I Just booked EK 404 in F end of February 2020. Seat map shows 8 seats so it must be the old F. A little disappointed its not the new F. Is there a chance that it will be changed to the new F? Or once the seat map is published it doesn't change? Ok thanks for any insight.

Since there are only about 10 aircraft in the fleet of 250+ that have new F the chance of it having new F is pretty small

There'a always a chance even if the odds are against you. Even the chance it gets downgauged to a 2 Class!

OMG!! READ THIS!!
My travel date from FRA to DXB is 10 Aug 2019, booked on EK46, an A380, today, 30 July 2019 I check the award seat availability, there are award seats on EK44, the B777-300ER with new First Class!! Meaning only 2 weeks to the travel dates, EK will release the award seats!!! OMG!! I am so happy!! Other destinations like BRU, VIE also have award seats within 2 weeks of travel!! So the trick is to book in Business or First Class on another A380 flight first & change flight within 2 weeks of travel!!! HND do not have award seats on First Class on B777, only Business Class:D
FRA has the MOST award seats on all 3 flights, VIE sometimes have sometimes don't have on B777, BRU have 2 B777 flights, so have to book in Business Class first. OMG!! I am so excited!!

Thanks for sharing, but while right now this may be true, perhaps for a few weeks, this isn't necessarily a hard and fast rule at all times, a flight in November or February might not have any released at any point. There have been reports previously of awards on the new F being released relatively short notice, so this ties in with that

Thank you for this. I didn't know and has helped me out rather then leave the trip to the last minute. I don't understand what you mean by book business and change within 2 weeks? Do you mean if you have a ticketed First they release more seats on a 77W flight which are not available normally?

Presumably since F award isn't available, book a J award, then when (if) F becomes available call and change to an F award, for additional miles and possibly taxes/surcharges

Yes, check back 2 weeks before departure date. Choose destinations with BOTH A380 and new B777-300ER like FRA & VIE so you can book First Class on the A380 first. The rest are mostly flown with B777-300ER, so you have to book Business Class first. But still subject to last minute plane swoop. Still not 100% confirm if you can fly on the new First Class but increase to 99%. :D

My advise to you all is choose outstation fly back to DXB better. Since it is outstation, it is easier to track last minute plane swoop. Before the inbound plane lands in FRA, you check flightradar24. If it's not the new First Class you try to ask for later A380 flights. If your flight departs from DXB and you have last minute plane swoop on the day of flight, it is very hard to detect. Can be a case where you check in today is new plane, tomorrow when you fly it change to old plane last minute, like what Qatar Airways likes to do:mad:.

Now I really pray hard no last minute plane swoop!!

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ek44

26 Jul 2019 Frankfurt (FRA) Dubai (DXB) B77W (A6-EPY)
25 Jul 2019 Frankfurt (FRA) Dubai (DXB) B77W (A6-EGF)

I checked flightradar24 for EK44. There were 2 dates in July 2019 that got swooped with 8 seater B777-300ER.

Screenshot from Emirates app seatmap::D
Luckily still have centre seat!! So I can play with the world's first virtual windows on a plane!! And the 2 side mini bars are larger than the window seats.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3366ec685d.jpg

Got this information on https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Emirates
Keep this information on hand & compare it with flightradar24 or google the aircraft registration number with "F6" eg: A6-EQP.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...43c804ee20.jpg

In principle, you're right, however you can of course monitor the seat map. If it's a planned plane swoop it'll cause the seat map to change, so if you're still seeing 6F seatmap you can tell from that. Of course last minute technical or operational swoop could happen (e.g. the original frame assigned is delayed inbound from another station or goes tech)

Is there a way to make sure my aircraft is not swooped away?

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ek44
04 Aug's EK44 is operated by old B777-300ER.:td:
04 Aug 2019Frankfurt (FRA)Dubai (DXB)B77W (A6-EQE)

Booked DXB to VIE for Jan 2020 it does show 6 F seats. on the seat map.
1E cant be selected though ... marked as bassinet seat