Emirates First Class on the A380

Posted on May 13, 2018 in Experiences

Last time I flew first class with Emirates (Sydney to Auckland), I thought it would be my ultimate Emirates experience but with a little bit of planning, here we are again! This time it’s Bangkok to Sydney – a 9 hour grand finale to my three month stay in Vietnam. What a way to finish!

Our trip commences with complimentary chauffeur transfers from our hotel in Bangkok. All Emirates passengers are offered this service with the exception of the New Zealand flights. We spent approximately 60 seconds at check in, whizzed through customs and immigration and made a bee line for the lounge. Unfortunately the Emirates lounge in Bangkok is shared between first and business class and it’s not a patch on the Qantas first lounge in Sydney. Having said that, it was comfortable with plenty of seating and an overly adequate supply of food and beverages. Note: if you are flying out of Sydney with Emirates on a Qantas ticket, you have the option to choose the Qantas lounge and it’s one of the best around.

Boarding was seamless, as you would expect. First and business class cabins take up the entire upstairs of the A380 and passengers are ushered through exclusive lanes so there are no queues. When we arrived at the door, we were greeted by name, ushered to our seats and served champagne. Crew were quick to introduce themselves, gently enquiring about our preferences and ensuring we were familiar with the aircraft. It was during this friendly discussion that we found out why we were greeted by name – we were the only two in first class on this flight. So fourteen suites, approximately six staff, two bathrooms (more about that later), a private bar, dining on demand and a lot of bling. Instantly, I felt like I was on a private plane.

In addition to the champagne before take off, we were served Turkish coffee and dates with a basket of nibbles supplied for each suite, just in case you get peckish.

The suites have all the comforts you could possibly want in the air. There are no overhead bins which increases the sense of spaciousness so hand luggage must go on the floor at the front of the suite. I guess if you were a basketballer this could reduce foot space but for most, I don’t expect it would be a problem. Individual hanging space is at the front of each suite and sealed compartments are handy for storing gadgets in flight. A pop up bar is at the side of the space which seems odd as the beverages in there aren’t cold but that’s ok for a quick water late at night. His and hers amenity kits are provisioned with Bulgari products and sleepwear is provided – moisturising apparently but I had my own lounge wear so I’ve saved my PJs for a reminder at a later time. Noise cancelling headphones are provided with a huge choice of entertainment. Movies and television can be viewed on the large LCD screen as well as the amusing flight tracker channel – who doesn’t like to see the sunrise from nose of the plane?

Each suite also has lamps and reading lights, USB ports, AC power, mirrors, a writing kit and fresh flowers, all neatly placed amongst gold and wood grain finishes. Pretty and functional.

Seating is in a 1-2-1 layout with sliding doors on each suite promote the feeling of exclusion and privacy. The centre seats also have a divider between the them so these are the best option for couples

I found the seats to be extremely comfortable, even in the upright position. There are a number of pre-set positions as well as variable controls and massage functions. They’re 2.08m long and convert to a fully flat bed for sleeping with a lovely little layer of bedding added just to make sure. It’s all controlled via a wireless screen (not the extra bedding, that’s the crew!). Light, blankets are provided as well as seriously generous pillows – no skimping here!

During our initial discussion with the crew, we agreed on dinner after take off and made our selections and as soon as the seatbelt sign went off, we were being attended to. While we sipped on Dom Perignon we were served canapes and timing was confirmed for each course. Pre-dinner cocktails were suggested (and accepted) and a mighty fine Old Fashioned appeared. If my memory serves me correctly, it was about this time that one of the crew suggested they dim the cabin lights for our evening meal. Not something that’s standard practice when dinner is being served but as it was just the two of us, they thought it would be safe and provide a nice ambience (like we needed to ramp up the atmosphere!). We toasted the new mood and the arrival of our entrees with another glass of Dom Perignon. Given the potential for disaster, I don’t usually order soup on a flight but it was a smooth evening and my Consomme Royale (beef broth with savoury egg custard) went down very easily. The Traditional Arabic Mezze certainly looked the part as well and I did manage to sneak a taste of the baba ghanouj which was delicious!. Before our mains arrived, we took the opportunity to change to red wine. The wine list included options from Australia, France and New Zealand so there was plenty to choose from but we went with the Auntsfield 2012 Pinot Noir from Marlborough which paired perfectly with our fish dishes – a Pan Fried Black Cod with lobster sauce and Grilled Snapper with lemon and tarragon.

If you would prefer to stretch while you have a nightcap, there is a small bar available at the front of the first class cabin or alternatively, if you feel like company, the larger bar at the rear of the business class cabin is also open to first class passengers. I didn’t feel the need for either. My seat was too comfortable and the service was exceptional so I had no reason to go anywhere. Full of good food and delicious wine, I eventually settled into my bed (which was swiftly made up while I visited the facilities) to watch a movie with a glass of red and a platter of cheese.

With the movie done, I settled in for a nap and after a full six hours of sleep (the bed IS super comfortable!), the crew advised that the bathroom was all set and ready for me to shower. Yes, a crew member ensures that the bathroom is prepared appropriately before each use – clean, dry, fluffy towels, etc. On my first Emirates flight, I chose not to use the shower. I have no idea why I made that choice at the time but I certainly didn’t make that mistake on the return leg and I wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity again. The bathroom is spacious with lots of hooks and a spot for everything. A full range of toiletries is provided and a large mirror with thoughtful lighting makes me feel like I’m in a well-designed guest house rather than high in the sky. A wrap around bench seat (toilet concealed underneath) ensures that bags can easily be off the floor although that wouldn’t be so bad given that it’s heated AND spotlessly clean. The shower cubicle is also is also well proportioned and although the shower is timed, I certainly didn’t feel rushed and let’s be honest, I wouldn’t be complaining anyway! Apparently Emirates and Etihad are the only airlines to offer a bathroom in the sky and while I know it’s a complete luxury, it is very civilised.

Breakfast was the only slight disappointment in an otherwise stellar flight. Strong coffee was appreciated, the fresh fruit and croissant were lovely but there was nothing warm on offer. No eggs for breakfast? I would find that surprising on any full service airline but even more so in first class.

And just like that, it was over. We were late landing but that was due to delays at the Sydney end and the crew kept us informed with regular updates. Once on the ground, we were through customs and immigration and outside of the airport in less than 20 minutes. A new record for me and even though we had priority clearance due to our first class status, I have to admit that Sydney airport was well staffed and queues were minimal so I’m guessing it was a smooth arrival for most on that occasion. Our Emirates driver was waiting to chauffer us home.

Service on the ground at both ends was efficient and friendly and on board it was outstanding from the moment we stepped through the door until we departed in Sydney. The crew were welcoming, attentive and enthusiastic without being overbearing. They made sure our flight was super special and treated us like VIPs.

So another outstanding Emirates first class flight experience and once again, I am trying to commit every detail to memory because it may well be the last Every time I travel, I make sure to remind myself how lucky I am but with a glamorous journey such as this, I can only cross my fingers and hope I get to do it again.