Emirates ditches middle seat with new wider Boeing 777 business class

By David Flynn, March 5 2018
Emirates ditches middle seat with new wider Boeing 777 business class

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

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 12

This 'mini lounge' social area causes the entire cabin to feel incredibly exposed due to the lack of some sort of a partition.


I would not enjoy sitting in the seats directly behind or in front of this social area while other J pax stand around in front (or behind) of the seat chatting.

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.

sgb
sgb

Emirates Airlines - Skywards

30 Nov 2015

Total posts 731

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 1378

Announced March 2018. To be completed by December 2018.

Now that's how you do a refurb of 10 aircraft.

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

13 Jan 2015

Total posts 584

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 78

You're probably correct!!

As the article states "All ten of Emirates' two-class Boeing 777-200LR jets will shift to a 2-2-2 layout in business class". Doubt the 2 classes are first and business!

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

05 Mar 2018

Total posts 16

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 445

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 16

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


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 14

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 45

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 702

So if my maths is correct... $150 million


is $15 million per plane

and there are 42 seats in Business so... they'll spend ~$357,142 per seat for the upgrade which seems rather expensive (yes I know I'm not factoring in the new carpet/bar etc).

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

05 Mar 2018

Total posts 16

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.

Unfortunately, with this upgrade they have done nothing to improve the vile green & beige colour scheme. Having a 7thC-revival uniform is one thing, but to make the interior of your aircraft follow the same retro style is beyond words.

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 584

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.


Other airlines put 1-2-1 on 777 and A330 aircraft, so why do emirates only put a decent option on their A380. I know this is all shiny and probably very high quality inside, and with good service etc... but what a waste of money!!

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

13 Jan 2015

Total posts 584

But their A380 isn't decent...same seat width as economy

sgb
sgb

Emirates Airlines - Skywards

30 Nov 2015

Total posts 731

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.

The 2-2-2 ? well what an awful config for Business Class . Why would anyone bother with this Airline when there are far better seats on so many others. Bit of a retrograde step IMOP. Not very clever marketing at all.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

11 May 2015

Total posts 30

First world problems LOL

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

16 Mar 2016

Total posts 52

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 17

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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