Want to fly on Emirates' "new" First Class? Here's everything you need to know
The review of my trip with Marika aboard the Gamechanger, this is the nickname Emirates wanted to give in the [...]
Emirates
La Review of my trip with Marika aboard the Gamechanger, that's the nickname Emirates wanted to give in 2017 to its new first class cabin, is one of the evergreens on this site, while on the youtube channel the video continues to grind out views and generate questions from users. Of course being 7 years old you shouldn't even call it new, but in fact being different and newer it is still correct to say that it is new.
In this article:
Not for nothing was this flight starring in the TFCbest of 2023 and to this day remains one of the best experiences I've ever had in first class in my life.
So rare as to be "almost" unobtainable
The best bonuses
The feature that distinguishes Emirates from other carriers is the consistency of its offer. From the lounges to the cabins, everything is very consistent . Only two aircraft (777/A380) , even if only for a little while longer, very similar fittings throughout the fleet, except for very few and very rare 777/300s where this special first-class cabin is installed.
There are only 9 aircraft where this cabin is present To understand how rare it is just compare the total number of 777/300s in service today with EK: 123. To figure out if you will fly on one of these planes just see how many F seats there are: if it is 6 it is this one, if it is 8 it is the regular ones.
It should have become the standard and instead, for whatever reason, his installation has stopped and it doesn't look like it will be expanded even when the new A350s arrive or when and if the 777x arrives.
The peculiarity with respect to the rest of the world's first world classes is that this is, by far, the only true first-class suite enclosed from heaven to earth. Sure Singapore on the A380 has something similar, But the wall does not reach up to the ceiling. Air France with Premiere does not have such a sophisticated product And dividing from the hallway is "only" a curtain. Not to mention All Nippon Airlines, which with its The Suite. offers plenty of space, but nothing like this.
Only the Lufthansa's future first class may be approaching, but at the moment it does not yet fly, and therefore not considerable.
Emirates has spared no expense on anything. There is mood lighting as on an SUV, bi-zone climate control, the middle seats that have no view have some fake portholes with screens showing what is outside the window.
Where Emirates' new first class planes will fly in 2024
Few planes means few "certain" routes Where this gem flies. Sure EK for whatever reason could put a regular 777 in place of these, but it is not Emirates' practice to make these machine changes, except for special needs. For example, a plane with these cabins was also used to fly to Bologna. Since in some cases, e.g. London, there are more flights to these destinations I indicate the numbers of flights that are operated with these planes
- Brussels (BRU) on EK183/184 and EK181/182
- Geneva (GVA) on EK83/84 and EK89/90
- Kuwait City (KWI) on EK843/844 and EK855/856
- London Heathrow (LHR) on EK41/42
- Riyadh (RUH) on EK815/816 and EK819/920
- Tokyo (HND) on EK312/313
In a few weeks, on June 1 to be precise, this cabin will also fly to Zurich (ZRH) on EK EK86/85.
As you can see, it is not difficult to find this booth from Europe, while the longest route is to Tokyo And it is obviously the one I chose to try it out. Likewise, it is surprising that there is no route to the U.S., one of the most important markets for the Emirates company.
How it's different from other Emirates "firsts"
There is certainly no shower and bar on the A380, but that is not the only difference that sets the gamechanger apart from all the other EK First Class seats. Emirates' seats are spacious, have a door and a mega screen, but they don't come close to what these few planes offer passengers.
What never changes, however, is the service Emirates offers its first-class passengers. From the private driver who picks you up at home and takes you to your destination once you land, to the food offerings on board and in lounges around the world, and If you have a long stopover in Dubai, it also pays for your 5-star hotel to avoid having to wait around the airport.