Emirates’ New Business Class on the Boeing 777

Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.

I recently enjoyed a wonderful, short holiday in Dubai. You can read my trip reports here:

• Review: Emirates Boeing 777 new Business Class from Brussels to Dubai (today)
• Review: Atlantis The Royal Dubai (phenomenal ultra-luxury hotel)

Today: Review of Emirates’ Boeing 777 New Business Class (Brussels to Dubai)

I recently flew from Brussels to Dubai on Emirates’ new Business Class aboard a Boeing 777-300ER, and it was a truly impressive experience from start to finish. This new cabin represents a massive improvement over the older Emirates 777 Business Class layout, which featured a denser 2-3-2 configuration. The redesigned 1-2-1 layout offers every passenger direct aisle access, increased privacy, and far more space to relax and sleep comfortably. From the moment I settled into my seat, I could immediately feel how much thought Emirates has put into the redesign. The seat padding is exceptional, easily the most supportive and comfortable I have ever experienced in Business Class. Whether sitting upright, lounging to watch a movie, or lying flat for rest, the cushioning felt luxurious and perfectly contoured. Emirates has taken what was already a respected product and elevated it into something genuinely world-class — refined, elegant, and built around passenger comfort.

Have you flown in Emirates Business Class? Please share your experience in the comments below.

Flight details:

• Trip: Brussels (BRU) to Dubai (DXB)
• Airline: Emirates
• Aircraft type:Boeing 777-300ER
• Aircraft registration number: A6-EQM (built in 2018)
• On time departure: Yes (3 pm)
• On time arrival: Yes (11:30 pm)
• Miles: 3200 miles (5100 km)
• Flight time: 6 hours and 30 minutes
• Seat: 5K
• Class: Business Class

In this review (more information & photos below my YouTube video):

1. Emirates Boeing 777 fleet & refurbishment progress
2. Chauffeur service to the airport
3. The View Lounge at Brussels Airport
4. Business Class cabin
5. Business Class seat (+ best & worst seats)
6. Amenities & bedding
7. Meals
8. Entertainment
9. Onboard internet
10. Other inflight experiences
11. Final thoughts & my verdict (score)

1. Emirates Boeing 777 Fleet & Refurbishment Progress

Emirates operates one of the largest fleets of Boeing 777 aircraft in the world, with over 140 aircraft in service connecting destinations across six continents. In recent years, the airline has been progressively refurbishing its 777s to bring them in line with the standards of its A380 flagship cabins. The refurbishment program includes the installation of fully lie-flat Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 layout, updated First Class suites on select aircraft, introduction of Premium Economy, refreshed interiors with modern color schemes, LED lighting, luxury finishes, and upgraded IFE and connectivity systems.

Emirates is gradually rolling out its refurbished Boeing 777 aircraft across a growing list of destinations worldwide. The upgraded aircraft currently operates on routes to Zurich (Switzerland), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), and Brussels (Belgium). In the United States, the refurbished 777s serve Chicago, Boston, Dallas Fort Worth, Seattle, and Miami (via Bogotá). In Europe and beyond, further deployments include London Stansted (UK), Lisbon (Portugal), Hong Kong (SAR), and Johannesburg and Cape Town (South Africa).

2. Chauffeur service to the Airport

My journey started with a complimentary airport transfer in a luxury car. Emirates’ chauffeur service is a complimentary benefit for all Business and First Class passengers traveling to or from the airport, providing a seamless and stress-free start or end to the journey. The service is available in select cities, including Brussels, and allows passengers to be picked up from their home, hotel, or office and transported directly to the airport in a luxury vehicle. On arrival, the chauffeur is also available to take passengers from the aircraft to their destination. The service is designed to save time, reduce stress, and enhance the overall travel experience, complementing the airline’s premium cabin offerings by ensuring that every aspect of the journey, from door to door, is comfortable and efficient.

3. The View Lounge at Brussels Airport

Before departure, I visited The View Lounge at Brussels Airport’s Pier B, which hosts passengers traveling to non-Schengen destinations such as Dubai. Emirates does not operate its own dedicated lounge in Brussels, but Business Class passengers and Skywards elite members are granted access to The View Lounge, which is shared by several international airlines. Despite being a third-party facility, it delivers a genuinely premium experience.

At the entrance, guests are greeted by a display celebrating Belgian culture and craftsmanship, featuring charming Tintin memorabilia, boxes of Belgian chocolates, and other locally made products that highlight the country’s rich heritage. It’s a welcoming and distinctly Belgian touch that immediately adds warmth and character to the space.

