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An Inside Look at a Day in the Life of an Emirates Flight Attendant

Find out what it's like to work for one of the world's best airlines, from the perks to the training.

Dubai -based carrier Emirates Airline has a team of cabin crew made up of more than 20,000 individuals who travel from across the globe to move to the destination and become part of one of the world's top airlines .

Crew members receive accommodation in Dubai and conduct extensive training to ensure a safe and smooth flight for passengers, learning everything from how to deliver babies mid-flight to how to conduct water landings, all while traveling to locales around the world.

The airline has the industry's largest fleet of Airbus A380 aircraft , which is the world's largest passenger plane at a capacity of up to 853 passengers spread across two floors. Working with such a large aircraft presents its own scenarios for crew members, with plenty of tucked-away spaces they utilize throughout the plane.

Travel + Leisure took a look at what a day in the life of an Emirates flight attendant is like, from what they do before you arrive at the airport to what happens while we're sleeping and how they stay healthy while spending so many hours in the sky.

Moving to Dubai:

Since the airline is based in Dubai, new hires move to Dubai on a Friday, starting with the induction portion of their training that involves roughly eight days of processes like visa applications, cultural acclamation, and accommodation setup.

The airline provides its crew members with accommodations throughout Dubai, some of which are located in hotspots like the Dubai Mall and others that let residents wake up to views of the Burj Khalifa .

“You get times where you have a two or three bedroom apartment that feels like your own, and days where you can make it your own little family with your flatmates in Dubai,” cabin crew member Ashley Matsumura, who has been a flight attendant with the airline for seven years, told T+L.

"We have some 22,000 crew members here, so it can feel like a little city of our own," Matsumura added.

Getting Trained:

Newly-hired crew spend around two months receiving training at the airline's facility, which is home to three different aircraft simulators brought in from Germany that allow airline staff to mimic real-life scenarios they may face during flights, ranging from putting out fires to conducting water landings and using evacuation slides.

Before a Flight:

Crew arrive to the airline’s headquarters located right next to the Dubai International Airport roughly two hours before morning flights to run through flight briefings.

The airline provides transportation to and from work areas, which can take anywhere from five to thirty minutes depending on what accommodation crew is traveling from.

The airline has a mini-airport within its headquarters for crew, which is where cabin crew go through security, before briefing for about 30 minutes to go over flight details like the flight's length, capacity, expected services, and expected areas of the flight where crew could face turbulence.

After briefing, crew board Emirates’ buses and travel through an underground tunnel that connects from the headquarters to the airport, but because of the massive size of the airport, the ride can take anywhere from two to 25 minutes depending on what side they enter from.

Safety and Security:

When aviation first took off in the early 1900s, stewardesses were required to be registered nurses, and the emphasis on passengers’ safety still remains in the role today.

When crew arrive to the airport, they run a safety check for equipment like fire extinguishers and for medical documentations and sterilization tools to ensure a clean environment.

Crew will also check for safety items like a megaphone, which they use to be able to communicate with passengers in emergency cases where the electricity might cut out thanks to the large size of the A380.

Getting Into Uniform:

Flight attendants have uniform requirements they need to follow when stationed over 30,000 feet above ground. They'll start with a full uniform during boarding, changing into flat shoes and a waist coast after takeoff to conduct the service portion.

As part of their training, crew go through image training, learning how to do everything from tie a French roll to how to prepare and maintain their skin during flights.

Crew also learn about details like the approved nail polish tones (specific beige tones, light pink hues, and French manicures) and shades of red lipstick they can wear for the airline's signature look.

Physical Requirements:

To become a cabin crew member with the airline, an individual must be at least 21 years old, fluent in English, have a high school education, and have no visible tattoos when wearing the uniform.

Physical requirements also include a minimum height of 160 centimeters (about 5’2”) and a minimum arm reach of 212 centimeters (about 6.9 feet) to ensure crew members can reach emergency equipment on the airline’s aircraft.

Premium Service:

Once the safety check process is complete in about 15 to 20 minutes, crew start pouring the welcome drinks offered to first and business class passengers.

Passengers in both cabins receive complimentary champagne and fruit juices to sip before departure, which cabin crew will prepare to hand out to passengers when they board the aircraft.

