See Part 1 here:

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/trip_reports/

See Part 2 here:

Iran Air- Tehran To London (Part 2 Of 3) (by omidp Jun 29 2010 in Trip Reports)

Again some more pix of people passing the passport control



More crew







Going down to lounges area and another observation area



















Going Back up



























Walking towards gate, you have to pass another security check before going to the gates























It was so stupid, there was no plane parked at the gate so we were bussed to the plane, these stupid things happen often in middle east lol















































































You can't see Tehran when you take off as the city is far













Iranian food is amazing and I'm sure you'll like it too.

Breakfast







This is the Homa Bird that is painted on Iran Air's Tale, It's a lucky bird and as you can see it's a statue in the most historic site of Iran, the Persepolis Castle near the city of Shiraz



Lunch, beef and rice





In Iran Air ladies are not supposed to remove their veil but these Iranian ladies did it anyways  



Approaching London









Passing over Canary Wharf









Heathrow





A cool view of our plane



Welcome to London





I hope you enjoyed the tour also don't forget to check out my Tehran Pictures Thread:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=351718

Very cool....so was there any IFE, at least an old school in flight movie at the front of the cabin??

On the breakfast tray, what is the round thing in the lower left hand corner? Looked like maybe a water pack sitting in a cup??

Again thanks again for posting...love these unique trip reports!

Yemenia IY to Damascus showing on flight information board, charter? they dont serve IKA, great pics.

Interesting report. Just incase you're interested your plane, EP-IAM was a 747-186 and the 381st off the line, so probably a 1978 or 1979 build, being able to fly on the 747-100 is a real rarity these days, so you're very lucky. It's amazing how Iran Air can keep these birds flying after so many years with all the sanctions being imposed on them, they must have some great mechanics there.

I'm curious, which terminal at LHR did you arrive into? I'm thinking maybe terminal one or terminal four.

corrected to correct the line number and for clarity

[Edited 2010-06-30 02:58:35]

Beautiful report in all three parts. Fascinating to see the beautiful people and country of Iran!

Tim

Wow, cool report. Loved all the pictures.
I am surprised you could take pictures like that, especially of Immigration etc. Thought they would have barred photography
I have always been fastcinated with Iran and have only heard good things from people who have been, especially about how hospitable the local people are.
Makes me want to go!

Thank you for this trip report, I really enjoyed it a lot. I so much hope that the relations between Iran and "the West" will not deteriorate. It is a shame that a nation with a rich culture as Iran's is cut off from larger parts of the rest of the world - in in terms of cultural exchange, economically, politically. There is so much potential for win win situations.

All the best,

r.

Thanks so much. Exactly the kind of thing I love to read. I was looking forward to each part of it! All the background information of Iran was fascinating. And a 747SP just hangin around in the back! Amazing. I hope one day Iran's people get the happiness they deserve.

  

One of the most interesting reports I have read! The pictures were great - showed a part of the world many of us are not privileged to see...

I hope you write more reports!

Fantastic. Thank you for posting this report.The airport looks very quiet with not too many international flights. I would be nervous flying on a 32 year old plane. Metal fatigue is something that comes to mind.
Anyway the food on Iran Air looks better than the food we get on US airlines.

Very nice, i loved it!

The 747-SP must be hell of a aircraft to fly in!
Pure classic...awesome!       

Great and fascinating trip report. I'd love to visit Iran one day and travel through out the country. Geographically, it looks beautiful, and I've heard good things about the people and food. I'm amazed at all the pictures you were able to get. Like others have said, I thought Iran was pretty strict about photography, especially in airports and public places.

How difficult is it for a US Citizen to get a visa? Nearly impossible?

10/10 Really loved these reports thanks for sharing with us .

Quoting omidp (Thread starter): It's a lucky bird and as you can see it's a statue in the most historic site of Iran, the Persepolis Castle near the city of Shiraz

I was in Persepolis ( Takt-e-Jamshid ) . Loved it .

I noticed that when I flew IR the ladies too their head coverings off, on the LHR-THR the crew made an announcement that they must put them on before landing.

Love the food on IR . I used to love the rice with red berries in it ! I would go back to Iran just for the food.

Thanks again / مرسي

OA260

Very interesting report with some great pictures! .. They reall tell a very unique and untold story about Iran and Iran Air!

