‘Unlimited’ caviar in first class and refreshed cabins: Emirates touts $2B in upgrades
Emirates, the Dubai-based airline known for luxurious premium cabins and top-notch service, announced today that it plans to invest $2 billion into passenger experience starting this year.
The investment will fund upgraded cabins, new inflight menus and specialized hospitality training for cabin crew, the carrier said.
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In first class, some new meals include pan-fried salmon trout with moqueca sauce and creole rice, and roasted duck breast with orange thyme jus, steamed broccolini and fondant potatoes. Travelers will receive "unlimited" portions of Persian caviar as a benefit of Emirates' famous dine-on-demand service. Plus, they can enjoy the "Cinema in The Sky" service, which will offer fun snack options like edamame, salted popcorn, sliders and even lobster rolls.
New first-class menus will start to roll out this month on select routes. The new menus will come to economy and business class on Sept. 1.
Additionally, Emirates noted that it will add new vegan food options, with sample dishes like "pan-roasted king oyster mushrooms, flavoursome jackfruit biryani and sliced kohlrabi garnished with burnt orange." The airline has dubbed its vegan offerings as "purposefully vegan choices," and travelers in all cabins will be able to order an expanded selection of vegan food.
These new food offerings coincide with Emirates' recent commitment to a more sustainable food supply chain. According to the press release, flights departing Dubai International Airport (DXB) will feature greens grown in Bustanica, the world’s largest vertical farm. This project is a joint venture through Emirates Flight Catering.
Perhaps the most interesting part of Emirates' passenger experience investment is that the airline plans to upgrade the interiors of all classes. Emirates notes that this includes adding premium economy cabins to more than 120 aircraft. The airline said all cabins will receive new or reupholstered seats as well as new paneling, flooring and other features. Emirates stated that aircraft will start to be retrofitted with these improvements in November.
Details are scarce, but we expect that aging aircraft will take priority, as many Emirates planes haven't been refurbished in years.
From the sounds of the press release, these improvements mostly surround the "soft product" while the airline's first-, business- and economy class cabins will remain largely the same. However, we could see Emirates make a surprise announcement down the road with a new cabin design or a branding change. Regardless, these changes are a welcome improvement.
TPG has reached out to Emirates for more information on these refurbished cabins.
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- The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. TPG values it at $1,600.
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- Outside of the current welcome bonus, you’re only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so it’s not a great card for other spending categories.
- The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards.
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups are excluded.
- American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. There are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
- Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Enrollment required. Learn more.
- Breeze through security with CLEAR® lanes available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your membership when you use your Card. Learn more.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees