As Matt explained in a previous installment, we ended up going to Dubai Airport shortly after midnight for our 7:25AM departure. Not because we actually wanted to be there that early, but rather because we were both jetlagged, and when we were wide awake and hungry at around midnight, we figured we might as well just go to the airport and have a decent meal, a couple of glasses of wine, a spa treatment, etc.
I reviewed the Emirates First Class Lounge in the A Concourse at Dubai Airport earlier this year, and reviewed it a couple of years prior to that. This time around we ended up using the B Concourse first class lounge as well, so I’ll focus my review around that.
As explained, we arrived at Dubai Airport at around 1AM, and found ourselves in the sterile and oversized check-in hall. The first & business class check-in area has way too many counters, and almost feels unfinished due to how sterile it is.
Emirates first & business class check-in Dubai Airport
We were checked in very quickly, and informed that our flight would be departing from the B Concourse. Emirates operates out of the A Concourse as well, which is intended to be the concourse for A380s. However, 777s also depart out of the A Concourse, and A380s also depart out of the B Concourse. So if nothing else it would make for a great opportunity to check out a new lounge.
Emirates first & business class check-in Dubai Airport
However, since we had so much time to kill, we decided to check out the A Concourse First Class Lounge first, given that Matt had never been there before. That required taking a train from the main terminal, and then the huge elevators up on the other side.
Dubai Airport terminal airside
Dubai Airport terminal airside
The A Concourse First Class Lounge is huge, and unique in that you can board your flights directly through the lounge. However, you can use the lounge even when departing from a different concourse.
Emirates First Class Lounge A Concourse Dubai Airport
At around 3AM we decided to head over to the B Concourse first class lounge, which required getting back on the train.
Dubai Airport terminal airside
From there it was just a short walk to the first class lounge, which is located between gates B15 and B17.
Emirates First Class Lounge B Concourse signage Dubai Airport
The lounge is located one level up from the concourse, with the entrance to the business class lounge on one side, and the entrance to the first class lounge on the other side.
Emirates First Class Lounge B Concourse entrance Dubai Airport
The entrance was rather grand, with a beautiful floral arrangement in front of the reception desk. We were admitted promptly, which was good. For whatever reason award tickets issued by Alaska show as staff tickets, so the computer seems to think they’re not eligible for lounge access. That being said, agents seem to deal with this enough so that it’s a non-issue, and they usually just ask “this was an Alaska ticket, right?”
Emirates First Class Lounge B Concourse reception Dubai Airport
So the Emirates A Concourse First Class Lounge is beyond massive but also modern. The B Concourse First Class Lounge is beyond massive… and not modern. It’s, like, way past its prime. These lounges really are puzzlingly large. There must be seating for well over a thousand people, even though at any given point there most likely won’t be more than a few dozen people in the lounge.
The lounge featured all kinds of seating arrangements and decor, it’s just that unfortunately none of it was actually nice.
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai seating
But the amount of seating really is insane…
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai seating
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai seating
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai seating
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai seating
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai seating
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai seating
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai seating
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai seating
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai seating
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai seating
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai seating
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai seating
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai seating
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai seating
Much like the A Concourse First Class Lounge, this lounge spans along the terminal, so you have views of the main level of the concourse from much of the lounge.
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai seating
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai seating
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai concourse view
I think the degree to which the lounge was past its prime can be summed up nicely by the business center, which is almost painful to even look at.
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai business center
While the seating was a bit scattered and underwhelming, the dining area was quite impressive. It featured a more traditional dining room with 2-4 person tables.
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai dining area
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai dining area
Then there was a “cozier” covered dining area with booths and other types of seating.
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai dining area
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai dining area
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai dining area
Emirates has both an a la carte menu and a buffet. And the food is fantastic across the board, an area in which the lounge really excels. We had a late dinner in the A Concourse First Class Lounge so didn’t eat much here, though everything looked excellent.
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai buffet
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai buffet
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai buffet
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai buffet
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai buffet
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai buffet
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai buffet
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai buffet
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai buffet
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai buffet
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai buffet
I was especially impressed by the sushi bar and buffet.
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai buffet
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai buffet
In terms of the lounge’s other features, there was an entertainment zone intended for kids. They had a Sonic Racing game. I don’t think I’ve played a video game like that in 15+ years, though this proved oddly fun at 4AM. And in case anyone is wondering, it’s free.
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai entertainment area
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai entertainment area
The lounge also has a Timeless Spa. We already had back massages in the other lounge, but still decided to get a reflex foot massage. First class passengers receive one treatment for free, and then it’s 100AED for an additional treatment.
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai Timeless Spa reception
The treatment menu read as follows:
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai Timeless Spa reception area
In the past I’ve always done the 15 minute back massage, which is quite nice.
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai Timeless Spa massage chair
But surprisingly I really liked the foot massage, and would choose it again in the future. It was really great.
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai Timeless Spa foot massage chairs
I was planning on showering in the lounge, though decided against it once I saw the facilities. There’s a single facility with individual shower rooms.
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai shower rooms
The individual rooms are small and don’t have a toilet or area to get ready, so you can shower in the rooms and then get ready in the communal area. Beyond that, since the rooms are so small, presumably they get really hot really quickly.
That’s something I find completely ridiculous for a first class lounge… especially one as large as this. So I decided not to shower… good thing Emirates has showers on their planes. 😉
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai shower rooms
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai shower room amenities
Our departure gate, B13, was located pretty close to the lounge. Since the lounge is open air, we could actually hear the boarding call for our flight at around 6:40AM. Excited about our flight, we headed down to the gate.
Walking to departure gate Dubai Airport
The upper level of the concourse has a separate boarding area for first & business class passengers, though the agent there said it would be another 20 minutes or so before boarding continued. We could see people having their boarding passes scanned on the lower level, so figured we’d go down there.
Walking to departure gate Dubai Airport
Departure gate Dubai Airport
Emirates A380 Dubai Airport
On the lower level our boarding passes were scanned, though we were asked to take a seat for a few minutes. After a few minutes, a PA was made indicating that first & business class passengers were invited to board. So we started walking down the jet bridge, at which point one of the agents came running after us to tell us that they weren’t actually boarding yet, and that it was a glitch.
Jet bridge to Emirates A380 Dubai Airport
Sure enough, at around 6:55AM we were finally invited to board, excited for our journey to Manchester.
Emirates A380 Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge bottom line
In the past I’ve called the Emirates First Class Lounge A Concourse one of the best airport lounges in the world. I think I may have to change my mind on that. It’s certainly one of the most overwhelming lounges, given how huge it is. But in terms of actual amenities and overall experience, I don’t think it can compete with the real best lounges out there, like the Air France First Class Lounge Paris, Lufthansa First Class Terminal Frankfurt, Qantas First Class Lounge Sydney, and Thai Airways First Class Lounge & Spa Bangkok.
As far as the B Concourse First Class Lounge goes, I found it downright underwhelming, aside from the food selection. The decor was outdated, the lounge was uselessly large, and the shower facilities were possibly the worst I’ve ever seen in a first class lounge.
I’d definitely go out of my way to use the A Concourse First Class Lounge in the future, though even there don’t think I’d arrive all that early. It’s impressive, but not really actively fun to spend time in.
What has been your experience with Emirates’ lounges in Dubai?
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