The outbound part of this trip can be found here:
Oman Air Business Class_ Zurich To Dubai (by Knightsofmalta Jun 29 2012 in Trip Reports)

After a week of work at the new and very empty Dubai World Central Airport, it is time for me to head home to Switzerland. the routing will be Dubai-Muscat-Zurich in Business Class on Oman Air.



Date: 29. June 2012
Departure: 09h55
Arrival: 10h55
Airlines: Oman Air (WY)
Aircraft: Embraer E-175
Cabin: Business
Seat: 1F, first row of Business Class, window

My 47th flight in 2012.


It is Friday morning, the weekend here in Dubai. So the streets are empty and the journey to the airport only takes 30 minutes to complete. I am at the airport by 07h45.

Oman Air check-in in Dubai is done by DNATA in sector E. There is no queue for the Business Class counter. The check-in agent is an efficient, friendly young man. With the boarding passes, he also hands me an invitation to the Gulf Air Lounge near gate 122, which Oman Air shares.

The airport is quiet, so immigration and security are painless. The latter obviously also has to do with the fact that in Dubai you do not have to take out your laptop and liquids before going through security.



Not one you get to see often in Europe.




From there it is down the escalators and across the pedestrian walk way underneath the apron, which connects the departure gates to the terminal building.





In contrast to the check-in area, the transit areas is incredibly busy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many people sleeping in such uncomfortable positions in one place. There’s one guy lying stretched out across the floor face down and slobbering on the carpet. Urgh! For a moment I wonder if perhaps he may have passed out.



THE LOUNGE

But fortunately, I am able to make an escape from it all. I enter the Gulf Air lounge, where I am greeted by a friendly young lady. She tells me she will inform me when my flight is ready for boarding. How nice of her.

The lounge is empty when I arrive. It has a nice feel to it and I quite like the Bedouin theme of the place, with individual seating areas covered by a kind of tent. Outside there is an Emirates B777 being readied for departure. Not sure where it is heading, but it’s interesting to watch the activity around the aircraft as it is prepared for departure.























DEPARTURE

There appears to have been an aircraft change and instead of the Boeing B737-800 I was expecting, I suddenly see an Embraer E-175 taxiing past the lounge. That’s quite okay I guess.

At 09h10 I notice the flight is showing as ‘boarding’, which in Dubai is the equivalent to ‘Gate open’ or ‘Go to Gate’ at other airports. When I arrive at gate 112, most passengers are already inside waiting in the holding pen. And indeed, a short while after I enter, the process starts.

I think I can truly say that I have never seen such vast amounts of ‘cabin’ luggage in all my life. There was one guy pushing and dragging two large suitcases that only deserve to be called ‘carry-ons’ by a very considerable stretch of the imagination. His son, probably not more than four years old, was trying to pull a third suitcase of equal dimensions, which was slightly larger than him. What on earth do these people have in there for heaven’s sake?

THE CABIN

There are four passengers in Business Class this morning. I have row one for me alone and the seat next to me stay empty. Behind me are two ladies happily chatting and on the other side of the aisle from them is some dude who evidently thinks he is way too cool for this world.

These seats really are comfy you know!







SERVICE

Considering all the crap the passengers have brought aboard this flight, boarding is surprisingly fast. As soon as the red cap informs the flight attendant that we’re all on, the service up front begins with the distribution of those nicely scented cold towels. This is followed by a drinks round and I choose a glass of excellent and very refreshing lime squash.



As the glass is removed, the flight attendant informs me that we will be served a continental breakfast. She would like to know if she should prepare a coffee or tea for me with that. And coffee it is for me.

The doors close, the red cap and flight attendant say good bye to each other with a polite ‘Ma’a as-Salama’. And we’re on our way.









Our take-off route is a spectacular one. We depart in a north-westerly direction. Once we are over the sea we do a long, gentle left turn. It looks as though we’re orbiting around the Burj Khalifa. As we come out of the turn, the Palm Island and Burj al-Arab become visible on the right.





THE FOOD

And shortly after the meal is served. First the table is set with linen and the metal cutlery. The tray itself consists of a plate with a warm croissant and a warm cinnamon and cardamom roll, which is very tasty. There is also butter, strawberry jam and a small bowl of tried fruit and dates.

The coffee is served on its own, separate tray.













ARRIVAL

The flight is only 45 minutes long, just enough time to leisurely drink the coffee. Our co-pilot on this flight is obviously German, judging by his accent. He’s a very friendly guy and gives us a detailed update about the flights progress.

Apart from that, arrival is rather unspectacular. As on the outbound trip, Business Class passengers have their own bus to the terminal. It’s kind of odd to watch. As soon as the plane stops, one of the two attendants working the Business Class cabin immediately jumps up, rushes towards the back and closes the curtain to prevent the Economy Class passengers from getting in the way. Of course this does not give me much of a photo opportunity, I don’t want to hold up everything, so I just snap a quick shot of the cabin and I’m on to the bus. It’s much more humid here in Muscat and my glasses and camera immediately steam up.