Emirates A380 Business Class Review: MXP to JFK

Airline: Emirates
Aircraft: Airbus A380
Flight Number: EK205
Route: Milan, Italy (MXP) – New York, NY (JFK)
Duration: 8 hours and 45 minutes
Seat: 14E and 14F

After a relatively quick trip to Lake Como to celebrate our anniversary, my wife and I finished off the trip with a great flight home in Emirates Business Class on the Airbus A380.

Emirates has two direct flights between Europe and the U.S. One is between Athens and Newark, and the other is between Milan and JFK. The Milan to JFK route uses an Airbus A380, and the Athens to Newark route uses a Boeing 777.

Here is a summary and review of my experience booking and flying Emirates Business Class from Milan to JFK.

I booked this flight using Emirates Skywards miles, which I transferred over from my Chase Ultimate Rewards account. I bought two one-way seats for 87,000 miles per seat. The cash fare for this flight varies anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000 for a one-way ticket, so this was a great use of my Chase Ultimate Rewards points!

Check-In, Lounge, and Boarding

The check-in process was pretty typical and included a fast pass-through security.   From this point forward, the experience was anything but typical.

When flying Emirates business and first class, you have complimentary access to the Emirates lounge.   The lounge was significantly better than the domestic airline lounges I regularly frequent.   The food was fresh and frequently replenished.   The chairs and seating were very comfortable leather chairs.  And the lounge had its own private gate and Jet bridge that took you straight to the second floor of the Airbus A380 where all of the business and first-class seats are.

Business Class Cabin Seats

The business class cabin was only about 3/4 full, so we could quickly get to our seats, store our carry-on luggage, and settle in for a great flight.

Once seated, the flight attendant offered us a glass of champagne or a non-alcoholic beverage. I chose to pass on this one and waited to get in the air to enjoy a proper martini!

The First-Class cabin has 14 seats. The Business Class cabin features 76 seats across 26 rows, with an onboard bar and lounge located after row 26, as well as restrooms. The lower deck is split between premium economy and economy seating.

We had 2 seats in the middle of the plane (14E and 14F).

The seats have plenty of privacy, in the event you are traveling alone, with a partition that can be moved up or down. The seats also have entertainment controls, seat controls, power outlets, and a touchscreen that controls different seat functions.

Business Class Onboard Bar/Lounge and Bathroom

At the rear of the Emirates A380 upper deck is the onboard lounge and a couple of bathrooms. Flying the A380 and having a drink at a “bar in the sky” had been on my bucket list for a long time, so this was a real treat for me.

The bar was fully stocked, with a bartender standing by for the entire flight to make you whatever drink you want. In addition to the bar, there was a “couch” on both sides of the plane to sit and a TV to watch a soccer match. It was amazing!

I went back a couple of times for a cocktail and was surprised that more people were not taking advantage of this unique experience.

In addition to the bar, there were a couple of bathrooms in the rear as well. In true Emirates fashion, they were large, bright, and clean.

While I didn’t see a flight attendant going in regularly, they must have, because each time I went in, the bathroom was as clean as when I first boarded. This is definitely not how it works when flying a domestic carrier internationally!

Food and Drinks

The food and beverage service was great. I loved having a martini at 30,000 feet served in an actual Martini glass!

When it came time to have dinner, there was a nice menu to choose from, with multiple options for your appetizer, main course, and dessert.

I chose the Traditional Arabic Mezze (Houmous, Baba Ghanouj, Grape Leaves, and Muhammara salad) as my appetizer, the Chicken as my Entrée, and theCheesecake for Dessert. All of which tasted great!

Entertainment

The Emirates In-Flight Entertainment system is called “I.C.E.”, which stands for Information, Connectivity and Entertainment, and is known to be one of the most comprehensive entertainment offerings in the sky.

They offer 6,500 channels of movies, TV shows, music, and games, on demand and in multiple languages.

I watched a little bit of TV, but spent more time using Wi-Fi, catching up on email. The Wi-Fi speeds were excellent, allowing me to get some work done on the go. Wi-Fi is included with a Business Class ticket, so there was no added charge to use it.

In addition to the wide variety of movies and TV shows, the size of the screen is enormous, and the headphones provide excellent audio quality.

Amenity Kits

We were given his and her amenity kits (with Bulgari lotion and a variety of other personal care items) as well as slippers, socks, and pajamas.

Emirates A380 Business Class – Is it Worth it?

In summary, Emirates A380 Business Class offers a luxurious flying experience. The bar in the sky is fantastic, and the service is unparalleled. I would definitely recommend this flight and continue to consider Emirates my favorite airline.