One boring afternoon, I was minding my business when I got a call that stopped my whole world. The voice on the other side casually asked if I’d been informed that I was being flown out to Dubai for work. I couldn’t scream. I couldn’t freak out. I was in too much shock to even process the moment.
A few weeks later, my travel itinerary arrived and that’s when I saw it: Business Class. But even then, it hadn’t sunk in. I started my visa application, went through the motions, and before I knew it, my visa was approved. That’s when reality started to simmer. And then came the cherry on top, I realised I was flying with Emirates. The airline with the reputation. The standard. The one you see on mood boards and manifestation journals. That’s when excitement and disbelief finally met.
From the moment Emirates’ complimentary chauffeur pulled up to pick me up, I knew I was about to indulge heavily in the good life. We throw the phrase “soft life” around so casually, but on this trip? I didn’t just taste it, I had a full serving.
It was a rainy, cosy Tuesday night at OR Tambo International Airport when I was dropped off for my flight. No queues, no stress, just straight into the Emirates Business Class lounge. And let me tell you, the first highlight of the night wasn’t even on the plane. It was the chicken curry in the lounge. That meal changed my life a little. I was already impressed and we hadn’t even taken off.
When it was time to board, my luck doubled, we were flying on one of Emirates’ newer aircrafts. All the aesthetics, all the mood, all the luxury you can dream of. I had curated my travel playlist weeks before, and the first song I played was Luther by Kendrick Lamar and SZA. There’s a line I love:
“Better days comin’ for sure…”
And in that moment, I realized I was finally living the better days I used to pray about.
The crew was warm and elegant, true hosts of the sky. Because it was a late-night flight, I eased into the experience: reclined my seat, put on my headphones, and ordered a glass of bubbly. That was my entry point into bliss.
I wasn’t in the mood for a full feast, so I kept it simple with a salmon dish, fresh, flavourful, and perfectly plated. Their menu is filled with drinks and dishes that add that extra layer of comfort to an already seamless experience. I asked the crew not to wake me for breakfast because all I wanted was uninterrupted beauty sleep.
But before I closed my eyes, they handed me a little Bulgari amenity bag, skincare, fragrance, accessories. Luxury only money can buy, delivered with grace at 35,000 feet.
I slept like someone whose manifestations are now memory.
And this is only the flight to Dubai.
Stay tuned, my Dubai review is coming soon, and I’ll also share my return flight experience because that morning flight? I made the MOST of it.
At this point, it’s Emirates Business Class or First Class for me, nothing less. My dreams are louder now, my expectations higher, and I’m stepping into the softest era of my life.