Emirates First Class Review (A380 & 777-300ER)

Taking an Emirates First Class flight is a bucket list experience for many people. When we decided to visit friends in Kenya and a first class seat was available to book on points for the date we wanted, we decided to book it.

Emirates often only releases one first class ticket that can be booked with points and miles. Closer to the flight, other seats may be available for an upgrade. Thankfully, that happened for our flights.

We flew Emirates A380 first class from Washington, DC to Dubai and then the Boeing 777-300ER from Dubai to Nairobi. Our first time flying first class was amazing, but it was hard to take our last flight home from DC to Orlando in a regular seat on Southwest again.

Our Emirates first class review includes the full first class experience from checking in to lounges to the differences in the two types of aircraft and tips for booking this experience of a lifetime on miles, thanks to credit cards.

How to Book Emirates First Class on Points

Emirates rarely releases more than one first class award ticket for a flight. Starting May 12, 2025, only members of their elite program with Silver status or higher will be able to directly book first class tickets (find out more and how to get Silver status with one card here).

We originally booked one first class seat and one business class seat. Emirates is a transfer partner for American Express, Chase, Citi, Capital One, and Bilt. That makes it easy to transfer points no matter which transferable currency you have.

Since we like to use our Chase Ultimate Rewards for Hyatt stays, we opted to use some of our 1,000,000+ Amex Membership Rewards points.

Emirates has outrageously high carrier-imposed fees for both business and first class tickets, but to be able to upgrade the business class seat to first class, you must book it through Emirates directly.

The first class seat cost 163,500 points but $1,223.20 in taxes, fees, and carrier-imposed charges. We could have cashed out points to cover the cost if needed. Since this was our 15th anniversary trip, we decided the splurge was worth it.

The business class seat was 138,000 points and the same $1,223.20 in taxes, fees, and carrier-imposed charges. When you upgrade to first class, there is no additional cash cost – it is just additional points.

Upgrading from Business Class to First Class on Emirates

To upgrade from business class to first class on Emirates, we had to make sure we booked the business class seat directly through Emirates. That meant that even though we could have saved cash and used more points through their partners, we had to pay the high fees and book through Emirates.

I set up an alert on Seats.Aero for first class seats on both flights. About four weeks before our flights, an alert popped up that a seat was available on the DC to Dubai leg of the trip. It was 71,200 miles to upgrade this leg.

About a week later, another alert popped up for the Dubai to Nairobi leg of the trip. That one cost 35,100 miles to upgrade.

Because they didn’t show up at the same time, I did not just cancel and rebook to save some miles. I was worried about losing the first leg while waiting for the second one to open up or the first leg not being added back to the inventory if I released it to rebook it all as one first class itinerary.

Upgrading from business class to first class does not seem to be restricted with the changes Emirates is rolling out on May 12, 2025.

Checking In and Boarding Emirates A380

When we arrived to IAD for our flight from Washington DC to Dubai in Emirates First Class A380 suites, we walked up to the desk for premium passengers and checked in.

We were able to each check two bags weighing up to 70 lbs. Since we were carrying supplies for our friends in Nairobi, it worked out to have the extra space (on the way back, the extra bag ended up holding all of our first class amenities!).

The Emirates first class lounge in IAD is the Air France Lounge near gate A20. It is also a Priority Pass lounge, so even though our tickets got us in, we were also able to take in a friend who was flying with us in economy.

The food, and especially the bread, was good, but we did not want to fill up since we wanted to fully experience the first class meal options on the flight.

We didn’t need our boarding passes to board the flight as they used a biometric scan instead. We boarded through the separate door at the front of the plane where a flight attendant escorted us to our seats.

Emirates First Class Service

There were only three other passengers in the 14 first class seats on the A380, and we had four flight attendants to take care of the five passengers.

As soon as we got to our seats, one of the cabin crew came over to offer us a drink and a hot towel. He also took some polaroid pictures of us and some pictures on my phone.

He brought us our Emirates first class pajamas and slippers and also had us select our timeslots for the onboard showers for later in the flight. We opted for the last slots available to freshen up just before we landed.

Throughout the flight, the team took amazing care of us. They checked in on us regularly, set up our beds when we were ready to sleep, and even escorted us to the business class bar when we wanted to see it (although they also offered to just bring us any drinks we wanted from the bar).

Emirates A380 First Class Suites

For our first flight in Emirates first class, we opted for two middle seats so we could put the divider down and enjoy the experience together. We chose the middle of the cabin not to be too close to the galley or the bathrooms.

