BACKGROUND: (You can skip these details and go straight to the flight!)
In July this year I was checking for flights on Etihad to Karachi, when I came across an unbelievable low fare of CAD 1260 for travel in December and allowing me a return to Toronto after Christmas, however I had to leave on or before Dec 8th. I quickly selected some dates and then proceeded to make a call to the Etihad call centre in Mumbai to see if window seats were indeed available on the flight, as by default all window seats on Etihad's seat selection maps even before booking are blocked off. I had flown with Etihad in November of last year and with the Etihad Guest Miles I was hoping to be upgraded on at least one of the short haul AUH-KHI-AUH sectors. I asked if this was possible, but I was informed I was short by a few miles. She then surprised me by saying "However Mr. R, I could offer you an additional CAD 150 off the fare by using your miles". I nearly dropped the phone, as my heart raced and I tried to maintain my composure as I pretended to be calm and said "Oh, can you do that...Hmm okay why not". "That will now drop your fare to CAD 1110, Mr. R" she proceeded to tell me, as by now I wanted to scream out in joy, but also had to remain calm as I was also at work!!. Credit card details provided and I was booked to go see my family for Christmas as this is something I cannot really do as fares in December are always the most expensive!!
CHANGES IN BOOKING
Some months later, after my cousin had visited me from Sydney, and a side trip to New York, I was left with an additional two days which I had to use before the year end. Getting those two days booked off at work, I then proceeded to call the Mumbai call centre once again and was told that the first change was free and the second would cost CAD 100. I decided to hold off making any changes for now till I was absolutely sure. The next day I called the Mumbai Centre again and a very nice phone rep was with me for an hour going through all the details of my changing dates, differences in fares and even at the end of it, I was still unsure. I took his name and then asked to speak to the Manager so I could highlight what a great job this rep did. The next day I made a final call and after yet another hour on the phone, the lenght of these calls were also due to the fact that I was put on hold various times as they checked details for me, the second call first shocking me I had to pay some additional CADs but then said I didn't have to. There were some conflicts with what I was told the day before and what the current rep was telling me, but in the end it was all worked out, with the same level of friendliness and courtesy as when the call first started. I was now proceeding on Dec 6th, two days earlier but still returning on Dec 27th and was going to spend Christmas with the family for just CAD 1110, compared to CAD 1400 to 1900 on other carriers showing these fares around that time, for the very same dates. Thank you, Etihad. I quickly sent an email to the customer service department to thank them for the great phone service, and cc:ed the Mumbai call centre as well (email provided to me by the second Manager who I also spoke to, to thank the second rep for the excellent service provided) and within a few days I got a response saying how Etihad is striving to provide great service both in the air and on the ground. I also sent links to my airliners.net reports for my past two trips with them, but I got no response for those. Perhaps that is another department altogether. Also within a matter of days I got yet another email saying my flights were suspended, even though the credit card charges had gone through. I made a call yet again to the call centre and was assured my flights were still valid however since they could not authenticate my credit card, it showed as suspended and a simple visit to the local Etihad office, or at the time of check in by showing the card would remove the suspension. If they could not authenticate my card, how did they go ahead with charging it? What is more I paid with the very same card last year. Anyway for that fare If what they did was fine with them, then it was fine with me too.
WINDOW SEAT DILEMMA
There was a slight dilemma which resulted with all these changes. When I had made the changes to my seats the call centre in Mumbai could not re-assign my seats on the new flights. They said this change would only be possible 24 hours before the flight opens, by either going to the airport, checking in online or going to the Etihad Airways office in downtown Toronto. Not being sure if I would get a window seat on the flight, I was a bit worried I must admit, knowing how packed the Etihad flights are out of Toronto. Anyway the day arrived and 24 hours before the flight could open I proceeded to check in at 2200 the night before and the website indicated they could not find me. I then remembered about going to the local Etihad office!! I made yet another frantic call to the Mumbai centre asking if they could assign me the seat and they said no, however after insisting they message the airport about the window seat I hung up. The next morning and on the day of the flight I raced to the Eithad Airways office in downtown Toronto some fifteen minutes away from where I work and was welcomed by the sole counter staff who had yet to turn on her computer!! I only had another fifteen minutes to get to my desk on time at work!!She took my credit card details, unsuspended my ticket and when I requested the window seat, she said the list had already gone to the airport just the night before and had I to come yesterday evening she might have been able to do something!! However she assured me in about an hour I should be able to check in online. Back at work some few minutes late,and after an hour and a half passing, just to be sure, I proceeded to check in and was shown on the screen I could not check in online. Totally disappointed with all of this, I just crossed my fingers and hoped that indeed when I proceeded to the airport that evening I would indeed get that window seat for both AUH and AUH-KHI
flightsimboy From Canada, joined Sep 2005, 582 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 7928 times:
THE DAY ITSELF
The day had already started so frantically, I had some additional errands to run when I left work at 4:30pm, got home by by 6:40pm, had my friend turn up at my place at 7:10pm and I was at the terminal at around 7:25pm!! Needless to say I was quite exhausted before even getting to the airport, and had almost a day's journey ahead of me. Next time, I am going to try and get a day off when I have to travel, so I can actually rest at home. But then all this dancing and prancing before a flight adds to the excitement I guess, and this tiredness would actually pay off perhaps by making me get some sleep on the aircraft when I get on board.
