The Emirates Airbus A380 is perhaps the world’s most recognizable aircraft — Emirates is an airline brand that’s known around the world, and the A380 is a plane that even non-avgeeks can identify. The upper deck of the Emirates A380 is really where it’s at, so I figured it would be fun to do a comparison of the first class and business class experience on this jet.
In this post:
Comparing Emirates’ A380 first & business class
It goes without saying that first class is always going to be better than business class, but how big is the difference? Let’s look at this across a variety of factors. Let me say upfront that I think the difference is huge — Emirates’ A380 first class is one of my favorite airline experiences in the world, while Emirates’ A380 business class is good, but not earth-shattering.
Comparing Emirates A380 seats
Emirates has 14 first class suites on the A380, each featuring direct aisle access. The suites are incredibly blinged out and comfortable, though they’re definitely on the tight side as far as A380 first class seats go. Personally I don’t mind that one bit, but the product isn’t as spacious as Etihad’s A380 first class, for example.
On the plus side, this layout is ideal for enjoying the flight with someone else, since you can really sit right next to them.
Meanwhile Emirates’ A380 business class features direct aisle access from every seat as well. If you can snag one of the best seats (specifically, a “true” window seat), you’ll have a lot of privacy as well. However, this isn’t exactly a cutting edge business class hard product, so manage your expectations accordingly.
The first class seat is of course way better than the business class seat, but I find the business class seat to be quite comfortable as well, and I like how there are bins along the side of the aircraft, ideal for storing things.
Comparing Emirates food & drinks
Food and drinks is probably the single area where you’ll notice the biggest difference between first and business class, as this is an area where Emirates almost over invests in first class.
Emirates offers a massive dine on demand menu in first class, with endless choices. Perhaps most exciting of all is that the airline offers unlimited caviar, which makes it the only carrier in the world to have something like that.
Even beyond that, dishes are really well done, and I particularly enjoy the mezze.
Emirates equally shines when it comes to the drink selection. There’s always free-flowing Dom Perignon, a staple of Emirates first class.
On top of that, there’s a spectacular rotating wine list, which often has wines that retail for hundreds of dollars per bottle. No airline invests as much in wine as Emirates. For example, what other airline serves Opus One?! I’m not usually a red wine drinker, but that thing is drinkable AF.
Food in Emirates first class is of course very edible as well, with some great options. The type of service varies based on the flight, but I’ve always enjoyed my meals in Emirates business class.
Emirates also probably has the best drink selection of any airline in the world in business class. In addition to solid wine (and either Moet or Veuve Clicquot champagne), there’s the onboard bar, where you can have cocktails made. There aren’t many airlines where a bartender can make you a drink, so that’s a feature that many love.
While Emirates has great food and drinks in business class, first class really is on a whole different level.
Comparing Emirates A380 onboard amenities
Probably the single thing Emirates’ A380s are most known for are the onboard amenities. For one, both first and business class passengers get access to the onboard bar, located at the back of business class. This is a great place to stretch your legs, socialize, and grab a drink. If you’re coming from first class, the crew will often even follow you back there to bring a bottle of Dom Peringon, which isn’t available to others. 😉
Then there’s my favorite amenity of the Emirates A380, which is the first class shower suites, located at the front of the upper deck. I don’t typically get excited about showering, though if you haven’t showered on a plane before, it really is a special experience. I’ve been lucky enough to have done this many times, and I still get giddy when I have the opportunity.
Comparing Emirates A380 entertainment & Wi-Fi
Emirates’ ICE is the best inflight entertainment in the world, in my opinion, and this is identical in first and business class (and premium economy and economy). Yes, the screen is bigger in first class, but you should have no issues staying entertained in either cabin.
On top of that, Emirates offers free Wi-Fi to Skywards members, regardless of the cabin they’re traveling in. Wi-Fi isn’t terribly fast, but it’s sufficient for smartphone use.
Comparing Emirates amenity kits, bedding, etc.
Emirates is very generous in terms of amenities in both first and business class. In first class, you can expect elegant and well stocked BVLGARI amenity kits.
Pajamas are also offered on most flights, in addition to slippers and eyeshades.
There’s even a special tote bag that first class passengers get, intended so that you can easily transport things to and from the shower suite.
And then there are all kinds of other amenities, ranging from a snack basket, to a stationery set, though I’d say those border on being gimmicks.
First class also has superior bedding, with a full turndown service, including a mattress pad, duvet, and pillow.
In business class, amenities are pretty impressive as well. There’s a BVLGARI amenity kit that’s almost as nice as the one offered in first class.