Inside, the lounge opens into a bright, modern, and spacious area with plenty of seating options — from cozy armchairs by the windows to semi-private booths ideal for work or quiet relaxation. The centerpiece is a stylish central bar, crowned by a beautiful Art Deco–inspired ceiling that gives the space a sophisticated yet contemporary look. Around the bar, you’ll find a variety of seating zones, including dining tables, high stools, and more secluded areas for passengers who prefer privacy. Next to the bar is a billiard table, an unexpected addition that adds a touch of fun to the otherwise calm, businesslike environment

There’s also a studio area with working booths for business travelers, as well as a buffet area offering a selection of hot and cold dishes, snacks, and beverages — including Belgian beers, wines, and waffles. The large panoramic windows on both sides of the lounge overlook the tarmac, offering excellent views of aircraft movements and plenty of natural light. Combined with its sophisticated design, local touches, and peaceful atmosphere, The View Lounge stands out as one of the more elegant and well-curated airport lounges in Europe.

4. Business Class Cabin

The new Business Class cabin onboard Emirates’ refurbished Boeing 777 is divided into two sections, offering a total of 38 seats arranged in a 1-2-1 staggered configuration. Every passenger enjoys direct aisle access, ensuring a sense of privacy and personal space. The front cabin, located directly behind First Class, consists of three rows of seats and feels noticeably more intimate and exclusive, while the aft cabin contains seven rows, offering a slightly larger space but still maintaining a calm and premium atmosphere. The thoughtful seat staggering – with private options for solo travelers and paired configurations for pairs – makes this cabin highly versatile:

• Seats along the windows alternate between “true” window seats (which are positioned closer to the fuselage) and aisle-adjacent seats (set slightly closer to the aisle with a wider side table facing the window). The true window seats are more private and highly sought-after, ideal for solo travelers who prefer scenic views and a cocoon-like feel.
• In the center section, seats are arranged in paired configurations, designed with couples or traveling companions in mind. These paired seats share a central divider, which can be lowered or raised for privacy.
• Notably, row 3 at the rear of the front Business Class cabin contains only two seats—one on each side of the aisle (5A and 5K)—rather than the full four-seat row. These seats offer extra privacy and are often considered a “mini-cabin” of their own due to their separation from the main Business Class zone. They are an excellent choice for passengers seeking a quieter, more secluded space (although they lack a window).

The 1-2-1 layout brings the Business Class product on Emirates’ Boeing 777 in line with the airline’s flagship A380 fleet, which is currently undergoing its own extensive refurbishment program. The consistency between the two aircraft types ensures that passengers can now expect a uniform level of comfort, privacy, and modern design whether they fly on the 777 or the A380.

The design aesthetic of the new Business Class cabin is unmistakably premium. Emirates has drawn inspiration from luxury sports car interiors, incorporating sleek curves, leather finishes, and brushed metal accents. The color palette combines creamy beige, champagne gold, and rich bronze tones, giving the cabin a sophisticated, high-end look without feeling overly flashy. Soft ambient lighting adds warmth, while the layout creates an open and airy feel.

Unlike some competing Business Class products, Emirates has chosen not to install sliding privacy doors on these seats. Despite that, the seat shell is cleverly contoured and positioned in a way that makes the space feel remarkably private. Once seated, you have minimal visibility of neighboring passengers, especially in the window seats, which offer an almost cocoon-like level of seclusion. The result is a cabin that feels both open and airy, yet personal and intimate — a balance that many fully enclosed suites don’t always achieve.

Overall, the cabin design manages to balance Emirates’ signature opulence with a more contemporary and understated luxury. It feels premium without being overdone, and the improved layout ensures every passenger can travel in comfort and style — now with a consistent standard across both the Boeing 777 and the refurbished Airbus A380.

5. Business Class Seat

The new Business Class seat on Emirates’ Boeing 777-300ER is a beautifully designed space that combines refined style with excellent comfort and practicality. From the moment you sit down, it feels like a major step up from the older 777 seats, with more room, better ergonomics, and a noticeably higher level of privacy.

Each seat measures 21 inches (53 cm) in width and offers a pitch of 44 inches (112 cm), providing plenty of space to stretch out and move comfortably. When fully reclined, the seat transforms into a lie-flat bed nearly 78 inches (200 cm) long, offering ample room even for taller passengers. The padding is excellent — soft yet supportive — making the seat one of the most comfortable I’ve ever flown in, whether sitting upright or sleeping flat. Shortly after takeoff, the crew adds a mattress topper to each seat, which makes a significant difference. The topper adds plushness and helps smooth out any firmness in the seat base, turning it into an exceptionally cozy and inviting plane seat (or bed).

