Emirates First Class Lounge Review, Dubai Airport

Posted By Jon Nickel-D'Andrea on Jan 8, 2020 | 4 comments

Mention the Maldives and images of pristine turquoise blue waters come to mind. Overwater bungalows with direct jump-in access to the water and romantic sunsets are commonplace in this island paradise.

While it’s on almost everyone’s wish list, getting there can be a challenge. Flights are often ridiculously expensive and once you DO get to the islands, a barrage of expensive hotels with overpriced meals await. Never mind the flight distance involved, those expensive factors are enough to turn some people off and have them looking for cheaper destinations.

Lonely Palm Tree

Getting to paradise and back doesn’t have to cost a fortune. We booked a ridiculous, normally unattainable luxury vacation valued at almost $46,000 for a grand total of $1,818… for two people!

Considering that’s usually the price of a regular coach class ticket to the Maldives, that’s one heck of a steal.

In the series of posts to follow, we’re going to walk you through all the experiences that we enjoyed on this trip. While most people would consider this once-in-a-lifetime, with just a little legwork and dedication you can have a luxury getaway to make Instagram followers drool with envy.

• Part 1 – Introduction and Planning
• Part 2 – Flights to London and Hamilton
• Part 3 – Refined Luxury London’s St Pancras Renaissance Hotel
• Part 4a – The House Lounge, London Heathrow
• Part 4b – Etihad First Class Apartment LHR-AUH
• Part 4c – Etihad First Class Lounge, Abu Dhabi
• Part 4d – A340 Etihad to Male, Flight Review
• Part 5 – A day in the life of Male, Capital City
• Part 6 – St Regis Airport Lounge
• Part 7 – The St Regis Hotel Arrival Experience
• Part 8 – Overwater Villa, $3000/night for FREE
• Part 9 – Things to do at the St Regis Maldives
• Part 10 – Free Breakfast at the St Regis Maldives
• Part 11 – How to not go broke eating in the Maldives
• Part 12 – Snorkeling at the St Regis Maldives
• Part 13 – Male Airport VIP experience
• Part 13b – Male Leeli Airport Lounge
• Part 14 – Emirates First Class Male to Dubai
• Part 15 – Dubai Transit Hotel – Amazing Value
• Part 16 – Emirates First Class Dubai to Los Angeles
• Part 17 – Conclusion and Giveaway

The First Class lounge in Dubai International Airport, and to a certain extent the Business Class lounge as well, have no equal in the world. The lounge doesn’t simply encompass a room or a few rooms. It is literally the entire length of the terminal occupying one floor each. Business class gets their own floor and First class gets their own floor.

The products and services differ for each level and even include amenities like a spa, a private duty free shop, and laundry services.

When we left the Dubai International Hotel and headed to the terminal, we decided that it would be a good idea to have a bite to eat. While there were plenty of options in the airport itself, the First Class lounge has a private, 5 start fine dining experience all for free in the lounge.

The six first class elevators for the First Class lounge was in the middle of the terminal, one floor for first and one for business.

We were granted immediately entry by showing our First Class boarding passes.

Each gate has their own mini lounge. We were leaving out of gate A9 and so we headed to the mini restaurant and lounge for gate A9.

Yes, you read that correctly, each gate has their OWN LOUNGE.

The restaurant at gate A9 (and connecting to A11) has a very large seating area with white linen napkins and proper silverware. Note, there are real forks and knives, not some quasi plastic compostable mess that you get here in the lounges in the USA.

Food Options

The cold breakfast options consisted of yogurt, fruits, and a coconut sago. A full breakfast comes with eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, sausages, and hash browns.

You could also go with prepared meals of foul medames, houmous, chicken congee, aloo bhaji, Scottish kipper, boiled eggs or porridge.

Looking for something sweeter? How about French toast, waffles, pancakes, or berry porridge?

Breakfast not your style? How about an early lunch? Wagyu beef burgers, a superfood salad, black angus tenderloin, sea bass or palak paneer is all yours for the taking.

I wasn’t terribly hungry and I knew that on the plane I would get a full meal, so I went with one pancakes, some berries, and a side of turkey bacon.

There’s also a full bar service with aperifits, cocktails, signature cocktails, mocktails, wine, liqueurs, and digestifs. Good Lord, if you go thirsty in the lounge it’s your own fault!

For whatever reason, if you don’t want something prepared fresh, there’s a buffet for you to grab some food. Mind you, I don’t know WHY you would want to do that when you can get a freshly prepared meal, but to each his own.

MY favorite are the dates. Emirates has these stuffed dates with either almonds or candied orange. They are to die for, and I had to restrain myself from not taking the entire box.

Lounge Extras

After a nice meal you can go to the quiet room and lie back on one of their leather loungers.

There’s a large seating area as well in the middle of all the gates. There is table service as well if you want to sit in full view of everyone there.

Take a look. The world moves underneath you… but let them… because you’re relaxing in comfort in the First Class lounge!

Oh, I almost forgot! They’ve got ice cream…

Included as well in your First Class ticket is one treatment at the Timeless Spa. Ben went for a free 20 minute facial while I got a neck and back massage.

Once we gathered ourselves and our belongings, we strolled over to the gate. Just out the window was our gorgeous bird, painted in the Expo 2020 livery.

Riding your private elevator down to the airplane, a 16 hour luxury experience awaits. Yup, once again, you don’t have to even board with everyone else. The elevator will take you right to the door of your plane.

Now that you’ve seen the lounge, how do you feel it compares to the lounges in the US?