Review: Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai DXB

Nice. So they don't give Alaska award ticket holders hard time any more?
Also, do qantas F passengers receive complimentary 15 min massage as well?
Thank you.

Great report, sounds a little strange for a whole concourse to be a lounge. Any TVs/ magazine areas etc?

Also Thai > Syd qf f lounge due to door to door service?

Imo qf beats Thai for at least food and the view

Great info and report, was wondering if you have a flight out of DXB on a plane other than the a380 in Emirates F can you still go to this "lounge" or is there a separate one in the other terminal?

Do they offer you a tour when you enter, or are there maps or do they at least list off the various facilities available? Given how big it is, it seems like it would actually be kind of annoying to explore the whole thing, unlike most lounges, and it looks like it would be fairly easy to not realize there is a cigar bar, are daybeds, etc.

While I do appreciate the concept of 'direct boarding' from the gate, and hence the need for an entire floor dedicated to the lounge, I feel that EK lacks innovation generally and relies more on bling, with many of their products coming across as borderline tacky.

Great report! What did you guys do with the massive cake?

I was totally salivating over doing a JFK - DXB - BKK in first, but between the cutoff for first availability, and now no free ground transportation, other options seem to offer a better avenue. Regardless, it's great that you had the chance to get the full benefits on this trip with your dad, and that he got into the spirit of things as well.

So a full level for the First concourse, but they serve Moet? Moet???? Really?

Beautiful lounge and I would need HOURS to explore all of it and enjoy everything it offers. Though, I agree with you Ben it is just too big to feel "private" but with so much seating available I don't see it a problem to find a little spot and make it my home, specially the day beds :). lovely.

@ Ahmad -- They were kind enough to box it up so we could take it onboard with us and share it with the crew.

@ Bgriff -- They don't offer a tour, but there's quite a bit of signage, so it's not too tough to figure things out.

@ Michael -- There is a separate lounge in the other concourse, but I believe you can use this one even if you're flying out of another concourse.

@ Andrew -- Hmmm, just recently visited Qantas First Lounge for the first time, I think you might be right. It is a damn good lounge. There were some areas with magazines, and even some media rooms.

@ Lantean -- I didn't have a hard time, at least. And yes, Qantas passengers do receive a complimentary treatment as well.

Does the QF LHR-DXB-SYD A380 use this concourse? And thus presumably QF F pax would use this F lounge/concourse?

@ HansGolden -- Yes on both counts.

The check in hall is big because it needs to span the entire taxiway area between the midfield concourses and the landside check-in terminals. For T1 the check in hall is smaller but after security there is a long sterile corridor connecting T1 to concourse C. For T3 the design is to envelope the connector into the general landside area with security not happening until you are right under concourse B.

@Lucky - Just to clarify, even though Emirates sometimes likes to refer to Concourse A as the "A380 Concourse" in their PR, it is neither exclusive to the A380 nor are A380 flights exclusive to the concourse. In fact, there are multiple gates on Concourse A that are not even capable of handling A380s, plus a whole bunch of bus gates. I've only had an A380 flight at A concourse once - most of my A380s have left from Concourse C which is actually part of Terminal 1 but is also partly used by Emirates during the peak departure periods. Emirates has First and Business Lounges in both Concourse A and B of Terminal 3 as well as in Concourse C of Terminal 1 - a total of 6 lounges.

@Bgriff - There are maps and signs everywhere in the lounges giving directions to the various amenities. The lounge isn't really that complex or exciting once you've used it a few times - as Ben says it is a very modular design with pretty much the same stuff repeating itself every alternate gate area.

@Michael - In theory, you are supposed to use the lounge closest to your departure gate (your lounge "assignment" is also noted on your Boarding Pass), but in practice you will be allowed to use any (or multiple) lounge until 60 minutes prior to your flight when you will be denied entry to any lounge other than the closest one to your gate.

Is that salmon sashimi??