To one side of the seat sits a multi-purpose console, which includes a reading light, a personal mini-bar stocked with bottled water and packaged snacks, and multiple charging options — including a universal AC socket, USB-A, and USB-C ports — all within easy reach. The console top also holds a small shelf, perfect for placing personal items like a phone or camera.

Next to the console is a large side table, which serves as a workspace and houses the tablet-style touchscreen controller. This tablet can be used to manage seat positions, lighting, and inflight entertainment through Emirates’ award-winning ICE system, without having to touch the main screen. The interface is fast, modern, and intuitive, allowing you to adjust your environment with a few simple taps.

Beneath the side table and just above the armrest lies a secondary control panel featuring quick-access buttons for seat recline, lighting, and “Do Not Disturb” settings. While convenient, its placement can be a little too close to the armrest — I found myself accidentally pressing the call button several times during the flight, prompting the crew to appear almost instantly with their usual warmth and professionalism. It’s a small but memorable detail that says a lot about Emirates’ attentive service.

The tray table folds neatly out from the console and slides forward securely, offering a generous surface for dining or working on a laptop. Directly in front of the seat, a 23-inch (58 cm) HD touchscreen displays Emirates’ world-class entertainment selection with sharp resolution and rich color. A wide ottoman sits beneath the screen, doubling as a footrest and storage space for personal items. In the middle section of the cabin, a movable privacy divider can be raised to create additional separation between paired seats.

What are the best Business Class seats on Emirates Boeing 777-300ER?

• The best seats are the seats in the front cabin, directly behind First Class. This cabin contains three rows, making it smaller, quieter, and more intimate than the aft section. Additionally, the proximity to the front galley means service is prompt, and you can enjoy meals without waiting for the crew to reach the rear cabin.
• Passengers traveling solo will prefer the single window seats, while couples may enjoy the center pairs with the divider lowered for easier interaction.

What are the worst Business Class seats on Emirates Boeing 777-300ER?

• The window seats in the third rows of the front cabin (seats 5A and 5K) are missing a window, so if you lean back you’re just looking at a wall.

6. Amenities

During this medium-haul flight from Brussels to Dubai, Emirates provided soft slippers, a comfortable eye mask, noise-cancelling headphones, a large pillow, and a plush blanket — all of which contributed to a restful flight. The blanket in particular is thicker and warmer than what most airlines offer in Business Class. Shortly after takeoff, the crew also placed a mattress topper over each seat, making the seat surface exceptionally comfortable for rest or sleep.

While Emirates’ amenity kits are normally only given on long-haul flights, on my medium-haul Brussels to Dubai flight, I was delighted to receive both the men’s and women’s amenity kit after the crew noticed I was taking many photos of the cabin and amenities.

The men’s Bulgari kit was presented in a chestnut brown fabric toiletry bag with cream faux leather accents. It included the signature ‘Bvlgari Wood Essence’ Eau de Parfum, a magnetic amber-spicy scent by Alberto Morillas featuring vibrant spices and a leather accord. Other complementary items included Bvlgari aftershave balm and body lotion, a Gillette razor with shaving foam, and essentials such as a dental kit, earplugs, deodorant, tissues, and a foldaway hairbrush made from wheat straw.

The women’s Bulgari kit is a classic toiletry bag featuring a stylish soft cream color accented with pops of coral. The kit included the iconic fragrance ‘Bvlgaria Rose Golden’ Eau de Toilette, crafted by master perfumer Alberto Morillas. The kit also contained a Bvlgari face emulsion, body lotion, and lip balm, alongside practical items such as a dental kit, earplugs, a foldaway double mirror made from wheat straw, deodorant, tissues, and a foldaway hairbrush with a soft black elastic hair tie.

7. Meals

The in-flight dining experience on Emirates remains one of the best in the skies. The meal service began shortly after takeoff with a choice of welcome drinks, including Champagne and freshly squeezed juices, served with mixed nuts and/or olives.

