The Emirates First Experience - What to Expect?

[TheRealTMA]

Excellent. I am taking my first EK F next March so will be interested.

Enjoy! But it’s a long wait!

 

[I love to travel]

I am taking my third one Saturday Singapore to Melbourne. Happy to answer any questions post flight.

 

[kermatu]

Thanks @QF WP for re-opening this. Gives the background and tips from before, and will let people see what’s changed (or not). And hopefully easier for others to contribute.

I’m lucky to be in the middle of a few F flights, and happy to share experiences. Apologies if I’m too detailed or repetitive or don’t take the best pics. Also as I’m still travelling my posts might be incomplete or in bursts.

My flights were booked as part of a multi-city journey via Qantas. As a result, these are codeshare flights. The only difference AFAIK from the full EK F experience is no chauffeur drive at any port. Not a big deal for me this trip.

I’ve taken full advantage of the “See what’s on your flight” service via the EK website. Allows you to see what food will be offered, and compare the F menu to the J menu to see which options are shared and which are F only. Available in the month before the flight, I believe.

First flight was Singapore to Dubai. 21:10 departure. A380.

Arrived at airport at 15:30. Not surprised check-in desk not open, but can be done over the road at Jewel which is about 5 minutes away. Largely self-serve check-in but fortunately there was one Emirates gentleman at a desk and I used this. Advised the EK lounge only opened at 17:00. No problem for me as EK F pax can access the QF F lounge. I’ve posted my experience there in the relevant thread.

The EK lounge is nice. Very standard EK out-station lounge, with a bit of regional variety in food (eg satay). No differentiation in service or space for F pax.

Left lounge 20 minutes before scheduled boarding and 5 minutes later I was in my suite. Priority screening enforced at gate so was straight through, and boarding for F only had just been called, so I didn’t even sit down at the gate.

Greeted warmly by FA Joe and asked if I was familiar with the suite. Yes. So then asked if I’d like a drink, but also informed that the only alcohol that could be offered until doors closed was Moët and Chandon champagne. DP 2013 available later. I’m not a big champagne drinker so just had a taster.


Suite came setup with amenity kit, extra lotions and creams, noise cancelling headset, eye mask, snack basket and the mini-bar. Bedding and blanket also in the suite but tucked away. Sorry I generally don’t take pics of these but might in future. All very comfortable.

Joe asked me if I’d like to reserve a shower time, but I declined. Second FA Siobhan then asked me if I’d like slippers and pyjamas. I said yes to the latter which she handed to me, but not in the usual bag. She offered top-ups of the champagne and when I declined she asked what I’d like after take-off. Hennessy Paradis cognac thanks.

About 10 minutes prior to departure Arabic coffee and dates provided. Time for a second round of coffee. Hot towel provided around this time too (can’t recall exact sequencing but i think this and the coffee come once everyone In the cabin is in. This flight was full in F.

Aside from the limited alcoholic drink provision, my minor criticism of the boarding experience is that the menus weren’t provided until after takeoff. There was plenty of time while we were on the ground.

After take-off and well under 5 minutes after the seatbelt sign was extinguished this was provided:


Yikes. Joe joked that as he didn’t know what olives I’d like he gave me both.

Will post my poor quality pics of the excellent quality menu, as well as the meals, when I next get a chance.

 

[Matt_01]

These are from the a380 xMEL late last year.

 

[SOPOOR]

These are from the a380 xMEL late last year.

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I dont even like cognac but the time i tried paradis at a bar, i fell in love with it!

 

[I love to travel]

I dont even like cognac but the time i tried paradis at a bar, i fell in love with it!

What is the consensus paradise with or without ice. Am a cognac newbie but it is on the list to try on Sat

 

[Matt_01]

Flying out of DXB on the 777

 

[Matt_01]

What is the consensus paradise with or without ice.

I am not a big drinker of cognac but like it and personally would not add ice others may have a different view.

 

[SOPOOR]

What is the consensus paradise with or without ice. Am a cognac newbie but it is on the list to try on Sat

Most experts i know say neat, or warmed maybe an ice cube

But if you look at the websites , they say however you wsnt including softdrinks and coughtails

I had mine neat and/or ice

 

[jase05]

I am not a big drinker of cognac but like it and personally would not add ice others may have a different view.

I do enjoy cognac regularly and prefer it with a couple of ice cubes. When I was in the hotel industry it was used in some coughtails

 

[Matt_01]

Have chosen my seat (1A), but if there's a better seat I should choose - let me know, it's pretty empty right now

If travelling the a380 on a day flight I normally choose 3 A/K as there are 3 windows if it is a night flight all the seats are pretty much the same. If it is a 777 I will normally select 1 A/K but there is no difference in R2.

3 window set up (777) the a380 R3 is much the same.

Also some random photos of the various F lounges in DXB.
T1

T2

T3

 

[Matt_01]

@JessicaTam depending on the EK F route you are travelling PJs, amenity kits etc. are offered on medium/long haul flights. On shorter hops these are still available to F PAX but you normally have to ask for them, that was the pre Covid experience.

 

[TheRealTMA]

What is the consensus paradise with or without ice. Am a cognac newbie but it is on the list to try on Sat

No no no. No ice!

 

[I love to travel]

No no no. No ice!

Got it

 

[TheRealTMA]

Flying out of DXB on the 777
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Just drink Chateau D’yquem with everything! Did that on one trip, oh yes, and some Paradise.

 

[SOPOOR]

When i flee singapore airlines it was a night flight so i missed out on dinnee and caviar.

Does this also happen on emirates?
Or if youre doing long haul it doesnt matter because youre flying 24 hours anyway

 

[TheRealTMA]

When i flee singapore airlines it was a night flight so i missed out on dinnee and caviar.

Does this also happen on emirates?
Or if youre doing long haul it doesnt matter because youre flying 24 hours anyway

Emirates is dine on demand in F, whenever you want.

 

[JessicaTam]

@JessicaTam depending on the EK F route you are travelling PJs, amenity kits etc. are offered on medium/long haul flights. On shorter hops these are still available to F PAX but you normally have to ask for them, that was the pre Covid experience.

Thanks but I am not sure PJs will be available on SYD-CHC.

 

[Matt_01]

When i flee singapore airlines it was a night flight so i missed out on dinnee and caviar.

Does this also happen on emirates?
Or if youre doing long haul it doesnt matter because youre flying 24 hours anyway

EK F dining is normally the same on most routes i.e. dine on demand. There are a few routes where the F service is scaled back for late night departures but from what I understand it is based on the departure location.

 

[Matt_01]

Thanks but I am not sure PJs will be available on SYD-CHC.

If you ask you may be surprised. When I used to travel to NZ MrsM used to remind me to ask for the EK PJ's and would I often get a set in both directions. This was when EK was flying SYD-CHC, MEL-AKL or BNE-AKL and 2 of those routes are long gone.