Welcome to my Flight Report!
BACKGROUND INFO
This december I visted South Africa to visit my familly there (I'm half South African). We had two options for our flights, SAA via DKR and IAD (JFK and Accra on the way to JNB), or EK via DXB. We (for obvious reasons) went with EK. The main selling point for me was probably the A380. Anyways, here's my routing:
EK226 SFO-DXB in Y http://flight-report.com/en/report-12750.html
EK767 DXB-JNB in Y http://flight-report.com/en/report-13149.html
SA1521 JNB-GRJ in Y http://flight-report.com/en/report-13203.html
FA121 GRJ-CPT in Y http://flight-report.com/en/report-13026.html
SA332 CPT-JNB in Y CANCELLED, NO FR :(
EK764 JNB-DXB in Y http://flight-report.com/en/report-13602.html
EK225 DXB-SFO in Y HERE
If you're wondering, FA is the IATA code for Safair, a smallish South African airline. And GRJ is the IATA code for George Airport. George is a small city in the south of the country.
Here's a map of my routing to Johanesburg (courtesy of www.gcmap.com)

THE FLIGHT
After a 4-hour layover at DXB (spent at the maraba lounge, it's OK, and the food is edible) we make our way to the gate. We had lost track of time so we were only there for final boarding. It took EK so long to board their A380 at SFO. I belive the process is better (and faster?) at DXB. Please confirm of deny this in the comments section, thx!
We arrive at the gate for the final boarding call:
My chariot for the next 15 hours! In all her glory and splendor (through the un-spotter-freindly windows at DXB)!!!!
A6-EOG for the Registrations Fanatic within me
Look what I saw upon entering the whales belly!
Boarding (yes, we were the last to board):
Newspapers offered in the gate:
The compusitory legroom shot (perfectly adequete for the next 15 hours):
The blanket was good, and was great quality:
Again, EK is offering good quality headphones on the longer flights, and trashy headphones on the DXB-JNB flights bcause they know that the DXB-JNB headphones fall apart upon touching them (see my FR for EK767) :
They have these stickers that you put on the side of your seat indicating in what cicumstances to wake you up.
Before takeoff, it's time to do some spotting!!
Another EK A380:

Qantas A380 at the terminal:
I,am now officialy cheating…..my spotting is being aided by the forward camera on the A380!
EK 777-300ER (I think):

Now it's time for… other spotting (buildings):
The obvious one… the terminal, it looks like BKK to me:
The Burj Khalifa (If you look closely):

(DXB is probably the only airport in the world where you can see the tallest building in the world while taking off!)
The Dubai Skyline:

Our takeoff is ontime and uneventful
Some views from takeoff:

There are 2 meal services and 1 "Lite Bites" service. First, we have breakfast.
Menu for breakfast:

I choose the Mushroom Ragout Ommelet
My tray as presented:
The croissant is cold, as usual. The fruit is stale. These are to be expected with airline breakfasts.
The entree revealed!!!!!!!
The entree is really great! The mushrooms still warm and are seasoned, they haven't gone dry. The Ommelet itself is moist and flavorful. The sausages have a great flavor and are juicy. The baked beans are also adequate. In my mind, the entree is what makes or brakes a meal, and this entree is great! Overall, a very good meal from EK.
I really like the interior design of the WCs. I think the wood finish is a nice touch, but it isn't as gaudy as the walnut in J and F.
The meal timing on this flight is a little weird. they serve the first hot meal after takeoff, as usual. However, instead of doing a lite bite service mid-flight, they serve anoher hot meal, and do the Lite Bite service before landing.
The menu for the second meal service

I choose the Roast Chicken. here is my tray, as presented:
The starter is unremarkable, OK but not great. The desert is also just OK. It did it's job, but was nothing to write home about. The bread looks very processed, if my memory serves me correctly, I didn't even eat it.
The entree:
This was probably the best entree I have had with EK, so far this trip. The chicken is juicy and flavorful, the potatoes are creamy, the sauce is rich, and the vegetables are well seasoned. Well done EK!
A tea that I requested after the meal:

I am very perticular with tea, kudos to the FA for making it the correct way (with the amouunt of milk I like!).
The cabin mid-flight:
Some scenery (Northern Canada, I think):




The selection on ICE that month was very good. I spent most of the flight watching documenteries. The IFE on EK is by far the best I have experienced. The moving map is good quality, and the cameras actually work!! They also display the planes registration on the Flight Info page, which is mutch appreciated by the AvGeek.
Although I didn't use this feature, I appreciate that EK installed these potable water dispensers near the lavs in the rear cabin of Y:

There was a "lite bite" service (pizza) about 2 hours before landing
Position at "Lite Bite" service:
The "lite bite" was pizza (on the longer flights, EK serves pizza, on shorter flights, ex. DXB-JNB, they serve a cold sandwich):
After I opened the box…
The pizza is acceptable. It isn't anything to write home about, but it is filling, and tastes OK. I would prefer this to the disgusting sandwhich I was served on EK 764 (JNB-DXB). I think that they should start serving pizza or something else substantial, not tiny sandwhiches on the JNB-DXB flights. Overall, a satisfactory snack from EK.
It was very foggy in San Francisco that day….
Almost there!!!

Our arrival was on-time. Then the mad dash for customs began…..
That's the main reason that if you are on an A380, you should try to sit as far forward as possible!
SUMMERY
Overall, I think that this was a great flight with EK. They offer the best long haul Y product, hands down. The hard product is unbeatable, the HUGE IFE displays and legroom make a big difference. While many were dissapointed when EK opted for a higher density cabin, It didn't make the seats seem uncomfortable at all. The service is great and the FAs are very attentive and friendly. EKs catering did not disappoint, all three food services on this flight met expectations, and the food was genuinely good. The only thing that I think EK can improve on is that they need to have more sufficient mid-flight snacks. They only offered fruit, chocolate, and drinks. I'd appreciate light food offerings (ie sandwiches, stuff they serve for lite bites), or possibly cup noodles like they do on thier flights to Asia.
THANKS FOR READING!
PLEASE DROP ME A LINE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION!!
Thank you for sharing this FR with us!
The onboard product looks great, a good amount of legroom with a large IFE screen.
The breakfast looks satisfying, QR usually gives one sausage instead of two. The entree of the second meal looks delicious!
Overall a great experience with EK!
Have a good one, see you!
Hi RI 777,
I'm so glad you enjoyed my flight report!
Yes, EK offers stunning hard (and soft) product that continues to be the best thing about the airline (especially on thse long hauls)
Both entrees were amazing! I'm very sorry to hear that the QR pax only get one sausage, because they were really good!
Thanks for dropping by,
-Max
Thanks for sharing!
The IFE is defenitely a big plus on EK and I've never beeen disappointed by their catering.
In Y they are definitely one of the best companies with a truly satisfying experience.
Thanks again for sharing this long flight with us.
I couldn't have said it better myself!
Tim Clark for President!! (just kidding...)