As I perused my options, drinks were offered. If you will be flying to Dubai with their homegrown airline Emirates, you may also be interested to learn more about: Please note we are not a travel agency. The airline now has a new premium economy cabin on its A380s flying from New York City and San Francisco to Dubai. The premium economy cabin's new design can be found on the six A380 planes flying between Dubai, Paris Charles de Gaulle, London Heathrow, and Sydney beginning Aug. 1, with premium economy . Would I pick it again? In the news Home Transportation Emirates is bringing its redesigned Airbus A380 with premium economy seating and upgrades in every cabin to the US see inside Thomas Pallini and Taylor Rains. Emirates will even phase in a second daily New York frequency with the new premium economy cabins at the beginning of next year's peak summer travel season. I recently had the pleasure of flying on Emirates' brand new premium economy product between London Heathrow and Dubai. I flew from Dubai to London in economy class on an Emirates A380. Providing commentary for outlets including the BBC, CNBC, Reuters Thomson, and others, she works closely with IATA, AviaDev, and various airlines and suppliers to get the inside track on the global marketplace. Located at the front of the Airbus A380, this new cabin is yet to be offered for sale, but is already attracting a lot of attention. Wi-Fi was available on this flight with packages ranging from $4.99 for basic messaging to an outrageously priced $9.99 option for just 30 minutes and a full-flight package for $16.99. My first impressions of the new Recaro PL3530 seat were terrific the cream-colored leather, which I learned was the same as in business class upstairs, felt very luxurious. Emirates is giving away free hotel stays in Dubai this summer I initially thought the area around Gate 19 would be too small for the almost 500 passengers on my full flight to London, but there was ample room with a large waiting area one level down. Considering how much time and money has been invested by Emirates in this long-awaited product, there were some unexpected shortcomings. When I booked, these seats were not available to select, but it seems that Emirates is upgrading some of its more frequent flyers and special guests. A man tests the recline on Emirates' new premium economy seats at the Emirates Airlines stand during the Arabian Travel Market fair in Dubai. This really stood out and felt like perhaps Emirates had forgotten to stock the correct crockery, so it was using takeaway cups as a temporary stopgap for the new product. It wasnt entirely smooth the automated boarding gates continually failed for myself and the passengers around me, forcing the exasperated gate staff to manually board most passengers. Emirates' premium economy launches Aug. 1 on routes to Europe - SFGATE Emirates Premium Economy: What to Know - NerdWallet It was a huge setup for only a few flights clearly future-proofed for the retrofit rollout program next year and I was immediately helped by a check-in agent. If you have long legs and big feet (like I do) you will probably struggle to fit your feet on the lowered footrest while the leg rest is also raised. The tray table is incredibly heavy, and requires some strength to extract it from the armrest. If your stopover isnt that long, your best of making the most of one of the worlds largest and busiest airports DXB. At the outset, the airline planned a soft launch of the product, with the cabin becoming available exclusively on the airline's newest Airbus A380 jets. Other airlines, including British Airways and Singapore Airlines, have had premium economy for years, and its been around since 1991, when EVA Air first introduced the product. One of the Best Airlines in the World Just Rolled Out Its New Premium The cabin isnt as luxurious as Emirates beloved business class, but with the added seat space and elevated food options (think: prawn biryani and toffee apple pecan crisp with Chandon Brut Champagne), its a noticeable step up from economy. There are 338 economy seats in a 3-4-3 configuration that takes up the rest of the lower deck. Beyond Dubai: Transport Around the United Arab Emirates, Incredible Hotels on JBR Dubai Best Places to Stay on Jumeirah Beach in 2023. Photo: Emirates. The well-cushioned headrest could be maneuvered up and down, and its side wings adjusted in and out. However, there is only one AC plug point per two passengers, located in between the seats. Emirates has retained some of the elements of the business class cabin that would have otherwise been located here, including the motorized window blinds and the wood-style paneling on the sidewalls. To Paris in August, one-way fares from Dubai in Emirates newest cabin class start from Dh4,655. This site is a travel blog to help newcomers to the UAE and transit passengers self plan their trip, we cannot book your flights, hotels, visas or connections for you. The service was exceptional,. The toiletries were from The White Company, which is also available in British Airways' premium cabins. This Australian was pleased to see Domaine Chandon Brut Vintage 2016 on the menu from the Yarra Valley of Victoria. Check here before booking an award fare. These Airlines Have the Most Luxurious Economy Seats, Emirates Has Seen 'Drastic Increase' In Travel That'll Continue to Soar, Exec Says, United Is the First U.S. (And per Emirates policy, sleeping devices for kids such as the Bed Box are not allowed). