You Can Now Book Emirates "Gamechanger" First Class From Melbourne to Dubai
Emirates will feature its B777 with The "Gamechanger" first class suites on the third Melbourne to Dubai route.
Tip: Emirates Skywards earning cards
Looking for the best card to earn Emirates Skywards? American Express Cards earning Membership Rewards are our top pick!
Emirates is set to elevate luxury travel between Melbourne and Dubai by introducing its state-of-the-art 'Gamechanger' First Class suites on the new daily non-stop service, EK404/405, commencing March 31, 2025. These suites, inspired by the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, offer unparalleled privacy and comfort with fully enclosed spaces, floor-to-ceiling sliding doors, and advanced features like 'zero gravity' reclining seats, virtual windows, and personalised climate and lighting controls.
The retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft also includes 40 Business Class seats, 24 Premium Economy seats, and 256 Economy seats, underscoring Emirates' commitment to providing Australian travellers with cutting-edge amenities and enhanced travel experiences.
Booking Emirates' 'Gamechanger' First Class Suites Using Points
Travellers can secure these luxurious First Class suites using either Qantas Frequent Flyer points or Emirates Skywards miles. Here's a concise guide on how to book:
Using Qantas Frequent Flyer Points:
- Search for Availability: Log in to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account and navigate to the 'Classic Flight Rewards' section. Use the multi-city booking tool, even for single routes, to access a monthly calendar view of available reward seats. Ensure you select 'Use points – Classic Flight Rewards only' and 'Flexible with dates for all flights.'
- Select Flights: Look for flights operated by Emirates, specifically EK404/405, to experience the 'Gamechanger' suites. Availability may be limited, so flexibility with travel dates is beneficial.
- Confirm and Book: Once you've identified available flights, proceed to book using your Qantas points. Be prepared to pay additional taxes and carrier charges, which are outrageously high on Emirates.
Using Emirates Skywards Miles:
- Log In: Access your Emirates Skywards account on the Emirates website.
- Search Flights: Use the 'Book Classic Rewards' option to find flights between Melbourne and Dubai. Ensure you're selecting flights EK404/405 to enjoy the 'Gamechanger' experience.
- Redeem Miles: Choose your preferred flight and redeem the required Skywards miles. Similar to Qantas, be aware of additional taxes and carrier charges which are just as high.
Important Considerations:
- Carrier Charges: Both Qantas and Emirates impose carrier charges on reward bookings, which can be significant, especially for premium cabins. For instance, a return Business Class flight from Australia to London using Qantas points on an Emirates-operated flight can incur charges of around $4,000 AUD plus 398,600 points.
- Availability: Due to the exclusive nature of the 'Gamechanger' suites, reward seat availability may be limited. It's advisable to book well in advance and remain flexible with travel dates to increase your chances of securing a seat.
Pro Tip:
Speed up your award research process by using tools such as Seats.Aero which feels like a cheat-code!
Emirates' introduction of the 'Gamechanger' First Class suites on the Melbourne-Dubai route offers a nice opportunity to try the product. It's definitely one of the better first class seats out there but personally I can't justify the very high award surcharges Emirates imposes. You can check out my review of the Emirates Gamechanger first class here.
Related posts
