N178UA From United Arab Emirates, joined Jan 2001, 1626 posts, RR: 69 Posted (2 years 1 month 3 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 9218 times:
Welcome to my 2nd Trip photo trip report with music
The long way from Dubai to Mumbai via Jeddah
I need to get to India and I refuse to fly the nonstop way from Dubai. An excellent itinerary on Air India B747-400 from Jeddah to Mumbai via Hyderabad (Shamshabad) surfaced, with connecting from Dubai to Jeddah on Emirates A380. The unforgettable 16 hr trip is born!
Highlight:
Emirates First Class Lounge - A destination itself
Dis-embark A380 via stairs in Jeddah
Transit Jeddah without visa
Single passenger on Air India B747-400 First Class all night!
Quokka From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (2 years 1 month 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 9071 times:
Hi Sam,
Another excellent trip report. Your new format works well to present your photos clearly. Nice to see that both the Saudi policeman and the soldier were happy to let you take photos, despite it being "not allowed."
Although there were differences in the equipment used bu EK and AI, the personal service appeared to be very good on both. You must have felt like royalty having the cabin all to yourself going to BOM.
RvXKaz From Singapore, joined Apr 2011, 184 posts, RR: 3 Reply 3, posted (2 years 1 month 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 9030 times:
Hello Sam,
I really enjoyed your new style of TR.
Your beautiful pictures really pay tribute to the once AI's mighty flagship B744.
I'm surprised there is no menu in First but I'm sure the sumptuous buffet spread and personal service of two crew more than make up for it!
I can only imagine the luxurious experience of being the only First class passenger in contrast to that of the passengers in the packed Economy class just behind the curtain.
They say that I'm a dreamer. But I'd only Dreamt Skyward.
simfanatic From Germany, joined Jan 2008, 45 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (2 years 1 month 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 8915 times:
Very nice report with brilliant pictures. The music adds a nice touch to it. I thought ALL AI B744's have been refurbished with the new seats and Heath Tecna interior retrofit? Why is it that this plane still carries the old seats with new fabric?
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 6, posted (2 years 1 month 3 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 8374 times:
Another great report from an interesting aprt of the world. I'm interested in this 18 hour stopover deal - are you alloowed to leave the airport, or are you stuck inside the airside area (like you were). It's always nice to get a premium cabin to yourself - lucky you were hungry, otherwise I fear the FA would have been a bit upset at having cooked and plated it all up for you!
flightsimboy From Canada, joined Sep 2005, 849 posts, RR: 4 Reply 7, posted (2 years 1 month 3 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 8081 times:
I was surprised to see quite a few ramp shots at JED, and then I read you were told to put your camera away LOL. Sam, another great set of photos, and really glad you document the cabin crew as well. Imagine you had the whole nose section of the AI 744 to yourself, lucky!! Quite an array of dishes to choose from.
767747 From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 1750 posts, RR: 26 Reply 9, posted (2 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 7437 times:
Great report, Sam!
Being a huge fan of Indian cuisine, I was getting very hungry while seeing the photos about all your dishes you had on AI. How amazing to ride alone in the nose cone of a 747! You must have felt very much like a VIP!
Those seats look incredibly comfortable, and how nice they go all the way flat instead of slanting down on an angle. I remember seeing these seats when I saw some pictures of RJ's "Crown Class"
IrishAyes From United States of America, joined Jan 2008, 1731 posts, RR: 5 Reply 11, posted (2 years 1 month 3 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 7161 times:
Delightful read. You must have been in Hog Heaven. Thank you!
concordechild From Italy, joined Aug 2009, 42 posts, RR: 3 Reply 12, posted (2 years 1 month 3 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 7103 times:
Sam
absolutely amazing report, love the itinerary and the Air India "alone" exerience. I have to say that the food looks incredibly appetising, and though mght not be as "pretty" as EK First or SQ First, it does look more like something you would get at home or in a family run restaurant and probably incredibly tasty....
N178UA From United Arab Emirates, joined Jan 2001, 1626 posts, RR: 69 Reply 13, posted (2 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 6917 times:
Quoting ojas (Reply 1): Hope you had a nice stay in Mumbai.
Hi ojas, my stay in Mumbai was excllent in the new Holiday Inn Mumbai Airport. Vivek M came to rescue and take me out for spotting. We even talk about you flown an AIX to Dubai with 130kgs?....
Quoting Quokka (Reply 2): Although there were differences in the equipment used bu EK and AI, the personal service appeared to be very good on both. You must have felt like royalty having the cabin all to yourself going to BOM.
