A step up from your average economy: Flying Emirates' A380 from Dubai to Johannesburg
A smooth on-the-ground and inflight experience with a phenomenal media system, comfortable seats and diligent service combine to make Emirates a step up from the average long-haul economy experience.
Pros
- Flying aboard the world's largest commercial aircraft with one of the best carriers is a thrilling experience, even for non-AvGeeks.
- Emirates' inflight entertainment system is the industry standard bearer with large, high-resolution screens and thousands of content offerings.
- An overall sense of space, light and cleanliness in the Airbus A380 cabin, despite passenger density.
Cons
- No power outlets in certain seats and Wi-Fi may be too slow and restrictive for some passengers' needs.
- Standard legroom, which is challenging for taller folks, especially those confined to the middle seats between two aisles.
- The final meal before landing was disappointing and insubstantial, especially given that it was well over five hours after the main meal service.
Emirates is renowned for its luxe first-class suites with access to onboard spa-style showers and loungelike cocktail bars and, arguably, the finest service in the sky. The Dubai-based airline also has the largest fleet of four-engine A380-800 aircraft — the world's biggest passenger plane. Even for the most jaded flyers, traveling on a colossal, double-decker jet isn't your run-of-the-mill experience. Indeed, in recent years, most of my long-haul journeys have been operated by Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner aircraft, so I was curious to compare the overall experience and level of comfort of those wide-bodied jets to the A380-800.
And how would the airline's economy service compare to what folks in premium cabins enjoy? That's what I was eager to find out on a recent flight from Dubai to Johannesburg.
How much does economy class cost to book on Emirates?
My Dubai-to-Johannesburg flight was part of a 17-night, multicity trip originating in Chicago. Since I wasn't flush with Skywards miles, booking a one-way ticket for the nonstop eight-hour, 10-minute flight was my most cost-effective option. The flight departed at 9:55 a.m. and arrived at 4:15 p.m., all local times.
Here's a snapshot of average airfares (based on return fares) and mileage redemption requirements on flights from Dubai to Johannesburg over the coming year.
| Economy (Saver) | Economy (Flex) | Flex Plus | Business | First class | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airfare | $735-$996 (round-trip) | $958-$1,116 (round-trip)
Business upgrade: 60,840 Skywards miles each way | $1,448-$1,606 (round-trip)
Business upgrade: 46,000 Skywards miles each way | $3,768-$5,922 (round-trip)
First-class upgrade: From 46,800 Skywards miles each way | $9,009 (round-trip) |
| Skywards miles | 23,750-41,250 + $117 (each way) | N/A | N/A | 57,000-91,500 + $411 | 108,000 + $411 |
My one-way, Economy Flex fare cost $620, which included complimentary seat selection and checked bags but carried restrictive cancellation and refund policies. I selected Seat 56G, an aisle seat toward the front of the economy cabin in the center section.
On Emirates' mid-haul A380s, the entire lower level of the plane is economy seating, spanning rows 41 to 88 in a 3-4-3 configuration, with stairs at the front and rear to access the upper deck. The airline's newer and retrofitted four-class A380s have eight rows of 2-4-2 premium economy seats at the front of the lower deck replacing some of those economy seats.
Related: Emirates is bringing premium economy to the Boeing 777
Here's a look at what inclusions economy passengers on Emirates can expect based on the fare they book.
| Economy (Saver) | Economy (Flex) | Flex Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Checked baggage | Two bags up to 23 kilograms (about 50 pounds) each (complimentary) | Two bags up to 23 kilograms each (complimentary) | Two bags up to 23 kilograms each (complimentary) |
| Seat selection | At a charge | Complimentary | Complimentary |
| Business upgrades | (After check-in) 86,000 Skywards miles | 60,840 Skywards miles | 46,800 Skywards miles |
| Change fee | Restricted ($78 + fare difference) | Restricted ($65 + fare difference) | No charge |
| Refund fee | Before departure, $119; not permitted after departure | $107; no-show penalty, $201.47 | No charge |
Skywards status
Emirates offers four elite status tiers in its Skywards loyalty program, starting at Blue (general members) and up through top-tier Platinum.
