Emirates ditches middle seat with new wider Boeing 777 business class
By David Flynn, March 5 2018
Emirates has finally dropped that hated middle seat from its Boeing 777 business class cabin – but only on the long-range Boeing 777-200LR jets, which this week debut with a wider business class seat.
All ten of Emirates' Boeing 777-200LR jets will shift to a 2-2-2 layout in business class as part of a US$150 million update which will also see them lose the first class cabin and become a two-class aircraft.
While the 38 business class seats have the same design as those of their Boeing 777-300ER cousins – including a refined champagne-coloured finish and diamond stitch pattern on the full leather cover – they've gained an extra two inches in width.
The make-over also introduces a 'mini lounge' social area with a self-serve bar featuring snacks such as crisps, sandwiches and fruit, as well as drinks.
Emirates has also removed the central overhead bins to give the business class cabin "an airier and more spacious feel", although this will obviously put carry-on space at a premium as passengers in the middle pair of seats will have to share the same bis as used by those sitting by the windows.
The airline expects all ten of the long-rage Boeing 777s to be refreshed by the end of 2018.
Emirates has confirmed its forthcoming Boeing 777X jets, due from 2020, will sport an all-new business class seat which could adopt a 1-2-1 layout so that every passenger enjoys direct aisle access.
Emirates President Sir Tim Clark has said the Boeing 777X business class seat will “resemble what we have on the Airbus A380s upstairs", with the current Boeing 777 seats serving as “test for the new interior design of Emirates."
Read more: Emirates plans new business class seat for Boeing 777X
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Dragonair - The Marco Polo Club
10 May 2015
Total posts 11
This 'mini lounge' social area causes the entire cabin to feel incredibly exposed due to the lack of some sort of a partition.
10 Jan 2017
Total posts 5
Just flew the other day on the a380 business class. The social area on that is very noisy... and that’s at the very end of the cabin. Could only imagine what it would sound like without a partition.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 729
Hope they don't install a large screen TV in that mini lounge social area like in the A380 bar. At least there is no additional lounge area seating, so hopefully punters will move on quickly.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1374
Announced March 2018. To be completed by December 2018.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
lipstick on a pig
05 Mar 2018
Total posts 1
By looking at the pictures, seems that the First Class is removed on the 77L
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
26 Jun 2011
Total posts 76
You're probably correct!!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Mar 2018
Total posts 15
Are you sure? the images indicate 2 rows behind the bar, and 4 infront. This is the same amount of rows which they currently have.
Cathay Pacific - Asia Miles
25 Apr 2013
Total posts 542
Wrong – they currently have two rows in front, four in the back. Keep in mind that these new seats are fully flat and completely forward facing (so Emirates can't fit as many rows as they could their angled flat seats, or as many as other airlines' angled reverse herringbone seats, etc.), so four rows is perfectly reasonable to denote a two-class configuration.
28 Nov 2012
Total posts 93
what routes do they fly this plane on?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Feb 2014
Total posts 439
As far as Australia goes, EK430 to Brisbane and uncommonly EK424 to Perth.
American Airlines - AAdvantage
26 Nov 2015
Total posts 3
Aren't both of these flights now operated by 700-300ERs?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Mar 2018
Total posts 15
Perth to Dubai 6am flight.
28 Nov 2012
Total posts 93
So here you are sitting behind this 'BAR' peeps opening chip packets, pouring drinks in front of you....or sitting in front of the 'BAR' a bit of turbulence and you get a wine or worse split on your head??? LOLS
01 Feb 2018
Total posts 40
This is "bar area" is similar set up with the Qatar A350. Without the partitions, it certainly gave the whole cabin a more airy feelings. During the couple of flights I had with Qatar A350, people just got what they need and settled back in their seats. I never seen anyone loiter around the area, much different usage on the A380 Bars.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Feb 2017
Total posts 15
You better believe it JPC67! Similar layout on Qatar 787 in J class, we flew this recently, Doha to Edinburgh & the 'social area' is the same but with 1 row behind. Bar however is just behind last row of the main J class cabin. Standing there u see right over the 2 middle seats & if ur so inclined, look at whatever theyre watching, reading, doing etc. Didn't take long before someone else knocked a glass of champs over the back of 1 of those seats & guess what, the passenger in the seat was none too happy.....what can go wrong, will go wrong!! Good like Emirates but u need to think ahead of the pack not with/behind it!
19 Nov 2012
Total posts 44
The airline’s B777-200LRs currently offer a three-class configuration, with eight first class seats, 42 in business class and 216 in economy, for a total of 266 seats.
The new layout will offer 38 of the new business class seats (down four seats), and 264 seats in economy (up 48 seats), for a total of 302 seats
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Oct 2013
Total posts 699
So if my maths is correct... $150 million
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Mar 2018
Total posts 15
Economy is being renovated too. So Its for the whole plane.
23 Aug 2016
Total posts 3
The $15 million per plane is not just for the business class, that is only a part of the upgrade, though it may be a large cost. I would imagine replacing all the seats, entertainment system, toilets, kitchen facilities would be included in the cost.
Cathay Pacific - Asia Miles
25 Apr 2013
Total posts 542
Actually, you're in luck – Emirates is upgrading their economy seat covers on the 777-200LRs to match their 777-300ERs, with sky blue tones and white highlights.
23 Aug 2016
Total posts 3
That's a little better than the proposed Emirates example above, but I imagine it's still a pastel scheme, which died in the 90s -- why do so many airlines keep reviving this design corpse?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
new seat covers...woopty doo
QF
02 Oct 2012
Total posts 45
Emirates out there leading the way with 2/2/2 in J class on a 777. I can hardly contain the excit
QF
02 Oct 2012
Total posts 45
The excitement that should be
17 Mar 2017
Total posts 14
brand new business class, costing a fortune... ditching the terrible middle seat but still not providing direct aisle access to all passengers. This 2-2-2 style configuration is so not really acceptable when compared with the various 1-2-1 styles as well as more creative options like the Q-suite.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
But their A380 isn't decent...same seat width as economy
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 729
Are the drinks just bottles of water, or a stocked Bar?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Mar 2015
Total posts 232
IMOP Emirates Business Class is one of the worst amongst the Airlines it flies in competition with.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 May 2015
Total posts 30
First world problems LOL
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Mar 2016
Total posts 54
Removing the middle seat is an improvement, I doubt the snack bar will cause a huge problem it is more a grab and go arrangement versus the visit and stay for a while true bar on the A380. Have flown a couple of cabins where the middle bins have been removed and so far it hasn't caused any issues. I think the new 777X with all direct aisle access will be a great thing.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
07 Mar 2018
Total posts 18
All very well but when will any Mid East carriers bow to demand for Premium Econ. Sick to death of flying EK or Qatar Econ and no possibility of upgrading on points as a QFF member out of Perth. The QF fanfare for the EK QF alliance simply doesn’t cut it when you have to get into Africa regularly. Prem Econ works for my Corp budget but nowhere in sight yet! Perth travellers have had such a raw deal from QF internationally. Hardef and harder to justify the loyalty.
12 Apr 2017
Total posts 12
Does anyone know if these will come to Brisbane or are we stuck with the old 777's for a while longer
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