When we began planning our honeymoon, we had one key criteria. It had to be somewhere so far away that we’d never otherwise have the time to get away to. Once we narrowed the search down and began researching flights, we jumped at the opportunity to experience flying around the world on Emirates and began to search for the best seats in Emirates economy cabin.
After hours of looking into point transfers and travel hacks, my dreams of flying first or business class on Emirates were disillusioned. Instead, we opted to pay a nominal up-charge for extra legroom seats in Emirates’ economy class. If you’re not lucky enough to experience Emirates business or first class – which often comes with access to a shower and full bar, by the way – the exit row bulkhead seats are the best seats in Emirates economy cabin.
The Best Seats in Emirates Economy Class
As boarding commenced and we took our seats in Emirates’ economy cabin, those boarding after us chimed in with a flow of commentary to the tune of “wow, you got the best seats.”
Emirates Extended Legroom in Economy
Although you will have to splurge for the extra legroom in economy, it will be well worth it. Our seats cost us an additional $163 USD per person, each way. Plus, the incremental fee doesn’t come close to what we were seeing for business or first class on Emirates. No matter how prepared you are with tricks to survive an overnight flight, the ability to stretch our legs out was a game changer to actually get some sleep on the red-eye. In my opinion, it was the best money we spent on our entire trip.
On our 777 from Chicago to Dubai, these were seats in rows 24 or 37. Defer to your flight’s specific seat map, and look for the set of three seats on either the far right or far left of the plane, adjacent to the emergency exit door.
As with any airlines’ bulkhead seats, all personal items must be stowed above you for takeoff and landing. Immediately after takeoff, I was able to bring my large canvas bag down to use as a footrest for the duration of the flight. This allowed for ultimate comfort to be able to get some sleep during our overnight flight.
On long haul flights, it’s important to periodically get up and move around. There’s nothing I hate more than waking someone on a flight to get out of a window or aisle seat. The bulkhead row allowed me to easily get out, or even just stand in front of my seat whenever I needed to stretch.
What It’s Like to Fly Economy on Emirates
Complementary Comfort in Economy
Upon arrival at your Emirates’ economy cabin seat, you’ll receive a blanket, pillow, over-ear headphones, and complementary toiletry kit. The toiletry kit sets Emirates’ economy seats apart from other airlines. The kits include a toothbrush, toothpaste, eye mask, cozy socks, and a bookmark – little luxuries that come in handy during a 14 hour flight.
I was prepared with my favorite compact travel pillow, so I used the complementary pillow for added lumbar support. Emirates’s economy seats feature a deeper recline and more ergonomic design than other airlines.
Above Average Amenities
The most surprisingly pleasant parts of flying Emirates’ economy cabin were the bathrooms and food – two most commonly dreaded parts of long haul flights. The economy cabin bathrooms on Emirates’ flights were spacious and clean. They features a full length mirror, which give the illusion of a larger latrine.
On our non-stop flight from Chicago to Dubai, we were served dinner, a snack, and breakfast. Each meal included a substantial amount of food and sides, and was significantly above average airplane food. Unless a dietary restriction is pre-selected prior to departure, economy class passengers have their choice of two options for each.
As we prepared for our descent into Dubai, flight attendants distributed a warm hand towel to each passenger, a little luxury typically reserved for business or first class on other airlines. These collective small details resulted in an overall exceptional experience flying in Emirates’ economy seats.
Potential Cons to Emirates’ Extended Legroom Economy Seats
While the exit row gives you the luxury to stretch your legs out, they may not be the best seats in Emirates economy for everybody.
- Not suitable for families: Because these are technically exit row seats, you must be aged 16 or older to sit in this row.
- Proximity to baby bassinets: Emirates offers baby bassinets for infants, which allows for an ideal redeye set up for parents but makes for a potentially disruptive flight for those around. If needed, baby bassinets are fastened in front of the center bulkhead seats, and therefore in very close proximity to the exit row, a.k.a. the best seats in economy.
- Proximity to bathrooms: These seats are located just a few feet from the bathrooms, so you can expect some foot traffic and crowding near the exit door, especially after meal services. The bathrooms themselves are the nicest and cleanest I’ve seen on any flight, so smell luckily wasn’t a factor.
- Take off and landing: During take off and landing, all personal items must be stowed in the overhead bins. Because these are exit row seats, the cabin crew was strict to enforce that everything – including blankets, books, jackets, water bottles – were all stowed.
- Arm rest: Tray tables and TV extend out of your armrest, which may result in your seat being more narrow than average.
Layover in Dubai with Emirates
One key benefit of flying on Emirates is the option to extend your layover in Dubai by one or more nights. When traveling that far, it’s great to have the option to see another city or country without having to alter your core plans. We spent 48 hours in Dubai on our way to Thailand. It was an unforgettable experience that we likely wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do in our lifetime otherwise.
Planning to travel on Emirates soon? Pin now and read later when you’re ready to lock in the best seats in Emirates economy cabin.
