Skip to main content

5 things to know before flying Emirates first class

Emirates 777 taking off from Dubai airport
Emirates

Air travel puts the world at your whim. No matter where you want to go — or what you want to experience — it’s a matter of booking a ticket, boarding a plane, and taking to the skies. But longer flights — where you spend hour after hour stuck in a seat — can be more of an endurance test than a comfortable trip.

In that case, upgrading to first class is worth it, and nobody does it better than Emirates. Instead of being locked into a bus-style seat with nowhere to go, you’re coddled in amenities, as if living in a private suite. Is it expensive? Sure. But on an 8,000+ mile flight, you’ll be thanking yourself for making the upgrade.

Recommended Videos

If you’re new to flying Emirates and want a first-class experience, there’s a lot to know before you go. Here are five things to know before you fly Emirates first class.

Emirates first class: 5 amenities that make a difference

First class seat on an Emirates A380
Emirates A380 first class seat Emirates

You’ve booked your dream trip: a cultural tour of Japan. While staying at a Ryokan, you’ll attend sumo matches, take a sushi-making class, and venture to Mt. Fuji. But first, you have to get there, flying thousands of miles over the ocean before touching down at Tokyo Airport. 

If you fly coach or business, the flight could test your mettle, with cramped space and spartan perks. On the other hand, if you fly Emirates, choosing first class can make the journey something to enjoy, instead of tolerate. Here are the best perks of Emirates first class.

1. Your menu on your schedule

Typically, first-class passengers order and eat at the same time. While the food’s a level above coach or business class offerings, what if it doesn’t suit your tastes? What if you just had lunch in the terminal? Emirates has the answer.

On Emirates, first-class customers order when the mood arises and can customize their meals. Notable options include Australian Angus beef, caviar, and Yarra Valley cheese. If you’re in a celebratory state, go for a bottle of Dom Pérignon — Emirates is the only airline to offer the legendary champagne. Just looking to relax and snack? Try the “Movie Snacks Menu” with popcorn, Wagyu sliders, and lobster rolls. 

Also on offer are a kids’ menu, vegan options, and Lavazza coffee. Since Emirates includes food on first-class fares, pick and choose as you please, without running up a tab.

2. Your first-class experience depends on the aircraft

Whether you fly on a Boeing 777-300ER or an Airbus 380, you’ll enjoy unique first-class amenities reminiscent of a hotel room. Before you purchase your ticket, pay attention to which plane you’ll ride on, then you’ll know what to expect.

As a first class passenger on an Airbus 380, you can stretch out and unwind in an 82-inch-long suite, including a seat that folds flat into a bed. Have work to do? A work desk and reading lights help you focus, while an electric door keeps out distractions. After hours in the air, refresh mid-flight in a shower spa so you’re ready to go when the wheels touch down.

On a Boeing 777-300ER, you’ll feel like you’re in a luxury hotel, with an 84-inch-long suite covering up to 40 square feet. You control the temperature, and mood lighting helps you relax at 40,000 feet. NASA-inspired zero-gravity seats feature supple leather, and a seating position that Emirates claims eliminates pressure from the elbows, back and neck for peerless comfort. Not only that, but middle suites have HD projections of the surrounding view, letting you appreciate the high-altitude sights.

3. Fly Emirates first class using your points

Flying first class on Emirates can be pricey. On the company’s website, a round-trip ticket from Boston to Dubai is more than $15,000. The good news is you can use accrued miles and points to make your reservation.

You can also take advantage of Emirates transfer partners and book a first class flight with only 85,000 points. Partners include Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capitol One Mile, American Express Membership Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Rewards. Citi’s program works on a 1:1 basis, helping you go further for less.

4. Access to the Emirates First Class Lounge in Dubai

The Emirates First Class Lounge makes your journey as pleasant as your vacation, with an array of perks to recharge and replenish. Visit the Timeless Spa for various treatments like massages, or face and body scrubs. Check out the Le Clos wine cellar and walk away with a bottle of vintage libations. 