PRE CHECK-IN
I waved goodbye to my friend and his two sons, the elder one asleep in the back, as they had been picked up from the day care prior to coming to get me. A sight I did not want to see waited for me when I got into the terminal. I saw a long line snaking down to past the area from where the Etihad counters stood. In fact it even snaked down the length of the second check in area. I sighed in disbelief and now truly believed all hopes of getting the window seat was gone, and all my frantic efforts were all in vain. For a moment the check in line looked like an airport in Karachi, Mumbai or Dhaka, as the passengers were none other than us immigrants heading back home!! And mountains of suitcases filled the trolleys, which resulted in excess baggage charges at the counter. My two medium suitcases assured me that I would indeed not have to suffer that fate, as I had already been one of these passengers in the past buying more than what my suitcase could hold. Lesson learned!!
CHECK IN - FIRST LEG
Etihad Airways
A6-ETH (Delivered 14-09-11)
Boeing 777-300ER
EY 140: AUH
Dec 6th, 2011
Dep:2150
Pushback: 2140
Take off: 2150 (On time)
I finally got to the check in desk some 25 minutes later around 7:50pm after an extremely busy yet cheery ground agent staff waved me to come to her. I already had my documents in hand and she welcomed me while continuing to look at her screen. I lost no time to ask her about the seat and she said I had indeed been given one. "Oh I was so worried, about not getting a window seat" I said my face filled with anguish. "This is hardly something you should have been worried about" she said to me as she handed me the boarding passes. I looked at 23A and said "Is this over the wing? hoping to rectify the issue right here and now and have it changed if possible. "You have 12K" she assured me, "It's one of the first few seats where Economy begins" her face now looking at me directly and a sense of compassion as she made me realised I was looking at the AUH-KHI boarding pass. "Have a nice flight, M" she said, dropping my last name to make it more personal. I thanked her and made my way to the departure gate, with boarding to start in about an hour. I had such a sense of relief that I did get the window seat, yet a feeling of exhaustion as I proceeded to the gate
PRE-BOARDING
I made some final calls, and one to my family at home in Karachi to indicate I was on my way, and we finalised some arrival details considering I was arriving in the wee hours of the morning there. Once at the gate, I tried to get a glimpse of the magnificent bird I was to board but could not see anything. Being the first few seats of the Economy section, I was going to be one of the last few to board, unlike my last flight in Nov where I was the last few seats and the first ones to board. The line had now snaked down to a bare minimum when the final first few rows were called out to board. My heart started to race as I went down the ramp with the famous HSBC adverstisments adorning the walls. I love their slogan "The World's Local bank" and mentioned it to my friend as he drove me to the airport, the bank being his employer. Through the glass opening I gazed at my Etihad bird, looking at the registration A6-ETH and did not realise that this bird was not even three months old. It only struck me now as I looked up the registration details while preparing for this report.
BOARDING
As I turned the bend, my eyes were met with this Asian FA at the door with a Middle Eastern male FA across from her. She bowed her head and smiled at each passenger as they passed by her, as she took and handed back boarding stubs while welcoming her passengers on board. When I was few rows behind, I was so tempted to ask to have a photo taken but it was a full line and I did not want to endure the same embarressment I had last year, so I just pressed on with the crowd. What a contrast from the purser and crew member from last year, where I was rudely told with shaking of the head, rolling of the eyes and hand extended forward to hand my boarding card to get on board. Understandly it was a rush then but I felt it could have been handled better. Now right at the door the Asian FA, who I shall refer to as FA Ms. B, proceed to take the boarding pass of the person in front of me, and the Middle Eastern male FA who I shall refer to as FA Mr. A, took my boarding pass and welcomed me on board "Welcome Sir, straight down and turn right" he said as I passed by him and made my way towards another Middle Eastern FA, who I shall call FA Ms. F! She smiled and welcomed me with a twinkle in her eyes. What a wonderful change from the Etihad I had experienced the on the last flight, and I somehow knew this was going to be a really good flight. In all this I momentarily forgot about my tiredness and made me way to my seat, the second one from the first economy rows, which housed the bassinet seats. A bearded gentlemen and a veiled woman sat in seats 12J and 12H and when I indicated I had to get to the window, they kindly vacated the seats to help me get in. I looked out and was very impressed that I had got a seat way ahead of where the wing began and a glorious view of the mighty and majestic GE-90 hung suspended from the wings of this mighty bird.
ON BOARD
Obligatory legroom shot
Announcements were made on board for the ground crew to leave the aircraft "Ground crew please leave this aircraft bound for Abu Dhabi". We pushed back at 2140, ten minutes ahead of schedule and made our way towards runway 6L. The welcome and safety videos played, while the FAs busied themselves in preparation for take off. At exactly 2150 we reached the active runway, the captain just minutes earlier commanding the crew "Cabin crew please take your seats for take off". During the taxi to the runway, I just gazed lovingly at the GE-90s, my tiredness as dim as the light on the engines from the lights around the airport , and then a renewed sense of energy as the landing lights were turned on as we turned onto the active runway, the engines screaming into a shrill as the brakes released and we thundered down Rwy 6L. We lifted off into the Toronto night sky, the lights and familiar sights below visible for about ten seconds, and then just blurred out as we climbed through a layer of low lying clouds. We banked to the left and continued to climb into the night sky. The landing lights illuminated the clouds as we danced through them for a bit, before we broke into clear skies above, the GE-90 slightly illuminated by the night sky, as the landing lights turned off. I pressed my face into the glass trying to get a good view of the sight, before the cabin lights turned back on and all I could see was a shrouded image of myself.
