This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
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The guy at check-in was very friendly and on seeing our Irish passports told us his girlfriend was from Dublin. We told him we wouldnt hold it against him [:p] and when he looked a bit bemused, explained we were from Cork and naturally looked down on Dubliners. We also tried to cajole him into checking our bags all the way through to Cork and although he tried, the computer said no [:D] and so we were condemned to reclaiming our bags at LHR something we have never done on our return flight. He explained where the lounge was and stuffed our tickets and invitation into a ticket wallet (Ive so many I could paper the room with them at this stage!) and as we were leaving I heard him say excitedly to the guy in PE check-in that we were going all the way to Ireland. It made it sound as if we were going to the ends of the earth and I wondered if we should stock up on provisions, hire a dog sled or buy a map and compass or something. Incidentally Dnata is the handling agent for VS in Dubai. They probably also do the recently introduced Aer Lingus flight but he obviously hasnt worked there. Hed probably wet himself with excitement! [:0] Still, he was lovely!
From there we used the Fasttrack to Passport Control where the First/Business Class line was very strictly monitored. Anyone not in those classes was rapidly turned away. A young guy in front of us was obviously trying to chance his arm and remained there but the eagle-eyed guy at the desk spotted him and tried to turn him back. He pleaded to a passing official but to no avail he was sent to the back of the economy queue. Then it was our turn. We were asked if we had enjoyed our stay and would we return and when we answered both in the affirmative, he delightedly stamped our passports and boarding cards with such vigour and enthusiasm that my boarding card flew up into the air and executed a perfect double somersault before fluttering gently to the ground beside him. If it had been in the Olympics it would have scored a perfect 10 [:w]
On the way to the second security point I spotted something wrong with my boarding pass. We had pre-booked 1A and 2A but my pass said 2C. Aer Johns was OK and I was a little bit miffed at the change but decided to deal with it in the lounge. Once there it was speedily changed back to 1A.
We left our bags in the lounge and decided to explore the Duty Free where we made some purchases before going on to explore the rest of the duty free area. To be honest it was much smaller that I though it would be given the huge marketing it receives and Im not sure if it is really any cheaper for anything other than cigarettes and alcohol.
Back at the lounge Aer John helped himself to a drink and we ensconced ourselves in a corner overlooking the tarmac. The Gulf Air lounge is quite small but nicely divided up into areas so there is some element of privacy. After a time Aer John wandered off to the computer and I was content to people-watch. A family which included three young and boisterous children came in bearing the tell-tale red ticket wallet but went to a different part of the lounge so did not bother me. At one stage I went off to visit the Ladies, leaving my duty free on my seat and when I returned a mother and two young children had decamped in the same corner and mum was just about to shift my stuff so that she could sit there. [:(!] I quickly and silently reclaimed my seat and so the family moved slightly away. Dad was missing and Junior 1 kept on fretting he was going to miss the plane in spite of mums reassurances to the contrary. He then started fretting that the school would not know that he was not there and wanted mum to ring the school to tell them. Mum told him it would be all right but to my surprise a few minutes later I heard her calling them. Phrases about tails wagging dogs flitted through my mind. [;)] Aer John had left his drink beside me and so to get a break I took it over to him as he was still at the computer (on V-Flyer) and at that stage he told me that when they had come into the lounge they had gone through my duty free bag. [:(!] He was just going to get up when I returned. At this stage dad arrived laden with McDonalds Happy Meals for the kids. He promptly moved the suit carriers of the guy sitting opposite me who had gone to the Gents so that he could sit down [:(!] and then spread the repast over the table in front of them. By this time Aer John had rejoined me and as it was nearing boarding time we decided to head for the gate.
As we left the lounge we heard the boarding announcement for VS401 and arriving at Gate 18 we found the Priority Boarding area clearly marked. We went over but could not find the way in and asked an official. He told me that they were just opening up a machine and it would be a few minutes. We knew we were ahead of any lounge announcements so did not worry unduly, but he obviously did. Eventually, after a few minutes it was deemed that there were not enough staff there to man the extra line and so he placed us at the front of the main line, much to the fury of those behind us. Quick as a flash the Priority Boarding sign was turned around and interestingly the official came over to apologise once more and told us there were not enough police on duty to man the machines. It made me wonder if the police actually monitor the security checkpoints since there was no-one in an obvious uniform. [:?]
