Emirates First Class Review 2023
Emirates First Class
9
/10
A great flight you will recommend to friends
Airport Experience
Cabin & Seat
Cuisine
Beverages
Service
Entertainment
Amenities & Facilities
Short & Medium Haul

Review of Emirates First Class

BusinessClass.com review by Varun Sharma
Updated 8. Mar 2024

While most airlines are reducing their First Class footprint, Emirates is actively investing more and more in its own First Class offerings. With First Class available on most of its flights, the Dubai-based carrier embraces the ultimate luxury in commercial aviation with true Arabian panache. The company's slogan is 'Fly Emirates', Fly Better' – and Emirates First Class embodies this bold statement. If you are flying on the Airbus A380, you can even shower at 35,000 feet before heading to the bar for a glass of vintage Champagne.

Emirates is the largest airline in the Middle East by fleet size and one of the biggest airlines in the world. With a fleet of over 260 aircraft, the carrier serves over 150 international destinations on six continents. Emirates is one of the few airlines to operate wide-body jets exclusively and uses more Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s than any other in the world. While many airlines are firming up their plans to retire the behemoth A380, Emirates is challenging aircraft manufacturers to build something even bigger.

Unlike most other major airlines, Emirates is not a member of the three main global airline alliances, instead choosing to remain independent so that it can react quickly in the market without consulting partners. However, it has more than 20 codeshare agreements - including flydubai, Qantas, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, South African Airways, Malaysia Airlines, and China Southern Airlines. Most recently, Emirates has agreed to a codeshare with United Airlines – which will give its passengers seamless access to the USA from spring 2023.

Emirates' frequent-flyer program is called Emirates Skywards. It uses two different point systems – Skywards Miles is the currency that can be redeemed for benefits, and Tier Miles is the metric that determines a member's tier status. There are four tiers – Blue, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

Airport experience

9/10

Emirates operates exclusively from Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport - the world's busiest airport for international passengers and the fastest-growing aviation hub globally – the airport is also home to the biggest duty-free store in the world.

Dubai has three passenger terminals: Terminals 1 and 3 cater to international passengers; Terminal 2 is for budget passengers and passengers flying to the subcontinent and the Persian Gulf. Terminals 1 and 3 have shared transit areas; Terminal 2 is opposite the airport. A shuttle service of between 20 and 30 minutes connects the terminals, depending on where you're going.

Terminal 3 was built exclusively for Emirates - although it now shares space with flydubai - and can service around 65 million passengers annually. When it was completed in 2008, the terminal was the largest building in the world by floor space.

Emirates operates three First Class lounges at Dubai International Airport. The most impressive is Concourse A - which sits at a whopping 100,000 square feet. It is claimed to be the largest lounge of any kind, and it certainly feels like it. The First Class Lounge spans the entire terminal length, allowing it to board many flights directly from the lounge.

The Lounge is open around the clock and has an excellent à la carte dining restaurant, a good selection of drinks and several appetising buffets. There is a wide range of western and local dishes/delicacies and a delicious selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Mixologists create signature cocktails in the lounge bar, where guests will also discover rare specialities and limited editions. A Moet & Chandon tasting experience offers four cuvées with complementing canapés and a fine selection of luxury teas from Dilmah.

The lounge has a dedicated aisle of duty-free shops, including Le Clos Wine Cellar – that offers rare-vintage fine wines and luxury spirits for purchase. A Cigar Bar (elaborate smoking room) also offers drinks, business services, and handy daybeds with pillows and blankets. There is also a spa offering complimentary 15-minute treatments - everything from a Timeless Classic Mini Facial to a full Thai Body Stretch - with towels and luxury toiletries.

Emirates First Class passengers can access over thirty Emirates First Class lounges globally.  

Complimentary chauffeur-driven Mercedes-Benz S-Class available to transfer First Class passengers (there are some exclusions, so do check).

