INTRODUCTION

Hello fellow A.netters,

We have spent our first couple days in Egypt enjoying the bursting life of Cairo. Then, the time has come for us to move on to our next destination, Aswan, by an overnight train.

If you are interested in how we have experienced our outward journey, here you can find our reports of the segments of AMS-ZRH and ZRH-CAI

We have decided what we wanted to visit after our arrival in Aswan. Now that we were gone so far, it was practically a stone’s throw to Abu Simbel. The place where UNESCO has contributed in moving the gigantic ancient Egyptian statues to a higher ground level in the area due to the construction of the world biggest artificial lake, the Nasser lake.


PREPARING OUR TRIP

Since our trip was taken care of by the local representative of our Dutch agent, we inquired them the possibilities to travel to Abu Simbel. He has told us that there are basically two ways to do that. By car or by tourist bus with both departure time at 04.30 A.M. The return journey would take more than five hours and cost 80 Euro’s each person! Strange enough, he kept going on about these ones. We had been informed of the possibility to travel by airplane. But it looked like it did not even come across his mind. At one extent, we had to call his attention to this.

So the representative rang his office on our request and managed to get some details of departure time. The first would be at around 7 o’clock in the morning and the second about two hours later. We decided that 7 o’clock would be fine. Besides, all of this can be arranged at an additional price 20 Euro’s each and the flight duration would be plus minus half an hour. The arrangement was soon made. It consisted of a return flight Aswan-Abu Simbel with Egyptair and a transfer to and from the airport .

Again I was excited about this trip. I was about to lose my virginity with MS!  

After settling down the bill, we requested the booking confirmation. The representative has told us not to worry since everything has been organized. We insisted on it though and demanded the confirmation be delivered by the end of the afternoon.

Upon collecting the confirmation, I soon found out that the representative has screwed up our details. Despite having our names in written at his disposal, he still managed to misspell both our names.

When we got collected on the departure day by another guy from the office, we pointed it out. He was not really happy with that. Nevertheless, he calmed us down and said that he would take care of it. I wondered…


FLIGHT INFORMATION



Our itinerary:
Route: ASW-ABS
Date: 21 September 2009
ETD/ATD: 06.55 / 07.05
ETA/ATA: 07.45 / 07.34
Flight number: MS 130
Plane: Airbus 320-232
Registration: SU-GCL
First delivered: 29 September 1992 to Shorouk Air as SU-RAA

View Large View Medium Photo © Paul Spijkers

View Large View Medium Photo © Thomas Posch - VAP

AT THE AIRPORT

It looks like that Aswan serves as a military airport. At the entrance of the airport, our car was stopped by a soldier. Noticing us at the back seat, he asked our office guy some questions. One of them must have probably been where we came from because of the Arabic pronunciation of Holland as an answer. We were then waived through.

Outside the terminal building, there were many soldiers around. Some of them were visibly carrying guns. I wanted to take a picture from outside, but eventually decided not to continue as the presence of the soldiers was quite intimidating for me.

Together with our guy we went through security. He proceeded to check us in.


CHECK IN


Check in desk

Our guy did return with two boarding passes. Of course with our names misspelled on it. What amazed me, is that there was absolutely no need to show any ID card of one of us.


My boarding pass

He escorted us until the entrance of the holding room. He told us that we had to collect our return boarding passes on arrival in Abu Simbel. After thanking him so far, we proceeded to the holding room.


FIDS


Seating area


Shopping arcade

Now here came trouble.

We were supposed to depart from gate 6. To go there we had to go through security again. I was getting worried as I have noticed a visible warning of liquid limitation to bring on board and we had a one liter bottle of very much needed water with us.




So we decide to wait outside, drinking water as much as possible. In the meantime, I did some spotting.




MS B735 incoming for his next assignment to Cairo

We still did not manage to finish our water. My partner said eventually, “Just let us try our luck. If we have to hand over our bottle, then so be it!”

I reluctantly followed. We got ourselves screened including the bottle water. But, what did turn out? Our bottle was not confiscated! We were released after security together with our bottle!  


Inside secured area

In the meantime, our plane was visible at the apron. Incoming from Cairo and continuing to Abu Simbel.


In this area there was a statue of Osiris as well.




Our flights seemed fully booked. Apparently many passengers have made a similar decision to fly to Abu Simbel. Not an unreasonable one, though!


Boarding


About ten minutes before scheduled departure time, the boarding procedure was started.





A dedicated bus was waiting outside the gate. We were then transported to our aircraft.



MS B735 taking off for Cairo

Some shots downstairs after exiting the bus:











From the staircase:






Airside view of the terminal

At the door, we were greeted by one male and one female flight attendant. SU-GCL looked well maintained despite her age.


