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.

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.

Air Canada P1

I left New York for London, UK yesterday, 3rd June. It was a sudden trip, based on unfortunate circumstances, but one that sealed family bonds that went broken for years.


The flight from New York LaGuardia was not too bad. Air Canada seemed to have made a good impression at first, even though we were delayed by a few minutes but the cabin crew were very pleasant and accommodating.

Toronto Pearson Airport was amazing. The architecture is beautifully done. Modern and sleek - an airpot you cannot get lost in despite its size due to the plentiful signs all over. Impressive.

We arrived on time in Toronto, but the walk towards the main terminal was long. since I was an international passenger, I was one of only three who had to detour and avoid customs. After entering the departure lounge, I was pleasantly happy with the availability of wireless internet access, free, and without hesitation, I bought a doughnut and coffee from Tim Hortons and sat down for my link to the outside world.

The flight from Toronto to London began boarding a little behind schedule. We were boarding their newest addition to the fleet - the Boeing 777. I was seated by the window in the second-last row. If you ever need some space to yourself on a flight that is not filled to capacity, the last row on smaller aircraft or the last two on bigger ones are usually reserved for cabin crew. You can ask for these seats only if they are not highly restricted.

While the airplane was new, their inflight entertainment system left much to be desired. You could barely do much since several items did not work. You could watch movies and some TV. Their movie selection was lousy - a flash back to what you are likely to have watched or seen not too long ago. Again, credit must be given where it's due - so I must say the cabin crew were extremely helpful, polite, and courteous.

We took off after a bit of taxing, again nothing out of the ordinary, and most settled in for a quick 6.5 hour flight. Dinner was served about an hour after take-off. This is where I would think twice about flying Air Canada.

I'll write more later :).