With so much space, there was plenty of room for Emirates to splurge on its first-class passengers. 
I did my due diligence with the leather-bound menu, making sure that I devoted enough time to deciding what Id eat. White wine included: Paul Jaboulet Ain, Chevalier de Sterimberg Hermitage blanc 2014 from Northern Rhne, France; Paul Hobbs Edward James chardonnay 2013 from Russian River Valley, USA; Cloudy Bay sauvignon blanc 2017 from Marlborough, New Zealand; and Antinori Family Antica chardonnay 2016 from Napa Valley.
It came stocked with pretty much any soft drink you could conceivably want on your 12ish-hour flight to Dubai. It was particularly fun exploring the map functions, as the screen washuge. At check in the agent advised there were in fact 3 empty seats in First and we could upgrade for 54,000 Skywards miles or $900 cash each. When I arrived at my seat, I discovered a complete array of amenities and accoutrements awaiting me. Did you have a different experience? Mildly frustrated, I bit the bullet and paid the $30 for Wi-Fi for the duration of the flight. Lesson learned:Always put your frequent-flyer number in when you make reservations, even if youre traveling on an award ticket. Emirates first is one of the holy grails of travel (I dont even know if thats a real thing, but it is to me). I was debating between the beef filet and the Bangalore chicken but ultimately decided on the beef, which was a tad overdone but tasted excellent, thanks to the wonderful sauce it was served with. Even with the sliding doors open, the seat was set so far back that it was pretty hard to see anyone without really making an effort. The first strike was completely my fault. We knew it would be a tricky flight for jetlag, leaving just before midnight and arriving in Dubai the next night with just 12-13 hours in the air, owing to the 8 hour time difference between New York and Dubai.
I went for an apple danish and a single egg Benedict, both of which were top-notch. All in, we spent 185,250 miles and $820for the two flights, with the leg from DXB to JNB in business. We had him hold the seats while we transferred from American Express to Skywards (one of those times when its handy to know thats an instant transfer!). I would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. She pulled down a heavy box containing a bottle of Hennessy Paradis Imprial and poured me a glass. They will feel more roomy than the connecting middles even though they are technically the same size.
And, perhaps the best feature of all, you boarded the aircraft directly from the lounge (another first for me, by the way). New to all of this? I was ready to go at about five minutes to 7am, and excitedly threw open the front door to my building to find my chauffeur waiting in a tuxedo-black Chrysler 300. I mainly used this to check the flight map while watching movies. These scores were used to determine the winners at the 2018 TPG Awards, where Emirates First Class on the A380 was named the Best International First Class of the year. Super soft and comfortable. After what felt like avery long walk (JFK T4 is exceedingly long), I made it to Emirates recently reopened lounge above gates A5 and A6, which is where the carriers three daily flights departed from: two nonstops to DXB and one fifth-freedom route via Milan-MXP. Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. As an AvGeek, I was disappointed I wouldnt have a window seat (actually, there were three windows at each) for my flight, but I happily obliged. Its really amazing when you sit down and think about the fact that you can eat better at 35,000 feet than on the ground. Fast forward to arrival at JFK and we enquired about upgrades to First. Does the Capital One Spark Cash Plus Report to Your Personal Credit? And then the Cream of Spinach Soup. All in all, I had mixed feelings about the lounge, at least as a first-class passenger. I cant think of anything better to go along with watching a movie at 35,000 feet. For years, especially when Emirates was easy and affordable and surcharge free via Alaska Airlines miles, every blogger was writing about this product. Id heard so much about this magical place from otherTPGers who have flown with Emirates in either business or first, and was elated to have the chance to check it out for myself. It remained a bar for most of the flight, but once we got closer to landing, it was turned into a spa-like space where tea was served. She pointed out the features of the lavatory, including where the toiletries were, and then moved on to explain that Id have five minutes of shower time, and that most people turn the water off and on as theyre showering so as to not run out. Id very much like to try the new Emirates First Class which does look more spacious and modern (in an opulent Emirates sort of way), but Ive not had the opportunity. The seats are adjacent, though not connecting, so dont expect to sleep side by side. According to the airline, there was over 4,300 hours of programming, enough to keep someone occupied for 554 flights between Dubai and London. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Strike three: The Wi-Fi just barely functioned. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Basically, I was allowed to order anything I wanted whenever I wanted it. Enjoy airport Lounge access, primary car rental coverage, and top-tier Hertz status.
