Emirates is already making some service cuts to save on costs and is selling first class lounge access to customers not traveling in first to boost revenue.
They may not be done tweaking their rules to monetize some of the higher-end services that Emirates has available. Reportedly Emirates is considering several more moves to boost revenue.
There is already talk of what else Emirates can sell to further bolster its coffers through cross selling. Options are said to include:
Business Class passengers paying to use the onboard shower,
Chauffeur car service for economy passengers in Dubai,
Premium meals and beverages available to order.
Emirates is one of only two commercial airlines offering showers onboard Airbus A380 aircraft. The other it Etihad, and Emirates’ shower suites are far larger and nicer.
There’s certainly plenty of time during Emirates long haul flights where the two showers at the front of the first class cabin aren’t in use. However when no one is using the shower spas for a refresh, they’re the primary lavatories in the first class cabin (there’s also a lavatory at the back of first).
What’s more, this would involve business class passengers entering the first class cabin. It would have to be done on a very limited basis and discretely.
Of course we haven’t seen the new Emirates first class configuration yet (which one imagines will involve fewer suites). If shower suites are maintained but moved to the back — rather than front — of the first class cabin it might wind up less intrusive. I wonder what a shower in the sky would cost on an a la carte basis?
(HT: Live from a Lounge)
When mere C pax are ambling about the F lounge, no one particularly knows it. But EK will face a challenge hiding the fact that the C hoi palloi are using F amenities like a shower. I submit it compromises the brand.
I have a feeling this will backfire. It will only take people so long to figure out that they can buy a business class ticket and all of the first amenities for far less than the price of a first class ticket.
Agree with other commentators.Those lavs are in pretty continuous use during the daylight hours. Since there are two dedicated staff to maintain them, that signals the traffic they endure. It’s not just the shower and the use as a lavatory, it’s also a place to change clothes, do hair/makeup/shave etc. Since they are at the front of the cabin, you can go up there to stretch your legs, have a quiet conversation and enjoy snacks at the front bar area located between them.
[You can use the back bar area with the Business class PAX, but your FA will need to bring your champagne bottle to the bartender since they don’t pour that back there]
Policing restrooms is something that FAs simply don’t do unless the violation is repeated and obviously by one PAX. Move those shower suites to the back, and they will be overwhelmed by Business class travelers, and short of a bathroom key card given to First class PAX (and thus degrading the experience) it simply won’t work. Hope the brand takes a good hard look at this; hope it’s wishful thinking on the part of those flying Business.
Who really needs that shower anyway? I rather shower as long as I want and with a lot more space around me in the Lufthansa FCT/FCL. Never really understood the hype around Emirates and their stupid shower.
I mean, am I as a pax in F that stressed out and time restricted that the only shower I can use is onboard my plane?!
Onboard showering seems a great idea to me. Wishing all the best to Emirates.