The amenity kits and headphones were the same from the flight in November last year
Pic taken from the last flight.
THE FLIGHT
I fiddled with the Etihad entertainment system E-Box that I had already experienced before, and was happy to see some choices had remained in their selection, which I was going to use sometime later in the flight. There were no hot towels distributed, no pre dinner drinks or snacks.
The Purser welcomed all on board and announced that shortly the dinner service would commence, with dinner on demand for Etihad's Pearl Business class passengers.
A la Carte
Marinated Artichoke salad with dressing
Warm Bakery
------------------
Chicken in Thyme Sauce, red skin mashed potatoes, steamed carrots and buttered green peas
Lamb tagine with aromatic rice
Mixed Vegetable curry gobi matter, steamed rice and dal
Dessert Service
Warm ginger pudding with dairy custard or Chocalate and raspberry mouse
Brewed coffee, cappucino, espresso, hot chocolate, Ceylon tea, green tea
Cafe Service
Turkey and lettuce on light grain bread
Hummus and lettuce on white bread
A la Carte
Cucumber and red pepper salad
----------------
Mild vegetable, curry makhanwala, steamed rice, peas and dal mahrani
---------------
Ceylon Tea, Brewed coffee
An hour after taking off at exactly 2250 dinner service commenced. I opted for the Chicken in Thyme Sauce, red skin mashed potatoes, steamed carrots and buttered greens. The chicken came with a thick layer of skin, which also had the sauce poured all over it, while the chicken below was quite juicy and succulent. I was quite hungry and practically gobbled everything up in about 20 minutes. The trays remained unremoved till about an hour and more.
90 minutes later Etihad's renowed dessert service commenced. FA Ms. F who had served us dinner, with FA Mr. A on the other side of the aisle smiled as she handed me my Warm ginger pudding with dairy custard, and followed it with the Hot Chocolate I had requested her to make me one.
With both of these sleep inducers on my tray table, I enjoyed them as much as I did on the previous long haul flights, and at the same time I remembered Qantas' hot chocolate with marshmallows, which is where I first enjoyed this. The lights were dimmed out exactly three hours after take off and I tuned into some Westlife and got a bit mushy with the music and fell off to sleep. I believe at this time some three hours into the flight, we had already begun our Atlantic crossing
flightsimboy From Canada, joined Sep 2005, 582 posts, RR: 4 Reply 2, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 7887 times:
MID FLIGHT
When I woke up again we had crossed the Atlantic and the first rays of breaking dawn appeared on the horizon.
That gentle streak of light that breaks into the black night sky is magical, and I attempted to take many shots of this, but only one's eye can behold such beauty. The cabin remained darkened with the TV monitors illuminted and pools of light from the overhead reading bins lay scattered around the cabin.
By now the light outside had brightened but not bright enough to disturb the passengers around me when I put up the blind completely. We had now crossed over the Atlantic and were heading straight towards Dublin.
I hadn't been following the map really well, when a little later I looked down and saw a familiar site, the London Eye!! We were flying right over London!! The entire city lay visible directly under me, and had I not recognised the London Eye I don't think I would have even noticed it below. By now almost seven hours had passed and my backside felt sore and I could not feel my legs anymore. It had become considerably bright outside now. I also experimented using the other funky functions of my new camera!
GE-90 FULL FRONTAL
For PlaneHunter and other German a.netters.
Somewhere over cloudy Germany
No sooner my seat neighbours got up to visit the loo, I decided to take the opportunity to vacate my seat. I had my camera in hand with me. I passed through the Zebra print except black and beige Etihad curtains into the small galley area right across from door L2 from where we had entered, which has the Business class lounge forward of it. There was another passenger standing there, and between the washroom on the side of the windows, and the cabin crew seat is a little area where a tray with the red Etihad glases lay filled with water and cartons of various juices lay on the other side. I grabbed a glass of water and quenched my thirst, not before entering the loo on the passenger side. Water runs had been done during the flight and I had taken a glass when I was awake. I stretched myself and told myself only in the event of turbulence would I return to my seat. I stood there like a forlorn deer and watched FA Ms. R and another FA work in the tiny galley that separated Economy with Business. It was so tiny and just enough for the two FAs to pass within a shoulder’s touch of each other. I remained where I was and stayed put.
flightsimboy From Canada, joined Sep 2005, 582 posts, RR: 4 Reply 3, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 7847 times:
REMEMBRANCE OF THE PAST FLIGHT
The Food and Beverage manager appeared and started to look through some trolleys while quickly noting down things on a sheet, and working on a calculator at the same time. Perhaps it was a duty free trolley he was going through. He continued to do his job, while totally ignoring the fact that I stood close by to him. He was one of those people that had a permanent expression on his face, and though his appearance seemed friendly I could sense an air of sauciness from him as I was not a Business Class passenger where he worked most of the flight. I so very much wanted to ask to have a photo taken as till that time all attempts to have the Female purser and Food and Beverage Managers photos taken proved to be unsuccesful. But had he to even once look up and my eye contact I would have made an attempt to ask, but if you choose to behave as though some one does not exist then I have no choice but to treat you the same way. I recalled the Nigerian Female purser on an Emirates flight into JFK, who saw me standing at the back, approached me and spoke to me, and though I was unsuccessful in getting a photo then, she offered me a tin of premium almonds from First, in order to make up for her shyness to be photographed. She even joked with me to chat with the other FAs there who she said can be bored on these long flights. Needless to say I was successful in getting a pic of them!!
