This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
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Don't get me wrong it's a place we wanted to go to and we're pleased we went but it's expensive, traffic is appalling, there are are more building sites than there are finished buildings and apart from the area around the creek the place has no soul at all. In fact if you took the arabic signs away you could think that you were be in any city in the States which is cheaper and can offer just as much if not more.
Anyway I digress, we were up at 5.30am and grabbed a last breakfast on the ship before collecting our bags and heading off to meet our driver. We used Prime Limousine when we arrived and for the return and I have to say they were very good and highly recommended. The driver got us to the airport just after 7.00am and after going through the first stage of security we arrived at the PE desk behind a few others.
Now over the last few years our flying arrangements have gradually drifted towards the front of the plane and in general we have flown UC most of the time but I do apply some loose criteria to this choice. First if it's an overnight flight and second if there's a decent CH at the departure airport. Since the return from Dubai had neither of these we decided to save a few quid (it would seem that Mrs M subsequently decided to spend the savings in the Gold Souk) and fly back to Blighty in PE.
As the people in front were being checked in we noticed a sign on the desk offering upgrades from PE to UC for 899 a head and after a quick mull over dismissed the idea as not worth it. However as we were waiting one of the check in staff came over and I couldn't resist asking if there were any upgrade offers available and she smiled said she would go and see. 2 minutes later she came back and said she could do a two for one on UC if we were interested. So that was 899 for two UC upgrades, yes please.
So we moved over to the UC check in and went through the paperwork and checked in, I had to pop out to the ticketing desk and 10 minutes later we were making our way through passport control and over to the terminal and the lounge. This wasn't too bad plenty of food and drinks on offer and some comfortable seats. Not a CH but miles better than the offering we had in Antigua last year.
After filing ourselves up as much as we wanted we went off to the shops and bought a few bits and pieces with our remaining Dirhams, My treat was a 2.5 gram gold bar. A bit silly but something to remember the trip by. By the way the prices for stuff here wasn't that cheap either. As we walked back the the lounge we saw people going through the gate to our plane so after asking how long it would be before boarding would be we decided to go through as it was only 10 minutes. Having settled down in a couple of seats we waited until they called people who needed assistance and PE & UC customers.
Now this was how to organise priority boarding, it seemed that everyone decided that they were going to board the plane but as people were getting to the doors everyone was being asked to wait, except UC passengers. We were waved through and they had two air bridges so all in all very good. Once on board we stowed our stuff and settled down with a drink, a coke for me and a bucks fizz for Mrs M . We pushed back pretty much on time and after a shortish taxi we were in the air. There was an amazing view of Palm Island which I have to say was quite impressive from an engineering point of view.
During the flight I watched Inglorious Bastards and Public Enemies while enjoying a lunch of tomato soup and steak pie which was perfectly acceptable. The crew were helpful and attentive but something was missing, first no Snooze Packs were offered. Now I know this is nit picking and our upgrade was cheap but all this penny pinching is starting to go a bit far in my opinion and for that matter Mrs M. She is rarely brought to a point where she feels the need to complain to anyone but these recent cuts have been enough to see her sending a complaint to VS Customer Services. I'm not holding my breath of course.
Overall it was a very enjoyable flight although it did feel a bit weird flying over Bagdad after everything that has happened there over the last decade or so. Eventually we landed in a grey and wet Heathrow pretty much on time. So that was it our winter trip was over, this one was different and enjoyable and enabled another destination to be ticked of our bucket list.
The one thing that grates now is having upgraded to UC we are now only 2 tier points away from Gold with no prospect of being able to get those 2 extra points before the end of the month.
That's the breaks I guess
Miopyk[8D]