"You’d almost think they were paid a commission based on you visiting their area, based on how attentive they were in seeing if anything could be done."

Dude, it's Dubai. Be glad the service there was as attentive as it was, as opposed to usual half-assed service you find in the GCC.

As spectacular as that lounge is, it is rather sad to see all of that food going to waste. I doubt more than a third of it gets eaten. I hope the staff working there gets to dine on it before it gets thrown out, so at least someone gets to enjoy the rest.

Great report and thanks for posting Ben.

With regards to the cigar bar, would I be correct in assuming that the cigars are provided gratis? Is that the same at the EY AUH lounge?

Hi Lucky,
Booked my flight in First last April for upcoming travel in Feb. Already scheduled ground transportation, will it be honored or am I on my own?
Seeing all the pictures makes me that much more excited! Thanks for excellent report!

Sorry, forgot to mention that flight was booked through Alaska...

Used this lounge in December when flying QF F from DXB to LHR. Was definitely blown away by the sheer size of the lounge. But even at peak departure hour of 1:45am, never really felt crowded. I had about two hours in the lounge and felt like I was rushing through it. The massage I got in the timeless spa was fantastic! Excited I will get to pass through here again this February for a much longer layover. Also may go check out what they do upstairs in the business lounge out of curiosity.

@ Darla -- If you already scheduled it you're good to go.

@ TEX277 -- There's actually a menu and they have to be purchased. Thought that was pretty cheap.

I thought they gave passengers traveling on Award tickets from partner airlines a tough time getting in the First lounge? Has that stopped?

@ Doug -- I didn't have any trouble with it. Maybe they finally fixed it?

Brilliant reading Thanks Lucky!

When visiting the new Business Lounge a few years back in Dubai, I remember there being a distinct lack of showers, having to queue for 45 minutes plus for one to open up..... Whilst I appreciate there was no need for you to shower whilst you were in the 1st lounge, did you notice plenty of showers available ?

Thanks

@ Scott -- There are a dozen or so showers, if I recall correctly. Not a ton for the size of the lounge, but it also never seems to get full, so...

Lucky - Me and my mom are traveling out of DXB on EK. She's booked in First and I am in Business. Will I be able to access the First lounge as a guest of my mother's? I've looked on the EK website and can't find any details on this. Thanks!

@ Woody -- Yep, she can bring in one guest. Enjoy your flight! 🙂

Ben, do you remember what type of cigars were available in the lounge? Were there a lot of options?

@ JD -- I don't, sorry. However, it was a fairly small selection, and you had to pay for them.

Hi Ben,

I flew F class on EK 354 DXB-SIN as well on 1/27. Just to give a data point, when I checked in and received my boarding pass, it did not have a lounge invitation printed on it! When I questioned it, the check-in agent stated she was not showing that I have lounge access, since my ticket was book through Alaska Airlines. I'll note that I am an EK Skywards member, and had my Skywards number printed on my boarding pass! She suggested I go up to the lounge and ask anyway, and needless to say I was having a panic attack the entire way there. Fortunately, the nice lady at the lounge entrance granted me access, but she also pointed out that I was booked on an Alaska Airlines award ticket. The way she said it made me feel like maybe she was doing me a favor, and could have easily denied me lounge access. I didn't inquire much at that point, as I didn't want to risk changing her mind! The experience definitely has me exploring other options to book my future Emirates awards. Did you have a similar experience on your recent Emirates flights? Was the lounge invitation printed on your boarding passes?

@ Andy -- Ouch! Nope, haven't had any issues. When I entered a couple of days ago they said "you booked with Alaska, right?" After some typing, I was granted access.

I'm amazed you managed to not try the T-Bone! Charging for cigars seems a little cheap, but a cigar lounge, T-Bone steak and great wines seems a good way to deal with a 4-5 hour layover. Tempting. Thanks for the info.

Lucky, two questions: once in the lounge can you leave the airport to visit the city? And is there a place to leave a rollerboard?

