My flight from Dubai to Brussels was scheduled to depart at 8:20AM. Since I’ve reviewed Emirates’ first class lounges in Dubai before (in both the A Concourse and B Concourse), I decided to skip the lounge this time and head straight to the gate. My flight was departing from gate B3. That’s a remote gate,…
Continue reading: Review: Emirates New First Class 777 Dubai To Brussels
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Great review Lucky - once again jealous of your experience! Just an FYI though - I think some of your photo uploads messed up. All of your airport photos, etc. up until the photo posted after the line "The rear business class cabin had a total of 28 seats, spread across four rows." seem to be duplicate first class seat pics rather than what you are describing.
Fantastic review as usual, Lucky. Good job boarding immediately! You got some cool photos from that rear door.
Great review
Question - is Emirates phasing out the on-board bars on their newer planes? I found those to be one of the unique aspects of the brand.
@Lucky - does the new suite outweigh the benefits of a shower and bar on-board?
@ Anthony -- Their A380s continue to have onboard bars and showers, while their 777s don't (and never have).
@ ah -- That's a great question, and I was going to write a post about just that (A380 F vs. 777 new F). Stay tuned! 🙂
@ TBH -- Thanks for the heads up. Hmmm, WordPress has a weird glitch sometimes that involves how I name the files. Anyone else having this issue?
You know we all want to see the Polaroid picture!! Loved the review; so thorough and so fun.
"The gate agent questioned me relentlessly about whether I had ever stayed in Europe for more than 90 days". Don´t you use your German Passport when going to Europe? Or can you use one to leave the country and board the plane and the other when going through immigration on arrival?
Great review.
Re: the part about it being “embarrassing” that the new business class is still 2-3-2, I agree 100%. American carriers get trashed relentlessly on here, but all of them have either phased out business class middle seats or are in the process of doing so. Meanwhile, Emirates gets endless praise for a mediocre hard product because of their flashy marketing.
Lucky..... i was expecting to see those virtual windows in the middle seats.... you never tried them ???? . still did you try the "zéro gravity " bed option and how did it feel... ....
Not really sure i like the video camera ordering. I would not want to video order anything right after waking up or just whenever you don't want to see anyone. The last thing I would want would be the FAs to see looking like a hot mess. A VX-like ordering style would have been much better IMO.
What I find disappointing is the airshow version. It's more than a decade old and they'd aught to use a more later version similar to SQ on their new 777's, A350's and CX's A350.
Loved this one, Ben! Hopefully they expand this product to more routes sooner rather than later, as I'd love to try it out.
@John "Meanwhile, Emirates gets endless praise for a mediocre hard product because of their flashy marketing." How about, and infinitely greater service, food, and entertainment?
As a long time rail enthusiast and rider I have watched over the decades airlines adopting well established train type seating features for their premium cabins -- for example in the 80s first class seats got extendable leg rest and footrests.
With these fully enclosed suites, Emirates has turned the tables at least for single cabins -- luxury trains will now have to start copying many of these great features for their single bedrooms/roomettes.
It would be good if some boffin could reconcile the route and advise if there are/were any decent landmarks/geographic features on which to use the binoculars. 28,000 feet during a day time flight should provide for handy viewing conditions which is something I love to do to be hones although never had binoculars.
Wow I am salivating over that wine list!
Also I should mention that I am almost never served caviar with mother of pearl spoons, even in 2 or 3 Michelin starred restaurants.
J 2-3-2 layout is horrible, the only way this benefit is for 1 couple and their child as a family row
If you're going to have a wine on the list that goes with venison, there ought to be venison on the menu. Attention to detail.
The little travel themed folder they gave you is really cute. Do you think they would give one to anyone if they asked?
I have to disagree with the new business class seats. Call me crazy but it's actually incredibly comfortable.
While on a marketing view, they are inferior to every single competitive business class product out there. However, from a comfort point of view, it is incredibly comfortable, much more compared to a reverse herringbone configuration.
The contours in the seat as well as the thigh support is incredible on it, akin to that of a Bentley seat. Aside from the perhaps lack of privacy, I would gladly pick this seat if it was a daytime flight or on a flight where I don't plan on sleeping instead of a reverse herringbone seat. However, if I do value privacy for that flight, I wouldn't pick this otherwise.
@John - Atleast on EK you are never stuck in a US domestic F recliner with 30 odd inches on pitch.
Whether one is flying a 40 min flight or an 18 hr flight comfort is guaranteed.
great review ben- just thought your lunch course was veeeeeeery simple and peasant like. Was expecting lobster, 7 course meal, diff types of wine, something like that. rice with shrimp isnt really premium.
Crazy over the top. But so cheap not having Bose or Beats headphones. Ten ways to change your day but $50 headphones.
Also would not have wasted my appetite on fruit and yogurt. You should have started with caviar and appetizer course(s) then finished with lunch.
Your flight probably didn't have that many kids! 😉 Lol on EK flights I've flown, they almost always use the Polaroid camera for kids --- even for families who travel in economy.
I really hope they will out the new F on the A380!
Style over substance. 2-3-2 in business is sub-standard and won’t even work well for couples as the seats are too private. Food in first looks poor and the suites are no good for couples.
