Just completed my first trip to DXB and must say very impressed with country, facilities, people and sites. The heat is something to get used to however.
Our return trip on June 4th was DL7 scheduled to depart at 10:45 PM and arrive ATL on
June 5 at 5:40 AM.
Left hotel for airport via crew van at 8:30 PM, temperature was a mild 101F, thank heaven for Air Conditioning, even with summer uniform can be quite uncomfortable. It must be like working in front of a pizza oven.
Went though Crew Dispatch and, very light load tonight, only 21 Business and 99 Coach Passengers. Inbound flight only slightly late in arriving. Met with inbound crew, no problems with air craft. Cleaning and provisioning went on board quickly to prepare the outbound flight.
During Crew briefing, routing tonight would take us on a northerly Great Circle routing,
Over Iran, Easter Turkey, Ukraine, Poland Southern Sweden, Norway, north of Iceland, across Greenland, down Newfoundland, across Mid-Atlantic States into ATL, starting at 36,000 ft and eventually 42,000 ft. Weather good except for some head winds. Routing dictated by Tropical Depression Barry.
Again, worked Business cabin. Boarding began promptly at 10:15 Pm due to light load.
Doors closed on time, and lift off was at 10:53 PM with an estimated 6:00 AM arrival in ATL, 20 min. late due to head winds. Beverage service prior to dinner. With only 19 passengers, service completed at less than 2 hours, relaxed, not hurried. Coach did not need any help tonight, with only 99 guests.
Going through Company bulletins, found out that immigration forms into DXB are not required for deplaning passengers, only non UAE transit passengers required to complete forms. So the hassle on inbound flight was unnecessary. Not the same for US Immigration and Customs forms however.
Due to my “visit” to Wild Wadi Water Park my sunburn was really bothering me, although did look quite well, at least that what some of the passengers said.
We had quite a few connecting passengers from Iraq going to Houston so explained to the passengers the use of the Transfer Desk after Customs and the need to claims bags for Customs in ATL.
As we began our Atlantic crossing Captain came back into cabin for a rest period. In speaking with, he knew I lived in NYC and would be “commuting” back to LGA from ATL upon arrival. Since we were due to arrive slightly late, knew I couldn’t take flight 502 ATL-LGA a 767-300 positioning air craft flight, usually a 757, departing at 6:45 AM but try for 504 a MD88 LGA flight departing at 7:45 AM. Being a MD88 that flight was usually full, so hopefully as a NRSA could get on board. Thought nothing of our conversation until our arrival in ATL.
About 4:00 AM ATL local time began a breakfast service. Most requested the full breakfast service. Upon completion we began our descent into ATL. While taxiing to the Gate, Gate E12, got a call from the flight deck to go up. When I entered the Captain said he spoke with the Captain on flight 502 and he would release brakes and hold for me, but hustle. Thanked Captain for his concern and told him I hope to fly with him again on my next DXB trip. Next trip is June 10th and last one is June 22nd. Not bad for the month of June, just three round trips.
Arrived at Gate E12 at exactly 6:00 AM, after last passengers left air craft, headed to Immigration and Customs for Crew, saw flight 153 at E19 arrived OT from TLV at 5:40 AM. A bit busy at Immigration.
Got through and really hustled to Gate A10 for flight 502. Gate Agent was ready for me, handed me my boarding pass, took my crew documentation and down jet way. 502 left OT no delay and infect arrived in LGA early at 8:55AM. Stopped at flight deck to thank Captain, asked me to come up after take-off to tell him about DXB. Shown my seat, other F/A chatted with me about being one of the first to fly into DXB.
Flight smooth weather lovely in NYC so no delays. Think 502 had more passengers than my flight.
Splurged, instead of taking bus into city took a cab to get home more quickly.
In response to the question concerning an Israeli passport stamp, as a crew member they do not stamp your passport. In fact the only visa stamps I have on from personal trips, Jordan, Egypt, Australia, Tahiti plus numerous European stamps, so no problem into DXB. However since DXB is a major business destination, I’ve heard that they don’t bother with non-Israeli passports having an Israeli sentence stamp in their passport.