emirates first class travel

The Ultimate Guide to Emirates First Class

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Emirates first class recently took home the TPG Award for best international first class , and for good reason. It might be the most sought after award ticket out there, and it certainly tops most travelers' bucket lists. The gold-studded "Jennifer Aniston" suite with closing doors, electronic minibars, and (of course) an on-board shower on select aircraft is enough to make heads turn. Adding to the allure is Emirates' massive fleet of over 100 double-decker Airbus A380 aircraft. These jumbo jets give airlines plenty of room to innovate and improve the passenger experience, and Emirates has consistently led the way in this regard.

Today we'll take an in-depth look at one of the top products in the sky, including how you can use miles to experience it for yourself.

To pique your curiosity, you can start by checking out the following Emirates first class reviews:

• Pursuing Perfection: Emirates First Class on the A380 From New York to Dubai
• Emirates' New 777 First-Class Suite From Dubai to Brussels
• TPG's Thoughts on the New Emirates First-Class Suites
• Emirates A380 First Class Review: Milan to JFK
• On the World's Shortest A380 Flight: Dubai to Muscat in Emirates First Class

Emirates flies to over 100 destinations around the world, including 12 in the United States and one in Canada. All but one of these routes are operated by planes featuring a first class cabin; the sole exception is Fort Lauderdale (FLL) , which is mostly served by a refreshed 777-200LR with an updated business class cabin (though according to ExpertFlyer, you can find first class on Sunday flights).

Emirates has scaled back its US routes in recent years, but you can still find the Gulf carrier's flagship A380 flying to the following six North American destinations:

• New York-JFK
• Washington-Dulles (IAD)
• Los Angeles (LAX)
• Houston (IAH)
• San Francisco (SFO)
• Toronto (YYZ)

While the A380 doesn't feature Emirates' newest seat (which can only be found on very select 777 aircraft), the whale jet is by far the best choice for US-based travelers and the only way to experience a shower at 35,000 feet.

Cabin Layout & Seat Selection

Emirates uses a relatively streamlined fleet consisting entirely of Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft, though it also has 40 Boeing 787-10s on order . There are essentially three different versions of Emirates first class, depending on what aircraft you're flying. Each one carries pros and cons of which you should be aware.

Emirates' New 777 First Class

Emirates' design team is clearly not familiar with the idea that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." In late 2017, Emirates took delivery of brand new 777-300ER planes featuring a completely redesigned first class cabin.

These planes only feature six suites in the first class cabin, spread across two rows in a 1-1-1 layout. While Emirates' old suites were incredibly private, these new ones feature floor-to-ceiling walls for the ultimate in privacy.

Emirates worked with Mercedes-Benz to design a cabin that feels like a high-performance sports car and includes all the luxury touches you'd expect.

And, for the first time in history, you might face some stiff competition for a middle seat. Emirates installed virtual windows on these planes that use exterior cameras to give passengers in the middle seats a high resolution view of the scenery.

You can also control the lighting color and temperature in your suite to fully customize the experience.

And if you'd like to order food without having to talk to another person, you can call the flight attendants via video directly from the tablet at your seat.

Seriously, how stunning is this cabin!

The biggest drawback is that Emirates has been very slow with rolling out this product to the rest of the 777 fleet. Currently you'll only find this industry-leading seat on select flights between Dubai (DXB) and the following airports:

• Brussels (BRU)
• Geneva (GVA)
• London-Stansted (STN)
• Vienna (VIE)
• Frankfurt (FRA)
• Tokyo-Haneda (HND)
• Hamburg (HAM)

Just be sure to double-check the aircraft operating the flight to make sure you'll have the new configuration; you're looking for six first class seats on the seat map.

Emirates A380 First Class

The plane that made Emirates the airline it is today is the A380. While other carriers have struggled to fill this giant plane and make it profitable, Emirates has over 100 of them and flies them to cities all around the world, often operating multiple daily frequencies of this ~500-seat plane.

The A380 features a much larger first class cabin, with 14 fully-enclosed suites at the front of the upper deck.

Each seat is 23 inches wide, which is not the most spacious first class product in the skies, but with the doors closed you'll have plenty of room to stretch out.

Each seat includes a motorized mini-bar stocked with water and soft drinks (which I've always found comically unnecessary —why drink a room temperature soda from a can when a flight attendant will happily serve it to you in a real glass with ice?), a pop-up vanity mirror stocked with some skincare products, a writing kit with Emirates stationery (that you're free to take home with you) and a tablet to control Emirates' incredible ICE in-flight entertainment system.

There are two unique amenities that make the A380 the plane of choice for most. First is the on-board shower(s). The first class cabin has two bathrooms/shower suites, one on each side of the staircase at the front of the plane. First class passengers get five minutes of water time to shower, though you can turn it on and off as much as you'd like to stretch out the experience.

If, after eating, watching a few movies and taking a shower, you still find yourself getting bored on the long flight, stroll back to the bar behind business class and stretch your legs. While the bar only stocks business class alcohol (oh the horror!), if you ask the flight attendants will happily grab you the good stuff from the front of the plane, including limited edition Dom Perignon P2 champagne or $900 a bottle Hennessy Paradis cognac.

Emirates "Old" 777 First Class

Unless you're flying on one the specific routes mentioned above, you'll be in Emirates' older 777 first class. These seats are nearly identical to the gold-studded ones on the A380. On a 777, you'll find eight of them spread across two rows in a 1-2-1 configuration. Note that not all of Emirates' 777s have first class.

While you won't find a shower or bar on these planes. you certainly won't be slumming it either.

No matter what plane you're on, you'll get Emirates' same world class food, service and amenities. This includes a dine-on-demand menu (with caviar, of course).

And on longer flights, pajamas and a Bvlgari branded amenity kit.

How to Book

For a highly-coveted premium product, Emirates first class awards used to be surprisingly easy to book. Unfortunately that's no longer the case, but there are still two programs that can help make this dream a reality.

The first is Japan Airlines Mileage Bank, which still offers reasonable pricing despite a recent devaluation . JAL's Emirates award chart is based on the total distance of all your flights, and you're allowed to include a stopover, potentially giving you two long-haul Emirates flights for the price of one.

The problem is that JAL recently decided (without warning) to begin passing on fuel surcharges on Emirates awards . These nefarious taxes are based on your departure city and can range from about $100 to well over $1,000. US-based travelers were hit especially hard, but if you pick your departure city carefully it's possible to reduce or avoid these taxes entirely.

JAL miles can be earned by transferring Marriott points at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred (up to 180,000 points a day). A one-way flight from Hong Kong (HKG) to New York-JFK via Dubai (including a free stopover) covers just over 10,000 flight miles and thus will set you back 145,000 JAL miles. You would need to transfer about 350,000 Marriott points to book this award.

If you're looking to fly Emirates first class from the US and avoid hefty taxes, you should look at Alaska Mileage Plan. Awards are incredibly expensive after a sudden 2016 devaluation , as you'll need 150,000 miles each way from the US to the Middle East. However, you'll pay $100 or less in taxes.

Illogically, Emirates' fifth freedom flights from the US to Europe are more expensive than flights to Dubai. A one-way first class award from New York-JFK to Milan (MXP) or Newark (EWR) to Athens (ATH) costs 180,000 Mileage Plan miles, even though the flights are barely half as long.

To boost your Alaska balance, consider opening the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card, which is currently offering a bonus of 30,000 miles after you make $1,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening. You could also take advantage of one of the program's frequent bonuses on purchased miles , allowing you to buy Alaska miles for as little as 1.97 cents apiece.

Bottom Line

Scoring an Emirates first class award is not as easy as it used to be. If you're serious about making this happen, you'll need some careful planning and you better be ready to pony up a lot of miles (and potentially money as well). But don't let the cost scare you away, this is one of the best flight experiences possible and with hundreds of jumbo jets flying to almost every major city in the world, award space is easier to come by than you might expect.

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Hotel programs, best credit cards, back to airlines, the complete guide to emirates first class.

Last updated: March 31, 2023

Read time 35 mins

Flying Emirates First Class is one of the most sought-after aspirational flights for Miles & Points and aviation enthusiasts alike.

With a well-deserved reputation as one of the best premium cabins out there, a dream flight on Emirates First Class tops many travellers’ bucket lists.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything there is to know about Emirates First Class, including what to expect before and during the flight, the routes available, the points required, and booking logistics.

The Emirates First Class Experience

Emirates First Class offers an inflight experience like none other. Most notably, the experience includes being able to take a shower during the flight on the Emirates Airbus A380.

Passengers are also treated to an onboard bar, an ostentatious suite, top-shelf Champagne , and bragging rights for flying on one of the most desired products in the game.

Ground Experience

The Emirates First Class experience begins long before boarding the plane.

Emirates offers chauffeur-drive service to eligible First Class and business class passengers. You’ll be picked up by a chauffeur in a luxury vehicle and driven to the airport in over 75 cities worldwide.

Unfortunately, those who book Emirates First Class with points are not eligible for this benefit, so you’ll have to shell out a lot of cash for the honour.

Upon arrival at the airline’s hub airport in Dubai, Emirates First Class passengers have access to either the cavernous Emirates First Class Lounge located in Concourse B or the more impressive and somehow even larger Emirates First Class Lounge located in Concourse A .

The Concourse A lounge is bigger than many mid-sized international airport terminals, and is jam-packed with many food, seating, and napping options.

In addition, this lounge is unique in that it has an exclusive full-scale duty-free shop, an eloquently-decorated cigar lounge, a games room, a children’s play room, and a complimentary 15-minute spa treatment for First Class passengers at the Timeless Spa.

When it comes time to board, the Concourse A lounge has 24 in-lounge boarding gates that lead almost directly onto the jet bridge.

In addition to the First Class Lounges in Dubai, Emirates also operates a network of dedicated lounges in 25 airports worldwide, so you’ll have lounge access if flying out of many of Emirates’s outstation airports as well. 

Upon boarding the aircraft, passengers will notice the sheer space of the Emirates First Class seating area.

Upon entering your enclosed First Class suite on either the Airbus A380 or the Boeing 777, you’ll be treated to arguably the most glamorous First Class hard product available out there.

Decked out in brazenly over-the-top faux gold with decadent suede walls, Emirates First Class contains some unique seat features and amenities.

To ensure you’re looking immaculate throughout the journey, you’ll find a personal built-in vanity mirror in your suite.

The newer Boeing 777s feature an enormous 32” personal television, virtual windows in the middle seats that project the views from outside the aircraft, personalized temperature and lighting controls, and a floor-to-ceiling door for complete privacy. There’s also an internal window for easier service.

For those who wish to get some rest during the flight, Emirates provides blankets, pillows, and even a high-quality pajama set for you to keep and add to your airline pajama collection.

Food and Drink

Emirates First Class passengers are immediately treated to a personal snack basket and access to an in-suite mini-bar, which can be raised or lowered with a push of a button.

Guests are also offered pre-departure snacks and drinks, including the ubiquitous Dom Pérignon Champagne.

Premium drinks are available throughout the flight, and include an extensive list of cocktails, mocktails, soft drinks, tea, coffee, beer, wine, aperitifs, digestifs, spirits, and, of course, free-flowing Champagne.

Emirates offers a dine-on-demand service for First Class passengers, meaning you can eat your meal at any time of your choosing throughout the flight.

There is a range of choices for appetizers, main courses, desserts, and light bites from the menu.

Any First Class experience wouldn’t be complete without a caviar service. Sure enough, you won’t be disappointed when flying Emirates First Class, as they offer a full caviar service with accompanying trimmings.

Those travelling with a companion won’t be able to dine face-to-face, as you can with some First Class products; however by choosing the middle seats and lowering the partition, you’ll still be able to share the moment.

Emirates First Class Aircraft Cabins

Emirates First Class products can be found on three different aircraft: the Airbus A380, the Boeing 777-200LR, and the Boeing 777-300ER.