Since economy class hosts a larger number of passengers, cabin crew will first seat and situate passengers before coming through the aisles to pass out menus and amenity kits.

A Bar in the Middle of an Aircraft:

One of the noted features passengers flying with Emirates on the A380 will find is the onboard lounge, where business and first-class passengers can enjoy a range of cocktails made by cabin crew members.

First-class passengers will also find a bar and social space that converts to the waterfall area outside of the famed shower spa.

On flights, a dedicated cabin crew member will work the onboard lounge, setting up the bar after takeoff and serving drinks that range from champagne with Hennessy X.O., orange bitters, and a cherry, to a classic martini made with Sipsmith London Dry Gin, a hint of Martini Extra Dry, and an olive.

Serving and Monitoring:

Since safety is a top priority, cabin crew are trained in hand-to-hand combat, identifying suspects, and using a passenger's body weight against him/her if needed, though Matsumura has found that typically the worst situation cabin crew might deal with is an intoxicated passenger.

When it comes to avoiding intoxicated passengers, crew can often tell when people have been drinking before boarding and monitor the number of drinks passengers are ordering to ensure a safe environment.

Food Service:

Food services vary from cabin to cabin and include special touches like warm towels that are soaked with a boiling water tap located in the galley.

First-class dining is offered as an on-demand service, with passengers able to order items throughout their flight. The airline has more than 60 different kinds of cheese offered to passengers throughout its cabins, which crew members also receive training on to be able to answer questions about and offer suggestions for during flights.

In economy and business class, cabin crew take meal orders, though passengers can also order additional light selections ranging from choices like fruit and snack bars in economy to Caesar salad in business class.

While most items are pre-plated, crew members will heat the dish add final touches like garnishes on plates before serving.

Time to Eat:

Dishes are pre-cooked at the airline’s catering facility and made to be served within 72 hours, with cabin crew heating the items using the ovens in the galley.

Transporting food from one floor to the other can get tricky on such a large aircraft, which is why the aircraft has an elevator for carts to allow crew to transport them up and down floors for food service.

Steak is also one of the trickiest items to prepare, since crew need to time the heating instructions precisely to ensure it is cooked exactly to passengers' preference (which can vary greatly).

Meal Breaks:

Cabin crew are provided meal selections during flights that usually include a hot meal choice with both chicken and beef options, a vegetarian plate, sandwiches, healthy options like fruits and salads, and dry snack foods like almond butter and miniature Nutella packets.

Sliding tray tables located in the galley and on jumpseats provide a space to prop meals on when crew are looking to eat in between services.

Sometimes crew members sit and eat together in the galley, depending on how full a flight is, or will otherwise take shifts for breaks.

Staying Healthy:

Flights can be as long as 16 hours, which is why crew often pack snacks like fresh fruit and medication kits that include vitamin C to maintain energy.

Since cabin crew can deal with varied hours, often landing at times like 4 a.m. when it’s too early for breakfast and too late for dinner, Matsumura often turns to fresh juices to ensure she gets nutrients when having a full meal is not an option.

She also packs ginger tea bags to combine with lemon and honey that are available on flights and collagen sachets she uses to combine with water to help her skin retain a youthful glow when dealing with variations in humidity during flights.

The airline also provides crew a dedicated medical staff and nutritionists who teach crew everything from exercises to conduct in hotel rooms to skincare regimes to follow for shifting time zones.

Seat Assignments:

Every crew member has an assigned role during a flight, which is determined based on where they sit. Cabin crew members sitting to the right and left jumpseat of the cabins are typically working those cabins, each responsible for the side of the cabin they’re seated at.

The galley operator will prepare the welcome drinks, towels, and amenity bags for crew to distribute, while another cabin crew member manages the onboard lounge.

The purser, who manages staff across the cabins and corresponds with the pilot, switches crew members' positions each flight and is also responsible for conducting certain paperwork and playing the videos seen on seatback screens from a dedicated office hidden on the aircraft.

Crew looking to move up can advance to a cabin supervisor in three years and to a purser after another two years.

