Relative Joy

So I tried the first class on Emirates on my recent flight to Dubai (unfortunately, the return flight for first class was at 3AM, so I took a mixed class for this flight, returning on business class).

How did it fare?

I was quite impressed with the luxury feel, but it’s an old plane (777-300) and my partner and I were the only ones seated in first class in this 1-2-1 configuration. They started out with pajamas and a leather amenity kit that had Bulgari products and some other toiletries. Then there were the other amenities and goodies you could find right on your table and side tables and the other tables. I took them home for souvenirs and the flight attendant passed by, saw the empty basket and asked – would you like more to refill? But of course, was the right answer!

Evian and Perrier water was available right beside your own suite. You needed to call them to serve you dinner, otherwise I wouldn’t have been served dinner at all. I was starving and waiting for food and saw that my partner was already done with dinner and wondered where mine was. But, they won’t ask until you do.

So here’s dinner, and that was quite a lot! From fresh caviar to arabic mezz and a lighter dessert, I was so filled that I skipped the final meal before landing. It was, after all, a short 9 hrs flight. And you had a smorgasbord of food at your beck and call, including popcorn, sandwiches, and more during the whole flight. Then there were the drinks. Let’s start off with Dom Perignon for champagne to go and a whole list of mocktails, cocktails, red and white wine to choose from.

We had the 2 toilets in First Class all to ourselves. No queue!!!

After dinner, I spent the last 5 hours in bed, after the purser had converted my bed into a bedroom.

Not bad for a first class, but I was hoping that the wifi actually worked. That would have been the icing to the cake. Unfortunately, the wifi, even on First Class was out of commission for this flight. Maybe next time.

And on the ground upon landing, we had car service to the hotel where we stayed (yes it was a BMW EV).

The first class experience was a far cry from their 2-3-2 business class on my return flight. It was a typical business class and the service wasn’t that bad, but wasn’t that fantastic. They picked us up as part of the Emirates business class service from our hotel. With a huge terminal 3, the walk to the gate for boarding to Manila, took all eternity. It’s good that they had a business class lounge near our gate.

The next time you’re flying, take the First Class on a very long haul. It’s worth the experience. You might even get to experience the shower!

On a scale of 1-10, I’d give Emirates First Class an 8 and their business class a 7.