As a devoted F flyer, I appreciate simple food well executed. Complicated Lobster dishes are fabulous on terra firma but simple, fresh and nutritious food in the air is always welcomed .... along with Dom and Krug!
The pyjamas are much better after being washed a few times - I had the same issue as was so hot and sticky but after a wash are lovely to use at home
Fantastic review, as always. I am proud of Polish crew member who - as you said - had did a good job. Many crew members from my country were hired in Emirates or Qatar Airways but not always they understand the difference between „world hospitality” and a hospitality seen in Polish Airlines LOT. I am glad it was not this case.
I've done this flight a number of times but only in F if J is unavailable for redemption, and of course not yet in this seat , only the older Suite.
It's just about the most painless way to get from Dubai to Europe, not leaving in the middle of the night nor the crack of dawn as so many of them do.
As for the cross-examination by the gate agent...isn't API meant to deal with this and vet those who might need greater scrutiny? Or is the vetting left up to someone screening 200 passengers by asking questions/flipping through a passport? If it's the latter then little wonder EU has an overstay problem.
As for Brussels, immigration staff ,in my experience ,are efficient and polite; I've not been questioned there ( unlike some of the horrible staff in Amsterdam).
One thing Emirates does extremely well is cheese...and this looked no exception, by the menu.
Loved the review, great start to the year and looking forward to the other new first class reviews coming soon !
Can those dividers in business class be lowered? The seat does look more classy the old one, but all that faux wood still gives it a slightly tacky edge.
How is the foot space when the seat is in bed mode? From your pic, it looked like it might be a bit tight, having your feet under the tray table/counter.
Serving drinks and snacks through the hatch is a nice idea, but seems impractical, if you need to keep leaning over each time to get to the drinks/food (yeah, I know, #firstworldproblems). But then, even the old suite didn't a good place to placing your drink next to you.
Also, while I'm glad the food tasted good, I do find Qatar beats them hand down in the presentation. Even in their business class food.
Think that pre-departure bus ride to the remote stand at DBX is annoying? Try it after a 9 hour flight is delayed into a 17 hour flight, and then you are left standing on the tarmac because they didnt send enough busses. Emirates 777s often get consigned to the remote stands and it's not alot of fun.
"Immediately to the right of the tray table were two USB outlets and a 110v outlet."
Correction...it's one USB outlet, one HDMI outlet and your 110v outlet. 🙂
Why are you so embarrassed that EK has 3 across on business. You getting paid to promote it? Thought not.
The issue isn't that they have a 2-3-2 layout, the issue is that it is a layout with direct aisle access. JAL has a 2-3-2 layout on some of their planes, but since it is the Apex seat, everyone gets aisle access, even the people in the middle center seats.
@lucky: Did you keep the binoculars? Are you even allowed to take them with you?
Have another look, S, there ARE 2 USB ports, one horizontal above the HDMI socket, the second, illuminated, vertical to the right of the 110V outlet.
Thanks, Lucky for such a detailed, gadget geek-oriented review with loads of photos.
One question arises - I wonder how reliable the virtual window system will be? I have done four ultra long hauls on both EK777 and 380s, old and new (there are at least two versions of the 380 IFE) and the common thread is unreliability-whole swathes of the cabin ‘down’ and resets that take an hour. Let’s hope the tech behind the virtual windows is more reliable, and they keep the camera lenses clean...
Lol at EK business class seat - it's not even fully straight it's slightly staggered a la BE Diamond with one more seat per row.
Didn't find it on your blog yet and don't know where to put it:
EK will be flying 777 new F to MUC starting July 1st.
EK 53 & EK 54 are the ones to go for.
CMB - DXB - MUC with new F for Euro 3'700 return
btw
like your blog, read it daily and enjoy your style of writing, awesome!
Oh btw Ben,. Please fly SQ REGIONAL BIZ CLASS this year..
Can't wait to read your report about their New Regional Biz Class.
Thanks for the review! How do you find out which planes have the new product on them?
Having flown GVA-DXB return in Emirates' new 777 Business Class I am deeply unimpressed. A few days later, doing the same trip in Eco, with a half-empty cabin and a row to myself, I was no less comfortable than in the "posh seats". New Business: on the plus side, it looks reeeeally glossy. On the minus: no stowage at seat level. None. (Tip: put the cans of free fizzy drink on the floor and use that small shelf for glasses, phone and small notebook.) Seat bed is so long and so deep towards the back that I couldn't get my feet on the floor. (Tip: put 3 pillows behind your back and 3 folded blankets on floor. Alternative: thrombosis from having the backs of your knees compressed for 6 hours.) Footrest is so far from the seat that you can't use it unless the seat is 3/4 reclined. When fully reclined, the ridge between seat-bed and seat-back is so prominent that you need at least 2 mattresses. Privacy? It's no longer even an option to have a conversation with your spouse/BFF/work colleague sitting next to you. (For that, it has to be seats across the aisle.) The screen stays UP. I could go on.... (shall I mention the crumbs and black hairs that hadn't been cleaned off the lifejacket cover next to my left elbow?).