Airlines have long been innovating on how to improve the passenger experience in first class and business class. Carriers have begun offering individual suites with sliding doors, lie-flat seats, large screens, and even onboard lounges. A shower, however, is generally an unrealistic proposition, as it adds a massive amount of weight due to the amount of water needed on board. In addition, an onboard shower requires a large amount of specialized plumbing, adding more weight and complexity.
In general, airlines have deemphasized onboard amenities in favor of in-seat features, as larger lavatories and lounges take up a lot of floor space without providing much tangible benefit. Today, it’s the exception rather than the rule to find amenities outside of the suite. But with the Airbus A380, many airlines have reintroduced onboard lounges, with several carriers offering lounges and bars even when this amenity is not offered on any of their other aircraft. Two airlines, however, have gone a step further.
Two Large Shower Suites For First Class Passengers
Emirates is the airline most famous for its A380 shower suites. These are located in the forward crown area of the fuselage, which has a lot of space but cannot accommodate permanent seating, and they’ve been present ever since Emirates first took delivery of the A380 in 2008.
They’re among the largest lavatories that you’ll find on any airliner, and beyond the shower section, they’re opulently equipped. First class passengers can use the shower once per flight with a 30-minute reservation. Passengers receive up to five minutes of running water, and flight attendants coordinate with the passengers to best accommodate their needs.
Each shower spa is massive, with a separate sink, vanity mirror, toilet, bench, and a full-height mirror, as well as the shower. The shower suites feature a display with a moving map, as well as heated floors, a hairdryer, and a dedicated shower attendant. Passengers visiting the shower suites are greeted by a tray filled with toiletries, while the rooms feature hand soap and fragrances.
First class passengers receive a tote bag to transport items between the shower spas and the suites, and both of them also include an oxygen mask. Passengers are instructed to remain in the shower suites during turbulence, with there being a separate bench inside the shower with grab handles. During the shower, passengers can view on a display how much time remains before the water cuts out.
The Emirates A380 is famous around the world for features like the opulent shower spas, as well as the first class experience. In truth, the actual first class seats aren’t the largest or most innovative; Emirates installs 14 of these in the same space where many airlines install eight or 12. However, they still include awe-inspiring features, like massive screens, motorized privacy doors, a vanity mirror, a snack basket, individual air vents, a personal wardrobe, and a separate tablet.
What truly makes Emirates’ first class unique is the service. Flight attendants are known to be friendly and attentive, while the airline offers dine-on-demand. Passengers can eat whenever they want, and the airline caters a large number of meals on each flight to ensure that passengers get their first choice. In addition, the beverage list is extensive, with Emirates holding an exclusivity agreement to serve Dom Pérignon champagne onboard its flights, with only first class passengers receiving it for free.
Emirates’ ICE entertainment system is frequently cited as being the best in the world, while first class passengers receive access to the shared bar behind business class. First class passengers can even ask flight attendants to take Polaroid photographs. The seats themselves are familiar and no longer groundbreaking, but Emirates’ A380 first class remains one of the most beloved products in the industry. What’s more, Emirates has lucrative award pricing based on distance.
Few airlines offere a first class product. even fewer a complete suite. Let’s find out which carriers are still offering the most luxurious experience
One Shower For First Class And One For The Residence
Etihad Airways is the only other airline that offers an onboard shower today. These are present on all nine of the carrier’s A380s, available exclusively to first class passengers. However, the experience is hardly the same as on the Emirates planes. In the same space where Emirates installs a single shower spa, Etihad installs two lavatories, only one of which offers a shower, and these are the only two lavatories that are specifically designated for first class passengers.
It’s still a unique product, but availability is more difficult since there’s only one for nine passengers, whereas Emirates has two for 14 passengers. Passengers receive five minutes of running water, while the shower suite includes a separate sink counter with a vanity mirror and toiletries. However, the spa lacks a heated floor, while Etihad does not staff an onboard shower attendant. It’s also a much smaller space than the Emirates shower spa, making for a less impressive experience.
Etihad also installs a separate shower spa for the Residence, a private three-room suite that slots above first class. The living room section of the Residence is located opposite the front row first class suite on the left side, while the lavatory and bedroom are located in the forward crown area opposite where the two first class lavatories are located. The shower suite for the Residence is fairly similar to the one for first class, although it does have heated floors.
Whereas the Emirates A380 first class is exceptional for the overall experience rather than the qualities of the individual suite, Etihad’s first class product on the A380 is one of the most remarkable in the world. Dubbed the ‘First Apartments’, they were the largest first class suites in the world when they debuted in 2014, as they’re configured one-one with a single aisle. To date, only Singapore Airlines has replicated this configuration, with its latest ‘Singapore Suites’ on the A380 that debuted in 2017.
Each Apartment has a separate seat with a bench that can transform into a bed, while the privacy screens separating Apartments 1H/2H, 3A/4A, and 3K/4K can retract to create a partial double bed. Each Apartment has a square footage of 39 square feet (3.6 square meters), and each seat is 30.3 inches (76.96 centimeters) wide, while the Apartments also feature a 24-inch (60.96-centimeter) screen. In addition, there’s a vanity mirror, while first and business class passengers receive access to the Lobby, located between the two cabins.
The Residence is the most opulent product in the entire aviation industry. It’s reserved for one passenger, who can also add a companion if needed, and it consists of a living room, the previously-mentioned shower suite, along with a separate bedroom. The living room essentially consists of two side-by-side first class seats with a 32-inch (81.28-centimeter) television, while the bedroom has its own 27-inch (68.58-centimeter) screen. The bed itself is 82 inches (208 centimeters) long and 47.5 inches (120 centimeters) wide.
Discover the best business class on the giant Airbus.
Even the Etihad shower suite is much larger than a typical lavatory, but on most aircraft, floor space is at a premium. It would take up too much space on even an aircraft like a Boeing 777-300ER to install a lavatory that can accommodate a shower. The Airbus A380’s forward crown area, however, is massive yet cannot be used for seats, making it a prime spot for amenities.
In this same space, most airlines simply install oversized lavatories, while Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, and Qantas install a lounge in this area. More importantly, the A380 has a massive payload capacity. The added weight of the water would dramatically cut down on how much payload a 777 or Airbus A350 could carry, but the impact is much lower for an A380.
The same is true of the plumbing for the shower. While it’s still a high cost and only two airlines in the world have done it, the A380 is the only aircraft that makes the concept feasible. In addition to Korean Air, Asiana, and Qantas, Emirates and Etihad also install lounges on their A380s, but these are located in the passenger cabin on the upper deck.
Qatar Airways also installs a lounge on the upper deck, while Korean Air has a second premium lounge on the upper deck in addition to the one in the forward crown area. Once again, the A380’s floor space makes this feasible, as airlines can still install massive business class cabins with upwards of 70 seats, even with a lounge.
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