As of July 2022, Emirates has a total of 118 Airbus A380s, 10 Boeing 777-200LRs, and 124 Boeing 777-300ERs in operation.

The Boeing 777-300ER has two different First Class arrangements. The old version contains eight First Class seats and the newer version has six. Of the 124 Boeing 777-300ERs in Emirates’s fleet, only nine currently contain the new, updated First Class product.

Emirates plans to eventually phase out the Boeing 777-300ER in favour of the Boeing 777X, with deliveries beginning in 2024.

Airbus A380

The Airbus A380 is a double-decker aircraft equipped with two staircases, one at the front, and one at the back, which separate the upper business and First Class seats from the lower economy seats.

There are 14 First Class seats set up in a 1-2-1 format.

Solo travellers would get slightly more privacy from the window seats. These include Seats 1A, 1K, 2A, 2K, 3A, 3K, 4A, and 4K.

Couples, or passengers otherwise travelling together are best off choosing one of the middle seats. These include Seats 1E and 1F, 2E and 2F, or 3E and 3F.

The seat has an above-average pitch at 86”, and a below-average width of 23” compared to similar premium cabins.

The famous Emirates First Class shower spa is only found on the Airbus A380s. There are two shower rooms located at the front of the upper deck of the aircraft.

A dedicated five-minute shower is only available once per flight and is exclusive to First Class passengers.

The Emirates onboard bar and lounge is also exclusive to the A380.

Unlike the shower, the onboard bar and lounge is accessible to both First Class and business class passengers, and is located at the back of the upper deck. There is designated seating in this lounge, equipped with seatbelts, and a bartender available to whip up your favourite cocktail.

In addition, there is a self-serve bar reserved for Emirates First Class passengers located at the front of the upper deck, opposite from the shower rooms.

Boeing 777-300ER (New)

With a wider body and only six First Class suites compared to 14 on the Airbus A380, Emirates’s new 777-300ERs exude a finer air of exclusivity.

With a 1-1-1 layout, couples or those otherwise travelling together will not have the same options of conversing during the flight as they would on the A380 or the older 777 aircraft.

For those travelling solo, you really can’t pick a bad seat out of the six, as they all are very similar and offer the utmost privacy. Each seat has a pitch of 69” and width of 20.5”.

While the new Boeing 777-300ER has neither the shower nor the onboard lounge and bar, it does have some other unique and updated features.

One noticeable difference is that the newly-equipped 777 First Class suites provide complete privacy with floor-to-ceiling doors.

Moreover, the new 777s are updated with cutting edge technology, including some of the largest entertainment screens at 32 inches, virtual windows for the middle seats, and updated personalized temperature and lighting controls.

Boeing 777-300ER (Old) + Boeing 777-200LR

With significantly more aircraft in operation compared with the newer format, this older version First Class product on the Boeing 777s offers slightly less privacy and less space as compared to the newer 777 product.

The same product is found on the 10 Boeing 777-200LRs in Emirates’s fleet.

There are eight First Class suites on these planes, laid out across two rows in a 1-2-1 format.

Similar to the Airbus A380, couples or passengers otherwise travelling together would be best suited in the middle: Seats 1E and 1F, or 2E and 2F.

Solo travellers who want slightly more privacy would be best off choosing one of the window seats: Seats 1A, 1K, 2A, or 2K.

Despite not having the same advanced technology as the newer models, this First Class product still has impressive features. These include mechanical window shades, unique light fixtures, a button-operated mini-bar, and a motorized sliding door.

Emirates First Class Routes

The below maps indicate which of Emirates’s routes offer First Class as of January 2023.

Emirates operates out of Dubai, which is where you can find almost all the First Class options. There are a few notable fifth-freedom routes, too.

Emirates First Class Routes to North America

The below map shows routes on which Emirates operates First Class cabins to North America. 

Routes with the Airbus A380 are marked in blue, while routes with the Boeing 777 are marked in red.

As you can see, there is a good mix between the Airbus A380, which operates between Dubai and San Francisco, Los Angeles, Toronto, and New York JFK, and the Boeing 777, which operates between Dubai and Seattle, Chicago, Boston, Newark, and Orlando.

You’ll also notice three fifth freedom flights on the above map. Airbus A380 First Class is offered between New York JFK and Milan Malpensa, and Boeing 777 First Class is offered between Newark and Athens, as well as between Mexico City and Barcelona.

Emirates 777 New First Class Routes

There are many more options for flights to and from Dubai to Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania. In fact, on the vast majority of Emirates’s global route network, you can usually find the option to book First Class.

The most coveted routes for Emirates First Class are ones with the new First Class cabin on the Boeing 777. While the exact routing offerings aren’t entirely reliable, as Emirates is known to swap out aircraft up to the last minute, the following routes tend to have the 777 New First Class cabin more frequently than others:

The bulk of these routes are to Europe, with single routes to North America (Washington), the Middle East (Riyadh), and Asia (Tokyo).

If you’re not on one of these routes, you’re likely to experience either the older First Class on other Boeing 777 aircraft or the Airbus A380 First Class cabin.

Remember that the majority of the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft still have the older First Class product. In order to find out whether the Boeing 777-300ER has the updated First Class product, you’ll want to see how many First Class seats there are in total.

The new product contains only six seats, while the old product contains eight seats. Use SeatGuru or ExpertFlyer as tools to find the cabin for your specific flight.

How to Redeem Points for Emirates First Class

Emirates is not a member of any global airline alliance. However, there are still ways for savvy travellers to experience this coveted First Class product without spending an exorbitant amount of money.

Since Emirates removed the ability to book First Class flights with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan , Japan Airlines Mileage Bank, and Korean Air SKYPASS, there are only three reward programs remaining that can be used to book an Emirates First Class flight: Emirates Skywards, Aeroplan, and   Qantas Frequent Flyer.

Emirates Skywards

Despite heavy surcharges on the most popular routes, redeeming Emirates Skywards miles for Emirates First Class flights is significantly cheaper than paying the cash rate. At this point in time, it’s the best way to book and experience Emirates First Class without costing an arm and a leg.

Instead of an award chart, Emirates uses an “ Emirates Miles Calculator ”. Note that this calculator should be used as a guideline only, as flights can often be booked for fewer miles.

Using the calculator, you can find the following Skywards miles requirements for booking a one-way First Class flight from popular North American destinations to and from Dubai on the Airbus A380:

• Toronto to Dubai: 163,500 Skywards miles
• New York JFK to Dubai: 163,500 Skywards miles
• Los Angeles to Dubai: 186,000 Skywards miles
• Houston to Dubai: 186,000 Skywards miles

Note that round-trip First Class tickets using Skywards Miles will always be double the required amount for one-way flights.

In addition to the required Emirates Skywards miles for First Class fares, any flights going to and from Dubai are subject to heavy surcharges on some of the most popular routes.

For example, the Toronto to Dubai route has surcharges of $1,143 (CAD), and Dubai to Toronto has $1,118 (CAD) in surcharges. Leaving or returning to other airports in North America will incur similar costs.

Flying on Emirates First Class and avoiding Dubai has significantly lower costs. This is where the fifth-freedom routes come into play.

For example, while New York JFK to Dubai would cost 163,500 miles and over $1,000 in taxes and fees, flying on a fifth-freedom route from Athens to New York (EWR) only costs 102,000 miles and €135 in taxes and fees.

Emirates Skywards Miles are easy to earn for those who dabble in US-issued credit cards , as Emirates Skywards is a transfer partner with all of the major card issuers.

The US loyalty programs by American Express, Capital One, Chase, and Citi all offer the option to transfer points to Emirates Skywards Miles at a 1:1 ratio. Furthermore, Marriott Bonvoy points can be transferred to Emirates Skywards at the optimal ratio of 60,000:25,000.

In late 2022, Emirates became Aeroplan’s newest partner airline . As of January 2023, it’s possible to book Emirates First Class using Aeroplan points.

Unlike other partner airlines with Aeroplan, Emirates has its own unique flight reward chart. What distinguishes it from other partner airlines is that there is a range of prices that depend on the distance flown and the class of service, whereas partner airlines may be booked at a fixed price.

With Aeroplan, the following chart shows pricing for redemptions with Emirates, including First Class:

As you can see, the cost of booking Emirates First Class with Aeroplan is more than with Skywards miles across the board. What makes Aeroplan’s relationship with Emirates unique is that Aeroplan does not levy carrier surcharges on any partner airline bookings, including Emirates.

For example, a flight from Toronto to Dubai with Emirates Skywards, as displayed above, costs 163,500 Skywards miles plus $1,143 (CAD) in taxes and fees. On the return route from Dubai to Toronto, a flight booked with Aeroplan points costs 302,500 Aeroplan points plus $83 (CAD) in taxes and fees.

While you may wind up paying less with points using Skywards miles than with Aeroplan, keep in mind that you’ll also have much more carrier surcharges to absorb with Skywards. Additionally, Aeroplan points are arguably much easier to come by than Skywards miles, especially for Canadians. 

One of the most popular ways to book Emirates First Class is to fly on one of the fifth freedom routes. For example, you can book a flight from Milan (MXP) to New York (JFK) for 196,500 Aeroplan points  and around $157 (CAD)  in taxes and fees.

A longer flight from Athens to New York (EWR), which costs 102,000 Skywards miles, comes in at 222,000 Aeroplan points.

Therefore, you’ll want to check the cost with both Skywards and Aeroplan to see where you’ll be getting a better deal.

If you have access to both currencies, then booking with Skywards is usually the best bet; however, without access to Skywards, Aeroplan offers an attractive alternative option for travellers to unlock one of the best experiences in the game.

Note that you can combine Emirates First Class flights with other partner airlines, although you can expect the cost of your flight to align more with the Emirates chart rather than the standard Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart. 

It’s also worth noting that later on in 2023, there will be a greater range in Aeroplan pricing for Emirates rewards. The partnership is set to roll out in three stages, and once the final stage kicks in, expect to find prices that vary more within the published range.

Qantas Frequent Flyer

Qantas Frequent Flyer is the rewards program of Australia’s flag carrier. Unlike redeeming Emirates Skywards miles for flights, Qantas uses a flight reward table that is based on the distance flown, divided into 10 zones. 

However, with a significant increase in surcharges, and a slightly higher cost in points than when using Emirates Skywards miles, it doesn’t make much sense to use Qantas miles to book Emirates First Class flights.

Qantas miles can be earned the exact same way Emirates Skywards miles, by transferring from most US-based credit card programs at a ratio of 1:1.

Therefore, it wouldn’t make sense to transfer points to Qantas rather than Emirates in order to book Emirates First Class flights, as you could transfer to Skywards instead and pay less for the same thing.

Emirates First Class Award Availability

Unlike other airlines, Emirates doesn’t seem to follow a reliable pattern for when they make First Class reward flights available.

Some routes may have no award flights available, while others might have one or two made available at the start of the schedule. Furthermore, Emirates has been known to release additional availability sporadically, including close to the date of departure.

When searching for availability, remember that the Airbus A380 has 14 First Class seats, and therefore may have more award space than on the smaller Boeing 777 aircraft.

The best strategy? Search early and often, and make sure to maintain some flexibility in your travel planning to maximize your chances of snagging that coveted Emirates First Class suite.

Tips & Tricks for Emirates First Class

If you want to fly Emirates First Class while still maximizing your points and saving money on taxes and surcharges, your best bet may be to avoid Dubai.

As things stand, flying the shorter flights from New York to Milan or Athens will save you around $1,000 in taxes and fees as compared to flying from New York to Dubai.

Another way to get the most out of an Emirates First Class booking is to add a stopover of longer than 24 hours with Emirates Skywards or up to 45 days for 5,000 Aeroplan points .

With Skywards, one stopover may be added on one-way First Class redemptions by calling in to book. You may have to pay additional points for adding more distance to your journey, but it’d be cheaper than booking the two flights separately.

Two stopovers are allowed on round-trip First Class redemptions, and can be booked online.

With Aeroplan, you can book a stopover online or by calling the Aeroplan contact centre. You’ll be charged an additional 5,000 points for the stopover, which can be a good way to split up flights if you can’t get a good connection.

Lastly, you’ll want to consider the direction and timing of your flight to maximize the experience. Daytime flights or long-haul flights will afford you plenty of waking hours to soak it all in and indulge in all of the bells and whistles, while nighttime flights or short-haul flights will give you less opportunity to do so.

Emirates First Class is one of the best flight experiences available in the skies, and it’s no wonder that it remains at the top of many travellers’ bucket lists.

Anyone who has had the pleasure of flying Emirates First Class is sure to speak highly of the elevated ground experience, the ostentatious cabin oozing with luxury, free-flowing top-shelf Champagne , heightened cuisine, and, of course, the ridiculous shower in the sky.

Luckily, you don’t have to be rich to book Emirates First Class. All you need to do is collect a few Emirates Skywards miles or Aeroplan points and plan in advance, and you’ll find yourself looking forward to the experience in no time. 

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Best Ways To Book Emirates First Class Using Points [Step-by-Step]

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Table of Contents

A look inside the emirates first class suite, how to fly emirates first class using miles, great emirates first class redemptions, how to earn enough miles for emirates first class, when should you search for emirates first class award space, what makes emirates first class amazing, final thoughts.

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Key Takeaways

• Emirates First Class stands out with its private suites, lie-flat beds, personal mini-bars, and on-demand gourmet dining, all complemented by the in-flight shower spa.
• Emirates First Class can be booked using miles through Emirates Skywards and Qantas Frequent Flyer.
• Transferring points from partners like American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards can help build up balances needed for these premium redemptions.

When you think of the best first class products in the world, Emirates is probably high on your list (if not at the top)! Without a doubt, Emirates offers one of the most luxurious seats in the sky, and flying first class on this airline is an experience you won’t want to miss.

From the amazing Emirates first class suite to the Champagne or the shower spa (yes — you read that right), you’ll be treated like royalty.

To top it all off, you’ll have access to an actual inflight bar where you can enjoy a drink or snack and chat with your fellow passengers.

Before we discuss how to book an Emirates first class flight, let’s take a look at exactly what you’ll be booking.

There’s nothing quite like enjoying the glamorous first class experience on Emirates .

Let’s start with your first class suite, complete with a minibar, bed, and a privacy door that closes with just the push of a button. You read correctly — individual motorized doors on an airplane —- and that’s only the beginning of the Emirates first class experience!

Emirates raises the stakes with its fine dining experience to keep you well-fed. From Champagne to spirits to fine wine, your flight attendant will ensure you always have a nice drink to go with your meal.

You might be wondering what kind of Champagne. Well, this is first class on Emirates, and it really spares no expense — you’ll be able to enjoy a glass of world-renowned Dom Perignon.

Is this the best first class experience? Perhaps, although that will depend on your personal tastes. It’s certainly up there!

Hot Tip: Want an in-depth review of this Emirates’ first class? Read our review of Emirates’ first class aboard the A380 .

Emirates’ New Game Changer First Class Suites

As we know, Emirates often sets the standard for a top-notch first class product. Emirates’ new first class suites on select 777-300ER aircraft have just set the bar  even higher . Believe it or not, the Emirates A380 first class is no longer its best product .

These new first class suites, dubbed the Game Changer First Class Suites , are unbelievably lavish. On the aircraft, there are 2 rows of seats in a 1-1-1 configuration. The density of seats on this aircraft is therefore similar to Cathay Pacific first class . However, the differences are eye-opening.

The suites on this aircraft are around 30 inches wide, 78 inches in pitch, and 84 inches long in bed length. The suites have  floor-to-ceiling doors , which means complete privacy. No one will be able to see you when you close your suite doors. You can enjoy the 32-inch HD LCD inflight monitor in total peace. For context, each suite is 40 square feet, while Etihad First Class Apartments measure 39 square feet.

The seat itself can recline into a zero-gravity position (inspired by NASA), and center seat passengers will be able to try out “virtual windows.” When you couple that with the binoculars provided to all first class passengers, those in a center seat have basically the same view as any window passenger.

You can also video/audio chat with the crew members and use the service window that allows you to be served drinks and snacks without being disturbed. This cutting-edge product cannot be ignored, though for now, the routes are pretty limited.

To find out which Emirates aircraft have these suites and where they fly to, you’ll need to track these tail numbers of the 777-300ERs that are equipped with the Game Changer First Class Suites:

Here are some of the frequent routes to help you get started:

• Dubai (DXB) – Brussels (BRU) on EK 181/182 and EK 183/184
• Dubai (DXB) – Frankfurt (FRA) on EK 45/46
• Dubai (DXB) – Geneva (GVA) on EK 83/84 and EK 89/90
• Dubai (DXB) – London (LHR) on EK 5/6
• Dubai (DXB) – Paris (CDG) on EK 71/72
• Dubai (DXB) – Riyadh (RUH) on EK 2819/2820
• Dubai (DXB) – Singapore (SIN) on EK 354/355
• Dubai (DXB) – Tokyo-Narita (NRT) on EK 318/319

Emirates has also operated rare flights on the following routes:

• Dubai (DXB) – Amsterdam (AMS) on EK 147/148
• Dubai (DXB) – Bangkok (BKK) on EK 384/385
• Dubai (DXB) – Bengaluru (BLR) on EK 564/565
• Dubai (DXB) – Dallas (DFW) on EK 221/222
• Dubai (DXB) – Houston (IAH) on EK 211/212
• Dubai (DXB) – London (STN) on EK 65/66 and EK 67/68
• Dubai (DXB) – Kuwait City (KWI) on EK 853/854
• Dubai (DXB) – Malé (MLE) on EK 658/659
• Dubai (DXB) – Nice (NCE) on EK 77/78
• Dubai (DXB) – Vienna (VIE) on EK 125/126
• Dubai (DXB) – Washington D.C. (IAD) on EK 231/232
• Dubai (DXB) – Zurich (ZRH) on EK 87/88

If you’re looking to book with points, you’re going to have to book very close to departure . The best chance of booking a first class suite with points is 1 to 2 days before your flight .

Now that you have a taste of Emirates first class, let’s discuss how to book this flight so that you can have some fun!

Note: Emirates no longer allows its first class awards to be booked with Alaska Airlines miles, Japan Airlines miles, or Korean Air miles. Qantas is still allowed indefinitely.

Emirates Skywards

The best frequent flyer program to use for Emirates first class tickets is none other than Emirates’ own Skywards program.

Better yet, Emirates massively reduced the carrier-imposed surcharges on flights! Depending on your award ticket, you’ll also be able to leverage stopovers!

With this program, you’ll enjoy flexibility in earning Skywards miles, reasonable redemption rates, and most importantly, the single-best way to book Emirates first class using points.

You’ll have to pay for fuel surcharges , but these are much lower in a post-pandemic world.

Lastly, all Emirates first-class bookings allow a complimentary stopover, as well as complimentary changes and cancellations to the reservations.

Here’s how you can book your award:

• Visit Emirates .
• Log in to your Skywards account.
• After you log in, search for flights.
• Select your flights.
• Pay with your miles and any additional taxes and fees.

Qantas Frequent Flyer

At the moment, it’s still possible to redeem Qantas Frequent Flyer points for Emirates first class, but the redemption price using Qantas points isn’t attractive.

Bottom Line: To book Emirates first class at reasonable rates and be able to earn points easily, stick to the Emirates Skywards frequent flyer program. There are plenty of transfer partners available to book these incredible flights.

Let’s look at a few options available for booking:

• New York (JFK) to Dubai (DXB) round-trip in first class for 217,500 Emirates miles
• New York (JFK) to Milan (MXP) round-trip in first class for 135,000 Emirates miles
• This routing could include a stopover in Milan or Dubai on your way to Bangkok, plus a stopover at the other city on your return to New York
• New York (JFK) to Perth (PER) round-trip in first class for 345,000 Emirates miles
• Tokyo-Narita (NRT) to Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates’ Game Changer First Class Suites for 187,500 Emirates miles

If you want to experience a shower in the sky, find a route on which Emirates operates an Airbus A380. Currently, Emirates operates this aircraft between Dubai and these U.S. airports:

• Houston (IAH) from August 1, 2022
• Los Angeles (LAX)
• New York (JFK)
• San Francisco (SFO)
• Washington, D.C. (IAD)

The Dubai to Los Angeles route is actually one of the longest flights in the world — plenty of time to enjoy the glamour of an A380 Emirates first experience !

Emirates flies to several other U.S. airports with its “older” Boeing 777. These routes still provide the first class suite (albeit slightly smaller) and perks, but you won’t get to experience the shower spa and inflight bar.

Hot Tip:  Check out our in-depth guide for a full list of Emirates’ routes from the U.S. , including plane types, cabins, and seating options. 

Emirates is a transfer partner with all of the transferable points currencies: American Express Membership Rewards , Bilt Rewards , Brex Rewards , Capital One Miles , Chase Ultimate Rewards ,  Citi ThankYou Rewards , and Marriott Bonvoy .

Emirates Skywards transfer to Amex, Bilt, Brex, Capital One, Chase, and Citi at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly.

Marriott Bonvoy transfers at a 3:1 ratio with a bonus of 5,000 miles after transferring 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to Emirates at once. Marriott Bonvoy takes 3 business days to transfer to Emirates.

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Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card  is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access , hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

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Emirates first class is a highly sought-after award ticket, so you should start searching for space as soon as you have an idea about your travel dates.

The more flexibility you have with your travel dates, the easier it will be to find space and book your Emirates first class experience!

If you’re looking to book the Emirates 777-300ER Game Changer First Class Suites, your best shot is to book 1 to 2 days in advance . Emirates rarely releases award space on these flights until very close to departure.

If the pictures above weren’t enough to convince you that Emirates first class is an experience not to be missed, let’s dive into some more features you’ll get to enjoy:

Emirates First Class Lounge

When departing from or transiting through Dubai International Airport (DXB), you will have access to the Emirates First Class Lounge. If your flight is on the Emirates A380, you will be able to board your flight directly from the lounge.

You’ll find areas dedicated to entertainment, dining, and even families with children — there really is something for everyone in the Emirates First Class Lounge.

Emirates has amazing lounges in other airports around the world, too, including New York (JFK) where you can also board your flight from the lounge.

Emirates First Class Catering

From start to finish, your first class experience will include fantastic food and beverage choices. In the Emirates First Class Lounge, you have the option to enjoy snacks from a buffet or order a meal in the dining area anytime you’re hungry.

You’ll also enjoy on-demand dining on your flight, so you can eat when you are ready. As we mentioned above, fine Champagne and other drinks are available as desired.

Emirates Inflight Bar

One of the most well-known features of Emirates first class on its Airbus A380 is the inflight bar. Located at the rear of the business class cabin, first class passengers are welcome to enjoy the company of fellow passengers and have a drink.

You can even bring your Dom Perignon Champagne with you! This is a fantastic way to stretch your legs and add a little fun to your flight.

Emirates First Class Shower Spa

Emirates first class passengers can also enjoy the first class shower spa. You will have access to the room for 30 minutes, with 5 minutes of hot water in the shower. During your spa experience, you might notice that your feet are warm… that’s because the floor is heated!

After a long flight, this can be just what you need to freshen up before an adventure.

Emirates First Class Amenity Kit and Pajamas

To top off the first class experience, Emirates provides an amenity kit with high-end Bvlgari products and pajamas (to keep) so you can relax comfortably during your flight.

It’s clear that Emirates first class is an experience any traveler will enjoy. While these flights retail for tens of thousands of dollars , you can use Emirates Skywards miles to score an amazing award ticket.

