Emirates' Boeing 777 business class refresh keeps 2-3-2 layout

Emirates' Boeing 777 business class refresh keeps 2-3-2 layout

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by David Flynn | November 12, 2017

Emirates will refresh its Boeing 777 business class seats from 2018, but this minor facelift won't mean dropping the oft-criticised 2-3-2 layout and its inconvenient middle seat.

The move – revealed alongside the launch of new Boeing 777 first class suites – comes barely 18 months after the Gulf airline and Qantas partner unveilled new-look Boeing 777 lie-flat business class seats (below) in March 2016.

The changes appear to be exceptionally subtle, however, and intended to give the seats a slightly more consistent look against those first class suites which Emirates says were inspired by the Mercedes-Benz S-Class series.

For example, there's a different woodgrain pattern on the privacy dividers between the seats as well as around those massive 23-inch HD video screens (which can be overwhelming because your seatmate's screen remains well inside your own field of vision).

Emirates also tells us the revamped seat includes a slimline USB-C port – as used on an increasing number of smartphones and laptops – alongside the conventional USB-A jack, so that's definitely a nod to the tech-toting business traveller.

Overall the refresh certainly doesn't draw down that 'business class bling' factor, as passengers still face acres of that familiar faux woodgrain-effect plastic wrapped around the seats.

However, Emirates CEO Sir Tim Clark confirmed a next-generation business class seat with a 1-2-1 layout would feature on the forthcoming Boeing 777X, which the airline expects to see flying in 2020.

Clark described the 2018 refresh as "the last makeover of this generation of seat” for Emirates’ Boeing 777.

Read more: Emirates plans new business class seat for Boeing 777X

emirates business class

David Flynn

David Flynn

david@ausbt.com.au / @djsflynn

David Flynn is the editor of Australian Business Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
 

21 comments


  • john hauser

    talkscheap

    12 Nov, 2017 05:22 pm

    Plentiful fake woodgrain like a 1980's Toyota Crown and usually a crowded long bus rife to the terminal is a long way from premium
    Member who gave thanks

    lm1

  • moa999

    moa999

    12 Nov, 2017 05:30 pm

    They took bling factor from a 10 to 9, whereas a 3 would have been more appropriate
    No member give thanks

  • Jeffrey ONeill

    sydboy007

    12 Nov, 2017 05:41 pm

    If they sold the seats at a fair discount, but they sell that middle seat for plenty of $$$
    No member give thanks

  • Nick Sydney 348

    Nick Sydney 2

    12 Nov, 2017 05:44 pm

    Well one cannot mistake it for anything but Emirates bling
    No member give thanks

  • LoveToFly

    LoveToFly

    12 Nov, 2017 06:36 pm

    Nice enough looking seat but 2-3-2 is no good in today’s market. Even QF are going 1-2-1 and even BA (eventually) would choose and have done many times etihad when the 777 are compared, to be honest even the A380 for etihad is ahead of emirates (minus emirates awesome bar)
    No member give thanks

  • Scott Rawlings

    sra35

    12 Nov, 2017 06:56 pm

    How can they be serious? Not sure why they would wait for 2020 and the 777X to match what is now basically the industry standard of direct aisle access for everyone in business class. They’ll still be flying these seats until what 2023 or beyond by they time they roll over their 777-300ERs, considering they don’t seem motivated to refit their older aircraft with their new product.
    No member give thanks

  • Moksh Sharma

    msharma37

    12 Nov, 2017 09:44 pm

    See you in 2020, Emirates!
    No member give thanks

  • Brayden

    ThePerthTrav

    12 Nov, 2017 11:43 pm

    The seats look nice, the middle seat doesn’t
    No member give thanks

  • smit0847

    smit0847

    13 Nov, 2017 09:38 am

    A dreadful uncompetitive seat that should be avoided.
    No member give thanks

  • hwle

    hwle

    13 Nov, 2017 10:14 am

    To clarify, do we know if these refreshed seats will be retrofitted across all of Emirates' B777-300ER aircraft, or will it only be on newly delivered aircraft?
    No member give thanks

  • Phil Melville

    PhilADL

    13 Nov, 2017 10:17 am

    Who would pay $6-7k for a return flight to Europe to sit 7 across in business class and be stuck looking at that hideous plastic wood? So many more better options available.
    No member give thanks

  • Ian Duncan

    Ianrduncan

    13 Nov, 2017 10:20 am

    2-3-2 Business Class? Tel 'em they're joking.
    No member give thanks

  • morco

    morco

    13 Nov, 2017 10:46 am

    Truly awful

    The promotion of lovely Suites does not fool any business class passengers....I hope

    Emirates? Avoid !!

    No member give thanks

  • Mike Fisher

    Rasta Man

    13 Nov, 2017 11:34 am

    We used to fly PER-NCL(UK) with Emirates every year for past 8-9 years & copped the 777 J class seats on most of these trips (until the PER-DXB got the A380). DXB-NCL still flys the 777 with this below par 2-3-2 layout. This year we’ve gone Qatar to EDI (Scotland), saved ourselves $2+K each on the J class fare & paid for the Qatar chauffeur service to drive us EDI-NCL. Worth it for the 200 pounds for the chauffeur & a lovely drive from Scotland to Newcastle, given the overall savings & in my opinion a better hard & soft product than EK!! We’re going back again in Christmas & looking forward to it. See you in 2020 EK.
    No member give thanks

  • reeves35

    reeves35

    13 Nov, 2017 11:35 am

    Emirates is living proof that lots of money does not equal lots of style.
    No member give thanks

  • bl812

    bl812

    13 Nov, 2017 01:45 pm

    as they say-you can put lippy on a pig but it's still remains a pig-compare this with Singapore or Qatar or Etihad and clearly there is no competition -the 2-3-2 just won't make it this modern age when the airlines get most of their revenues from business class pax-a poor pathetic attempt for the same or more price than the competitors
    No member give thanks

  • Alvin Tse

    074061

    13 Nov, 2017 02:42 pm

    It would be neat to see these refreshed colour tones on the A380 business class seat.
    No member give thanks

  • grov

    grov

    13 Nov, 2017 03:27 pm

    Got stuck with the two middle seats after a last-minute change from the 380. Weren't as bad as expected, but we were tired and just wanted to get home. Having said that, there is no way I would pay $1-2k more to fly to Europe with these seats when I can fly with better seats, better service and a lot cheaper with Qatar.
    No member give thanks

  • Azri Azmi

    azriazmi90

    13 Nov, 2017 05:23 pm

    its ok to use for shorthaul but not for medium and longhaul
    No member give thanks

  • traveller90

    traveller90

    13 Nov, 2017 08:35 pm

    EK have lost the mark with this decission and will pay for it with lost revenue loads in their 777 J cabins. Point upgrades may fill the cabin - revenue Pax ?. They need to live with this for the next 4+ years. I wonder who lost their job with this one!
    No member give thanks

  • Rod Harmer

    Rod H

    16 Nov, 2017 08:06 am

    On my last flight with EK I had to endure the middle seat next to a 13 year old who played video games for most of the 13hr flight. In spite of the miserable divider his screen was glaring in my face at all times. The seat itself was poorly designed and narrow and quite uncomfortable.There's no doubt about it EK's J class seats are terrible! There are so many operators with far better seats around so EK is well off the list for me and all of my colleagues. Very poor indeed.
    No member give thanks

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23 May, 2019 01:14 am

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