Emirates, once more.

This time, after almost two years, travel to Canada was one of the most beautiful experiences ever, thanks once again to the services of Emirates Airlines.

Yet again I chose Emirates as my preferred carrier since - besides the loyalty towards their skywards program - the airline is by far one of the best out there. All that said, what I was minutely concerned about was the quality of the in flight meal between Nairobi and Dubai. This could be overlooked, but airline meals, with the tarnished history that it has, require to maintain their marked improvement over the years.

The two days I spent in Dubai was so much more convenient because of the new metro train that began services back in September 2009. The metro meant easy access to the major shopping attractions from the Deira City Center to the Burjuman to the Dubai Mall, and beyond. Not only is it convenient, but its a fraction of the price of a taxi cab - much needed relief when your pocket change are now accompanied by the threads of your pants.

The next flight to Toronto took me beyond inspiration. The A380. Bold, beautiful, and with every bragging right out there. From the front, it looks like a monstrous whale, yet sophisticated enough to admire from a distance. The side view makes you wonder - it's an illusion that the aircraft is shorter than it looks simply because of its height that spans the entire plane giving two floors of unspoken admiration.

As you enter the plane, one can only wonder what the future will hold if the present is remarkably so. The seats are by far the most comfortably spaced in comparison, with leg room you cannot complain about. Okay, considering I am not that tall, I may be biased on this one. The in flight system is set on a 10" widescreen with a number of channels that can keep you occupied for a while before you settle down to watch your selection. What I enjoyed the most however, was the aerial view of the camera. Usually, cameras are located on the front of the aircraft or the underside, but a third camera that is mounted on the tail gives you a spectacular view of the airplane as if you were viewing things from the top. Just when you thought you cannot go any higher than the second floor!

The food was really good. Perhaps, thats why I have not complained too much about the previous flight. Since this is a 14 hour journey, meal service is divided into three: a lunch service after departure, followed by a snack, which in turn is followed by another light meal prior to arrival. The crew are, as always, courteous and calm which adds to the value of what you pay, in combination with everything else.

The next portion of my trip took me once again on Air Canada, from YYZ to YUL. Surprisingly however, considering the 'slow economy', every flight I was on was full. From Mombasa to Nairobi, Dubai, Toronto and Montreal - if there was a seat, it was taken, or at least 90% of available occupancy was filled to capacity. What can I say - travelling by air is no longer a luxury but a necessity. What I can vouch for is that the excitement of air travel is still the same even if its a necessity - and that will never fade away.

Just a word of advice: Baggage claim can take an awfully long time especially if your aircraft lands in cities other than Dubai - so allow on average, 1/2 hour more to exit the airport. t took 1hr 20 mins for many of the passengers personal belongings to emerge from the conveyor belt.

طيران الامارات ودبي - From dhows to the monorail

It seemed as if someone had applied the blur feature in Photoshop as we descended towards Dubai International Airport. The sea and sky merged beautifully as the haze seamlessly married the two harmoniously. The closer we got to the coastline, it reminded me of the time I left New York . Back then, it was sunset as the Manhattan silhouette shrunk while we rose above the Atlantic. This time, it was sunrise during our descent over the Persian Gulf, and despite the resemblance of their Western ally in more than one way, one thing amongst many that diffrentiates Dubai is the Burj al Arab, which stood with a hint of pride. It also stood menacingly amidst the other towering blocks of concrete and glass. Perhaps even gleeful.

It was precisely why I chose to sit on the right side of the aircraft - a landing with a sight that never fails. And with that, we touched down. With an average of 714 aircraft movements a day, Dubai Airport has grown tremendously from what it was 20 years ago. I shudder to think my memory is able to go back almost a quarter of a century. Knowing what Dubai was back then, you can easily see why you would miss the charm - wooden dhows strewn along the banks of old markets boasting with spices and silk materials, gold ornaments and metal coffee pots. They may still be there but your focus now shifts from the charm of a previous century to the awe of the future.

As for the flight itself, once again, we weren't let down this time either. Although the flight was full, it was another experience for the books, and another journey that was as pleasant as all the previous ones.