The suites are large with plenty of space in the footwell for your carry-on and/or personal item. There are also compartments you can store smaller objects in to easily access them during the flight.

Right outside of the suite, there is a small closet where you can hang your jacket to keep it wrinkle-free during the flight.

The Emirates A380 first class seats are well-padded and so very comfortable – perfect for a long flight like our first leg. It felt like sitting in your favorite recliner at home instead of being packed in like you are in economy class.

The lie-flat seats also have controls to just recline slightly, to put your feet up, or to scoot your seat forward or backward when you have the table out to eat or work.

When you are ready to go to bed, one of the crew members will come and put a mattress pad on top of the seat and lay out your comforter as well. You get a full-size pillow to be able to sleep comfortably. Even as a side-sleeper, I was able to curl up and go to sleep easily.

One of my favorite features of the first class cabin? The starlit ceiling when the cabin lights are dimmed. It was a nice surprise I didn’t expect but showed the thought they put into every feature.

The door to the first class suites fully closes so that you can have privacy whether you are sleeping or not. The door had to be open for takeoff and landing but could be closed otherwise. You can turn on the Do Not Disturb light with the press of a button so that the flight attendants won’t bother you while sleeping.

The walls of the suite are high enough that when you are fully reclined, others can’t look over into your suite and see you (unlike Qatar QSuites). It feels like a private suite even though the walls don’t go all the way to the ceiling like the new fully-enclosed Game Changer Suites.

The table is spacious with plenty of room for your laptop or a full meal service. It made it easy to work while watching TV with my feet propped up.

When you first board the plane, you’ll also find some of the amenities that come with first class including a basket of snacks, a Bvlgari amenity kit, Byredo skincare items, and a little cooler that held still and sparkling water, along with white chocolate hazelnuts (so good!).

Emirates First Class Suites on the Boeing 777-300ER

The Boeing 777-300ER first class suites were exactly the same since we were not on a Game Changer plane. We both originally chose window seats in front of each other for the flight from Dubai to Nairobi since it was a shorter flight and I’m a window seat person.

However, when we got on the plane, we were the only two people in first class. There are a total of 8 seats in the cabin, so Eric opted to move to a middle seat next to me so that we were across the aisle from each other when the flight attendants offered the option.

I loved having the window seat in the first class suite. You get a total of three windows and can dim them or darken them to sleep.

The benefit of the middle seats was being able to talk easily throughout the flight and watch movies together in our own suites, but I loved having the natural light in the window seat and being able to enjoy the view.

Emirates First Class Amenities

The amenities were the same on both the A380 and Boeing 777-300ER although the Bvlgari bags were slightly different. There are four variations of the amenity kit bags, two for men and two for women. We ended up collecting all four on the two flights.

Because there are so many amenities you can use on the flight or take home with you, Emirates provides you with a large canvas tote. The Bvlgari amenity kit, Byredo products, snacks in your individual snack basket, pajamas, and slippers can all go home with you at the end of the flight.

The Emirates first class pajamas are so comfortable. The top is long sleeved and extremely soft. It is lightweight, perfect for keeping you from getting too hot or too cold on the flight. The bottoms have an elastic waistband and fit loosely enough to be comfortable without being overly baggy.

I actually ended up using the pajama top as a long-sleeved shirt one day on the trip because I didn’t pack enough clothes for the cold weather. Since we’ve returned home, they have become a favorite loungewear outfit for around the house.

The Bvlgari women’s amenity kit includes (this is the same on both flights):

• Bvlgari Le Gemme Orom Eau de Parfum (1 oz/30mL)
• Bvlgari Hydrating Body Emulsion
• Bvlgari Hydrating Face Emulsion
• Bvlgari mirror with gold backing in a little leather case
• Bvlgari Lip Balm
• Bvlgari Cleansing Towel
• Pack of tissues
• Black hair tie
• Dental kit with a toothbrush and toothpaste
• Rexona deodorant
• Folded comb
• Ear plugs

The Bvlgari men’s amenity kit includes (this is the same on both flights):

• Bvlgari Le Gemme Kobraa Eau de Parfum (1 oz/30mL)
• Bvlgari Hydrating Body Emulsion
• Bvlgari After Shave Balm
• Bvlgari Lip Balm
• Bvlgari Cleansing Towel
• Bvlgari drawstring pouch
• Gillette razor
• Gillette Shaving Foam
• Colgate dental kit
• Rexona deodorant
• Pack of tissues
• Folded hairbrush
• Ear plugs

In addition to the Bvlgari amenity kits, there are also Byredo products in a mirrored compartment in the first class suites. These include:

• Byredo Facial Toner
• Byredo Eye Cream
• Byredo Towelette
• Byredo Pillow Mist
• Byredo Sleep Oil

On top of all of the food you can order throughout the flight, there is also a snack basket at your seat for you to enjoy. It includes a mixture of sweet and salty treats as well as mints for fresh breath and electrolyte tablets to stay hydrated during the flight.

