Which F seats on A380 are preferable for companions flying together? Do the partitions between the middle seats go down, so 2E/2F or 3E/3F can enjoy the flight together, dine together, chitchat? I assume it doesn’t go all the way down to make a double bed because of the design of the seats with the bar and consoles and such.

Yes, they go down far enough for that purpose but not enough to (for instance) hold hands comfortably.
See also my response to your similar question in the ‘New F’ thread.

Booked in F and only middle seats 3EF are available but blocked (bassinet perhaps?). Tried chat on Emirates App but told nothing they can do until check in. Does that sound right? Is there a dedicated first class number I can call? It’s a 13 hr flight to Sydney so we prefer to sit next to each other.
thanks

Yes - ring the standard number, and when asked if it is first or business, push the appropriate button. They will likely allocate the empty seats to you - but does depend on the CSR
Keep checking regularly.
Seats seem to come and go randomly.
I regularly fly EK449/448 to and from AKL, and the seat map can literally go from full to me being the only passenger overnight. And then randomly go to half full the next.
So, it is fair to say that bookings and seat selections in F are fluid up until just before the flight. I have had flights a week out showing as full on the seat map and then there are 3 of us.
It is all very odd.

Well after years of flying EK A380 F and successfully avoiding row 4 (thanks expertflyer!), it seems my luck has finally run out and I will have to sit in 4A later this week JFK-DXB (and unfortunately again in December on the same flight if nothing else opens up).
This flight has been booked full for weeks and no other window seat has opened up. Still a few days to go so fingers crossed, but I'm not expecting anything.

So how bad really is row 4? Is the galley noise that noticeable? Would anyone willingly prefer one of the E/F middle suites over row 4?

For me, way too noisy. Especially 4A since they put carts and other items on that side of the galley. Not only galley noise... constant movement through the curtains. I would definitely opt for a middle suite in rows 2 and 3 especially over anything in row 4.

Agreed. I never book rows 1 or 4.
Rows 2 & 3 are best.

It’s a bit noisy, but you’ll live. It’s not like people emerge from their suites in row 4, shell-shocked with blood dripping from burst eardrums 😂

If there are no other seats available and you have to be on that flight, then it is what it is.

Great assessment! I’ll look for those burst eardrums next time :D. I have never been in either row 1 or row 4. But it seems this is a bit ‘first world problem’ stuff.

I believe it is up to the crew. Sometimes they are chatting near the A Galley and other times near K, and sometimes in the center. So it may not be as noisy depending on where they are sitting. What really disturbed me was the slamming of the meal carts in the space behind the A/K seats. If you are a light sleeper like me who is looking to really catch up on some sleep (and get over jet-lag), it can be really annoying being woken up with a jolt. I decided after a recent 'awful' experience in 4A, that I would rather be in J than in row 4 In F.

Happened to me once. Politely asked them if they could be a bit gentler with securing the carts, they were apologetic and it was markedly better. Perhaps I just got lucky with a decent crew, but wouldn’t consider moving to J before I had a word….

I agree with previous comments. 4A/K tend to be noisy (especially 4A). I would take a seat in a middle pair any day over row 4... My personal ranking if travelling solo on the A380:
- 2A/K and 3A/K (best seats in the house and pretty much the same)
- 1E/F and 2E/F (no windows but still great privacy and well isolated)
- 3E/F (good, but starts getting a little bit of noise from the galley)
- 1A/K (hate being completely exposed to whoever comes back from the washrooms)
- 4A/K (noisy)

Update: Woke up to an ExpertFlyer alert notifying me that 1A opened up, I'll take it!
Another successful avoidance of row 4. Now ideally something in rows 2 or 3 will open up before the flight LOL

I flew DXB-IAH this week and only 4K was available when I booked. Never flown in 4 before and as soon as I sat down, decided that it wasnt the place for me. Thankfully the flight was only 10/14 so I moved to 1F (1E was also vacant). Much more better. I've flown this route 3 times this year and really enjoy it. Crew were excellent as usual. Wifi was up and down like a brides nightie though.

I have a choice of 3 departure times - DXB - SYD - all on A380s and all in 1st class/. 2 are 4-class and one is 3-class. Is there any difference with the 1st seats on the 2 different configurations?
thanks in advance