THE DISCOVERY
With the saucy Manager back in Business, I stood close to the Zebra beige and black curtains that seperated Business and felt a FA against me as she collided as she came through the curtain. I shall call her FA Ms. A who we both apologised for the slight collision. She was friendly and asked me if I was enjoying my flight. I asked her how long she had been with Etihad and she said four years, and she had in that time progressed ahead into J class. Standing nearby was FA Ms. R who had been standing across from the main entrance from where FA Ms. B and FA Mr. A had been at the door to welcome guest. She took a slight break and rested her back against the galley and shut her eyes and gave a slight deep breath. These busy flights do get these FAs tired.
I looked at her and said "So how long have you been with Etihad",
"A year" she replied as she moved towards the cabin crew landing seat, opened it and her eyes brightened as she started to get comfortable for a bit of chit chat.
"So I guess you must have seen quite a few places by now" I said as she made herself comfortable.
She would have asked me to sit perhaps, but she knew I had indicated to Ms FA. A, that I needed to stand having been seated for so long.
"Oh yes, I've been to many places" she replied "But this is my first Toronto flight" she sighed and indicated that she does not want another one for a while.
"These flights are known to have demanding passengers" I joked with her, while knowing that people like me from the Indian subcontinent can be very demanding lol.
She chuckled and turned the topic and asked "So is Abu Dhabi your final" with a slight hesitation that it was probably not.
"No Karachi" I replied, "My third time to Karachi with Etihad" I chimed in, with a desperate attempt to flaunt my previous flights with them.
"I just returned from Minsk" she continued "It was so cold there, that I did not leave the hotel room during our 24 hour layover" she shivered as she said that. "Toronto was cold too" she said "But we did go out a bit" she said bravely!
We continued to talk about other routes and she said she loved doing the Sydney route, even though that flight was as long as the flight back to Toronto. "Sydney is so beautiful" she said,
"Yes I've been there four times" I piped in and then I proceeded to ask her "So are you one of the many Middle Eastern FAs on Etihad?",
"Yes" she replied,
"So you are Arab" I said almost stumbling over my words, meaning to actually ask which country she was from the Arab world.
"I'm Emirati" she replied correcting me.
"Emirati?" I said with a confused look.
"I'm a UAE national" she continued. "In fact, I am the only Emirati FA on Etihad".
My eyes widened and my brain started to get alert. "You mean, you are the only Emirati FA from the United Arab Emirates on Etihad" I said once more stumbling over my apparent not very intelligent choice of National status, an Emirati is after all someone from the United Arab Emirates.
"Yes" she replied a bit confused why I had suddenly changed my whole demanour towards this new piece of information.
"I cannot believe here I am talking to the only Emirati female FA on Etihad" I said by now smiling in excitement. I then proceeded to tell her about my trip reports and how I should like to mention this in there, and perhaps at the end of the flight to have a photograph if possible. She said sure as she looked up at me, her red scarf tied in a knot at the left of her neck and the grey apron covering the rest of her body. I told her I would post this little chit chat on a prestigious website and let the aviation community know I had the distinct privilige to speak the Etihad's only Female FA!! We were joined by another passenger going to Karachi and we all then spoke in general.
MOTHER NATURE'S SURPRISE
I needed to visit the washroom again and this time used the one alongside the windows. I opened the door to find the washroom filled with ample afternoon sunlight. I had a washroom that had a window!!
During the course of the conversation we had by now cruised into the noon light and were over Turkey. From the open window I gazed in amazement at the snow capped mountains that passed by ever so gently outside the window. I relieved myself, and wondered when again I would be able to have such a view again while attending to mother nature's call lol. It felt a bit bizzare to see the mountains pass by underneath while over them my bodily fluids passed into the lavatory bowl below!! I lost no time to get back to my seat to get photos and videos of the awesome site underneath us. Had I not had the urge to use the loo again, I probably would have missed out on this view, not realising it was now noon over the area we were flying, as Business Class was completely dark with the curtains drawn as well as the curtains into Econcomy, the little sliding shade on the L1 and R1 doors were down and the only light illuminating the area was that from the flourescent lights of the galley area.
MOUNTAIN SPLENDOR
Back into my seat I gazed in amazement at the snow capped mountains below, while the might GE-90 glided smoothly and without any turbulence against the backdrop of such pristine beauty!!
I had not realised that while gazing out of the window that FA Ms. B who had been at the door to welcome passengers was now serving the sandwhiches and the drinks run. As most passengers were still asleep, these were distributed directly out of the trays rather than a trolley service. Somehow she missed me, probably thinking I had fallen off to sleep face forward on the open window lol, but I was not too hungry. However I missed photographing the sandwhich for the trip report purposes.
