A story of two cabins: Reviewing Emirates' First Class and Economy on a flight from New York to Mauritius

I’ve never experienced travel – or been pampered – quite like royalty before.

I’m just an ordinary traveler who prefers budget-friendly options. I’m used to sitting in the back of the plane, flying with low-cost carriers, and even opting for basic economy. But on a recent trip to Mauritius – the longest flight I’ve ever taken – I had the chance to upgrade my experience. I booked Emirates’ First Class from New York-JFK to Dubai (DXB), before continuing on to Mauritius (MRU) in Economy.

While Emirates’ economy class is undoubtedly a step above many other airlines’ standard service, switching to it after First Class felt like a dramatic shift. But I was ready for the challenge, and honestly, excited about it.

Is Emirates still home to one of the finest First Class experiences? And could I elevate the Economy experience to feel as luxurious as First Class?

Here’s how my journey from New York City to Mauritius unfolded, with a split between Emirates’ First Class and Economy – two completely different travel experiences.

Booking

Because of some time constraints, I had to book my trip in two separate segments: New York-JFK to Dubai in Emirates First Class, and then Dubai to Mauritius in Economy. This was done about a week and a half before my flight. Despite the last-minute booking, securing award availability wasn’t an issue, even on one of Emirates’ busiest routes.

I redeemed 136,250 Emirates Skywards miles for the First Class segment, transferring them directly from American Express Membership Rewards to the airline’s frequent flyer program, along with $181 in taxes. TPG values Skywards miles at 1.2 cents each, making the First Class segment worth approximately $1,635. And when you consider that Emirates’ First Class tickets regularly cost close to $10,000 for a one-way trip from New York to Dubai, it’s clear that this was a steal.

For the second leg of the journey, we paid $790 in cash for an Economy flight from Dubai to Mauritius. I earned 2,625 Skywards miles, which are valued at $32 based on our estimates.

If you're using miles, we suggest booking through the Emirates Skywards program, as the airline has limited first-class award availability with many of its partners. While Emirates’ Skywards program was once underrated due to steep fuel surcharges on premium cabin awards, those fees have now been significantly reduced.

No Amex points? No problem. Emirates Skywards partners with several other loyalty programs, allowing you to transfer points from major credit cards. Here are the current transfer rates:

• Chase Ultimate Rewards – 1:1
• Amex Membership Rewards – 1:1
• Citi ThankYou Rewards – 1:1
• Capital One Venture miles – 2:1
• Marriott Bonvoy – 3:1, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred

Ground Experience

New York to Dubai

When I learned I’d be flying Emirates First Class, one of the things I looked forward to most was the opportunity to enjoy a chauffeured ride from my New York City home to JFK Airport for my 10:20 p.m. departure.

However, my colleague, TPG senior writer Zach Griff, an Emirates expert, quickly burst my bubble. He let me know that the chauffeur service was no longer offered on award tickets or on flights upgraded from economy or the airline's 'special' business-class fares.

Although I was a bit disappointed, I made the best of it by booking an Uber Black ride to the airport, which still had a touch of luxury to it.

Emirates operates out of JFK's Terminal 4, one of the busiest terminals in the region.

And indeed, it was bustling. As I walked in, one thought came to mind – travel is truly back! The terminal was packed with families rushing to security and airport staff guiding confused passengers toward their gates.

As a premium passenger, I was able to use the First Class line for check-in, and since there was no one ahead of me, the process was quick and smooth. However, considering we’re still in the midst of a global pandemic, I made sure to give myself (and the agent) plenty of time to go over all my travel documents.

Since I was headed to Mauritius, the agent checked my PCR test results, COVID-19 vaccination record, and proof of insurance before issuing my boarding pass. She also reminded me that I had access to the Emirates Lounge, which I was already familiar with from a past trip.