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 3): I'm surprised there is no menu in First but I'm sure the sumptuous buffet spread and personal service of two crew more than make up for it!
I can only imagine the luxurious experience of being the only First class passenger in contrast to that of the passengers in the packed Economy class just behind the curtain.
Yes indeed. It is so great to have the whole cabin to myself.
Quoting simfanatic (Reply 4): I thought ALL AI B744's have been refurbished with the new seats and Heath Tecna interior retrofit? Why is it that this plane still carries the old seats with new fabric?
I believe VT-EVA and VT-EVB is done up with PTV in all classes. I think VT-ESN (and perhaps 2 more) didn't receive the retrofit in Economy and there are no PTV in any class (or entertainment at all) from my flight JED-HYD-BOM
VT-ESM engine caught fire in 2009 and it is permanently out of action with titles removed/crossed in BOM.
Someone know more about AI can share more info on the status of the 744.
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 6): Another great report from an interesting aprt of the world. I'm interested in this 18 hour stopover deal - are you alloowed to leave the airport, or are you stuck inside the airside area (like you were).
Only for transit, not able to go outside without the possession of a Transit Visa.
Quoting flightsimboy (Reply 7): I was surprised to see quite a few ramp shots at JED, and then I read you were told to put your camera away LOL.
It is strictly forbidden to
Quoting Burj (Reply 8):
Wow! Awesome trip report! The music soundtrack is a nice touch too!
Quoting PanAm788 (Reply 10): Great report! The new format is really slick.
Quoting IrishAyes (Reply 11): Delightful read. You must have been in Hog Heaven. Thank you!
Quoting 767747 (Reply 9): Being a huge fan of Indian cuisine, I was getting very hungry while seeing the photos about all your dishes you had on AI. How amazing to ride alone in the nose cone of a 747! You must have felt very much like a VIP!
Thanks guys....now feel like posting more TR!
Quoting concordechild (Reply 12): absolutely amazing report, love the itinerary and the Air India "alone" exerience. I have to say that the food looks incredibly appetising, and though mght not be as "pretty" as EK First or SQ First, it does look more like something you would get at home or in a family run restaurant and probably incredibly tasty....
gardermoen From Australia, joined Jul 1999, 1518 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (2 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 6603 times:
Hi
Nice report and presentation. Loved it.
Surprised that First Class goes out full on the 380 from Dubai to Jeddah.
And amazing that you get to use the staircase on arrical at JED. Do they not have any A380 equipped gates there?
ronerone From Jordan, joined Aug 2004, 1541 posts, RR: 54 Reply 15, posted (2 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 6174 times:
Fantastic report Sam. The pictures are excellent as always, and i quite like the new format for TR's on your website.
What a great outcome for a last minute trip such as this!
We always hear of EK's crazy JED flight on the A380 but seeing it definitely puts things into perspective. What better way can you enjoy an A380 without EK's First Class lounge and deplaning by steps!
And for the most important part of the trip, is this ultra-rare Air India B744 mystery flight! I have not heard of it until you mentioned it and what an amazing flight you seem to have had! It's like having your own private trolley service!
This further confirms that Jeddah gets all the interesting equipment -new and old- in the region. Need to look further into it
Thanks a lot for sharing!
Cheers,
Roni
[Edited 2011-04-05 11:17:20]
A Stop Away From One-Stop, Is Non-Stop : Airbus A340-500
N178UA From United Arab Emirates, joined Jan 2001, 1626 posts, RR: 69 Reply 16, posted (2 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 5886 times:
Quoting gardermoen (Reply 14): Surprised that First Class goes out full on the 380 from Dubai to Jeddah.
And amazing that you get to use the staircase on arrical at JED. Do they not have any A380 equipped gates there?
JED is printing money nonstop for Emirates....that said for the loads......
and JED do NOT have one single aerobridge....all airplane use stairs
Interesting place and combination eh ?
Quoting ronerone (Reply 15): This further confirms that Jeddah gets all the interesting equipment -new and old- in the region. Need to look further into it
Hey Roni! I sense some more damaging report out of JED is on our way haha
NZ107 From New Zealand, joined Jul 2005, 5672 posts, RR: 40 Reply 17, posted (2 years 1 month 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 5261 times:
Hi Sam,
Great job! Fantastic photos like usual. The experience looked wonderful from beginning to end! Nice to see the transit go rather smoothly though being in that room seems like it'd be daunting!
Having the whole F cabin to yourself again would be such a nice experience.. And the food offering looks amazing!
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