Cabin & Seat

9/10

Emirates offers First Class on most of its Airbus A380s and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Like many premium cabins on Middle Eastern airlines, there is a fair amount of bling in First Class. There are serious amounts of light woodgrain panelling, deep pile carpets, gold and beige design tones and acres of leather. This is not just bling …. this is bling, bling!

In late 2020, Emirates began implementing the most extensive refurbishment project in commercial aviation history across its fleet and within all classes of cabins. With an expected completion in 2025, Emirates will undertake to completely refurbish 67 Airbus A380s and 53 Boeing 777s – with nearly 730 First Class Suites receiving the lavish upgrade.

The A380s will be the first to see the refreshed luxury First Class cabin with the private First Class Suites featuring zero-gravity seats with luxurious champagne-coloured leather and soothing cream and bronze tones throughout the cabin. The Suite has a pop-up minibar, mood lighting, individual climate controls, exclusive skincare, and fragrances. Tall sliding doors provide privacy.

The famed Shower Spa of the A380 has also undergone a makeover, with luxury woodgrain finishes, soothing tones and an intricate hand-stencilled panel of the airline's signature native ghaf tree motif, as has the lavish Onboard Lounge now with sleek bronze and woodgrain accents and relaxing ambient lighting. The long-range A380s will have 14 First Class Suites in a 1-2-1 configuration at the front of the upper deck.

The existing Emirates First Class suite comes with closing doors, grey leather seats that convert to a comfortable bed, a massive table, a closet, a large entertainment screen, two lamps, and a vanity that can be raised or lowered. The drawer containing a stationary set with a diary and pen is a nice vintage touch in a digital world. An AC power outlet is easily accessible. Each suite comes with a minibar containing water and soft drinks. However, the usefulness is questionable since Emirates minibars are not refrigerated, and the cabin crew will bring you anything you like at a moment's notice. A tablet in each suite lets you control all functions in the suite including the seat, the sliding doors and entertainment – and order "room service".

While all Emirates First Class Suites are comfortable, a sub-fleet of nine Boeing 777-300ERs features an entirely different First Class Suite that is arguably the best in the world. Dubbed "the gamechanger", these aircraft offer just six First Class Suites in a 1-1-1 layout. Unlike any other First Class suites in the world, the "gamechanger" suites are fully enclosed with floor-to-ceiling walls that offer complete privacy.

The challenge of delivering practicality and luxury in a limited space is shared by both car and aircraft designers, so it is no surprise to hear that Emirates consulted designers at Mercedes-Benz when seeking inspiration for their new First Class suite, which features soft leather seating, state-of-the-art touch screen control panels and atmospheric mood lighting. It's an inviting space. Once safely ensconced in your suite, you can also control the temperature and videocall the flight attendants without leaving your seat.

Counter-intuitively, the middle seat in this 1-1-1 configuration is the most desirable, contrary to the window seats. The reason is two-fold: First, due to the curvature of the plane's fuselage, it is the middle seat that gets the most "real estate," which is all the more pronounced in a fully-enclosed suite; Second, and perhaps the more awesome reason, are the "virtual windows". Thanks to cameras on each side of the plane, the virtual windows display exactly what you would be looking at from an actual window seat. The novelty of looking out of fake (but all too realistic) windows from a real aircraft is another thing that Emirates has done – purely because they can.

The "gamechanger" First Class Suites were introduced with the delivery of new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in late 2017. They are still limited to nine aircraft without the airline having announced any plans of refitting older aircraft. The official plan is to roll out the new suites on Emirates' new Boeing 777Xs, which are currently delayed until 2025. It remains to be seen if Emirates follows through on its plan with a product that will be eight years old or if yet another new suite is in the pipeline.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com features images, videos and seat maps for most airlines and aircraft. Search results also highlight details including seat pitch, width and recline. You can visualise the seat and cabin configuration of the flight you are interested in before making your choice.

