The trip starts in the middle of the night. We went to bed around midnight but because we couldn’t sleep we decided to go to the airport a bit earlier. A taxi dropped us in front of terminal 3 at three o’clock. I used online check-in the evening before but there where no more window seats available. The check-in hall was very quiet and I asked the friendly ground attendant if he could arrange a window seat. He started typing but didn’t say anything. I saw two new boarding passes coming out of the printer and he had good news, our new seats would be 61 A and B, hooray! Row 61 is above the wing (and the A380 wings are HUGE! ) but at least it’s better than sitting in the middle section.
Terminal 3 entrance
And welcome inside
Check-in area
Check-in area
After we cleared security we walked to the gate where our aircraft had already arrived. Later at home I checked the registration on libhomeradar.com and saw that she had done a return trip to BKK before our flight. The BKK flight arrives at 00.35 and the LHR flight departs at 07.45 so a good 7 hour rest at the gate.
Pre-boarding was announced at 06.30. Like everything at the airport, the boarding gate was very spacious with more than enough seats for everyone. The gate area filled up quickly so the flight would be very full again. Boarding was announced at 07.10 and we boarded the giant A380 via the second air bridge. Three air bridges where connected to the aircraft, two for the lower deck for economy class and one for the upper deck for first class and business class only.
A6-EDG, our ride to London, only a few weeks old
Departure was a bit delayed because the ground crew was still loading the last baggage containers. While waiting for that the cabin crew handed out hot towels. Almost 25 minutes behind of schedule pushback commenced and the four Engine Alliance engines were started. The captain came on the PA and informed us about the departure runway, climb out direction, route to LHR and the flying time. Runway 12R was in use which means a short taxi distance. After take-off we make a right turn overflying the city. The route today was via the Gulf, Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Germany and The Netherlands. The estimated flying time was 6 hours and 45 minutes, which is quick as the block time for this flight is 7 hours and 55 minutes.
The view from seat 61A
The newest version of ICE, with 1200 channels and lots of other features
Very sharp looking remote control
The tail camera view, a very cool feature!
As said, after pushback we taxied to runway 12R. There was some other ahead of us including a XU MD83 to MKX, an EK A343 to CMN, an EK A380 to CDG and an EK B77W to MAN. At 08.29 we lined up and a few minutes later, at 08.32 to be precisely, we started the long and slow take-off roll. I was amazed how quiet the A380 is inside.
Starting the engines
Taxiing to runway 12R
EK 412 from AKL and SYD and EK 241 to YYZ on the background
Once at cruise altitude the cabin crew handed out the menu cards. Not much later, after all the special meals had been distributed the normal meal service started. I opted for the ricotta cheese omelette, which was very tasty. My croissant was a bit deformed and the flight attendant even asked me if that was a problem, now that’s what I call customer care. As long as the taste is good it’s no problem for me, was my answer to her. She smiled and continued with her work.
The EK A380’s are fitted with wood decoration in the window frame, very stylish
Overhead panel
The cabin with mood lighting
Cruising at FL360
Breakfast is being served
During the flight I watched some Two and a half men episodes and fell a sleep for a while. After a visit to the toilet I walked around the cabin and had some conversations with a friendly flight attendant.
2 hours and 48 minutes to go
Tail camera view on full screen
Front stairs to the upper deck
Rear stairs
The last economy class section. There’s no crew rest area in the cabin on this aircraft which means an additional 28 seats in economy class
Somewhere above Vienna the pre-arrival snack was served. The snack contained a very tasty chicken tikka ciabatta and chocolate cookies.
Above Austria
We’ve climbed to 38000 feet, with still 1 hour and 41 minutes to go
The remote control
And the other side
Pre-arrival snack
Somewhat later, somewhere above The Netherlands the captain came on the PA again and told us that we would start descending soon. The weather in London was not so good today with some moderate winds and a mix between rain and snow. Runway 09L was in use for arriving traffic but our plane landed at 09R, so a very short taxi route to terminal 3. The SQ A380 had just pushed back from stand 301 and had to wait for us. We parked next to the QF A380 at stand 307. Very cool to see all Heathrow’s A380 operators next to each other at the same time. Two air bridges were connected, on for the lower deck and one for the upper deck.
It was busy at the passport control so I was expecting that we had to wait long for our bags as well. But when we arrived at the baggage carrousel most bags had arrived already to my surprise, wow!
A bit later we arrived at terminal 1 and checked-in for our flight to Amsterdam. While waiting for our flight a Biman Bangladesh DC-10 arrived, I didn’t know that they were still using the DC-10 on flights to Europe, what a nice surprise. At 15.15 our gate popped up on the screen, gate 147. I was expecting G-DBCH because I always get that bird on my BMI Amsterdam flights but when we arrived at the gate an A320 was waiting. The seats on the A320 are different, they are very uncomfortable in my opinion, so next time an A319 again please!
Boarding started at 15.40 and soon all passengers had boarded the aircraft. The captain told us that we had a minor technical problem that would be fixed very soon. Twenty minutes after our scheduled departure time the captain announced that the problem was fixed and we would depart immediately. Indeed three minutes later pushback started and we taxied to runway 09R, with no long queues in front of us today. Take-off was at 16.40 and we climbed to our cruising altitude, 23000 feet.
The board service started but no menu’s where available so most passengers were a bit confused about what to order. I saw a nice cheese sandwich on the trolley which I ordered together with a cup of coffee.
