Day 4
Even though we had gone to bed nice and early the previous evening, getting up at 4:30 AM was painful. We got up, got dressed and packed the last bits and pieces. Our swim stuff had dried over night. We went downstairs and sat down outside to wait for the shuttle. Just before 5:00 AM, it was already 25C. The shuttle arrived shortly afterwards and once everybody was on, we were on our way to the airport.
At Dubai, they have a separate check in area for people travelling on staff tickets. I had been there a few times before, but we came in from a slightly different direction and I had to double-check where I needed to go. Normally this area is very busy and by the very nature of flying standby, you normally end up having to run for your plane. This time round, the area was pretty empty. As we approached the check in desks, one of my colleagues who was also on the way back from Dubai, spotted me and told me that we would be OK. Indeed, our names already had green lights next to them. We were just getting in line for the economy class check in when we were waved over to the business class check in. A couple of minutes later we had our boarding passes and were on our way. Security and passport control also went very smoothly and I very quickly had a second stamp in my new passport.
Next up was uncharted territory. At the beginning of January the new Concourse A opened at Dubai International Airport. This is a dedicated terminal for the A380s. As we were flying back on an A380, we had to make our way over to Concourse A. Straight after security there is now a train that links the departure level of terminal 3 with the ground floor level of Concourse A. By the time we got off the train, we were both ready for a coffee and there just happened to be a handy Costa Coffee cart just as you got off the train, but unfortunately due to some technical issue they were not able to serve coffee at the time. We asked if they had another outlet upstairs and he said they did, but we never found it. To get to the level from which the access to the gates is and where all the shops and food outlets are, we had to go up seemingly endless escalators. Eventually we got to the right level. The new concourse is truly stunning. We had a bit of look around, but soon they were calling our flight. Once they checked our boarding passes, we had to go downstairs again to the gate seating area. I finally got my hands on a copy of the Gulf News, the local newspaper. I am normally not a fan of newspapers, but I have always enjoyed reading the Gulf News when I am in Dubai.
I had just finished my paper when they called our boarding zone. We were right at the back of the aircraft. The whole process was very smooth and soon we were on our way. Shortly after take off we got a nice view of The World. Once we were at cruising altitude, they came round with hot flannels and the menus. Shortly afterwards they started to serve breakfast. On this flight, there was the choice between two breakfast platters: Traditional Arabian Morning Mezze or a Breakfast Deli Platter. Both came with Orange Juice, Fresh Fruit and a Croissant with Butter and Marmalade. We both went with the Breakfast Deli Platter, which consisted of thinly sliced Smoked Turkey, Cured Beef, Gouda Cheese, Mixed Vegetable Salad and Crudités. We both had some Mango Juice, which this time round got drunk rather than worn and we finally got our coffee.
After breakfast I decided to watch some films. Before breakfast, I had checked out the games, but they did not have my favourites on that flight. So I ended up watching three films: Hope Springs, Anna Karenina and People Like Us. I thoroughly enjoyed all of them. About halfway through the flight, they came round with drinks and some snacks. I ended up having some Coke. They also frequently came round with water and juice. About 90 minutes or so before we were due to land, they served lunch. Lunch started with a Smoked Turkey Salad served on a bed of Celery, Carrots and Raisins. I gave mine to Graham as I don't like Celery or Raisins. For the hot meal, we had a choice between Chicken Curry, which was Asian-style Marinated Chicken cooked in a Creamy Curry Sauce served with Coconut-favoured Rice and Seasoned Vegetables or Steamed Cod Fillet with Creamy Parsley Sauce, Organo Potatoes, Green Beans, Mushrooms and Carrots. I went with the Curry and Graham had the fish. For dessert, we Chocolate Coconut Cake with Mango Coulis. As Graham can't eat chocolate, I got a double helping. We also got a Roll, a snack box with Cream Crackers, Cheese Spread, Bruchetta Bites and Sweet Chilli Sauce and a piece of Chocolate. Pretty much as soon as they tidied away the lunch trays, we were descending into Manchester.
As we landed, I could not believe my eyes. When we left the hotel in the morning, it had been 25C. In Manchester, we were treated to a blizzard. Considering the size of the plane, it did not take long to get off the plane. The line for passport control was very manageable as well. I was kind of curious about the self service gates for chipped passports, but decided to stick with Graham. Once we had gone through customs, I checked with lost property if my neck pillow had been handed in, but no such luck. We took the train back home and then had a nap.
