Goodbye Neck Pillows: We Tried Emirates’ Game-Changing New Headrest

Only three Airbus A350s already have the new headrests installed, but Emirates plans to have them on all 25 by the end of the year.

The airline also said it plans to put them on most of its Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 jets, starting from 2027.

Economy passengers may not pay the most, but they make up the majority of the customer base. So it’s important that airlines show they still consider them worth investing in.

On Emirates’ A350 cabin, the seats are arranged in a 3-3-3 formation, and have a good amount of leg room. The seat pitch, or distance between the same spot on one seat and the one in front, is 31 to 32 inches.

“Emirates never rests on its laurels when it comes to customer experience and we have found a way to significantly improve the comfort for Economy Class passengers, especially those travelling long-haul,” Emirates President Tim Clark said in the press release.

“The U-Dream changes the game if the person wants to sleep — by supporting the neck in full,” he added. “No more neck pillows needed.”

“It’s another innovation that shows our commitment to customers and cements our Economy Class as the best.”

This means you can fall asleep without your head falling forward or sideways, waking up with a pain in your neck.

The headrest also moves vertically and tilts to align with passengers of different heights and body types.

Emirates’ A350 is the first time that electronic window shades have been installed across all the cabins.

In premium economy and business class, there are dual blind/shades, so you have the option of a translucent shade or a blind that blocks out all the light. In coach, there’s only the blackout blind.

In its press release, the airline said the installation of the headrests is “backed by a significant investment.”

It’s worth noting that Emirates has the advantage of state ownership, backed by Dubai’s wealthy government, unlike US airlines.

United Airlines has also impressed with its upgrades to economy class. Like on Emirates, customers can connect their own Bluetooth headphones to the in-flight entertainment.

Plus, United has a self-serve snack bar in economy on its coming A321XLRs, and a convertible bed in economy called the “Relax Row” planned for its Boeing widebodies.

Emirates’ business model relies on a hub-and-spoke route network. This means transporting passengers from around the world to its hub in Dubai, then connecting them to their destinations on another flight.

So, it’s all about long-haul flights. And if you’re about to spend hours in an economy seat, small upgrades in comfort could be important when choosing which airline to fly with.

The Iran War has led to a drop in passenger demand as some customers look for direct flights to avoid a layover in the Gulf.

Emirates also competes with other Middle Eastern airlines that operate similar networks.

While they all have elite business-class suites, the U-Dream gives Emirates a leg up on the competition for economy.