Skip to content

‘Unlimited’ caviar in first class and refreshed cabins: Emirates touts $2B in upgrades

Aug. 11, 2022
3 min read
Emirates Premium Economy Airbus A380 JFK Dubai
‘Unlimited’ caviar in first class and refreshed cabins: Emirates touts $2B in upgrades
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

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.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

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.

Emirates Cinema in the Sky. (Photo courtesy of Emirates)

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.

Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

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.

(Photo courtesy of Emirates)

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.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

TPG featured card

4 / 5
Go to review
Rewards rate
1XChoose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee
2XEarn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases
Intro offer
Open Intro bonus
50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status + $300 of Bilt Cash
Annual fee
$495
Regular APR
26.74 - 34.74% variable
Recommended credit
Open Credit score description
Good Credit, Excellent Credit

Pros

  • Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
  • Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
  • $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
  • $200 Bilt Cash annually
  • Priority Pass membership
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • Moderate annual fee
  • Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
  • Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
  • Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
  • 2X points on everyday spend
  • $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
  • $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
  • Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
  • Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
  • Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.