Like with all award bookings, make sure you check for award availability before transferring points. Remember to start your search for award space as soon as you’ve narrowed down your possible travel dates to increase the likelihood of finding Emirates first class award space.

Now that you know how to book Emirates first class, what are you waiting for? Get out there and take flight in one of the most amazing first class products in the sky!

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click  here .

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What Flying First Class Is Really Like and How to Decide If It's Worth It

Here's what to expect if you're flying in first class on Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines.

Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel.

Every time you board a plane, there they are: the flight's first-class passengers. While you were at the gate waiting for your group number to be called (and likely stressing about nabbing space in the overhead compartment ), they were getting settled into their extra-large seats with dedicated carry-on space. And as you sulk past them toward your narrow seat in the back of the plane, they snuggle in under a complimentary blanket and sip Champagne .

That, you tell yourself, is what flying should be like.

But is the extra space and next-level service worth the pricey ticket? To explore that very question, we've pulled together what it looks like to fly in first class on various U.S. airlines, how flying in first class is different from traveling in business class and economy, and how the benefits change — in some cases, dramatically — when you book first class on a long-haul international flight versus a domestic one.

Benefits of Flying in First Class

First-class passengers enjoy several benefits before they even board the plane. For starters, they don't have to wait in the long economy check-in line, they get free checked bags, and they have an easier time going through security , as that first-class ticket may mean access to a different TSA line.

From there, they get to board the plane first, so they have time to stow their bags and settle in without a line of passengers crowding around. And, of course, on board, they often get extra legroom, a wider seat with a more exaggerated recline, a blanket and a pillow, a plush amenity kit, beverage service that includes alcohol, and better food (and more of it).

Flying First Class on Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines has six onboard experiences: Delta One, Premium Select, First Class, Comfort+, Main Cabin, and Basic Economy, but some offerings and cabins are only available on certain routes. For example, the ultra-luxe Delta One cabin — which has lie-flat seats, lip balm and hand cream by Grown Alchemist, and sleep amenities like an oversized duvet and a comfy down-alternative pillow — is only available on long-haul international flights and select long-haul domestic flights.

Pre-flight Service: Those flying in first class with Delta get Sky Priority service from the moment they enter the airport. That translates to accelerated check-in, security, and baggage handling, plus early boarding.

Baggage: Up to two free checked bags.

Seating: Up to eight inches of extra legroom and up to 5.4 inches of seat recline.

In-flight Service: A dedicated first-class cabin flight attendant and complimentary drinks and a snack. Those flying more than 900 miles can expect to receive a first-class meal box; passengers traveling between 900 and 2,399 miles receive a chef-curated meal and snacks, while flights over 2,300 miles include a full meal service with snacks and several entrées to choose from.

Flying First Class on United Airlines

On flights within the U.S., United Airlines' highest level of service is United First, but on flights from the U.S. to Latin America or the Caribbean (and some U.S. transcontinental flights) United Business is the first-class equivalent. Meanwhile, United Polaris provides the airline's ultimate flight experience — think lie-flat seats, Saks Fifth Avenue bedding, and slippers.

Pre-flight Service: With United, first-class passengers can use the quicker, shorter Premier Access lines to speed up the check-in, security, and boarding processes.

Baggage: Up to two free checked bags with priority baggage handling, meaning your suitcases get special attention and will be among the first to arrive at baggage claim.

Seating: In United's first-class cabin, expect the most legroom possible, and with United Polaris, get ready for fully reclining seats that convert to a flat six-foot, six-inch bed.

In-flight Service: Beer, wine, and spirits (including a rotating craft beer selection) and access to DirecTV and United Private Screening, for all the latest movies and TV shows.

Flying First Class on American Airlines

Like on United, on American Airlines, the first-class designation marks the highest level on flights around the U.S., while business class is the highest level on shorter international routes, including Bermuda and Canada. On some long-distance flights (both domestic and international), passengers have the option to book seats in Flagship First or Flagship Business classes, which make up the brand's most luxurious product — think lie-flat seats, access to the Flagship Lounge, and a sleep amenity set from Casper.

Pre-flight Service: Those booking a first-class ticket with American will be granted priority access through the airport's most congested areas, from check-in to security to the gate.

Baggage: Up to three free checked bags, depending on the flight.

Seating: In American's first-class cabins, seats are wider and recline farther, although the exact increase varies by flight and aircraft layout.

In-flight Service: In first class, passengers will enjoy menus curated by premier chefs — such as chef and registered dietitian nutritionist Ellie Krieger, who focuses on healthy dishes, and Sam Choy, creator of Pacific Rim cuisine — thanks to the airline's partnership with the James Beard Foundation, along with extra snacks and a beverage service that includes alcohol.

Flying First Class Versus Business Class

On some airlines, like United and American, first-class fares offer the highest level of service on flights across the U.S., while business class provides the highest level of service on shorter-distance international routes (such as those heading to the Caribbean). If a plane has both cabin types, flying business class is typically a step down from flying first class.

Keep in mind that some airlines have a premium economy category (think Delta's Delta Comfort+), which tends to fall between economy and business or first class. A premium economy booking may have extra legroom, better meal service, and an increased bag allowance, but the perks can vary.

Flying First Class on Long-haul International Flights

Want the ultimate first-class experience? Save up and book a first-class ticket on a long-haul international flight (or in some cases, a U.S. transcontinental flight). It's on these long routes that you'll find that dreamy elevated flight experience.

While almost all airlines offer lie-flat seats and thoughtful sleep amenities, some of them truly excel at taking things to the next level. First class on Emirates' A380 and Boeing 777 planes, for instance, means flying in a fully enclosed suite with a full bed, an onboard shower, and a first-class bar and lounge. Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways , Etihad Airways, and Air France are all known for their respective first-class service and amenities.

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REVIEW – Emirates : First Class – A380 – London (LGW) to Dubai (DXB)

Emirates A380 First Class cabin

Emirates (EK)

• Flight: EK10
• Class: First Class
• From: London (LGW)
• To: Dubai (DXB)
• Duration: 6h55m
• Aircraft: A380
• Frequent Flyer status during flight: None
• Booking type:  £1,376 Cash fare upgraded with Skywards Miles
• Flight date: November 2019

How to book Emirates A380 First Class

I already had accommodation booked for my December trip to Zambia and Zimbabwe but I really didn’t want to be boring and fly British Airways First Class for the hundredth time. As the date of my trip drew ever closer I did start to worry though. I wasn’t particularly keen on having to launch a backup plan involving a combination of Aeroflot and Kenyan, or worse…

Then one lucky day, I was searching for fares at random, as I often do (I’m sure I’m not the only one) and I stumbled upon this absolute gem:

This is a spectacular ex-London price for a Business Class flight to South Africa on any airline. On Emirates this was absolutely unprecedented. I immediately sprung into action, checking upgrade costs and ensuring that I could make this work.

Not only was this a great airfare, it just so happened to appear at a time when  UK Amex Platinum Cardholders  were being offered  £200 off a reservation made with Amex Travel . This is one of the best perks of the card and is usually offered twice per year.

I immediately booked one ticket for myself on my card and another for  Kamara on her supplementary card. This gave me an instant £400 return on my £450 annual Amex Platinum fee and we got our entire trip covered with Amex Platinum’s insanely generous travel insurance to boot (this came in very handy when Kamara’s iPhone went missing at JNB airport)!

I deliberately picked Gatwick for the outbound because I’d already sampled the Emirates Heathrow lounge a few times when flying Qantas First Class and wanted to try something new.

I also suspected that First Class award space would be easier to find out of Gatwick since it is a far less popular airport than LHR. My suspicion was correct and I was able to easily upgrade LGW-DXB-JNB into First Class for a total of 65,000 Skywards Miles per person.

I found the award space by setting an alert on Expertflyer ( which alerts you before the Emirates.com system ). Upon confirming the upgrade space on the phone with Emirates, I instantly transferred the points over from my UK Amex Platinum card to book the upgrade.

Pre-Departure

With each passing year there are less and less new experiences for me to try, as I work my way through all of the world’s First and Business Class cabins.

It’s still great ANY time you get to fly in First Class but that childlike, sleepless excitement happens less and less these days.

However, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t as giddy as a schoolchild for this one. I was unbelievably excited for this flight.

Emirates First Class has a dedicated legion of followers and so many aspects of their product seem to be pitched at a level that truly destroys the competition.

• Better champagne than the Cristal on Japan Airlines First Class ? Check ✅
• Better spirits than the Hibiki 23 on ANA First Class ? Check ✅
• Better shower than Etihad Apartments ? Check ✅
• Better amenity kits than Singapore Suites ? Check ✅

…and the list goes on.

If all of this was truly correct, this was destined to be one of the greatest flights of my life.

So safe to say these were some pretty lofty expectations.

Were they met?…

Flight EK10 LGW-DXB

Given the decidedly average Gatwick lounge experience, we decided that there was no sense hanging around. We headed to the gate just before the official boarding time, in order to be the first passengers on board.

Unlike most Emirates outstations, there is no direct boarding from the lounge and it was a rather long walk to the A380 gates.

At the gate, priority boarding was strictly enforced with all of First Class being called to board before the Business Class passengers.

As we made our way up the jet bridge my heart started beating a little faster – just catching sight of an Emirates crew onboard a plane for the first time was exciting!

Emirates A380 First Class Cabin

Actually stepping on board and seeing the First Class cabin in the flesh for the first time was a surreal experience, which reminded me of my first time visiting New York. I’d seen it so many times in images that I almost felt like I’d been here before.

Emirates A380 First Class cabin.

We were warmly welcomed on board by Mohamed, the cabin manager, who escorted us to our seats and said that we could sit anywhere we wanted since there was only one other passenger on board and they were right across on the A side of the cabin.

I was immediately struck by how high the walls were; these are materially higher than what you see on British Airways Club Suites or even the new BA First Class Suites . In fact, they are even taller and more private than my beloved SWISS 777 First Class Suites .

It was only after heading to my seat that I realised exactly why the walls were so high: this was one of the very latest versions of the Emirates First Class cabin, featuring a number of significant upgrades over previous iterations of the product.

As somebody who has only ever watched Emirates from afar, I didn’t realise that they had been constantly tweaking the product. I assumed that all they did was change the design of the bar on their last delivery of A380s.

I went with 2K rather than sitting in row 1, as I preferred the idea of being further from galley noise and had also heard that window alignment is better in row 2.

Clearly the faux wooden trim is not for everyone (it certainly wouldn’t be my first choice when designing a cabin) but overall I couldn’t help but be impressed with the design. The ‘more is more’ maximalism is certainly far preferable to the overly restrained and downright boring Garuda First Class seat , which shares a similar ‘skeleton’ to this but none of the modern features. It also has a downright ugly colour scheme, where Emirates makes you laugh out of admiration for its audacity, if nothing else.

My seat: 2K on the Emirates A380.

The seat itself was very comfortably padded and when you look at the image below you get a real idea of the height of the walls. They are a good 2ft above your head and curve to give you even more of an enclosed and private feeling.

Another way that you can tell you are on one of the newest A380s is that your table lamp will be squashed to one side as a result of the screen being a few inches larger, with a higher resolution than the previous generations of the A380 cabin.

As I sat down, I took a moment to breathe it all in. The way the cabin is lit before take off is truly remarkable, the soft glow of the lamps contrasting with the glamorous spotlights that frame semi-circular table mirrors and freshly cut orchids in each suite.

Despite this being an empty cabin I noticed that every mini-bar and snack basket was full and every suite featured a freshly cut orchid.

Emirates could have cut costs but wants to show its guests a ‘full house’. This is exactly the same reason why you’ll see every table set with fully polished cutlery and tableware even when a high end restaurant is empty. It makes for a far better impression and it also means that last minute guests can be accommodated without suffering delays or a diminished service.

The view of the cabin from seat 2K.

Exploring a new seat is always a lot of fun and Emirates really kept me entertained with the endless features that they offer on board.