JEWEL IN THE CROWN
FA Ms. B, who had been most probably on her rest was now serving our cabin area. Her smile and attention towards all her passengers was just so amazing, almost as friendly as when she welcomed all on board! She attended to the family in front of me, taking time to ask the mother and grandmother of the two children, one in the bassinet and one seated between the two adults if all were okay. The little girl had by now awakened and was happily playing peek-a-boo with me! Ms. FA B returned one more time, checked on the bassinet and then bowed repeatedly a couple of times, while continuing to smile in assurance all was well. Sometime later, she appeared from behind the curtain with a large stack of single food servings which she held in her forearms, her palms pushing the lot back towards her and used her chin to support the top most one on the top. At the same time a woman had got up and had opened the overhead bin from over her on her side. She looked at FA Ms. B, and moved a bit not sure whether to continue or move back into her seat. FA Ms. B stood by the curtain, smiled her eyes blinking, lifted her chin just ever so slightly and nodded in acknowledgment that she would wait while the woman took out what she needed. I just sat and watched how totally accomodating she had been, instead of insisting of moving ahead first knowing she had the trays full in her hands. A good minute and more passed, while the woman hurriedly removed her belongings, sat down and allowed FA Ms. B to pass. And even then she made a slight pause at the seat and smiled in appreciation. Such a amazing gesture on her part!! She was truly an FA that enjoyed her job and her service was excellent.
flightsimboy From Canada, joined Sep 2005, 582 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 7832 times:
FINAL HOURS INTO THE FLIGHT
The hours passed and with my little break from the seat I was a bit more comfortable now. Watching movies on long haul flights is now not possible at all with the flight map being a constant distraction, especially the high resolution maps that Etihad offers. The second meal service began as we were now some 90 minutes out of Abu Dhabi. There was only one choice and I lost no time in finishing all the contents of this meal too.
Sorry for the blurry pic. Was trying not to use the flash
Soon we were over the start of our cruise over the stretch of the Persian Gulf with the Iraqi coastline clearly visible, from there we would begin our passage through passing some distance away from Bahrain and Qatar, which are definitely a lot closer when travelling back in the opposite direction.
Gorgeous GE-90 engine. I wanted to sit on the engine cowling, hold the engine with my left hand and wave my cowboy hat with my right while screaming YEE-HAW!! lol
ETIHAD wording on aircraft detail on engines
The sun was starting to set and vibrant colours of light shone in the Persian Gulf waters while silhouettes of the coastline dotted the landscape. Sometime later the announcement went up that the inflight bar will be closing and that the FAs would come by shortly to collect the headsets. FA Ms. B came by and happily collected them while smiling, also the fact that this tiresome flight for them was also coming to a close.
FINAL TURNS, APPROACH AND SCREAMING BABIES
The little girl in front of me who had been with her grandfather, settled into her seat and started to throw some tantrums as we were by now well into our descent into Abu Dhabi. In fact when I started the video recording the gate information was being announced as the Abu Dhabi skycrapers passed slowly underneath appearing and disappearing behind cloud cover. By the time we were well over the Eastern part of the city, the little girls screams asking for her grandfather seated across the aisle was clearly recorded in my video. Desperate attempts by the grandmother to pacifiy her in Urdu were also very nicely recorded. What is it with screaming babies and video recordings lol. Of course, one cannot but understand the little ones, especially in this case when both the little girl and her baby brother had been so nice through the whole flight. We had not started the final left turn over the darker parts of the city, in fact where it was completely shrouded in darkness before we established finals in this left turn and the city lights started to apppear once more against the horizon. The landing gears descended as the aircraft shuddered and shook and continued to remain descend into the city, the lights of which were no directly back under us. Another brief moment of darkness and then back to the highway underneath us, the cars racing like ants in both directions and then within a few minutes, seconds we landed back into terra firma after almost 11 hours and 30 minutes. The announcements began in both English and Arabic and we got to the airbridge where we docked. By now all economy passengers were standing, while I remained in my seat not in a hurry to get off. My seat neighbours had a 11 hour stopover in Abu Dhabi and were not in a rush to get out either. They were apparently heading to Amman the next morning. They were really very nice, the guy was Toronto born and he totally understood when I explained why I took so many pics, the reason being for an aviation website.