I'm arriving into dubai in Y on a separate ticket and have a 9 hr layover before getting on a F flight.

Sorry. One more question: what is emirates' policy on bringing in guests into the F lounge at DXB on an award ticket?

@ Dan -- You're allowed one guest.

Thanks Lucky! Does that guest have to be on an emirates flight or can they be on another?

@ Dan -- Yes, they have to be flying Emirates.

Hi Lucky, I will be travelling in June first class to Dubai from Heathrow on a A380 arriving @ 7.30 am approx. and leaving first class on a Boeing 777 @ 8.50 am so the stopover is short on my way back to Sydney. Will I have time to access the lounge when I arrive in Dubai do you think and do I board the new plane from the first class lounge still ( on same floor) or must I make my way back down stairs to do this with all other passengers? I will be travelling alone, have not done this route before so am anxious about finding my way to the next plane. Is there people to help if I get confused where to find my next flight? Lastly ( I hope) are there showers in this lounge I may access or are they on another floor? P.S. do you have to pay for any food or wine?

Hi Lucky, I forgot to mention in case its important that my first leg is on a QF2 A380 and second leg is a EK418 Boeing 777.

@ meri -- The food and wine is all free, and you can access the lounge for your whole layover. It has showers.

Since your flight is a 777 it might leave from another terminal, in which case you'll have to make your own way there. That being said, the signage in Dubai Airport is quite good, and since you have so much time I'm sure you won't have any issue leaving enough time to find your gate.

Hi Lucky,
Thanks so much for your kind help, much appreciated. I will be arriving in Dubai in Terminal 3 and leaving from same terminal. Were you at a different terminal and if so maybe they have separate first class lounges at different terminals? Where you were sounded very easy, your pictures were fantastic.

@ Meri -- There are several first class lounges within terminal 3, depending on the concourse you're flying out of. The nicest lounge will be in the "A" concourse.

A very interesting and factual account of Emirates, not only check in but the lounge. I use this lounge every month, and to answer some questions, Yes check in is not up to Thai in Bangkok, or Singapore airlines first class. The process however apart from the walk is great. The lounge is huge! I always go to the cigar bar for my dinner, which is excellent. In fact I would $100 for the food and service, I know of course I am a first class pax. As regards the buffet food on the stations, it is trashed every four hours! I was shocked to find this, and it happens at every first class lounge in Dubai airport. I know because I asked the staff and saw it being thrown into wheeler bins. I mean everything was thrown!! I was sadden that this happens, but???. I still use the old first class lounge in terminal C as to terminal B which I think is more me, but thats my choice, and bye the way its a long walk. Another answer is that because of so many flights, the last four trips from Dhabi to Sri Lanka on a 777ER were from the 380 terminal.
Hope that helps folks. enjoy the trip.

@ Lucky - is it necessary to make a reservation for the spa service? if so, how do you make a reservation? Many thanks for the trip report. We're looking forward to kicking our honeymoon off in style, though the future spouse thinks we're "only" in J. 😉

@ David -- You can't make it in advance, so you'll just want to request it when you get there. They usually have pretty good availability.

Lucky, I will be traveling through the first class lounge next month. Are the cigars complimentary? Also is it expected that you tip for things like the SPA treatment and shoe shine?

@ ChrisN -- Cigars aren't complimentary, but just about everything else is. Tipping isn't expected, but generally also won't be refused.

Just returned through Dubai and used the First lounge at the A gate. We were amazed at the space and facilities there. Because we arrived at 12.30 at night and departure was schedules for 10.30 am, we used the quiet room daybeds for a few hours sleep. There was so many choices of food, and things to see, you could live there. We noticed though, even at 9 am, a lot of the select purchase counters were not staffed, though, when we look at a few items, staff popped up and offered to find some sales staff. Maybe there were a lot of people in the lounge at the same time, but being so big, we saw few other passengers...Very different to our trip through Dubai 2 weeks earlier in the J, lounge the lounge there was chockers with people and a very noisy experience.

