It didn’t take too long to disembark and I followed the signs through to the transfers area. I already had my boarding pass and was able to go straight downstairs and through a very empty security. I was required to remove my belt and watch but liquids and laptop were OK to stay in my bag.
Directly opposite the security area I was able to jump in an elevator to go up to the lounge complex. Inside the agent offered to set me up in a snooze room after realising I had 8 hours to wait until my flight to Muscat. I was taken to a room with two long leather lounges with pillows and blankets. I changed out of my shirt into a T-shirt and hunkered down under the blanket and tried to get some kip. I slept fitfully for a few hours interrupted briefly whilst someone else was led into the room at around 02:00.
At 03:30 I could sleep no more and grabbed my gear and let myself out of the room. Back at the desk the agent said you are up so soon? I said I could sleep no longer. She escorted me into the F lounge and said that the kitchen and spa would no be open until 05:00 but I could get a drink and sit in the lounge until then.
I grabbed a cappuccino and and fired up the internet to browse and wrote up some more of this report. I was offered and accepted another cappuccino before deciding it was time to have a shower. It was around 04:50 when I enquired if I could take a shower and the agent led me to one of the shower rooms in the spa suite. After a refreshing shower and warm up under the hot water I made my way back to the lounge. At around 05:20 one of the staff came by and let me know that I could now order breakfast if I wanted and brought a menu. I said I would wait a while longer.
The wifi in the lounge seemed to either block or not handle any site that was using https: secure browsing which was a pita. The lounge was also bordering on freezing the whole time I was there and it made the stay most unpleasant. I asked the staff member if I could take some pictures of the lounge. She came back a few minutes later and said I was free to do so.
These first few are of the snooze rooms that are shared with another passenger if required.
The main F lounge has a general seating area, a TV room, some computers, some individual TV screens, a cigar room, a restaurant and of course the spa.
At around 06:05 I walked into the restaurant and ordered some breakfast. It was cooked to order and was really lovely. I had poached eggs, wholewheat toast, mini steak, grilled asparagus and potato rosti. I also had fresh pineapple juice and could have also had fresh orange or carrot juice.
After breakfast I went back into the lounge again and watched the sunrise and read my book.
I approached the front desk and enquired whether my flight was to leave from T1 and indeed it was. She suggested I leave the lounge 40 minutes later for the long walk between terminals.
On leaving the lounge I walked past the security section again it was absolutely heaving with people backed up the walkway between the terminals. The had to turn off the travelators or their would have been carnage.
I made my way against the crowd and eventually located my gate in the bowels of the airport. Oh dear a bus gate, what joy.
I sat and waited until the flight started to board at 08:05 and the first one left the gate at 08:20 and drove almost as far as it could get away from the terminal in amongst a whole bunch of EY Cargo planes. We got to the aircraft at 08:27 and I walked on up the stairs to be greeted by the Cabin Manager.
Flight EY0382 AUH-MCT Seat 2F
Aircraft: 320-200
Departure time: 08:50
I shoved my bags in the overhead, extracted my notebook and camera and took my seat. The other crewmember up the front asked if I would like something to drink before take off. Water, juice, champagne? Oh she said that magic word and I lushed out again and went with the bubbly. I was relived to find that I was not the only one who chose this option. I was then offered a choice of newspaper.
The crewmember came back to ask if I would care to have the snack on the flight and what I would like to drink with it. I said yes and champagne again please. She then returned with a hot towel in a bamboo tray.
Two more bus loads of people arrived and we were finally ready to push back. The J cabin had 10 people but the entire front row remained empty.
We pushed back at 08:52 and taxied the entire length of the two terminal buildings before finally starting our run at 09:20. There was a 38 minutes flight time showing on the IFE screen as we took off into the UAE morning.
The crew jumped into action as soon as they could and delivered the snack that consisted of a small ciabata type bread square with smoked salmon, a cream cheese dip, skewer of fruit and a banana muffin. My champagne was delivered also. This time on this short flight there were a few takers of the snack but most of the business travellers refrained.
We started our descent before the service was complete but I suppose that was to be expected. It didn’t take long to munch down the snack and my tray was removed soon after I finished.
The captain announced the 20 to landing and the crew finished clearing away the meal trays and coffee cups.
We were locked down and ready around 10 minutes out and the captain asked crew to take their seats as late as 4 minutes before touchdown.
We landed at 09:59 and taxied to our stand in the field. The usual MCT airport efficiency kicked in with the stairs at the ready and a separate bus for the 10 J passengers. I got off the bus after the short trip to the international arrivals hall and made the now all too familiar walk upstairs to the transfers desk.
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