After carrying out meal services, cabin crew will sweep through the cabin and then turn on the mood lighting, which includes tiny stars to lull passengers to sleep. Cabin crew also set up mattresses for first and business-class passengers to provide a more comfortable seating arrangement.

Cabin crew members also take turns resting during this time, as they have mandatory rest times which vary depending on the duration of a flight. Crew members have sleeping quarters tucked into the aircraft that they can retreat to when it is time to rest.

To prepare for landing, crew remove any waste, glassware, and items left on tray tables from the galley. Since economy has a higher number of passengers, crew do this in economy before landing, while items in business and first class are removed while economy passengers disembark the aircraft.

On shorter flights, crew could be on the ground for as little as an hour and half to two hours before heading on another flight while longer flights include a 24-hour layover. Flights to the U.S. typically include two-day layovers, with the airline setting up accomodation and transportation for crew once they land.

A Life of Travel:

“Many of us said during our interviews that we have a passion for travel, and we get to see so many places in the world I didn’t even know existed,” Matsumura told T+L. “I never imaged someday that I’d be on a safari in Zimbabwe.”

In addition to free accommodation, transportation, and meal allowances during layovers, crew also get 30 days of vacation, discounted travel for friends and family, and one free ticket to their home country each year (which they can switch to any country the airline flies to after three years).

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Emirates tells cabin crew they must get vaccinated or pay for COVID-19 tests before flights

• Emirates told staff they must get vaccinated or pay for a COVID-19 test before flying, Reuters reported.
• If cabin crew aren't vaccinated or tested within seven days of a flight, they'll be put on standby duty.
• 60% of Emirates staff have had the first or second dose, or are registered to get the vaccine.

Emirates has told its cabin crew that they must get vaccinated against COVID-19 or pay for a test to prove they're not infected before each flight.

From March 15, any crew members not vaccinated against the virus would have to submit a negative COVID-19 PCR test in the seven days before their flight, Emirates said in an internal email to employees, seen by Reuters .

If cabin crew members didn't get vaccinated or pay for a test, they would be put on standby duty, unless they are exempt, the email said.

Those exceptions are crew members who have registered to take their first dose, are waiting for their second shot, have a valid medical reason, or have recently had COVID-19, Emirates said.

Related stories

"Certain countries may in the future differentiate the entry criteria between those who have taken the vaccine and those who did not," the airline told its crew members in the email.

"Keeping this in mind, having a vaccinated workforce has become essential not just from a health and safety angle but from an operational one too."

So far, 60% of Emirates' crew has either been fully or partially vaccinated against coronavirus, or is registered to get the vaccine, the email said.

Emirates didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, but a spokesperson told Reuters the policy applied to all employees in the United Arab Emirates.

Etihad Airways announced in February that all of its crew members had received the COVID-19 vaccine — the first airline in the world to reach this milestone.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said in January he wanted to make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for all employees, and said the airline would be among the first to impose the rule.

Watch: Airline salaries compared to stock buybacks show why so many people are angry at the bailout

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UAE companies look for cheaper flights for staff as air travel costs surge

Price of tickets to many destinations have almost doubled.

1. The US is the most popular destination for travel this Eid, according to new data from Sojern. Unsplash / Carlos Bastias

Employers in the UAE are looking for cheaper contractual flights home for staff amid rising airline ticket prices .

Human resources managers in some companies have urged employees to be more “flexible and realistic”, as the cost of international travel in recent months has almost doubled in some cases.

Employees in the Emirates typically have one flight a year to their home countries as part of their contracts — some even for their entire family.

But this is proving a challenge.

Even fares for short-haul journeys to places such as India and Bangladesh have risen to more than Dh2,500 ($680) per ticket, while flights to London top Dh4,000 ($1,090).

“A lot of companies are asking staff not to take direct flights home this summer because the costs have gone up tremendously,” Dubai-based HR consultant Rohini Bhalla Gill said.

“In some cases the prices have almost doubled — especially to the UK — so employees need to flexible about that.

“In one case, I worked with a company that had one staff member threaten to resign recently if they didn’t get the same flight they always used in the past.”

Aviation fuel prices up 45 per cent this year

The increased cost of fuel has pushed up the prices of flights.

The challenge for companies has been compounded with many staff hoping to return home this summer for the first time since the pandemic started in early 2020.