If Id been flying in business, I would have been more than happy with the lounge. The indulgence began as soon as I got on board. A Matrix of Transferable Points: Where do Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One, Bilt and Brex Transfer? While my caviar course was being cleared, I told the FA that I wanted to place my order for my main course, and he explained that itd take about a half hour to arrive, which was totally fine by me. It doesnt even seem real that I actually had the chance to fly this bucket-list product. I picked the menu back up and began browsing once again. Granted, JFK was not Emirates home, and I didnt get to experience the first-class lounge in Dubai, but the JFK lounge experience fell a little short of expectations. My suite was outfitted with all the expected bling, a signature for Emirates. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page. In addition to the full bar at the back of business class was a smaller self-serve bar at the front of the first-class cabin, right at the top of the stairs and between the two lavatories. Opulent suites, flawless service, top-tier food and beverage options, Underwhelming lounge at JFK and frustratingly slow Wi-Fi. However, this ticket (due to being booked via Skywards and in the Flex award inventory) did allow for a completely free and easy change to flights this March when life got in the way in December and came with free chauffeur server from Manhattan to JFK, Dubais airport to our hotel, and from Al Maha to the Airport. MilesTalk is your source for learning more about airline miles, credit card points, and other rewards programs to help optimize your benefits. Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. For breakfast, there were five options: eggs Florentine; courgette-and-goat-cheese frittata with sauteed mushrooms and red-onion chutney; waffles with cherry compote and maple syrup; a continental cold plate of sliced pastrami, grilled chicken, goat cheese, camembert, Monterey Jack and crudites; and a choice of either cornflakes or muesli. No goods or services were gifted to me by Emirates for my review. First class, naturally. As soon as the mighty A380 leveled off after its ascent, the FA assigned to me promptly showed up at my seat with the main attraction: the Dom Perignon vintage 2009, which retails for ~$180on the ground. My introduction to miles and points book, MilesTalk: Live Your Wildest Travel Dreams Using Miles and Points is available now. There was plenty to eat, but no table service (like at the Etihad lounges in Sydney and Abu Dhabi) and the food wasnt quite special. It was certainly no small amount to shell out, but considering the one-way price for a first-class ticket just between New York and Dubai was consistently around $19,000, Id say we still got a helluva deal. And when Im truly blown away, as I was in my review of theW Maldives, Ill tell you that too. The water pressure was surprisingly strong, and the water heated up to a comfortable temperature. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). But the connection was so poor that I wasnt able to sign into my account strike two. The flight attendant assigned to my suite came up to me right away and offered me a glass of Champagne, which I accepted with gusto. It was controlled either by touch on the main screen or via a tablet built into the seat. In addition, there were the following choices: yellow-pepper-and-lemongrass soup served with herb croutons; beef consomm with braised oxtail and herb pancake julienne; antipasti of hummus, feta with mint, grilled vegetables, cured duck on Waldorf salad, black-olive tapenade and smoked trout with horseradish; smoked duck with carrot and celery kimchi and raspberry-truffle vinaigrette; seared prawns on wakame salad with pepper chvre; and a seasonal salad. This fall, I was lucky enough to attend my first PeaceJam conference with the TPG team, which also meant my first time to South Africa. But perhaps the most famous and over-the-top amenity of all is the onboard shower available to Emirates first-class passengers. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Id order it again. Yes, you can shower in the air, and its awesome. We may also earn a commission on items purchased from Amazon when you use our links. Editorial Note - Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Not to mention the fact that showering on an airplane is quite possibly the coolest thing Ive ever done. That included an onward flight to Male in Business Class 6 days later.There was no availability using partner miles, such as with Alaska, JAL or Qantas miles. We managed to secure two empty seats by the window for some planespotting and late night snacks before our 11:45pm departure. TPG and I spent quite a bit of time hanging out in the bar and talking with Emirates famously worldly flight crew.
