EMIRATES A380 BUSINESS CLASS REVIEW: JFK-MILAN
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The A380 has been on my travel bucket list since I first spotted one at the airport in 2014. I remember seeing a British Airways A380 parked at Terminal D in Dallas and watching pilots walk over to the window to check it out. It took me almost ten years, but I finally got to fly on one. Booking Emirates A380 business class with points made it even better!
I first flew Emirates business class in 2023 and have flown it again in 2024 and 2025. This review focuses on our overnight flight from New York (JFK) to Milan (MXP), including the seats, JFK lounge, onboard bar, food, and what I’d want to know before booking it with points.
FLIGHT DETAILS:
Date flown: June 2024
Route: New York (JFK) to Milan (MXP)
Aircraft: Emirates A380
Seats: 14E and 14F, the two middle seats
What we paid: 87,000 Emirates Skywards miles + $105 per person
HOW WE BOOKED emirates a380 business class with points
I found two Emirates business class award seats about five months before our trip. After confirming the seats were available, I transferred points from my Chase Ultimate Rewards account to Emirates Skywards. The transfer was instant for me, and I went right back to Emirates to book our flights.
One important update: Chase no longer transfers points directly to Emirates. You can still book Emirates flights with Skywards miles from other eligible points programs.
If you want to book this flight yourself, read my guide to finding and booking Emirates business class flights with points. I walk through the current options step by step.
HOW TO EARN miles for emirates business class
The easiest and fastest way to earn Emirates Skywards miles are to earn points from a flexible credit card that transfers to Emirates. Lucky for us, four flexible points programs transfer to Emirates which make earning enough points business class flights totally attainable (even though we have seen major devaluations since 2023).
Emirates is a transfer partner of:
American Express Membership Rewards: 5:4
Citi ThankYou Points: 5:4
Capital One Miles: 4:3
Bilt Rewards: 1:1
If you’re looking for a card that earns miles you can transfer to Emirates, take a look at the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One Venture X Business cards. These cards earn 2x points per dollar, so your miles add up fast!
HOW TO SEarch for business class seats to milan:
Before you can start searching for flights, you need to create a free Emirates Skyward loyalty account and log in. Make sure the name matches exactly the name from the flexible points program you will be transferring points from.
I find it easier to search for flights one-way at a time. Emirates only allows you to search +/- 3 days from the date you entered on their website. If you are searching for a roundtrip flight, Emirates will show you the date range you entered award pricing for.
Stacy’s Tip: To save time, I think it’s worth paying for a monthly subscription to an award flight finder like seats.aero. You have the option of canceling at any time. This award flight search tool has the capability of searching for multiple dates at a time which is easier than searching a twelve-month calendar three days at a time.
If Milan isn’t in your plans, that’s ok. The goal is to fly business class across the pond. It’s super easy to book a cheap intra-Europe flight or hop on a train to almost anywhere.
A NOTE ABOUT REPOSITIONING TO JFK
The Emirates A380 with the on-board bar departs from JFK airport in NYC. We live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas area, which means we had to reposition (or fly) to JFK from DFW. This can be expensive if you don’t have points to redeem for the flight. We chose to fly in on the same day with a five-hour layover which gave us a nice cushion in case our flight was delayed at all.
This is a bucket list flight and worth repositioning for.
what to expect at jfk aiRport before your emirates business class flight to milan
We arrived at JFK airport about five hours before our Emirates flight. I thought this was way too much time when I booked my repositioning flight, but it ended up being just right. The terminal that Emirates flies out of was different from the terminal we landed in, so we had to change terminals (which meant leaving the secure area), walk to the AirTrain (fairly easy to find, just look for the big green signs), find the correct train to a different terminal and then wait for the Emirates check-in counter to open (which was about three hours before departure). We did not check a bag to NYC, so consider that it may take an extra 20 minutes or so to grab your bags before continuing to the next terminal.
The Emirates check-in line was very long when we arrived until we noticed that they were letting business class passengers into a roped off area. So make sure you’re standing in the right line if it’s long when you approach the Emirates check-in counters.
Check in was smooth and easy and took less than ten minutes. We did not check our bags. After we got our boarding passes, we had to pass back through another TSA security line. TSA PreCheck for the win.
what to expect at the EMIRATES BUSINESS CLASS LOUNGE at jfk airport
When you fly Emirates business class, you get access to the Emirates Business Class lounge. Since we arrived three hours early, the lounge was completely empty. We grabbed a table and had a few snacks before finding a spot to camp out in. Being this early meant we had plenty of time to explore the lounge and all of its amenities. You can choose to take a shower and change into more comfortable clothing if you wish to.