SU-GCL has an all Y configuration

We were assigned 11J and K. These were emergency exit seats:






[i[The best legroom[/i]

The following items were placed inside the seat pocket:




Safety card


In flight magazine


My lecture 

Some views from the seat:


The left side


Yikes! A piece of carpet is missing!


Window view against the light

I did not sit comfortably at 11K as I found it a bit sat through. I could feel the frame against my bottom.

The flight would take thirty minutes with Captain Ahmad in charge. One flight attendant approached passengers seating in the emergency seats, with us included to go through the emergency procedures.

Finally, the boarding was finished and we were ready for takeoff.


Leaving the apron


Backtracking


Making an U-turn

The two engines spooled up and a powerful takeoff commenced.








CABIN SERVING

About 5 minutes after airborne, the fasten seatbelt sign was switched off. The flight attendants sprung into action and started a drink service from the forward cabin.



The flight’s serving was a choice of water of fruit juice. Edible for half an hour flight.



Fifteen minutes into flight, the captain announced that we started the descending.

Some views of Nasser lake:






On approach








The landing






Vacating the runway



Abu Simbel’s terminal building in sight


SU-GCL came to a stop


ARRIVAL

It was 26 degrees of Celcius on our arrival. A dedicated bus was waiting outside the aircraft.




See you later, SU-GCL!  

In the arrival terminal, we approached an MS ground stewardess for our return boarding passes. On the contrary, he told us that these would be available when we came back to the airport later on.
“Just make sure you take the shuttle bus of 09.45!” he advised us.


Arrival Hall


Outside view

So we went outside to look for a dedicated shuttle bus to Abu Simbel, operated by Egyptair. There were three busses available. Apparently, this service was included in the ticket price. All passengers were divided into the busses. Several taxi drivers have tried to pursue us to go with them, but of course there was no need for that.


Shuttle bus

ABU SIMBEL



The view of Nasser Lake

Finally the breathtaking statues:








Me posing on the front


Last look before leaving the site


RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT

At 09.35 we were back in the shuttle bus again. By that time, the bus was still empty. It remained fairly empty until ten o’clock when all passengers finally returned. The scheduled departure time could have been 09.45, but yet they would be waiting. In the mean time, we could see our aircraft on approach to the airport.


FLIGHT INFORMATION



Our itinerary:
Route: ABS-ASW
Date: 21 September 2009
ETD/ATD: 10.45 / 10.45
ETA/ATA: 11.30 / 11.13
Flight number: MS 133
Plane: Airbus 320-232
Registration: SU-GCL
First delivered: 29 September 1992 to Shorouk Air as SU-RAA


AT THE AIRPORT

After going through the security, we found ourselves in a big hall which serves as a check in area and holding room.



There was a funny thing during the check in process of our return flight. My partner just gave the check in agent his onward boarding pass, while I went on searching my bag for the flight confirmation detail. When I finally found the paper, the agent has already checked us in!  


My boarding pass

There were only two gates available. One next to the check in desk and one at the other end from which we were supposed to depart.


Our gate with an interesting wall painting

We did not have a long wait to board. So we made our way to the assigned gate.

The boarding procedure was here conducted in an interesting way. First, you go through the security with your belongings. Then, the ground crew screens your boarding pass and tear off a part of it. At the end, you may proceed to a dedicated bus.


Hi again, SU-GCL


Boarding scenes












Airside view of the terminal

We were greeted by two attractive female flight attendants. They were handing out refreshing tissues.




Again, waiting in line

Our assigned seats were 12A and B.




MS is definitely proud of her Star Alliance membership


Another superb legroom

We were among the firsts to board. So, boarding was still in progress.





This flight was not as full as the onward one. We noticed two empty seats at the emergency exit row.



Finally, boarding was completed on time. Everyone was ready for takeoff. On the contrary to the onward flight, no one came to go over the emergency procedures.



Some scenes before and after takeoff:




Leaving the apron


Backtracking


Making an U-turn

And a powerful takeoff instantly followed.











After 5 minutes into the flight, the attendants started drink service.



They served only water this time. One passenger asked for fruit juice, but got turned down .



Ten minutes later, the descent was started.






The landing





Welcome to the hazy Aswan.








ARRIVAL

The temperature in Aswan has reached 35 degrees.

Disembarking





We were bussed to the domestic arrival terminal.


The airside entrance


Baggage claim hall

Our representative has already been waiting for us outside. From inside the car, I did manage take outside picture of the terminal building of Aswan.




VERDICT

Egyptair was not disappointing at all. In fact, they were very efficient both on the ground and on board. Everything went smoothly. The serving was just perfect. In that kind of heat, what else do you need more than a glass of nice mineral water?

I hope you enjoy reading the third part of my trip report. Please feel free to leave some comments and suggestions.

Cheers,
Suryo