Categories: Aviation ExperiencesFrequent FlyerIn The Spotlight

Cheapest Way To Book Emirates First Class

Emirates 777 Gamechanger First

Emirates has long basked in the prestige of its iconic Airbus A380 and its opulent First Class, which debuted in 2008 and, remarkably, still serves as its flagship offering today. This luxurious suite helped define Emirates’ brand identity and Emirates continues to ride on it’s halo affect —even as its Business Class lags behind, teetering on the edge of being uncompetitive in 2025.

While most A380s are receiving retrofits, the upgrades are more akin to a fresh coat of paint & reupholstering than a true upgrade, with the First Class Suites and decade-old Business Class largely unchanged.

That said, Emirates First Class as a whole remains a bucket-list experience, an aspirational product that still captures the imagination of travellers worldwide..

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What To Expect With Emirates First Class

There are many things that are intangible about flying a truly luxurious First Class product – it can be all about a feeling, but here are objective perks you can quantify:

Exclusive private chauffeur service ( Mercedes Benz S Class )
Superb lounges with al la carte menus + attentive waiter service
Free spa treatments in its own Lounges
Endless flow of Dom Perignon ( usually 2008 ),
Unlimited Caviar
Over the top high end amenity kit by Bvlgari with various lotions and potions to fragrances
Supremely comfortable hydro-active moisturising Pyjamas
Glamorous onboard bar with top First Class self
Heated marbled floor on-board shower spa
Plush bedding when you want to sleep
In-suite bar/snacks
and much much more..

freshen up within emirates first class suite

It is one hell of a way to fly. And to this day, very very few other airlines can match.

There is just one slight problem, it will COST you!

For many ordinary folk who are not actively playing the points game ( for those of us based in Europe !), it may seem out of reach. But it really isn’t…

Emirates First Class Pricing

You can book Emirates First Class outright in cash, upgrading in Cash from Business class or book or upgrade with miles.

Booking Emirates First with Cash

Keeping in line with the general trend in airfares, Emirates First Class fares have shot up considerably over the last few years.

Looking at London-Dubai it is consistently over £7000 pounds return through to end of schedule..

Emirates First Class London to Dubai Price

Though for “only” a thousand more – you might as well fly to Mauritius, Hong Kong, Singapore or Tokyo for double the pleasure !

What are the cheapest Emirates First Class Fares?

In most cases the cheapest routes were/still are fifth-freedom routes !

For many years, it was possible to book Emirates First Class for around £450-500 between Bangkok and Hong Kong. The flight timings are under 3 hours to Hong Kong and just over from. This gives you plenty of time to enjoy a full Emirates First Class meal service, a few drinks and maybe even swing a quick cat nap !

This Bangkok to Hong Kong route is not so cheap anymore.. the best I can currently see is £1200 return or 768-800 one-way.

Christchurch to Sydney a similar 3 hour flight can be booked for £767 one-way but in the other direction it shoots up to over £2000!

Bogota to Miami is a new Fifth freedom flight ( only flying the inferior 777 product ) these prices run north of 2k too !

This is all good but I want to experience Emirates First Class to it’s fullest – enjoying multiple meals, a proper shower at 40,000 feet and the incredible First Class lounges in Dubai?!

Emirates Premium Economy Cabin Stairs To First Class

Well there are some fares still out there that won’t break the bank. You can fly

Kuala Lumper to London for just around £3000 one-way currently. This gives you two different First Class flights between 6 and half to 7 and half hours! At £1500 per sector, I’d say it’s a pretty good deal !

For a different kind of trip:

Athens to Cape Town one-way is bookable for £3500 – the first sector here is only 4 hours but the second sectors is over 8 hours giving you enough time to enjoy a good meal and shower/sleep on the way to the mother city.

Booking With Emirates Skywards Miles

This is how the majority of the vloggers fly Emirates First the majority of the time with heightened bragging rights comparing to insane highest one-way cash fares that no-one ever would pay.

In the last two years however Emirates has drastically increased the tax/surcharges associated with these award tickets as well as the number of miles required for each route.

Award seat availability can also be a challenge. Emirates does not guarantee any First Class seats being available for redemption at all !

There is still some good value sweet spots, despite this:

Bangkok to Hong Kong / Singapore to Phnom Penh

To redeem miles for First Class on these routes, it will cost 45,000 Miles + SGD 143.90 / 800 HKD – which should be attainable for most folk.

Emirates First Class Pricing Awards on Bangkok Hong Kong Route

HKG to BKK is probably the best value as its over 3 hours.

If you want to do it within Europe there is a rather surprising option:

Malta To Larnaca

This route would also cost just 45,000 Miles + EUR 19.70

The CHEAPEST Emirates First Class with miles?

You can book Emirates First Class between Kuwait/Riyadh and Dubai one-way for just 34,500 miles – the caveat? These flights are under 2 hours !

Cheapest Way To Book Emirates First Class Award to Riyadh

Availability on same dates can be rather good on this route with multiple departures showing bookable seats!

In two hours you can still enjoy a decent meal and service onboard. Plus, being able to start in Dubai means you can also some good lounge time more than double your flight hours !

Some other Medium and Long-haul options:

A one-way award between Dubai & Delhi will cost you 63,000 + AED 955
A one-way award between Miami t& Bogota will cost you 60,500 Skywards miles
A one-way award between Europe and Dubai will cost you 102,000 Skywards miles
A one-way award from New York to Milan or Newark to Athens will cost you 102,000 Skywards miles
A one-way award from Washington to Dubai will cost you 163,500 miles

Emirates Game Changer First Class

Emirates did introduce a brand new and more modern First Class product marketed as the Game Changer First Class back in 2018.

Unfortunately 7 years on, Emirates still only has this product on just 9 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Emirates Change Changer First Class Cabin

The only route these aircraft seem to be flying to is one London rotation and then Brussels and Tokyo Haneda

If you want to fly it, you can track the frames to see where they are flying now:

Overall Thoughts

17 years since Emirates Airlines launched it’s Airbus A380 and lavish First Class product, it is rather remarkable that this product still holds so much appeal. Rather strange still, Emirates is retro-fitting A380’s, yet not putting in the new Game Changer product in to go top it up with the A380 showers and bar.

Nevertheless, these A380s are still one of the most incredible ways to experience First Class. While many airlines now have far superior ( consistent ) First Class Suites these days, Emirates still provides the most over the top/extravagant service overall!

For what it’s worth, I do think it’s better to save a little more to fly a long haul route, it’s great to have the short haul options if you think you may never be able to acquire 100,000’s of miles or spend £3k for a one-way journey.

To see what my experiences with Emirates First Class were like see:

Emirates Game-changer First Class from Dubai to Brussels

Emirates A380 First Class Dubai to Singapore

Emirates 777 Classic First Class from Beirut to Dubai

Faze

Faze, founder of Wander Up Front and Elevate Your Stay, is a London-based travel specialist with a deep passion for aviation. With over 2 million miles flown, he has spent the last 7 years focusing on First and Business class experiences.

Faze provides straightforward, no-frills insights into premium airline products and services, sharing what matters to help travellers make informed choices.

Follow him on his adventures and behind the scene stories on Instagram !