“Companies are not saying they won’t pay for staff to fly home, but people should be prepared to accept the airline or the route could be different than what they used in the past,” Ms Gill said.

“Staff need to work with their employers. They wouldn’t be booking these flights either if they were paying out of their own money.

“Everyone’s in this together and companies are just getting back on their feet after Covid-19 brought everything to a standstill.”

The cost of aviation fuel has risen by more than 45 per cent this year, figures compiled by Bloomberg show. The global average price at the end of last week was $160.4 a barrel.

Fuel usually accounts for about a third of airline operating costs, Adit Damodaran, an economist at flight booking app Hopper, told the New York Times .

Dr Sean Lochrie, an assistant professor at Heriot-Watt University Dubai who researches travel and tourism, said there has been a major shift in travel patterns as a result of Covid-19 travel restrictions being lifted.

“Outbound travel has almost returned to the pre-pandemic levels, as flights continue to increase their capacity and restart routes that were stopped or had a limited number of flights,” said Dr Lochrie.

“However, there has been a steep increase in flight costs, which reflects the surge in passengers travelling.

“Additionally, the upcoming Eid break in May has also increased the demand for destinations such as the UK and India among others, as people look to take short breaks to their home countries.”

He warned travellers to expect to pay more for the summer months but said the costs should subside in September.

“Although the post-pandemic boom points towards a significant recovery for the travel industry from the major dip in 2020 and 2021, it also means that UAE residents will pay more to travel — at least in the near future,” said Dr Lochrie.

“It is predicted that flight rates should decrease in September, but it would also depend on the global economic situation.”

Claire Donnelly, from Dubai-based human resources firm MHC Consulting, said employees need to accept that companies paying their annual flight home is a perk, rather than a legal obligation.

“It’s an allowance and it’s not part of the labour laws that companies need to provide an annual flight home,” she said.

“Many companies pay an allowance for a flight home, over the course of a year, in the employee’s salary and it is up to the staff member how they manage it.

“It’s not like employees pay the money back if they manage to find a flight that’s cheaper than their allowance.”

She said many companies continued to pay the flight allowance to staff members throughout the pandemic, despite travel restrictions in place at the time.

Small business owner urges staff to put off holidays

Siama Qadar, who runs Hybella, a fashion company, said she was unable to justify the increased costs of flights for staff members this summer.

“Some airlines are close to Dh4,000 [$1,090] just to fly to London at the moment,” Ms Qadar said.

“I have asked my employees to postpone their flights home until later in the year, when the prices are more reasonable.

“I know people want to fly back during the summer as the weather gets extremely hot but we just can’t accommodate that expense at the moment.”

She also said the increased cost of flights was affecting her business as she had to rearrange meetings in other countries.

“Pre-pandemic I would pay around Dh1,300 to travel to India and Bangladesh,” she said.

“Now India is working out to about Dh2,300 and Bangladesh is Dh2,800.

“That’s just not feasible for flights less than three hours.”

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The latest news and analysis from the Emirates

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Updated: 04 09 2016 Airfields: 1

The Unique Burial of a Child of Early Scythian Time at the Cemetery of Saryg-Bulun (Tuva)

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Pages:  379-406

In 1988, the Tuvan Archaeological Expedition (led by M. E. Kilunovskaya and V. A. Semenov) discovered a unique burial of the early Iron Age at Saryg-Bulun in Central Tuva. There are two burial mounds of the Aldy-Bel culture dated by 7th century BC. Within the barrows, which adjoined one another, forming a figure-of-eight, there were discovered 7 burials, from which a representative collection of artifacts was recovered. Burial 5 was the most unique, it was found in a coffin made of a larch trunk, with a tightly closed lid. Due to the preservative properties of larch and lack of air access, the coffin contained a well-preserved mummy of a child with an accompanying set of grave goods. The interred individual retained the skin on his face and had a leather headdress painted with red pigment and a coat, sewn from jerboa fur. The coat was belted with a leather belt with bronze ornaments and buckles. Besides that, a leather quiver with arrows with the shafts decorated with painted ornaments, fully preserved battle pick and a bow were buried in the coffin. Unexpectedly, the full-genomic analysis, showed that the individual was female. This fact opens a new aspect in the study of the social history of the Scythian society and perhaps brings us back to the myth of the Amazons, discussed by Herodotus. Of course, this discovery is unique in its preservation for the Scythian culture of Tuva and requires careful study and conservation.

