Five secrets of Emirates’ Airbus A380 onboard lounge

Every Airbus A380 in the Emirates fleet is home to an onboard lounge. Some call it a bar, for short – but the tail end of an Emirates superjumbo is more than just a place to fetch a drink.

If you’ve flown Business Class or First Class on Emirates’ A380s before, you’ll have undoubtedly seen this space for yourself. Yet, there are a few tricks and secrets to getting the most out of your time here. There’s even something special hidden here for those who know to ask – and it’s not a drink. Intrigued? Read on!

You can often sit in Emirates’ A380 lounge before departure

Okay, so this is technically an ‘inflight’ lounge. But when you’re travelling on the A380’s upper deck, you may be able to relax at Emirates’ onboard lounge while you’re still at the gate. It’s a handy thing to remember if you’re travelling as a group and want to continue the party vibes from the lounge in the airport terminal. Of course, if you’re flying solo, that’s fine too.

Personally, I love to do this – and I often sit towards the back of the Business Class cabin to make that easy. There’s undeniably something special about boarding an aircraft, dropping your bags and sitting somewhere that’s clearly not a typical airline seat. Particularly so, at the seats on the left-hand side with the table. The feeling is very ‘private jet’.

We’re still at the gate in Dubai and I’ve already settled in with a glass of Champagne.

This shelf gets added after take-off to expand the standing area. You can literally meet at an emergency exit!

I’m one of the first on board this flight from Dubai to Melbourne, so there’s time for a Rosé before bed as well.

Just be mindful of a few things while enjoying this amenity on the ground. Only certain drinks are available before take-off, so you’re generally limited to what’s on offer as the welcome drink. Typically, there’s water, orange juice or Champagne – but cocktails and the like are usually an ‘after take-off’ thing. That’s mainly because airlines often need to pay tax on any alcohol opened on the ground, and the alcohol for inflight consumption is usually stored separately.

Be aware too that during boarding, the crew may need to use part of the lounge to help with their pre-flight service rituals. For instance, on my last flight, one crew member is diligently placing amenity kits onto trays for colleagues to carry through the cabin. In other words, if you’re going to be here before departure, just don’t be in the way.

Emirates’ First Class passengers can send premium drinks back to the A380 lounge

Emirates’ Airbus A380 inflight lounge is shared by both Business Class and First Class passengers. But here’s the thing. The drinks stocked here are generally from the Business Class menus. That’s fine if you’re travelling in Business – but what if you’re swanning around in First Class and want to stretch your legs?

Sure, you could ‘downgrade’ your drink selection… but there’s a better option. If you’re planning to wander back to the lounge from First Class, let the crew know. They’ll usually slip a bottle of whatever you’re drinking under the bar and introduce you to the bartender.

Let’s say you’re sipping on the Dom Perignon. When somebody else orders the ‘Champagne’, they’ll get the standard Business Class drop. But when you do the same, your glass will be subtly filled from the secret bottle under the counter. This is one of those things that’s a little hush-hush, so it’s best to employ some subtlety.

If you’re flying in First Class, the crew can slip a bottle of Dom back to the bar. [Photo by Brandon Loo for Point Hacks]

You might have a harder time sending the Paradis back to the bar, though! [Photo by Brandon Loo for Point Hacks]

The choices offered here are otherwise in line with the Business Class offering.

What happens if Business Class and First Class passengers are mingling together, and order the same drink at the same time? It seems, that’s at the discretion of the cabin crew. With the usual disclaimer of only expecting what’s standard of your cabin, let’s just say, your friend in Business Class might be pleasantly surprised… wink.

There’s more to Emirates’ A380 lounge than meets the eye…

Yes, there’s a cocktail bar. Yes, there are seats. But there’s also a giant TV at the back of Emirates’ A380 onboard lounge. My first experience with Emirates’ sky-high lounge was over 10 years ago. Back then, the screen would typically be set to the moving map. How tame!