One question, is a transit visa required to connect through an airport in Iran? Or can it be done without obtainin any clearance prior?


Cheers,
Roni

Lovely report and i absolutely loved looking at the pictures of Tehran.

Though Iran is our neighbouring country,i havent had the privilege of visiting it thus far - although i have every intention to.I wish the law and order situation on the Pakistani side of Balochistan was good otherwise i would love to drive across the border and take a road tour through Iran.People in my fathers generation used to do it easily back then,its a real pity things arent as simple any more.

Great report! Iran Air looks very nice! Great photos of Tehran and of the airport. Looking forward to your return flight!

767747

I've read all three parts - thank you for this report. The pics suggest a very different Iran to that portayed in the popular English speaking press.

I'm not a lover of travelling on old aircraft, but it's cool that there are still some of them in commercial service.

As many others have commented, the loose wearing of the hijab is one of the most surprising things in the photos, given what we hear about the religious rule in the country. But it also makes sense - in this country you make a religious choice to wear a "veil", whereas there must be many in Iran who take the minimum steps to comply with a cultural requirement.

Thank you all for your kind comments. I really appreciate them  

@Burj- Thanks for your comment. to be honest I forgot what was in there on the breakfast tray..sorry

@NorthStarboy. Thanks for the background info on the plane

@pdxtriple7- You can get visa bu going to the Iranian interest section in Washington. I don't know how hard ity is but sometimes they want to promote tourism so they make it easier

@ronerone- Sorry I don't really know the answer to your Q

@Kent350787- Thanks a lot, yes In Iran people are constantly fighting the regime by different ways such as ladies showing more hair and having loose veil etc. It's so tiring but we have one of the worst gov. in the world who have no mercy on Iranians at all  

Excedllent last part!

That terminal looks very new & pretty big, not something I would have expected & I guess traffic is pretty minimal, perhaps built with the hope of happer times ahead?

The flight itself looks pretty full, was this the case on both segments?

Food looks pretty decent, especially the beef, yum!

Quoting NorthstarBoy (Reply 3): EP-IAM was a 747-186 and the 381st off the line, so probably a 1978 or 1979 build

- Indeed, a 1979 vintage.

Rgds

Mark

Quoting omidp (Reply 17): You can get visa bu going to the Iranian interest section in Washington.

At the Pakistan Embassy.

@777way- That's right it's in the Pakistan Embassy

@Ba 319- Yes the flight was full both ways

Loved it!

I really enjoyed every picture of Teheran, it looks really nice, as well as the people!

Hopefully i can make it next year. Regarding Iran Air, I am always impressed of how well they keep their planes considering their age. I wish I can fly one of their 727's when i go.

omidp: Thank you so much!

Best Regards,

Very interesting report. I think you painted an accurate picture of Tehran from what I have seen and understand of it myself.

Nice to see that you got on EP-IAM, the B747-100B. I watched this arriving at IKA a couple of weeks ago after disembarking from another flight, wishing I had flown in on that one! Sadly the LHR service is remaining with an A300-600 this summer, unlike previous years.

I hope this report gives people around the world a better understanding of Tehran and the Iranian people.

Ian

Hola omidp:

I have read all three parts and had a look at the link you provided. Brilliant!

Thanks for picturing a very different Iran to the one shown on the news... truly, Iranians deserve better than the conservative regime they have. I have never been to Iran but I have a friend who lived there and speaks fluent Farsi, she is very much concerned about the country and has told me about it many times. Iran has become a holiday destination here in Spain and there are quite a number of people who travel there every year. As I am more an independent traveler I wonder about going there on my own.

Salut!

Roger

Beautiful! Just beautiful! I have read all three parts of your report and enjoyed them very much. You seems a great ambassador of Iran and Iran Air.

Thanks a lot for all the efforts.

Cheers,
Suryo

Great TR! Thanks for that. I've always wanted to visit Iran, but I have always wondered how tight the restrictions are.

It is amazing to still see the B741 still flying in good shape. I have to say, kudos to Iran Air.