Keywords: Tuva, Early Iron Age, early Scythian period, Aldy-Bel culture, barrow, burial in the coffin, mummy, full genome sequencing, aDNA

Information about authors: Marina Kilunovskaya (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Vladimir Semenov (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Varvara Busova  (Moscow, Russian Federation).  (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences.  Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Kharis Mustafin  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Technical Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Irina Alborova  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Biological Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Alina Matzvai  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected]

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Money blog: Apple overtaken as world's second most valuable company

Nvidia has overtaken Apple to become the world's second most valuable public company; Disfrutar in Barcelona has been named the world's best restaurant; there's a new cola-flavoured Jaffa Cake launching. Read these and the rest of today's consumer news in the Money blog.

Thursday 6 June 2024 16:33, UK

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• McVitie's launches first ever non-fruit flavoured Jaffa Cake
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Ask a question or make a comment

Nvidia has overtaken Apple to become the world's second most valuable public company.

The AI microchip maker's share price has risen to be worth more than $3trn (£2.34trn) for the first time. 

Only Microsoft is a more valuable company listed on a stock exchange, while Apple has fallen into third place.

Nvidia shares rose 5% after a year of growth - with one share now costing $1,224.40 (£957).

Nvidia's chips are powering much of the rush into AI, which has seen it become a poster child of the AI boom.

Demand for its processors from the likes of Google, Microsoft and Facebook owner Meta have been outstripping supply. 

Nvidia's shares - up nearly 150% so far this year - are also being boosted by an upcoming move to split its stock by 10-to-one on Friday. 

Ian Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell, said the stock split will "bring its share price down and make it more affordable to investors". 

Tech companies - including Microsoft and Apple - have been racing to develop AI and embed it in their products.

Nvidia is a younger company than some of its peers, having been founded in 1993. Similar to many tech giants, it was founded in California in the US.

Britain is less likely to lose power this winter than it was last year, according to the company that runs the grid.

National Grid's Electricity System Operator (ESO) said it expects power plants, wind farms and other generation methods to be able to provide more than enough power to meet demand this time around. 

In an early outlook, it said the grid would have an average margin - the difference between supply of electricity and demand for it - of 5.6 gigawatts (GW) this coming winter. 

This means the period when demand might outstrip supply is just 0.1 hours.

The increased margins are in part because of improved capacity, thanks to a new 765km high-voltage cable that connects the UK's electricity network with Denmark.

The cable, called an interconnector, is known as the Viking Link, and started transporting wind power between the two countries in December.

New gas generation, growth in battery storage capacity and increased generation connected to the distribution networks have also contributed to the higher margins. 

Despite this, ESO's chief operating officer Kayte O'Neill has said it will still need to be "vigilant" due to uncertainties around global energy markets.

"As a prudent system operator we remain vigilant, continuing to monitor potential risks and working closely with our partners to establish any actions necessary to build resilience," she said.

The continent's energy system has been forced to reinvent itself in recent years, faced with potential gas shortages due to the war in Ukraine.

The 20 countries using the euro currency have seen interest rates cut from record highs following progress in the battle against inflation over the past two-and-a-half years.

The Frankfurt-based European Central Bank (ECB) said it was "appropriate" to trim its main deposit rate from 4% to 3.75%.

It followed an assertion last month by its president, Christine Lagarde, that the pace of price increases was now "under control".

But the Bank declared in a statement that the battle was not won - signalling data-driven caution on future policy decisions in the months ahead.

Its staff even revised upwards their forecasts for inflation this year and next.

As we have been discussing in Money this week, the cut before the US and UK could weaken the euro - potentially making Britons' holiday money go further.

McVitie's is selling a new flavour of Jaffa Cake - and it marks the first ever non-fruit flavour since the treat launched in 1927.

Shelves across the country will soon be stocked cola bottle flavoured cakes.