Security at Terminal 4 can often feel like a madhouse, and this time was no exception. Once through, I headed straight to the Emirates Business Class lounge, which hadn’t changed much since my last visit. With a couple of hours to spare before my flight, I relaxed with a glass of Veuve Clicquot Champagne.

I grabbed a small plate of lamb and rice, though it wasn’t exactly appetizing. In the end, I decided to save my appetite for the meal onboard.

The lounge offers three individual shower suites, each equipped with a sink and toilet. They’re not the most luxurious, and if you're flying First Class, you'd likely prefer to shower on the plane anyway, but they do the job just fine.

The lounge offers a nice escape from the busy terminal below, but it’s not particularly remarkable. Had it been a bit closer, I might have skipped it altogether in favor of the Amex Centurion Lounge, which is also conveniently located post-security in Terminal 4.

One of the perks of flying Business or First Class with Emirates is the ability to board directly from the lounge – something I enjoyed on a previous Emirates flight last summer. Being able to bypass the crowded boarding gate and head straight to your seat on an A380 jumbo jet is a real luxury.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option this time. Instead, all passengers, including those in First Class, had to board from the main terminal. I noticed a few travelers getting up, as several Emirates flights were departing that evening, but I never heard the announcement clearly. It wasn’t until I inquired with an attendant that I realized my flight was boarding. I grabbed my bag and made my way downstairs, only to find that most of the passengers had already boarded.

While missing the lounge boarding perk was a bit of a letdown, I quickly moved past it. After all, I was about to spend the next 12 hours in one of the most exclusive premium cabins in the sky.

Cabin and Seat

I thought I had already seen the pinnacle of luxury aboard Emirates’ Airbus A380 Business Class, which I experienced on my flight from New York to Dubai last summer. From the gourmet food and drinks to the exceptional service (and the inflight bar), I assumed there was no way Emirates First Class could possibly exceed this level of comfort.

I was mistaken.

Completely mistaken.

Emirates provides two very different First Class experiences: the Airbus A380, which I flew, and a select few Boeing 777s that feature revolutionary, fully enclosed suites. While the 777 – which several of my colleagues flew last year – is stunning, it doesn’t have the onboard bar or shower, both of which I was eager to try. So I was grateful to be on the A380, even though it didn’t have the new suites.

The First Class cabin on Emirates' A380 is laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration, with 14 private suites located on the upper deck near the nose of the aircraft.

The A380 suite is so exclusive that it felt like I was flying in a private jet. Honestly, I didn’t hear a single other passenger during the entire flight, despite the cabin being almost full. Privacy is a true luxury, especially in the pandemic era when people want to feel distanced from others. Emirates excels at maintaining a peaceful, serene cabin atmosphere.

A few days before my flight, I managed to secure seat 1A, which was closer to the lavatory than my original choice of 3K. I had two huge windows all to myself, and I loved that the window shades were electronically controlled, sparing me the effort of manually closing them.

One suite in the cabin remained unoccupied, so a kind flight attendant offered to store my suitcase, as there were no overhead bins in First Class. Even with my backpack occupying part of the floor space, I still felt incredibly spacious.

When it comes to the seat, I can sum it up in one word: phenomenal. With an impressive 86 inches of pitch and 23 inches of width, it was absolutely perfect for someone like me who tends to toss and turn in my sleep.

In bed mode, the seat stretched out to 78 inches, offering plenty of space for my long frame. Whether reclined or fully flat, the seat was incredibly comfortable, with leather upholstery that reminded me of the A380’s business class.

Upon arriving at my suite, I discovered a plush, rolled-up mattress pad and a full-sized pillow waiting for me behind the seat. Both were soft, luxurious, and perfect for a restful flight.

There was a single universal power outlet cleverly hidden beneath the desk lamp, which might take a little effort to find. Another USB outlet was conveniently located near the minibar.

One of the standout features of Emirates First Class is the unparalleled privacy, especially with the ability to close the door to your suite. You can activate a 'Do Not Disturb' mode, either by pressing a button on the outside of your door or on the armrest, ensuring complete privacy during the flight.

