I got upgraded to Emirates First Class, it was the shock of my life

Airports tend to be the source of endless gripes, but this traveller had zero complaints when she discovered at the boarding gate that she'd been given a surprise upgrade.

I fly a lot; it’s a requirement of my job. I subsequently spend a disproportionate amount of time complaining about airports, be it constant renovations, late planes, dirty facilities, harried staff, endless customs queues or luggage delays. 

It irks me because time is precious. Airports (and some airlines) that don’t seem to care enough about their customers baffle me when flying somewhere should be one of the most exciting things ever.

So I had the shock of my life recently when something good happened to me at the airport. The unicorn of travel experiences, if you like – I got upgraded to First Class.

I’d love to share the secret to this dream scenario, but it had nothing to do with how I smiled, or dressed or looked. In fact, I didn’t even have to ask.

As I passed through the gate in Dubai to board an Emirates flight to Amsterdam, it buzzed and spat out a new ticket. The attendant casually told me I had been upgraded.

Flying has never looked better than when you get upgraded to Emirates First Class.

I scurried off with a creeping sense of Imposter Syndrome before they could stop me and say it was all a big mistake. But once I walked in through the aircraft doors and turned left, I found my first class “aura” and was determined to Have It All.

I said yes to scheduling a shower, and an Arabic coffee with dates to balance the flavour, all before we had even taken off.

I said yes to the endless Dom Pérignon (Emirates is the only aircraft to serve it, as my attendant Milton from South Africa via Portugal proudly told me) and the unlimited bowl of caviar, with sides of blinis, chives, crème fraîche and chopped eggs (whites and yolks separated, of course). All delivered with silver service and white gloves.

The only two words you really need to know on Emirates First Class: Yes please.

I also said yes to the stylish Hydra Active “moisturising pyjamas” and fluffy thick slippers (which I kept BTW).

I ate my through the personal basket of chocolate, nuts, mints and chips. I played with my desk and illuminated vanity mirror and spritzed myself with the complimentary Byredo facial toning mist regularly.

Most importantly, I had to tell someone. So I texted my father pictures of it all to annoy the heck out of him.

Who flies like this? More people than you think. Emirates is the world’s largest operator of international First Class travel, offering 26,800 seats a week, and all are private suites. And I can vouch that if you can pay the thousands of dollars required, you’ll get more than a stale pie!

A shower in the sky is all part of the Emirates First Class experience.

The shower was a large space with fluffy towels, Bulgari toiletries and plentiful amenities like hairdryers. I landed happy and refreshed. Oh, why can’t life be like this all the time?

When we disembarked, feeling fabulous, a colleague who had also been upgraded told me that several people had been bumped into First Class because Business Class was oversubscribed. It was also Easter Sunday so perhaps it was a case of being in the right place at the right time.

One thing I am certain about – it will be a long time before I complain about airports again.

Originally published as I got upgraded to Emirates First Class, it was the shock of my life