2. Aboard EK202, A380-800 to Dubai
Upstairs, Downstairs
08.08.2021 - 08.08.2021
Chapter Two, Sunday, August 8, 2021
I am happy to escape the boisterous JFK Emirates Lounge, home to what seemed to be scores of screaming babies and toddlers and loud-talkers speaking Babel-like, multiple languages each struggling to be heard over the other. For this almost thirteen-hour-long overnight flight, up top there are 14 closed first-class suites and 76 flat-bed business class seats. Depending upon the particular aircraft, 399 or 427 standard seats below. One jetway for this A380-800 behemoth serves the first and business class upper deck and a second jetway is used to board the economy class lower deck. Departure is scheduled for 22:20 (10:20 Saturday night). Arrival in Dubai is 7:05 Sunday morning. Dubai is 9 hours ahead of Kansas City, 8 hours ahead of my departure point in New York City.
Our Airbus tail number ACEVF pushed at 10:30 and were wheels up over runway 22R after a 13 minute taxi.
First Class Suite 3A is fine accommodation to be sure. See for yourself. There is a massive 32-inch flat screen that dominates the front, an electrically raised and lowered mini-bar at your side, an I-pad type device in a charging cradle to your left and dual electrically closing doors on your right. The bed goes completely flat and, even when fully reclined, leaves room on the floor in front for not only my backpack but my carryon bag as well.
Our route took us north northeast over the U.S. coastline before turning slightly east to cross the wide waters of the North Atlantic. After a quick and only so-so dinner, (preceded by caviar which was quite tasty) I request that the flight attendant make up my bed. I slept most of the first half of the flight, awakening to note on the aircraft’s belly camera that we were directly atop Paris. It was eleven in the morning their time. That got me to thinking about seeing aircraft overhead from the ground. The people flying aboard the aircraft we see are probably thinking of themselves as being on the time of the city from which they departed. For me, that would have been 5:00am, not yet breakfast time. But ,in Paris, it was just coming on lunchtime. Aboard EK202, most passengers were still sleeping but the French citizens below would not, if you asked them, think of that. But, then, the things I think about are generally not what others are thinking about; I have gotten used to that.
After finishing our crossing of the North Atlantic, we barely clipped southern Ireland and Great Britain before overflying, as nearly as I could follow our route, France, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iraq, Iran and finally the United Arab Emirates.
When there were but two hours remaining, flight attendant Jose came to my suite to let me know that the appointment time I had made for one of the aircraft’s two shower suites had arrived. These shower suites are amazing, about the same size as my bathroom at the Alameda Tower. There is a gigantic full-length mirror, a bench for seating, an bath sheet sized towel, a fluffy custom shaped bath mat, lots and lots of “stuff” such as soap, shampoo, conditioner, shaving and dental supplies and even a hair dryer, plenty of room to hang or fold your clothes as you slip into or out of the provided pajamas, a full-size sink, lighted makeup mirror, toilet (of course), and a shower with a bench that is about the same size or larger that I have experienced on many cruise ships. The water is hot but you only get two minutes of it; there is a pause button and a timer to warn you when to be certain that last bit of soap has been rinsed away. I believe that I am supposed to be in and out in thirty minutes as there is a demand for showers soon before landing time. Had I wanted to shower mid-flight, I think I could have stayed in there for an hour.
Outside the showers is the snack bar. One little noticed sign reminds passengers of one additional rule as we cruise at 39,000 feet, mach 8.3.
Flight Attendant Maggie, a wonderful young woman from Egypt, tried to do too much with breakfast. I ordered poached eggs on crispy toast but they came out hard-boiled. She was apoplectic to think that I didn’t eat them—until she spotted the hard yolks. “Let me cook you an omelet instead,” she asked. No. I’ve had more than enough to eat being served no less than three fruit plates throughout the flight. I will say that I’ve had better coffee however.
The cabin crew is exemplary. I have been addressed by name each and every time one of them came by to serve or check on me. They invariably smile and know when to engage in banter and when not to. Items arrived promptly and removed quickly. Emirates knows how to deliver first class service that is a cut above any I’ve experienced elsewhere (except for poached eggs).
I raised the electric double shades on my four windows when we were about a half hour from landing to see the waters of the Persian Gulf below us. We are equipped with three video cameras to add to our flight experience. One is at the top of the tail pointed forward which is my favorite for takeoff and landing, one on the nose pointed forward and, my favorite in flight, one on the belly pointed straight below us. We are wheels down at 6:55 in the evening and at the gate ten minutes later: right on schedule.
I am greeted by a VIP greeter who escorts me through the maze, security and upstairs downstairs right turn left turn to the enormous Emirates First Class Lounge which is devoid of customers but full of staff. I ask about that and am told that at this time of the evening the only traffic here is from the U.S. or the U.K. “It will get very busy in a few hours,” I am told.
My flight to Colombo leaves at 2:40am (Monday) about seven hours from now. My plan? First, get Ray, the very attentive lounge attendant, to watch my bags while I walk. I should be able to get a couple of miles in and, I know for a fact, my body will benefit from that. Then, I will write a bit, take another shower (the facilities here are amazing) and dine. For those who don’t wish to dine on the plane, there is a restaurant (free) so you can skip the service and go straight to bed once on board your flight. Given that my next leg leaves in the wee small hours of the morning, I shall try for as much sleep on EK650 as I can manage.
