BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11135 posts, RR: 61 Posted (8 years 9 months 1 week 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 5564 times:
Hello everyone, this is my 3rd trip report, so I hope you enjoy it.
For this summer, I went to Beirut, Lebanon to see my family and enjoy the beautiful country. However, the 2nd week, I flew to Amman, Jordan and spent a week to see my grandmother and the Dead Sea. I'm guilty of saying that I don't fly MEA much despite loving them.
I had two options to get to Amman. I could either fly MEA or Royal Jordanian. Naturally I picked MEA since I like them a lot, their planes are newer, and the timing is much better.
Because I took so many pictures and I understand there are some with slow connections, the trip report is on a separate page with the detailed descriptions.
Both flights were great! I have to say that I would highly recommend MEA to anyone whether it is to visit Lebanon, or even transitting. Beirut Int'l Airport is fantastic for transitting. Right before passport control, there is a transit desk in which you check your flight with MEA, a quick very brief passport control and a quick security check and you enter the Departure area.
With MEA going to become a Skyteam associate member next year, they will further readjust there schedules to make them even more convenient for transitting!
I should also mention that MEA's fleet age average is less than one year, so they are still sparkling!
I'd really appreciate any feedback, I spent 3 hours making this trip report.
Regards.
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Khalil Gibran
Jsnww81 From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 1855 posts, RR: 17 Reply 3, posted (8 years 9 months 1 week 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 5172 times:
Fantastic reports. I like the blow by blow commentary - that's exactly how I structure my trip reports. I couldn't have done better myself.
Looks like aside from the haze, you had great weather. BEY gets an interesting assortment of traffic!
I would love to do some flying in the Middle East, although it's not likely in the immediate future, given my age and financial situation. For the time being I'll just live vicariously through these reports.
BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11135 posts, RR: 61 Reply 4, posted (8 years 9 months 1 week 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 5159 times:
Finally a 3rd reply! Thank you! I was beginning to think I wasted 3 hours for nothing!
Thanks for the feedback Jsnww81. Yes, there is a lot of interesting traffic in BEY, especially late at night (too dark to photograph, but fine for spotting).
Regards
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Khalil Gibran
BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11135 posts, RR: 61 Reply 7, posted (8 years 9 months 1 week 21 hours ago) and read 5046 times:
CXA330300,
Did you write a trip report about getting to Lebanon?
If I have time.
This one turned out more unpopular than I thought (I was hoping for some more replies), so I don't know if I want to spend 3 hours making another trip report.
Thanks for all the feedback.
Regards
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Khalil Gibran
MEA321 From Lebanon, joined Oct 2003, 389 posts, RR: 17 Reply 9, posted (8 years 9 months 1 week 19 hours ago) and read 5015 times:
Wonderful work BA!
Your trip report really captures a lot! As if I went on this trip myself. Good job on the photography and commentary. Im sure that everyone who replied and didnt reply would be delighted to see more trip reports by you in the future, as they are absolutely amazing.
Thank you for sharing your experience, those pictures are priceless. Bravo.
Qr332 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (8 years 9 months 1 week 8 hours ago) and read 4955 times:
Great report BA,
Wish you could have come over here in July so we could have met as in June I was still in Doha. Hope you enjoyed your time in Amman (not an easy thing to do if you dont know people over here).
Edit: I also managed to see the Iraqi 727s and the 707s, I beleive they all still undergo regular maintainence, or at least they did before the war. Dunno how it is now, but would be interesting to find out.
MEA310 From Lebanon, joined Feb 2002, 660 posts, RR: 13 Reply 14, posted (8 years 9 months 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 4845 times:
Fantastic report!
I always check this forum to see if anyone has flown MEA or to/through BEY to see the feedback they have.Excellent assorted report with great photos,especially over the Lebanese land,very nice.Haven't you shot any photos of the cabin?Anyway,the photos you provided us with are truly priceless!
L410Turbolet From Czech Republic, joined May 2004, 5392 posts, RR: 19 Reply 15, posted (8 years 9 months 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 4847 times:
BA,
very nice report and great pictures. I second 7E7's comment. More description of stuff relevant to possible future traveller would be great - i.e. seat pitch, good/bad seat rows, crew, etc. I know you're a big fan of MEA, but there's nothing unpatriotic about mentioning things you did not like. You seem to paint the picture in too bright colors. Like I said, great report and even better pictures but I felt like I'm reading MEA's PR article.
BTW, are those 777 and 727s really owned by the prime-minister himself? I know his very rich...
BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11135 posts, RR: 61 Reply 16, posted (8 years 9 months 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 4782 times:
L410Turbolet,
Yes the prime minister owns the 777 and 727.
Regarding my experience, I can't point out anything bad on the flight except on the return flight they didn't give me a napkin with my snack.
Seat pitch is great, 32". The A321s are equipped with only 149 seats, 118 Economy Class seats and 31 Cedar Class seats.
The crew were professional and nice. One of the flight attendants was not smiley, but I've encountered numerous flight attendants on many airlines that are not smiley either.
As I said, check-in was a breeze. I was only held up a little bit at check-in in Amman which is not done by MEA, but Royal Jordanian.
Boarding on both flights was ontime and flawless. We landed ontime also.
It was a short flight so not many things could go wrong.
Regards
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Khalil Gibran
QR332 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 17, posted (8 years 9 months 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 4759 times:
Are you sure those Iraqi 727s and 707s were maintained between the Gulf War and the War on Iraq? They seem to be just sitting there aging.
I heard this from a security marshall on a flight, he said they maintained their aircraft but this was before the Iraq War.
Any idea if Iraqi Airways is paying Amman Queen Alia Int'l the parking fees for parking these aircraft?
Sorry, no idea.
I spotted 3 Iraqi 727s and 2 707s. Are there any others?
Thats all I've seen too, so I think those are it.
I was only held up a little bit at check-in in Amman which is not done by MEA, but Royal Jordanian.
RJ is painfully slow at check-in, and when you get to the airport they take their time a bit too much at passport control. They could also use some lessons in smiling, it seems to be a thing they are against.
My own experience of AMM-BEY-AMM with MEA was pretty good, and I found no problems at all with it. Also, BEY is a very nice airport, definatley nicer than AMM as BA mentioned. AMM is showing its age and is very dull. Another inefficent thing in it is at the baggage belts, you have the bags being checked by customs before being put on the belt instead of after, which slows it down a lot, and the belts are too crowded at peak times, when I came from DOH there were flights from Doha, Dubai & Al-Ain on the same belt.
ClassicLover From Ireland, joined Mar 2004, 4522 posts, RR: 25 Reply 19, posted (8 years 9 months 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 4673 times:
Good report, lots of pictures! I'm glad I checked this at work, as it's much faster to display the pictures. It's a shame you didn't photograph the interior of the plane, I would have liked to have seen that!
Next time, smaller pictures for those of us still with dialup at home
Enjoyed the report and really have to get myself to that resort in Beirut - it looks awesome!
Trent.
I do quite enjoy a spot of flying - more so when it's not in Economy!
Ryanair!!! From Singapore, joined Mar 2002, 4652 posts, RR: 27 Reply 22, posted (8 years 8 months 3 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 4459 times:
BA,
wow... your trip report is awesome. Now I need to make sure my reports are as good as yours!
Absolutely delightful and the photos were amazing. It is also very beautiful how the pictures of Beirut turned out. I always knew that Beirut is picturesque, but I never knew it was THAT PICTURESQUE! I am really blown away by the beauty. Additionally, I never knew it snowed there.... So I learn something new everyday!
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