Private Suites and Iconic Luxury Inflight: Emirates A380 First Class from Dubai to New York
by Krish Patel
Flying Emirates First Class is a luxurious once-in-a-lifetime experience that normally costs thousands of dollars. In the aviation industry, there are very few things that truly amaze me in the same way Emirates A380 First Class does. Spacious suites with enhanced privacy, an onboard bar and lounge, and inflight showers all make this an incredible flight experience. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to experience such an amazing flight on one of my favorite airlines.
The Ground Experience in Dubai
If you’re flying out of Dubai or almost any major city that Emirates flies to, you’ll be able to take advantage of the airline’s chauffeur service when going to the airport. This includes a Cadillac Escalade in many major cities around the U.S. or a Mercedez-Benz in Dubai. Note that this offer is exclusively available to those who booked First or Business Class using cash (no miles or upgrades).
Since I arrived off a connecting flight, I made my way directly to the Emirates First Class Lounge in Concourse A of Dubai’s Terminal 3. The lounge is located one level above the terminal and can be accessed by taking the escalator. Emirates also has First Class lounges in Concourses B and C, depending on where your flight is departing from.
Measuring at over 100,000 square feet, the lounge is massive, with plenty of seating areas, food and drink stations, and amenities, including duty free shopping. The lounge’s entrance feels very high-end, with dark brown finishes, marble front desks, and sconce lighting.
Located adjacent to the entrance is some high-end duty free shopping and a map of the lounge showing the location of the facilities. There’s also some comfortable seating and customer service desks.
There are many types of furniture in this lounge, including plush armchairs, chairs that swivel, and lounge chairs. You can spend your entire layover in this lounge simply deciding where to sit because the seating extends all throughout the space. Near many of the seats are fine lamps, table space, and power outlets. Much of the seating adopts a red and brown color palette and overlooks the terminal below.
If you’re looking to get some work done or eat, there are seating spaces for both of those activities. A dedicated workspace with computers and the fine dining restaurant can be found towards the center of the lounge. The restaurant features ornate brown tables and red or brown leather chairs.
Emirates really shines when it comes to in-lounge food and drink, with many outposts and buffets throughout the lounge. The smaller snack and beverage stations offer various pastries, cheeses, vitality juices, dates with Arabic coffee, and Moët champagne. You can choose from many cuisines, including Asian, Indian, and Western. There’s even a sushi bar where you can order chef-inspired Japanese dishes. However, the sit-down restaurant has an extensive selection of choices for breakfast, where you’re certainly not going to be left hungry.
Amenities in the lounge include a Timeless Spa facility, kids play area, and showers. There wasn’t a waitlist to use any of the facilities and I was given a vacant shower as soon as I put my name down. The shower was very spacious and came with plenty of room for my belongings.
Most conveniently of all, you can board your flight directly from the lounge without having to go back into the terminal. There was no queue for boarding and I took the elevator down to the gate area after scanning my boarding pass. It’s always fun and exciting to board an A380, especially on the upper deck.
Emirates A380 First Class Cabin and Seat
Emirates A380s feature 14 cream First Class suites at the front of the upper deck arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. The seats are incredibly comfortable and look stunning, with the golden trims, sconce lamps, and elegant marble finishes. There are no overhead bins above First Class, which is done to allow for a spacious feel.
In front of each seat is the entertainment system, which is 32 inches long and offers great viewing angles, surrounded by a gold trim. Adjacent to the screen is a high-end sconce lamp and personal vanity mirror, both of which sit on the front wooden table. Across from the sconce lamp is a golden reading light and bouquet of fresh orchids, which was a cool touch.
Sort of hidden, but beneath the front table is a small nook for the inflight literature.
Another hidden feature is the universal outlet built into the front wooden table. You’ll find two USB outlets built into the side table at the outer end of the seat, which are slightly beneath the universal port.
Located at the outer end of the seat is the massive side console, which features the signature Emirates mini bar complete with snacks and drinks at the push of a button. The tray table also pops out from the side of the seat and features a gold trim that matches the ambiance of the rest of the suite. Right next to the mini bar is a side storage compartment, which is a good size and can hold a small carry-on bag.
Behind the mini bar and tray table compartment is a mini entertainment tablet, some side table space, and various buttons such as a “do not disturb” indicator and flight attendant call button.
Built into the outer armrest is the IFE remote, as well as some more seat controls, including a button for the privacy door. Meanwhile, a headphone jack is built into the inner armrest found along the side table.
