I flew on Emirates First Class a few weeks ago from Australia to Dubai (so not impacted by the recent rains), and I finally got to check out the refreshed A380. Before I go on, I should preface by saying that First class wasn't full, tthe food was excellent, and overall journey was smooth. It did feel like the crew were hesitant when I spoke with them for a drink or I asked a question on this leg which was surprising.

However on two seperate occasions, I pushed the call attendant button, and no one came for around 10 minutes. At first I assumed the call button might be broken, but on other occasions when they pushed the button, they were at the seat very quickly. On the other 2 times, I literally had to flag down someone who was walking past to get what I needed (in the first case, I couldn't figure out how where to grab a blanket, the other time, all I wanted was a glass of water). Surely this wait time isn't normal?

On my second leg flight (seperate flight to the above), the crew were incredible. They were literally at my seat within 10 seconds of my pushing the call button and they were very friendly, probably some of the best Emirates crew i've had on a flight.

I didn't make a fuss of it on the flight (I hate confrontation), but I thought about it for a while then sent Emirates my feedback but their response was very lacklusture. It's been quite a few years since I flew FIrst Class with Emirates, but have others have any similar experiences? Very much a First (Class) World problem, but i'm curious to hear more.

It's a mixed bag - some crews are brilliant and some others not so much ...... In general, I find the service on the 777 better than on the 380 simply because of fewer pax in F - but, if you say it wasn't so busy it's obviously down to the crew and they were so so.....

I have rarely found the call button in F to be of any use after a couple of hours into the flight after most pax have eaten and are trying to sleep and the lights are off (and the crew is busy chatting in the galley). I now just simply walk to the back and speak with the cabin crew. Makes it so much faster and less frustrating. Its one of the quirks of flying F on the A380 especially on ULH flights.

Yes I have noticed on many occasions that I have to ring the call button a few times before the crew notices, especially in the middle of the flight.

It's funny you say that because the 2nd flight was a 777, full, and the service/experience with the crew was better (even if the plane is not).

The last F I flew before this was Etihad and their service (while less friendly, aimed more at 'polish') was far superior in terms of call times.

Emirates response to my email was 'we're surprised to hear you were dissapointed, our crews are amazing' - pharaphrasing, but it came off as quite condecending.

Just overall dissapointed by those two experiences.

This is not typical, but it can happen. Appreciate you don’t like confrontation and that’s fair enough. The real answer here would have been to talk to the head purser — it would have been taken seriously.

By and large, I've found the service on the 777 to be faultless 99.99 percent of the time ...... The odd flight, you can have say a rookie crew or someone forgetting the Melba toast for your caviar !!!

777 service is way better - 3 crew for 6 or 8

There is no consistency across any of the cabins, any type of aircraft or status. It�s a crew lottery every time you fly, shouldn�t be but it is.

I disagree and based on my not insignificant sample size (c.40 EK F flights over last couple of years) I agree with the above comments that 777 service is better than A380 in F on average.

Im telling you 380 is a lottery- 77w is nailed on - never had a bad 777 flight - Beijing / Tokyo very very good

Is Beijing and Tokyo your only reference to this? I agree the cabin size helps for a better service on the 777 but the reason for the question is that I find Asian crew tend to provide a lot better service.

I almost always get better service DXB-BKK than MAN/LHR/LGW/STN - DXB regardless of aircraft type.

I only do TUN two or three times a year now but that is probably the most appalling route in terms of service and that�s always been 777.

gva the other week as well, I�ve done a lot of f flights, 777 consistently better

Well due to an equipment swap I�ve got back to back a380/777 F flights next week and both cabins are looking pretty full, will see how it goes..

My 777 was DXB - JNB (Jo'burg), and even that was faultless. Weird how the A380 crew can vary SO much.