Emirates Mumbai to Dubai: Full Flight Experience

Ever wondered what it’s like to take a shower at 40,000 feet above Earth? And if you feel this experience can only be reserved for the private jetsetters, then, my friend, let me introduce you to Emirates First class, where luxury meets comfort at every step of your travel experience.

So, being a frequent flyer who has navigated through the endless loops of airline miles, cash redemptions, and loyalty programs, I wanted to put Emirates to the test on every front, from Economy, Premium Economy, Business class and the much raved about First class travel experience.

Whether you are a business professional, tourist, NRI or a frequent flyer who loves redemptions like me, this will be your complete guide to taking an Emirates flight from Mumbai (BOM) to Dubai (DBX) through all the cabin classes, including the lounge and airport experience, where and how you should use Skywards miles and when to choose the transfer partners.

The reason to choose the Mumbai-Dubai route for review is that it is one of the most frequently travelled international routes in the world and also ranks as the eighth busiest route worldwide.

We have also compared Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and First Class, not just in terms of seat comfort and in-flight perks, but also in what you’re really getting for the price or points you pay. And whether to pay by using miles or cash, and when to use Skywards for redemption and when to opt for the travel partners.

There are approximately 200 weekly flights connecting India to the UAE, and 5 Emirates flights take off from Mumbai to Dubai daily.

In 2024, Emirates boasted of transporting 51.9 million passengers overall, which includes 12 million journeys specifically between Dubai and India. Emirates has been dominating this Mumbai-Dubai sector for over a decade now.

Our aim with this article is to help you decide whether flying Emirates on this high-traffic route offers the best deal for your cash or miles. We have covered everything from booking strategies and fare trends to onboard experiences and arrival convenience at DXB.

Booking & Ticket Pricing

The Emirates pricing has always been competitive with Luxury as its USP. Pricing of a ticket usually ranges from 20000 INR to 200000+ INR from Economy to First class(refer to the chart below for a detailed overview).

It is always better to plan at least 6 to 8 weeks for cash booking and keep an eye out for the Award tickets, which get booked faster.

For award tickets, checkout Milesly Award tool- where one can find tickets from 290 loyalty programs across the world at the same time and on the same page. It gives you the flexibility to choose the best available option for you. You can also check cash prices for the same.

With high fuel surcharges, it is recommended to use Skyward miles only for redeeming First Class award tickets, as they can’t be booked by any other partner program.

For booking the other classes, it is better to opt for Mileage Plus/Aeroplanes as there is no fuel surcharge and requires less mileage as compared to Skywards for the same route.

If you really want the best of both worlds, that is, the best deals and less taxes, opt for transferring your CC Reward points – almost every major bank gives ( Amex, HDFC, Axis, HSBC, CITI, Chase, etc. )   you an instant 1:1 transfer to Skywards Emirates. Also, keep a lookout for a 15-20% (extra miles) transfer bonus, which can offset your redemption by a huge margin and save a lot of miles/cash for you.

The off-peak seasons are May, June and September when ticket pricing is low, and you also get some great value by booking during the weekdays, like Tuesday and Wednesday.

Here’s an easy reference chart to make it easy for you to decide:

Airport Experience (Mumbai – BOM)

We usually recommend reaching the airport 70 to 90 minutes earlier than departure, but with the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Terminal 2 (T2) in Mumbai, there are so many options for you to spend your time away that you will never regret coming early to this airport.

The T2 terminal has been an aesthetic marvel, and there are a lot of famous paintings and architectural aesthetics to gawk at, plus you can do a lot of duty-free shopping.

The airport is well known for its efficiency, and with Emirates, the premium experience is a notch higher right from the check-in.  Emirates has a dedicated international section at the T2  with separate check-in counters for Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and First Class. Business and First Class obviously get priority check-ins and baggage handling.

The baggage allowance is 40 kg – 50 kg for Business and First class and 25 kg -35 kg for Economy and Premium Economy, depending on their fare type. This is way better than most airlines running on this route.

Coming to the best part at the last, the Lounge access; so for Economy passengers who have Priority passes or have credit cards of HDFC Infinia/ Axis Magnus, get access to Loyalty Lounges or Adani Lounge (which are contract lounges). Depending on the peak hour rush, you may or may not be allowed access.

Emirates First Class and Business Lounge is located near Gate 45, which gives a perfect blend of relaxing environment with a shower for people who want to rest before flight, free Wi-Fi for someone who is working on the go, you can enjoy hot meals (veg as well as non-veg) and premium drinks like Dom Perignon.

The boarding is typically smooth with priority lanes for their premium customers.

