Right now, both. They are being retrofitted currently, so some post-retrofit are 1-2-1 and pre-retrofit are 2-3-2. Think the retrofit programme for the gamechanger aircraft ends in November.

Hi All,

New to EK. Trying to better understand life here.

Looking at possible award booking HND DXB ORD for 2 in late February mid week.

It appears both segments have a 777 with Expert Flyer showing 6 seats (1-1-1) in F.

Does that mean these aircraft have the (what it appears this sub calls) “game changer” F seats?

Any other factors to consider in drilling down to specific aircraft type interior configurations?

Thanks you!

Yes, HND is the game changer F. No guarantees, but HND has been one of the more stable game changer destinations.

There is only one other F seat (although some
will have updated fabrics and newer tech), so no other considerations I can think of.

Issue I see is obviously your odds of getting two award seats on that route are lower (but not impossible) than on “ordinary” F flights that would have eight or 14 seats. But the J on those aircraft (per your post in another thread) will also be what most consider to be the better J product, so not a disaster.

Very helpful, thank you!!

EK404 MEL will get the new F from Mar 30
EK085 ZRH will lose the new F from Mar 30

this also affects EK086 ZRH to DXB?

Yes

Appreciate the heads up. I had planned a trip to ZRH specifically for the new F, will need to recalibrate.

Hi, EK flyers; somewhat new to EK here. We have flights in F between DXB -CPT and JNB - DXB on the 777 with a 1-2-1 configuration. I noticed they blocked two seats and have two fewer seats available in the F/A fare buckets on each flight. Is that for a potential last-minute aircraft change to the 1-1-1 configuration? Our flights are in April.

Unlikely. Suspect that they are blocked as crew seats. On my recent CPT-DXB 77W, there was an EK pilot in one of the seats.

Appreciate the data point. Too bad, but I was being optimistic. They downgraded the aircraft from a 380 to 77W on the JNB-DXB leg a few weeks ago.

Some of us wouldn't consider that a downgrade. I prefer the old First 77W to the A380. Suites are more spacious and 14 pax on a packed A380 is way too many. If you want to guarantee a New First 77W experience, book from ORD which is the only NA gateway that has scheduled New First service. The only downside is the abomination that is ORD T5 but that is survivable if you ignore the disgraceful SAS (contract) Lounge and just park yourself at Rick Bayless' Tortas Frontera, right across from or near the usual EK gate.

Agree, I’d much rather be on a 77W in F (old or new), but I suppose it is also down to how much one flies EK and the appeal / novelty of the 388 shower and bar.

A perfect world would have the smaller and more spacious F cabin on the 77W with the A380 F shower spas (even 1 would suffice and tbh the shower would be nice, but I would be happy with just a larger space) Having such ample room to move around and change clothes comfortably is great.

Next week I am booked HND-DXB-IAH and then IAH-AUS, I can change to HND-DXB-ORD and then to AUS, would you make that change? I have never flown the A380 in first or the game changer.