Since my flights with Emirates are few and far between, I have entry-level Blue status, which affords only basic benefits, including upgrades using Skywards during check-in. If you have Silver status and above you are considered "elite" and will receive complimentary lounge access (though to which lounges depends on your tier) and priority check-in.
Gold and Platinum members receive perks like guaranteed seats on full flights and priority baggage delivery. Platinum status also provides first- and business-class lounge access in Dubai and at other lounges in the Emirates network.
Blue: Entry-level member
Silver: 25,000 tier miles or 25 flights
Gold: 50,000 tier miles or 50 flights
Platinum: 150,000 tier miles and at least one qualifying flight in business or first class.
Related: Complete guide to the Emirates Skywards loyalty program
Checking in and boarding Emirates A380 economy
When I checked in via the Emirates app 24 hours before departure, I was offered a business-class upgrade for $1,675 (it was around $2,800 at the time of booking, a month earlier). I skipped that, and even though I checked in via the app, I still needed to go to the check-in desk to show my passport and pick up my boarding pass.
Due to the sheer capacity of the A380, I was bracing myself for long lines at check-in and security. But with four check-in zones and 10 check-in desks at each zone, I waited just seven minutes to get my boarding pass and check my bag, then 10 minutes to get through security.
My gate, C21, was around a 12-minute walk from security, and boarding began around 45 minutes before our scheduled takeoff time. There was plenty of seating and a relaxed atmosphere with many passengers strolling over to take in the view of our jumbo aircraft parked at the gate, which is a pretty compelling sight.
Emirates is known for its international flight crews, and there were 17 flight attendants from 13 countries on my flight.
They remained poised, professional and friendly, despite a rather hectic boarding experience with passengers attempting to commandeer different seats from those they had been assigned, clambering at times over fellow passengers and jockeying for overhead bin space, which on the A380 is pretty abundant thanks to bins running down both the sides and center of the cabin.
How comfortable was economy on Emirates?
| Number of seats | 427 |
|---|---|
| Cabin layout | 3-4-3 |
| Seat pitch | 32 inches |
| Seat recline | 3-4 inches |
| Seat width | 18 inches |
| Screen size | 13.3 inches |
The main difference in terms of economy seat specifications between Emirates' 777 aircraft and the A380 is the extra 1 inch of seat width (18 inches versus 17 on the 777). However, the legroom (a standard 32 inches) and seat recline (3-4 inches) are identical. The cabin width on an A380 is 2 feet more than on a 777, and with economy seats extending right into the nose of the plane, it did immediately feel more spacious upon boarding.
My seat's functionality was impressive overall. There was a bi-fold tray table (approximately 11 inches by 16 inches) which just about accommodated my 13-inch laptop — attempting to eat or drink at the same time would become a challenge, though — and a convenient separate cupholder.
I was able to safely stow my laptop in a horizontal position (avoiding seat recline damage from the passenger in front) in the seat pocket, and fit everything else I'd need in there (books, chargers, water) to avoid having to access the overhead bin during the flight.
Once the person in front of me reclined their seat, my laptop screen's right angle made working pretty tricky, so I quit and turned to the media offerings to pass the time.
The seat's cushioning felt pretty standard for an economy fixture. The padded headrest could be adjusted significantly to cradle your head, which seemed an especially popular feature among passengers who were trying to sleep once the cabin lights were dimmed right after the meal service.
I'm just 5 feet, 4 inches tall, so legroom isn't too much of a concern for me, but my over-6-foot-tall neighbor had his legs pressed up against the seat in front of him (and looked pretty uncomfortable) for the entire eight-hour flight. Once the passenger in front of me reclined her seat, and my middle-seat neighbor assumed ownership of the armrest (as he should), I did start to feel a little claustrophobic.
Related: 9 ways to not be an annoying airline passenger
I had a USB outlet and audio output in the seatback, but strangely no power outlet, which was the same for all G seats in economy (and those designated C and K from what I could tell walking around the cabin). So, to charge my devices I would need to rely on the kindness of my middle-seat neighbor. The positioning of the power outlet meant that my cable would dangle across his tray table, so in the end I didn't charge anything at all, which would have been extremely frustrating if I'd wanted to work the entire flight, or if my phone battery had run low.
