FLIGHT REVIEW: Emirates A380 First Class — Christchurch to Sydney — Part 3 —the seat, the meal and the service

• TRIP REPORT: Introduction – my trip to Christchurch, New Zealand flying Emirates First Class on an A380
• LOUNGE REVIEW: Revisiting the Sydney Qantas First Lounge
• TRIP REPORT: Flight Review – Sydney to Christchurch on Qantas in Business – same, same but different
• HOTEL REVIEW: The George Hotel, Christchurch (Ōtautahi). Luxurious local comfort.
• TRIP REPORT: Christchurch Airport – small, spacious and efficient
• LOUNGE REVIEW: Manaia Lounge, Christchurch, New Zealand
• FLIGHT REVIEW: Emirates A380 First CLASS with showers, Christchurch to Sydney — Part 1
• FLIGHT REVIEW: Emirates A380 First Class — Christchurch to Sydney — Part 2 —the shower
• FLIGHT REVIEW: Emirates A380 First Class — Christchurch to Sydney — Part 3 —the seat, the meal and the service

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I travelled on an Emirates A380 between Christchurch and Sydney in First Class, so I could experience the on board showers. If you want to find out more about the start of the flight, head over to Part 1. The Shower Suite details and review are in Part 2. If you want to read this trip report from the beginning, head to the first post.

This, the final part of the Flight Review looks at the seat in more detail, plus the meal service, and my overall impression of First Class on Emirates. I know I am late to the Emirates First Class on the A380 party, but can you have too many opinions on this experience? No, I thought so too.

Flight Details

Flight: EK 413
Route: Christchurch (CHC) to Sydney (SYD)
Date: Thursday, 6 September 2023
Depart: 5:45 PM NZST
Arrive: 7:05 PM AEST
Duration: 3 hr 20 min
Aircraft: Airbus A380
Seat: 1K (First Class)

Introduction

You have heard it all—the unlimited Dom Perignon and caviar service, the doored suites—revolutionary in their time, the shower suites, and the service. Well, this is what I was looking forward to. I’d just had a shower, and Mohamad, the main cabin attendant, asked if I was ready to dine. This only being a three-plus-hour flight, I needed to get started on noshing down and enjoying that seat and cabin.

The Cabin and Seat

The first thing I noticed about the First Class Suite on the Emirates A380 was that enormous screen once I had recovered from gold bling and faux wood blindness. Aesthetically, Emirates’ design choices are a long way from the pared-down simplicity that is my preference. In fact, Emirates’ design sits at the opposite end of taste in my terms.

Putting that to one side, my seat consisted of a ledge to the left, with a makeup mirror, a huge entertainment screen above, an amenity drawer below, a wall vase with orchids, and a table lamp. Directly to my right side was the bar, with its mirrored interior and collection of drinks and glassware.

Below the tablet holder are some more controls, including a service call button and even an individual air vent, all with faux bling.

Back to the main bench and screen. Here is a view of it from the seat to give you the full effect, along with my pre-takeoff glass of Dom.

The orchids are a nice touch.

The shelf below the desk houses a drawer with a writing compendium comprising an Emirates-branded notebook and pen, which are yours for the taking. Amenities are stored under that makeup mirror, and are again there for your use.

That’s probably enough about the suite. If you can avoid the bling blindness, the surfaces trigger, and concentrate on the beige leather and comfort, you will be rewarded with the cosyness and amenities of this suite.

Drinks and Meal Service on Emirates A380 First Class

On a short flight like this between Christchurch and Sydney, unless you feel the need to sleep, the main highlight after the shower is the food and drink offering. I was determined to sample the famed caviar service, and had made up my mind to enjoy this even before I looked at the menu.

I finished my shower around 18:45, and soon after I resumed my seat, I was asked by Mohomed if I wanted something to eat.

Drinks on Emirates A380 First Class

And there is no other way to start a journey than with a glass of Dom Perignon (in this case the 2013 vintage, then served in the air on Emirates. The listing reads as follows:

Dom Pérignon 2013
Named after the legendary cellar master of the Abbey of Hautvillers, Dom Pérignon is always made from only the best grapes of nine grands and premiers crus villages. Each vintage retains the house signature whilst expressing the unique events of the growing season. The 2013 unfolds delicate fresh aromas of eucalyptus and mint followed by the stone fruit character of Mirabelle plum and apricot with hints of cardamom and liquorice sticks. The palate is generous yet elegant, expressing luxuriant simplicity and precision. The finish is dominated by a salinity that leaves a deep sensation of consistency.

A glass of that under my belt, and it was time to look through the rest of the menu, starting with Aperitifs and Digestifs, and a few words from the chef.

