If you’re flying Emirates to or from Australia in the near future, there are plenty of fresh updates to look out for. The airline’s refurbished four-cabin Airbus A380s with Premium Economy are already a familiar sight in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and recently started flying to Perth in October 2025.

Meanwhile, flights to Adelaide will swap to the newer Airbus A350 – a three-cabin affair that eschews First Class for a more traditional Business/Premium/Economy layout. But the latest move that will drastically improve the onboard connectivity experience is a fleet-wide rollout of Starlink Wi-Fi.

Emirates’ latest version of the inflight Business/First Class bar is now flying to Perth.

Taking aim at rival Qatar Airways, Emirates is gearing up to roll out Starlink across its entire fleet. One Boeing 777 is already flying with the new system (A6-EPF, if you’re interested), and the airline plans to retrofit up to 14 aircraft per month as the program ramps up.

Having recently flown Qatar Airways’ Starlink-equipped service, it’s hard to settle for anything less. There are no log-in screens, paywalls or tiered access – just instant, high-speed connectivity for every passenger, regardless of cabin or frequent flyer status. That’s the benchmark Emirates is now working toward.

Infographic: Emirates

The airline joins a fast-growing list of major carriers adopting Starlink, including United, British Airways and Iberia. And while unconfirmed, Singapore Airlines has already announced its intention to switch to a new Low Earth Orbit satellite provider, which many believe could also be Starlink.

One thing is certain: airlines persisting with older, slower Wi-Fi systems will struggle to keep up. Seamless (and free) in-flight internet is rapidly becoming the new industry standard rather than a premium extra.

Along with upgraded Wi-Fi, sharp 4K screens are also becoming the new standard.

What to expect onboard Emirates’ flights to Australia

As part of a massive refurbishment program, 51 of Emirates’ older Boeing 777s and 60 of its Airbus A380s will be updated with the latest cabin seats. That includes swapping out the highly unpopular 2-3-2 layout Business Class seats on the 777s for a modern (but not groundbreaking) 1-2-1 configuration by seat manufacturer, Safran.

Named the ‘S-Lounge’, it’s based on Emirates’ previous Airbus A380 Business Class seat and offers incremental design upgrades, though it still lacks the storage and privacy of some competing products.

But most Australian flights are on the Airbus A380, which will also see updates to refresh the seats and entertainment systems to the latest options. Here’s a look at what travellers can expect in each cabin on Emirates’ Australian routes.

Here’s a look at Emirates’ current Airbus A380 cabin from tip to tail.

Emirates Airbus A380 First Class

Emirates’ A380 First Class remains one of the most recognisable premium cabins in the sky. Expect fully private suites with closing doors, an opulent aesthetic, and the flagship onboard perks, such as the onboard shower.

While the refreshed cabins arriving in Australia feature updated finishes, new lighting and Emirates’ latest seat materials, the seat layout and overall design remain the same as before. There are 14 suites in a 1-2-1 layout.

Emirates First Class has undeniable appeal.
The newer model swaps the drab grey fabrics for a newer look.
Expect a 32″ screen, motorised minibar and other luxe features.
A selection of drinks appear with a touch of a button.
Control the seat functions with this tablet.

An older version of this seat flies to Brisbane on the Boeing 777, and the seat functions are essentially the same.

Emirates Boeing 777 Gamechanger First Class

Available on select Boeing 777 flights (i.e. currently to Melbourne), the ‘Gamechanger’ First Class suite is Emirates at its most futuristic. These fully enclosed suites feature floor-to-ceiling walls, virtual windows for the middle seats, temperature and lighting control inside the suite and cinematic-sized entertainment screens.

There’s no shower or bar on the 777, but the Gamechanger suite offers arguably the best privacy and tech-forward experience in Emirates’ entire lineup.

Seating in First Class on Emirates' newest plane
Emirates’ Game Changer product is the only First Class where the door extends to the ceiling. (Photo: Emirates)

Emirates refreshed Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 Business Class

Emirates’ Business Class experience varies slightly by aircraft type, but the retrofit program brings the standards of the A380 and 777 fleets up to scratch. Refreshed cabins feature sleeker finishes, updated upholstery and improved privacy around each seat. However, they still lack sliding doors or other more revolutionary touches.

On the A380, passengers still enjoy the signature onboard bar, plus direct aisle access throughout. The Boeing 777 that flies to Melbourne usually features these updated Business Class seats.