You get 30 minutes in the shower facilities (just one of the same two giant bathrooms available to First Class the whole trip) and 5 minutes of running water. I definitely liked this process a whole lot more than playing the timing game with an Uber or Lyft. All breakfast options were served with fresh bread, toast, pastries, fruit and yogurt. The lamb chops had potential but were cooked past well done.
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A few years ago I realized many of my friends actually thought I was paying for these!! Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. It was tasty. Have you flown the Emirates A380 in First Class? Theres no doubt that if you are traveling solo, the window suites are where you want to be. He also explained to me how dining works in Emirates first class. Listed in the menu were 12 cocktail choices: bloody Mary; classic Champagne cocktail; Aperol spritz; kir royale; cosmopolitan; Manhattan; classic martini; breakfast martini; espresso martini; mojito; old fashioned and negroni. The French Toast was awful. Let me know here, on Twitter, or in theprivateMilesTalk Facebook group. You could perform separate tasks on the tablet while something else was being displayed on the main screen. It was clearly the place to be on the aircraft. The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Take, for example, the minibar within the seat. For meal number two, I had the lamb chops, followed by some French Toast like thing and then a dessert. I arrived at JFKs Terminal 4 just after 7:30am and headed straight to the Emirates first-class check-in booth, away from the business-class and economy check-in areas. Its one thing to take a shower in an airline lounge before or after a flight, but its another thing entirely to take a showeron the plane. There was some sort of something (jam? This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. One thing I know for certain, though, is that Im forever ruined. I was able to send and receive a few messages on Slack, but couldnt load any webpages or emails. No peanuts or pretzels here. And thats just the stuff without alcohol. Since Id booked a first-class ticket, I was eligible for the airlines chauffeur-drive service, which it offers in most markets for business- and first-class passengers. The Points Guy is introducing a brand new review format that includes numerical scores for each section of the experience. I know this will be disappointing to some, but that was my experience. Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal Review (Mexico), American Express Membership Rewards [Guide], Southwest Companion Pass: A Guide to Earning It For Two Years [2022]. We were also given a nice tote bag containing the amenity kit and pajamas. I chose the caviar its kind ofa thing here atTPGwhen any of us fly in first class. In terms of spirits, the following were offered: Chivas Regal Royal Salute 21-year-old scotch, Johnny Walker Blue Label scotch, The Dalmore King Alexander III single-malt scotch, Woodford Reserve bourbon, Hennessy Paradis, Tesseron Lot 29 XO Exception cognac, Ron Zacapa XO rum, Bacardi Superior rum, Russian Standard Imperia vodka, Belvedere vodka, Star of Bombay gin and Sipsmith gin. And, perhaps best of all, they enjoyed that I was enjoying the flight they encouraged me to take as many pictures I wanted of every possible thing, and even brought out a special Polaroid camera to take pictures of me in my suite that I could take home with me and always have as a memento of this special flight. It might be for you. Inside were various Bulgari amenities as well as a shaving kit, tissues, toothbrush, toothpaste and lip balm. Call it the Battle of the First Class Showers. It was the ultimate comfort food, with perfectly al dente penne and plenty of tender chunks of lobster, all topped with a creamy cheese sauce. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone. Many of the credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. However, when I made my reservation, I neglected to input my Skywards number, since it was an award ticket and I figured that I couldnt earn miles for the trip, so what was the point of adding my number? This happened again the day before departure, and I appreciated the thoroughness of the process Emirates was ensuring that nothing would fall through the cracks. If I needed anything, a FA was there within just a few moments, every single time. Southwest Companion Pass: A Guide to Earning It For Two Years, Using "CardMatch" for higher bonus offers - up to 150,000 points. The system, which they call ICE, has a tremendous amount of programming to watch on your giant screen. There were hundreds of TV shows on offer, plus tons of live TV content, including sports and news programs. Or the slide-out drawer with a leather-bound notebook and high-quality ink pen. One, the onboard bar: It was on the upper deck at the back of the business-class cabin, and was fully stocked and staffed with bartenders! I started with the truffle arancini. As soon as my eyes passed over the lobster mac and cheese, I knew it had to happen. They push a button. Once we collected our