- A Different Kind Of Trip Report: Introduction
- Review: Emirates Lounge Dallas DFW Airport
- A First Timer’s Thoughts On Emirates First Class
- The World’s Most Over The Top Afternoon Tea
- Review: Emirates A380 First Class Dallas To Dubai
- Our Late Night Las Vegas Experience In Dubai
- Review: Park Hyatt Dubai Park Deluxe Room
- EK17 To Manchester: Having The Best Time And Keeping It Green While Ben Goes Amber
- Review: Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai B Concourse
- Oh MAN…
- Arlanda Express: Speedy Transport For Dummies
- Should A Few Instances Of Bad Service Spoil Overall Perceptions Of A Hotel?
- Review: Emirates A380 First Class Dubai To Manchester
- Review: Hilton Manchester Deansgate
- First Time In Lufthansa First (With Two Celebrities): Review Of The First Class Terminal In Frankfurt
- Review: British Airways Lounge Manchester
- Review: British Airways Galleries First Lounge London Heathrow
- Review: Sheraton Stockholm Hotel
- First Time In Lufthansa First (With Two Celebrities): Review Of LH450 from Frankfurt to Los Angeles
- Review: Aurora Lounge Stockholm Arlanda Airport
- Review: Grand Hyatt Berlin
- Review: Airberlin Lounge Berlin Airport
- Review: Park Hyatt Vienna
- Review: Austrian HON Circle & First Class Lounge Vienna Airport
- Review: Austrian A320 Business Class Vienna To Frankfurt
- Review: Lufthansa First Class Lounge Frankfurt
- Review: Lufthansa 747-8 First Class Frankfurt To Newark
As I mentioned previously, I’m currently on a trip with one of my best friends, Matt. We’re planning the trip day-by-day, which means I’ll be writing the trip report more or less live. Matt will be sharing his thoughts as we go along as well, so this is the first of his installments.
Greetings from Dubai. Ben wanted me to share my thoughts about Emirates A380 first class with you. That’s a little shocking after my champagne post, but I assume he’s just being nice. Or maybe he just wanted me to leave him alone for a few minutes on the trip. Probably both.
This was my first time flying Emirates and also my first time flying the A380. Those of you that have seen any of Ben’s previous reports on Emirates know that it’s the blingy-ist airline in the sky. Ben has been telling me for years that I had to fly Emirates. I basically hadn’t — according to him — lived until around noon on Saturday when I boarded the plane. (Or maybe it wasn’t until they opened the 2005 Dom once we were in the air?) Going into the flight, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I generally trust Ben’s judgment on all things travel-related, though, so I figured I had to do it.
I have obviously read Ben’s reviews of Emirates. I mean, we all know that the first class cabin looks like #richkidsofinstagram on crack. My initial impression was basically the painted nails emoji and the tongue-out emoji with one eye squinting. The suites themselves are not huge, but they’re certainly more than large enough. There is more (high gloss) wood in the first cabin than in every gentleman’s club in London combined. But it’s actually less over the top in person than it looks in pictures, if that makes any sense.
With respect to the A380, I knew it would be a great aircraft, but I’m not a size queen like Ben, so I always figured it would just be a big 747. I am happy to report that I was wrong,as usual. Both are solid products, but we could say the same about Apple and Samsung products. A 747 is like a Samsung phone — it works well and looks ok nice. But everyone knows it’s no iPhone A380. The A380 was so much quieter than a 747 (or any other plane I’ve ever flown). For a plane that has a maximum take-off weight of 575 tonnes, it’s incredible how quiet take off is. That makes for an incredible flying experience.
And it’s especially good for when you’ve had a lot to drink so that you don’t have to yell even louder to your travel companion or the flight attendants. I also could hardly feel the plane moving down the runway. (I had only had one glass of champagne at that point, so the feeling was probably somewhat objective.)
What really distinguishes the Emirates A380 is the way it is customized. Cathay Pacific is of course an incredible airline, but who wants to be banished to an incredibly spacious, doorless suite with an amazing bed for 12 hours when you could instead be standing at a bar or taking a shower?