The new flavour will launch in Asda stores from 10 June and be available in other UK supermarkets - including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Iceland and Co-op - in the coming weeks.

Adam Woolf, marketing director at McVitie's, said: "Jaffa Cakes Cola Bottle is certainly one of our more unexpected product launches – stepping away from fruit flavours for the very first time. 

"Jaffa Cakes have always stood out from the crowd (and the biscuit aisle), but we really wanted to try something new with this one. It's no doubt going to cause some debate among our Jaffanatics, and we can't wait to hear what they think."

By  Sarah Taaffe-Maguire , business reporter

Are we entering an era of interest rate cuts? Probably not. Or at least, not yet. 

But the European Central Bank (ECB) which controls the euro currency does look set to make their first cut in four years this afternoon. 

And Canada yesterday became the first country in the club of G7 industrialised nations to bring down borrowing costs by lowering their benchmark interest rate. 

The UK, however, isn't currently expected by markets to make a cut until September. 

Elsewhere, oil prices remain below $80 but are slightly more expensive than earlier this week. A barrel of the benchmark Brent crude oil costs $79.10.

The good news for people going on holidays to countries using the euro continues - the pound is still doing well against the currency with £1 equal to €1.1757. 

That could go even higher after the ECB decision at 1.15pm. A pound also can buy $1.2783. 

Like in the US, the UK's most valuable companies have become more valuable as the FTSE (Financial Times Stock Exchange) 100 and 250 indices are up 0.33% and 0.41% respectively.

Every Thursday  Savings Champion founder Anna Bowes  gives an insight into the savings market and how to make the most of your money...

Can you believe we are almost halfway through 2024?

Although the rate rises that we have seen this year have slowed compared with the previous couple of years, and we have even seen some falls, savers are now able to find hundreds of savings accounts that pay an interest rate higher than inflation.

The latest data from the Office for National Statistics showed inflation was still higher than predicted, however - which means the anticipated base rate cut is likely to be pushed back again – into the second half of this year.

While bad news for borrowers, this is great news for savers.

Incredibly, the latest statistics from the Bank of England show there is over £253bn sitting in current accounts and savings accounts earning no interest at all.

With top rates available paying 5% or even a bit more, that is potentially £12.65bn of gross interest that is not being claimed by savers.

So now really is the time to move your money if you have cash languishing, earning less than inflation, especially if you can lock some away with a fixed rate, as a base rate cut will happen at some stage, we just don't know when.

Easy access

If you think you'll need access to your money, an easy access account is a wise choice.

The base rate cuts that we have been waiting for are yet to start, so the top rates on offer are still paying almost as much as they were at the beginning of the year.

Fixed-term bonds 

There is a strange phenomenon with fixed-term bond rates at the moment: the longer you tie up your cash, the lower the interest rates on offer.

Normally, you'd expect to be rewarded for tying up your cash over the longer term - but base rate forecasts have flipped this.

Fixed-term cash ISAs

A frequent complaint that I hear from savers is that the tax-free rates on ISAs are usually lower than the pre-tax rates on the equivalent non-ISA accounts – and this is particularly true with fixed-term accounts.

As many more savers are paying tax on their interest once again, cash ISAs are more popular than ever, as the tax-free rate of the ISA can still be considerably more than the interest earned after tax has been deducted on the non-ISA bond equivalents.

The renowned "50 Best" list of the world's best restaurants was revealed in Las Vegas last night - with a new restaurant taking top spot.

Disfrutar in Barcelona took the crown from Central in Lima, Peru (previous winners are ineligible and instead join a Best of the Best list).

Eating the standard menu costs £247 (€290) - with an extra £136 (€160) if you want the wine pairing.

To be fair, you do get around 30 courses.

They also offer a unique menu for your table for between €1,050 and €390 per person - the more people, the less it costs.

The 50 Best list says: "The combination of brilliantly imaginative dishes, unsurpassed technical mastery and playful presentation results in the dining experience of a lifetime, as full of surprises as it is memories."

Dishes include:

• Caviar-filled Panchino doughnut
• Frozen gazpacho sandwich
• Thai-style cuttlefish with coconut multi-spherical
• Squab with kombu spaghetti, almond and grape

Two UK restaurants made the top 50 but the UK was eclipsed by countries from across South America as well as Thailand, Italy, France and Spain.

