After flying on the Emirates Business Class 777-200LR product, and visiting the Emirates First Class Lounge, Anjelica flew the Emirates First Class A380 product from Dubai to Johannesburg.

Flights on an Emirates First Class fare are expensive, but it’s also one of the most luxurious flying experiences in the world. Arguably making it the next best thing after flying on a private jet. The features that come with an Emirates First Class ticket are endless and grand, making you feel like a true VIP.

Also experiencing Qantas First Class on their A380 (review coming soon), there is honestly no comparison between the two - Emirates easily came out on top.

Keep reading to discover why the Emirates First Class A380 product topped Anjelica’s list.

Emirates First Class A380 Welcome and Service

To say that I was excited to board this plane would be an understatement! The First Class and Business Class passengers boarded at the same time. Once the stewardess checked my boarding pass on the plane, I was immediately attended to and personally greeted by another stewardess who collected my bag and led me to my seat. First Class is set at the front of the plane on the Upper Deck, configured in a 1-2-1 layout and 14 seats. There were only 3 of us in the First Class cabin, making it feel like an ultra-private and tailored experience.

After being greeted and introduced to the dedicated First Class staff, my stewardess suggested I put my carry-on in the suite next door for more space. Once I was seated, I was brought a glass of Dom Perignon Champagne - the finest on the market. I was also brought some dates and a traditional Arabic coffee, pre-departure. The stewardess also talked me through all the features of the suite.

Before take-off, I was given a hot towel, along with the First Class menu, and asked which size I would prefer for the Emirates First Class pyjamas. I was also given an Emirates Tote Bag where I could pop all the products and amenities in to take home.

Emirates First Class A380 Suite and Amenities

The suite was packed with an outstanding amount of high-end amenities and branded merchandise from Emirates. With a Bvlgari Amenity Kit, a Byredo Amenity Kit, Emirates sleepwear, a stocked personal mini-bar, a basket of snacks and the iconic Emirates notepad and pen - I was extremely thankful to receive a branded tote bag to take it all home. The cabin had a lot of small detailing like gold lining, mirrors, ambient lighting and floral decorations that made the suite feel much more elevated too.

I had my own personal pop-up LED mirror, with the Byredo Amenity Kit stored inside. It contained products like a facial toner, eye cream, a towelette, sleep oil, as well as a pillow mist. For being the secondary amenity kit, it was a great array of quality products designed to help you unwind on the flight.

The Bvlgari Amenity Kit was my favourite detail in the suite, with an abundance of travel-size products. Keep in mind there was a masculine kit and a feminine kit. The feminine kit included a Bvlgari cleansing towel, lip balm, an engraved gold-lacquered mirror and pouch, the Le Gemme Orom eau de perfume, a hydrating face emulsifier, a hydrating body emulsifier, plus the champagne-bronze travel case itself. The other products inside were Rexona deodorant, a dental kit, ear plugs, tissues, a foldaway comb, and a soft black hair tie. This totally surpassed my expectations, even for First Class.

I was also given First Class sleepwear, which included Hydra Active pyjamas designed to prevent dehydration. It also came with slippers and an eye mask. I was able to choose my size, making the experience even more personalised.

There would be no reason to be hungry on this flight, as my suite contained my own personal mini-bar and snack box! The mini-bar popped open with a button and contained 2 bottles of Evian water, 2 bottles of Perrier natural mineral water, a glass, as well as parmesan cashews and ultra-soft marshmallows. It’s important to note that this mini-bar actually wasn’t refrigerated, so if you were after chilled water, it’s best to ask for some ice or a refrigerated bottle. On the table in front of me, the snack basket contained gourmet veggie chips, a premium nut mix blend, chocolate buttons, a Lindt chocolate block, Lakrids by Bulow Strawberry & Cream liquorice and Phizz electrolytes. I was not only encouraged to indulge in all these delicacies but also to take them home. Also in front of me, there was a branded Emirates notepad and pen that popped out of a compartment.

Emirates First Class A380 Seat, Storage and Features

In terms of the seat itself, it was the most comfortable, spacious and private suite that I had ever experienced. This was expected when flying First Class.

The seat itself was really wide, had an adjustable footrest, and also had so much room for storage. Since the cabin was not full, I was able to store our bags in the suite next to us. It is important to note that there is no overhead storage, however, this makes for a much roomier ceiling. Even if you had a carry-on bag, there is plenty of room in your suite to store it, alongside room to store a tote bag and handbag if necessary. There was ample storage to the left of the seat, thanks to a large cocktail table. This is where I could store things in a compartment and on top of the table.

The tray table popped up when I pressed a button, and it was enormous. The gold detailing made it feel really luxurious and elevated and it was large enough to fit all the meals together. It was really functional and easy the way it popped out - making it a seamless interaction.

My seat had four quick settings on it - fully flat bed, take off position, eating position, and one that closed the doors to my suite. With the door to my suite shut, it still felt very spacious and roomy. I think this is because the overhead space was free and there was a lot of legroom in the suite. With the suite doors shut, I decided to have a short nap. My bed was made up by the stewardess and the bedding complimented the Emirates pyjamas. I found the bed to be one of the most comfortable beds that I had been on. The bed spanned about 1.9 metres long, and the privacy doors closed with a good amount of height so as not to feel claustrophobic. The bed was 60 inches wide so I had plenty of room but for some, it could be on the smaller side. The comforter was really plush and the pillows soft, creating a comfortable space to sleep in.