The Hollywood style vanity mirror with facial mist and lotion.

There was snack basket filled to the brim with luxurious treats including chocolate covered lakrids and effervescent rehydration tablets – these came in very handy the morning after the flight…

There was also a chilled minibar filled with drinks and even a leather bound notepad and pen.

Champagne was offered on the ground but it was only Veuve Clicquot; Mohamed informed me that the good stuff would come out once we were airborne. As such, I was happy to stick to water and Arabic coffee before departure.

Everywhere that I looked there were more and more little details. I love the fact that there are twinkling star lights not only on the cabin’s ceiling but also on the floor of each suite.

Emirates starlight floor.

Running along the wall was a large cabinet housing a chilled and illuminated minibar, as well as a tablet, which could be used to customise the lighting and seat position as well as controlling the entertainment.

Emirates First Class A380 Minibar.

Emirates First Class A380 tablet.

Some of the simpler seat functions such as the call bell and upright position were also implemented as more traditional push buttons, to save you hunting around for them on the tablet screen.

I was extremely pleased to note that the suite came with its own air vents. The fact that there are still First Class cabins out there where passengers can’t control airflow is borderline absurd. If you’ve ever flown on JAL First Class you’ll know what I mean….

Emirates A380 First Class light and air vent.

Seat Storage

Whilst undoubtedly a smaller seat than the likes of Etihad apartments or Singapore Suites (even BA First Class on the A380 feels significantly larger), I was surprised by the generous amount of storage space on offer.

The wardrobe had enough space for me to hang two jackets or one very large winter coat, as well as a slot for shoes beneath.

There was the usual A380 side storage bin right beneath the window, next to the minibar (second image from top, right) as well as a deeper storage bin next to the tablet (top right). Smaller items could also be stored beneath the flaps on each armrest.

Connectivity / Emirates I.C.E.

Emirates is an airline which is famed for its I.C.E. – the in-cabin entertainment system. The amount of video and music options on offer are quite frankly ludicrous, although personally I felt that they paled in comparison to the entertainment provided by the wine list.

The best part of the ICE? Definitely the multiple tail cameras!

The ICE could be controlled from either a standard touch screen remote (like the ones on Qatar Q Suites ) or the tablet. Additionally a very premium looking (and sounding) set of Bowers & Wilkins headphones was supplied at every seat.

There was also a universal power socket with fast charging USB directly beneath the TV as well as a separate USB and HDMI port.

Emirates First Class Amenity Kit

As I was busy exploring and photographing the seat Mohamed came over to offer me an amenity kit, slippers and PJs. The amenity kit was absolutely enormous, by far the most generous I’ve seen on any airline.  It came inside a large Emirates branded bag, which could later be used to carry all of my goodies off the plane.

Emirates beach bag.

Bvlgari amenity kit.

The kit itself was Bvlgari branded and contained numerous full sized lotions, a shaving kit and a 5ml eau de cologne.

Mohamed brought me a pair of medium sized PJs at first and said that I could always try a large set if medium didn’t work, mixing and matching as I needed. These came in an oversized felt envelope with a wooden button closure. A considerable improvement over the standard cloth bags most airlines offer.

The slippers were a bit generic though, and no comparison to the amazing woven ones you get on Garuda First Class , for example.

The PJs were very comfortable and were purportedly imbued with some form of protective shield which prevents dehydration at altitude.

Emirates First Class Wine List

Prior to take off I was presented with a very elegant leather binder, containing both the food menu and the wine list. This was one aspect of the flight that I was particularly interested in, having researched a great deal about how Emirates are able to source the best wines of any airline.

Most airlines have an annual drinks budget which their purchasing manager will use to get best possible deal on whatever is available for the next year. This generally results in bottles retailing for $50-$100 appearing in most top tier First Class cabins – with the two Japanese carriers JAL and ANA spending a lot more to acquire ultra-prestigious drinks like Salon champagne and Hibiki whisky.

Meanwhile Emirates have a deep partnership with LVMH, the consortium which owns not only luxury brands like Bvlgari (hence the amenity kit) but also Moët, who make Dom Perignon. As a result of this relationship they have integrated themselves into the very supply chain of many wines. They buy huge lots ‘en primeur’ and cellar the wine themselves so as to be able to offer some exceptional vintages from time to time. Emirates apparently even own a substantial hectarage of their own vines in Bordeaux and champagne.

By Emirates standard, the wine list was actually rather restrained on this flight. Big names like Opus One, Château Margaux and Château d’Yquem were absent and there were no insane vintages like the 1956 Ducru Beaucaillou that a friend of mine got on his flight a few years ago (check out the Emirates Wine List thread over on Flyertalk for some idea of what’s possible).

However by almost anybody else’s standards the absolutely sublime Dom Perignon P2 alone would make this one of the best wine lists in the sky. I also asked for a bottle of the Kapcsándy to be poured into a carafe for me prior to take-off, so that it would be fully open by the time I was eating my main course later in the flight.

The fact that this is even an option on Emirates is mind blowing.

After a characteristically gentle takeoff, the chime sounded to release the crew, who immediately came over to offer pre-dinner drinks.

I asked for a glass of the Dom Perignon P2, which was quite frankly unbelievable. Without getting too technical, normal Dom Perignon is aged for around 8 years on its lees – the delicious yeasty leftovers of the fermentation process. It is then disgorged, removing the lees, and bottled.

P2 spends almost twice as long in contact with the lees, which results in an incredibly rich, toasty flavour.

It felt like I was drinking a glass of Dom Perignon that had been raised on a diet of Lotus Biscoffs. The taste honestly haunts me to this day.

Mohamed very kindly brought out the carafe of Kapcsándy as well so that I could see how it was getting on. Alongside these two remarkable wines I was served an enormous dish of warmed cashews, almonds, hazelnuts and pecans.

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As I enjoyed this wonderful aperitif I took the opportunity to take a look at the dining menu.

Emirates First Class Menu

The food on Emirates has always had a reputation as being solid but not overly special. I managed to lose the paper menu but Emirates customer support were very helpful in providing me the full details when I emailed them after the flight:

Main course

Malwani chicken Spicy chicken and coconut curry, served with buttered rice and mushrooms with corn in creamy gravy

Braised beef short ribs Served with demi‑glace, sautéed gnocchi, grilled courgette and spinach with pine nuts

Prawn machbous Prawns marinated in a traditional Emirati spice blend, served on fragrant rice

Truffle cappelletti alla panna Pasta filled with truffles, served with parmesan cream, grilled asparagus and roasted cherry tomatoes

Chicken with lemon and rosemary Served with grilled peppers, broccoli and steamed wild rice

Steak sandwich Seared beef fillet in grilled focaccia with cheddar, Pommery mustard and red onion chutney, served with coleslaw and potato crisps

Millionaire’s Shortbread bar Layers of crumbly shortbread, caramel and milk chocolate, served with fruit and nut compote

Blueberry and vanilla slice On a praline base, served with kumquat compote

Selection of Arabic pastries Halawat el jibn, walnut baklawa and pistachio mafroukeh

Seasonal fruit An assortment of fresh cut fruit

Cheese and onion frittata Served with veal rashers, baked beans, portobello mushrooms with herbs and roasted tomato

Continental cold plate Sliced chicken, bresaola, cheddar, camembert, goat’s cheese and red onion chutney

Breakfast cereal Choice of cornflakes or Brookfarm muesli

Kamara and I opted to move over to a centre pair to have our dinner. As we walked over it almost felt like we were being escorted from the bar to our table in a restaurant.

We both began with Caviar (which wasn’t mentioned on the emailed menu from Emirates). The portions were generous and second helpings were offered, however I did find it odd that mother of pearl caviar spoons weren’t provided, since most other airlines do this.

Kamara opted for the truffle filled pasta for her main course, served with parmesan cream, grilled asparagus and roasted cherry tomatoes.

It filled the cabin with a fantastic aroma and the vegetables had a great crunch to them, perfectly complementing the rich sauce.

Truffle cappelletti alla panna.

I went for the braised beef short ribs, which I’ve long been an advocate for on planes. Slow cooked meats are ideal for re-heating and despite being an ostensibly less ‘luxurious’ cut of meat than a sirloin steak, there’s no question that this dish was superior to any steak that I’ve ever had in the sky.

This dish also paired spectacularly with the Kapcsándy, which had really opened up after two hours or so in the carafe.

Braised beef short ribs.

The short ribs were served with demi‑glace, sautéed gnocchi, grilled courgette and spinach with pine nuts. After all this food and wine we were both rather full, so we skipped dessert. We were still able to finish the meal with something sweet though as the crew brought out cold towels and Hotel Chocolat chocolates for us.

Emirates First Class towel and chocolates.

First Class Shower

As soon as the meal was over I had one main goal in mind: to finally have a shower in Emirates First Class after reading about it for all of these years! I’d previously showered on Etihad’s First Class A380 on numerous occasions but always found the shower to be rather cramped and small.

The reason for this is that Etihad took the footprint of one A380 bathroom and placed The Residence there, meaning that the remaining bathroom had to be split into two smaller ones.

Conversely, Emirates has two enormous A380 bathrooms with plenty of space in which to shower and get changed.

The bathrooms are located immediately off a lobby of sorts, containing a self service bar, which features some exceptional bottles of spirits.

Emirates First Class Bar.

Ordinarily crew come around the cabin asking if people would like to make shower reservations. Since our flight was so empty we were told that we could basically shower whenever we wanted.

Having seen this shower suite countless times online still I still wasn’t quite prepared for the sheer audacity of the experience presented to me.

Emirates First Class Shower Suite.

I had a choice of different bathing scents to select from and my chosen VOYA branded bathing products (the same Irish brand used at Lti Maafushivaru in the Maldives ) were laid out for me alongside a thick warm towel.

There is such an abundance of space in these shower suites that you almost lose sight of the fact that you’re on a plane. Remarkably enough, there is even a heated floor!

The pressure was great and I felt like I had a lot more room to move around within the shower cubicle than I did on Etihad. The bench is a safety feature in case the plane encounters turbulence whilst you’re lathering up.

First Class Bed

Prior to showering I asked the cabin crew to make a bed up for me in yet another of the empty seats. It was such a great feeling, returning from my warm shower to a soft and freshly made bed.

Emirates First Class Bed.

The bed featured two very large pillows as well as a mattress topper and some high thread count sheets, together with a lightweight duvet. The sleeping surface was very comfortable but not quite up there with my favourite Qantas First Class bed .

Since I had just finished with my shower I was offered a customary post-shower tea and fruit platter (another small touch which really made this feel like a spa experience).

I slept soundly for around 4 hours with the sight of twinkling stars on the ceiling to lull me into my slumber. I could have easily slept for longer but with a flight length of a little over 7 hours, it’s tough to sleep much longer without missing the in flight experience entirely (thankfully we had a longer flight from Dubai to Jo’burg immediately following this one).

Emirates offers a full breakfast on this short flight but I was still stuffed from dinner. I asked for an espresso macchiato as I made my way to the bathroom to change out of my sleepwear. It was waiting for me at my seat alongside a couple of excellent biscotti and a cute, restaurant style sugar receptacle.

Expectations can be an odd thing. Emirates First Class is an internationally renowned product, even outside of the frequent flyer community people are likely to have heard of the shower suites and the on board lounge bar (which I had no time to visit on this short flight).

This is a cabin which has a halo effect over the entire Emirates brand, meaning that people buy Economy seats on Emirates, on the basis of how good their First Class is.

Despite it being marketed as the best First Class in the world, I always had a suspicion that this was bluster and quite frankly I’d always thought that the decor looked a bit tacky. With these somewhat dampened expectations I am happy to report that I was genuinely blown away.

The service was very, very professional. The wines are at the very upper echelon of anything I’ve ever encountered anywhere. The amenity kits are the most generous of any airline. The showers are the the biggest and best offered on any commercial airplane and the new suites have extra high walls providing an abundance of privacy.