The door itself consists of two panels, and once fully closed, it’s nearly impossible to see inside unless someone is peering over the top. Complete seclusion.

As the cabin lights were dimmed for the night, the ceiling transformed into a starlit sky, with twinkling stars scattered across the roof – a beautiful, calming touch.

Emirates First Class is a paradise for AvGeeks. I mean, there’s a minibar! I had previously raved about it in my Emirates Business Class review, but this minibar was next-level cool.

The minibar was well-stocked with still and sparkling water, along with Pepsi and 7Up.

To access the minibar, you simply press a button, and your drinks will slide out from the side console. Unfortunately, the minibar wasn’t chilled, but no worries – you can have ice for your drinks within two minutes by pressing the call button.

There was plenty of lighting, including two adjustable reading lights and a small night light. Since it was a nighttime flight, I opted to keep them dimmed rather than using them much.

A small vanity was equipped with face and eye creams, along with a pillow mist spray by Byredo, infused with a calming chamomile scent that was incredibly soothing.

If you had the need to jot something down, the suite featured a slide-out drawer with a leather-bound notebook and a premium ink pen.

Amenities and inflight entertainment

There's no getting around it: Emirates First Class is a pricey experience, whether you're paying in cash or points. To truly justify the cost, the airline went all-out, especially with rival Middle Eastern carriers vying for premium passengers on long-haul flights from the U.S.

I never had the chance to fly Etihad’s Apartment before it was discontinued due to the pandemic, nor have I experienced Qatar’s Qsuite (a business-class offering), but it’s going to be hard for either of them to leave as big an impression on me as Emirates First did.

I mentioned in a previous review that I’m not really into movies or TV shows, so I didn’t watch much on this overnight flight. However, the inflight entertainment system offered a solid selection of both new and classic programming. As with my last flight, I ended up watching 'A Black Lady Sketch Show' on HBO for a few hours before catching some sleep.

The entertainment system featured a 32-inch screen, complemented by a separate tablet for multitasking, and yet another handheld device for additional control. If staying connected is a priority, you’ll be well-covered here.

While I didn’t conduct a formal test, I found the Wi-Fi to be reliable for basic tasks like checking emails, Slack messages, and browsing Twitter.

Emirates made a statement with its amenity kits, which were designed by Bulgari.

While I wasn’t particularly impressed with the Emirates business class kit, the first-class version certainly made up for it. The kit came with essentials like a toothbrush, toothpaste, a comb, and a pleasantly woodsy-scented lotion, all housed in an elegant bag. I’ll be replacing my current travel kit with this one.

First-class passengers are treated to a pair of exclusive pajamas, which Emirates calls 'hydra-active sleepwear' (retail price: $55) along with slippers to wear after takeoff. These sleepwear sets are specially designed for Emirates' first-class travelers and come in various sizes for both men and women (I’m wearing a small in the picture). They were incredibly cozy, and like the amenity kit, these will be added to my travel essentials.

Oh, and did I mention the A380 has a bar? After my last business-class experience with Emirates, I couldn’t stop talking about the bar. So this time, around the middle of the flight, I made my way to the back of the upper deck to the bar, craving a snack and a Kir Royale cocktail. The bar area was spacious with a flat-screen TV, and offered a selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

If you're flying first class, keep in mind that you’ll have to walk through the business-class section to reach your seat. I didn’t spend much time at the bar this flight, but it was just as impressive as I remembered.

When I arrived at the bar, there were only a few other passengers there. Many were working on their laptops, while others were enjoying some chocolate or fresh fruit.

While the bar and other perks were great, the highlight for me was the inflight shower. Yes, you read that correctly — it’s not a mistake. As one of the most coveted amenities in commercial aviation, Emirates first-class passengers can enjoy one of two exclusive onboard showers.

