Emirates Game Changer First Class Review (777-300ER)

Emirates’ Game Changer First Class is one of the rarest tickets in aviation—just eleven Boeing 777-300ER aircraft currently feature these revolutionary Suites.

Step inside and you’ll find floor-to-ceiling privacy doors, customisable lighting and temperature, and even “room service” through a hatch in your Suite. Could this be the ultimate First Class experience in the sky?

If you manage to catch one, you’ll step into a Mercedes-Benz–inspired private Suite with a fully-flat bed, personal mini-bars, and indulgent amenities—including unlimited caviar.

Here’s what the experience was like on my Dubai–Brussels flight.

Flight Details

Route: Dubai – Brussels
Flight No: EK183
Departure Time: 08:30
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
Seats/Suite: 2F & 2A First Class

Check-in

For the early departure, I stayed at the nearby Sofitel and reached Terminal 3 around 06:30.

First and Business have dedicated check-in zones; they were almost empty and I had my boarding pass within a minute. Nothing beats holding an Emirates First Class ticket.

Emirates has recently upgraded the First Class check-in experience a little, so it will look a little more snazzy than here..

I had about an hour to enjoy a light pre-breakfast in the Emirates First Class Lounge (Concourse B).

Boarding

At many airports you can board directly from the lounge, but my flight left from the B gates, so there was still a walk from the lounge to the gate.

By 08:05, boarding was already in full swing. No notes on the process this time—straight down the jetbridge to the good stuff.

Cabin First Impressions

A sharply dressed crew member greeted me at the door, polished and warm.

There were three crew for three passengers in First Class today (almost a 1:1 ratio), which set expectations high.

Stepping through Door 1, the soft cabin glow and the UAE’s national Ghaf tree motif drew my eye. The layout is six Suites in a 1-1-1 configuration, each cocooned with floor-to-ceiling doors—futuristic pods floating within the plane.

I started in Suite 2F (the middle Suite with virtual “windows”, a live external camera feed). The middle Suites also benefit from extra headroom because there’s no fuselage curve.

A crew member suggested 2A—a window Suite—was free, so I decided to dine in 2F and move to 2A for takeoff and sleep. The virtual screens looked a touch pixelated in my Suite, so swapping for real windows made sense.

The control depth is huge, so expect a short learning curve to find your perfect settings. I didn’t snap the leather seat or the in-suite wardrobe this time, see my previous Instagram highlights for a peek.

Suite Highlights (What You Actually Get)

• Mercedes-Benz–inspired leather armchair (NASA “zero-gravity” mode)
• Seat converts to a spacious fully-flat bed
• Armrest storage for glasses and small items
• 32″ HD IFE screen + 13″ tablet controller
• “Room Service” ordering—crew deliver via a hatch without opening your doors
• Dual personal mini-bars (not chilled)
• Pop-up vanity with large mirror & amenities
• Full-size front cabinet fits a large carry-on
• Full-height wardrobe with bedding storage
• Floor-to-ceiling privacy doors
• Electric blinds + curtains
• Dedicated temperature & lighting control panel with scene presets

On balance, this is a hard product that can credibly claim “world’s best” status.

For a space-focused comparison, also see my Singapore Airlines A380 Suites review and Etihad A380 First Class Apartments.

Here’s Suite 2A, my spot for take-off and later, sleep:

Ground service started fast: fresh OJ, champagne, then Arabic coffee and dates.

All before pushback.

We departed on time with classic Dubai skyline views on climb-out.

Amenities

Beyond the in-suite basics…

…I was given the Hydra Active pyjamas (photographed later when changing):

…and a pair of very fluffy slippers.

There’s also a leather amenity kit with toiletries and fragrances—on morning flights, it’s not always offered proactively, but you can request one. For such a premium First Class, I do find the lack of a formal amenity kit rather odd, Etihad offers one on all First Class flights, regardless of time or length.

But in fairness, I didn’t need another Emirates First Class amenity kit; the restrooms had everything required.

Dining & Service

As a morning departure, the focus was breakfast then lunch. Emirates’ First Class menu is generous and updated monthly (see current menus).

Breakfast was the weak link: on shorter flights, it’s mostly cold plates. I sampled granola, fruit, and yogurt—fine, but a hot option (eggs) would elevate it. No big deal; I treated it as a warm-up for lunch.

Lunch was the show: after some quality time with Dom Pérignon, service kicked off with drinks and warm nuts…

…then elegant canapés…

…and the famed champagne & caviar service.

The dining table slides from beneath the console—it’s genuinely restaurant-sized, especially if you’re sharing courses.

Plating has evolved; I preferred the earlier style from a previous Emirates First review, but ingredients were excellent. Egg whites, crème fraîche, garnishes—all fresh; blinis looked quirky but tasted perfect. Warm toast arrived separately so it stayed crisp.

For starters, I chose salmon with Sevruga caviar—a generous portion on sliced courgette.

Mains offered five choices (veal, roast chicken, pumpkin ravioli, etc.). I wavered between poached lobster and lamb kuzi with hashwa; the crew prepped both just in case. I went with the lobster:

Flavours were good but slightly mild; by halfway I was pleasantly defeated. Dessert (a lemon-almond cake I forgot to photograph) was delicious, followed by tea and pralines.

Restrooms

The 777 has two First Class bathrooms for six passengers—a great ratio.

Fresh flowers and essentials (dental kits, etc.) are provided. No A380 shower suite here, there isn’t the space. I never had to wait.

Bed & Sleep

Post-lunch, I asked the crew to make up the bed in Suite 2A while I changed into PJs.

It’s a comfortable bed with mattress pad and quality bedding. In flat mode the bed shifts closer to the window, leaving usable space to walk in/out with the doors closed.

The lighting & temperature controls are dangerously fun:

Pick from a color spectrum or use scenes like “Dining” and “Lounging.”

I spent ~2.5 hours in bed (about 40 minutes actually napping).

Crew checked in occasionally with water, then I moved back to 2F about 30 minutes before landing.

How to Book Emirates Game Changer First

Only nine 777-300ERs currently carry Game Changer, mostly on routes like Dubai–London and Dubai–Brussels with occasional rotations to Zurich/Geneva/Washington/Tokyo, etc. Cash fares often exceed £5k one-way.

Redemptions are possible via Emirates Skywards (Alaska is no longer an option). Example searches for early next year showed:

This exact route priced at 102,000 miles + 1,620 AED (≈ £344). London Stansted also had availability:

If you’re comparing ultra-premium cabins, also read my Singapore Suites A380 review and Etihad A380 Apartments review—useful context before you burn a big pot of miles.

Overall Thoughts

Time flew—always the sign of a special flight. I couldn’t explore every feature on a shorter sector (Tokyo would’ve been ideal), but it still left a big impression. For many years Emirates just stalled this product with just 9 aircraft, but more recently has retrofitted some additional 777’s with these new Suites

The soft product was excellent: three crew for three passengers, polished yet warm. Breakfast was the only miss; lunch and service pacing were outstanding.

As a hard product, Game Changer is the most complete “private cocoon” I’ve flown. Singapore Airlines Suites offers more physical space and the seat-plus-bed novelty, but Emirates’ smarter 2-in-1 design with doors, temperature control, and that service hatch wins me over.

Right now, this is my favourite First Class in the sky.