London's Kol moved up slightly to 17, while Ikoyi, which we reported on a few weeks ago following a link-up with Uber Eats, came it at 42.

Three whiskies created by Aldi have been named among the best in the world.

The budget supermarket took home three golds at the International Spirits Challenge awards for: 

• Glen Marnoch Highland Single Scotch Whisky (£18.49, 70cl)
• Highland Earl Blended Scotch Whisky (£16.89, 1L)
• Samuel Joe’s Straight Kentucky Bourbon (£14.99, 70cl)

In the single malt category, Aldi's submission beat the likes of M&S as well as premium brand Lochlea Distillery, which costs around £45 a bottle. 

Other gold winners included Johnnie Walker, Jameson and Glenfiddich. 

Aldi was also given three silver medals for its Highland Black Blended Scotch Whisky, Glen Marnoch Speyside Single Malt Whisky and Glen Marnoch Islay Single Malt Whisky. 

"This industry recognition helps to prove that great quality doesn't have to come with a luxury price tag and customers can be confident they're saving money with us, whilst getting the best whisky taste and experience," said Julie Ashfield, managing director of buying at Aldi UK. 

As we've previously discussed in the Money blog, holidaying Brits can avoid costly roaming charges by using their own travel eSim - and there's now another mainstream option to choose from courtesy of Uswitch.

UK travellers who want to use their phones abroad usually rely on their roaming plans and data passes or sign up for a local SIM at their destination, which can often require time-consuming ID checks and additional documentation.

That can be costly. 

Since Brexit, the UK no longer benefits from several EU-mandated rules, including a worldwide data roaming cap of £45.

Roaming costs, especially in countries outside the EU, can now be as high as £9 for every 1MB of roaming data - equivalent to streaming Netflix for 14.4 seconds.

The savings with eSims are potentially massive, as our cost of living specialist Megan Harwood-Baynes outlined here last month...

USwitch product

Using 10GB of data in Morocco on a UK Pay As You Go network with uncapped fees would cost on average of £56,166, compared to just £17 with a USwitch eSim.

eSims are available online and are entirely digital - meaning customers don't need to visit a phone network store or wait for a physical SIM card to arrive in the post.

Most new smartphones are already compatible with eSim technology, including every iPhone released from 2018 onwards and most Samsung devices released from 2020 onwards.

"eSIMs offer them a newfound freedom that's cheaper than traditional data roaming and with none of the hassle of finding a local SIM card provider when you arrive," said CEO and co-founder of (USwitch's partner in this project) eSIM Go Zacchary Couldrick.

Asda has gone from selling the cheapest petrol out of the supermarket chains to now costing the most, according to the latest fuel price figures.

RAC says Asda's big rivals, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco, all sold a litre of unleaded petrol for 2.1p less on average at the end of May.

Diesel was also coming out costlier at Asda, with the supermarket 2.5p per litre more expensive than the rest of its supermarket competition.

Drivers are being urged - by the RAC - to change their refuelling habits to find the best prices. 

What makes up the cost of a litre of petrol?

The price you pay for fuel at the pumps is governed by wholesale fuel prices, which are affected by several factors.

These include the global price of crude oil, which itself is governed by supply and demand and oil refinery production and capacity.

Distribution costs, fuel duty (currently 52.95p a litre in the UK), VAT (currently at 20%) and profit margins dictated by fuel retailers all come into account when working out why prices of fuel rise and fall.

Fuel duty rate and VAT largely stay the same, though oil prices and the strength of the pound to the US dollar (refined fuel is sold in dollars per metric tonne) can cause prices to be extremely volatile.

How have UK petrol prices changed in the 21st century

Unleaded fuel in 2000 had an average cost of 80.35p, while the average cost of diesel in the same year was 81.73p.

The lowest average cost for unleaded petrol in the last 24 years came in 2002, where the average was 73.5p. Diesel also had its cheapest average cost in this year at 75.6p.

Unsurprisingly, the most expensive average prices for fuel have fallen in recent years. In 2022, the average cost of unleaded fuel was 165.06p and the average cost of diesel was 178.13p.

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