 

Cuisine

9/10

“Unlimited caviar and Champagne”! That is the headline that sells the food & beverage offering on Emirates First Class. Yes, you can eat caviar to your heart’s content but there are also other appetisers including a soup, antipasti, and a selection of Arabic nibbles. The main course is a choice between chicken, beef, fish, and a vegetarian. Emirates operates one of the most extensive airline catering facilities in the world There are no celebrity chefs attached to the meals – which is a doubled edged sword. On the one hand you could enjoy a meal that resembles something produced over a flame in one of the world’s top restaurants or a meal that is prepared for airline passengers – albeit First Class. Emirates does the latter to great effect.

All meals are served in your suite – on beautiful white crockery with restaurant grade cutlery. 

The desserts are a limited choice done well – including fresh fruit, a tart or two and an abundant cheeseboard. For snacking, passengers can expect light bites – stir-fried vegetables or a tofu poke bowl for instance. 

First Class passengers are also offered a “Movie Menu”. You can sit back and enjoy the latest Hollywood or Bollywood blockbuster while munching on popcorn, prawn cocktail or sliders. 

Read the BusinessClass.com article on Emirates unlimited caviar and Champagne

Beverages

10/10

Emirates prides itself on serving the best and most comprehensive drinks in the sky. The airline changes its wine selection more often than most of us change bed sheets. The house Champagne is a vintage Dom Pérignon 2008 – and occasionally, it will serve something rare – like a Dom Pérignon 2003 P2. This is a real indulgence that deserves to be milked!

Read the BusinessClass.com news article on Emirates Champagne.

A wide selection of other alcoholic drinks is available, including fine international red wine - for instance, a Château Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge 2006 from Pessac-Léognan, as well as exclusive premium spirits – a Dalmore Alexander III whisky, Hennessy X.O cognac and Sipsmith gin to name a few, plus assorted beer, soft drinks, juices, Dilmah tea and Arabic coffee – served with juicy dates. The Emirates Vintage Collection is a subset of the airline's wines that have been in storage for up to 15 years providing passengers with an even more notable selection. Wines include a mix of Old and New World options from world-class vineyards in France, Germany, South Africa, the USA, and New Zealand. The A380s feature a rather sleek bar – the Onboard Lounge – available to both First and Business Class passengers.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on which Champagne is served in Business Class and First Class on many airlines. We do our best to keep track of any changes but feel free to let us know if we missed something.

 

 

Service

9/10

Emirates prides itself in having the most diverse cabin crews in the world, with over 160 nationalities that can communicate with just about anyone that boards its flights. 

The service on Emirates is generally excellent – the multi-national crews are well-drilled, courteous, and attentive.

As expected in First Class, the service is dignified. On embarkation, you are asked how you wish to be addressed, and you never feel "over-serviced". However, they are there in seconds when you need a crew member.

The overhead storage bins have been removed from First Class, and all your hand luggage, duty-free bags and coats are taken by a crew member to be returned before landing.

The female cabin crew wear an elegant beige and red jacket and skirt combo with a red pillbox-style hat sporting a white scarf. Male flight attendants wear a chocolate brown suit with pinstripes, a cream shirt, and a caramel and honey tie with red stripes. 

It is a great look which has remained much the same for the last two decades, with just a few tweaks at intervals.

Entertainment

10/10

Emirates was one of the first airlines to install entertainment systems at every seat. Its in-flight entertainment system is called ICE (Information, Communication, Entertainment). It features a welter of content, including up to 5,000 channels of movies, television, music, and games delivered via a 32-inch screen. If all this doesn't keep you occupied, nothing will. Quality Bowers & Wilkins headphones feature a bespoke noise-cancelling technology explicitly developed for Emirates First Class cabins. The latest IFE systems feature wireless Bluetooth connectivity for passengers to pair their devices if required.

A special "movie menu" is available to First Class passengers – including popcorn and mini-burgers (as above).

Emirates offers free Wi-Fi to First Class passengers, but only if they are members of the Skywards loyalty program.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on Wi-Fi and inflight entertainment.

