Flagship Middle Eastern carrier with iconic A380 experience
Emirates operates the world's largest fleet of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s. Based in Dubai, it has grown from a regional carrier into one of the world's most recognized airline brands. The airline is known for its lavish onboard products, particularly the famous A380 shower suites in first class and the onboard lounge in business class. Emirates connects over 150 destinations globally, making Dubai International Airport one of the busiest hubs in the world.
Economy class on the A380 offers 32-inch pitch and 18-inch wide seats. The 777 economy product is slightly tighter at 17.5 inches wide. Every seat has a 13.3-inch ICE entertainment screen — one of the largest in economy class. Complimentary meals, beverages (including alcohol), and a blanket/pillow kit are provided on all flights. Power outlets at every seat.
Business class on the 777 features a 2-3-2 layout with angled lie-flat seats — decent but not class-leading. The A380 business class is significantly better with a 1-2-1 layout and a dedicated onboard lounge with cocktails and canapés. Seats convert to a 79-inch flat bed. The latest 777-300ER refreshed cabins offer improved privacy.
First class on the A380 is a private suite with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors, a personal minibar, and — famously — an onboard shower spa. The latest 777 first class game-changers feature virtual windows and a NASA-inspired seat. Unlimited Dom Pérignon, Hennessy Paradis, and a dine-on-demand menu round out the experience.
Economy: 30 kg (most routes), 2 × 23 kg (Americas). Business: 40 kg. First: 50 kg. Carry-on: 7 kg all classes, plus a small personal item.
ICE (Information, Communication, Entertainment) system with 6,500+ channels including movies, TV, music, games, podcasts, and live TV. Consistently wins Best Airline Entertainment awards. Free Wi-Fi on most flights (limited data in economy, more generous in premium classes).
Multi-course meals in all classes. Economy gets a choice of two to three mains with starter and dessert. Business and first feature regionally inspired menus that change monthly. The A380 onboard lounge serves premium cocktails and canapés between meals. Special meals available 24 hours in advance.
Compare prices across booking platforms and find the best deal.
Search Emirates flights →Emirates maintains an on-time performance rate of approximately 78%, which places it in the middle of the pack among major international carriers. The airline operates a hub-and-spoke model centered on Dubai International Airport, which means tight connections can be affected by congestion — DXB handles over 86 million passengers annually. Emirates has never had a fatal accident involving passengers in its history, earning it a 7/7 safety rating from AirlineRatings.com. The airline's fleet age averages around 9 years, which is relatively young for a legacy carrier.
Emirates operates a pure hub model — nearly every route passes through Dubai International Airport (DXB). This means passengers traveling between two non-UAE cities will almost always need to connect in Dubai, adding anywhere from 2 to 6 hours of travel time depending on the connection window. The upside is enormous global reach: Emirates flies nonstop from Dubai to over 150 cities across six continents, including destinations in Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East that other airlines rarely serve. Key long-haul routes include Dubai–New York (JFK), Dubai–London (LHR), Dubai–Sydney (SYD), and Dubai–Tokyo (NRT). The airline codeshares extensively with Flydubai, giving access to smaller regional destinations. Emirates also has interline agreements with dozens of carriers despite not being part of any formal airline alliance.
Emirates fares tend to be most competitive on routes where the airline faces direct competition — particularly Dubai to London, Dubai to Bangkok, and Dubai to Singapore. For the cheapest economy fares, book 8 to 12 weeks in advance and target departures on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. The airline frequently runs global sales twice per year (typically January and June), offering discounts of 20-30% on select routes. Booking through Emirates.com directly often matches or beats third-party prices, and direct bookings make it easier to select seats and manage changes. If you want the A380 experience specifically, use Google Flights to filter by aircraft type before booking — the difference between the A380 and 777 product is significant, especially in business class. Emirates Skywards members can use miles for upgrades starting from 15,000 miles for a one-way economy-to-business upgrade on short routes.
Emirates Skywards miles are earned on Emirates and Flydubai flights plus 20+ airline partners. Tiers: Blue, Silver (extra baggage, priority check-in), Gold (lounge access, priority boarding, complimentary upgrades), Platinum (chauffeur service, guaranteed upgrade on paid business). Miles can also be earned/redeemed on hotels, car rentals, and retail.
Fly Emirates if: Travelers who value in-flight entertainment, the A380 experience, and connecting through Dubai to destinations in Asia, Africa, and Oceania.
Consider alternatives if: Those seeking direct flights — most Emirates routes connect through Dubai, adding travel time.
Emirates receives a 4.7/5 rating in our review. It is a premium carrier known for excellent service. based on cabins, baggage, entertainment, food, and loyalty program.
Emirates is based at Dubai (DXB).
Economy: 30 kg (most routes), 2 × 23 kg (Americas). Business: 40 kg. First: 50 kg. Carry-on: 7 kg all classes, plus a small personal item.
Use our flight comparison tool to compare Emirates prices across booking platforms including Kiwi.com. Booking 6-8 weeks in advance and flying mid-week typically yields the cheapest fares.
No. Emirates first class is only available on the Airbus A380 and select Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Many shorter regional routes use 777-200LR or 777-300 aircraft that offer only business and economy classes. Check the aircraft type on your specific route before booking if first class is important to you.
Emirates offers complimentary Wi-Fi on most flights, but data allowances vary by cabin class. Economy passengers receive 20 MB of free data (enough for messaging), while business and first class passengers get 500 MB. Unlimited Wi-Fi plans can be purchased onboard starting from $9.99.
Yes. Emirates Skywards has partnerships with over 20 airlines for earning and redeeming miles, including Qantas, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, and flydubai. You can also transfer miles from select credit card programs and use them for hotel stays and car rentals through partner programs.
When booking Emirates, try to get an A380 route — the product difference between the A380 and 777 is significant, especially in business class. Use Google Flights to check aircraft type before booking.