jukebox333
Active Member
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2011
- Posts
- 697
- Qantas
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...and so, with about $40 in Greenbacks in my pocket, the end was near. $5 to the concierge for looking after our bags - I wished I'd made if more after the driver of the car that came to pick us up made no effort to help him load them into our ride (a Ford Explorer or similar, not a stretch limo this time...) and we were whisked to JFK4. Check in was trouble free, and we were not asked to do the body scan, just a very intense xray and metal detect - where even my wife's jewellery had to come off... go figure??? And then we headed downstairs to the end gate (6?) to wait for boarding.
For the second-to-last time, we played the "Family with small children" card and got priority boarding in the 2nd and 3rd rows of the 2nd cabin in Y on the A380. This definiately seemed less spacious than at the front of the front - can't put my finger on why. We took off on time, and I managed a few hours sleep.
Watching the map when I woke up, I could see we were headed over Ireland. It was around 6am New York time, 1pm London time. One of the FA's came rushing up and barked at me to keep the blind closed. I don't get this. It's a 14 hour flight, that left at midnight, and would have a short night, a short day and a dusk, arriving at 8pm Dubai time. But they were insisting that every keep the blinds closed. As we crossed England, I defiantly opened my blind, in time to photograph central London
The new Wembley Stadium
2012 Olympic Stadium
On the downward looking camera, a 737 (KLM?) scooted beneath us...
As we crossed the English Channel, the clouds moved in and there was not much more to see, so I closed the blind back up.
Later, coming down over Afghanistan/Iraq, I watched as we overtook a smaller aircaft at the same altitude as us.
The transfer in Dubai was uneventful - although the swap to a rather full B777 was hard to take.
This was another night flight, and this time we all slept well - the pace we'd been making for the last two weeks well and truly was catching up to all of us.
Jukebox Jnr (11) was fascinated by the sunrise over Asia - there was solid cloud, but that meant they glowed a brilliant orange for a few minutes as the rising sun hit them. Soon, he too was scolded for having the blind open, and it was closed for the remainder of the flight. I can almost agree in this instance - the flight was North South, so the light was into not above the cabin, and it was very hot to the touch. Still, if you select a window seat then can't use it... (hard call, I know - but IMHO the decision to close us in on the JFK-DXB leg was utter bollox).
As much as the A380 was nice, I would not chose to fly Emirates again. I found their service a little too cool and detached, and my recent experiences with CX and QF lead me to prefer them should I fly internationally again any time soon.
We landed on time at 12pm, and for the first time in ages, passed through quarantine without inspection. The new forms do not ask about "food" they are quite specific about meat and poultry products, so I did not need to declare the Double Tree Cookies or the five jars of Folgers Coffee I had in my bag (what can I say: I accquired a taste for it years ago - I wasnt going to let the baggage allowance go to waste!).
The drive home was a struggle, both in terms of re-adjusting to L/H side of the road, and that it was midnight NYC time.
***
As far as holidays go, it was a strange one for us.
It came a little too soon after our utterly epic Finland adventure, and so I think we were a little over cooked. I also think that it wasn't a huge challenge langauge/culture/cuisine wise, and so that made it less of an adventure, too. I had lived in the States for 5 years, so knew pretty much what to expect, and the biggest surprise I had was how little NY had changed in the intervening 23 years. I think the rest of the family were a little disappointed it wasn't like it is in the movies...
These Reagan era signs are still on the outisde of public buildings with secure basements... much to Mrs Jukebox's bemusement
But now we have been back for a few weeks, the consensus is that it still was a really good time. Not what we would have done if we had total control of our itenrary, but still a remarkable (almost) free trip. I think we stumped up about $3,000 for the extra airfare, car hire, hotels and meals - and it was worth every cent.
My advice? Next time your wife tells you she's entering a contest on line, pay attention. Real people do win these damn things!!!
(and thanks everyone for your feedback and likes on this TR - it is very much appreciated!)
School's Out in Amish Country!
For the second-to-last time, we played the "Family with small children" card and got priority boarding in the 2nd and 3rd rows of the 2nd cabin in Y on the A380. This definiately seemed less spacious than at the front of the front - can't put my finger on why. We took off on time, and I managed a few hours sleep.
Watching the map when I woke up, I could see we were headed over Ireland. It was around 6am New York time, 1pm London time. One of the FA's came rushing up and barked at me to keep the blind closed. I don't get this. It's a 14 hour flight, that left at midnight, and would have a short night, a short day and a dusk, arriving at 8pm Dubai time. But they were insisting that every keep the blinds closed. As we crossed England, I defiantly opened my blind, in time to photograph central London
The new Wembley Stadium
2012 Olympic Stadium
On the downward looking camera, a 737 (KLM?) scooted beneath us...
As we crossed the English Channel, the clouds moved in and there was not much more to see, so I closed the blind back up.
Later, coming down over Afghanistan/Iraq, I watched as we overtook a smaller aircaft at the same altitude as us.
The transfer in Dubai was uneventful - although the swap to a rather full B777 was hard to take.
This was another night flight, and this time we all slept well - the pace we'd been making for the last two weeks well and truly was catching up to all of us.
Jukebox Jnr (11) was fascinated by the sunrise over Asia - there was solid cloud, but that meant they glowed a brilliant orange for a few minutes as the rising sun hit them. Soon, he too was scolded for having the blind open, and it was closed for the remainder of the flight. I can almost agree in this instance - the flight was North South, so the light was into not above the cabin, and it was very hot to the touch. Still, if you select a window seat then can't use it... (hard call, I know - but IMHO the decision to close us in on the JFK-DXB leg was utter bollox).
As much as the A380 was nice, I would not chose to fly Emirates again. I found their service a little too cool and detached, and my recent experiences with CX and QF lead me to prefer them should I fly internationally again any time soon.
We landed on time at 12pm, and for the first time in ages, passed through quarantine without inspection. The new forms do not ask about "food" they are quite specific about meat and poultry products, so I did not need to declare the Double Tree Cookies or the five jars of Folgers Coffee I had in my bag (what can I say: I accquired a taste for it years ago - I wasnt going to let the baggage allowance go to waste!).
The drive home was a struggle, both in terms of re-adjusting to L/H side of the road, and that it was midnight NYC time.
***
As far as holidays go, it was a strange one for us.
It came a little too soon after our utterly epic Finland adventure, and so I think we were a little over cooked. I also think that it wasn't a huge challenge langauge/culture/cuisine wise, and so that made it less of an adventure, too. I had lived in the States for 5 years, so knew pretty much what to expect, and the biggest surprise I had was how little NY had changed in the intervening 23 years. I think the rest of the family were a little disappointed it wasn't like it is in the movies...
These Reagan era signs are still on the outisde of public buildings with secure basements... much to Mrs Jukebox's bemusement
But now we have been back for a few weeks, the consensus is that it still was a really good time. Not what we would have done if we had total control of our itenrary, but still a remarkable (almost) free trip. I think we stumped up about $3,000 for the extra airfare, car hire, hotels and meals - and it was worth every cent.
My advice? Next time your wife tells you she's entering a contest on line, pay attention. Real people do win these damn things!!!
(and thanks everyone for your feedback and likes on this TR - it is very much appreciated!)
School's Out in Amish Country!
