Why I love Emirates

I just returned from Sri Lanka yesterday afternoon and my head is spinning from a glorious whirlwind trip. Bookending my visit—which included four days exploring the southern coast and four days in Colombo, where I stayed with my sister (who has been living there since September, researching her  PhD dissertation)—were two extraordinarily pleasant flights on Emirates.

I flew Economy both ways, so I didn't get to try out the much-heralded First Class shower on the A380, but I was impressed nonetheless. Not only is the food superb (lunch was four courses, not including a cheese course), but the service was impeccable. American flight attendants could learn a thing or two from the efficient Emirates crew, each of whom had an eternally sunny disposition. They actually seem happy to be there, brandishing hot wet washcloths, serving you tea between meals ("Would you like some biscuits with that?"), and even (in one case I saw) fondly holding your baby in the galley so you can go to the loo.   

Best of all, and most relevant for whoever may be reading this, Emirates put me up at a hotel at the Dubai airport—FOR FREE!   I had a nine-hour layover in Dubai on the way out and knew I'd be desperate for sleep. While researching my hotel options, I came across this lovely passage on the Emirates web site. Basically, if your layover is longer than 8 hours, the airline will pay for you to stay at the Millenium Airport Hotel.  (They also gave me vouchers for breakfast, a snack, and dinner—but I'd been so well fed on the flight that I saw no need to use them.)   I took a five-hour nap, had a shower and checked my e-mail and was refreshed and excited for the second leg of my flight.

Also, the choice of on-demand movies and TV shows was fabulous (I watched 30 Rock and Fawlty Towers) as were the techie amenities, especially on the A380: an outlet to recharge my laptop and a wireless Internet access. Oh, and how could I forget?  The coffee was excellent. 

Flying Emirates made me excited to travel again, not just wish (as I so often do when I fly American airlines) that there was a time machine that could transport me to my destination instantly.