This trip was a lot more fun than usual. While many reviewers fly first class by themselves, we travelled as a group of three and had a blast!
Flying first class as a group is difficult, especially with limited award space, but if you have flexibility, I recommend giving it a shot. After all, what’s good food and wine if not enjoyed in good company?
On this trip it was Lauren, Wojciech and yours truly. We met in San Francisco, played tourist for a day, drove the coast route to LAX, plane-spotted at In-N-Out Burger, then hopped aboard one of the longest first-class flights in the world. Yeehaa!
Welcome to LAX
Plane spotting @ In-N-Out Burger, LAX
We planned this trip well in advance making sure we didn’t repeat old mistakes. For instance, we wanted the longest route possible so we could sample everything, including the bed. We also wanted Emirates’ best overall product, which meant the A380 (onboard showers and bar) rather than the 77W or A340.
The three of us spent many hours building and sharing the best possible combinations. We agreed on the following:
Los Angeles (LAX) - Dubai (DXB) - Bangkok (BKK) - Hong Kong (HKG)
Emirates allows stopovers, so we spent the night in Dubai and a few nights in Bangkok. All flights were on an A380, but the latter, shorter flights were on the older version. The older fit-outs still have the showers and bar, but the seats are a little different, which I’ll describe in more detail later.
The Tallest Tower in the World - Burj Khalifa in Dubai
View of Dubai from Burj Khalifa
In Dubai we visited the Burj Khalifa, then slept overnight in the Emirates first-class lounge. That’s right, we flew first class, then slept at the airport :)
The lounge is open 24/7 and has round-the-clock dining. It also has a serviced cigar room, individual shower suites, and of course a spa. I’ve never really cared for airport lounges, but wow, this one’s in a different category.
Entrance to the Emirates First Class Lounge in Dubai
Dining Area at the Emirates First Class Lounge in Dubai
Let’s start with a few FAQs:
Q. How does Emirates compare to Singapore?
Singapore has a double bed and attentive service, but I prefer Emirates. I went into this trip convinced I’d prefer Singapore, but first class is about the sense of occasion, and that’s where I discovered Emirates wins. Singapore’s more polished product just can’t compete with taking a shower at 10,000 meters, eating wild Iranian caviar in your pajamas, or drinking Paradis with interesting folk at the J-class bar.
The First Class Bathroom aboard Emirates' A380
Q. Is the Emirates decor as gaudy as the photos?
Not as gaudy, but definitely over-the-top. Like Thai’s suites, Emirates suites look better in the flesh, especially once you close the mirror, collapse the mini-bar, and remove the basket of junk food. On that note, ask an attendant to whisk that basket away immediately; a caviar course and Arabic mezze await, so don’t spoil your appetite with Mars Bars. Anyway, back to the decor; no, it’s not as bad as the photos, but it’s not reserved by any definition.
Emirates First Class Suite Seat
Emirates First Class Suite Mini Bar
Emirates First Class Suite
Emirates First Class Seat Adjustments
Emirates First Class Ceiling Stars
Q. What differentiates Emirates first class the most?
The onboard showers and bar standout the most, but less obvious is the vast number of first-class routes offered. At the time of writing, all A380s have first class, and Emirates has 60 A380s. That means you can fly EK F-class almost anywhere on the planet. We count more than 200 first-class routes (103 on A380s) compared to 30–40 on SQ and TG. The first-class lounge in Dubai is also a standout, but more on that later.
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As mentioned, we flew the newer A380 suites on the LAX-DXB segment, then the older A380 suites on the DXB-BKK and BKK-HKG segments. The are a few differences with the hard product, especially the the entertainment system.
To watch a movie in the older cabin, I had to increase the brightness and contrast to their maximum settings (similar to my experience on Thai). Prior to this, I could only see faint outlines on the screens. This was on both segments and for people sitting around me too. With poor sound quality too, I found it difficult to watch a movie in the older cabin, which is a shame since Emirates has one of the widest new release selections.
Emirates First Class Suite - Older Version
However, as Wojciech reminded me, you don’t fly first to watch movies, so it wasn’t much of an issue once the drinks started flowing (I actually fell asleep while the Blue Label was en route, but that’s a story for when we meet in person).
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Wojciech travelled in seat 1A, while Lauren and I took the middle seats next to him. In retrospect, this was a mistake; sure, it’s nice to sit together, but the window seat is prime real estate, especially when traveling over the Arctic Circle. On that note, the LAX-DXB segment travels over the top (or bottom, depending who you ask) of the globe, which is pretty cool.
Emirates First Class Suite Flight Map - Flying over the Arctic Circle
Once we got settled, we were offered water, introduced to the purser and attendants, but the Dom didn’t start flowing until after takeoff (something about higher taxes on the ground).