While many airport lounges offer showers — which I frequently use myself — Emirates stands out as the only commercial airline offering an onboard shower. (Etihad's A380s also had showers, but their fleet was grounded due to the pandemic.)

The flight attendant informed me that I could choose to shower either after dinner or before breakfast, and I decided to go for mine before breakfast.

A helpful crew member walked me through how to use the shower and pointed out where the toiletries were kept.

When using the shower, you get five minutes to enjoy it, with the option to control the water flow to save time. Just be aware that during the final minute, the water will intermittently turn on and off.

I've had my fair share of remarkable travel experiences, but there was something surreal about taking a shower at 39,000 feet (I double-checked). I expected the water to be lukewarm, as the idea of a hot shower mid-flight seemed impossible, but to my surprise, it was as hot as the one I take at home.

The bathroom was surprisingly spacious, perhaps twice the size of the one in my New York apartment. And the best part? No need to bring your own toiletries, as the lavatory was stocked with a brush, comb, shaving kit, plus shampoo, soap, and moisturizer from Voya.

Food and beverage

I skipped a heavy meal during the day and at the lounge to ensure I'd be hungry enough to fully indulge in the first-class menu onboard.

And I ate... absolutely everything. It's hard to believe, but my dining experience thousands of feet in the air surpassed some of the finest meals I've had on the ground.

Soon after I settled into my seat, a flight attendant greeted me with a glass of Veuve Clicquot, and later, I enjoyed a glass of Dom Perignon (retailing at around $160), which happens to be one of my favorites.

First-class passengers are treated to a delightful basket filled with a mix of sweet and salty snacks, including dark chocolate, potato chips, and popcorn to nibble on during the flight.

Just before takeoff, the flight attendants served Arabic coffee and dates, which were delicious. My super friendly attendant mentioned that as a first-class passenger, I could order anything I desired. Anything? Really?

Service kicked off about an hour into the flight. I started with a canape plate of poached prawn and guacamole, followed by a rich cream of spinach soup. Both dishes were tasty, though the soup was a bit heavy, and I wanted to pace myself for the long 12-hour journey ahead.

For the main course, I opted for the grilled lamb rack, which came with rosemary jus, ratatouille, and mint chutney. It was flavorful, though a little on the dry side. Dessert was a warm chocolate fondant with salted caramel sauce and torched marshmallows, which complemented the Dom Perignon I was sipping beautifully.

About an hour and a half before landing, I placed my breakfast order. The flight attendant recommended I take a shower before breakfast, so I headed to the lavatory. Just minutes after returning to my suite, my French toast with strawberry compote was served. As a breakfast enthusiast with a sweet tooth, I found the French toast perfectly fluffy and juicy, and the fresh strawberry compote was a far superior choice to syrup.

Many airlines reduced onboard amenities during the pandemic, particularly glassware and tableware. Having flown in premium cabins with plastic cutlery and cups, which definitely diminished the experience, I was glad to see that Emirates kept its quality standards intact.

Service

Emirates truly excelled across the board on this flight, but the service stood out in particular. The on-demand service made the whole experience feel even more luxurious, with a thoughtful, COVID-conscious approach to the usual first-class standards.

Each time I pressed the call button, a flight attendant arrived at my suite within minutes – sometimes even seconds. I never once felt that I was lacking anything during the entire 12-hour flight.

I also appreciated the visible enjoyment the crew took in their work. They were more than happy to serve, but they also took time to chat with passengers. Before I turned in for the night, I had a pleasant conversation with the flight attendant in my row about my excitement for my trip to Mauritius.

I'd never experienced a flight where I actually felt sad to land, but all great things must end. I expressed my gratitude to the amazing cabin crew for what had truly been the most memorable 12 hours of my life before heading to the connection hall in Dubai.

I knew my next leg would be in economy, and while I wasn't expecting it to match the first-class experience, I was still curious to see how Emirates would deliver on the economy front, given its reputation as one of the world's top airlines.

