A few months ago popular YouTube filmmaker Casey Neistat published a video documenting his $21,000 Emirates First Class flight. Flying first class on an Emirates A380 seems like one of the most over the top experiences out there. Sure the first class suite looks incredible, drink options are plentiful, and the food looks fantastic, but it’s the onboard shower spa that blows me away.
Emirates allows each first class passenger to enjoy 30 minutes in the onboard spa and shower. The onboard spa has heated floors, premium beauty products, and comes with a 5 minute hot shower! Sadly at $21,000, few can afford such an over the top travel experience… until now!
Fly Emirates First Class For Under $21,000
In the video, Casey Neistat mentions the retail cost of his seat is just over $21,000. The cost of a New York (JFK) to Dubai (DXB) first class Emirates flights still costs approximately $21,381. It’s important to note, he flew from Dubai (DXB) to New York (JFK), which can be purchased for just $8,268!
Where the flights originates is important. Emirates premium cabin flights originating in the United States are extremely expensive when compared to flights in the opposite direction. Essentially, if you are really keen on catching a ride in the Emirates first class, make sure to look for trips to the US. Also keep in mind, if you wish to use an onboard shower, you must book a flight serviced by an Airbus A380. Currently he A380 is the only plane in the Emirates fleet with a shower.
There Is A Cheaper Option
I know what you’re thinking, simply flying in the other direction already saves over $13,000, saving that amount of money seems great right? Wrong! Very Wrong! The $8,268 ticket is a one-way ticket from Dubai to New York. For that price you get to experience nearly 14 hours of Emirates first class. If you instead turn the itinerary into a round trip the prices increases to $12,241. Now each one-way ticket costs just $6,121 and you get twice as much time to fully enjoy the Emirates first class experience!
But Wait, There’s More!
It might be counterintuitive, but if you select a flight which originates in South Africa, flies through Dubai, and continues onto New York, the total one-way price drops to just $4,596! Yes, you have to physically get to South Africa (Johannesburg or Cape Town), but for that price you get 2 flights in Emirates First Class. By Casey Neistat math, that is worth $42,000!
Additionally, if you turn the JNB-DXB-JFK trip into a round trip (JNB-DXB-JFK-DXB-JNB) the total cost comes out to just $5,663. In that case, you have the opportunity to spend over 42 hours in Emirates first class! For that price you also have the opportunity to take 4 in-flight showers!
My Personal Preference
Although prices from Cape Town and Johannesburg are nearly identical, by selecting Joburg as your origin and destination you can fly the A380 the whole way. The CPT-DXB routing appears to only be serviced by a Boeing 777. Still a great flight option, but the 777 lacks the onboard shower.
It’s also worth considering tinkering with Google Flights to find an ideal routing that works for you. JNB-NYC-JNB appears to be the cheapest option, but JNB-NYC//SFO-CPT is only slightly more expensive. By selecting different routing you’ll have access to different lounges throughout the Emirates lounge network.
Where To Credit The Miles Flown
Emirates is fairly tricky when it comes to accruing miles. Emirates maintains its own frequent flyer program, but it doesn’t do much good for travelers based outside of the UAE. Luckily you can credit Emirates flights to Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan at a favorable rate. By crediting the JNB-JFK-JNB flights to Alaska, you’d earn redeemable miles at a rate of 350% or just over 75,000 Alaska Miles! More importantly, 150% of the miles flown count toward Alaska Airlines Elite Status. For this trip you’d earn 32,000 Elite Qualifying Miles which automatically earns Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Status. For more information on where to credit Emirates (or any other) flights, visit wheretocredit.com
Final Thoughts
I get it, $5,663 is a lot of money! But considering you’re experiencing a product Emirates charges $21,000 for a significant discount is worth considering. I realize getting to/from South Africa is no easy task, but I like to think of it this way. Plan a trip to South Africa to begin the journey and get an incredible ride home. Then months later you also get an incredible beginning to a future trip to Dubai.
I definitely wouldn’t expect to see any Emirates A380 trip reports in the near future, but as prices continue to drop the entire Emirates experience is becoming significantly more approachable for the ‘average’ person.
