Last month I wrote about how Emirates has changed its caviar policy for first class passengers for the better. This is noteworthy for two reasons — both for the policy as such, and for how rare it is for an airline to make a genuinely positive yet potentially expensive soft product improvement.
The airline is now publicizing this new policy, and I kind of love it. Emirates now promises that first class passengers can “savour unlimited portions of Persian caviar as part of the dine on demand service.” Let’s go over the details of what that means.
In this post:
Emirates catering more caviar in first class
There are certain things people have come to expect in the world’s best first class products, and that includes great champagne and caviar.
Caviar obviously isn’t cheap, and airlines serving caviar in first class all have policies around the service of this. Some airlines have a strict policy of only giving passengers one serving of caviar, even if there are extras. Other airlines allow crews to offer extra caviar at their discretion, if there are leftovers.
Emirates has a dine on demand menu in first class, meaning that you can (in theory) order as much as you’d like as often as you’d like. Emirates has caviar on the menu in first class on a vast majority of long haul routes, and for a long time it was at the crew’s discretion how much caviar passengers could be served from the available inventory.
The airline seems to realize how much first class passengers enjoy caviar, and as of recently made its policy surrounding this much more generous:
- Emirates now has an official policy of accommodating multiple caviar orders per flight, subject to there being enough; this means you can order it multiple times, or ask for a double portion
- Emirates has greatly increased catering of caviar, to the point that there will typically be three tins of caviar loaded per first class passenger
- Ultimately the tins of caviar cycle through the system, and any leftovers will be put onto other flights, so I assume that Emirates isn’t expecting all the caviar to actually be consumed
Emirates’ first class catering can be hit-or-miss, and I tend to think the two best things on the menu are the caviar and the mezze. So if you’re on a long haul flight and want to enjoy caviar a couple of times, you don’t have to feel sheepish about asking.
Other Emirates first class catering improvements
Not only is Emirates introducing “unlimited” caviar in first class, but the airline is making some other first class catering improvements.
Emirates is adding the “Cinema in the Sky” concept in first class, where passengers can order cinema snacks as they enjoy the Emirates ICE inflight entertainment system. This includes lobster rolls, sliders, edamame, salted popcorn, shrimp cocktails, and more.
While Emirates has long served dates and other sweets in first class, the airline is also introducing a new box with sweets, which has everything from dates to chocolate. Yum. Just what we need after seven portions of caviar and movie snacks. 😉
As of September 1, 2022, Emirates is also rolling out new menus in first class, with dishes including pan-fried salmon trout with moqueca sauce and creole rice, and roasted duck breast with orange thyme jus, steamed broccolini, and fondant potatoes,
Lastly, Emirates will also be introducing a new vegan menu in first class. Main course menu options will include pan-roasted king oyster mushrooms and jackfruit biryani with sliced kohlrabi garnished with burnt orange. Desserts will include chocolate truffle cake with hazelnut, pistachio, and gold leaf, and a green grape tart adorned with candied rose petals, vanilla custard, and berry compote with yuzu pearls.
Emirates deserves credit for this
I think there’s a broader point to be made here about airlines investing in soft product. All too often we see airlines claim to make “enhancements due to customer feedback.” You know, customers want fewer pillows, less food, turkey sandwiches, etc. Airline executives will go to some wild lengths to justify service cuts.
While there are lots of things I’ll criticize Emirates for (like the carrier’s 777 business class), I’m consistently impressed by the way in which the airline actually modifies its product based on the things that people enjoy, especially in first class. The airline is constantly updating its first class service procedures and offerings, and it’s not to cut costs, but it’s to improve the experience.
The airline very closely tracks consumption patterns in first class, and updates the product accordingly. It’s pretty great to see airline product people say “hey, our first class customers really seem to enjoy the caviar service, let’s offer them more of that.”
And that’s only the tip of the iceberg here, as Emirates is also introducing everything from movie snacks, to vegan dishes, to new menus.
Bottom line
While Emirates has long offered a caviar service in first class, the airline is now taking it to the next level. The airline is increasing catering of caviar, so that passengers can order it multiple times during the flight (or just order double portions). The airline is marketing this as “unlimited” caviar in first class.
Regardless of how you feel about eating caviar as such, there’s no denying that this is an impressive passenger experience investment. Beyond that, you have other new features, like movie snacks, vegan dishes, and new main courses.
What do you make of Emirates’ first class caviar changes?
I will fly Emerates First class this coming May 2024. In fact I will have 5 segments in first class in a month time. Am a trained Chef and this unlimited Caviar and Dom Perignon sounds great to me. And I intend to ask for double portions in aach segment. Maybe in my Dubai JFK segment I will ask caviar twice.
Most airlines do not offer the best quality caviar but just the cheapest. Practically all countries produce caviar and sometimes it is very good, like Belgian but hard to get. The best is probably Chinese. Italian is quite good too, Of course Persian is good as is Russian. When I lived in Iran we often got some caviar on a blini served with drinks in a bar. Even the better quality is affordable if you...