Dom Perignon in Emirates First Class
The seat was as you’d expect, superb. The mirror, mini-bar and basket of junk food are just distractions, but no problem, I stowed everything away quickly. While still on the ground I flicked through the movie selection and was surprised by so many pages of new flicks.
Emirates First Class Suite Seat
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There are two standout amenities on Emirates’ A380s:
- the business-class bar, and
- the first-class showers.
I mention the business-class bar because it’s much larger that the first-class bar. It includes a lounge area and a full-time attendant, whereas the first-class bar is just a small nook where you can serve yourself. The business-class bar is where you spend time with old friends and make new friends. On this trip, we shared multiple drinks with a famous jockey on her way to host the World Cup in Dubai.
The Business Class Bar aboard Emirates' A380
While at the bar, we were particularly eager to try the 800-dollar Hennessy Paradis, which Emirates is rumored to be phasing out. We asked the bar attendant to have it brought down from the forward cabin. She was discrete. She refilled our glasses under the bar, away from suspicious eyes. But when one of our new business-class friends caught an ever-so-slight glimpse of the bottles’ neck, he said:
“Wait, is that (gulp) Paradis?”
Busted! I looked away a little embarrassed, but without any subtlety, the attendant told him Paradis was reserved for first-class passengers. It turns out he was a connoisseur, so when the attendant wasn’t looking, I gave him my refilled glass.
We stayed at the bar for three hours with a group of about 10 business-class passengers. It was a lively bunch; we were told to keep the noise down a few times. If you ever fly Emirates business class, I recommend choosing a seat as far from the bar as possible. There’s no way you could sleep with the noise.
5-min Shower aboard an Emirates A380
After the bar, we returned for a shower. You get 5 minutes of water, which you can turn on and off as you please. The shower automatically turns off at 4 minutes, but here’s the trick (for beginners like me): despite the red light, the water’s not finished. Press the button again for the remaining minute.
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As I mentioned earlier, I like it when first class feels like a sense of occasion. Emirates nails this with the onboard showers and bar, but what about the food?
An airline can nail their first-class menu by serving food and wine you wouldn’t normally eat at home. They often do this by going the premium route (e.g. caviar), but some also go the national route (imagine if Air Canada served poutine in first). Emirates does a mix.
Caviar on Emirates First Class
Traditional Arabic Mezze on Emirates First Class
The course of wild Iranian caviar and Arabic mezze entree are standouts. We all enjoyed both, especially the caviar with a glass of Russian Imperial Vodka, neat. The mains aren’t nearly as interesting, but they do the job.
Roast Salmon with Sweet Chili Glaze on Emirates First Class
Stir-Fried Prawns in a Ginger and Garlic Sauce on Emirates First Class
The cheese board was both very good and enough to feed a small army. It was smaller on the subsequent shorter legs, but still more than most airlines. Emirates gets extra points for including a couple of fairly pungent cheeses.
Cheese Plate on Emirates First Class
Overall, the food was very good, but not quite the standard of ANA first class. For me the standout was the caviar course, while the mezze and cheese courses tied for a distant second place.
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By the time we reached DXB, 16 hours/drinks later, we were terribly tired. But we held our resolve, high-tailed it to the restaurant, enjoyed a three-course meal, and then groggily dragged ourselves to the cigar bar. Here’s the catch: the cigars aren’t free. They only sell cigars by the box, so be prepared for a hefty bill. We had a few drinks, puffed away, but were delaying the inevitable: sweet slumber.
Cigars in the Emirates First Class Dubai Lounge
There’s a sleeping room at the first-class lounge with divided sections and a variety of chaise lounges. They aren’t beds, so not super comfortable, but Emirates supplies blankets and lets you dim the lights. It's about as good as you'll get for airport sleeping.
Quiet Room at the Emirates First Class Lounge in Dubai
After 16 hours for just the first segment, we drifted off quickly. Our experience so far had certainly lived up to the hype, so we rested easy knowing more was on the way.
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Summary
Emirates First Class isn't just about making you feel special, it's about showing you a good time. This is in stark contrast to most airlines that opt for a more formal style of service. The only time I've experienced similar was on United First Class where I vividly remember:
"You only want one dessert, this is first class, why not try them all?!".
The seat isn't perfect, but it's top 3, so deserves 5 stars. The catering and service are pretty darn good, but they don't quite make the top 3, so both get 4 stars. The experience is where Emirates shines so it gets the top spot and 5 stars.
Not only wouldn't I hesitate to fly Emirates First Class again, but it would be my first choice, especially if enjoying the trip with friends.
