When seated in coach, it’s easy to daydream about all of the comfort and amenities available in first class.
As seats in economy have shrunk, and airlines have begun adding fees for basic amenities, the temptation to spend the money to upgrade to business or first class gets stronger every time you board a flight.
That is, until you see the price. Jack’s Flight Club notes that a business class flight can cost between $3,000 and $5,000, while a first class ticket can go up to $12,000 or higher. As the average cost of a domestic flight is typically less than $500, shelling out that much for a better experience is a tough pill to swallow.
But if you spend all that money on a ticket, will the experience justify the cost? A user on TikTok says that some of the “fancy” amenities you see in first class really aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.
What’s Wrong With This First-Class Flight?
In a video with over 708,000 views, TikTok user @officialcreditclub shows a shower on an Emirates flight.
“I paid $10,000 for this flight. and they only give you 5 minutes to shower,” the user writes in the text overlaying the video.
In the caption, the user says that it was still “100%” worth it. He also clarifies in a comment that he actually spent £500 (~$690 USD) on the flight. However, his page is advertising a service that claims to help people get credit card points for high-end travel, so his specific claims regarding spending and price should be taken with a grain of salt.
Do Some Flights Really Have Showers In Them?
Yes. As noted by One Mile At A Time, the Emirates Airbus A380 has two shower suites in the front of its first-class cabin.
After making a reservation for a shower, you will be invited to the shower suite, in which you’re allowed to spend 30 minutes. The TikToker is correct in noting that people showering on the flight are only given 5 minutes of water, hot or otherwise.
Apart from a shower, the suite has a toilet, a sink with a vanity mirror, heated floors, and a range of complimentary toiletries.
“The Emirates A380 onboard shower spa offers a water supply of five minutes per passenger, ensuring that every first-class customer has a chance to use the shower while conserving water during the flight,” an Emirates spokesperson tells BroBible via email. “Shower spas feature plenty of hot water and heated flooring with adjustable temperature settings for optimal comfort.”
When you return to your seat after a shower, Emirates airline staff provide you with a plate of fresh fruit and offer green tea, if desired.
Sounds nice? Well, it comes with a pretty hefty price tag. According to NerdWallet, a one-way first-class flight from Los Angeles to Dubai via Emirates can cost more than $20,000.
Can You Get A First-Class Ticket For Cheap?
Technically speaking, yes, you can get flights like these on a budget—and you don’t need to pay for a course to learn how to do so.
Most online guides for “maximizing credit card points” focus on one strategy: “churning.”
“Churning” is where one signs up for a credit card just to receive the sign-on bonus. For example, some cards will offer 100,000 points if you spend several thousand dollars within the first months of signing up. One can transfer these points directly to an airline and use them as miles for flights.
On top of this, one can also structure their spending to maximize points. For example, they can use cards that offer good point returns on travel to buy flights or taxis, or they can use their credit card’s spending portal to get high point returns on their purchases.
There are benefits and drawbacks to this method. If one isn’t careful, they can harm their credit or spend more in credit card fees than the benefits they get from them. On the opposite side of that coin, farming points can allow people to take flights and receive other benefits for little or no cost—apart from the costs they have to put in to get those points in the first place.
@officialcreditclub Was it worth it 100% #travel #fyp #firstclass #emirates #shower
Commenters Aren’t Sympathetic
In the comments section, many users didn’t think that the 5 minutes of water was a real issue.
“Well obviously, planes dont have unlimited water,” wrote a user.
“I’d honestly rather a vip area to shower after I land,” offered another.
“Were you expecting an everything shower??” questioned a third.
“Being poor has saved me again from situations like this,” joked a further TikToker.
BroBible reached out to @officialcreditclub via TikTok comment and Instagram direct message and to Emirates via email.