If you’re traveling with family, there’s a kids’ arcade for hours of electronic fun. Additional offerings include a cigar lounge, buffet dining, and a duty-free shopping area. Besides Dubai, Emirates still has a network of 39 lounges, with ample space to sit back or enjoy fine food. 

5. Free chauffeur service to and from the airport

Being picked up or dropped off at the airport makes for a seamless travel experience. Instead of looking for parking or walking to your car, you get dropped off or whisked away by a chauffeur, lessening fatigue and avoiding hassle. 

As an Emirates first class passenger, you enjoy free airport transport within a 50-mile radius, including gratuity. Longer distances carry an additional fee. For Dubai-bound passengers, it’s even better, with a guide meeting you, then showing you through customs and to your chauffeur. 

Emirates First Class: Where the journey’s as good as the destination

Emirates First Class Lounge
Emirates First Class Lounge Emirates

It’s fun planning a trip. Whether the culture and cuisine of Italy or the awe and challenge of the French Alps, adventure awaits across the globe. Flying Emirates first class is an experience in and of itself, making a day-long flight into a spa-like getaway. Now that you know what that’s like, maybe it’s time to live it firsthand and explore in luxury. Bon voyage.

Mark Reif
Mark Reif is a writer from Stowe, Vermont. During the winter, he works as a snowboard coach and rides more than 100 days. The…
Southwest Airlines and Expedia Group launch new partnership — what to know
Expedia will begin offering Southwest flights
southwest expedia partnership x

Southwest Airlines and Expedia Group have begun a new partnership, allowing travelers to secure the best fares. The airline’s flights will now be available on Expedia and Expedia Group’s other platforms, including Travelocity, Orbitz, Hotwire, and CheapTickets, providing customers with even more booking options. 
The partnership expands Southwest’s reach

Because of the partnership, more travelers can view and book flights to Southwest’s 117 destinations throughout 11 countries, including the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean. Not only that, but the agreement utilizes Expedia Group’s AI-driven tools and advanced data analytics, which help airlines connect with the more than 10 million average daily visitors across Expedia Group sites. 

Read more
Frontier offers its GoWild! All-You-Can-Fly summer pass for this low price
Frontier Airlines' GoWild! pass is on sale for a limited time
frontier airlines gowild pass sale aircraft on tarmac

For a limited time, Frontier Airlines is offering its GoWild! All-You-Can-Fly Summer Pass for only $399. The pass includes unlimited flights on the airline’s expanding network between May 1 and September 30, 2025. Routes include domestic and international destinations.
The Frontier GoWild! Pass: Details and destinations

The pass streamlines trips for adventurous travelers, letting them pick a destination, book, and go. Passholders can fly whenever they want to anywhere in the Frontier network, including Puerto Rico. Each flight costs $.01 in airfare plus taxes, charges, and fees. Not only that, but passholders can also rack up miles when purchasing seat assignments or bags and also extend the expiration of previously earned miles. 

Read more
Delta now offers this world-class champagne
Delta serves this noted champagne in the sky
Taittinger Champagne

Delta now serves a touch of elegance and flavor in the sky. Delta One drink carts offer world-class Champagne Taittinger, whether for a celebratory toast or some bubbly refreshment as the miles pass. The offering arrives just in time for the airline’s 100th anniversary, with Taittinger’s Brut la Française providing a sophisticated treat.
Delta celebrates 100 years with Taittinger in the sky

Brut la Française uses a unique recipe with 40% Chardonnay content. That gives it a taste of fruit and honey, and scents of vanilla, peach, and brioche. It costs about $70 per bottle, and Delta recommends pairing it with chicken or seafood dishes. The upscale drink is the perfect way for Delta to commemorate 100 years of flight. In a statement, Kristen Manion Taylor, Delta’s Senior Vice President of Inflight Service, said: “Taittinger’s reputation for excellence mirrors our own, and we’re thrilled to partner with them as we elevate your travel experience.”

Read more