Once through our third security check and in the boarding area, the tailfin of our plane could be seen and all of a sudden there was a loud tinkling sound as a shed-load of pennies dropped! [B)] Of course I was given 2C. The plane was our old friend from our last IAD flight, V-FLY and if my memory served me correctly, one of the non-Suited planes still left in the fleet. Oh dear, what is the world coming to? 3 out of the last 4 UC flights not in Suites. [V]
Shortly after that priority boarding was announced and as we had strategically positioned ourselves near the door we were first in the queue until a young man (with a red boarding card) suddenly stood in front of us. Two can play that game and so I reclaimed my position. [:p] They were pre-boarding a wheelchair passenger and we were allowed to board only after the wheelchair was brought back from the plane. Once freed from the shackles of the boarding area we hurried to have our worst fears confirmed. Dubai boards through two doors and so we scampered along the jetway, onto the plane only to be confronted with the purple and red J2000 seats. [:0] The crew, seeing our faces, told us that they too were shocked to see them and all we could do was be grateful it was not a night flight. I felt especially sorry for the cabin crew who told us that friends had joined her in Dubai. They had been due to fly out in First on Emirates the previous day and she had persuaded them to stay an extra night and fly back with the Suites. She had lauded the Suites on high and nearly dropped when she had arrived on the plane to find the old seats!
Unlike our outbound flight the crew were very chatty and attentive at this stage in the flight. Seeing Aer John and I in 1A and 2A we were told that it was a very light load in Upper and if someone came into the seat beside either of us then they would negotiate with them to move. There then followed an I dont want to sit with her I dont want to sit with him interlude (We do love each other most of the time) after which we decided we would wait and see. In fact someone did come into 2C so just before take-off Aer John decamped into 1C. The loads were very light and in fact there was only 1 seat occupied in the middle section and there were about three or four empty seats in the other areas. Oh, yes, the families. They were both seated in the area that would normally have been the snooze zone if it were a night flight and the kids made great friends with each other. [y]
We seemed to be ready for take-off at the appointed time and indeed the jet bridge to economy had been removed. However there was some delay and eventually an announcement came on to say that two families in economy had brought buggies or push chairs on board which had been tagged and should have been handed up at the door to go into the hold and would they please come forward. We waited and waited and at one stage Aer John, who was now in 1C looked back and reported that there was an argument going on as the family did not want to give up the buggy! [:(] Eventually however it was resolved and we took off some 40 minutes late. After take-off we flew past the Hilton Dubai Creek where we had spent many a happy day before first of all flying out to sea before turning north for home.
Although the cabin crew who had met us on boarding the flight had told us she would be looking after us, she was the one whose friends were on the flight and so there had been a discreet swap with a colleague who looked after us superbly. At this stage I have to put it on record that although the cabin crew had friends on board the flight, if she had not told me that I would not have known. We have often read in TRs about crew spending all their time with their friend to the detriment of the service but in this case it was not so. They were superb. [y]
After take-off we had the drinks round and I was offered a second G&T which I thought would be bad manners to refuse [;)] (it was made easier in the knowledge that Aer John is now driving and he was going to drive home from ORK. WooHoo!) The food was absolutely gorgeous the best I have ever had on a flight. I chose wild mushroom soup followed by rack of lamb and cheese and biscuits. Superb! The wines were a bit indifferent even though I am not a connoisseur. The reds seemed all a bit samey and I would have liked the choice of a Shiraz or a Merlot. Still they were pleasing enough, but not the best I have had. OK, so I am giving top marks for the food but if Aer John were doing this report he would give it zero! He likes plain food without sauces. He might have liked the lamb and should have tried it but was put off by the mustard crust. He tried the Iranian chicken thinking it would be like the chicken we had had the previous night in the desert but it turned out too spicy for him. In fairness the cabin crew went to see if there was anything in economy for him but to no avail, so he ended up with bread and ice-cream. I had to feed him in LHR. Maybe I should have sent him down to McDonalds in DXB!
We both got treatments and I had a drink at the bar. Oh, I should mention that on both this and the outbound flight there was a good selection of magazines and papers far better than on previous flights. We also got letters from SRB apologising for the absence of the Suites (a few miles would have been nice, Sir Richard) although I am still bemused as to why the second part of the letter was in Thai as opposed to Arabic. [?]
Notice anything missing? Yep! The FSM. Although I saw her at the beginning of the flight and I think it was she who gave out the SRB letters, she was conspicuous by her absence, which was all the more noticeable after our outbound flight.
Prior to landing Fast Track vouchers were handed out and we had a relatively smooth landing before being released into he heaving mass of T3. As I said earlier this was the first time we had used this route. Fast Track was in fact Slow Track and it was galling to see people in the ordinary immigration queue with economy stickers on their luggage carrying Dubai Duty Free bags alongside us and in many cases getting out ahead of us. Once through, though the luggage had started to come through. Aer Johns clubs were already there and my case was trundling around so in no time at all we were on our way to T1 for food for Aer John and our flight to ORK and home. Aaagh!