Pajamas are also offered on flights of at least nine hours. Those are complemented by slippers and eye shades.
In business class there’s also a pretty decent pillow and blanket, plus a mattress pad, which the crew will place on your seat.
If you ask me, there’s not a huge difference between the amenities in first and business class, with the biggest difference being the superior bedding in first class.
Comparing Emirates service
Service is another major point of differentiation on Emirates between first and business class.
First class service is fully customized and attentive — you can get what you’d like, when you’d like it, and the crews are typically very proactive.
In business class, service feels more like an assembly line. That’s not because the crews aren’t professional or well intentioned, but rather because most Emirates A380s have 76 business class seats, so there are just a lot of people to take care of.
Comparing Emirates airport lounges & chauffeur
Emirates operates the largest network of lounges at foreign airports of any airline in the world. At outstation lounges, the airline doesn’t differentiate between first and business class, and the lounges are a shared space for all.
Meanwhile in Dubai, Emirates does have separate first and business class lounges, though the differences aren’t necessarily that huge. In Concourse A, the lounges are roughly the same size. The main difference is that the Emirates First Class Lounge has a la carte dining, while the Emirates Business Class Lounge only has a self-serve buffet. First class passengers also receive a complimentary 15-minute spa treatment.
However, the Emirates Business Lounge also has some unique features you won’t find in the more premium lounge, ranging from a Costa Coffee shop, to a Moet champagne bar.
Emirates also offers it chauffeur drive service to eligible premium passengers. While the conditions are similar for first and business class, first class generally offers more premium cars.
Is Emirates’ A380 first class worth the premium?
Obviously there’s no one size fits all answer as to whether the premium for Emirates first class over business class is worth it. Airfare varies drastically depending on the market you’re in, so I can’t sit here and say “yeah bro, you should drop $20K on a first class ticket rather than $10K on a business class ticket.”
But here’s what I will say. Emirates’ A380 first class is truly spectacular, among the best in the world. Meanwhile Emirates’ A380 business class is good, but not as amazing within its competitive set. So it’s not just that first class is better than business class in absolute terms (of course it is), but first class is better within its competitive set than business class is.
Here’s what I’m getting at. Obviously many OMAAT readers book Emirates flights with points. While it’s possible to redeem points for Emirates first class, business class award availability is much easier to come by.
The cool thing with Emirates is that you can upgrade your flight on the day of departure with points, as long as seats are available. You can even upgrade Emirates business class award flights to first class, and the cost is reasonable.
If you ask me, upgrading to Emirates first class is always worth it, if you can swing it. The premium is fairly modest, and you get lots of bang for your buck.
Having just flown Emirates business class from New York to Milan (specifically because I wanted to review it), the hardest part of the experience was knowing that I could’ve upgraded to first class for a reasonable number of miles.
Bottom line
Emirates’ Airbus A380 is an incredible jet, and is always a pleasure to fly. While both first and business class are a treat, first class is competitively better than business class, compared to the products offered by other airlines.
You’ll ultimately have a great flight in Emirates business class, with a comfortable seat, tasty food and drinks, and nice amenities. But Emirates first class is really a next level experience, from the free-flowing Dom Perignon, to the unlimited caviar, to the shower suite.
If I had to recommend someone try just one first class experience in the world, Emirates’ A380 product would be it, thanks to just how fun and well rounded the experience is.
So while I don’t want to suggest that first class is always (or even usually) worth it compared to business class, the ability to easily upgrade on the day of departure with miles is an opportunity worth keeping in mind.
What do you make of Emirates first class vs. business class?
Ben - when will you ever learn that the price of alcohol is completely disconnected from its quality? You are obsessed with measuring first/business class champagnes by their retail price, but retail price is primarily driven by the marketing dollars spent by the distributor, not how good the actual product is. I would urge you to dig deeper to learn more about what actually makes quality alcohol.
@Andrew - I don't know if what you state is true. The only way to verify your claim is through research. And since your statement used the general term "alcohol", we must conduct tastings of wines, vodkas, and rums, along with the many styles of whiskey, such as rye, bourbon, and scotch.
When I was in First and went back to the business class bar to do a port tasting (I could have done it at my seat, but I wanted to experience the bar and stretch my legs), the FA recognized I was from First and proactively went to the front of the plane to get the better port for me. She then instructed the bartender that the bottle was just for me. The attentive service and attention to detail are really at a different level.
I’ve done it the other way around.
I am not such a great fan of Dom Perignon and rather have a Veuve Clicquot. More often than not the cabin crew was obliging to fetch me that stuff from business class when I travelled in first.
