A little bit of moderation in Dubai.

[bossreggie]

Love the T-Shirt just prior to an A380 flight... priceless

I wore one of my Airbus T Shirts when I flew in the 787.

Maybe I'm ironic?? Or a rebel? Or most likely......... I don't care so much.

 

[JessicaTam]

I wore one of my Airbus T Shirts when I flew in the 787.

Maybe I'm ironic?? Or a rebel? Or most likely......... I don't care so much.

Nothing like reminding them of the competition.

 

[Paddy55]

I wore one of my Airbus T Shirts when I flew in the 787.

Maybe I'm ironic?? Or a rebel? Or most likely......... I don't care so much.

A 777 T shirt might have been almost as good

 

[benmay]

I wore one of my Airbus T Shirts when I flew in the 787.

Maybe I'm ironic?? Or a rebel? Or most likely......... I don't care so much.

A shirt with a cow that wasn't halal would have been more comic, some bacon, or Nancy Bird Walton are three things that come to mind

 

[warpspeed]

I don't post a lot on here (I do read a lot), but as someone who works in Customer Experience and in Social Media, who has a keen interest in Aviation and flying, it's great to see Qantas do something like this; and it's also great to see you guys made the most of the experience and opportunity; and to see that you're grateful for it; and that you're able to share it all with us. It's made a really interesting read.

As someone who loves flying but can never seem to get off of Bronze, nor who can afford to fly in anything but whY, it certainly makes me a bit jealous too!

 

[QF WP]

Okay you got ahead of me today markis10, whilst I haven't been able to post, I have done some of my TR. now over to it so I can catch up.

Saturday night: after a dinner out with friends, I returned home to start packing. I re-read the Dubai that had been emailed to us to ensure that what I was expecting to pack was going to be suitable.

The running sheet of events showed most of the media events were business attire in the first two days, so I packed thinking it was just another business trip - plenty of long sleeve shirts and ties, two suits and shoes - then turned my attention to the casual dress of the tours on the last day. Long pants and shorts in case it was too hot, as well as short sleeve collared shirts and two pairs of casual shoes, all the time making sure they met the brief. I had chosen to take my medium sized suitcase and soon realised that I had filled it, leaving little space for any purchases - thankfully the request from my wife was Tiffany jewellery, so that wasn't going to be an issue

I shaved tonight, trying to save time in the morning. The final thing on my list was to order a taxi - "yes, one passenger to the airport, 5.30am please". Getting to bed at 10pm, I tossed and turned, worried that I was going to oversleep my iPhone alarm - which I checked was set correctly more than once before I fell into a restless sleep.

Sunday dawned all too soon and I was a little confused when I awoke - that was soon dispelled when I read my alarm subject flashing on the screen of my iPhone - "flying to Dubai". That galvanised me into action in the pre-dawn, rushing into our second bathroom to shower and pack my toiletries. The hot water was a boon to wake me up and having organised my clothes in our dining room last night, I dressed whilst sipping an Up & Go. I kissed the sleeping forms of my wife, daughter and son; then back out to my bags to do the final check - passport, credit cards, cash, log onto AFF to find a private message from bossreggie...

Luckily I had my front door open, because I turned around to see the taxi with its light on waiting out on the road - but I hadn't heard it arrive. Locking the door behind me, I wheeled my bags to the taxi and soon was bring driven east through the still dark suburbs to the airport. I checked FB briefly, wrote a couple of messages and as we drove through Toombul, sent an SMS to markis10, to find that he was already in the Business Lounge awaiting my arrival.

Found my way to the international connection check in, where the CSA was surprised to see I was off to DXB until the one at the next desk piped up that she had checked in markis10 earlier. Boarding passes for both sectors issued and I was on my way to Security and the Business/Plat/Gold line - the only one in it so through I went after depositing my electronics separately.

Up to the QC and CSA Christian, who has been there forever, greeted me and I took the right hand entrance to the Business Lounge. Found markis10 and we chatted until our flight was called - going past Darren Lockyer on our way out (only to have him stalk us and sit in 1A).

 

[QF WP]

QF509 BNE/SYD

First photo of the day was breakfast - a full one at that!

(Hmmm, having trouble downloading photos)

Just what I needed after not having much at home and nothing in the Lounge. Fairly uneventful flight that deposited us in SYD on time with an addition to our carry-on: a box of Fardolis chocolates given to all J pax "with compliments of Alan Joyce". We chuckled that we'd be one of few who would be able to personslly thank him later today.

(Add photo here)

 

[medhead]

Umm what's happening here? The last 20 posts seem to be a repeat of the start of the thread somewhere.

 

[Major]

Umm what's happening here? The last 20 posts seem to be a repeat of the start of the thread somewhere.

