Section 8. c. Higher Class of Service
i. If a higher class of service is authorized on a deadhead with less than 10 scheduled block hours, such service shall be booked in Business or First Class at the Company's option, subject to availability on the scheduled flight. ‡
ii. If a deadhead has 10 or more scheduled block hours, the travel shall be booked in the following order based upon availability on the scheduled flight:
(a) First Class (discounted);
(b) Business Class (full fare or discounted);
(c) First Class (full fare).
Had this bite me on a HKG-FRA Cathay flight. Cathay doesn't give us discounted first class on all routes, hence it's booked in Business. So you have to specifically ask Global if it is an Emirates discounted first vs. full fare business.