EK 016 LGW-HYD 26th July J/F

This was a work trip to Hyderabad and Bangalore, out and back in four days and goes:

EK016 LGW-DXB 26th July
EK526 DXB-HYD 27th July (4 a.m. departure)
9W518 HYD-BLG 28th July (Jet Airways)
9W512 BLG-HYD 28th July
EK526 HYD-DXB 29th July
EK009 DXB=LGW 29th July

First time in India, first time on Emirates, first time in Dubai (airport) ...

Overall impressions of the Emirates business service as follows, rather than a detailed TR for each leg:

SERVICE - was patchy. From London to Dubai it was poor with food items not delivered, drinks forgotten and the like, IFE problems, large gaps in service, although the pursor cheered me up after a third request for fizzy water was forgotten by bringing a Pichon Longueville Baron from first which was happily quaffed. From Dubai to Hyderabad and the return service was excellent, as was it from Dubai back to London

SEATS - covered in hideous fabric like some v old fashioned sofa, business class on the 777 was comfortable and spacious, the business seats on the Airbus 330 were narrower, like PE sized but appeared to have more pitch than the 777 at 50-60' or so, first on the 330 was very good and the almost lie flat much appreciated at 4 a.m.! All electric adjustment is good too. I did find the business seats to be a bit hard though, and the under bum cushion quite long and therefore difficult to sit comfortably in. Overall though quite good.

FOOD and WINE - variable to very good. Delivery and presentation is excellent, though the glasses are too small. Choice and quality of food was good (however I missed out on the Howard Long competion of how many bottles of DP I could consume because I did first only on DXB-HYD-DXB on which flights it was not offered). Sample menu from Hyderabad to Dubai for lunch:

1) cold canapes
2) arabic mezze or salmon fillet (warm garlic bread was a choice but unfortunately it was cold when it reached me)
3) salad
4) lamb loin (delicious) or chicken chabsat (looked dry and boring) or
wok fried prawns or grilled halibut
5) rasberry and chocolate tart or banana toffee pudding
6) cheese (good selection, nicely served and in good quantity)
7) fruit

When good the food service was excellent, I particularly like the cheeses and puddings on a cart and served seat-side.

The wine selection from London to Dubai was:
Moet et Chandon
Joliver Pouilly Fume
Wetshof Chardonnary South Africa (very good)
Jaboulet Hermitage Les Jalets (good)
Hawk Crest Cabernet Sauvingon (very good)

From Dubai to Hyderabad it was:
Duval Leroy Fleur de Champagne (much better than I thought it would be)
Vaucher et Fils Meursault
Wente Riva Ranch Reserver Chardonnay - California
Merrill Research Chardonnay
Ch Yon-Figeac St Em Grand Cru 1998 (I had to have it even at 4 a.m. and it was very very tasty)
Murrietas Well Venimia
Domaine de Chevalier 1997
Taylors 97 Port

Overall the wines were excellent, good choice, plenty in quantity and good quality. Virgin take notes!

IFE - found the selection of films to be poor and on the first leg my monitor was broken,also on the first leg the IFE was constantly rebooted and was unavailable for more than an hour mid flight, didn't bother me though. I suspect given the sensibilities of the countries Emirate flies to they deliberately don't have challenging, adult (not p**n I mean) movies, so I looked at very little and mr ipod was much used. Liked the forward and downward camera but the main screen had a very irritating habit of interrupting the view with advertisements and BBC news summaries (which got a bit boring six hours into the flight). On the final leg we had Emirates new AVOD which does have huge choice, though again not very interesting films - I particularly like the every number one single in the British charts option and happily listened to songs from my dancing hay day!

AMENITY KIT - they don't do one!!! Eyeshades and socks provided in plastic wrapper then items on a shelf in the loos including razors and shaving foam, tootbrushes and paste, combs and moisturiser. One thing I did like was that there was a roster in the galley requiring the crew to check the loos every 45 mins and they were always clean and well stocked.

LOUNGES - the new Emirates lounge at Gatwick is very pleasant, well designed (though has a poor view) with good facilities and food and drink. The first lounge at Dubai was OK but I felt the Heathrow Clubhouse was much better, the business lounge at Dubai frankly needs a makeover. At Hyderabad there is a shared lounged and it was much appreciated, it's simply the most horrid airport I've ever been to and my advice: always ensure you visit the loo before leaving your hotel.

TRISTAR car service also available to and from Gatwick.

DUBAI AIRPORT - it's like a scene from Bladerunner at 2 a.m., vast hi tech and mind blowing, maybe disorientated! The duty free was not cheap however, with cigars being the exception (very reasonably priced and the no. 1 doesn't know I have a stash so I'll be in trouble when found out!).


Overall I was very impressed, and all this came at a price less than the equivalent in PE on Virgin to Mumbai. Will definitely do it again and probably will in three weeks time.

As to India, well I'm still in shock at some things and in awe at others. The day before we arrived in Hyderabad there had been monsoon rains and there was much damage, mess, water and disruption - it did not help first impressions. Bangalore had a different and much more comfortable feel to it. Also noted that BA now fly direct to Bangalore so there's another option! Jet airways was OK apart from the pilot nearly ditching us in a field on the return from BLG-HYD! Though travelling on an Airbus 320 with 150 people all eating curry at breakfast will take some getting used to!