Dubai though, is a different story - it seems to change every time you visit. What seperates this city from many others, is the abundance of desert land that can be altered to the specifications to both magnify and beautify the emerging metropolis. As if thats not enough, the western coastline is taunted with raised sea beds to accomodate what the imagination of man can only dream of. In Dubai, dreams can come true. Unlike New York however, the tall buildings are adorned with beautiful landscapes on all sides, while a thread of the new monorail network unravels its welcoming sight for the traffic commuters stuck in their cars. The southern areas of Dubai have really emerged from the desert sands, with one area now being called the 'New Dubai'. Highways and major arteries are as quick to rise as a cake batter in an oven - after all, Dubai is just as hot as an oven itself.

Speaking of hot, as the day intensified in volume, it also gave in to the mercury as it climbed a little above 45C (113F), while the RealFeel dangerously flirted with the 50C (120F) mark. For this city, intense is the right word in almost all aspects - not only for the temperature, but the structures, the beauty, the airport, the airline. All of them seem to crank up the heat just as the new roads sit baking under the hot desert sun. Desert? I'm just not sure anymore.

Emirates Maiden A380 Flight

I believe I had mentioned I would want to experience the very first Emirates A380 Airbus flight on their brand new double decker. Unfortunately, that doesn't come into play as my travel plans have constantly been unexpected over the past year. That said, the maiden EK flight will be out of New York on August 1st, followed by their next one on August 6th 2008. Without hesitation, I know it will be an amazing experience for Emirates fans worldwide, for those who will book their seats from now on.

If you happen to be one of them and intending to fly out of the US to Dubai on EK - don't miss it. Usually, the first flight on a new aircraft/fleet for many carriers always has surprises in store.

Let me know, will you?

The Virgin Experience

I cannot recall when I last flew Virgin Atlantic, if at all. My most recent trip with them however, was fantastic, to say the least.

I was a tad bit weary as searching for reviews online did not give a positive image about the airline. The more I searched, the more disappointed I became. However, I still gave the airline the benefit of my doubt since much of the bickering from other passengers (no offense) seemed to be focused on one main issue expounded to create an entire episode of dramatic contexts. Considering that I have travelled extensively over the years, it would not befit my judgement to drown out the possibility of flying with Virgin, especially since verbal assurances from previous travellers proved better than the written ones.

And so I flew with VS on May 24th between JFK and LHR, a massive Boeing 747-400.

The boarding was a hassle free and pleasant experience - considering the ground staff were extremely helpful and courteous. As we settled into the aircraft ready for departure, the cabin crew were even more pleasant and friendly, ensuring all passengers were taken care of in every way possible. Shortly after 1940 hrs, we took off for the 6 hour journey across the Atlantic. I watched out the window as the beautiful sunset threw out majestic colors of red, orange and yellow, all as a backdrop behind the silhouetted buildings of the Manhattan skyline. In its most dramatic and metaphorical analogy, the sun also set on a part of my life that is now over.

Service
A few minutes after take off, a choice of soft drinks or fresh juice and a small snack was served - which is pretty much expected on every airline (even Royal Jordanian). Dinner followed and I must say that the food was quite good. Grilled chicken, vegetable fried rice with steamed broccoli and green beans was the main course, with a side of salad and fresh fruits. Not bad at all.

Inflight Entertainment
The inflight system was much better than most airlines, except Emirates of course.

Here is the best part of it all: The interactive map display (which admittedly is not provided by even Emirates), was quite interesting to say the least, but considering that at any given moment you could select from the drop down menu, the qiblah (direction) of Makkah (Mecca) was astounding on a Western Carrier no less. Usually I would rely on the standard flight maps and figure out the direction of Makkah based on the flight path, but hats off to Virgin for incorporating this on their screen menu none the less!

The system had the most recent movies. Some passengers either started selecting their choice of entertainment, or stretched out on some seats for a short nap (the flight was not full) for the remainder of the flight. I had the three seats to myself, which turned out to be even more pleasant. The only disappointing aspect (ah, yes; here we go) on this flight was the breakfast.

Prior to arrival, they offered either coffee, tea, or fresh juice, and a muffin. They were not even served on trays, mind you! Again, if I did compare this to say, British Airways or Emirates, Virgin certainly fell short on it. Despite this short fall, I would recommend Virgin to anyone choosing to fly internationally.

