Which Routes Feature The New Emirates “Game Changer” First Class?

I rank Emirates’ new first class as one of the world’s best first class products. Readers often have questions about whether a particular flight is scheduled to feature the new first class, so in this post, I want to cover that in a bit more detail, and provide an update on which routes are currently scheduled to have the new product.

This coincides with the launch of the IATA winter 2025-2026 travel schedule, which applies for flights between late October and late March.

What makes Emirates’ new first class special?

While Emirates first class has long been a world class product, the airline took it to the next level with its new first class, introduced in late 2017 (okay, I guess it’s not really that “new” anymore, but it is rare). The new first class is available exclusively on select Boeing 777-300ERs, and features just six seats. It’s simply an incredible product.

While there are lots of first class suites with doors nowadays, this one is actually fully enclosed, floor-to-ceiling. This suite also has an unbelievable number of gadgets, from temperature controls in your private suite, to lighting controls where you can choose the color and intensity of the lighting.

To get a sense of how awesome this product is, check out my full Emirates new first class trip report from a flight I took between Washington and Dubai. I’d say the only product that can compete with this nowadays is Japan Airlines’ Airbus A350-1000 first class, as well as Air France’s new Boeing 777-300ER first class.

Which planes feature Emirates’ new first class?

Even though Emirates has a fleet of over 250 aircraft (primarily Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, but now also some Airbus A350s), only nine planes feature the new first class seats. More specifically, the last nine Boeing 777-300ERs that Emirates ever took delivery of have this cabin. Emirates took delivery of these planes between 2017 and 2018, and they have the following registration codes:

• A6-EQH
• A6-EQI
• A6-EQJ
• A6-EQK
• A6-EQL
• A6-EQM
• A6-EQN
• A6-EQO
• A6-EQP

The above links go to the Flightradar24 pages for each of the planes, so you can track where they’ve been flying.

Just to be perfectly clear, while Emirates’ A380s offer an incredible first class experience with onboard showers and a bar, no A380s feature the new first class seats.

Furthermore, while Emirates is reconfiguring its 777s with new business class seats, the airline isn’t installing its new first class on these jets. I don’t want to go so far as to say that Emirates’ new first class is a gimmick, but the fact that the airline isn’t installing this on 777s even as it refreshes all other cabins is quite a letdown.

How can you tell if your plane features Emirates’ new first class?

The best way to tell for sure if you’re scheduled to be on a plane with Emirates’ new first class is to look at the seat map. If the seat map shows eight seats in first class (two rows in a 1-2-1 configuration) then you’re scheduled to be on a 777 with the old first class.

Meanwhile if the seat map shows six seats in first class (two rows in a 1-1-1 configuration) then you’re scheduled to be on a 777 with the new first class.

Let me once again emphasize that aircraft assignments are subject to change, especially if you’re still a long time from departure.

Which routes feature Emirates’ new first class?

Let’s take a look at the routes on which Emirates has currently scheduled its Boeing 777s with the new first class cabins. For the winter season, you can expect to find the new 777s consistently flying between Dubai and the following destinations:

• Brussels (BRU) on EK183/184 & EK181/182
• Chicago (ORD) on EK235/236
• Geneva (GVA) on EK83/84 & EK89/90
• Kuwait City (KWI) on EK855/856
• Melbourne (MEL) on EK404/405
• Tokyo (HND) on EK312/313

On top of that, I see select flights with the new cabins over that period to London Stansted (STN) and Zurich (ZRH), but not with the same level of consistency.

Let me emphasize that this schedule is always subject to change, and there may be some variation with specific frequencies. So you’ll want to always check the seat map for a particular flight to ensure that it’s actually scheduled to be operated by one of these aircraft.

Emirates also tends to have some last minute aircraft swaps, so you may book a route scheduled to feature the new first class and not get it. Conversely, you may book a route scheduled to be operated by the old first class, and luck out with the new first class. In particular, we see quite a few swaps on the short routes to Kuwait and Riyadh.

As you can see above, for the winter schedule, Emirates is operating the new 777 on three “true” long haul routes, to Chicago, Melbourne, and Tokyo. I’m happy to see this plane flying on longer flights, since it really lets you enjoy the experience more.

Will more planes get Emirates’ new first class?

Emirates introduced its new first class around eight years ago, and still only nine planes have the new first class. When can we expect more planes to get this new first class product?

• There are no concrete plans for Emirates to reconfigure any existing planes with the new first class product; while Emirates is reconfiguring some existing 777s with premium economy and a new business class, installing the new first class isn’t part of the plan
• Rather, the new first class product will be rolled out on Emirates’ upcoming Boeing 777Xs, as the airline has 205 of these planes on order
• The catch is that Emirates was supposed to start taking delivery of the 777X in 2021, but that has now been delayed until 2027 at the earliest
• Emirates is also taking delivery of Airbus A350s, but these planes won’t feature a first class cabin

Unfortunately it sounds like we shouldn’t expect any more planes to feature the new first class until 2027 at the earliest. I can’t help but find that disappointing. By the time the 777-9s are delivered, Emirates’ “new” first class will be a decade old, and will be on only nine aircraft.

Emirates is reportedly considering sending its 777-300ERs back into the shop for a second time, to get the new first class, but that’s not a confirmed plan, and there’s no timeline for that yet.

How do you redeem miles for Emirates first class?

The best way to redeem miles for Emirates first class is directly through the Skywards program. You do need to have Skywards elite status to redeem for first class, though that’s easy to get with a co-branded US credit card.

The good news is that Skywards is transfer partners with most major transferable points currencies, including Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One, and Citi ThankYou, so there are lots of ways to earn Skywards miles. The bad news is that transfer ratios have been devalued, and for the most part, aren’t 1:1 (a 5:4 ratio is more common).

First class award availability can be tough to come by on planes with the new first class, given how small the cabin is. That being said, we often see one seat released in advance, and then more seats released as the departure date approaches.

The real trick to scoring an Emirates first class award seat is to book a business class award, and then upgrade at the airport or on the plane using Skywards miles, as that generally gets you last seat availability. It also doesn’t require having elite status.

Bottom line

Emirates’ new first class product is incredible, and I rank it as the best in the world. Unfortunately it’s only available on nine aircraft, so a vast majority of Emirates first class passengers won’t get to experience it.

Hopefully the above is a useful overview of what makes the product special, and what routes you can regularly find it on. At the moment, Emirates is offering its new first class to destinations like Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Melbourne, and Tokyo.

If you’ve flown the new Emirates first class, what was your experience like?