These days, the cabin crew seem to have a bit more fun with it. By extension, so do the passengers. After all, the TV is larger than any personal inflight entertainment screen. For that matter, Emirates’ superjumbos also come equipped with live satellite TV. And just like the screen at your seat, the giant tele can display the same feeds.

As it happens, my last flight on the A380’s upper deck was from Dubai to Melbourne. While in the air, the Pies were thrashing the Demons… and we could watch it unfold live at 35,000 feet. The same is true of many major sporting events like State of Origin, the Australian Open and of matches further afield.

Why watch the game on the smaller seatback TV when there’s a loungeroom-sized panel in the onboard lounge?

It seems it was mostly Demons fans on this Melbourne-bound flight. The lounge cleared out before the end of the third quarter.

Come to think of it, have you noticed how spacious Emirates’ newer style of inflight lounge is compared to its original? Look closer. You might realise there are no overhead lockers in this section, either.

When Emirates first launched its A380 inflight lounge, the airline didn’t know whether it would even be popular with passengers. In fact, having the lounge comes at the expense of removing eight Business Class seats from the plane. That’s a lot of foregone revenue not just per flight, but over the life of the aircraft.

Emirates President Sir Tim Clark tells me that overhead lockers were fitted along the sides as a just-in-case. If Emirates were to scrap the inflight lounge, the plane could be reconfigured and returned to service in just 96 hours with those extra seats added in. But once Sir Tim realised the lounge was a hit, future A380s would come without the lockers in the lounge area.

The inflight lounge has its own separate food menu

You really don’t need any more encouragement to wander back and experience Emirates’ A380 lounge. But if you need another excuse to stretch your legs, know this. There are food options here that aren’t served in the main cabin.

Now, don’t expect a full meal at the lounge. In fact, passengers aren’t able to consume their regular inflight fare here. I’m told that policy is to help keep the lounge available for more passengers to enjoy during the flight. But there are nibbles and some hot dishes.

Sandwiches are a staple – and if you can’t find one you like, just ask the crew. Extras are normally hidden in a very subtle fridge below the big TV. Cakes, treats, fruit and other bites are also scattered around.

Your at-seat menu includes a reminder that there’s more to explore, but the detail is near the back.

You can also find the options on a menu at the bar itself.

On the hot food front, there are usually a couple of staples. One is a penne pasta dish, while the other is braised chicken with rice. Funnily enough, I’ve never found the stomach space to try these. Given the main meals are quite comprehensive, I’m usually already too full.

Still, it’s nice to see a couple of hot options. Travellers who choose to sleep through a meal might wander here later for a midnight snack. You can see what’s available on your flight by looking for the menu on display within the lounge. The back of the menu at your seat also usually has the details tucked away.

Psst: Say the word ‘Polaroid’

There are plenty of opportunities for a good selfie in your Business Class seat. But Emirates’ Airbus A380 onboard lounge can also be the perfect place for a cheeky photo or two.

A photo on an aircraft? Okay, that’s not much of a secret. Here’s where it gets fun. When the crew can sense your interest or excitement, they may offer to take a photo of you standing behind the bar. On some flights, I’ve even seen Emirates’ signature cabin crew hat make an appearance in these photos!

But that’s not all. Yes, the crew can use your smartphone to snap something for social media. But if you want a physical memento, ask for a Polaroid. This is one of those ‘secret things’ for passengers in the know. There’s a camera on every Emirates plane. Don’t be shy! Your snap will even come in a little cardboard frame for you to take home.

Some members of the crew might even be keen to take a photo with you. Hi Ruby, nice to see you on EK408!

I bump into cabin crew member Ruby, who’s originally from Melbourne but now lives in Dubai.

My obligatory snap standing behind the bar on a flight into Sydney.

Just say ‘Polaroid’. The crew might even proactively offer to take one for you.

There you have it. There’s a little more to Emirates’ Airbus A380 onboard lounge than initially meets the eye.

Also read: Emirates Airbus A380 Business Class review (Dubai – Sydney)

Featured image courtesy of Emirates. Photography by Chris Chamberlin, who travelled as a guest of Emirates.