Get value for money in Emirates First Class: bottomless champagne and endless caviar

Emirates First Class is one of the most special experiences in the air.

After all, you pay for suites with closing doors, all-you-can-eat caviar, all-you-can-drink champagne, meals on demand, moisturizing pajamas, and even an onboard shower.

No wonder Emirates First Class tickets between Dubai and the US typically cost over $10,000 one way.

However, in September you can book a one-way ticket from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) via Dubai International Airport (DXB) for a (relatively) cheap total of $3,168. I was.

The first leg will take you on an Airbus A380, equipped with Airbus’ old but stunning first class suites. In the second segment, I finally got the chance to review Emirates’ innovative new first class suite on board the Boeing 777 I’ve wanted to ride for years.

When I learned about my excessive travel, some of my colleagues at The Points Guy taunted me to “get my money back” on one of my flights. I figured it would be around $1,584 since both legs were about the same duration at just under 7 hours for him.

I was intrigued. Can you gobble up enough Dom Pérignon or enough caviar to cover your airfare? How can you put a price tag on showering at a height of 39,000 feet? what happened to

As I was writing a full review for my second flight, I decided to do the ‘get your money back’ round on the A380 flight from Bangkok to Dubai. I made a plan by researching the price of each item and amenity that I could enjoy on board.

The day of my flight, everything went like clockwork. We counted the cost of each sip of champagne, each bite of filet mignon, each bubble of Voya Spa products in the washroom.

Was it a little crude? without a doubt. But what’s the most fun thing you’ve ever flown? Absolutely.

Even the flight attendants were in on the game and always on hand to pour another glass of dom…to help with my running tally, of course.

Here are the results, without further ado. Just drinking Hennessy Paradis cognac ($1,500 a bottle) didn’t put the weight back on.

Get your money back with Emirates First Class

Drinking and eating, nickel and dimming

If you’re interested in how I did it, here are some highlights and a table summarizing the value of each.

Breakfast in lounge: $20

Before my flight, I stopped by the Emirates lounge at Suvarnabhumi Airport for an omelet, fruit plate, pineapple juice, sparkling water and cappuccino.

Bulgari Amenity Kit: $130

Emirates First Class passengers are treated to a luxurious amenity kit filled with the finest Bvlgari products, including Le Gem Line Tiger cologne, aftershave and moisturizer. After looking online for similarly priced items at department stores, I found that my kit was worth well over $100.

Dom Pérignon 2003 P2: $300 ($100 per glass)

Dom Pérignon P2 (P stands for Plenitude) is a limited edition champagne. The Maison owns a small number of bottles from a very special vintage, aged for an additional 15 years to increase complexity and character. Each bottle retails for about $600…and I drank about 3 (but not all) during the flight. All for the challenge, of course.

Unlimited caviar (and fixtures): $350

Emirates offers Gourmet House Caviar in Royal Doulton’s Fine Bone China in First Class, and passengers can request as much as they like. I estimated I got about 3 ounces and all the fixings for $80-$100 each, so I rounded it up to $350 for the beautiful presentation.

Hennessy Paradis Cognac: $150

Available only to First Class passengers, Hennessy Paradis is one of the most famous cognacs in the world. In fact, it’s a blend of various eau-de-vies between 30 and 130 years old, retailing at around $1,500 per bottle of his. I returned the large pour to the bar and estimated it was $150 worth of spirits. Every drop is worth it!

Meze and Filet Mignon: $130

My main meal started with a rather large mezze platter worth about $30 (based on a restaurant where I just had a similar spread). This is followed by juicy cuts of filet mignon with mushroom sauce, potatoes and asparagus. I had to order everything at the steakhouse.

Chardonnay, Shiraz, Bordeaux, Oh My: $120

With my meal, I tried Howard Park Allingham Chardonnay from Western Australia, Clarendon Hills Astralis Shiraz from South Australia, and Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande and it was well worth another $120.

Dessert, Port, Sauternes: $110

What, did you think I was done? i am a pro!

I ordered a crunchy, custard peach crostata and a cheese plate with a few slabs of dairy. And for pairing? A glass of Bordeaux’s Château d’Iquem Sauternes, his one of the world’s most famous dessert wines, and Sandemann’s 40-year-old Sandemann, his Tawny Port. What an ending.

Moisturizing Pajamas: $110

In 2016, Emirates introduced the so-called Hydra Active Moisturizing Pajamas in First Class, and in 2018 it launched them in physical stores. I looked it up in his store on Emirates online and couldn’t find it anymore even though it was advertised. At 200 UAE dirhams (about $55) per piece, I calculated $110 for the set. Interestingly, the Emirates Store US site has a different set of Hydra Active pajamas priced at $55, but these are different than the cowl neck ones I got, hence the higher price. I am persistent.

Boya Spa Set: $80

Next, it was time for a quick rinse in one of the plane’s two on-board showers. The experience of bathing at high altitude is, if you ask me, irreplaceable. But what I was able to monetize was a set of Ireland-based Voya spa products arranged for passenger use. I have priced $80 for a similar travel kit I found online.

Moleskine notebook and pen: $20

It may not seem like a big deal, but I swiped a Moleskine notebook and an Emirates pen from the suite’s console (to document the experience) and added another $20 to the tab. What did you forget to grab? Console vanity Byredo skin care products. I also skipped the chips and candy, including gourmet Lakrids by my favorite Bulow Danish licorice, which were stocked in the suite’s minibar. next time!

Airport Escort and Chauffeur Service: $130

This is not a guaranteed amenity, but like other first class passengers on my flight, I was greeted by an airport escort when I stepped off the plane. He guided me past arrivals, through immigration and customs priority lines, and to the airline’s chauffeur desk in minutes. From there, he was able to ride a BMW 7 Series to his resort, a beach about an hour away. Based on the price of his VIP service at Dubai airport and the price of a taxi from the resort back to the airport, these two services he puts together for $130.

Total: $1,650

Mission complete! He surpassed his goal of making money on flights by nearly $70. And no matter how much fun it was, it wasn’t easy, I know it will be a while before I have another scoop of caviar, but soon Don He will have another glass of Perignon P2 You can drink it.

Aside from the sheer (and sheer fun) value for money you get from the flight, the amazing suites with buttery leather recliners and huge in-flight entertainment system, the friendliness of the crew (and my weird Their willingness to accommodate all requests )) and the sheer satisfaction of being able to have a truly luxurious experience is something I will pass on to others for the rest of my life.

Alternatively, you can watch the video to see the point at which I realized I may have eaten too much caviar.

Want to experience more luxury in the sky? Check out these recent flight reviews.