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. It will cost travellers just over two and a half times as much to fly business on the seven and a half-hour journey, as fares on the upper deck of the aircraft start from Dh9,654 for a one-way ticket. A single universal charging plug was shared between two seats and located between the leg rests. Three different types of bread were offered as well (white, brown and Arabic). It means the front two rows on each side are across from the staircase rather than other passengers, making them ideal for couples looking for a little more privacy. It's economy, but a little bit better. On the lower deck, the new premium economy cabin is located right at the front with 56 seats in a mostly 2-4-2 layout (there are eight rows of two seats along the sides of the cabin and six rows of four seats each running down the middle). It wasn't entirely smooth the automated boarding gates continually failed for myself and the passengers around me, forcing the exasperated gate staff to manually board most passengers. Find the right card for you. Insider . Flights from London Gatwick (LGW) to Dubai (DXB) - Emirates Security was also very quick. Only two daily flights have premium economy cabins installed the morning EK1 and afternoon EK3 services. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. The headphones were awful and I was surprised not to see an amenity kit. It struck me as odd that there was only one plug between two passengers; perhaps Emirates believes passengers are more likely to charge small devices by USB, rather than larger devices needing a full-size plug. The toiletries were from The White Company, which is also available inBritish Airways premium cabins. Emirates first announced its premium economy in 2021 and started introducing it to travelers on flights from several popular cities last year, including London, Paris, and Sydney. A misstep came when tea and coffee were offered after the meal in cheap paper cups. On the lower deck, the new premium economy cabin is located right at the front with 56 seats in a mostly 2-4-2 layout (there are eight rows of two seats along the sides of the cabin and six rows of four seats each running down the middle). Emirates premium economy tickets on A380 flights from Dubai to Paris Charles de Gaulle, Dubai to London Heathrow and Dubai to Sydney will start from August 1. The check-in area of Terminal 3 at Dubai Airport was almost deserted when I arrived around 11 a.m. Emirates' premium economy-equipped Airbus A380 aircraft features 484 seats across four classes. I also found a bottle of water in the seatback pocket and the same headphones provided to economy guests. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Emirates Emirates will be offering its premium . Boarding commenced on time, 45 minutes before departure, with economy and premium economy guests boarded together by zones, based on their row number. Skywards is one of the only airline loyalty programs to partner with all four of the major transferable points programs (though the 2:1 transfer ratio with Capital One means you should focus on American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards or Citi ThankYou Rewards). Related: The Airbus A380 rolled through a French town for the last time. Emirates' newest superjumbo is fitted with the Dubai airline's first Premium Economy cabin. New to points and miles? The assorted profiteroles were plain, dark- and white-chocolate pastries in a bowl. My first impressions of the new Recaro PL3530 seat were terrific the cream-colored leather, which I learned was the same as in business class upstairs, felt very luxurious. I also found a bottle of water in the seatback pocket and the same headphones provided to economy guests. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Emirates Installing Premium Economy On 120 Planes Since I was flying on a Middle Eastern airline, I opted for the latter, naturally. EPA / Ali Haider. Flying Emirates from Dubai to London Heathrow in August, when the route launches, the lowest priced one-way premium economy fare is Dh3,594. This time, there was no selection to choose from, but the four small sandwiches (ham and mustard; pastrami and pickle; cheese and onion; cucumber and cream cheese) were just the right amount of food. Photo: Emirates. At the time of publishing, Emirates.com listed the cost of a round-trip premium economy seat from JFK to Dubai. Overall, while the dimensions of the seat were industry standard, the decorative finishes were definitely a step above. We toured Emirates' new premium economy seats, which are now available on flights from the U.S. to Dubai. If you're travelling in a pair, premium economy on the A380 means you can sit together with anyone else invading your space as seats are laid out in a 2-4-2 formation. Given Emirates is only operating premium economy on a handful of routes right now, I was curious as to whether there would be a dedicated check-in area. I managed in the end by stepping onto the seat next to me and