Put simply, Cathay is fabulous; Emirates is gone with the wind (“GWTW”) fabulous. Ben raved about the Emirates A380 bar to me for months years. With Emirates, he’s sort of like a mom that is always talking about her baby. Yeah, ok, Ben, I get it, it’s amazing. It’s like nothing else. Blah. Blah. Having enjoyed a bottle of 2005 Dom Perignon, and done a tasting of Hennessy Paradis, Johnny Walker Blue Label, and Chivas 21-year something or other at the bar, I must say it is every bit as GWTW as Benji had said.
I also thought the food on Emirates was excellent. It’s not just bling over substance. Ben and I both started with caviar and a mezze plate (which was huge).
We enjoyed the excellent 2005 Dom with both pairings, and I also had a glass of 2007 Opus One, because who doesn’t casually drink 2007 Opus One? We then went to bar and got way too drunk, and stumbled returned to our seats for dinner. We had another serving of caviar (because, again, who doesn’t do that) with champagne, and steak with the Opus. The steak was OK, but nothing to write home about, but I did enjoy the roasted sweet potato and carrots it was served with.
I think we discussed dessert, but somewhere along the way I ended up in a bed that was set up for me in the window seat beside me. Five or so hours later I woke up in what felt like the Sahara desert, in desperate need of water.
I then took a shower, which was just surreal. Cathay has nice bathrooms (especially on the refreshed 777s), ANA has bidets in the first lavatory, but a shower? Really? C’mon. Why? Well, for Emirates, I think the only question is why not? And frankly I can’t think of any reason not to have a shower at 41,000 feet. I also especially love the fragrance they use in the shower lavatories. The only thing I felt was wrong with the experience was the five minute water limit.
Ben was sleeping throughout my shower, but after I was refreshed I took a flash picture of him sleeping, which didn’t wake him up, and then tapped him to get him up so that he wouldn’t miss his opportunity to shower. (What an amateur!)
Then I had french press coffee (which is a nice touch), some tasty chicken curry, and more than two liters of water.
Overall, I loved Emirates. And not only as a novelty. It certainly holds its own with the likes of Cathay and ANA, but in a different way. The bar and shower really make the flight. Would I love Emirates on a 777? I hope never to find out, because even if it’s great it won’t be as great. Or more precisely it won’t be as GWTW.
I’m off to see a ski slope in the 115 degree Dubai summer, and to have a 96 course tea at the Burj al Arab. Stay tuned for more!
@NeilS=Mr Downer there is always one. Great report Matt that FA is hot and great pic of you two. Guess I am back to thinking Emirates the best and admittedly never flown them except in Ben's reviews
Very good review, Matt. As you seem to be a fan of French bubbly, you may want to remember that Champagne is ALWAYS capitalized. It should never be written as 'champagne'.
Emirates only allows two people in the shower/spa on special situations. Two very able bodied passengers, I mean, customers, are not allowed to shower together.
"but I’m not a size queen like Ben"
Well said
@Matt 1K is great! I love sitting there when landing on RWY 24R at LAX on a clear day. Great views of the city.
@Phil -- I much prefer the right side of the aircraft. As for LH, stay tuned.
Well documented Matt! But the novelty of seat 1A in the nose of a Lufthansa 747-8 is a priceless experience.
Jack -- nope. The awards are priced based on regions. So LAX-DXB-LHR is fine, but you'd need to terminate in Asia, Africa, Europe, or the Middle East.
thanks, @tiffany! will check it out.
lol at all the suggestions for more pics of matt. but also +1. ; )
Woof! More Pics of Matt please. He is bringing sexy back
Hey Matt & Lucky!
I hope you guys are enjoying your vacation to Dubai! I was wondering if I could use a 100,000 one way redemption for EK F, but use your second leg that's included in the redemption to return to the U.S.? For example, could you route LAX-DXB-JFK on one 100,000 mile redemption? Thanks!