The lounge slowly filled up and was completely full within an hour of departure.
BOARDING the emirates a380 AND CABIN LAYOUT
Although there is a boarding gate in the lounge, our flight boarded from the regular gate downstairs. Make sure you’re paying attention to the time as we did not hear any announcements about our flight in the lounge. There were two lines, one for First and Business Class passengers and then a longer line for Premium Economy and Economy passengers. Once boarding began it was very quick. Since we were flying business class we got to board right onto the second level.
There are two business class cabins. There is less privacy in the smaller back cabin because everyone is walking through that cabin to get to the lounge and the bathrooms.
Upon boarding, the First-Class cabin is to your left and the Business Class cabins are to your right. There are two Business Class cabins. A larger one with rows 6-21 and a smaller one in the back with just four rows. Although the second cabin was much smaller, I feel those passengers had way less privacy because it sits in front of the lounge and bathrooms and there was a lot of foot traffic through there. There are also three lavatories by the lounge which added to the people going through the smaller cabin.
how to choose the best emirates business class SEATS on the a380
Emirates A380 business class has a 1-2-1 configuration so every seat has direct aisle access. Make sure to take a look at aerolopa before you make your selection. If you choose a window seat, know that every other seat is angled away from the window, so if you want a true window seat (that has more privacy and a window) you’ll want to refer to the seat map before making a selection.
Emirates Business Class seat map on aeroLopa.
This is a side-by-side comparison of the middle seats. If you choose a seat on an odd numbered row, you will have more privacy than if you choose a seat in an even row and there is less privacy from the aisle.
For our first trip on Emirates in 2023, we booked window seats because there were three of us. In 2024, I selected two middle seats which was super fun for us. In 2025, I booked another window seat since I was flying alone. You can’t go wrong.
The window seat in the full recline position from our first Emirates flight
Window seat: My seat was very comfortable although the entry to the seat was pretty narrow. Tons of storage by the window to put the comforter and pillows until I was ready for it. There was a pillow, comforter and a mattress bed at the seat. The flight attendants come around after dinner and offer to make your bed up.
Middle seat: This seat was exactly like the window seat except you don’t have the large storage area under the window to put your pillow and comforter, so I stashed mine in the overhead bin until I needed it.
STORAGE AND SEAT BACK ENTERTAINMENT on emirates a380 business class
The only storage for the seats in the middle is in the footwell and the small storage compartment next the seat. We were provided with water (sparkling and still) and soda at the seat. There is a seat light and handheld remote to the entertainment system. You can see in the last picture that there is also an iPad. I loved this as I could watch a movie and watch the plane route at the same time. Headphones were provided and there were two usb outlets, speaker plug and international adaptor.
AMENITY KIT on emirates a380 business class
emirates a380 business class ON-BOARD LOUNGE
Did I book this flight because of the on-board bar? Not really. But let me tell you how cool it is to be able to get out of your seat and hang out in a lounge with drinks, snacks and a big screen tv. What an experience!
Once the flight reaches cruising altitude, you’re able to walk back to the lounge for a drink, to stretch your legs or just to hang out and watch tv. The flight crew on both our flights were so kind and allowed us to take photos behind the bar. Don’t be too shy to ask if this is a bucket list trip for you! The only problem with this flight is that it departs at 10:30pm and it is only an 8-hour flight so by the time you can get to the bar it’s after 11pm.
In July 2025, I was able to fly the Milan-JFK daytime route, which was a little bit longer of a flight, and I had more time to hang out in the lounge.
They are snacks, water and sweet treats in the lounge that you have access to for the duration of the flight.
Make sure that you get the classic behind the bar photo!
DINING
Because the flight departed at 10:30pm we did not select dinner on board. You do have the option of selecting your on-board meal online before departure online, so make sure to make your selection in advance if you plan to eat on the plane. I did have breakfast which was pretty good.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If I told you that I did not want to get off this plane when it landed, I would not be lying. We had a 40-minute delay before departure, and I did not care. The seat was super comfortable especially with the mattress pad that the flight attendants set up for you. Breakfast was great, service was timely and efficient. I believe we are super spoiled now, and nothing will live up to the experience. I loved it so much that I booked Emirates again, and in July 2025 I finally got to try the daytime Milan to JFK flight.
Happy Travels!