Lounge access question. We have a 7 hour layover in DXB on an upcoming trip to the Maldives. Our SFO-DXB flight is in F, but our DXB-MLE flight is coach. Will we still be allowed entrance to the lounge since we arrived at DXB in F, or is limited solely to F departures from DXB?

Just used this lounge yesterday as part of my HKG-DXB-SEA F Award ticket booked on Alaska. I had no problem accessing the lounge and using the spa services. The fact that I was booked on an award ticket was only mentioned upon check-in in Hong Kong, where the agent apologized that I would not be earning Alaska miles for my trip! The food, showers, spa, etc. were all top-notch and all employees were helpful and friendly despite it being the middle of the night. I also noticed that the lounge was significantly cooler than the main areas of the terminal, which was an added bonus. I found the award redemption to be a great value and experience, but did notice the differences in the suite between the A380-800 and the B777-200LR. Since I was not in a hurry, transiting through DXB on my way to SEA was no issue at all, and compared to the 165.5K-187.5k miles Delta was charging between HKG-SEA this was not only fewer miles but a far better product and experience.

Hi there @ Lucky, as you seem to be the fountain of knowledge on this topic........
Please can you confirm as my partner is travelling first from LGW to HKG via DBX, and I will be on the same flight but in economy(boo!),will I be entitled to gain entry as his guest into the lounge for first?
Thank you.

@ J Hood -- Yep, sure can!

Do you know the first class lounge hours? I can't seem to find the information anywhere. Booked a two F awards through Alaska with an overnight layover. Trying to figure out if I need to get a hotel.

@ J -- It's 24 hours. 🙂

I just called Emirates to confirm that I could take a guest into First Lounge who is travelling on same flight but economy ticket. They said it wasn't possible. 🙁 I see here that you say it is allowed; have the rules changed do you know? I guess they won't be allowed to travel with me in the chauffeur service car either.

@Lucky how much time would you recommend is needed to "experience" the lounge for a first timer? Especially if its going to be someones only time. I was thinking 4-5 hours to kind of nibble a bit at the selections and walk around?

i am transiting from Auckland to London so can I use the First class lounge in A even if my flight leaves from a B gate ? Also can you change from one to the other and lastly does the B gates lounge have a smoking area.Looks to be a superb lounge with great facilities so can't wait.

Does Chauffeur come with Alaska reward tickets too? Where can I find more details?

I used this lounge in Jan this year as part of a DXB-SYD leg on QF2. I found the lounge excellent (a little bit gaudy compared to QF SYD F lounge or the new CX Pier F lounge), and found the same things you did regarding the incredible level of service - it's almost as if you are haunted around this big lounge by the attentive staff.

One thing I really didn't like after hopping off a red eye (BA F from LHR) is that the showers rooms were tiny and very stuffy inside, hardly refreshing at all. It's a real shame they didn't take a leaf out of CX's book (or dare I say it the BA Cabanas) and create a nice spacious shower room for F customers.

I didnt get to the Bussines Lounge but the new DXB terminal ist just awesome , best I ever seen

Hi. So the meals in the first class lounge and on the plane are not charged (or included in the fare?) And no extra amount needs to be paid?

the service is so nice that i felt bad for not tipping... I was from country with no tipping culture then moved to america, so felt really bad about not tipping... Especially if they take your shoes for shoeshine while waiting for your meals... It is very awkward.

Ala carte meals in the lounge were decent on handful of early departures that i've taken... never did it on the late night flights though but I don't see how it is any different.

The spa and shower is so underwhelming as some have mentioned compared to CX or LH. Even shower facility in some random lounge in China has better rainfall water pressure. Such a shame

I have a 7 hour layover so I was thinking of skipping the lounge and hiring a driver to do a whirlwind tour. We arrive Dubai at 730pm and depart at 230am. Also thought they had a stopover program where they provide you with a hotel room? What do you recommend?