Emirates A380 First Class Review: London Gatwick to Dubai

I recently flew Emirates First Class on the A380 from London Gatwick to Dubai, and it's genuinely one of the best flight experiences I've ever had. Unlimited caviar, a shower at 40,000 feet, Dom Rosé on tap at the onboard bar - and I booked the whole thing for 90,000 Qantas miles before they removed the ability to book Emirates First Class. Here's a full breakdown of the experience.

The Emirates business/first lounge at Gatwick is a decent enough pre-flight experience. My girlfriend was flying business class on the same flight - she'd managed to upgrade from economy flex fairly last minute, which was a nice result. We were hoping they'd let her upgrade again to first given there were empty seats, but no luck there.

Stepping onto the upper deck and into the first class cabin is something else. I chose seat 03K specifically - it's a window suite away from the toilets, which gives you the most privacy. Each suite is fully enclosed with floor-to-ceiling doors, and you genuinely feel like you have your own private room up there.

Waiting at the seat was a welcome basket with snacks, orchids, and the Bvlgari fragrance. The screen was already showing the welcome page for EK16 London - LGW to Dubai. It's the small touches like being greeted by name that make first class feel properly premium.

One of the first things you notice is the personal minibar built into your suite. It's stocked with Perrier, still water, and a few other bits. There's also Arabic coffee and dates ready to go - a nice touch that immediately sets the Emirates experience apart.

This is the headline act. Emirates First Class offers unlimited caviar, and they really mean it. The service comes with all the traditional accompaniments - chopped egg, chives, lemon, sour cream, bread - laid out beautifully on white linen with proper silverware. I had the champagne flowing alongside it, and honestly, you could happily just eat caviar for the entire flight.

The caviar itself was very tasty. I went back for more and by the time the main course arrived, I was already pretty full.

I went for the chicken, served with potatoes and asparagus. Honestly? It was okay - a bit dry. But I'll take some of the blame here because I was absolutely stuffed from the caviar by this point. If you're flying Emirates First, my advice would be to pace yourself with the caviar so you can actually enjoy the main course. I did not do this.

The A380 onboard bar is shared between business and first class, but first class passengers get access to the exclusive drinks - including Dom Pérignon Rosé. It's super easy to get to from the first class cabin, and I spent a good amount of time there. The bar itself is beautifully lit with shelves of spirits, wines, and snacks.

What stood out was being greeted by name every time I visited. Whether at the seat or at the bar, the crew knew exactly who I was. The Dom Rosé was excellent, and having it on tap at the bar felt slightly surreal.

This is what everyone asks about, and it lives up to the hype. The shower spa on the Emirates A380 is incredible. The bathroom is massive - far bigger than you'd expect on an aircraft - and has a heated floor, which is a lovely touch. Everything you could possibly need is provided: towels, toiletries, the lot.

Having a proper shower at 40,000 feet is genuinely one of those experiences that makes you stop and appreciate how ridiculous it is. I showered before landing and arrived in Dubai feeling completely fresh. Easily the best part of the flight.

A few other things worth mentioning:

Amenity kit: Bvlgari, featuring the Tygar aftershave. I'm still using it months later - it's genuinely good. Also included body wash, a shaver, and a few other bits.

I booked this flight using 90,000 Qantas miles. At the time, Qantas allowed you to redeem miles for Emirates First Class, which was one of the best-value redemptions out there. Unfortunately, Qantas has since removed the ability to book Emirates First Class with their miles, so this specific route is no longer available through Qantas.

I'd give Emirates A380 First Class a solid 9.5 out of 10. The caviar service, the shower, the bar, and being greeted by name everywhere you go - it all adds up to an experience that's genuinely hard to beat. The only real downside? The flight from Gatwick to Dubai is only around 7 hours, and that's not nearly enough time to enjoy everything on offer.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. If you can find availability, try it on a longer route if possible to get the full value out of the experience.

Choose a window suite away from the toilets for maximum privacy. Seat 03K worked perfectly for this.Pace yourself with the caviar. It's unlimited and very easy to overdo it. You'll want room for the main course and for the bar later.Book the shower early. Slots fill up, and you'll want to shower before landing to arrive fresh.Spend time at the bar. The first class drinks selection (Dom Rosé, in particular) is excellent, and it's a great social space.Try a longer route if you can. LGW-DXB is around 7 hours and it goes fast. A longer sector would let you enjoy more of the experience.

You can check the full seatmap for EK16 here to plan your seat.

Jack