There are parts of other First Class cabins that I like more but as an overall experience Emirates A380 First Class is hard to fault. Best of all, it is flown to an enormous number of destinations worldwide, with a cabin size large enough to mean that award space is never hard to find.

This is a product that delivers on its promises and if you ever have the chance to fly it, you won’t be disappointed.

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Do you want to book a Maldives resort with added booking benefits? Maybe you have questions about picking the perfect resort for your needs and budget?

If so, drop us an email below and we’ll get straight back to you!

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My initial thoughts from previous images of Emirates First products online made me think of plastic veneers, tacky gold edgings etc. However, seeing your images of all the detailing on board makes me look at this product in a different light now. It does appear to be a truly, world class product and maybe just one day, if the stars align I may be able to experience this First product myself (fingers crossed). Great review, keep them coming!

I hope you get a chance to experience this and decide for yourself 😁

…and if you’re impressed with this, wait until you see my review of the Gamechanger suite!

Looking forward to it. I have booked GRU-DXB-HND on EK F (first leg on A380, second on GC 777) next february, hope that Japan will be open by then.

That’ll be an amazing experience for sure!

I have a flight to HND in December which is looking about 50/50 at the moment but I think your chances in February are very decent.

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How to Book Emirates First Class With Points

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Emirates offers one of the most luxurious commercial flight experiences in the world in its first class cabin. Premium cabin travelers can expect an enclosed suite, top-of-the line drink and food options and, on certain planes, bars and showers. And the perks of Emirates Airlines first class are equally astounding on the ground too, including Emirates chauffeur service and airport lounges.

However, Emirates first class is notoriously expensive. It's not unheard of for a round-trip first-class flight from Los Angeles to Dubai to cost more than $22,000. But if you want to fly Emirates first class without paying that much, you might be able to book Emirates first class with points and miles.

Here's how to book Emirates first class with points — and what to expect on your flight if you do.

A seat in Emirates first class. (Photo by Sally French)

How to book Emirates first class with partner points

Don't rely on partner airlines.

Emirates is not part of an airline alliance, but it does have more than a dozen airline partners worldwide. Emirates partner airlines include TAP Portugal , Japan Airlines and Qantas.

The downfall though is that Emirates greatly restricts first-class award availability through its partners — and it's only become more restrictive. For example, Japan Airlines and Alaska Airlines used to be ways to book Emirates first class awards, but Emirates ended its partnership with Alaska Airlines and Japan Airlines the fall of 2021. A year after that, Emirates ended its mileage partnership with JetBlue , effective Oct. 30, 2022.

» Learn more: Sweet spots for booking with Emirates miles

Booking through Qantas Frequent Flyer

Given all of those cuts, you can only book Emirates first class through one partner loyalty program: Qantas Frequent Flyer . However, this redemption option doesn't come cheap.

Qantas uses a distance-based award chart with Emirates first class awards starting at 29,000 Qantas points for flights under 600 miles and climbing to 227,500 Qantas points for flights over 9,601 miles.

Let's translate that into routes that you can fly in Emirates first class:

If you need to top off your Qantas Frequent Flyer account, you can transfer points to Qantas from most major transferable points programs:

American Express Membership Rewards (1:1 transfer ratio).

Capital One Miles (1:1 transfer ratio).

Citi ThankYou Points (1:1 transfer ratio).

Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 transfer ratio).

Booking Emirates first class using Skywards

Now that most partner booking options have been eliminated, you'll generally want to book Emirates first class awards through Emirates' own Skywards program. This is possible even if you don't collect Skywards miles thanks to Skywards' many bank and hotel partners.

Transfer points from bank and hotel programs to Emirates Skywards

Emirates is one of a few airline loyalty programs that partner with all five of the best transferable point currencies . Plus, you can even transfer points from newer transfer programs Bilt Rewards and Brex Rewards.

Points transfer to Emirates Skywards at a 1:1 transfer ratio from all of the following programs:

American Express Membership Rewards.

Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Capital One Miles.

Citi ThankYou Points.

Bilt Rewards.

Brex Rewards.

Heathrow Rewards.

That means you can effectively earn 5x Emirates Skywards miles when booking airfare using The Platinum Card® from American Express , 3x Skywards on general travel using the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and 2x Skywards on all purchases using the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card . Terms apply.

» Learn more: The guide to Emirates Skywards

Figure out how many points you need to book Emirates first class

Emirates doesn't publish an award chart. Instead, Emirates offers a tool on its website that you can use to calculate the number of Skywards miles you’ll need to book a first-class flight.

However, this tool doesn't show pricing for first class saver awards. That leaves you needing to manually search Emirates first class awards to determine how many miles you'll need.

Here's how much it costs to book Emirates first class awards on several routes from the U.S.:

New York City to Milan for 85,000 Skywards miles.

Newark to Athens for 85,000 Skywards miles.

Miami to Dubai for 136,250 Skywards miles.

Washington D.C. to Dubai for 136,250 Skywards miles.

Houston to Dubai for 155,000 Skywards miles.

Los Angeles to Dubai for 155,000 Skywards miles each way.

And when you do book on points, understand how much your Emirates Skywards miles are worth . Based on our most recent analysis, NerdWallet values Emirates Skywards miles at 0.6 cent per mile. Use NerdWallet's Skywards miles calculator to understand how much your miles are worth in dollars based on our valuation:

Take advantage of the fifth-freedom flights

The cheapest way to fly Emirates first class from the U.S. is on Emirates' fifth-freedom routes between New York City and either Athens or Milan.

Flying from the U.S. to Dubai costs at least 136,250 Skywards miles each way. But you can book a fifth-freedom route to either Athens or Milan in Emirates first class for 85,000 Skywards miles each way. That's still a lot of miles, but the 51,250-mile difference makes it much easier to accumulate enough miles to book an Emirates first class award.

» Learn more: The guide to fifth freedom flights

What is the Emirates first class experience like?

If you’re wondering what the Emirates first class experience is really like, look no further. I recently used Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to experience this world-class cabin myself. I transferred 85,000 Ultimate Rewards® points to fly from New York-JFK to Dubai to Milan in first class.

Unfortunately, this flight was slated for April 2020 when Milan was at the center of a massive COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown. The Emirates staff were incredibly accommodating, though, allowing me to switch itineraries multiple times. Ultimately, I changed this reservation to fly from Zurich to Dubai to Los Angeles, and was finally able to fly in July 2021.

Photo courtesy of Josh Garber

Both of my flights were on Emirates’ A380, which not only offers the spacious suite seen above, but also an onboard shower and two bars. One bar is dedicated solely to first class passengers, and the other is where you can mingle with passengers flying in business class.

The food and drink options were outstanding. I had steak on both flights and champagne from Dom Perignon as well. It was my first time ever taking a shower on a plane, and though I was nervous it would have bad water pressure and cold water, I was pleasantly surprised. The water was steaming hot (how I like it!) and had great pressure. It was a great way to clean up before landing after an amazing flight.

» Learn more: Should you dress up for business or first class flights?

Booking Emirates first class with points: is it worth it?

The Emirates first class entertainment center. (Photo by Sally French)

Emirates first class is a bucket-list travel experience that, while not cheap, can be booked with points earned through Capital One , American Express or Chase credit cards. There are some particularly attractive mileage redemptions, including the possibility to use 85,000 points to fly first class from New York City to Dubai to Milan.

Of course, even booking on points isn't exactly cheap either. Don't overlook the second-highest fare class, Emirates business class , which has many of the same benefits including the onboard lounge (albeit no shower access for the business class folks). Realistically, most folks end up flying in Emirates economy (or Emirates premium economy , for a small splurge). If that's you, take solace in the fact that even Emirates economy is a far better experience than what you'll get on most other international airlines.

If you're lucky enough to experience an Emirates Airlines first class flight, make the most of it. And with a smart booking strategy using credit card points or frequent flyer miles, even the most budget-minded traveler might be able to take part in (and be blown away by) this incredible experience. Once you’ve booked your ticket and are on the flight, you can expect a world-class experience, a comfortable suite and, depending on the plane you’ve booked, a shower and bar onboard.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Top photo courtesy of Emirates.

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5 things to know before flying Emirates first class

Air travel puts the world at your whim. No matter where you want to go — or what you want to experience — it’s a matter of booking a ticket , boarding a plane, and taking to the skies. But longer flights — where you spend hour after hour stuck in a seat — can be more of an endurance test than a comfortable trip.

Emirates first class: 5 amenities that make a difference

• Emirates First Class: Where the journey’s as good as the destination

In that case, upgrading to first class is worth it, and nobody does it better than Emirates. Instead of being locked into a bus-style seat with nowhere to go, you’re coddled in amenities, as if living in a private suite. Is it expensive? Sure. But on an 8,000+ mile flight, you’ll be thanking yourself for making the upgrade.

If you’re new to flying Emirates and want a first-class experience, there’s a lot to know before you go. Here are five things to know before you fly Emirates first class.

You’ve booked your dream trip: a cultural tour of Japan. While staying at a Ryokan , you’ll attend sumo matches, take a sushi-making class, and venture to Mt. Fuji. But first, you have to get there, flying thousands of miles over the ocean before touching down at Tokyo Airport. 

If you fly coach or business, the flight could test your mettle, with cramped space and spartan perks. On the other hand, if you fly Emirates, choosing first class can make the journey something to enjoy, instead of tolerate. Here are the best perks of Emirates first class.

1. Your menu on your schedule

Typically, first-class passengers order and eat at the same time. While the food’s a level above coach or business class offerings, what if it doesn’t suit your tastes? What if you just had lunch in the terminal? Emirates has the answer.

On Emirates, first-class customers order when the mood arises and can customize their meals. Notable options include Australian Angus beef, caviar, and Yarra Valley cheese . If you’re in a celebratory state, go for a bottle of Dom Pérignon — Emirates is the only airline to offer the legendary champagne. Just looking to relax and snack? Try the “Movie Snacks Menu” with popcorn, Wagyu sliders, and lobster rolls. 

Also on offer are a kids’ menu, vegan options, and Lavazza coffee. Since Emirates includes food on first-class fares, pick and choose as you please, without running up a tab.

2. Your first-class experience depends on the aircraft

Whether you fly on a Boeing 777-300ER or an Airbus 380, you’ll enjoy unique first-class amenities reminiscent of a hotel room. Before you purchase your ticket, pay attention to which plane you’ll ride on, then you’ll know what to expect.

As a first class passenger on an Airbus 380, you can stretch out and unwind in an 82-inch-long suite, including a seat that folds flat into a bed. Have work to do? A work desk and reading lights help you focus, while an electric door keeps out distractions. After hours in the air, refresh mid-flight in a shower spa so you’re ready to go when the wheels touch down.

On a Boeing 777-300ER, you’ll feel like you’re in a luxury hotel, with an 84-inch-long suite covering up to 40 square feet. You control the temperature, and mood lighting helps you relax at 40,000 feet. NASA-inspired zero-gravity seats feature supple leather, and a seating position that Emirates claims eliminates pressure from the elbows, back and neck for peerless comfort. Not only that, but middle suites have HD projections of the surrounding view, letting you appreciate the high-altitude sights.

3. Fly Emirates first class using your points

Flying first class on Emirates can be pricey. On the company’s website, a round-trip ticket from Boston to Dubai is more than $15,000. The good news is you can use accrued miles and points to make your reservation.

You can also take advantage of Emirates transfer partners and book a first class flight with only 85,000 points. Partners include Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capitol One Mile, American Express Membership Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Rewards . Citi’s program works on a 1:1 basis, helping you go further for less.

4. Access to the Emirates First Class Lounge in Dubai

The Emirates First Class Lounge makes your journey as pleasant as your vacation, with an array of perks to recharge and replenish. Visit the Timeless Spa for various treatments like massages, or face and body scrubs. Check out the Le Clos wine cellar and walk away with a bottle of vintage libations. 

