Emirates will use existing A380 business-class product on upcoming Boeing 777X
Emirates' president Sir Tim Clark has shared in a podcast that its upcoming Boeing 777X aircraft will be fitted with basically the same business-class product that it features on its fleet of Airbus A380 aircraft.
The hard product on the upcoming 777X will sport a 1-2-1 configuration, which means every passenger will have direct aisle access, and should feature signature Emirates touches like the at-seat minibar and expansive IFE system controlled by a large tablet at the seat.
While it's an improvement on the carrier's current 777 biz class, which is either in an outdated 2-3-2 or a slightly better 2-2-2 configuration, it likely won't be a world-beating seat like Qatar's Qsuite, which features fully-enclosed suites for every business-class passenger.
Clark went on to disclose that the aircraft will not have onboard showers or a full bar like the A380, but it will have a "comfort area" that can be utilized by business- and first-class passengers.
Speaking of first class, the aircraft will be delivered with the airline's latest first-class suites, which are certainly in the running for being the world's best.
Finally, Clark revealed that the airline's premium economy product may now debut on the A380 sometime in 2020 rather than the 777X, as the delivery of these new aircraft will likely be pushed into 2021. He didn't divulge any specifics about the product itself, though.
The Dubai-based carrier currently has the largest order for Boeing's newest wide-body aircraft, though its production has been facing delays due to issues with the plane's engines.
Sign up for the free daily TPG newsletter for more travel tips!
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
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.