Lunch was served on fine china with metal cutlery and crisp linens, maintaining a true restaurant-style presentation. The menu featured multiple courses, including an appetizer, main course, cheese plate, and dessert. On this flight, I choose the following selection from the lunch menu:

• Starter: Belgian grey shrimps, served with mango orange sauce, roasted roma tomatoes, quinoa salad with pomegranate, pickled radish and walnuts
• Main course: creamy Belgian seafood stew (‘waterzooi’) of cod, prawns and seabream with turmeric potatoes, leek and carrots
• Dessert: wild berry and almond tart, served with crème anglaise, and an assortment of fresh cut fruits

The wine list was equally impressive, with well-chosen selections from France, South Africa, and Australia. The cabin crew offered refills throughout the meal and followed up with coffee, tea, or digestifs. For a Business Class meal, the quality, taste, and presentation were excellent — consistent with Emirates’ reputation for high-end inflight dining.

Approximately 90 minutes prior to landing, the crew offered a light pre-arrival refreshment that included Madagascar vanilla ice cream and petit fours, providing a sweet and satisfying conclusion to the journey.

Additionally, Emirates had installed a self-service bar at the rear of the front Business Class cabin, stocked with snacks, fruits, and light refreshments. Passengers could help themselves to these items throughout the flight, making it easy to enjoy a snack or drink whenever desired without waiting for table service.

8. In-flight Entertainment

Emirates’ ICE (Information, Communication, Entertainment) system continues to be the gold standard in inflight entertainment. The system offers thousands of movies, TV shows, music albums, games, and podcasts, catering to all tastes and languages.

The HD touchscreen is responsive and easy to navigate, and the additional tablet-style remote control allows you to browse the library without interrupting what’s playing on the main screen. The selection is regularly updated, with the latest Hollywood releases, international films, and a huge collection of box sets for binge-watching.

An exciting feature of Emirates’ ICE system aboard the Boeing 777 is the inclusion of onboard cameras, which provide real-time views from outside the aircraft. Passengers can watch takeoff, landing, or scenic overflight footage from multiple camera angles, including forward-facing and belly cameras. This adds an extra layer of engagement, particularly for aviation enthusiasts or passengers who simply enjoy seeing the world from above.

Noise-cancelling headphones are provided and perform well, isolating the cabin noise effectively and allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the entertainment. Whether you want to relax with a film or listen to music while working, ICE remains one of the best systems in the industry.

9. Onboard Wi-Fi

Emirates provides onboard Wi-Fi on its entire Boeing 777 fleet, allowing passengers to stay connected during their flight. Business and First Class passengers, as well as Skywards loyalty members, enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi access for messaging and browsing, making it easy to keep in touch with colleagues, friends, or family while in the air. Standard Wi-Fi packages for non-members are available for purchase.

While basic browsing and messaging are free for eligible passengers, streaming services are not included, as bandwidth is limited at cruising altitude. Despite this limitation, the connection is generally reliable for email, social media, messaging apps, and light browsing, which is particularly convenient for business travelers or anyone needing to remain productive during the flight.

10. Other Inflight Experiences

# CREW: Emirates’ cabin crew on this flight deserve special recognition. From the warm welcome at the door to the attentive service throughout the flight, every interaction was polished yet friendly. The crew addressed me by name, checked frequently to see if anything was needed, and carried out the service with genuine warmth and professionalism. Their ability to balance efficiency with a personal touch is what truly makes Emirates stand out. Small gestures — such as refilling drinks proactively, adjusting cabin lighting for rest, and preparing the seat for sleep — demonstrate a level of attentiveness that few airlines consistently achieve.

# LAVATORY: The two Business Class lavatories on Emirates’ 777-300ER are clean, bright, and finished with elegant details like polished chrome fittings and subtle lighting. Throughout the flight, the crew kept them spotless, restocking hand towels, soap, and moisturizer regularly. The amenities available — including luxury hand creams and facial mists — add a touch of indulgence and elevate the overall onboard experience.

11. Final Thoughts & My Verdict

Overall, Emirates’ new Business Class on the Boeing 777-300ER is a huge leap forward for the airline and easily one of the best premium products in the skies. The combination of comfort, privacy, cutting-edge design, and flawless service creates a genuinely luxurious experience. The new seat’s padding and layout make it the most comfortable Business Class seat I have ever flown in, and together with the excellent food, ICE entertainment, Wi-Fi connectivity, and outstanding crew, Emirates delivers a near-perfect long-haul product.

Here’s my verdict on Emirates’ new Business Class on the Boeing 777:

• Cabin design: 9/10
• Seat layout: 9/10
• Seat privacy: 8/10
• Seat comfort (upright): 10/10
• Seat comfort (bed position): 9/10
• Food (quality): 8/10
• Food (quantity): 8/10
• Inflight entertainment : 10/10
• WiFi: 9/10
• Service: 10/10
• Overall experience: exceptional ) 9/10

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