Business Class remains mostly the same as before, just with a fresher look.
A darker shade of burled wood tones down the gaudy look of before.
Each seat converts into a 200cm long flat bed.
You’ll also find a tablet and small minibar here, but storage is on the tight side.

Emirates’ older Boeing 777 Business Class

Until the refurbishment program catches up, most Boeing 777 flights to Brisbane still have Emirates’ oldest Business Class seat in a 2-3-2 layout. We suggest aiming for a flight on the Airbus A380 where possible.

Trio of chairs in Emirates Boeing 777 Business Class
Nobody likes a middle seat, especially in Business Class. [Photo: Chris Chamberlin]

Emirates Premium Economy

Premium Economy is Emirates’ rising star, and Australian travellers will see it on almost every flight between Australia and Dubai. The cabin features spacious cream-toned seats with 40-inch pitch, footrests, calf rests, six-way headrests and larger entertainment screens.

The dining experience is upgraded too, with proper glassware, plated meals and a more refined service flow. It’s designed as a comfortable step up from Economy without quite the price tag of Business. On long-haul flights, it’s certainly proving to be popular.

Premium Economy takes on a 2-4-2 layout on the lower deck.
An example of Premium Economy dining onboard.
With a seat pitch of 40″, there’s plenty of space to stretch.
You can book or upgrade with Skywards Miles.

However, Emirates Premium Economy remains challenging to book with points, as only Emirates Skywards members have access to reward seat inventory.

Emirates Economy

Even in Economy, Emirates maintains one of the more consistent long-haul offerings. Expect 18″-wide seats on the A380 and generous 13.3″ entertainment screens with Emirates’ complete ICE library.

The retrofit program will continue to roll out updated seating, modernised lighting and better charging options. That includes 4K OLED HDR10+ screens, 67W USB-C fast charging and Bluetooth audio connectivity at every seat.

Economy seats still have a 13.3″ entertainment screen.
Seats are in a typical 3-4-3 layout with 18″ of pitch.

How to book Emirates flights with points

Emirates keeps a tight leash on its reward seats, so there are limited ways to book them with points or miles.

1. Qantas Frequent Flyer

For Australian travellers, Qantas Frequent Flyer might still be the easiest way to book Emirates reward seats. You can book Economy, Business Class, or First Class awards across the entire network.

However, note that hefty carrier charges apply to redemptions in Business and First Class. Expect to pay over A$1,800 on a one-way flight from Australia to Europe.

Qantas American Express Ultimate

Qantas American Express Ultimate - Up to 90,000 bonus Qantas Points
Sign-up Bonus:
Up to 90,000 bonus Qantas Points¹
Rewards Earn Rate:
1.25 Qantas Points earned per $1 on eligible everyday purchases. 2.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on selected Qantas products and services in Australia. 0.5 Qantas Point per $1 at government bodies in Australia. After a total of 100,000 Qantas Points is earned in a calendar year, the everyday earn rate will change from 1.25 to 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent.
Annual Fee:
$450 p.a.
Offer expires
13 January 2026
Earn 70,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months, plus an additional 20,000 Qantas Points when you spend a minimum of $1 on your Card within 90 days of paying your second year annual Card Fee¹. (Offer ends 13 January 2026. New Amex Card Members only. T&Cs apply.) This card includes an annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit, two Qantas lounge passes, complimentary international travel insurance, and Qantas Wine Premium Membership (valued at $99). Earn 1.25 Qantas Points per $1 on everyday spend, 2.25 on Qantas purchases, and 0.5 on government payments. The annual fee is $450.

2. Emirates Skywards

Through Skywards, you can book Emirates reward seats in all cabin classes, including Premium Economy. However, Business and First Class awards are still subject to the same high carrier charges. Also, First Class awards are restricted to elite members only.

In Australia, the main way to obtain Skywards miles is by transferring points from American Express Membership Rewards. Keep in mind the rate is quite poor at 3:1 and is changing to 4:1 from 15 December 2025.

3. Air Canada Aeroplan

Unlike the other two programs, Emirates award seats via Aeroplan don’t incur additional carrier charges. However, the flights are priced dynamically, so you might be paying hundreds of thousands of points for a one-way award in First Class.

Unless otherwise noted, all photography by our contributor Jamie, who attended an aircraft tour in Perth as a guest of Emirates.

Emirates’ refreshed fleet and Starlink Wi-Fi set to elevate Australian routes was last modified: November 24th, 2025 by Brandon Loo