Emirates A380 First Class Shower and Bathroom

Before the flight took off, one of the flight attendants came by so we could reserve our shower time. We chose the end of the flight to be able to freshen up at the end of the flight.

When it was our turn, the flight attendants came by to let us know. With so many time zone changes, I’m not sure we would have guessed correctly otherwise.

There are two first class shower suites at the front of the plane. Between them are the stairs down to the lower deck. Because there are two, we were able to have the same time slot.

The A380 first class shower suite is huge. When you walk in, the sink has Voya hand soap, hand cream, and eau de toilette fragrances for both men and women, along with a stack of hand towels to dry your hands.

A long bench leads from the sink to the other end of the bathroom, including a large cover for the toilet to keep it more sanitary. At the far end of the bathroom is plenty of space to lay out your toiletries and change of clothes for the shower.

The bathroom has additional amenities for you, including Voya soap bars, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and cleanser. You’ll also find cotton swabs, cotton pads, a foldable brush/comb, dental kit, shower cap, and nail file.

The opposite wall of the bathroom includes a hanger and space to hang your clothes and compartments for a hair dryer, feminine products, and additional brushes/combs and dental kits. There is also a floor to ceiling mirror next to the door.

Finally, there is the A380 shower. It is small, but you still have plenty of room to shower in it and there is a bench seat if needed.

You get 5 minutes of water to use, but you can turn on and off the water as often as needed. The water pressure was not good enough for me to attempt to wash my long hair in 5 minutes, but it still felt so nice to bathe off and feel fresh getting off of a 12.5 hour flight.

Plus, with the size of the bathroom and having two bathrooms for the five of us in first class, I was comfortable drinking a ton of water throughout the flight to stay hydrated.

Emirates A380 Business Class Bar

On the A380, the entire upper deck is premium class seats. First class is at the front of the plane, then business class, then the bar where both first class and business class passengers can spend time.

I wanted to see the onboard bar after hearing so much about it and seeing pictures of it, so we got up to go find it. One of the flight attendants immediately came over to offer assistance and to offer to bring us anything we wanted from the bar.

We told him we just wanted to see the bar, so he escorted us through business class to see it. The bar area has two bench seats along the sides of the aircraft where you can sit and enjoy a drink or snack while taking in the views.

There is a flight attendant available to make drinks and there are snacks in the bar area you can grab anytime. The other three men in first class were all hanging out at the bar, so I did not take many photos to respect their privacy.

While the business class seats were extremely nice, upgrading to Emirates first class was worth it. There is so much more room and more privacy. I was glad we walked through and could see the difference in person.

Emirates First Class Meal Service

The menu for Emirates first class flights is extensive. You can start placing orders as soon as flight attendants are up after takeoff (or prior to takeoff, so it is ready as soon as possible).

Food could not be served the last hour and a half on the A380 or the last 30 minutes or so on the 777-300. We were so full still at the end of the flight that it was not a problem at all, but you may want to plan ahead if you need one more meal before exiting the plane.

Drinks are all included with a first class ticket, including Dom Pérignon. I don’t drink, so this was a waste for me.

You can order from any of the menus at any time. You did not have to order breakfast or dinner during certain hours.

Throughout the flights, we tried a range of options from the breakfast, main course, snack, movie, and dessert menus, including:

• Caviar (because why not when it is “free”)
• Poached lobster tail (Eric was looking forward to this one and loved it)
• Buttermilk fried chicken with Belgian waffles (skip this one – the chicken was soggy)
• Spicy crab sandwich (my seafood-loving husband also loved this one)
• Cheese board (we aren’t that fancy!)
• Seasonal fruit
• Edamame
• Plantain chips with avocado puree and red pepper dip (so good I ordered it twice)
• Mini chocolate and salted caramel cake
• Mini lemon drizzle cake
• Chocolate marble cheesecake
• Fine luxury chocolates (they actually sent these home with us too, and they were all delicious)

It’s safe to say we did not go hungry. On the second flight, we were so tired thanks to jetlag and exploring Dubai on our layover that we mostly slept. I did order some bread because the bread that came with each meal was so good, and Eric ended up ordering a sandwich at the end of the flight.