Inflight Experience

Economy Class

Emirates is a beacon of luxury and comfort when it comes to its economy cabins compared to other products in the same class. Emirates pampers its economy passengers also with a lot of amenities and good food. Travelling from Mumbai to Dubai in Emirates A380 is a decent experience, it is quite spacious with a 3-4-3 arrangement.

The seats are ergonomically designed with adjustable headrests and are 18 inches wide, and give ample legroom of 32 inches. You get a pillow, blanket and a headset. So, your 3.5-hour journey is very comfortable compared to other airlines.

Also, their award-winning ICE entertainment system, which gives you access to 6500+ movies, podcasts, games, music, etc. on a 13.3-inch 4K adjustable HD touchscreen, aids in letting your time literally fly out of the window. (pun intended). Wi-Fi needs to be purchased through their app in Economy, but the charges are nominal. And if you are a Skyward member, you get to check your messages (WhatsApp) for free depending on your elite status.

The food is served hot with two options, Indian and continental dishes, with bread, salad and dessert along with Alcoholic and non- alcoholic beverages as accompaniment. The cabin crew is attentive and polite as well as quick in responding to calls.

The overall experience of flying Emirates Economy is a 7/10, according to us.

Premium Economy Class

Emirates’ Premium Economy is the sweet spot for someone who wants the Business class comfort but doesn’t want to splurge a huge amount. It is definitely a step up from the Economy class, and even with a significant increase in the fare price, it will not disappoint you.

You get reclining seats with 40-inch legroom and 19.5-inch width. You get great lumbar support and also a footrest, which eases sitting for 3.5 hours to a great extent, so I would highly recommend this upgrade to the elderly.  The configuration is 2-4-2, which gives you a somewhat cabin-like feel.

As amenities, you get a large pillow, soft recycled blanket, eye shade, socks, dental kit and a bookmark. The ICE system gives you similar options as Economy with better Wi-Fi service, albeit at a nominal charge. The screen size is 13.3-inch HD TV.

What sets Premium Economy apart from Economy is getting priority boarding, on boarding you get a welcome drink (usually  Chandon Sparkling wine), and you get to enjoy a multi-course meal with beverages at par with their Business class served on Royal Doulton China ware, which makes the experience exclusive.

You will share a common washroom facility, which is spacious and has amenities like hand wash, lotion, and paper cups to spool and spit after brushing.

The only con that we see that Emirates can improve about its Premium Economy is allowing lounge access to its passengers, which is currently not available. This makes us rate it an 8/10 experience.

Business Class

Emirates’ Business Class is a perfect blend of comfort, sophistication and world-class service, which makes it the most sought after airlines for Business professionals as well as Luxury travellers.

The luxurious journey starts even before you board the flight as Business Class passengers get complimentary chauffeur-driven service to and from the airport and also access to the Emirates Business Class Lounge, both at Mumbai and Dubai. You can enjoy a relaxing spa, take a shower, and have gourmet buffets, and even if you are on a workcation, you get free Wi-Fi access and quiet zones to work. You also get to choose from a wide variety of Champagnes and wines to pair with your food. The details are usually mentioned in your boarding pass, and you can get the details at the check-in counter. You are also entitled to priority boarding and baggage handling.

Once you board the flight, you are greeted by the Crew who are friendly, helpful and chatty. They address you by your name and make sure that your journey is comfortable throughout. The best part of travelling Business Class is, of course, enjoying the luxury of lie-flat seats which completely transform into a fully flat bed of 2 meters in length.

There is ample legroom of about 48 inches while seating and the 1-2-1 configuration gives every passenger access to the aisle. You get a private cabin of your own with doors, and you can keep a Do Not Disturb button on if you want to nap throughout the flight.

But, I would recommend you not to miss the fine dining experience, which feels like you are at a restaurant, just 40000 feet high. Luxury indeed! Getting served in Robert Welch-designed Royal Doulton fine bone china on a linen tablecloth. You get Champagne on arrival as a welcome drink and have on-demand dining and beverage service throughout the flight.

You also get access to the Onboard Lounge and can mingle with other guests or order a cocktail you fancy and take a cozy corner to relax and unwind. And if you do not feel like moving from the comfortable lie flat bed with plush mattress, you can opt to catch up on the latest news, or your favourite movie(6500+ options to choose from) on the larger 23-inch HD screen with noise cancellation headphones.

You also get a personal Bulgari amenity kit which has a dental kit, shaving kit(for men), deodorant, face and body lotion, lip balm, tissue, mirror and hairbrush.

The only experience that can beat Emirates’ Business class experience(which we rate at 8/10) is Flying Emirates First class. So let’s hop on to the First class BOM-DXB flight!