DISEMBARKATION
With the Business Class passengers out and the rest of cattle class starting to move out, it was not long before we three were the last few to get out. FA Ms. R stood exactly where she had been standing when welcoming guest, except that now the Food and Beverage Manager and the Female FA were at the main door to bid farewell to all, instead of FA Ms. B and FA Mr. A had been standing. These two are always at the door at the end of each flight on every Etihad flight. I told FA Ms. R about the photo and I know she had only hoped I had forgotten about it lol. She told me to wait, and moved into Business where the rest of the colleauges were sitting stretched out on the now vacant seats. She came back with FA Ms. B, FA Mr. A, and FA Ms. A, asking them to join the photo, the first two being the ones to welcome us on board. So here I was with the very trio that welcomed us on board. Earlier in my conversation with her I had told her I wanted to take a photo when entering the aircraft and she joked back saying I should have. She had also then told me that FA Ms. B was actually Thai and not Korean as I thought. "He thought you were Korean" she said to her while FA Ms. B, stood at an angle and posed so nicely for the pic, not taking into account my mistaken national identity. I took the pic and FA Mr. A ran back into Business class, probably in fear I may want to take another lol. FA Ms. R asked to see the pic and did not like it. In fact she asked I not use that one, but honestly I needed to show FA Mr. A, who was also a very friendly FA, but served the other side from where I sat. So sorry FA Ms R, I have no choice but to post both pics. Truly I want to take this opportunity to thank the trio FA Ms. R (Raya), FA Ms. B (Benjawan), FA Mr. A (Alain) and FA Ms. A (Anastasia) from J class for the excellent photo opportunity and dedicated service on board this Etihad flight from Toronto to Abu Dhabi!!!
Benjawan, Raya, Alain & Anastasia. (I didn't know your names on the flight, but zooming on the name tags got me to know you on a even more personal basis
flightsimboy From Canada, joined Sep 2005, 582 posts, RR: 4 Reply 5, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 7821 times:
TRANSIT IN ABU DHABI
The transit in Abu Dhabi was longer than expected. The flight to Karachi was delayed by two hours. Unlike the last delay to Toronto there was no refreshment/dinner voucher provided, and if there was I probably did not know as I was busy roaming the lounge. The gate was a holding area below the main holding areas, and seemed lime some area where illegal travellers are investigated lol. There was a carton of soft juices there which is all that I could see was offered.
Some nice cultural and heritage views inside Abu Dhabi airport while transiting from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3
CHECK IN - SECOND LEG
Etihad Airways
A6-???
Airbus A320
EY 221: AUH-KHI
Dec 8th, 2011
Dep: 2320 (Actual 0120)
Pushback: 0110
Take off: 0120 (delayed)
We were bused to the area where a lot of Etihad's short haul fleet of A320s were parked. These jets never use an airbridge and gives one an excellent opportunity to photograph the planes, while keeping an eye on security. Since I had a plethora of images from the previous flight I decided to be wise and not even attempt to take out the camera. Besides with the already exhausted start from Toronto and the delay in Abu Dhabi all I could think of was getting on the plane and finishing this last sector. I noted the reg somewhere but cannot remember where I put it.
View from on board
Old style entertainment system
We took off from 31R and banked right and continued north, due to the heavy congestion of traffic in the area. We flew right over Dubai just like did in November last year
DINNER SERVICE
Unfortunately this time we were not served dinner. In fact there were menu cards on board. Seems like Etihad now has a basic snack for you to eat served in the brown bags as seen below. I wonder if the competition Emirates still serves a full dinner even at 0120 in the morning?
The meal was substantial and I am not one to complain considering you wouldn't get that wrap on a North American flight for free, but it was nasty. It was really salty and even now I have no idea what it was, chicken or tuna? I was just so hungry I had no choice but to eat it!!
The crew of two on this flight worked very hard to complete the entire service with an hour, some fifteen minutes after take off. Before long it was time to land in Karachi, where we made a very strange entry into the city. He made a couple of sharp left hand turns instead of right and we landed on Rwy 25L. I was relieved the long journey was over and could not wait to be re-united with my family outside. We spent an enjoyable Christmas together before I left on Dec 27th back for Toronto. Stay tuned for that report which should be up in a few days!!!
lukeyboy95 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2008, 736 posts, RR: 27 Reply 7, posted (4 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 7029 times:
Hi Flightsim,
Quoting flightsimboy (Reply 1): For a moment the check in line looked like an airport in Karachi, Mumbai or Dhaka, as the passengers were none other than us immigrants heading back home!!
I suppose this is a massive market for middle-east carriers, and one their all trying to capitalise on if only Canada woul give them more landing slots.
Very nice and detailed report. Thanks. You take a window seat almost as seriously as me!
MSS658 From Belgium, joined Oct 2010, 1421 posts, RR: 14 Reply 9, posted (4 months 3 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 5837 times:
Hi
Nice and detailed trip report you got there. Thanks for inviting us along your EY adventure with us. It was like taking the flight myself!
The seat coloring on EY looks very appealing, warm but not to bright.
Greetings
Marc
Next trip report: Spectacular Southeastern sunset takeoff, US ATL-CLT-CDG!
flightsimboy From Canada, joined Sep 2005, 582 posts, RR: 4 Reply 10, posted (4 months 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 5541 times:
Quoting lukeyboy95 (Reply 7): Very nice and detailed report. Thanks. You take a window seat almost as seriously as me!
Quoting MSS658 (Reply 9): Nice and detailed trip report you got there. Thanks for inviting us along your EY adventure with us. It was like taking the flight myself!
Luke, Marc I am glad you both enjoyed the report. I think I got a bit carried away going into too much detail . Glad you two made it to the end of it!!
Quoting lukeyboy95 (Reply 7): I suppose this is a massive market for middle-east carriers, and one their all trying to capitalise on if only Canada woul give them more landing slots.
Yes, both EK and EY go fully loaded out of YYZ. At least the times I flew with EY out of here they have been full. And EK's long check-in lines also attest this fact.