The inflight entertainment screen is 32 inches and one of the largest on the market. It had a range of new Hollywood movies onboard of all genres which was great. I loved that I could connect to Spotify and use it as well. Much better than other airline’s built-in music options. To my side was also a handheld touchscreen device that could control the entertainment unit. This was just like the one onboard Emirates Business Class but was a great addition to the suite.

There were two air-con vents, one near the bottom of the seat and one above my shoulder. These were able to be easily moved and catered to my liking. There was a reading light with two different modes of lighting, as well as a lamp in front that had 3 levels of brightness to dim. This could be controlled by the switches next to my left, underneath the handheld touchscreen entertainment unit. With these switches, you could also control the three window shades that were dedicated to you. You could adjust them in any way you wanted. There was also a call button for assistance.

Overall, these details made the entire flight really comfortable and a true ‘First Class’ experience.

Emirates First Class A380 Onboard Bar

The Emirates Onboard Bar is available to both Business and First Class guests. It’s located at the back of Business Class and it’s smaller than what I had expected. I ordered my favourite, a Cosmopolitan, which tasted delicious and was really strong! There were so many other cocktails available, as well as spirits, liquors, fine wines and beers all to be had as you please.

Also available were canapes, cakes and sandwiches to grab at the bar, with seats that surrounded it. This is a great social space to meet people in, or if you want to chat with someone else. I was really impressed by the service from the bar staff, who were all accommodating and kind.

Emirates First Class A380 Dining and Beverages

In terms of dining, Emirates always sets the bar high.

There was so much to choose from on the menu and I was delighted to have the option to dine at the time I wanted. This allowed me to do some work at the beginning of the flight, take a shower (yes there’s a shower!) and then decide what to eat.

Of course, I had to start with the signature Caviar and asked to have all of the accompanying dishes. This was my first time trying caviar and it really did exceed my expectations! It was salty but buttery at the same time, then paired with the sour cream, lemon, chopped onions and melba toast made the dish perfect.

Also for entree, I had the Sous Vide Lobster Tail. It was refreshing and flavourful, however, I’m not the biggest fan of lobster anyway. I opted for a seasonal salad on the side as well with a creamy French vinaigrette which was lovely and refreshing. It was a nice surprise to see how many accompaniments each dish came with.

For my ‘main’ I ordered the Salmon Pokè Bowl as I didn’t feel like a hot dish. I was really happy with the proportions of the meal and how fresh the centre-cut salmon tasted.

I was also given an entire bread basket to myself, which was a great touch. It came with garlic bread, rye bread, another loaf and some crackers, and as an added bonus, all of the breads were warm.

I was also brought a truffle ravioli which was definitely packed with flavour but not my favourite. I was happy to see little bottles of Balsamic Vinegar and Olive Oil, as well as miniature butter, salt and pepper shakers.

There is no doubt in my mind that Emirates First Class had the best food I’d ever eaten on an aeroplane. From the elegant presentation of each meal to the crafted and fresh taste of each bite - it did not disappoint. I would have honestly liked to try every single item on that menu - if you are confident enough, I’d truly recommend doing it!

Emirates First Class A380 Showers

Have you ever showered 40,000 feet high? Well, I did.
There were 2 bathrooms/showers that were solely reserved for 14 First Class passengers. Before take-off, the flight attendant asked what time I’d like to have a shower and scheduled it in my slot. Since there were only 3 of us in the cabin, the staff were pretty lenient with the time frame. Usually, you only get a 30-minute dedicated slot, but I’m sure you can probably spend longer if no one else is scheduled.

On my flight, the attendants essentially said that they would get the shower ready and then I could go in whenever I like. This was really generous and amplified the standout service Emirates maintains. I was given a safety briefing before entering the shower and shown the amenities, how to use the shower and the extra functions.

Upon entering I found it to be a really long and spacious room, not at all claustrophobic. Naturally, it was the biggest bathroom I’d seen on a plane and honestly bigger than some airport lounge showers too. Inside featured the shower, a basin and a toilet as the necessities. Other core features were a full-length mirror, a smaller makeup mirror, plus an array of amenities including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, cleanser, body lotion, sanitary pads, a hairdryer, slippers and towels. My personal favourite feature was the customisable heated floors. Something about having a warm surface to stand on after a shower just elevates your experience so much more.

The shower itself is set on a 5-minute timer, where you can pause and begin the water flow at your own pace. There was also a timer that counted down how long you had left which we found handy. It was a fully enclosed shower with a simple hot and cold gauge but had great water pressure and felt so luxurious to be showering on a plane. There is also a bench inside the cubicle if you’d prefer to sit and wash yourself, as well as being a safety feature if there was any turbulence.

I absolutely loved how spacious the bathroom was. I brought in my entire suitcase and set it out on the bench so that after my shower, I could pick out some fresh clothes, do my skincare and brush my teeth.

Emirates First Class A380 Summary

There’s no doubt in my mind that flying Emirates First Class on their A380 is one of the best flights you could ever do. The combination of the pre-flight experience, like the Emirates First Class Lounge in Dubai, as well as the entire onboard experience made this a flight like no other. From the moment I stepped into the First Class cabin, served a glass of Dom Perignon Champagne, dined on Caviar and Lobster Tail, showered onboard, and took a nap in my own private suite - I was impressed the entire time.

It’s an experience I recommend for long-haul flights, so you can make the most of everything onboard. On the Emirates First Class A380, you’ll never be hungry, parched, bored, or uncomfortable flying. It’s something you truly need to experience at least once in your life!

To fly on the Emirates First Class A380, please get in touch with an airfare specialist who can find you a deal.