First Class

If you want to experience the ultimate in air travel luxury, Emirates First Class should be at the top of your list. Both Boeing 777 and A380 give you an out-of-this-world private jet-like experience with their fully enclosed floor-to-ceiling privacy door. The only difference is that Boeing 777 doesn’t have an onboard shower and bar facility, which makes travelling on A380 a unique experience.

Even with the 1-2-1 configuration you still get the window seat feel thanks to the virtual window feature, the seat reminiscent of Mercedes Benz S – Class (23 inch wide and legroom of 86 inches)  turns completely into a comfortable bed (2 feet ) and you even get temperature control and mood lighting ( imagine seeing twinkling stars on the roof ) to get you the comfy and relaxing feel. The ample space for storage, you get a personal leather-bound book with an ink pen to write, a 32-inch HD TV to enjoy the award-winning ICE entertainment feature with 6500+ movies, games, podcasts, etc to choose from.

You get a Bulgari amenity kit which includes shaving kits, dental kit, deodorant, lip balm, perfumes, hand mirror, hand and body lotion and hair brush. You get a mini bar with your favourite drinks stocked in it, and you can visit the onboard bar to get any cocktail that you fancy or just to network with other passengers.

Which brings us to the food, you have on-demand dining available and are served gourmet four-course fine dining meals made by top chefs on Royal Doulton china and fancy linen. We recommend you try their world-famous fine Caviar and Dom Perignon Champagne or  Dalmore King Alexander III single malt. If you do not fancy these, then you do have a wide variety of Scotch, Whisky, Rum and Wine to choose from. There are 10 varieties of Dilmah Fine tea and Arabic Coffee as non-alcoholic choices. Their Chocolates are a must-have!

The best part about Emirates First class is their onboard hot shower service; you need to prebook the time with the crew, and they also help you with the functioning. You get about 5 minutes to finish your shower, and the water intermittently turns off and on.

Aside from the in-flight luxury experience, Emirates First class passengers also enjoy a chauffeur-driven ride to and from both airports, plus complimentary First or Business lounge access, which serves a gourmet buffet, quiet zones, a shower, a business center and spa. And, of course, Priority boarding and baggage handling.

Overall, the entire experience is a memorable one, and we would rate it a 10/10.

Arrival in Dubai (DXB)

Dubai International Airport (DBX) handles over 80 million passengers annually, and it is the 5th Busiest airport in passenger numbers. Their Terminal 3 is a dedicated Emirates Hub; the service is something to vouch for. Immigration is smooth and efficient thanks to ample staff as well as smart gates.

Business and First Class passengers get priority baggage handling and quick check-outs as well as chauffeur-driven transport to their respective destinations in Dubai. For those in transit, they have an option of using their complimentary  Emirates Lounge access to relax, unwind and shower. It stretches across the entire concourse. We would especially mention looking for the Moët & Chandon Champagne Lounge, which gives a better experience, and you can try out their varieties of Champagne tasting as well.

As for the Economy passengers, the wait for Baggage clearance is about 20 to 30 minutes, and they can access lounges like Marhaba or Plaza Premium for a fee or through select credit cards or Priority Pass during transit. For passengers who are visiting Dubai, they can take the Dubai Metro, which is directly accessible from Terminal 3, offering an affordable and efficient ride to central areas like Deira or Downtown. And if they prefer a private vehicle, then taxis are plentiful and metered, as well as ride-shares like Careem and Uber are also available.

Thus, DXB delivers in terms of being efficient and smooth for travellers across all cabins.

Comparison Table: Air India vs. Emirates vs. Vistara.

If you are still wondering if there are any other Airlines on the same route that give a better experience than Emirates, then here is a ready reckoner comparison chart for you to decide:

Final Verdict: Is Emirates Worth It?

Emirates Airlines has built a strong reputation of being the go-to airline in terms of service, reliability, efficiency and luxury.

There is something for everyone, from Luxury travelers, business professionals who can choose the exquisite First/Business class suites, to budget travellers for whom Emirates Economy gives the best experience on the route.

Our advice would be to have an eye out for fare deals, redemption opportunities, especially for First/Business class travel. Use the Skywards, Aeroplane and Mileage deals to make the most of your points. If you already have an Amex MR, SBI Card, ICICI Emirates Skywards Cards or Citi ThankYou card, transferring points to the Skyward program is a breeze. If you do not have the time to do all the research by yourself, let Milesly step in, and our expert team can help you with your bookings.

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We do not see why anyone would not love to repeat their experience with Emirates, which has never disappointed me in terms of making my trip smooth and luxurious. Do share your experience with Emirates? Are you planning a trip on the BOM-DXB route soon?  Let us know which route you would want us to cover next.

 Adios, Till we cross paths again, travel smart with Milesly hacks!