The Food on Emirates A380 First Class

And next up, the food menu for Dinner, preceded by the Caviar Service. Here is the complete menu if the text on the image is too small for you

Caviar
Our signature offering
Presented with a traditional selection of finely chopped onion, chives, grated egg, sour cream and lemon, served with melba toast and blinis

Dinner
Appetiser
Green pea soup with mint
Served with croûtons
Roasted five-spice chicken
Served chilled with butternut squash purée, spinach and sesame soy mayonnaise
Seared scallops
Served with fennel salad and pickled radish
Seasonal salad
We can create a salad of your choice with toppings including cherry tomatoes, cucumber, blanched green beans and roasted turnip, dressed with French vinaigrette or olive oil with balsamic vinegar, or to make your salad a light meal we can add mozzarella or grilled beef slices

Main course
Seared beef tenderloin
Served with green peppercorn sauce, olive butter, steamed broccolini and crushed potatoes with parsley
Chinese-style braised chicken
Served with steamed jasmine rice, choi sum and baby corn
Prawn machbous
Prawns marinated in a traditional Emirati spice blend, served on fragrant rice
Pan-seared red snapper
Served with preserved lemon sauce and a warm salad of sautéed courgettes, chickpeas and toasted almonds
Christchurch – Sydney

Side dishes
Sautéed spinach with garlic
Sweet potato mash with onions
Steamed mangetout with cherry tomatoes
New potatoes with parsley
Dinner is served with freshly baked bread

Dessert
Chocolate feuilletine
Served with caramel sauce
Strawberry and raspberry cake
Served with crème anglaise
Seasonal fruit
An assortment of fresh cut fruit
Cheese board
Our selection of seasonal boutique cheeses, served with crackers and accompaniments including dried fruit and nuts

Chocolates
Fine luxury chocolates

And of course there are wines to accompany that, detailed below.

Bring on the caviar! Half the joy of this service is the way the various elements for you to enjoy are placed on your table.

Needless to say, the serving was generous, and more was offered. It was delicious, and I ate it all, although I declined seconds. Do you think I have a future as a hand model?

The remaining dinner service commenced around 45 minutes later at 19:30 with Roasted five-spice chicken with butternut squash purée, spinach and sesame soy mayonnaise. As you can see, I made short work of it.

On to the main course. I have a fish allergy, so the snapper was not on, and I avoided the prawn in case some fish product was used in its preparation that the crew may not know about. That left the braised chicken or the beef. Having already had chicken, I went for the seared beef tenderloin.

This time, I got you a perfect portion shot! I often avoid steak options because I think it’s difficult to provide a well-cooked version. This dish defied that prejudice. It was delicious and well, but not overcooked.

I eschewed the desserts, but indulged in a cheese plate.

That was way more than enough for a meal service between Christchurch and Sydney.

Entertainment on Emirates A380 First Class

Emirates runs the ICE entertainment system, which is renowned for its range and options for choice. I didn’t put too much thought into what I watched, and just chose the first thing that appealed. Liking John Hamm, and Tina Fey, I watched the movie Maggie Moore.

It’s a 2023 American black comedy mystery directed by John Slattery and written by Paul Bernbaum. The film is based on the real-life murders of Mary Lou Morris and Mary McGinnis Morris in October 2000 in Houston, Texas.

Would I recommend? Yer-nah. Still, it occupied my brain while I was eating.

Landing

Soon, we were approaching Sydney, with 45 minutes of flying remaining. We landed smoothly at 18:47 Sydney time on runway 34L.

That’s one of the advantages of First Class being on the upper deck of the A380. You basically feel nothing when you land. That’s unlike Qantas First Class on the lower deck, where you feel the landing gear engage, and the minute it hits the runway, the cabin shudders.

We were preparing to disembark at 18:50, and I was off the plane at the gate by 18:52.

2PAXfly Takeout

This was a great flight on my favourite aircraft, and Emirates First Class service was everything others have claimed it to be. OK, I was only on a three-plus-hour flight, but I could see myself happily spending 10-plus hours in this cabin, and taking full advantage of its lie-flat bedding, as well as the food, beverage, and shower service!

Was the service perfect? Well, not quite. There was a moment when I was without proper cutlery—specifically a bread knife—but that was soon rectified, and apologies were issued. Otherwise, it’s difficult to fault the service and the food and beverage offering.

On the seat front — I found the cabin smaller than I imagined, but I didn’t feel cramped. The seat is more than comfortable, but being new to the controls, I found them a little confusing — until I worked them out.

Would I travel on Emirates First Class again? Definitely, and I still haven’t tried their new First Class cabin, nor truly long haul, so I still have that to experience. Such an imposition, I know.

Look, if I am off to Christchurch again and I can get a reasonable fare or, more appealingly, book it using points, I would definitely do this cabin and route again in First Class.

Is it worth it? Well, that is up to each person to decide. I loved it.

Other Posts in the Series

<< FLIGHT REVIEW: Emirates A380 First Class — Christchurch to Sydney — Part 2 —the shower