Climbing to 23000 feet
When I was still eating my sandwich descending was started. We flew to the coastline and made a left turn in northern direction to start the approach for runway 18R. We touched down at 18.25 but unfortunately runway 18C was in use as well so we had to taxi all the way around it, which means a very long taxi time. We docked in at gate D22 and headed to passport control. Meanwhile I called home that I had arrived and was almost ready to be picked up in front of the terminal. As usual at AMS, it took very long before our bags arrived. When I finally got my bag I went outside where my sister had just arrived and 20 minutes later I was home again.
I hope you enjoyed these two trip reports. My next trip report will feature a day trip to Dublin and London City on Aer Lingus, Cityjet and BA Cityflyer, which I flew in December 2009.
Thank you for reading!
Best regards,
Jeroen
*Please feel free to comment or ask your questions.
Airbuseric From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 4015 posts, RR: 52 Reply 1, posted (3 years 3 months 2 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 20144 times:
Hi Jeroen,
nice follow up on your B773 story.
EK seems very nice, but the view on that supersized wing is not so appealling to me. I would prefer upperdeck or not above that wing
Quoting BasilFawlty (Thread starter): While waiting for our flight a Biman Bangladesh DC-10 arrived, I didn’t know that they were still using the DC-10 on flights to Europe, what a nice surprise.
They do, along with A310s, soon to be replaced by B777's. That would even a nicer ride, on a DC10
Quoting BasilFawlty (Thread starter): When I finally got my bag I went outside where my sister had just arrived and 20 minutes later I was home again.
A big plus of living so close to the airport!
Regards,
Eric
"The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going"
EICVD From Ireland, joined Mar 2008, 2067 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (3 years 3 months 2 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 20082 times:
Hi Jeroen.
Just like part 1 that was an excellent trip report, as always they were very enjoyable reads
Looking forward to your next TR for obvious reasons . Thanks for posting.
Dublin, where Sam Maguire will be coming home to in mid September
Quoting Airbuseric (Reply 1): I would prefer upperdeck or not above that wing
Yes, somewhere in front or behind the wing would have been nicer. Unfortunately almost all seats were gone already, especially those in the forward part of the cabin.
Quoting Airbuseric (Reply 1): A big plus of living so close to the airport!
It sure is.
Quoting EICVD (Reply 2): Just like part 1 that was an excellent trip report, as always they were very enjoyable reads
Thank you, such positive comments are very motivating for future trip reports.
Quoting EICVD (Reply 2): Looking forward to your next TR for obvious reasons
I've just started with it, I hope to have it finished soon.
'Every year donkeys and mules kill more people than plane crashes'
NZ107 From New Zealand, joined Jul 2005, 5672 posts, RR: 40 Reply 4, posted (3 years 3 months 2 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 19459 times:
Hi Jeroen,
Interesting couple of reports here! I'll comment on the first one soon. It seems like you had a good time onboard. The wing flex is great but I wouldn't want to be restricted to only seeing wing.. My future EK A380 flights in Economy will be in front of the wing.
Quoting BasilFawlty (Thread starter): The EK A380’s are fitted with wood decoration in the window frame, very stylish
This is a new addition. Take a look at one of my photos from EDC taken in November:
And you'll see that there is no wooden decor in Economy.
Quoting BasilFawlty (Thread starter): The last economy class section. There’s no crew rest area in the cabin on this aircraft which means an additional 28 seats in economy class
Good to know that the back won't be so claustrophobic! I'm yet to write my TR about the experience in that back section.
Caleb1 From United States of America, joined Nov 2008, 320 posts, RR: 3 Reply 5, posted (3 years 3 months 2 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 19455 times:
A truly excellent TR on all levels. I wish most TRs could be of this caliber.
DL752 From United States of America, joined Jul 2008, 174 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (3 years 3 months 2 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 19349 times:
Amazing!
EK really puts everything into their flights.
Great report as well.
CrimsonNL From Netherlands, joined Dec 2007, 1614 posts, RR: 42 Reply 9, posted (3 years 3 months 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 18183 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW CHAT OPERATOR
Hey Jeroen! Great reports! Nice too see you getting on the whale! While I don't think she's pretty she is very impressive! I loved the pictures of the city. It's on my wishlist just to watch at all the insane stuff they have there.
Thanks for sharing, and let me know when your around the Bravo pier anytime soon!
Quoting BasilFawlty (Thread starter): The EK A380’s are fitted with wood decoration in the window frame, very stylish
Interesting, I flew on A6-EDB which didn't have that. Actually I'm not a fan of that kind of over-decoration.
Quoting BasilFawlty (Thread starter): The last economy class section. There’s no crew rest area in the cabin on this aircraft which means an additional 28 seats in economy class
Another difference - I was seated in a row next to the crew rest area and found that section quite nice.
BA319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 8258 posts, RR: 56 Reply 12, posted (3 years 3 months 2 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 17414 times:
- True, I've been stuch in the middle seat of an AA DC-10 some years back, not a great flight.
Quoting BasilFawlty (Thread starter): The EK A380’s are fitted with wood decoration in the window frame, very stylish
- I'm still not so sure abouth them, I think they look tacky.
Quoting BasilFawlty (Thread starter): While waiting for our flight a Biman Bangladesh DC-10 arrived, I didn’t know that they were still using the DC-10 on flights to Europe, what a nice surprise
- Not for much longer, 777's are on the way.
Quoting BasilFawlty (Thread starter): The board service started but no menu’s where available so most passengers were a bit confused about what to order
- Odd, they used to have a BOB menu in the seat pockets.
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) but at least it’s better than sitting in the middle section. 
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