Making your way out of the suite, you’ll notice a small closet complete with a coat hanger. I love how the suite features a dedicated coat closet opposed to a small coat hook that’s very traditional in premium cabin seats.
In between the First and Business Class sections is a set of lavatories shared by passengers in both cabins. They’re very spacious and come provided with shaving and dental kits, as well as a window behind the toilet.
Out of the 14-hour flight duration, I slept like a baby for nearly six and a half hours. The bed lies flat at 79 inches long and is incredibly plush, with a white mattress topper and blanket that are truly hotel-quality. Flight attendants will offer turn-down service when you’re ready to sleep.
Emirates A380 First Class “Wow!” Factors
The Emirates Airbus A380 is the only commercial airliner with both an actual onboard bar and shower. At the front of the upper deck are two shower suites that you can use once during the flight, complete with five minutes of running water.
Inside the shower room, it’s incredibly spacious with a luxurious aesthetic. A massive mural of the Dubai skyline runs across the wall of the bathroom and compliments the surrounding wooden finishes. You’re provided with Voya shampoo, conditioner, and various body cleansers. The shower felt quite spacious and my body wasn’t constricted when inside. After showering, I freshened up at the sink, which I thought felt high-end thanks to the marble countertop and generous size.
Right outside both shower rooms is a luxurious grab-and-go bar with various beverages kept in glass bottles, as well as a selection of snacks. This onboard bar is one of two on the Emirates A380, but is only for First Class customers. The sconce lighting and several shelves contributed to a stunning appearance.
At the back of the A380’s upper deck is the bar and lounge area, complete with lounge seating and a near-360˚ bar. It’s stocked with top-shelf liquor and you’ll also find a variety of wines and cocktails available complimentary. Any of the drinks on the menu can also be made at the bar. I enjoyed a virgin mojito to refresh halfway through the flight and it was prepared right in front of me.
If you’re looking for a snack or some light bites, you’ll find some packaged sandwiches, fruit, and small desserts. Many of the snack items can be found at the back counter near the massive TV screen that displays the inflight map. Overall, the lounge area is incredibly stunning, with accent lights above the bar and appealing cream finishes. Flight attendants will even allow you to get behind the bar and have your photo taken using a Polaroid camera.
Gourmet Food and Drink in Emirates First Class
Waiting at my suite for me was a snack basket that included several gourmet snacks and also mint and hydration tablets. The basket was collected before takeoff and remained at my seat until landing. I only ended up using the hydration tablets from the snack basket and didn’t keep any of the other items.
Once I settled in my seat, I was given a menu that came in a leather binder and listed the selection of food and drinks, including alcoholic beverages. The menu selection was super lengthy and consisted of breakfast, mid-flight snacks, and lunch options. It’s always wonderful to see a great variety of dishes available, and Emirates is great when it comes to a diverse range of meals in the premium cabins.
Pre-departure beverages were offered and I opted for a lemon mint, which was refreshing and serves as a common staple drink on Middle Eastern airlines. Flight attendants came back in the aisles shortly after to offer dates and Arabic coffee alongside a hot towel that I couldn’t say no to.
In the air, service commenced with warm nuts and a drink of choice, for which I opted to have the orange fizz mocktail. Emirates offers a dine-on-demand concept in First Class, meaning you can eat whatever you want, whenever you’d like during the flight.
I started breakfast with a fresh fruit plate, which was simple and delightful. Nice, refreshing fruit really makes for a solid start to the breakfast service. Provided on the side was a basket with breakfast pastries that were excellent and paired well with the provided butter and jam. The fruit plate was followed by a cheese and chive omelette. Also served with the omelet was sautéed spinach and portobello mushrooms, as well as a roasted tomato. Without a doubt, it was one of the best breakfasts I’ve ever had in the sky.
I had my lunch just under five hours before landing and started with the raspberry iced tea as my drink. The presentation put into the mocktail was just so impressive and more like something I’d expect at a fine dining restaurant. I couldn’t believe I was drinking something prepared in an onboard galley at 30,000 feet. My table was then set up for the actual meal and I was served a bread basket that came with some olive oil, vinaigrette, and salt and pepper.
Of course, I couldn’t say no to the signature Emirates Gourmet House caviar service in First Class. It’s beautifully presented on fine Royal Doulton china and comes with shredded egg whites and egg yolk, chives, melba toast, blinis, sour cream, and chopped onions. The attention to detail was so high that I was provided with a real mother-of-pearl spoon for my caviar.