Wi-Fi was available for the duration of the flight for $16.99. Emirates advertises the typical bandwidth on board as between 1 and 5 Mbps, which means download speeds are fine for messaging, emails and working with Google Docs (in my case), but video streaming services are blocked.
Given all the entertainment options (more on that later), I wasn't concerned, but this could be an issue for some passengers.
Amenities in Emirates economy
Waiting on my seat when I boarded was a blanket, pillow and headset. The fleece blanket and pillow were rather thin, coarse and flimsy, which would have been more of an irritation if it had been a chilly night flight.
The over-ear headphones were definitely a step up from other airlines' standard economy offerings. Even after several hours of use, I found them comfortable and better at canceling out cabin noise than the ubiquitous, disposable earbuds provided by most carriers.
What really defined this flight experience, though, was the 13.3-inch display and staggering (5,000-plus titles) selection of everything from the latest movies to podcasts, games, TV and music — Emirates' ICE media system offers the most inflight content of practically any airline.
In addition to eight channels of live TV, there were hundreds of on-demand shows (like "The White Lotus" and "Succession"), which, in case you missed them, you could binge for the whole flight.
As well as the large touchscreen display, each system featured a remote that you could use to control the entertainment instead.
The bathrooms felt slightly larger than most economy cabin facilities I've experienced, and were more inviting thanks to wooden design elements. They were also kept very clean throughout the flight. The lower deck was equipped with 10 lavatories, so I didn't wait at all during the entire flight. The facilities also were stocked with premium amenities including lotion and fragrance spray, and there was also a 110-volt power outlet. The only thing that could have improved them would be more touchless functionality, for instance to flush the commode or to dispense hand soap.
How was the food in Emirates economy?
Approximately one hour into the flight, flight attendants came through the cabin with the lunchtime meal service. No paper menus were handed out, but the crew asked passengers for their choice of either chicken with brown rice or salmon and yellow rice. I opted for the salmon, which wasn't the most inspired presentation, but it tasted just fine, if a little dry and bland — it could have benefitted from an extra side of the creamy dill sauce.
Both entrees came with a coleslaw salad with raisins and pomegranate (the highlight), a seeded roll with Lurpak butter, a Jacob's cream cracker and cheddar cheese, a dark chocolate square, mixed nuts, and a profiterole-style dessert. There was also a choice of complimentary red wine (French cabernet) or white wine (French sauvignon blanc). It was certainly above average for economy-class food and there was enough variety and large enough serving sizes on the tray to feel nourished.
There was another drink service midway through the flight. Around 90 minutes before landing, flight attendants served a choice of either a falafel sandwich or ham and cheese. I really love Middle Eastern food, but the falafel sandwich had a mealy consistency and lack of spice and seasoning, so I didn't have more than a bite or two. I was hungry, though, so I ate the packaged chocolate brownie, which was delicious, but they are pretty hard to mess up.
Final thoughts on Emirates economy
Normally, when I'm traveling long-haul in economy (which is most of the time), I'm clock-watching and trying to pass the time as quickly as possible with work, books and movies. That wasn't the case with this eight-hour daytime flight, though.
As the operator of some of the world's longest flights, Emirates has definitely honed the art of onboard amenities and entertainment, even in its economy cabins. The smooth flight conditions, bright and spacious cabin, excellent inflight entertainment and friendly flight attendants all made the journey feel much shorter and more enjoyable than other recent long-haul flights that I've taken on U.S. and European carriers.
While there were certainly a few drawbacks, such as my seat's lack of its own power outlet and a lackluster final meal service — not to mention an overall lack of personal space that's common to economy travel — I was surprised at just how much I enjoyed the flight. Given the option, I wouldn't hesitate to book Emirates in the future and, in light of this experience, I'll also be looking for ways to earn Skywards miles to snag those aspirational business- and first-class seats.