Most airlines do not offer the best quality caviar but just the cheapest. Practically all countries produce caviar and sometimes it is very good, like Belgian but hard to get. The best is probably Chinese. Italian is quite good too, Of course Persian is good as is Russian. When I lived in Iran we often got some caviar on a blini served with drinks in a bar. Even the better quality is affordable if you can afford First.
New in Emirates is the mother-of-pearl spoon and the serving in small tins (not my favourite).
Perlmutter is no longer essential when you have no silver cutlery. The lemon can be just a small piece, not a half lemon, please. EK is OK now.
EK used Persian caviar except on flights to the USA. Food in First is often inedible. This is because Emirates does not have chefs to prepare it and even national dishes from Belgium come out wrong. Even from Dubai food in First can be bad whereas food in the lounge is excellent
Perfect timing.Just after your last flight with your friend of EK.This must have something to do with your post.
Can attest to the awesome new caviar policy! Last month my fiancee and I flew around the world. One segment from MLE ->(777) DBX ->(A380) AMS on Emirates first and we were the only 2 in first on both legs. First flight leg, no caviar :( , but 4 bottles of champagne (Dom 2012). Second flight leg, 5 tins of caviar (had some making up to do), and 5 bottles of champagne (Dom 2012). Used...
Can attest to the awesome new caviar policy! Last month my fiancee and I flew around the world. One segment from MLE ->(777) DBX ->(A380) AMS on Emirates first and we were the only 2 in first on both legs. First flight leg, no caviar :( , but 4 bottles of champagne (Dom 2012). Second flight leg, 5 tins of caviar (had some making up to do), and 5 bottles of champagne (Dom 2012). Used points, so we got our money's worth :p . Now I will have to fly Emirates first again to experience all these other new updates.
ps - long time reader, first time poster. really great stuff this site puts out.
Even before this new policy, I’ve never been shy about asking for extra caviar in EK First. After all, it’s dining on demand, which means you should be able to order as much as you want of whatever you want. The most I’ve ever had on one flight was three orders, and the crew has always been most willing to bring me seconds and thirds.
I was on a 747 Air India flight in first some 20+ years ago, and they served all the food from a cart. There was a 2-pound can of Beluga caviar, and apparently I was the only passenger eating any. But even I can't consume 2 lbs, and the rest had to be discarded upon landing.
Caviar is overrated, people eat those just to feel rich. I tried it once just to see what the fuss is all about, and it’s ok I guess.
Jan, Beluga caviar is an acquired taste. Of course, one can argue whether or not this is the taste worth of acquiring....
I was told in old days of Soviet union one could readily exchange vodka to caviar based on 1:1 volume in GUW airport, which was used to refluel AN-24 turboprops.
I commend them for doing this, it's certainly a positive change.
That being said - I've only been in Emirates first class (and had the caviar) once, and it wasn't really that good. It wasn't bad, but I didn't enjoy it enough to ask for a second serving. I'm curious how much they pay for it, since I imagine the order in considerable volume.
By contrast, the caviar on Lufthansa F was good, and I...
I commend them for doing this, it's certainly a positive change.
That being said - I've only been in Emirates first class (and had the caviar) once, and it wasn't really that good. It wasn't bad, but I didn't enjoy it enough to ask for a second serving. I'm curious how much they pay for it, since I imagine the order in considerable volume.
By contrast, the caviar on Lufthansa F was good, and I was proactively offered a second serving by the (great) FA. Would be nice if they stocked caviar spoons like Emirates, but I'll take the better caviar any day.
"Ultimately the tins of caviar cycle through the system, and any leftovers will be put onto other flights, so I assume that Emirates isn’t expecting all the caviar to actually be consumed"
Don't know if this is still the case, as former EK crew, we had to dispose of all leftover caviar when arriving into the US.... and by dispose that meant the crew had copious amounts of caviar in paper cups at top of descent!
Unfortunately that changed around 2014ish….that was the only positive of flying the ULRs, irradiated from flyn over the pole and tired as all hell but just before “TOD” it was a Persian caviar party in the cockpit in those days! I think it was a customs issue with landing an Iranian product in the States kind of issue.
This is good to know as I will fly first class DXB-JFK. If they have to dispose left over caviar, then I will ask for more.
How much caviar can you really eat? I can’t imagine having more than one or two servings. But who knows, maybe there’s people out there that scarf down a pound at a time.
I'm guessing on really long rage flights, like to the Americas or Australia, have some after take off, then a snack midflight, and some more before landing?
I just flew Bangkok Dubai Manchester and did just that on two consecutive planes. Emirates are the best and I love their caviar.
I had been eyeing some EK F availability for a getaway and this makes it so much more tempting.
And if there's some leftover caviar, left biz class fight over it.
"Let’s go over the details of what that means."
Good thing this article covered a few other things besides caviar, since I was worried that people need a full essay explaining to them that more caviar will be loaded onto the planes lol