Ground experience

Dubai to Mauritius

Could economy possibly offer a premium experience comparable to first class? As soon as I stepped into the bustling Dubai terminal for my connecting flight, it became clear that this was not going to be the case.

I was still riding the high from my incredible 12-hour flight from New York to Dubai, but my adventure wasn't over yet. I had one more leg to go—a seven-hour flight to Mauritius, this time in Emirates' economy class.

Having just experienced such a luxurious, top-tier flight, I expected a similar, albeit scaled-back, experience for my economy journey from Dubai to Mauritius.

Once I had disembarked and cleared security, I set off in search of a place to print my boarding pass. I hadn't been able to do this in New York because of travel verification requirements.

Since I was technically still on a first-class ticket, I was granted access to the premium line for document verification, which made the process a bit smoother.

This is where things started to take a turn for the worse.

The terminal was bustling with passengers, yet there was only one employee handling everything, causing the line to stretch longer. After waiting for about 30 minutes, the agent motioned for me to come up. I handed over my passport and documents, including some that I had saved on my phone.

It turns out that Mauritius requires printed copies of PCR test results, and unfortunately, the counter didn’t have a printer. I needed to hunt one down. Frustrated and exhausted, I decided to head to the first-class lounge in Dubai Airport’s Concourse B, hoping to print my boarding pass, grab a quick shower, and enjoy a meal during my seven-hour layover. Unfortunately, this lounge was nowhere near as expansive as the Concourse A lounge, but it was the closest to check-in and my departure gate.

The first-class lounge area looked quite similar to the business-class section, but it was notably smaller.

Since I wasn’t flying first class this time, I had to pay for lounge access, which set me back about $300. But it was worth it for the chance to enjoy a shower and a proper meal before my next leg.

I'd heard rave reviews about Emirates' first-class sushi bar, so I made it my top priority when I arrived. The sushi was fresh, flavorful, and nearly on par with some of the best I had in Tokyo a few years ago. Unfortunately, the sushi turned out to be the highlight of the lounge experience, which made the $300 entry fee feel a bit unjustified.

With seven hours to kill, I found a table with a great view of the terminal and got to work. Many lounge visitors are business travelers, so the strong Wi-Fi was essential, and I had no trouble keeping in touch with my colleagues back in New York.

I had a fantastic experience in the business-class lounge during my last trip through Dubai, so if you have to choose and you're paying, I'd say stick with it instead of splurging on the first-class lounge.

After enjoying a generous serving of sushi in the first-class lounge, I made my way across the hall to check out the business lounge. As a first-class passenger, I had access to both lounges, and I was especially curious to visit this one because it housed the Moet & Chandon Champagne bar.

Finding the Champagne bar was a bit of a challenge, but that only added to the adventure. There were only two other travelers in the area while I was there, so it felt quite exclusive. Despite paying hundreds of dollars for first-class lounge access, I ended up spending the majority of my layover in the business lounge, all for the chance to indulge in the Moet experience. I was treated to complimentary tastings of four different Champagnes: Imperial, Nectar Imperial, Rose, and Grand Vintage 2012.

The overall lounge experience felt quite similar to what it was like before the pandemic, except for a few changes. The staff wore masks, and instead of a buffet, guests were served directly. Personally, I'm not a fan of buffets—some people enjoy them, but I find them a bit off-putting. I'm glad to see some lounges are moving away from that format.

When it was time to leave, I felt a mix of satisfaction and disappointment. Long layovers are inevitable when flying to certain destinations, and even the best lounges, like those in Dubai, can start to feel monotonous. By the time I finished my sushi and Champagne, I was more than ready to continue my journey. So, with a full stomach and a 2:25 a.m. flight to Mauritius on the horizon, I was eager to board.

Cabin and Seat

It had been quite a while since I last flew on a Middle Eastern airline's economy class, but I recall being genuinely impressed by Etihad during my previous experiences.