Emirates First Class Entertainment and WiFi

Onboard WiFi is available for a cost. There are some free plans depending on what class you are traveling in and your Skywards status.

On the first flight, I opted to pay $19.99 USD for the unlimited WiFi. It was a 12 hour flight, and I had a few things I needed to do while I had the time.

The WiFi worked well for messaging, but it was very slow otherwise. I was not impressed as it was slower than free or paid WiFi on other airlines we fly regularly (like Southwest).

On the second flight, since it was shorter, I knew I would sleep most of the time, and it had been so slow on the first flight, I decided not to pay for it.

The screen in the first class suites is large and a touch screen. Since your seat is so far away from it, there is also a remote you can use to operate it.

I enjoy watching the cameras on the outside of the plane for takeoff and landing, but during the flight, there were plenty of options to choose from.

The ICE inflight entertainment includes Spotify to listen to music or podcasts, movies, TV shows, and live TV. The inflight options are regularly updated to account for new releases and to keep things fresh onboard.

Dubai Layover with Emirates First Class

We had a 7.5 hour layover in Dubai between our flights. We considered extending it but opted to spend more time in Namibia and with friends in Kenya since we had been to Dubai before.

At the end of the flight, we packed up all of our goodies and exited the plane. As soon as we got into the the Dubai airport, we found a fancy golf cart waiting to take us to the lounge.

Because we had a friend flying economy on the same flight, we told them we wanted to wait for her but that we appreciated the offer. They instead said they would wait for her and take her with us.

We did not want to go to the lounge right away. Our friend had never been to Dubai, so we wanted to go into the city and let her at least see the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall, and the Gold Souk.

When we told them this, they instead drove us to customs and immigration and then escorted us all the way through, took us over to where we could store our carry-ons and bags full of goodies, and then walked us to a taxi and made sure he knew where to take us.

A few hours later, we returned to the airport and were directed to the first class security area. Again, they allowed our friend to accompany us without us even asking. This area had no line and was quick and easy to get through.

From there, we dropped our friend at a Priority Pass lounge near our gate and then decided to walk back over to the lounge in Concourse A because it is the largest in the world. I probably would not have done this looking back because we did not have a lot of time after exploring the city and it was a long walk (and a train ride) to the gate.

The lounge is huge though. It is actually the top level of the concourse, and it is open to the concourse below. This means it is louder than other lounges because you can hear announcements being made for the gates below you.

Because it runs the length of the concourse, once you enter the lounge, it is still a long walk to the restaurant area. You’ll pass duty-free shops, a prayer room, the spa, and multiple seating areas on the way to the dining room.

The lounge also includes Le Clos wine cellar, a business center, a quiet lounge (with chaise lounges to relax), a shower spa, and a child’s playroom.

The dining area is set up like a full restaurant. There is a small buffet area with small plates and a few entrees, but you can also order from a full menu.

I ordered a Wagyu beef tenderloin with mashed potatoes, and Eric ordered a Wagyu burger with fries and a lobster roll. It was all delicious. After exploring the city, we were finally hungry again, but having a full meal in the lounge meant we weren’t hungry when we got on the shorter flight to Nairobi.

First class passengers can also sign up for a complimentary 15-minute spa treatment. We did not have time to try this out before we flew out second segment, but there’s always next time!

Is Emirates First Class Worth It?

I’ll start by saying I would not pay cash for Emirates first class at this point in life. Is it worth it to pay cash for Emirates first class? That depends on your financial situation and financial priorities.

Is it worth it to fly Emirates first class on points? For us, yes, it was. Would I do it again? Yes, I would.

We were completely spoiled by this experience, and we loved every second of it. When we first visited Kenya and Tanzania back in 2013, we flew Emirates economy and loved the airline then. We never would have guessed we would be flying first class the next time we returned to Kenya.

Deciding if Emirates first class is worth it, even with points, will depend on your situation and your priorities. For us, this was a bucket list experience and a way to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary.

We had enough points in both American Express and Chase to do this trip and still have enough left over to feel comfortable with future travel plans. It is also not difficult for us to earn points with personal and business spend, so we knew we could rebuild our points accounts.

If you want to get started in your points and miles journey, I highly recommend taking the free course by 10XTravel and listening to their podcast as well as the Frequent Miler podcast.

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