Review: Emirates B777 Business Class | Nice – Dubai

This ticket from Nice to Singapore via Dubai is the second leg of my flight from Montreal to Nice via Munich with Lufthansa. It’s part of my trip to Southeast Asia.

To book a one-way flight from Montreal to Nice via Munich (a distance of 4,224 miles) would cost me 70,000 Aeroplan points ( North America-Atlantic Flight Reward Cahrt):

It makes more sense for me to make the most of the Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart by taking advantage of the Aeroplan North America – Pacific Flight Reward Chart (maximizing the 11,000-mile band) AND adding an Aeroplan stopover in Europe for up to 45 days for only 5,000 Aeroplan points:

Thus, my trip Montreal – Munich – Nice – Dubai – Singapore has a total distance of 10,833 miles as indicated by GC Map:

The itinerary booked in this way, including the Aeroplan Stopover, allows me to make “2 trips in 1” while costing me only 97,500 Aeroplan points:

• 87,500 points for flights between North America and Pacific (up to 11,000 miles)
• 5,000 points for the Aeroplan Stopover

This means that my flight from Nice to Singapore via Dubai with Emirates only cost me 27,500 Aeroplan points, including the stopover in Nice!

What’s more, it fulfilled my goal of reviewing on two different Emirates business class experiences:

• Nice – Dubai: Boeing B777-300ER
• Dubai – Singapore: Airbus A380-800

The easiest way to earn Aeroplan Points is to apply for one of these Aeroplan credit cards. Not only will you earn Aeroplan Points as a welcome bonus, but you will also earn Aeroplan Points on all purchases charged to your Aeroplan credit card.

Aeroplan’s most popular credit card is the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card, whose current welcome offer is as follows:

You can also earn Aeroplan Points through the American Express Membership Rewards program. You can transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points to Aeroplan Points at a 1:1 ratio. So 10,000 Membership Rewards points = 10,000 Aeroplan points. Many Membership Rewards credit cards are available in Canada.

In my opinion, one of the best American Express Membership Rewards credit cards is the American Express Cobalt^® Card. With this credit card, you get 5 points per dollar for grocery purchases, convenience stores and spending at restaurants and bars. Also, consider the gift card trick where you can get 5 Points per dollar for many stores like Amazon, SAQ, Ikea, Netflix, etc.

Here is the welcome offer currently available for this card:

The Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is composed of 2 terminals:

• Terminal 1: International flights
• Terminal 2 : Flights mainly in Metropolitan France

However, some international flights are operated from Terminal 2, such as the Nice – Dubai flight.

When travelling in Business or First Class with Emirates, you will have access to the priority security line and The Levity Lounge, located in the International Zone B (non-Schengen) of the terminal.

This one is also available for Priority Pass members (via the Platinum Card^® or the Scotiabank Platinum American Express^® Card) or DragonPass (available with many Visa and Mastercard such as the CIBC Aventura^® Visa Infinite* Card, Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card or BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard).

Having arrived at my gate just at the start of boarding, I did not take advantage of this lounge. The boarding was on time at gate B27.

This is a view of the Emirates Boeing 777 from the gate. As of June 1^st, 2023, Emirates will be positioning an Airbus A380 on this route for the summer season. This makes Nice Côte d’Azur the only French airport (apart from Paris Charles de Gaulle) to receive this aircraft.

You enter the aircraft through the first door, which means you pass the famous Emirates First Class called Game Changer, which can now be booked with Aeroplan points. See the review made on board by Audrey.

Emirates’ B777 business class has two cabins. A first two-row mini-cabin is located just behind the First Class, followed by a main cabin.

What stands out when entering the business class is its density with a 2-3-2 configuration. Usually, we see this type of configuration for Premium Economy. You really don’t want to end up in the middle seat, which is the last thing you want in business class!

However, the design is refined, as with the seats inspired by Mercedes-Benz car seat technology (as is the case in the First Class).

In my opinion, the best seats are the ones in rows 6 and 8 because they have a little more legroom without them being trapped in a cubicle when you’re lying down.

Plus, you’ll be able to have extra storage under the ottoman (which is how I stored my 16-inch Macbook Pro, extra monitor and cable bag). From what I could see on the other rows, there is no such storage.

Be aware that if you choose a window seat, you will have to step over your neighbour. On the other hand, choosing the aisle seat exposes you to the comings and goings in the aisle (rather tight because of the 2-3-2 configuration).

The leather seat is very comfortable, in my opinion: I really feel like I am sitting in the passenger seat of a high-end Mercedes-Benz.

Being 5’10”, I had no problem with the available leg length. Also, I like having 3 windows at this seat.

It is adjustable in all directions and, of course, tiltable to 180 degrees in the bed position.

For a 6-hour flight, it is a good product. However, for longer flights (requiring sleep), I think its narrowness could be an issue.

The touch screen is 23 inches in size. You can see how big it is with the famous Milesopedia coaster test.

You can also control it from a detachable touch pad. This tablet allows you to control other aspects of your living space (light, seat, etc.)

On the center console, you’ll have just enough room to put your drink with the passenger sitting next to you. A small shelf can be unfolded for snacks.

On the center console, you’ll find your seat controls as well as USB and HDMI ports, and the headphone jack. You can connect via Bluetooth to your media display, which is handy when you have AirPods Pro or Beats Fits Pro, as I do.

Below this center console, you will find a mini-bar. This is more of a gimmick to me: this one is not refrigerated. I would have preferred to have additional storage instead.

Next to your head, you will find buttons to lower/raise the seat and a reading light. As well as a button to lower/raise the partition separating you from your neighbour.

You also have adjustable air conditioning vents. Some airlines have decided to eliminate them, but Emirates has not.

Finally, you get a comfortable standing area with the central table. It is a very large size (for the record, this is a 16-inch Macbook Pro with an Asus ZenScreen remote USB-C display).

When boarding, the Emirates flight attendant offered refreshments, including Veuve Cliquot champagne.

Noise-cancelling headphones are distributed. But no Bulgari welcome kit (these would only be offered on night flights and flights lasting more than 7 hours).

We take off on time from Nice Côte d’Azur airport with a beautiful view of the snow-capped mountains of the Alpes-Maritimes.

Shortly after takeoff, the meal service began. For this meal, I chose:

• Traditional Arabic Mezze: Hummus, muhammara, baba ghanouj, stuffed vine leaves and Kalamata olives.

• Grilled cod with lobster sauce: Served with basmati rice, roasted fennel and buttered edamame.

• Chocolate cake, served with mango compote

Here is the complete menu:

Shortly after the meal, the cabin lights are dimmed, and the ceiling displays a starry sky.

Small passage to the toilets, which are of small size. Bulgari perfume for men and women is available for self-service.

In the end, I have mixed feelings about this Emirates business class flight from Nice to Dubai.

The 2-3-2 configuration (hard product) is certainly not up to the level of what is offered elsewhere with Aeroplan such as Air Canada, Etihad, Swiss, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways.

However, the service (soft product) is of high quality.

For a rather short flight like this one (6 hours), it can pass. For a more extended flight, however, you may prefer to fly on Emirates’ A380 (which offers a much more comfortable 1-2-1 configuration – plus more space and an in-flight bar available to Business Class passengers).

Or choose to travel with another airline like Etihad Airways.

Surprisingly, Emirates has chosen to offer this type of product when other Gulf airlines such as Etihad, Gulf Air, Oman Air and especially Qatar Airways offer much better products.