First Class From Start To Finish - Emirates A380 │ Dubai to Cairo │ E8

Welcome back to episode 8 of the Cinematic Flight Report. We're in Dubai and one more time I'm going to return to Emirates First Class flying the A380 for another three-hour hop back to Cairo, Egypt. After three flights in Emirates First Class in the past weeks, this will now be the last one with the airline for the time being, giving me one more opportunity to take a look at the most iconic product. After spending a few days here in late April of 2021, I was leaving Dubai's hotel, which has left a solid impression as it offers excellent value for money and I wouldn't mind coming back for another short stay. Our flight was set to depart Dubai at 3pm, so I left the hotel around noon as the drive to Dubai airport would only take about 20 minutes. Returning to Cairo that day had me excited because this time I wouldn't transit onward but actually stay and visit the pyramids. Looking back at the four days I had just spent in Dubai, this scenic helicopter tour definitely has been the most impressive. Departing from Dubai's police academy, it offered splendid views of the Dubai skyline, famous palm, the many monuments Dubai is renowned for and also those that remain unfinished for now. Back in the quiet Terminal 3, check-in was done with no wait whatsoever and once past security, I used the extra time to browse the airport's duty free area and pick up a few treats. With that done, I headed upstairs for Emirates lounges, where the procedure hadn't changed from my last visit. With the first class lounge still closed at the time, Emirates kept secluding an area within its business class lounge that with a champagne bar, sushi corner, superior free floor wines and spirits as well as a la carte dining, actually really felt like a first class lounge in disguise. Last time during breakfast hours, the lounge already appeared to be really premium, which now was even more apparent, featuring a $250 right bank red available at the bar as well as the same attentive service I remembered from last time. I chose a refreshing glass of the 2012 vintage Moet Chandon and sat down on the very back of the lounge, anticipating the upcoming lunch. While I already regretted having skipped the food here in episode 6, I honestly didn't expect the offering to be this good. The pomerol was backed up with a delicious and visually appealing selection of dishes and both the octopus as well as this variation of Fitello Tonnato were of top notch quality. Exactly what you're looking for in a first class lounge and even more impressive as this is a somewhat improvised venue. On top of that, the Emirates app lets you sneak a peek at the onboard menu, making it easier for you to decide what to order both here and on the plane. Well done. The flight would leave from gate B21, which was just a couple of minutes away. First and business class would board from the upstairs jetbridge, conveniently accessible on the same level as the lounge. Upon boarding, the shimmering walnut finishes immediately worked their magic, elevating the cabin atmosphere with an elegant yet homely feel. The bright grey wall panels balance the wood pretty well and prevent the suites from turning too dark. The one-to-one configuration allows for a maximum of 14 passengers, six of which may use the opportunity to lower the dividers in the middle suites. Preferring a window seat, I returned to suite 2K, which also on this occasion didn't fail to impress. To me, the way these suites are designed feels just right. Every feature is placed intuitively, every detail is shaped with a purpose, and the luxurious elements, though bold, don't come across too overpowered. It's bright and it's welcoming. No, Arabic coffee always gives me a headache. I don't know why. Champagne any time of the day is fine, but Arabic coffee, I don't know. It's too strong for me. So champagne is always the cure. Champagne is the cure, yeah. But we don't want to trigger it, so it's fine. Instead of the offered Arabic coffee, I ordered a glass of the 2008 vintage Dom Perignon, and the crew was happy to serve it as a welcome drink. Dom Perignon is always a cuvee of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, with the exact percentages varying vintage by vintage. The 2008 left the cellars after more than eight years and has since been labelled as the best release since 1996. Its balance and intensity make it a luxurious treat every time and an excellent match for a first class product. Shortly after, the plane left its parking position and we were pushed back, taxiing towards the runway. We were now bound for Cairo with an estimated flight time of just over three hours and ready to take off. Immediately after reaching cruising altitude, the attentive crew offered another glass of champagne accompanied by some nuts and olives. On top of that, I also ordered a cucumber gimlet from the mocktail selection. Even though the flight time is really short, Emirates didn't cut the service down to a minimum in order to save time. Snacks and drinks could be chosen freely at any time of the flight. The same goes for the menu items. The only noticeable difference to a long-haul product is the canapé service, which remains exclusive to longer flights. But as it's still a generous menu with at least three choices for each course, I didn't miss the canapés at all. Today, passengers