Till today I still have no idea what it was . The snack on the way back was horrible too, but the ingredients of that was at least possible to distinguish!
Quoting MSS658 (Reply 9): The seat coloring on EY looks very appealing, warm but not to bright.
Yes, I love EY's colour scheme on the Boeing 777-300ERs...love saying the full name lol. The seats on the regional jets operated by the baby A320s are a lot brighter. I will post a pic of that in the return trip report.
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 5427 posts, RR: 81 Reply 13, posted (4 months 3 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 4820 times:
Hi flightsimboy,
very interesting report, good to get an impression of EY's current offerings. The meal presentation cannot match EK's - and the food quantity could also be improved IMO.
Thanks! You were just about 150 km away from my hometown.
Quoting flightsimboy (Thread starter): "I'm a UAE national" she continued. "In fact, I am the only Emirati FA on Etihad".
My eyes widened and my brain started to get alert. "You mean, you are the only Emirati FA from the United Arab Emirates on Etihad" I said once more stumbling over my apparent not very intelligent choice of National status, an Emirati is after all someone from the United Arab Emirates.
"Yes" she replied a bit confused why I had suddenly changed my whole demanour towards this new piece of information.
"I cannot believe here I am talking to the only Emirati female FA on Etihad" I said by now smiling in excitement. I then proceeded to tell her about my trip reports and how I should like to mention this in there, and perhaps at the end of the flight to have a photograph if possible. She said sure as she looked up at me, her red scarf tied in a knot at the left of her neck and the grey apron covering the rest of her body. I told her I would post this little chit chat on a prestigious website and let the aviation community know I had the distinct privilige to speak the Etihad's only Female FA!! We were joined by another passenger going to Karachi and we all then spoke in general.
Very interesting! Usually you don't find UAE nationals with such kinds of jobs.
flightsimboy From Canada, joined Sep 2005, 582 posts, RR: 4 Reply 14, posted (4 months 3 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 4539 times:
Quoting totesen (Reply 11): great report, really enjoyed reading it!
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 13): very interesting report, good to get an impression of EY's current offerings. The meal presentation cannot match EK's - and the food quantity could also be improved IMO.
Thanks Totesen & PH, glad you enjoyed the report!! PH I think EY's offering is quite sufficient considering they are always offering something on board. True, the meals may not match EK! As well I agree the portions could be slightly bigger
Quoting ATLflyer (Reply 12): Did their 3-4-3 configuration feel cramped?
It was quite comfortable, except if the person in front of you reclined completely. I can't really seem to recline those seats for some reason, and actually prefer to have it upright, also not to inconvenience the person behind me. So with a fully reclined seat, I am not so sure if it gets better. Also more than 7 hours in that seat and you want to move out and stretch a bit, but I think that might be the case with any aircraft seat when seated for that length of time.
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 13): You were just about 150 km away from my hometown.
Fortunately we didn't have to divert to where you are
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 13): Very interesting! Usually you don't find UAE nationals with such kinds of jobs.
Yes that fact was acknowledged as not many UAE nationals opt for such jobs. However EY is actively pursuing UAE nationals, with the fact that some of their open days held in the UAE clearly indicate it is for "UAE Nationals" only. I don't think it is too far before half of the cabin crew compliment will be UAE nationals.
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 13): That's still quite impressive considering that it's an A320
Usually those regional sectors are not so long, and if you are a connecting passenger like me at AUH you just want to get that sector over and done with. Besides, they don't offer those impressive headphones you get on the long haul aircraft and sectors, but the very basic ones that you otherwise have to pay for on carriers like AC.
signol From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2007, 2753 posts, RR: 8 Reply 15, posted (4 months 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 4119 times:
Great report flightsimboy, I enjoyed reading it!
As I have said over many report comments, it is the crew that makes or breaks a flight. You here clearly have the "makes" crew! Really nice to chat and take an interest in their job.
You have some great pictures too!
As for the 2nd flight's snack, you obviously tasted it, and it was bad, but from the picture the wrap looks quite ok!
flightsimboy From Canada, joined Sep 2005, 582 posts, RR: 4 Reply 16, posted (4 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 3752 times:
Quoting signol (Reply 15): Great report flightsimboy, I enjoyed reading it!
As I have said over many report comments, it is the crew that makes or breaks a flight. You here clearly have the "makes" crew! Really nice to chat and take an interest in their job.
You have some great pictures too!
As for the 2nd flight's snack, you obviously tasted it, and it was bad, but from the picture the wrap looks quite ok!
Thanks again, and looking forward to the return!
signol
Singol, thank you for your kind comments. Yes a good crew make or break a flight and this time the crew were a lot better than the one last year.
I really wish I could say the wrap was good, but unfortunately it was not
I seriously need to start working on the return trip before I start forgetting things.
The777Man From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 5564 posts, RR: 58 Reply 17, posted (4 months 2 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 3698 times:
Hi Flightsimboy!
Thanks for a nice and detailed report on EY ! It looks like their service is not the same standard as when I flew them in April 2006 AUH-BKK. We got two full meals on a 6h flight.....
Nice that you flew on the aircraft that was only a few months old. They will soon get another new one.