Big deal. You're still trapped inside a fat flying pig with a bunch of people who'd be happy to kill you due to your (and my) sexual orientation, Lucky. This is equivalent of the death row last meal.
Would have to agree with you, Ord
We always have Emirates business class with the chauffeur car, the wife will not fly with any other airline only Emirates because of the chauffeur service.
I do not understand why the shower on board this plane would be your favourite amenity. So you leave home or hotel dirty and needing to bathe, despite having fully functioning private bath facilities available. Then you get to the airport skip the lounge showers and wait to get on board to then take a shower. I hope you are not putting on the same clothes you had one. Is this some novelty thing you have going on? Coz after the first time, I don't see the point.
Assume a situation where you have to rush to the airport and gate, are sweaty and simply did not had the opportunity to shower before getting to the plane.
Am I to assume you are coming from the jungle in this scenario? If you are not, I don't care if you have to rush thru the airport or not. That little rushing thru the airport does not necessitate a shower in a cramped shower stall used by other passengers. Unless the shower stall is properly scrubbed after use by other pax, it is disgusting.
When flying CPT-DXB-IAD, the CPT-DXB leg is ~nine hours on a 777, very short layover in DXB, and then 14 hours to IAD on (usually) the A380. A shower before landing at IAD is a delight after 24 hours of travel and another connection out of IAD.
All true, TWilly, but there's also the simple delight of being able to do the unexpected or the unusual. Being able to shower on an aeroplane seems almost transgressive!
“but that thing is drinkable AF”
Made me lol. Giving Friday vibes
Ben, please correct me if I'm wrong . . . the First Class Chauffeur service is only available to revenue tickets and not award tickets. (I might be confusing this with Etihad?) Thanks in advance.
@ Fred Farkle -- Yep, that's absolutely correct. I said "eligible," though probably should have clarified what that means. So the chauffeur comparison is for those paying.
@Ben, I assume upgrading from J to F on the day of departure probably wouldn't work out if you don't already have the necessary Skywards miles in your account, correct? For example, it wouldn't be great to be at the airport and transfer X amount of Chase Ultimate Rewards points and have it not be an instant transfer (and therefore not get the upgrade). Or is there a trick or tip that I'm unaware of? Thanks, you're the best!
@ Sonofdad -- I've done it both ways. I usually have a balance of Skywards miles in my account, since I know I'll use them eventually. But I've also transfered points on the spot. Of course there's some risk the transfer doesn't happen instantly, but I've had good luck.
Thanks for this article...flying on Emirates' A380 is on my "bucket list!" I watched a YouTube video a while back about flying in First Class on an Emirates A380...very impressive. I was wondering about showering, though...could you feel unsteady if the plane flies through some turbulence...?
"...could you feel unsteady if the plane flies through some turbulence...?"
Yes, but it would need to be pretty severe turbulence. The A380 is extremely smooth in bumpy air, mainly by dint of its size. I've never felt unsteady on that plane ever, including in turbulence.
@ Shirley -- As noted by TravelinWilly, the A380 is a pretty smooth jet, especially in the front. There's also a bench in the shower, so that you can sit down in the event of turbulence.
Cool, thanks!!
This would make a great kick off to a series of articles about first class vs business class series within the same airline or within the same plane. I would love to see a comparison on SQ ( F and suite), AF where I expect first to be big upgrade from business (regular not bulkhead seats), and in BA where first is likely a minor upgrade from J.
@ Dave -- Great idea, thanks! Let me see what I can do. :-)
As far as the first class space is concerned, I believe Emirates (EK) is working on a similar product as their revamped 777 first class (FCL) mini-suite., That is to say fewer mini-suites, but higher partitions. That would increase individual first class passenger space, but not necessarily result in larger FCL seats. Overall I found the change on the 777 not the kind of game-changer that it was advertised as.
As far as business class...
As far as the first class space is concerned, I believe Emirates (EK) is working on a similar product as their revamped 777 first class (FCL) mini-suite., That is to say fewer mini-suites, but higher partitions. That would increase individual first class passenger space, but not necessarily result in larger FCL seats. Overall I found the change on the 777 not the kind of game-changer that it was advertised as.
As far as business class (JCL) is concerned, I have not experienced the new business class on the 777 that is rumored to be similar to the upcoming A350 product, but as far as I know it is more or less a rehash of the A380 business class that has been around for quite some time. Not much wrong with that and the need to be able to move one’s feet when sleeping determines the size of the foot box, which in turn limits the size of the passenger seat in front of you, but I had hoped that the new EK 777 and A350 business class product would include a privacy partition, similar to Singapore A/L (SQ).