Next
My next trip: Emirates Airlines. Considering my spontaneous lifestyle (my unce who picked me up was even confused what city I was coming from!), it could be another airline before the anticipated trip in July. I hope the summer goes well for everyone - I know mine should be great in London.

Virgin Atlantic

My anticipated trip to the United Kingdom (yes, again) in just a few days will be on Virgin Atlantic. The last Atlantic crossing wasn't very pleasant, so I chose an airline known for quality.

I'd rather be on one that would help my Emirates Skywards mileage accrual, however, my FFP status on Singapore is rather low; and so it fits in perfectly as Virgin shares mileage accrual with the former.

This trip highlights a significant milestone in my life; for I would be leaving the America's for a considerably long period of time. A tremendous amount of experience has followed the years I spent in the U.S., but more importantly, the arrogance and reality check of the political atmosphere over the past few years has played a role in the decision. Don't get me wrong - there are benefits living a life in the West (the blessing of winter isn't one of them), but the sheer pride and lack of knowledge of certainty is a mind spinning occurrence in itself.

The travels will undoubtedly come to an end in September as I settle down towards educating myself further, and so with that, while the summer will highlight the experiences of both land and air travel, it will include various topics that would set the tone for what the future holds.

It's no longer 'just for keeps'.

Stay tuned. :)

Emirates

So my trip started off on a sour note. I missed my flight from LON-DXB but luckily, there was another flight in 2 hours - made it on the dreaded standby list.

The 10pm flight to Dubai was full - but despite the capacity of the flight, it was superb! Their inflight entertainment system, ICE, was installed on this aircraft and comparably, maybe just a bit better than British Airways.

The interior cabin was much better - brighter and the light made it seem spacious and comfortable. Their meals were amazing. Emirates has stepped up a notch with their service and plating, all too pleasing for the eye. No doubt their food and the concept of their meal selection is outstanding, cannot complain about anything yet.

I have heard some negative remarks on Emirates, but hey - when looking at the overall impression, I think it is by far one of the best services out there, and good value for your money.

My arrival was hassle free - with the exception of a surprise visa fee payment of US$100.00 for US Citizens now entering Tanzania. This is up by $50.00 effective September 2007. The process for visa is slow, but the friendly staff compensated for the long wait. I was very impressed with the courteous services of ground staff much to my surprise.

With the unfortunate event of having my suitcase taken by another passenger and returned to the airport 4 hours later, everything was smooth. Piece of advise: please check your bag tag label and name before taking your suitcase! :)

East Africa

So an unexpected trip now switches gear to travelling on Emirates Airlines. I chose Emirates not only because it was cheaper than British Airways, but the loyalty programme enhances reasons to do so. That, and the overall expectations of Emirates in itself is something that is worth looking forward to.

Their website has become exceptionally detailed with information of interest to anyone choosing to fly them, or considering their services. It is of particular interest to know that the website can be a little tricky to navigate, however, over time it seems to work well with the information they wish to provide EXCEPT for their booking system online which tends to get tedious should you wish to "change your search criteria". Unlike British Airways and Kenya Airways websites with fare information, Emirates seems restrictive.

Stay tuned - tomorrow's flight experience to Dubai and Dar es Salaam will be posted after arrival. :)

Emirates Logo courtesy of www.emirates.com

Air Canada P2

Being a Muslim, I ordered a Muslim meal. So much for that! It had nothing to do with 'muslim' since logically when you order such a meal, 'halaal' would be the primary reason to do so. I could have ordered a gluten free, asian vegetarian, or just plain vegetarian and it would have been just as well.

The food was compromised of a dry chick pea curry, plain unsalted rice, and a salad that looked like the chef's may just have thought of the meal prior to boarding. I think hospital food is much more appealing. The breakfast just before arrival was a simple bowl of fruit, some orange juice, and coffee. Uneventful, unexciting. Both Air Canada's inflight system and meals leave a lot to be desired. Having worked for various airlines for over 12 years, inflight meals and the likes are very crucial to a passenger's money. It's not just about the transportation anymore.

Comparably, airlines such as Continental, Emirates, and Virgin, all three of which I have flown, are far superior in their inflight experiences.