performing a graceful leap into the aisle (I'm kidding, I landed like a drunk elephant), which worked, but is not an ideal situation. The calf rest was a noticeable feature as I explored the seat very thickly padded and sturdy, providing excellent support for my legs, though the foot space became pretty tight once the leg rest was fully raised. These numbers are all fairly standard for international premium economy, but the finishes elevated the seat significantly compared to its competitors. The headphones were dreadful uncomfortable, flimsy plastic with poor, tinny sound quality. I especially enjoyed the huge Candylicious store, which reminded me of something from Willy Wonka's chocolate factory and was ideal for stocking up on sweet snacks before a long flight. We still have the elements from business class. And Emirates inflight entertainment remains among the best in the industry and the new screens are large, high-quality and packed with shows and movies. On this route, flying premium economy is two and a half times cheaper than flying in business class where fares start from Dh19,710 for a one-way ticket. Skywards is one of the only airline loyalty programmes to partner with all four of the major transferable points programs (though the 2:1 transfer ratio with Capital One means you should focus on American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards or Citi ThankYou Rewards). Emirates unveiled its premium economy seat in late 2020, . Upstairs, there are 14 first-class suites and those famous onboard showers, plus 76 business-class seats with an onboard bar behind them. TPG reporter Zach Griff had a taste of the new seats on a recent flight from New York before the full experience was rolled out, and he was impressed. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. But when I received my tray I was immediately impressed by both the size and presentation of the meal, served on white china with actual glasses (not plastic) and metal cutlery folded in a cloth napkin. My gate opened an hour before departure, with premium economy passengers directed through the priority lane alongside travelers in first class. I managed, but I wonder how a less able person would cope. I love orzo and the fresh-tasting pesto made for a light and tasty appetizer. The tray tables were a little too small, and not centered over the seat. She was friendly and efficient but nothing was distinct from regular economy check-in. There were plenty of positives from the experience. Updated: August 17, 2022 15 Emirates has just announced plans to invest $2 billion in the passenger experience, most of which will be spent reconfiguring existing aircraft. This is not an electric function like you'd expect in business, but a manual button push and throw your weight back sort of affair - a bit like the old lazyboy recliners at home. A flight from Dubai to London, at around seven hours, is similar in duration to a flight from London to New York (a route I fly regularly), so I expected a very light second meal as you find on transatlantic flights. Incredible Hotels on JBR Dubai Best Places Dubai Eid Holidays 2023: Is There a Deal Eid-ul-Fitr Fireworks and Celebrations in Dubai April Best Hotels in Downtown Dubai, perfect for visiting Want to wait it out in DXB? The list includes two U.S. destinations New York and San Francisco along with three other international cities: Melbourne, Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; and Singapore. Im not normally a fan of premium economy cabins this large as they feel less, well, premium, but I actually loved how spacious this Emirates cabin was. Emirates' New Premium Economy Cabin Will Operate Between Dubai & London I loved being at the front of the A380 with that dramatic staircase reminding me I was on the worlds largest passenger aircraft. The only con we can see that impacts more on family travellers; due to the side table fitting in your armrest, you wont have moveable arms for kids to be able to lie flat across the row. Being at the front of the A380, it feels very private, exclusive almost, and has the typical Emirates fine-tuning that gives it the wow factor. Offsetting this is miles of cream leather, giving the cabin a very private jet-type appearance. 40 weekly flights between London Heathrow (LHR) and Dubai (DXB) Outbound from London Heathrow (LHR) to Dubai (DXB) Departure 09:05 London Heathrow (LHR) EK0087h 5m Airbus 380 View services Arrival This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. The seat and cabin finishes were very high-end without feeling too blingy. Service was at a business-class level from start to finish, especially with the way the wines were described, presented and poured. The amount of entertainment available on the system was overwhelming. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. With only a handful of planes currently flying with this new cabin, Emirates is initially dedicating premium economy service from its mega hub in Dubai International Airport (DXB) to what it calls high-traffic A380 routes. Londons Heathrow Airport (LHR), Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and Sydney Airport (SYD) all made the initial cut in August and Christchurch Airport (CHC) in New Zealand will be added in December.