Emirates left a similar impression on me this time. The 18-inch-wide seats were comfortable enough, with a 32-inch seat pitch, which is typical for long-haul economy flights.

Like my previous flight, this one was aboard an A380, a massive aircraft that holds 429 economy-class seats spread across the entire lower deck in a 3-4-3 seating configuration. Given the limited flights to Mauritius, this one was completely full, with passengers from all over the world—Australians, Mauritians returning home, and a lot of Brits among them.

For this late-night flight, I decided to sleep for most of the journey and chose a window seat to help with that.

There was a noticeable gap between the seats and the curved shape of the fuselage, which made it tricky to sleep in a comfortable position. However, this might be less of an issue on a daytime flight, as it would provide more room for your head and shoulders.

I ended up resting my head on the tray table for most of the flight. Although I’m not very tall, I found the cabin to be surprisingly spacious, and it didn’t feel cramped at all. During boarding, there was ample overhead space, so I didn’t have to worry about hunching over.

The seat came with a dual-layer tray table, measuring around 11 by 16 inches. While it was fine for meals and drinks, it didn't offer much room for anything else. I decided not to work on this overnight flight, but even if I had, the small surface area would’ve made it challenging.

Amenities and inflight entertainment

Emirates offers a top-notch inflight entertainment system called ICE.

Since it was an early morning flight and most passengers were catching some sleep, I didn’t pay much attention to the IFE myself. However, I did notice the crisp 13.3-inch screen. In addition to the screen, each seat came with a touchscreen remote, a USB charging port (though it charged slowly, so it’s best to come with a full battery), and a headphone jack.

When you settle into your seat, you'll find a pair of headphones, a blanket, a pillow, and in light of the pandemic, a mask and hand sanitizer. The headphones were pretty low quality, so I didn't bother using them. However, the blanket and pillow were quite cozy for an early morning flight, and I honestly wished I could take them with me.

Food and beverage

Emirates let me down when it came to the catering, especially considering I've had some decent meals in long-haul economy before.

Our flight took off in the middle of the night, and about 45 minutes into the journey, the meal service began. The meal was some kind of sandwich with water. I say 'some kind' because none of us in my row could figure out what it was, so I decided to pass on it.

About an hour and a half before landing, the crew came through to take breakfast orders. It was a bit of an improvement over the previous meal, with eggs and beans (not my usual choice for air travel), a fruit cup, and a croissant.

Luckily, I wasn’t too hungry since I’d already had a good meal in the lounge. Still, Emirates could definitely do better with its economy meal offerings, especially when compared to other Middle Eastern airlines.

Service

I've noticed that Emirates consistently delivers great service in the air, no matter the class. This flight was quite late, so most passengers, myself included, opted to sleep. Still, the service remained prompt and flawless.

Even during the pandemic, it felt like a solid economy-class experience. Aside from the staff wearing masks and gloves, there was virtually no difference between this flight and other long-haul flights I've had in the past.

However, as I mentioned earlier, Emirates could improve its ground service, similar to the issues I encountered while getting my new boarding pass. When it was time to board the flight to Mauritius, chaos ensued. Hundreds of passengers just streamed toward the gate, completely ignoring the boarding groups. People who felt like boarding simply walked up and showed their tickets.

I noticed several families with young children and some elderly passengers who were unable to preboard. I can imagine that was a frustrating experience for them.

Overall Experience

Emirates' A380 first class, though showing some signs of age, remains one of the finest ways to travel, especially when flying to or from the Middle East. From takeoff to touchdown, everything was near flawless for me.

That said, Emirates could enhance its ground services in Dubai, which can be chaotic given its size. Additionally, with most passengers in economy class, the in-flight meals in this cabin could use an upgrade to better compete with airlines like Qatar and Etihad. Despite this, I would gladly fly either cabin again, especially first class.

All images by Victoria Walker/Dinogo.