If you’re traveling with family, there’s a kids’ arcade for hours of electronic fun. Additional offerings include a cigar lounge, buffet dining, and a duty-free shopping area. Besides Dubai, Emirates still has a network of 39 lounges, with ample space to sit back or enjoy fine food. 

5. Free chauffeur service to and from the airport

Being picked up or dropped off at the airport makes for a seamless travel experience. Instead of looking for parking or walking to your car, you get dropped off or whisked away by a chauffeur, lessening fatigue and avoiding hassle. 

As an Emirates first class passenger, you enjoy free airport transport within a 50-mile radius, including gratuity. Longer distances carry an additional fee. For Dubai-bound passengers, it’s even better, with a guide meeting you, then showing you through customs and to your chauffeur. 

Emirates First Class: Where the journey’s as good as the destination

It’s fun planning a trip. Whether the culture and cuisine of Italy or the awe and challenge of the French Alps , adventure awaits across the globe. Flying Emirates first class is an experience in and of itself, making a day-long flight into a spa-like getaway. Now that you know what that’s like, maybe it’s time to live it firsthand and explore in luxury. Bon voyage.

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Ever felt the panic surge as you approach the airport check-in, wondering if your bulging carry-on will survive the size test? This guide cuts to the chase! Learn carry-on size rules, weight limits, and what to pack in your carry-on luggage. What is carry-on luggage?

Sometimes, you just want to get where you’re going, without any frills or upgrades. That can mean the lowest fare, no extra amenities, and barely any luggage. For that type of no-frills traveler, United offers its Basic Economy seats. Offering the lowest price, no cancellation, and no checked or carry-on luggage (aside from a personal item), it’s a frugal, spartan option. 

Despite that, United announced a change that makes life easier for Basic Economy passengers. Here’s what to know. United now offers online check-in for Basic Economy passengers

In the United Arab Emirates, positioned along the Persian Gulf, Dubai continues to grow as an international destination. From its origins in the 1800s to today, it’s gone from a fishing village to an epicenter of culture, trade, and tourism. Around every corner, there’s something new to explore.

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How to upgrade to emirates first class on your next flight.

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Emirates is renowned the world over for its luxurious travel experience, across all classes. For those seeking the epitome of air travel luxury, Emirates’ first class is an obvious choice.

First class is available on the flag carrier’s Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 fleet. The former has 14 first class seats, while the latter has eight in the old configuration and six in the new. The availability of these seats is limited, so here’s a guide to help you turn your Emirates First Class aspiration into a reality.

Emirates First Class

From the moment you step into the dedicated check-in area to the time you disembark, every aspect of the journey is meticulously crafted for indulgence. The cabins feature private suites adorned with sumptuous amenities, including fully lie-flat beds and ambient lighting to create an intimate and exclusive ambiance.

Passengers are treated to an exquisite dining experience curated by gourmet chefs, complemented by an extensive selection of premium beverages. The onboard shower spa (on the A380) adds an extra touch of extravagance, allowing passengers to refresh with a hot shower at 40,000 feet.

Why Is Emirates First Class So Expensive?

Additionally, the attentive service from a dedicated team of cabin crew ensures that every need is not only met but exceeded, making Emirates First Class an unrivaled sanctuary of luxury in the skies.

The straightforward option

The first step to upgrading your flight is to check how much it’ll cost. Simply enter your booking details on Emirates’ “Manage your booking” page to see how much you will need to pay to upgrade to first class. While this is subject to availability, it is the most straightforward approach to securing your seat in Emirates First Class.

A word on upgrading: you will need to have purchased a business class seat to even be considered for a first class upgrade. Likewise, an economy class fare allows you to upgrade to business class. Note that the cost of an upgrade is dependent on your original fare booked and the flight distance.

Skywards Loyalty Program

If the cost to upgrade to first class doesn’t agree with your wallet, your next best bet as an Emirates frequent flyer is to use your loyalty points. Emirates' Skywards loyalty program is your gateway to a world of privileges. Accumulate Skywards Miles through your travels and various partner programs, and as you increase the value of your points, you could very well snag the opportunity to enjoy Emirates First Class.

There are two ways to upgrade your business class fare to first class: join the waitlist or the auto-upgrade queue (you’ll need enough miles in your account for this to work). While this does not guarantee that upgrade seats will become available, it is an option worth trying.

Flight Review: Emirates A380 Business Class Dubai To Mauritius

For passengers wishing to experience the A380, Emirates flies it to 47 destinations worldwide.

Alternatively, ask if you can secure an upgrade at check-in or even at the departure gate – there are no capacity controls on the day of departure. Sometimes, you could even try your luck after you board the aircraft, as there could be no-shows. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.

According to the AwardWallet blog, it costs 50,700 miles to upgrade from a Business Saver ticket to first class, between Newark (EWR) and Athens (ATH). The upgrade from Business Flex Plus will set you back 39,000 Skywards miles.

Flying during off-peak periods and less busy travel seasons increases the likelihood of scoring an upgrade. You might also want to sign up for email and SMS alerts to stay informed when an upgrade becomes available.

That said, securing a coveted spot in Emirates First Class requires a combination of strategic planning and, oftentimes, a touch of luck. Whether you're aiming for a lucky upgrade or considering a strategic investment, explore these avenues to increase your chances of indulging in the unparalleled luxury that Emirates First Class promises.

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Review – Emirates a380 First Class: Is it worth $10,000?

By: Author MC Miller

Posted on Last updated: January 12, 2024

Categories Airline Reviews

Emirates a380 First Class – Is it worth $10,000 a ticket?

Like you, we were not sure if it was worth flying from Melbourne to Milan in 1st class on the new a380. Being regular flyers (hello there wizzair and ryanair !) we have always wanted to try first class but have never been able to stomach parting with $10,000 a ticket for the privilege. 

Until now….

Why did we choose to fly Emirates a380 First Class and splurge the cash? Well, ultimately, it was a YOLO moment for us. We felt it is something you have to try at least one in your life, even if you never fly it again. Plus, we had a good year in business and felt that we deserved to treat ourself.

So, was it worth it? I will give that a resounding hell yeah! It surpassed my expectations of what first class would be like. It was worth every penny of the $10,000 a ticket we spent and more…

And here’s why.

Review – Emirates a380 First Class: Is it worth $10,000?

Free pick up/drop off service from the airport.

In Business Class and First Class, Emirates includes a free pick up/drop off service from the Airport.

We were not eligible for this service? Why? Because we booked our Emirates a380 tickets through Qantas using a code share. We did not know we would not be eligible for this if we did that before we booked.

Pulling away some of the perks is quite a sneaky way to get direct bookings I must say. Well played Emirates, next time I will be booking direct 😉

Check in and boarding is always such a drag in economy. The long lines and waiting times make travel almost painful.

In First Class you get priority check in and boarding. The line is pretty much non existent. You also get this in Business Class.

What I didn’t realize (when I was taking my sweet ass time to leave the plane) is you also get priority exit in First Class. In fact, the crew cannot disembark Business Class until the First Class passengers have left the plane. Because I was taking quite a while packing up, the crew asked if they could let the Business Class passengers go off if I required them to wait for me. Of course I didn’t but I did learn a new fun fact!

Note What you Don’t Get: We read online that you also get to use a priority security line in the airports if you are traveling in First Class. This was not the case. It would’ve been nice because it is seriously like cattle through the security parts of an airport and this feature would have further enhanced even our already great experience. Nonetheless, I would give check in and boarding an A+ in First Class.

Emirates a380 First Class Private Suite and Cabin

The seats in the a380 were nothing short of Ah-Maz-Ing.

It is kind of funny but one of the reasons why I would recommend splurging the money if you have the cash is because flying First Class in the a380 was one of the highlights of my Europe trip. It was honestly one of the best things I did during my vacation and that is pretty unusual for a flight. Usually, I can’t wait to hit the ground and start my holiday but in First Class the vacation starts when you first embark the plane and sit in your seat.

The seats are plush and opulent in Emirates. I think the gold and white color scheme of First Class is perfect to make you feel like a King or Queen and really you did…

The a380 seats fold out to a full single bed. Full bedding is provided too and the hostess will make the bed up for you when you feel sleepy.

Even without being fully reclined the seats themselves were extremely comfortable and very spacious. There is no overhead lockers in the First Class area so your belongings need to go at your feet but there is plenty of room for this. There is also a few storage areas in your seat for smaller bags.

Also included in your seating area is a “pop up” mini bar with a variety of soft drinks and water (no alcohol).

A basket of snacks and a luxury amenities kit is also provided for guests at their seats as well as a notepad and pen and various other goodies. There are so many prezzies that I felt like a kid at Christmas upon arriving at my seat and checking out all the stuff.

The ladies will love that there is also a decent sized half mirror with lights to apply makeup or check out how scary you look mid flight.

I should mention that the First Class suites are completely private and have electric doors that you can shut off so you don’t have to see other guests.

If you are traveling as a couple, book the middle 2 seats so you can push down the privacy divider. Of course, First Class is always more fun if it is enjoyed with someone else!

Emirates first class suite with divider down for couples

As a whole, we found the service we got to be great from the moment we got on board the flight.

Upon boarding you are treated like a King or Queen. You are offered an initial beverage before take off which is really nice as it sets the journey off to a great start. Emirates serve $750 a glass Dom Pérignon in First Class (not available in Business) which is a must order, in my opinion! It is their signature beverage.

After an initial glass of bubbly (or the beverage or your choice) the airhost brings around Persian coffee and Emirates signature dates – which are delicious.

I really want one of the Gold Emirates teapots!

Following this, the airhost brings around really nice pyjamas and slippers for your flight.

For the rest of the trip the airhost were at your whim. As there is around only 10 seats in First Class you get very good personalised service. There is many many seats in Business Class so the service is not so personalized as it is in First Class. The business class attendants also looked totally run off their feet.

On the 2 legs we traveled, most of the service was A+. A few attendants we got lacked lustre and forgot our order and things we requested a few times, which we thought shouldn’t have happened in First Class but for the most part the service was very very good.

Entertainment

This was one element I was disappointed in. I really expected Emirates to have First Class entertainment. I found the entertainment options to be a bit boring and worse than other comparable airlines.

For example, they don’t include many popular tv series as options in their entertainment.

In First Class I never felt like I needed much entertainment (I was eating and drinking way to much, not to mention showering and hanging out at the bar) but I would’ve been quite disappointed in the level of entertainment if I was flying in economy.

Emirates First Class is meant to include free wifi but there is a catch. To access it you must not only have an Emirates frequent flyer number (which we had) but you must have this number attached to your booking. We were not aware we had to do this and could not access the wifi for the first leg of our flight. In Dubai, the Emirates lounge assisted us to add our Emirates frequent flyer number to our ticket. The attendants are not able to help you with this mid flight.

As you would expect, the wifi was practically unusable and spotty in any event. I wouldn’t recommend paying for wifi if you travel in Business Class or Economy.

In First Class you get a snack list to enjoy with a movie including things like sliders and popcorn

Dining (On Demand) and Beverages

One cool feature of First Class is that you dine on demand. Basically, this means that there are no set meal times and you just eat when you are hungry.

There is an extensive menu in First Class and you just order and eat when you feel like it. This is different to Business Class (and Economy) where there are set meal times. Also, your orders are endless so you can literally eat the entire flight if you feel like it. And, we pretty much did. I swear we left the plane about 5kg heavier than we boarded it.

The quality of the meals in First Class was also for the most part high quality. It comes complete with a gorgeous white tablecloth and fine china and cutlery so you feel like you are dining in a high quality restaurant. They also serve fine dining meal options like caviar which I was keen to try. Note: I now know I don’t like caviar!!!

The alcoholic menu was also extremely extensive and included a wide selection of top shelf liquor and cocktails to choose from as well as an expansive list of quality wine and beer. No complaints there.