bags, we headed over to the Emirates Chauffeur Drive area (it felt like a small terminal) and then to the seller First Class desk. And so if I sound disappointed by the size and comfort of the Suite, thats where it comes from. They tasted microwaved, though. I reserved a time slot about 90 minutes before landing so Id have enough time to utilize the shower and then get back to my seat to have a small snack and pack up all my belongings before landing. The chauffeur service saved us about $200 between the three trips. This past week, I was booked to fly in Emirates Business Class from New York to Dubai en route to the Maldives. The Points Guy will not sell your email. This may sound entitled, but I was expecting something a bit more glamorous than the 300, as Emirates first class feels more aligned with a Mercedes-Benz or BMW than a Chrysler. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. The Status Match Merry Go Round Explained (Using Both Hotel and, Double Points on Marriott Homes and Villas; Stack with Amex Offer, MGM Rewards Status Matches are WIDE Open [Extended to Dec 31,, Beware: Annual Fee Refunds on Bank of America / Alaska Credit, Apply to join the members-only MilesTalk Facebook group, Etihads First Class Apartment, from Abu Dhabi to NYC, Ventana Big Sur Review #2: Tims Experience. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Limited Time Offer: Get 80,000 Bonus ThankYou Points when you spend $4,000 in 3 months. 2018 has been a year of firsts in the most literal sense. MilesTalk The book! As I was ordering my caviar, the FA asked me if Id like it served with the traditional shot of vodka, to which I replied (apparently without thinking), Sure, why not! I then got up to go to the bathroom and then waited a few minutes for the caviar to be served after Id returned. Emirates in first class is perhaps the strongest evidence in existence that we are currently in the golden age of travel. There were absolutely no concerns with cramped footwells here I was able to spread out and toss and turn as much as I pleased. While they didnt run out of items like Etihad did, they also didnt have an onboard chef capable of any custom preparations. In terms of an IFE system, Im not sure any airline can come close to Emirates. Slippers, too. We did lose service altogether for a few hours as we approached the Middle East. Two New Delta AMEX Offers- Grab Them Quick! This was thereally good stuff, and it was so refreshing to see a crew with so much pride in their product that they pulled out all the stops to impress me. Perhaps this is where a product can be a victim of its own hype. Not only were they professional, but they were fun, too. Its about as close to perfect as it gets.
Since I hadnt slept at all on the flight, this immediately helped me feel more refreshed and ready to take on the next day. You have entered an incorrect email address! Each suite was phenomenally private. I had the choice of pan-fried beef filet served with thyme jus, gnocchi and grilled vegetables; miso-glazed cod with edamame and steamed Chinese broccoli; Bangalore chicken with basmati rice and green vegetable curry; spinach and polenta crespelle with tomato and Parmesan sauce; and grilled lamb chop and braised lamb shank served with rosemary jus, celeriac mousse and chargrilled root vegetables. I dont know how Ill ever be able to fly coach again. Id give it a 8/10 overall. It's long been a passion, but when I hosted a session on Miles and Points at the South by Southwest festival, my love of the game intensified and this blog was born. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. It was fully stocked with high-end booze, including the Dom Perignon. All Rights Reserved. And for the reds, there were the following: Clos du Marquis 2005 from Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France; PharaohMoans syrah 2015 from Paso Robles, California; Luce Della Vite 2013 from Tuscany, Italy; Chateau Balestard la Tonnelle 2007 from St. Emilion, Bordeaux; and Grgich Hills cabernet sauvignon from Napa Valley. A RED VENTURES COMPANY. On my way back from the bar to my seat, one FA stopped me and asked if I wanted to try a special Hennessy. They were all eager for us to enjoy the space to its fullest, and offered to make drinks for us to try or clear the area so we could take photos. MilesTalk and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms Apply. I asked for the lobster mac and a diet Coke, which was served to me not even 10 minutes later. A few days before my flight, I received a text message from Addison Lee, the company that Emirates used in New York to arrange my ride, confirming that everything was still a go. Earn $350 back when you spend $3,000 in your first 6 months. The system included much more than just movies. Here are our favorite credit cards for Intro 0% APR offers and for balance transfer offers. We presented our tickets and received a paper that we could use outside for the driver. As a fully enclosed seat, just one button on the control panel would close the suite for total privacy. They blocked a ton of ambient noise and let me drift off into my own world while I was