly a luxury, especially with this much extra space, luxe touches and an overall elevated flight experience. In fact, with the breeze of checking in and lounge access, you feel like the holiday’s started from the moment you check in at the airport. But even if you can’t bear to splurge on a Business Class ticket on a short flight, splurging on a Business Class ticket on Emirates is worth your while (and money).