Other alcoholic beverages to try a tipple of include the Hennessy Paradis (retail $900 per bottle) and the Hennessy Paradis Imperial ($3000 per bottle if you’re lucky). The Paradis is a nice cognac – and as we aren’t huge spirit drinkers we would never splash that cash on a bottle – so it was nice to try a glass.

The Caviar I didn’t like (fishy) but doesn’t it look great!

Emirates a380 First Class Special Features

Now there are a couple of features of the a380 First Class that you don’t get in every Emirates flight…. (For example the 777)

One unique feature of the a380 is having a full bar onboard. This is accessible to both First and Business Class passengers.

Having a bar onboard is so fun and we really enjoyed going and sitting at the bar and having a drink.

The bar serves only Business Class beverages however, if there is anything you would like from the First Class menu, the hostess will bring it down for you. They don’t serve Dom Pérignon in Business Class so the hostess brought us down a bottle to the bar.

There is also a few snacks to eat at the bar if you are feeling a bit peckish.

Note: The bar opens about 15 minutes after the seatbelt sign is turned off. There is only 1-2 seats at the bar so it is advisable to go to the bar early if you would like to sit.

A380 Shower on a plane

Perhaps the coolest thing about First Class is the ability to shower in the air! It is really a bit of a bucket list experience to say you have had a shower in the sky.

Sometime after takeoff your air hostess will approach you and ask when you would like to shower during your flight so they can book you a time with the shower attendant (yes, that is right, there is also a dedicated shower attendant in First Class).

We said that we didn’t know when we wanted to shower but sometime mid-flight before we went to sleep. The hostess granted us permission not to book a time slot as they said it would not be busy at this time however, advised we should if we wanted to use it just before landing as this is the most popular time slot.

You are only permitted 1 shower per flight (water runs for 5 minutes).

I wasn’t even sure if I could be bothered to shower on the flight but I decided to try it for the YOLO moment on the first leg and ended up liking it so much I showered the next flight too! It was so nice to be clean and put your pjs on before going to bed. The hostess made my bed up while I showered.

The whole bathrooms in First Class are beautiful and huge (a big plus ++). They include a wide variety of luxury products for your use and are cleaned after every guest by the shower attendant which means they are always beautiful and clean (so no dirty flight toilets!!!)

While the water only runs for 5 minutes, you can stop and start the water to prolong the time. I felt like I had enough time to wash my hair and shave my legs while in the shower.

There are no power points in the bathrooms but a hairdryer is plugged into the wall for your use.

After the shower, the shower attendant provides you with a tray of delicious fruit to enjoy which goes down a treat!

Emirates First Class Lounges 

Of course one of the biggest perks of traveling in Business and First Class is getting access to the Business and First Class Lounge.

First Class usually has its own seperate lounge but you can also access the Business Class lounge if you wish.

As we were flying a flight code share with Qantas, in Melbourne we were able to access the Emirates Business Class lounge as well as the Qantas First Class lounge (Emirates does not have a First Class lounge in Melbourne).

The Emirates Business Class lounge was very good and included a wide range of items on the buffet as well as beverages but the Qantas First Class lounge was outstanding and included Table Service with a beautiful view over the tarmac so you can watch planes come in and take off.

If you ever do find yourself here, the pavlova is outstanding. Order it.

In Dubai, Emirates have a seperate dedicated First Class Lounge with table service which was very good. In fact, it’s an entire level of the airport which includes numerous restaurants, bars and duty free shops selling premium wares. 

If you are traveling in First Class you are eligible for a free 20 minute massage at the lounge which we really enjoyed. Book it as soon as you arrive as they book out fast.

We also checked out the Business Class Lounge in Dubai and found the First Class Lounge to be unsurprisingly simnifically better. The main difference is that the Business Class Lounge has a buffet whereas the First Class Lounge has fine dining table service. While a buffet sounds good, it was crowded and lacked lustre.

We were there during breakfast hours so the multicourse menu was not available, but that didn’t stop us from sampling some of the better dinner options which are available 24 hours including a steak so exceptional we had to order a second for breakfast.

One of the coolest features of Dubai Airport is you can board your Emirates flight directly from the lounge. We could sit at the restaurant enjoying our steak, sipping a vino and browsing on our laptops up until a few minutes before take-off – almost an hour after boarding first opened.

The First Class Lounge in Dubai

At the end of the day – Emirates a380 First Class: Is it worth $10,000?

If you can afford the money (or have points) I would do it at least once. We had a fabulous time and can’t stop thinking about it.

Is it worth $10,000 a ticket one way? Probably not but we would 100% do it again.

What is the emirates a380 first class ticket price? Depends on your leg and how long the flight is but as a general rule at least $10,000.

Emirates a380 first class vs business class – what are the big differences? The seats are a lot bigger in First Class and you are less like cattle. Business Class is huge whereas the First Class area is very small and exclusive. This means that service is way better. You can also dine on demand in First Class, have access to better quality alcohol and have a shower! The toilets are also MUCH nicer in First Class.

Is Emirates First Class good for couples? Yes! We found it to be great which we weren’t sure about when initially booking our ticket. This is because you can put the divider down so you can see each other. Book the middle 2 seats. Note, they do not have a dedicated 2 person suite like some other airlines for couples.

Is Emirates First Class good for families? I’m not sure how good First Class would be for families with small children as there is no First Class Family Suite.

How does it differ from the 777? The 777 does not have a bar and shower. These are unique features of the a380.

See more airport and flight reviews:

• Plaza Premium Lounge Heathrow Airport
• British Airways Premium Economy Review
• BA First Class Concord Lounge review
• United Polaris Review

MC Miller is a travel blogger and writer who has travelled America extensively and abroad to over 80 countries. He founded Couple Travel The World in 2017. Since then, he has spent over 6 years on the road as a full time travel couple. When he not traveling he likes to spend quality time with his partner Bett, planning our their next date or romantic getaway!

Thursday 17th of November 2022

Hi, thanks for this article. So no way to really book seat at the emirates bar correct if flying first? It’s only first come first serve? Also I noticed online that Dom and caviar service isn’t mentioned on certain international first routes, but that is always there correct? Thanks in advance!

coupletraveltheworld

Hi Sam, It is first come first served, even if you're in first class. If you go right away, about 15 mins after take off, you'll most likely get a seat at the bar. They'll bring you a bottle of Dom down from first class which is really nice! I don't know if Dom and caviar is served on every Emirates first class flight but Dom seems to be their signature champagne so I'd be surprised if it wasn't offered. I think if you are booking the A380 with the bar, Dom and caviar is pretty safe.

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Emirates First Lounge Review: Is this the best in the world?

Could this be the best First Class lounge in the world?

A grand entrance. Photo: Luc Wiesman / DMARGE

When one thinks of the ultimate layover, few places hold a candle to Dubai , a veritable mecca for the discerning traveller, thanks to its sprawling spaces, seamless transit experiences, and decadent opportunities for retail therapy… not to mention lounges that rival five-star resorts .

During our most recent venture to the annual Watches & Wonders event in Switzerland, I took it upon myself to test the opulent waters of the Emirates First Class Lounge at Dubai International’s Terminal 3.

Flight : EK83 – Disguised under a Qantas (QF) flight code—because who doesn’t like to squeeze every ounce of value from those precious status credits to retain Platinum.

Access : You must be flying First Class with Emirates or have Emerald status with Oneworld.

The moment I stepped through those doors, the typical airport chaos was replaced by a symphony of service that would put many a concierge to shame.

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Essential Travel Tips Before Booking & Flying Emirates First Class

I was met by a quintet of Emirates staff who expedited my entry with the swiftness of a pit crew at the Monaco Grand Prix, making any regular airport check-in process look pedestrian in comparison.

The Power Of The Shower

First on my agenda was a much-needed visit to the showers. Here lay nine cubicles, each a temple of cleanliness, stocked with a bevy of toiletries that would make your dopp kit blush — plush towels, high-end toothbrushes, and more.

It’s a welcome sanctuary where the weary traveller can wash away the grime that anyone who regularly enjoys international travel will be all too familiar with. I thank the cleaner on hand and I skip to breakfast smelling like a rose…

Culinary Delights, Day & Night

Dining options presented the very best kind of moral dilemma. The smaller, more intimate restaurant offers a laid-back ambience and unrivalled level of personal attention from staff, while its larger counterpart serves up a feast fit for royalty.

Breakfast pancakes are cloud-like confections that we cannot recommend strongly enough. The sirloin steak is a far sturdier affair that any committed carnivore should try. Ask for fries with your steak too.

Plus, spotting celebrities like Roberto Carlos or Joseph Kosinski casually dining nearby adds a sprinkle of star power to the meal…

A Sneaky Sneaker Revival

For those whose travel-trodden footwear has seen better days, the shoe shine service is nothing short of miraculous. My Dior sneakers were returned in such immaculate condition that I half wondered if they’d been replaced by new ones under my very nose.

In Dubai, nothing is out of the question…

Catch A Quick Nap On Long Layovers

In a welcome acknowledgement of the oft-overlooked needs of jet-lagged, ‘quiet rooms’ offer respite for anyone who needs to catch up on their Zs without resorting to the abominable awkwardness of public airport napping.

Why Get Up? The Emirates Team Will Come To You

If lounging is your strategy for layover survival, the Emirates lounge caters to your inertia with a QR code service that brings an array of dining options right to your seat. Why stretch your legs when you can stretch your palate instead?

Privacy Partitioned To Perfection

The design of the lounge cleverly carves out private nooks from the larger expanse, ensuring that every guest can find their own quiet corner. Whether you’re seeking solitude or a confidential chat, the layout accommodates all.

Kid’s Corner That’s Perfect For A Man-Child Like Me

Tucked away in a distant corner of the expansive lounge is a games room — a considerate nod to both families travelling with kids and those young at heart. Armed with Sega Daytona arcade games, it’s a space that beckons with the allure of nostalgia. And come on, a Daytona machine is just awesome.

A Free Spa To Maximise Your Serenity

Emirate’s specialised spa offers a very welcome pit stop for those battered by endless hours of air travel. Complimentary 15-minute massages provide a brief but blissful escape. Swift service ensures minimal wait time, allowing more travellers to enjoy a touch of pampering without the delays that all too often come to characterise our time in and around airports…

A Global Gazette For Your Reading Pleasure

With newspapers and magazines from across the globe, staying informed is easy. This array of reading material will cater to everyone’s interests, whether they want to keep up with current affairs at home (wherever that may be) or dive into the many intrigues of the Middle East. That said, magazines have been in major decline since pandemic, so we do wonder how many people pick these up.

Direct Gate Access Is A Game Changer

Finally, one of the lounge’s most ingeniously pragmatic features is its direct gate access. This exclusive path allows guests to bypass the usual boarding scramble, maintaining the serene bubble of first-class luxury right up until the moment of departure.

The Bottom Line

The Emirates First Class Lounge at Dubai International doesn’t just elevate your layover, it totally transforms it. It’s a place where the grimmer aspects of air travel dissolve into understated elegance and flawless service where everything — from food to shoulder massages — is delivered with grace.

Next time you’re passing through, don’t miss it.

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CABIN FEATURES

First Class

Emirates a380 first class, as close as it comes to your own private jet.

Close the privacy doors and you are in a world of your own. With fine dining at any time, an onboard shower spa and the ultimate lounge bar just a short walk away.

See why this isn’t just flying. It’s the Emirates A380.

Boeing 777 First Class

Introducing the fully enclosed first class suite.

Experience true luxury with your own private hotel room in the sky. Game changing technology includes temperature controls and mood lighting, an industry first with virtual windows, and soft leather seating reminiscent of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

This is our Game Changer.

TRIPADVISOR

World’s Best First Class 2020

Whether you’re flying on the Emirates A380 or our game-changing Boeing 777, you’ll experience the World’s Best First Class 2020. Discover why our customers voted for us in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards.

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• Emirates First Class cabin features