Review / Shhh! Emirates has a secret drinks menu in business and first class – only served on request
Emirates is often referred to by the Chinese as the tuhao – or nouveau riche – airline
Emirates offers one of the world’s most comfortable flying experiences. It’s also one of the most reviewed airlines on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, a top choice for China’s millennial travellers, who refer to it as a tuhao – or nouveau riche – airline for its luxurious services.
Flying from Paris to Hong Kong via Dubai takes a third longer than taking the direct route, but rediscovering what the company has been practising in winning over the affluent Chinese market was a fun experiment.
Two young and fashionable Chinese females sporting the latest Chanel and Dior designs on my flight from Paris to Dubai, said they each spent over HK$100,000 for the first-class, private suite and deemed it a must-have experience.
The gigantic Airbus A380 is set up over two floors, the upper level houses first and business class, with the economy seats on the ground floor.
On boarding, the stylishly-dressed flight attendants handed out the signature Bulgari amenity kit, which includes fragrance and face emulsion. Later, travellers were treated to a glass of Veuve Clicquot or Moët & Chandon champagne depending on the route. This was just the start of a free-flow journey.
Before dinner, travellers were treated again with a choice from over a dozen cocktails, including classics like Negroni, Cosmopolitan, Bloody Mary as well as destination-inspired inventions, accompanied by warm nuts or marinated olives. Travellers had a choice to continue with the champagne or ask the in-flight mixologist to customise their own drink from spirits listed on the à la carte menu.