watching a program. I think the Business Class passengers are more likely to use this area, to stretch and get drinks quicker than via the call button. With the Suite in First, and a much more premium First Class selection than here at the bar, theres not too much reason for First Class to venture back here other than the novelty or an excuse to take a walk and stretch. In the bar, they were joking around with passengers and genuinely interested in everyones story. She was not pleased. There were also no lounge services, such as massages or spa treatments, so we snacked and relaxed until boarding. We paid the taxes with the Platinum Card from American Express in order to earn 5x points on the purchase, thanks to the cards bonus category for airfare booked directly with the airline. Wed have to wait for takeoff for the Dom to start flowing, but I will not complain about two glasses of Veuve Clicquot extra brut while settling in. Im giving you my experience so you can decide for yourself. The dial shows your remaining water time so you can plan accordingly. It seemed like the best there is. The hot options included lobster mac and cheese; a beef pie with onion chutney; and lemon-and-ricotta ravioli with cherry tomato ragout and Parmesan. Most people would have quite a hard time running out of programming theyd enjoy to keep them occupied for the whole trip. We booked that, transferring the required points at a 1:1 ratio from American Express Membership Rewards, knowing there was a chance that space in first would open up and we could use more points to upgrade at least one leg of the journey. Fortunately, we had time on our side and began researching a few months in advance. I pressed the call button, and my FA appeared just a few seconds later. Round Up: Emirates Devalues, Alaskas Dynamic AA Awards, MGM Rewards is Live; IHG Enhancing? Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. When it was fully flat, the bed measured in at just about 6 feet, 7 inches more than enough space for me, at 5 feet, 10 inches, andjust enough for TPG, who stands 6 feet, 7 inches.
While on Etihad I wanted to sample all of the delicious food, with Emirates I was content to be full. I was extremely full after my meal and not a big fan of dessert in any case, so I skipped the afters, knowing that Id be ordering light bites later. Your Best Credit Cards: Personalized card recommendations based on your spending habits. These were great. In a parting shot, since we have an inside joke over in the MilesTalk Facebook group that the below pose is The MilesTalk, here you go. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (Though this particular film was pretty subpar, in my opinion.). I dont want to give the impression this suite in the sky wasnt fantastic by most counts, but when you have been as fortunate as I have to fly so many international First cabins, it naturally means that some First Class cabins wont live up to what you imagined. Because the ticket had been originally booked for last years Christmas holiday time and because I needed a one way ticket with a stop in Dubai, the only availability was via Emirates own Skywards program at a cost of if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'milestalk_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',127,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-milestalk_com-medrectangle-3-0')};117,500 Miles + USD 874.50. The total privacy of an enclosed suite is, of course, amazing and when you are ready for bed they will put a mattress on the seat to soften it up. To put it simply, Emirates offered its first-class passengers aton of options for food and drink. It was still quite early, so the TSA PreCheck line was short and I was on the other side in just a few minutes. The lounge is spacious but was surprisingly crowded. If traveling with a partner, you will probably want to sit together in the middle. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. We were there on the wrong night for our flight, so we walked back downstairs and boarded at the regular gate. We were given a tour of the suite, starting with safety instructions and then on how to use the seat controls, door controls and in-fight entertainment. Nicole wanted her lamb chops rare to medium rare. It was magnificent compared to any business class, no question, but compared to other First Class products Ive been on, it wasnt at the top. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. (Its not refrigerated, though.). Setting it up was easy: I requested a 7am pickup from my apartment in Brooklyn, as I wanted to haveplenty of time to enjoy the experience and didnt want New Yorks infamous rush-hour traffic to ruin my morning.
There are different queues and cars for First Class and Business Class passengers, with First getting noticeably nicer cars. After Alaska Airlines devalued Emirates redemptions, there was no silver bullet for getting a fantastic redemption on an EK flight in a premium class.
Sounded amazing. If you find yourself in the position of only being able to try this or another First Class, perhaps this helps you choose.
new york to dubai emirates first class