The start of the thread was an executive summary, now comes the detail to support it

 

[bossreggie]

BR Mini TR.

I flew in to SYD from AKL on the morning of QF1. I'm not sure of my flight number, but we had to do a "Go Around" in SYD due to traffic on the runway. That was my first one for about 2 years and after asking JB747 about them on the "Ask the Pilot" thread a few years ago, they no longer worry me.

I was on crutches after an accident in Bouremouth, UK, a couple of weeks earlier, so I was met and escorted to the F Lounge. I did not attend any of the press conferences.

I was very excited to meet Markis10, as he was the only mod I had not met. He did not disappoint. he is a virtual encyclopedia of things aviation. He has a unique gift to make everything seem really interesting! The thing to remember with me.... I am a frequent flyer. I don't really like flying at all. And, I'm not really an AV Geek so to speak. That's why after having been a member of AFF for 7 years...1) This is my first TR effort. 2)I can only comment about the things I do when I travel. (I now realise that can make me seem a bit snobby, but, it's how I travel, so that's what I talk about.)

I took a couple of pics in the lounge of the Mods, then had maybe 2 glasses of champagne. I didn't eat anything as I'd just had breakfast on the plane.

I wanted to sit with LW and markis10 on the plane as I thought I would have a way better time with them, than sitting elsewhere. Alas, they were in an exit row so I had to sit 1 row behind. I pretty much sat there for take off and landing only. The rest of the flight, I was up the front enjoying the company of fellow travellers and, for a few hours LW. There was a great atmosphere on the plane and everyone was in a good mood. The drinks flowed smoothly and the flight passed really quickly.

I stayed at the same hotel as LW and markis10, however I was about 20 floors above, in the "nose bleeder" level of the hotel, as LW so elequontly put it. The hotel is very new and they do have some "teething problems"' however, I found the staff were more than helpful. It is not a chain I usually stay with, but I was taken to my room by the assistant manager and another staff member carried my laptop bag. My room was quite large, with a separate dining and sitting area. The welcome amenities included a bath robe and slippers, some little trinkets and a welcome letter from Tim Clark, AJ and another from Dubai tourist board. I took the USB with me when I checked out, but left everything else behind. It will be some time before I am home again so I didn't want to be adding to my luggage.

I had dinner at Table9 in DXB in the first night and if you are ever in Dubai, I totally recommend you go there. It has just won the best restaurant in Dubai award for 2012. In a place of excess, the "best"...... Is in no way the most expensive. For all you Hilton lovers out there, you will be pleased to know this is at the Hilton.

to be continued......

 

[markis10]

View attachment 14280

I haven't seen a caption competition on AFF... but interested in knowing what Lindsay Wilson was showing Alan on his phone... perhaps this thread?

I do believe it was the P1 launch photos!

 

[bossreggie]

I do believe it was the P1 launch photos!

It was indeed....... LW was my +1 (Well kind of)

 

[Kangol]

bossreggie I'm looking forward to your trip report in Y!!

 

[markis10]

The Mall.

Dubai Mall was an interesting place, the world's largest shopping mall based on total area and sixth largest by gross leasable area,it is part of the 20-billion-dollar Burj Khalifa complex, and includes 1,200 shops. Some of our group were headed for the Burj but as Lindsay and myself had booked the dawn Burj option, we figured this was the best chance we had to shop for some unique items not found at home.

Obviously we only scratched the surface as we had a few hours only, and did not see the theme park, but did get a chance to catch the aquarium and a few stores.

The mall as seen from the Burj Khalifa

 

[bossreggie]

bossreggie I'm looking forward to your trip report in Y!!

I have been doing my utmost to banish it from my mind.

No legroom, meant no sleep. (I am 6'3" tall) Staff were very friendly and I would recommend Qantas as an airline. I think EK has better IFE but that's in any class of travel.

I did not try any of the food, but the wine came in an individual bottle and plastic cup.

 

[markis10]

Outside the mall was the one and only place I saw bikes, be it tourist bikes or any bike or rider, it might be different in the expat areas but I dont think having a bike store will make you a millionaire in Dubai, especially when it gets above 50 degrees in the shade.



When your building a residential skyscraper its hard to come up with a good name!

 

[markis10]

Not many malls offer the ability to go Scuba Diving!

 

[markis10]

SWMBO Tax Office:

 

[markis10]

We managed to pickup a Bloomingdales bear for the kids and have a look at a few stores, but it was soon time to get back to the bus for the trip to the hotel, it was Gala Dinner night.



The Mall was the only place where we saw tourists dressed inappropriately and behaving like louts, it somewhat spoiled the place, even if it is a shopping centre.

 

[LA10]

I have been reading AFF for some time now, but this is my first post!

Great trip report, love the pics! Really wish I had more leave to visit Dubai this year.