I just want to fly with Matt. Mmm
Let's ignite an IPhone vs Samsung thread in the comments!
GWTW fabulous?! Twirl away, girl.
More pics of Matt! Preferably from the shower. :)
meow
My first Emirates First Class flight was on an A340-500 (many years ago, when the suites on that aircraft were considered revolutionary!). As we pushed back from the gate in Dubai, a flight attendant trapped her finger in the fold down table-top near door R1 and nearly severed it. Blood spurting everywhere and the other crew just standing there looking completely shocked while the poor girl screamed her head off. Fortunately another passenger and I...
My first Emirates First Class flight was on an A340-500 (many years ago, when the suites on that aircraft were considered revolutionary!). As we pushed back from the gate in Dubai, a flight attendant trapped her finger in the fold down table-top near door R1 and nearly severed it. Blood spurting everywhere and the other crew just standing there looking completely shocked while the poor girl screamed her head off. Fortunately another passenger and I had the presence of mind to assist her free the trapped finger, apply a tourniquet and get the wound iced down. There was a Hollywood actress also on board and she managed to get the girl calm and quiet. The Purser was absolutely useless. Just stood there in shock and watched us. I had to actually remind her to call the cockpit and let the captain know we had to return to stand.
Ambulance showed up pretty much as soon as we parked and the girl was wheeled away. Cleaning crew came on board to mop up the blood and we departed about 30 minutes later. Unfortunately, due to being short the FG1 on the flight, the service wasn't as great as it should have been. The Purser apologised that dine-on-demand wouldn't be available and a G2 from Economy was drafted to assist up front - who was plainly out of her depth and spent too much time gaping at the Hollywood actress. A memorable flight too, but for entirely different reasons than yours! :)
To each his own.
I want a quiet, private experience. I don't want a bar, I'd use the shower for the novelty, but don't really care since I just head to the hotel when getting off of an ultra-longhaul flight.
CX F is near perfect for what I want/need.
Emirates is definitely something else when it comes to A380 F. that was a great pic of you and the flight attendant! Enjoy the trip!
I too love Emirates first class and have managed first class three years in a row with a brief stop in Dubai. On my last trip I discovered a radio station that has a bunch of different songs to listen to as the plane takes off ~45 seconds of taxiing then take off times to great music. Brilliant idea and worth checking out.
Nice review! By the way, where is Ben's photo?
More of Matt's photos please!
Nice review, thanks. I had heard that Emirstes suites were on the small side. Since you found them roomy enough, I assume you are slender?
"However, with some SPG transfers and a Bank of America Alaska Airlines credit card you’re well on your way to enjoying a truly one-of-a-kind flying experience."
do tell? I thought it would be tough to earn miles on Emirates because they don't participate in an alliance, but this sounds like there are options.
@ Kelly -- You're accruing miles on Alaska to redeem on Emirates, and it's much easier to earn Alaska miles: https://onemileatatime.com/alaska-emirates-first-class/
I'd like more pictures of that stewardess ;)
Great review, Matt, have fun!
Nice to see a review of Emirates first class from someone else's perspective!
Where's the photo of Ben sleeping?
"Ben was sleeping throughout my shower, but after I was refreshed I took a flash picture of him sleeping".
Please include it in the post ! :D
Nice report though.
Great review. Nice to get a new perspective.
With regard to the A380's shower, Matt and Ben, you know they do allow two passengers to use the shower simultaneously.
I'm just saying.
More photos of Matt please ; )
It will be interesting to see what Emirates next generation first class suite looks like.
The current one feels to have a whole heap of space wasted between the seat and the fuselage in setting up the minibar etc.
Why hello there Matt
I flew the 777LR from dxb to dfw last year (before they used the a380). The first class cabin has less seats making it more private. Still enjoyed a 16 hr flight though. :) flying the a380 to akl next year.
Wow nice, congrats....what does your return itinerary look like?
Nice review. Maybe that's a Ski slope?