Flight crew seems really nice and just curious why you didn't fly PK ?
akhmad From Netherlands, joined Sep 2005, 1961 posts, RR: 54 Reply 18, posted (4 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 3415 times:
Hi flightsimboy,
What a wonderful start of the New Year with your Etihad covering. Yes, I remember your previous reports about the less satisfying experience. EY has successfully and abundantly made it up to you with accommodating call center representative, personalized service from check-in agent and well groomed flight attendants.
One thing struck me though. I thought that you would be able to make and amend your travel arrangement online, but apparently your arrangement needed several telephone calls or a visit to the local office and even got temporarily suspended. Does it have to be that cumbersome with EY?
Quoting flightsimboy (Thread starter): as by default all window seats on Etihad's seat selection maps even before booking are blocked off.
How disappointing.
Quoting flightsimboy (Thread starter): I took his name and then asked to speak to the Manager so I could highlight what a great job this rep did.
Way to go, flightsimboy!
Quoting flightsimboy (Reply 1): I saw a long line snaking down to past the area from where the Etihad counters stood. In fact it even snaked down the length of the second check in area.
Horrible!
Quoting flightsimboy (Reply 1): My two medium suitcases assured me that I would indeed not have to suffer that fate, as I had already been one of these passengers in the past buying more than what my suitcase could hold. Lesson learned!!
That is what I call a wisdom.
Quoting flightsimboy (Reply 1): Mixed Vegetable curry gobi matter, steamed rice and dal
Quoting flightsimboy (Reply 1): Mild vegetable, curry makhanwala, steamed rice, peas and dal mahrani
Quoting flightsimboy (Reply 1): she handed me my Warm ginger pudding with dairy custard, and followed it with the Hot Chocolate I had requested her to make me one.
Separate dessert run. What a nice touch!
Quoting flightsimboy (Reply 1): I tuned into some Westlife and got a bit mushy with the music and fell off to sleep.
Quoting flightsimboy (Reply 2): attempted to take many shots of this, but only one's eye can behold such beauty.
Gorgeous!
Quoting flightsimboy (Reply 2): I also experimented using the other funky functions of my new camera!
Nice! Which camera have you got?
Quoting flightsimboy (Reply 3): Needless to say I was successful in getting a pic of them!!
Quoting flightsimboy (Reply 3): "I'm a UAE national" she continued. "In fact, I am the only Emirati FA on Etihad".
I read about her employment a while ago. Congratulations for meeting her in person!
Quoting flightsimboy (Reply 4): I wanted to sit on the engine cowling, hold the engine with my left hand and wave my cowboy hat with my right while screaming YEE-HAW!! lol
Quoting flightsimboy (Reply 4): I took the pic and FA Mr. A ran back into Business class, probably in fear I may want to take another lol.
OMG, Alain is HOT! Such a shame that he slunk off so quickly.
flightsimboy From Canada, joined Sep 2005, 582 posts, RR: 4 Reply 19, posted (4 months 2 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 2914 times:
Quoting The777Man (Reply 17): Thanks for a nice and detailed report on EY !
Quoting akhmad (Reply 18): What a wonderful start of the New Year with your Etihad covering.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 18): Thank you so much for marvelous insight review of Etihad.
Lars and Suryo you are both very welcome!!!
Quoting The777Man (Reply 17): It looks like their service is not the same standard as when I flew them in April 2006 AUH-BKK. We got two full meals on a 6h flight.....
Yes they seem to have dropped the dinner and breakfast service on the AUH-KHI-AUH service and now just have those lunch bag options. However on the AUH-
Quoting The777Man (Reply 17): Nice that you flew on the aircraft that was only a few months old. They will soon get another new one.
Ooh did she feel just like a new baby!! And I only realised she was a new baby after I flew it lol
Quoting The777Man (Reply 17): Flight crew seems really nice and just curious why you didn't fly PK ?
PK is on my mind, believe me, but they are just a bit more expensive than EK! However the convenience of getting on here and getting off there is just an amazing thought!!
I still have to get down to doing that one. Soon!!
Quoting akhmad (Reply 18): One thing struck me though. I thought that you would be able to make and amend your travel arrangement online, but apparently your arrangement needed several telephone calls or a visit to the local office and even got temporarily suspended. Does it have to be that cumbersome with EY?
I have no idea about the credit card, and found that a bit odd! However since I was changing the dates, I had to make those calls to the EY office. They handled it really well I must say.
flightsimboy From Canada, joined Sep 2005, 582 posts, RR: 4 Reply 20, posted (4 months 2 weeks 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 2911 times:
I was trying to add the videos of this YYZ-AUH-KHI to this thread, but it only allows me to show links to You tube. However in order not to have a line of links to open and close, I am adding a link to my blogspot which has all the videos in one page. This should allow one to view them in one place!! Please excuse the duplication of photos once again on the blogspot but do enjoy the videos in 720p (Don't forget to select it!). Just wish they could have been even sharper
Sponsor Message: 
From Canada, joined Sep 2005, 582 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2008, 736 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 686 posts, 
From Belgium, joined Oct 2010, 1421 posts, 
. Glad you two made it to the end of it!!
. The snack on the way back was horrible too, but the ingredients of that was at least possible to distinguish!
From Mexico, joined Dec 2008, 35 posts, 
From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 5427 posts, 
From Netherlands, joined Sep 2005, 1961 posts, 
