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:
burj From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 838 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (2 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 32767 times:
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!
NorthstarBoy From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 1713 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (2 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 32767 times:
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]
I could have elite status if I wanted it, but flying the same airline all the time is boring.
Midcon385 From United States of America, joined Dec 2006, 570 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (2 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 32767 times:
Beautiful report in all three parts. Fascinating to see the beautiful people and country of Iran!
gardermoen From Australia, joined Jul 1999, 1518 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (2 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 32767 times:
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!
Rabenschlag From Germany, joined Oct 2000, 993 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (2 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 32581 times:
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.
AERDINGUS From Ireland, joined Dec 2006, 2485 posts, RR: 18 Reply 7, posted (2 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 32441 times:
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.
BA EI FH FR LX RE SK TS VY ZB 3K 5G A300 A310 A319 A320 A321 A333 ATR72 B735 B738 B744 B772 MD82 BCN BOH BRU CPH CRL DUB
lychemsa From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 904 posts, RR: 3 Reply 9, posted (2 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 31989 times:
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.
pdxtriple7 From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 695 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (2 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 31393 times:
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?
oa260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24894 posts, RR: 60 Reply 12, posted (2 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 31264 times:
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
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
KHI747 From United States of America, joined Oct 2000, 1609 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (2 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days ago) and read 30966 times:
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.
767747 From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 1750 posts, RR: 26 Reply 15, posted (2 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 30391 times:
Great report! Iran Air looks very nice! Great photos of Tehran and of the airport. Looking forward to your return flight!
Kent350787 From Australia, joined May 2008, 888 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (2 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 30349 times:
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.
omidp From Canada, joined Jun 2010, 79 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (2 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 29885 times:
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
ba319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 8263 posts, RR: 56 Reply 18, posted (2 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 29363 times:
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
olli From Mexico, joined Mar 2001, 333 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (2 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 28283 times:
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.
UK_Dispatcher From United Arab Emirates, joined Dec 2001, 2550 posts, RR: 33 Reply 22, posted (2 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 28114 times:
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.
rogerbcn From Andorra, joined Sep 2006, 1135 posts, RR: 19 Reply 23, posted (2 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 28079 times:
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
"At reise er at leve" H.C. Andersen (Travelling is Living)
akhmad From Netherlands, joined Sep 2005, 2332 posts, RR: 53 Reply 24, posted (2 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 27376 times:
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
Friends forever
25 Fauzi: 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
26 omidp: Thank you all for your kind comments, much appreciated
27 KLAM: 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 bec
28 omidp: @KLAM: Thank you so much for your kind comment and visting the TR. I truly appreciate it
29 dfw11: 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
31 PlaneHunter: 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
32 omidp: @Planethunter: Thank you, the meals were great, I really like Persian food and kabobs so I really enjoyed it
33 jlk: Excellent report. Portrayed Iran in a completely different way. Hope your govt doesn't go berserk on you for speaking out against them. Don't they hav
35 N1120A: 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 yo
36 omidp: Hi N1120a, I think they had choice between chicken and beef
37 lollomz: An AMAZING trip report, one of the best I had the pleasure to read/see. Thanks again for your work! Lollo
38 lollomz: 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
39 omidp: 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 tai
40 AirAfreak: 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 wit
Sponsor Message: 
From Canada, joined Jun 2010, 79 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 838 posts, 
From Pakistan, joined Dec 2005, 5179 posts, 
From Australia, joined Jul 1999, 1518 posts, 
From Germany, joined Oct 2000, 993 posts, 
From Ireland, joined Dec 2006, 2485 posts, 
From Barbados, joined Aug 2003, 369 posts, 
From India, joined Apr 2007, 1000 posts, 
From Jordan, joined Aug 2004, 1541 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 8263 posts, 
From Mexico, joined Mar 2001, 333 posts, 
From United Arab Emirates, joined Dec 2001, 2550 posts, 
From Andorra, joined Sep 2006, 1135 posts, 
From Netherlands, joined Sep 2005, 2332 posts, 
Sponsor Message: 
Printer friendly format
