Emirates First Class
 

I'm considering an Emirates First Class award ticket from Dubai to NYC . It's around 25000 miles more than the biz class award ticket.

Question

1) Will a First Class award ticket give me access to the Emirates First Class lounge in Dubai? Or is that only for revenue FC customers?

2) Is FC really that much better than biz class (this is on theA380)? Emirates Biz Class is excellent as is.

Thanks!

1. Yes, you will have access to the Emirates First Class lounges.
2. First Class has much more privacy, dine on demand, much better wines, much better service and the shower. So yes, in my opinion it is ‘that much better’. Whether it is worth the difference in cash or miles, I cannot say as it is a personal ‘balance’. To me it is not worth the difference in cash anymore (it used to be when there still was an F Saver fare). I have never booked any award ticket, I have several times upgraded J to F with miles which to me is probably the best use of miles. YMMV.

If you're going to spend 138k on business, you might as well spend 163.5k on first. First class on EK is fantastic and this is a long flight where you will be able to enjoy it.

The Shower Spa experience is exclusive to FC and is very nice. So are the FC restrooms. If you have not experienced the A380 FC and the showers, it would probably be the best of your miles (IMO), provided you are able to snag an award seat.

IMO First is significantly better than Business. I value the privacy as well as the shower, really makes a difference landing refreshed. Especially when you're going straight to the office.
It's come to the point that I would only fly EK in F. For J travel I would go with QR.