A380 Vs. 777: Which Emirates First Class Is Best?

A reader asked me in the comments section if I preferred the new Boeing 777 first class or the old one. I wanted to address that in this post.

Emirates’ two types of first class seats

The airline has a variety of premium products, but it has a consistent fleet of just Boeing and A380s. I wanted to know if the A380 or the 777 first class is better. The new first class is better than the old first class, but the A380 has some unique amenities that give it an edge.

Emirates “old” A380 first class pros & cons

The largest A380 fleet in the world is owned by Emirates, which is probably most well known for its A380s. In terms of the cabin itself, the A380 first class isn't that cutting edge.

The cabin has 14 seats, so it doesn't feel private. There is not that much space dedicated to each seat. Singapore Airlines has six first class seats in the same space as the A380.

I would argue that the A380 first class is not as good as the 777 first class. The cabin on the A380 is larger than the cabin on the 777, so it feels more spacious.

Many of us never get old because of the two features of the A380.

• Emirates has two ridiculously over-the-top shower suites in A380 first class, which are unlike anything offered by any other airline; the novelty of showering on a plane just doesn’t wear off, in my opinion
• Emirates has a bar at the back of A380 business class, which is a great place to stretch your legs, socialize, and just generally have fun

The cabins on various A380s are different depending on when they were delivered. Some have different finishes, some have different bars, and some have different seats. The cabins are consistent.

You can read a first class review of the A380.

Emirates “new” 777 first class pros & cons

I think the new Boeing 777 is the best first class product in the world. The A380 has six first class suites, and they are better than the six first class suites that the 777 has. They are large, fully enclosed, and have many gadgets, from temperature controls to lighting controls, to the ability to order room service by video.

There isn't a first class product in the world that offers this level of privacy.

What is the downside to the new first class?

• There’s no onboard shower
• There’s no onboard bar
• It’s not ideal if you’re traveling with someone; you have so much privacy that you won’t even really be able to spend time with your travel companion, as there’s no option to dine together, to combine two suites into one, etc.

The new first class cabins on the new 777s are only available on a limited number of routes. A majority of the jets don't have this new first class.

You can read a first class review.

Which Emirates first class product is better?

I can recommend it enough if you haven't flown the new first class. It is a spectacularly good product, and then there is the novelty of it. Let's say you haven't flown either product, or you've flown both products multiple times.

Here is my philosophy on which product to refer to.

• If traveling alone, I’d choose Emirates’ new first class for the huge amount of personal space and unrivaled privacy
• If traveling with someone, I may choose the A380, for the ability to sit together, shower (not necessarily together), and go to the bar; I consider Emirates first class to be the most fun first class product in the sky, and it’s a lot more fun with company, and that’s something you’re giving up with the new first class
• However, if I were traveling with someone in Emirates first class on an overnight flight where I mostly intended to sleep, I’d choose the new first class, as it’s much better for sleeping

There are limited situations where you can choose between the two products. The cabin is hard to come by because only nine of the 250 jets feature the first class.

Bottom line

I love the A380 and the new 777 first class product of the carrier. I think the new first class of the 777 is the best in the world, with an unbelievable amount of privacy and amazing gadgets. The A380 first class has a bar and showers, which are some of the best amenities on planes. If you are traveling with someone and want to enjoy the flight together, the A380 is a great choice.

I'm curious to hear what OMAAT readers think about the first class products of Emirates.