Aircraft swap nightmare: Flydubai in economy and business class
Flydubai is a low-cost carrier owned by the government of the United Arab Emirates and provides competition to the UAE's other major airlines, Emirates and Etihad. The airline operates from Dubai to 102 destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe.
In 2017 Emirates signed a codeshare agreement with Flydubai, allowing passengers of both airlines to book seamless travel on the two carriers, giving them dozens more convenient travel options. With Emirates an incredibly popular airline among our readers, we wanted to see how Flydubai would compare to its bigger aviation brothers.
We planned to fly on the newer Boeing 737-MAX sporting modern lie-flat seats in business class and comfortable seats in economy.
It was not to be.
Although we booked on the 737-MAX, a last-minute aircraft swap meant the five-hour-and-48-minute flight was actually operated by an 8-year-old Boeing 737-800 from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW). On this particular flight, Liam was assigned business class and Nicky flew in economy.
As the video highlights, an aircraft swap can lead to a significantly worse cabin configuration with outdated seating, particularly in business class.
Watch the full video below:
Need more? Read on for a breakdown of our individual experiences aboard Flydubai's Boeing 737-800.
Economy — Nicky Kelvin
Seat: 6F.
We paid: 700 pounds (about $856).
It was a great experience flying out of Dubai Airport's Terminal 3 on what is a low-cost-leaning airline. Not all Flydubai flights depart this terminal, so I was lucky to have more of a full "Emirates-style" experience on the ground.
The service on board was friendly, the food and beverage offerings were sufficient and complimentary options were offered.
It wasn't all great, though. There were long queues to check in and a remote gate was used. That was before the long and hot coach journey to the aircraft, with a prolonged wait at the bottom of the stairs before we were allowed to board.
The aircraft swap meant I was left with a hard, uncomfortable, older seat lacking in modern inflight entertainment and charging.
Business class — Liam Spencer
Seat: 1C.
We paid: 1,353 pounds (about $1,654).
My Flydubai business ticket came with access to the Emirates Business Class Lounge at Dubai International Airport. The space was enormous and included multiple dining options along with a Champagne bar.
The food served on board was extremely tasty. I opted for the grilled fish steak with potatoes and spinach, followed by an apple crumble with honey-infused cream. This was the only part of the onboard experience that felt premium, though.
The aircraft swap meant I was given a dated and less comfortable seat. I had no privacy whatsoever and the seat itself felt far more like a premium economy product. I was expecting a throne seat with a lie-flat bed and this couldn't have been further from what I received.
In addition, the inflight entertainment screen was fairly small and slow. There was no amenity kit to speak of. I only received a bottle of water, a pillow and an economy-level blanket. This was disappointing for a six-hour flight costing more than a thousand pounds.
- What's faster? Watch us race from London to Leeds by plane and train
- A new business-class concept: Watch TPG UK fly the brand-new Finnair A350 in all 3 cabins
- Watch us race to London Heathrow – Elizabeth Line vs. Heathrow Express vs. taxi
- We fly Icelandair two different ways: Business class vs. economy
- Watch TPG UK fly KLM two different ways: Business class vs. economy
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.