Thank you all for your kind comments, much appreciated  

After reading this, the only thing left for me to do is to congratulate you for the AMAZING trip report, it is BY FAR the best I've read, not only because of the report on the flight but because of all the very interesting insight given on your country, posting a pictorial context of everything. Your blog is also great, with all those testimonials by tourists, we need MUCH MORE of this and less CNN.

Reading your report and your blog has actually made me want to visit Iran one day despite of all the fundamentalism that we hear about all the time. The people look so kind, so open, and sophisticated, and the city is very modern and chic as opposed to he war devastated dust covered dump we are always told about. The Iranian people, both men and women, are also very good looking!!

Your TR gives me a great impression of your country, really really great! Keep it up like that, I'm sure that one day, we will all see Iran as it deserves to be seen, and the Iranian people will get what they really deserve!

I am really going to add you to my respected user's list.

Regards,

Fer

@KLAM: Thank you so much for your kind comment and visting the TR. I truly appreciate it  

Thanks so much for the wealth of knowledge you've given to many people that will never be able to visit Iran!

Frankly one of the most interesting TR's I have seen.

dfw11

@DFW: Thanks and I'm glad you liked it  

Hi Omidp,

another great report, always a pleasure to read about Iran Air. Good to see you got the 741. How did you like the catering? The meals don't look bad.


PH

@Planethunter: Thank you, the meals were great, I really like Persian food and kabobs so I really enjoyed it  

Excellent report. Portrayed Iran in a completely different way. Hope your govt doesn't go berserk on you for speaking out against them.

Quoting NorthstarBoy (Reply 3): It's amazing how Iran Air can keep these birds flying after so many years with all the sanctions being imposed on them, they must have some great mechanics there.

Don't they have access to parts when they are outside Iran?

Thanks Jlk, I'm glad you liked it  

Quoting omidp (Thread starter): Breakfast

Love seeing panir churah (naan in Farsi, my father is from Tabriz so I stick with the Azeri) on an airplane. The eggs are almost unnecessary.

Were you given an option for the lunch?

Quoting NorthstarBoy (Reply 3): It's amazing how Iran Air can keep these birds flying after so many years with all the sanctions being imposed on them, they must have some great mechanics there.

IR has one of the best airplane MX divisions in the world, given what they do.

Quoting jayeshrulz (Reply 10): The 747-SP must be hell of a aircraft to fly in!

That's a 741.

Quoting pdxtriple7 (Reply 11): How difficult is it for a US Citizen to get a visa? Nearly impossible?

Actually, its relatively easy. Especially through one of the tour companies.

Quoting KHI747 (Reply 14): I wish the law and order situation on the Pakistani side of Balochistan was good otherwise i would love to drive across the border and take a road tour through Iran

You can take a train to Zahedan. That might make it easier. Then perhaps pay someone to give you a ride around the country in their Paykan.:D

Quoting omidp (Reply 20): That's right it's in the Pakistan Embassy

Years ago, it was the Algerian Embassy. That said, doesn't the interests section actually have its office in a rather nondescript office building, and not the actual embassy?

Hi N1120a, I think they had choice between chicken and beef  

An AMAZING trip report, one of the best I had the pleasure to read/see. Thanks again for your work!

Lollo

Just one question: I saw some pictures with a B747 parked over your B747-200 with a light blue tail and a strange green line (not a cheatline) on the fuselage. Do you know wich airline is it? I'm really curious about it.
Once again great TR.

Thanks lollo, tha plane with blue tail is called Blue Sky and is part of Mahan Air fleet, which is another Iranian airline. I think they paint the tail back to Mahan Air logo shortly after  

WOW! I am so jealous in so many different ways!!! The possibility of flying on a 747SP!!! It has been years since I've flown on an SP and this was with Pan Am in the 80's   Also, the food looks delicious! I live in Los Angeles, and I am very fortunate to have many Iranian/Persian friends to share and show me all the delicious food offerings available to us in Los Angeles! I must admit, I am a little nervous as an American to travel to Iran, so I hope one day very soon, I can brave my fears and visit Iran! The weather, landscape, scenery, gorgeous people, and the lucky Homa Bird make me really want to visit!!!!! This was such a fabulous report to read and I am thankful you took the time to compose such a beautiful report! And maybe, we can have an Iran Air flight to Los Angeles one day and I will gladly spend the extra money to fly in Homa Class!!!!!!