and first class were to choose between 11 dishes as well as four additional sides for the main course. Since I already had lunch in the lounge, I just opted for one starter in one main, followed by cake and some cheese. In addition to the fabulous Dom Perignon and the mocktails, Emirates also provided their standard spirit selections with all belts and whistles, such as the Hennessy Paradis. Two red and two white wines were available as well, and much to my liking, the 2005 large barge was still listed. When I think of the three previous flights in Emirates First Class, in terms of food, the issue of inconsistency comes to mind first and foremost. To make a long story short, in order to avoid predictable disappointments, I steered away from the beef and fish and ordered pasta instead. This definitely is not the way it should be in First Class, yet given the previous experience, this, for the time being, was a reasonable thing to do, especially since the food in the lounge had already been on a very high level and didn't leave me with any cravings. If the airline were able to deliver just 50% of that quality in the air, it would be an entirely different story. The cabin, on the other hand, delivers a reliable and versatile environment that continues to impress. The interconnected tablet that, together with the airline's ICE system, offers more than 2,500 options of entertainment is just one example. The overall available space of the suite is divided in an exemplary manner as well. Nothing feels out of place, and closing the doors for privacy makes this product feel so complete that I'm compelled to say that I enjoy the 13-year-old concept of the A380s more than the latest game-changer suite aboard the 777, despite its fleshy LED lights and unique temperature control options. I chose to start lunch with the cumin prawns, served with a papaya salad and tamarind dressing. In terms of presentation, that already looked promising. From the wine menu, I went with a glass of the Opalea, which as a dry white Bordeaux, should pair well with the sweetness of the salad. The prawns did not only look good, and especially that jam or chutney gave it an extra kick. A good combination, after all. Next up, the prior mention Stolzapreti, in a tomato and basil ragout, topped with grilled artichokes. I was happy to switch wines and pair the 2005 Lauche Barge, which again was an excellent choice and an overall great pick from Emirates Seller. Since the bottle had just been opened, it was still in need for some air, but that would already be improving after a few minutes. The pasta was tasty and turned out just as I expected it to do, and meanwhile the wine got better and better. I still find it remarkable that Emirates packs a flight this short with a wine list of this exceptional quality. Now for dessert, I continued with the Raspberry Foitine on pistachio sponge, which simply was delicious. So much so, that I made sure to leave nothing behind. On today's flight, the served food finally was up to par and asked no complaint. I may have avoided conflict on purpose, but it was fun not having to dwell on catering inadequacies or freight tablecloths for a change. Just enjoying the flight and the impeccable service as it should be. I quickly ordered another gimlet before the cheese plate would arrive, and when it did, I indulged in a glass of Graham's 1976 Vintage Tawny Poured one last time. This is something I'm definitely going to miss going forward, as it will take some time before I'll be on an Emirates plane again, and this vintage is exclusive to their seller and not available for sale. The cheese plate was nice as well, featuring a hard cheese, camembert, as well as a piece of blue cheese. And speaking of time, landing was not far away at this point as well, so I kept my visit to the A380 Spa very brief, and almost immediately returned to my seat, as it was time to buckle up. I also didn't step into the shower this time, even though it would have been ready. Today, Emirates delivered a strong package consisting of an impressive lounge service in Dubai, as well as a flawless onboard lunch, supported by top shelf wines and spirits, and a dedicated personal service that left no request unanswered. In the end, it comes down to personal preference, yet I indeed prefer this cabin over the Game Changer, and the next time I'm flying it, it hopefully will be on a much longer journey. Nonetheless, after four flights, it looks to me as if consistency is Emirates' sore point, requiring a few structural changes. On this journey, the experience was excellent, especially keeping in mind that it was a mere three-hour flight. Emirates' first class can be a great product and deliver more than just expensive wine and a luxurious cabin, yet only if it's not set up to fail from the beginning. It took me two hours to leave the airport, since my bags caught the attention of Egyptian customs, leading to a thorough search, so the sun had already set. And five minutes after finally leaving the airport, I had already returned to the Hilton Heliopolis, where I also stayed before flying to Dubai the first time. I was upgraded to one of their one-bedroom suites, and would enjoy some rest before heading to the city the next day, diving into Cairo traffic, and then visiting the Pyramids of Giza. That's it for today's episode. Stay safe, stay healthy, take care, and bye bye.