Review of Emirates flight Dubai → New York in Economy

EK 203 DXB-JFK (Dubai->New York/JFK)
DEP DXB 02:25 30 JUN 2013
ARR JFK 07:45 30 JUN 2013
Flight Duration: 14:20
Aircraft: A380-800


Following my flight from Nairobi to Dubai (EK 720 NBO-DXB) and about a 4-hour layover in DXB, it was time to board the A380 flight from Dubai to New York. First time I boarded an A380 was through a Korean Air flight from Hong Kong to Seoul-Incheon. However, since it was a red-eye flight, I spent most of the flight asleep. This time, it would be a 15-hour long flight, plenty of time for me to experience the A380. This flight would also mark my second time ever flying with Emirates.
I was already checked into my flight for JFK when I received the boarding passes in Nairobi Airport. I passed through the securities and customs (there was a bit a long line for the customs). After securities and customs, I headed up toward the concourse B. My flight tonight would be leaving from gate B15 at around 2AM local time.

DXB's windows configuration made it quiet difficult for me to plane spot at night. Otherwise, I thought the architecture of the concourse was nicely done.

Many of the passengers seemed of Indian-descent going back to US (most of them holding US passport).

Boarding bridge.

Zone F is perhaps the first class. The Economy Class zones were up ahead.

The immense size of A380 is clearly apparent here.

A big Emirates logo on the cabin wall.

Economy class cabin front section.

On Emirates A380s, the entire main deck is comprised of 399 economy seats.

I like seating toward the tail-end of the plane. That way I can be one of the first passengers to board the plane, giving me some time take pictures. Bad thing about it is that I would be one of the last ones to disembark. And on an A380, the disembarking process can take a while for those seated in the back.

My window seat, 83A.

The AVOD system was a little different from the one I saw on the B777-200 flight from Nairobi. It bigger, better, and newer.

Flight attendants for today's flight were of 13 different nationalities, all of them with ability to speak English and their own native languages.

Getting ready for push-back.

I liked the details of the windows on Emirates A380. The only problem I have with the A380 windows is that the windows looks big on inside but is small on outside. This layout makes it a little harder to look outside. I'm definitely not a fan of A380 windows.

There were airshows available through the AVOD system. The camera views included the ones on the tail, belly, and nose.

Emirates' AVOD = ICE entertainment system.

I decided to watch Argo for the first time.

Another view of the Emirates' A380 windows.

Push-back started around this time.

The cabin interior mood lighting shifted.

Another A380 next to us.

See ya later DXB!

And the plane took off to the northwest, toward the Persian Gulf.

Tallest tower in the world, Burj Khalifa, is visible in this picture.

The menu for today's 15-hour long flight to New York/JFK

The choices for dinner:
1. Chicken Cacciatore - tender pieces of chicken thigh marinated with parmesan and classic cacciatore sauce, served with creamy plain mashed potatoes and seasoned peas and beans
2. Baked fish - topped with Middle Eastern Saffron sauce served with zerach berry rice and vegetable stew.
3. Aloo Shimla Mirch (Indian)- Potato and pepper curry stewed with spices, served with steamed basmati rice and toor dal.
*The appetizer was mixed bean salad and the desserts were apple and almond cake.

The choices for breakfast:
1. Chive Scrambled Eggs - with grilled bratwurst sausage, baked beans and sautéed potato cubes.
2. Cheddar Cheese Omelette - served with sautéed spinach leaves, fresh button mushrooms and potato herb cubes
3. Vegetable Upma (Indian) - Moist sautéed semolina dish with aloo bahji and poori
*Croissant and Fruits would be served along with breakfast.
*Between the two meals, a pizza would be served for snack.

Cabin crew getting ready to serve dinner.

Argo's epic ending got be excited at the end. Coincidentally, my plane was crossing over Iran Airspace as I was watching the movie.

Today's flight route map.

Two hours after take-off it was already starting to get bright outside.

I chose the baked fish for the dinner service.

I apologize for the lack of lighting on this picture.

The meal was great. The baked fish was very crisp on outside, and delicious in inside. The saffron sauce worked out very well for this lovely dish.

As the day brightened outside, the flight attendants asked all passengers to close the windows.

The sunlight was catching up to the plane. For the entire duration of today's flight, the local time would be morning for all of the places the plane was to fly over.

We were about to leave the Iran airspace.

It was also time for me to sleep, since I had to be well-rested before landing into New York.

Dark cabin interior.

Some five hours of sleep over, I started to smell something from the galley. The flight attendants were going around to distribute pizza to the passengers.

The pizza wasn't bad. It's was a typical frozen pizza that was probably reheated during flight.

I spent the next 30 minutes walking around to stretch and take some pictures.

The windows on the A380's main deck rear doors.

Staircase that leads to upper deck business class. It was blocked off.

Photo taken from the rear galley toward the front of the plane.

Same view, different side.

Panorama shot of the rear section economy class.

Restroom looked very nice.

After several more hours of sleep we were in Canadian airspace already.

And the breakfast services were started.

The choices for breakfast:
1. Chive Scrambled Eggs - with grilled bratwurst sausage, baked beans and sautéed potato cubes.
2. Cheddar Cheese Omelette - served with sautéed spinach leaves, fresh button mushrooms and potato herb cubes
3. Vegetable Upma (Indian) - Moist sautéed semolina dish with aloo bahji and poori
I ended up choosing the Chive Scrambled Eggs.

The dish, which looked pretty good to me.

Crossing over to American airspace.

First time in the USA in 6 months!

New York is down there.. just not visible due to the clouds.

JFK Airport is visible down below.

Rockaway Beach.

The plane steered direction above Atlantic Ocean before starting the approach into 22L.

Another 180 degree turn above Queens.

Runway 22L is visible in the front.

It was one of the best landings I've ever felt (or didn't feel..it was that smooth)

Terminal 4 is visible in the front.

I arrived at the same gate I used to board TAM flight to Sao Paulo earlier this year.

It took a very long time for me to disembark.

Walking toward the border protection and customs.

Terminal 4 tarmac scene.

The lunch for the day was Chipotle. I missed this food.

Manhattan from my buddy's apartment.

Fourth of July Fireworks in New York 2013.


Overall, Emirates was a great airline to fly with. The most memorable part of the airline experience was the food. The catering was done very well for the economy class. Other than that, the flight itself was very uneventful, since I slept most of the duration on the flight. The IFE system onboard was adequate, and the huge screen and responsiveness of the touch screen was great. I didn't encounter problem at all for the IFE onboard. Flight attendants were very courteous; I don't have much more to say since the only time I ever interacted with them was boarding, meal services, and disembarking.

I would definitely fly with Emirates again. My two flights with them (EK 720 NBO-DXB & EK 203 DXB-JFK) proved to me that they are one of the best in terms of service in Economy class. If I could I would also try to experience their first class suites.

Thank you for reading my flight report!
More of my flight reports are available below:
www.flightsinsider.blogspot.com