Simon Calder: How my Emirates business class experience compared to economy

Wide body, narrow seat: Simon Calder in his ‘dentist’s chair’ on board the Emirates Boeing 777 - (Simon Calder)

Emirates is 40 years old this year. Since beginning in 1985 with two planes borrowed from Pakistan International Airlines, the Dubai-based carrier has expanded to transform the world – connecting more than 150 cities from its hub in the Gulf.

Many British travellers choose Emirates due to its excellent range of UK departure points – Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow as well as three London airports – and its easy onward connections to Asia, Africa and Australasia.