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- For my 14-hour flight to New York from Dubai, I decided to fly business class for $5,400 operated by Emirates Airlines.
- Excited to fly business class for the first time, I got to the airport four hours early so I could experience one of Emirates’ legendary business class lounges at Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3, a $4.5 billion building that is the largest airport terminal in the world.
- I visited Emirates Concourse B lounge, which was recently renovated for $11 million. It features five main dining stations, a champagne bar by Moët & Chandon, a spa, a children’s arcade, a Costa Coffee, and seating for 1,500 passengers.
- Over the last year, I’ve visited dozens of airport lounges thanks to Priority Pass. The Emirates lounge blew all of them out of the water.
To say I was excited to fly business class for the first time would be an understatement. Add in the fact that my ticket was with Emirates, rated the fourth best airline in the world, and I was ecstatic.
Determined to get the most out of my experience, I headed to Dubai International Airport four hours early so I could experience one of Emirates’ legendary business class lounges.
Over the last year, I’ve visited dozens of airport lounges thanks to my Priority Pass membership. Some are wonderful, but most are mediocre. Emirates’ lounges, which are not open to Priority Pass members (as far as I know), are reputed to be at another level. I was excited to find out if the rumors were true.
My flight was out of DXB’s Terminal 3, a $4.5 billion building considered to be the largest airport terminal in the world and the second largest building in the world, by floor area.
Emirates has six lounges in DXB, three of which are in Terminal 3. Luckily, I was scheduled to fly out of Concourse B, whose lounge was refurbished two and a half years ago for $11 million.
It did not disappoint. Here’s what it was like:
My journey with Emirates began at Terminal 3, Dubai International Airport’s dedicated Emirates terminal. The $4.5 billion building is the largest airport terminal in the world and the second largest building in the world, by floor area.
Harrison Jacobs/Business Insider
After making it through the dedicated business class and first class entrance, check-in, and security screening, I got into an elevator to take me to the concourse.
Harrison Jacobs/Business Insider
Much to my dismay, the elevator did not drop me directly in front of the business class lounge. I’m sure this is intentional.
As is en vogue for most new terminals, Terminal 3 looks more like a luxury mall than an airport. The concourse is lined with duty-free shops, restaurants, and luxury retailers. I didn’t even see a gate …
Harrison Jacobs/Business Insider
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See Also:
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Source: Business Insider – hjacobs@businessinsider.com (Harrison Jacobs)