A holy grail flight for many points and miles enthusiasts, I’ve had my sights set on flying first class on Emirates since I’ve begun this gamified traveling hobby back in 2018. Here’s my review of the experience.
Check-In
We were warmly greeted at the Emirates first-class line by the staff who managed the check-in area. One of their guys processed our passports with a smile and even affixed snazzy Emirates bag tags on our luggage before directing us to the parting Air France Lounge (Gate A 20) for bubbly aperitifs. The same guy that gave us bag tags allowed us to bypass the waiting line and ushered us directly into our first-class cabin. The ride only gets better from here!
Service
Before takeoff, we were poured Arabic coffee served in an ornate kettle. In addition to two flight attendants who took care of our every need, we were also provided with a butler who continued to keep our glasses filled to the brim with Dom Pérignon. The staff felt happy to be there with us and kept us up to date on each part of the in-flight experience for what to expect next.
In-Flight Entertainment
Our first-class cabins were only several feet apart, and we kept our privacy screens lowered so that we could watch each other enjoy everything in front of us. Val and I both watched the documentary “Sparkling” simultaneously on large monitors that roughly spanned ~32 inches. Afterward, Val played the newly released Pokémon Legends: Arceus game with her Nintendo Switch connected to the television while I explored the UI of the accompanying tablet. I used the on-demand room service app to make a video call to our butler for more food and drinks.
Amenities
Exploring all the different nooks and crannies of the cabin felt like a kid on Christmas Day opening gift after gift. From the luxe packaging of sweets in the snack basket to the on-demand drinks behind the gold-trimmed glass cabinets to the Bulgari-branded hygiene products, everything screamed with the polish of royal presentation. Our padded amenity kits were also furnished with comfy Emirates-branded pajamas and slippers that we changed into after the meal service.
Food and Beverage
There’s nothing quite like enjoying caviar (presented with a traditional selection of finely chopped chives, grated egg, sour cream and lemon, served with melba toast and blinis) from mother-of-pearl spoons at 40,000 feet in the air at cruising altitude. And pairing that with Hennessy Paradis? A chef’s kiss! We relished in the Michelin-grade presentation of our meals. Canapés included confit duck with curried pineapple, parmesan and truffle arancino, and poached prawn and guacamole tartlet. I had the Traditional Arabic mezze (moutabel, houmous, muhammara, baba ghanouj, stuffed vine leaves, tabouleh, labneh with zaatar and sumac, kalamata olives, and lamb kibbeh). And for my main course, I had grilled chicken served with porcini mushroom sauce, crushed purple potatoes, steamed heirloom carrots, and green beans. I had a selection of pastries, including cranberry baklava, kataifi roll, chocolate and raspberry crémeux, pistachio èclair, coconut madeleine, and St. Clement's macaron for dessert. We also had access to whatever else we wanted on their expansive menu throughout the flight—if only we had more time and stomach space to enjoy all their offerings!
Cabin
We were so immersed in the first-class cabin experience that we forgot to check out the rest of the cabins, which were partitioned by curtains. I do recall that the bathrooms were fully stocked with designer products to keep us fresh and clean. Our wide seats reclined fully flat into beds—our flight attendants took care of arranging our sleeping quarters when were changing into our pajamas in the bathrooms, and their turnover service happened so quickly! When we arrived back in our cabins, I noticed that they placed fresh orchids on our pillows and neatly pleated our bedsheets. I quickly fell asleep with the lights dimmed while Val continued to play video games on her big screen.
Lounge Experience
Upon landing in Dubai, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, we were greeted by a personal escort who drove us to the Emirates lounge via airport go-kart buggy. We took quick showers in their well-furnished bathing rooms and were the only travelers reveling in the Moët & Chandon area of their lounge. The lounge attendant also kept the champagne flowing as we made our packing adjustments to fly to our next segment from Dubai to Male.
Overall, how could I not rate this truly luxe flight a 12 out of 10?! Hands down, this trip had the perfect combination of a stellar soft product (outstanding service) and hard product (regal amenities). Since this was on the Boeing 777, I definitely want to book another couples trip on Emirates First Class on the Airbus A380 to compare and contrast experiences. A flight experience this grand must be experienced more than once!
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