Emirates has at least six types of business class products currently flying, a result of its rapid expansion, frequent upgrading of quality on old aircraft and better seat designs on new aircraft.

The first three (oldest three) types are cradle style seats with slightly different degrees of recline. As each type of seat came out, small improvements were made, most noticeably in the angle of recline. These seats are comfortable, and to make room for the extra recline a row of seats was taken out of some aircraft.

Nevertheless, you have to be careful which row you choose, since in bulkhead seats and in the final row of business, the recline can be restricted. You will find these on the carrier's A330-200 aircraft in both two and three-class configuration and also on some of the B777 aircraft which have not yet been upgraded (referred to as retrofitted).

Then there is the lie flat cocoon style (the name comes from the fact the seat reclines into its own cocoon, meaning your space isn't infringed by the person in front. These are available on the A340-300 aircraft.

These seats were quickly superseded by another lie-flat offering, introduced on the carrier's 777-200LR and 777-300ER aircraft.

Finally, there is the fully-flat bed found only on the A380. Because to date it only appears on this aircraft, the notes for this can be found on the A380 business class page here.

From Businesstraveller.com

• Emirates to serve Beijing with A380 (01/03/2010)

• Emirates unveils new business class seating (10/08/2006)