Amenities & Facilities

10/10

Arguably the most unique feature of Emirates First Class can be found on the Airbus A380s. Two First Class "shower spas" can be booked for one 30-minute slot per passenger, although water is limited to five minutes. Emirates A380s with showers carry a dedicated shower attendant responsible for cleaning the shower spas, preparing them with towels and VOYA toiletries and handling reservations. The most popular time to shower is within two hours of landing, so let the shower attendant know early if you have a strong preference. Each shower spa comes with heated floors, a hair dryer and a TV screen displaying the map – so you know exactly where you were when you showered at 35,000 feet!

Emirates First Class Amenity Kit is by BVLGARI and comes in a satisfyingly luxurious dark brown slightly distressed faux leather bag with a range of BVLGARI and Gillette products for men and women, including BVLGARI body lotion, lip balm, deodorant, and a hairbrush. Men also receive BVLGARI Le Gemme Eau de Parfum 'Tygar', aftershave, a razor, and shaving foam; for women, there's BVLGARI Le Gemme Eau de Parfum' Rubinia'.

First Class passengers also receive complimentary BYREDO travel wellness products - a cleansing towelette, facial toner, chamomile sleep oil, eye cream, and a chamomile pillow mist spray together with a notebook and pen.

Long-haul passengers can avail themselves of Emirates' Hydra Active 'moisturising' sleepwear, comfy slippers, and eye shades.

While Emirates crew will proactively offer all amenities on long-haul and overnight flights, this only sometimes happens on medium-haul daytime flights, such as between Dubai and Europe or Asia. Usually, the crew will happily supply the amenities on request.

If you are travelling in First Class on an Emirates A380, you will also receive a tote bag for transporting personal items between your suite and the shower spa. It also helps you carry all your newly acquired amenities off the flight, which is useful considering the generosity of Emirates.

 

Short & Medium Haul

10/10

Unlike most other airlines, Emirates offers First Class even on many of its short- and medium-haul flights. As Emirates does not have a narrow-body (single-aisle) aircraft, the same First Class suites are available, even if there may not be enough time to enjoy the fully flat bed. Meals are adapted to the duration of the flight and may be served as a one-tray service rather than in multiple courses. The full bar service is available, except for flights to and from Saudi Arabia, where alcohol is not served.

 

Sustainability

Emirates is a good example of how harnessing new technology can provide efficiencies and reduce waste and emissions. The company operates one of the youngest, most efficient fleets with a lower average fuel burn than other carriers. A program called 'tailored arrivals' enables air traffic control to connect to the aircraft and determine the speed and flight profile from the air onto the runway so the crew can fly a continuous descent, saving fuel and reducing emissions.

AI Technology is being used to predict the volume and type of food brought on board, reducing food waste by 30 - 40%. Economy Class blankets are created from 100% recycled plastic bottles (28 bottles a blanket). Emirates Flight Catering is building a sustainable vertical farm using 95% less water than farming in open fields (problematic in the arid UAE). The company's Engine Maintenance Centre is powered by solar, and the cleaning of aircraft employs a 'dry wash' procedure, which saves thousands of litres of water. Fascinating stuff.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on CO2 emissions for each flight. Our quality algorithms also score higher on flights operated by the most modern and environmentally-friendly aircraft.

What We Love

  • Reach - Emirates is one of few airlines to offer First Class on most flights, making it easy to plan true end-to-end First Class itineraries
  • Fine wines – Few airlines put as much effort into their wine programs as Emirates. with “The Emirates Vintage Collection” going above and beyond to offer First Class passengers’ access to fantastic wines from special years
  • Fun & Flashy – The faux wood and gold detailing of Emirates First Class may not be to everyone’s liking, but the experience of flying Emirates First Class is certainly unique, in particular on the A380s with their inflight showers and walk-up bars, or the B777s with the new fully-enclosed suites and its virtual windows.

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About the author
Varun Sharma
Editor-in-Chief
With over 25 years of experience in luxury travel journalism, Varun is responsible for all the content you see on BusinessClass.com. He works closely with all the hotel and airline brands that appear on the website. BBC-trained, Varun has appeared in print, on radio, television, and now online media - having worked for outlets including the BBC, Telegraph (UK), MSNBC, Travel Channel and Cond...
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