Looks like there might be some hope.... another A380 coming to JFK

• As of February 1, 2021, the Dubai to New York route will go from 7x weekly to 14x weekly; the additional frequency will be operated by an A380

The only US A380 service planned in the coming months is between Dubai and New York, on that second daily frequency. While I’d usually be excited about an upgrade from a 777 to an A380, the frequency being replaced by the A380 is also Emirates’ only US route to feature the new 777 first class product, so that’s a shame.

https://onemileatatime.com/emirates-...m=BoardingArea

Agree. Glad that I got to fly JFK-DXB-JFK in New First Suites before the switch.

Any idea to what route the 777 with the new F product will be shifted to?

Schedule change just came out for June. Anyway, Emirates killed the A380 service and replaced it with 777. No clue if new or old first class. This solidifies my decision and will just fly from IAH to DXB.
A380 still on schedule for July.

I check prior to lunch (as I do every morning) for first class seats, had A380 at the 11 pm slot. Now 777...

Also read on blog, Emirates did announce the return of 5th freedom flights starting in June out of the NYC area.

Seat map for EK202, the 11pm JFK-DXB flight now shows New Suites thru June.

How do you see the seat map? Expert Flyer? Do you know of anyone US-based cities (SFO, LAX, DFW) with the new first-class seats for a June departure?

Yes, Expert Flyer.
BTW, I just rechecked JFK-DXB and EK 202 is now showing a New First seat map for the entire month of June, until July 1.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f1733e2464.png

Many thanks... explain why I can't find a First class seat... I guess I will call and try and beg!LOL

So I am still having trouble getting 2 FC tickets on any route from US to DXB for June. The old 777-300 Business is ok, not ideal. Does anyone have any inputs/thoughts on the 777-200 layout being better/worse than the 300? Are all the 200's updated in the 2-2-2 layout? Seats look new(er).

I can catch the 200 from DFW.

All 77L aircraft were updated a few years ago by having F removed and the new 2-2-2 layout fitted in business class. The new seat is said to be more spacious with a mini-bar fitted however in these times I wouldn’t bank on aircraft type remaining as published just now.

We made it to the A380 in F. Cost me a pretty penny in Amex points to make the leap from J to F but so excited to be experiencing the A380 F class.

At any rate, with EK 202 leaving at 11 pm. The menus are out for our trip etc. I am wondering what other travelers have done with regards to dining. I cant imagine I would want to an entire sit down meal (cavier and all) at @1 am NYC time. Just curious as to how others have done things on the dining front.

They advertise the F meal service as ‘what you want, when you want it’ and that’s exactly how it is. If you want a dessert option as a starter and caviar at the end of your meal, that’s perfectly fine, no one will bat an eyelid.

Personally I am sort of ‘traditional’ and have meals at the appropriate times, although with different time zones and body clocks that is sometimes not that straightforward.

I have no experience with that particular route and - to be honest- I have more J than F experience but my advice would be: order whatever you feel like eating.

If you depart from DXB in F, rather eat in the lounge, the food is much better than on board (especially breakfast)

CONGRATS!!!! That's awesome! Not sure if you've flown EK in First before or not, but either way you are gonna love it. My wife and I have flow twice now on EK F and have had the opportunity to fly International long haul first class on many of the world’s greatest products in the sky...EK, TG, SQ, EY, LH and JL. All have been a total experience and we treat it as a vacation in itself. If I were you, you want to experience all of it from the lounges, pre-flight, inflight dining, inflight drinks, fully flat bed at 40k feet...and on and on. So, what we usually do is if my flight were departing at 11pm, I would purposely change my sleep schedule a bit or get a really good nap in the day of so at 11pm my body is thinking it's actually 11am. That way we can enjoy a full 5-7 course meal for 3 hours or so, then get a 2-4 hour sleep, wake up and get a 3 course breakfast. For us it all part of the experience. A lot of folks on here will think I'm nuts, and that’s ok, I know what we enjoy, and I know that I plan and save points just for times like these. The only real downside to the 11pm flight and trying to get in the full meal experience is that the cabin will be dimmed for the other pax, not really an issue as you are still able to enjoy your suite as you wish, but I always wish they'd just leave the lights on, everyone already has the eye masks so what’s the point??

Not sure if I read it, but are you gonna have a layover in DXB? Think I read the F lounge is closed at the moment??? Maybe they'll get it open by the time your there, but it is impressive to say the least. Again, a lot of folks don't like it because it's so dang big and open, but I loved the seclusion and privacy. Anyway, congrats again on sticking with it and finding the tickets, enjoy the flight!!!

As others have said, it's completely on-demand, although the way the menus are structured you are slightly coerced into that arrangement, and typically I do just go with that flow particularly at the beginning of the flight when crew are busy. Later on, during the middle of the cruise, I am more likely to go off piste.

There's nothing to stop you digging into just the caviar at 1am if that's what floats your boat, although the menu suggests starting with breakfast. As well as the caviar, I'm quite a fan of the Arabic Mezze. In recent years, I've tended to go more for things that reheat well such as curries rather than, say, steak, although curries are often not the attractive to look at on the plate. It's also not unusual for me to ask if they have ice cream from down the back.

My standard MO on a flight of this length is to eat & imbibe until I drop off, then wake up a few hours later, & rinse and repeat.

As well as the Dom Perignon, the wines are as good as it gets in any First class: one of my favourite wines, Y d'Yquem, was on once, I completely changed my food menu choice based on the wine. Hennessy Paradis at $1k/btl, you have to try: it's not really my cup of tea, but I like to get my money's worth. Get the crew to make you a classic cocktail too, although Espresso Martinis are mostly miss rather than hit IME.

As for the bar on board the Emirates A380, I can take it of leave it, but sometimes it's nice for a change of scenery. I prefer the Qatar A380 bar and the older Virgin on board bars where I find it more convivial for passengers who've never met before to chat to each other: the bar on the Emirates A380 is a bit too small to congregate around IMHO without blocking out other passengers looking for a fill up.

The shower is mostly a bit of a gimmick, although in the case of IRROPs, when you might not get chance for to freshen up during your connection, they are a godsend. Of course, it is a rite of passage too.

Unfortunately you now have a problem. Once you have tasted the forbidden fruit, you will never want to travel any other way.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...20975c18ae.jpg

Please be aware that although in my experience the F food is ok, it’s certainly not ‘fine dining’ quality. The presentation and the service are excellent. Some of the meal choices are identical as in J, but better presented. And there are one or two additional options.
When it get to the wines though, it is an entirely different kettle of fish. Of course there is the Dom champagne, but there are often very very good choices (especially reds in my experience) on the wine list. On few occasions it’s not spectacular, but generally this is what makes EK First special.