I followed the caviar with a delicious-looking Arabic mezze that was well-presented. It was nice how all of the Mediterranean dips and salads were presented on the side, with fresh pita bread in the center. Items included hummus, baba ghanoush, tabouleh, fattoush, kisir salad, tahini, and various pickles. The multiple side dishes provided with the bread were all enjoyable and filling.
I wrapped up the meal with a decadent chocolate truffle cake that was so creamy and topped with roasted hazelnuts, a small touch of edible gold, and vanilla anglaise. The creamy vanilla sauce mixed with the rich chocolate cake ensured for the perfect chocolate dessert and paired nicely alongside a mug of hot green tea.
Just before arrival, I was given a box of chocolates that included truffles and assorted milk and dark chocolates. There was also some orange jelly that came with the rest of the sweet bites.
Amenities in Emirates First Class
Upon boarding, there are several goodies waiting for you at the seat, such as a pillow and thick blanket, amenity kit, and noise-cancelling headphones. In the vanity mirror at the front of the seat, there’s a towelette, facial toner, and eye cream. You’re also given a pen and mini journal, which comes in a drawer built into the front table.
The amenity kit is well-stocked and made up of a sleek brown leather pouch. Its contents include lip balm, after shave, and various body creams all supplied from Bvlgari. You’ll also find a dental kit, razor, Axe deodorant, comb, and tissues.
Pajamas and a bag containing slippers and an eye mask were offered on the ground. I found the pajamas and slippers to be very comfortable, however, the eye mask was a bit tight and certainly not the most comfortable one I’ve received on a flight. I was also given a gray Emirates-branded bag to keep all of my amenities.
While pushing back, a flight attendant came and asked if I’d like any magazines. The tray contained several English and Arabic ones that focused on topics such as travel, culture, and fashion.
Available in all Emirates cabins is the award-winning ICE entertainment system (information, connectivity, entertainment). The system offers an extensive selection of movies and TV shows across multiple genres, including live television. It’s possible to choose from several curated new releases, music playlists, games, and audio podcasts. A signature part of the entertainment system is the A380 tail camera and moving map, which can be adjusted and tracks the live flight time. Under the information section, you’ll also find tabs that discuss the top sites in Dubai and information about flying Emirates.
Free Wi-Fi for Skywards members in First Class was available on this flight. It runs for the entire duration of the journey and offers unlimited internet access.
Service in Emirates A380 First Class
The crew working the First Class cabin were all very pleasant and maintained a professional attitude. As soon as I boarded, I was warmly escorted to my suite and the flight attendant working my aisle even offered to hang my coat in the suite’s closet. The crew consistently offered beverage refills during the flight and restocked the snack items at the bar and lounge on a regular basis.
Booking/Pricing for Emirates First Class
One-way flights in Emirates First Class from Dubai to New York start at $8,000 and can sometimes go upwards of $10,000, depending on the time of day or year. If you’re connecting in Dubai from another destination, then the price tends to be slightly cheaper (but still expensive), starting upwards of $6,500. While still expensive, I was lucky enough to find a lower cash rate six months in advance from Ahmedabad to New York via Dubai for a one-way price of $6,990.
To make booking First Class even more exclusive, Emirates has limited First Class awards to those with Silver, Gold, or Platinum SkyWards elite status. Given how difficult it is to book First Class using miles via Emirates directly, it’s best to utilize booking through a partner airline if you can.
For checking award availability, I highly recommend using seats.aero. It will list all of the possible awards available for a flight on a specific day. Both Qantas and Air Canada offer Emirates First Class awards, with those booked via Qantas starting at 170,800 points. While both airlines have a limited amount of awards, it’s slightly easier to find them in the Qantas program. Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Citi ThankYou Rewards all transfer to Qantas Frequent Flyer.
Overall Thoughts
Flying Emirates First Class is such a great once-in-a-lifetime experience. You’ll certainly be in for a treat on their A380s, with access to an onboard bar and shower that are some of the coolest inflight amenities in the entire aviation industry. The lounge in Dubai really impressed me, but I couldn’t believe that I was on a regular flight. With incredible fine dining and superb goodies like pajamas and a Bvlgari toiletry bag, I felt like I was in a flying five star hotel. I’m so grateful for the chance to have experienced Emirates First Class for the first time on one of their flagship routes. You’re going to forget that you’re in the sky if you find yourself at the pointy end of an Emirates A380.