HI! Welcome to my 4th flight report. This one details the route from Nice, France to Dubai, UAE. This is the 3rd time I take this route and the second time I make a report out of it.
You may recall that I am a teenage boy living in Qatar. I go on summer holidays to France where my family lives and take this flight to go back to Doha via the city home to the world's tallest building. My grandparents live in Mandelieu La Napoule.
So, on a warm 31st of July afternoon, my mom and I make our way to Nice Cote d'Azur International Airport for our flight departing at 15:55.
A random pick of the view outside near one of the doors at NCE:
Another random pick:
We made our way to the check-in counter area which was located in zone A:
After the check-in process, my mom and I went upstairs to proceed to security. And I got pretty pissed there:
Okay, so I take off my watch, my sweater, etc. I go through the metal detector and it goes red. So the officer nearby started scanning me, then searching me with his hands, and then he said to me Turn Around. Obviously, his English seemed pretty bad. He thought I didn't speak French and therefore ignored the fact that I understand French perfectly.
Anyways, he then told me (still in bad English) to lift the bottom of my shoe, which I did. He then said Next. I was pretty confused, so I started leaving, because I thought he said Next as a cue for the other person behind me to follow. But no, he meant Next as in my next shoe. So, once again, I lift my OTHER shoe. At that time, when it was over, the guard said to his colleague in French: Il l'a fait comme un chien. , meaning He did it like a dog. Obviously, he was referring to the way I lift my feet. I got pretty pissed. Don't really know why but I just did.Maybe it was the way he said it, thinking I didn't understand French. Not a good impression of the personnel at NCE.
Meanwhile, our plane (B777-300ER) has touched down. After the security, I manage to get a glimpse of the aircraft, which has landed 30 minutes earlier than schedueled.
Some very brief spotting.
A private A340-500 from Qatar:
Another private jet:
EasyJet has just landed:
My bird behind the gates. Its registration was A6-ENN, delivered on the 22nd of Feburary 2014. This meaant it was very recent , and so it was equipped with the new cabin!! :D :D
The waiting area:
Boarding. The boarding was chaotic! It was done by zones, but no body respected them or people didn't board when it was their zone. (The flight was about 95% full in all three classes.)
Views of the aircaft:
Arrived at my seat. Huge PTV's:
View from my seat 19B:
Very good seat pitch:
Overhead panel:
Random pic:
The hand held device. Loved the fact that you can watch a movie on the big screen and simultaneously watch the airshow, or the facts on the flight. However, I did not try seeing if you can play a game or do other stuff on that handy gadget.
Once again, a random pic:
The PTV next to me:
The screen:
Safety video playing:
Coat hanger and power outlet. There is also a USB port.
Captian's announcement (5 hours 35 minutes to DXB) ; FA's announcement, Pushback (10 minutes late) ; and Taxi to Runway 04R.
For the very first time in my travels from Europe to the Middle East, all (and I mean ALL) the announcments done by the FA's were made in 3 languages: Arabic, English, and French.
Take off:
Our sheduled route and our actual route: It's nice to compare them:
Leaving French territory:
Just when the 1st drinks service was about to start and the FA's were getting out of their seats, the captain came on the PA and asked all passengers AND crew to take their seats as we were passing around an area of rough air. The same thing happened as the dinner service was about to start. That had never happened to me on a flight. Nonetheless, the turbuleneces were really strong and no doubt the FA's had to sit back down. However, the turbulences, as you will see, injured the grade of the meal…
Big Bang Theory! Love that show!
The person next to me took a Bloody Mary. Very impressed as they give you the tabasco, the worcestershire sauce, and the vodka.
I took an ordinary tomato juice:
Wing views:
Meal service, the menu read as follows:
Lunch
Appetiser: Smoked swordfish served with a creamy celery remoulade and lemon wedgge garnish.
Main Course: Butter chicken ; mild chicken curry in a creamy sauce, served with steamed basmati rice and sauteed spinach.
OR - Lamb medallions ; sauteed lamb medallions served with onion sauce, accompanied by chunky mashed potato, rustic carrots and green beans.
Dessert: Triple chocolate delice ; an indulgent chocolate brownie encased in a rich chocolate mousse, topped with a dark sauce.
Beverages: Tea or Coffee
Chocolates
This is where we are when the lunch service commences:
The tray, which I found pretty small: (There was metal cutlery.)
Zoom on the appetiser, which I did not like. Can't say it wasn't good. I can just say that I rarely eat fish so I can't really judge this smoked swordfish. The remoulade accompanying it was pretty good though.
The lamb option:
Okay, so, the main course was simply not good. Not good at all. A huge disappointment. I wanted to take the lamb because laat year, on the same route, I had taken the lamb option and I loved it. It had been the best economy class meal of my life! This year, it was just… The labm was impossible to eat, way too hard to chew. It was like eating stone. Not to mention, it was impossible to cut. The little small knives just didn't do the work. The sauce was meh, and the mashed potato and vegetables were okay.
Nonetheless, my neighbour came up with a reason why the lamb could have been too hard, and I think I have to agree with her: The crew started heating up the trays once. Then, they had to sit back down for the second time becuase of turbulences. Once they could start their serivce again, the food had gotten cold enough and they had to heat it up again. This excessive re-heating may be the reason why the lamb was not good… Dunno?
The dessert, which was surprisingly really nice!
The 'little bites' that come with they tray were good as well!
In the menu, it says there are 'ChocolateS' , PLURAL! I just found one .. :(
Coffee to round up this lunch service:
After the dinner service, I started watching a movie. An hour passed and then I started noticing this: I really like this feature!
Approcaching Dubai:
Three pics:
After entering a slight holding pattern, we touch down very smoothly. An amazing landing!
Arrived at the gate at 00: 26 instead of 00: 15, so 11 minutes later than scheduled.
A view of the headrest:
View of the business class while deboarding:
Last pics of our plane:
Thank you very much for reading my FR. I hope you have enjoyed it and remember to feel free to comment.
Have safe travels!
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Verdict
Emirates
8.6/10
Cabin9.0
Cabin crew9.0
Entertainment/wifi10.0
Meal/catering6.5
Nice - NCE
5.0/10
Efficiency5.0
Access5.0
Services5.0
Cleanliness5.0
Dubai - DXB
5.0/10
Efficiency5.0
Access5.0
Services5.0
Cleanliness5.0
Conclusion
A great flight with Emirates! But as usual, there are some slight bummers:
Cabin comfort: Amazing seat pitch and comfortable seats. Also, the person in front of me never reclined so I had plenty of space. However, I feel by looking at my neighbor, that even if the person in front reclines, you seem to have more space than in the older cabins. Probably due to the slim seats.
-1 for a bit tight due to 10 abreast configuration.
Crew: They spoke a total of 14 languages and the announcements were made in three languages. Did their job with a smile.
-1 because there was not that extra detail that really made me think: Wow
Meal and catering: Extremely disappointed by the main meal.
-2 because lamb was just ... basically gross and the appetizer, well, they could have chosen something else.
-1 because Qatar and Etihad seem to offer 3 meal choices. Two being meat (including fish) and a vegetarian option. Would like to see 3 meal choices, but oh well.
-0.5 because there was not a 'before landing' snack like a sandwich or something. Maybe the flight was too short? Also, the menu is a bit misleading. They say that a selection of beverages will be available before landing but we did not get anything. The menu also says plural chocolates and there was just one. Yeah I know, I'm really picky :P
Entertainment: PERFECT! Irreproachable! Tons of selection of movies from all around the world. There were all the episodes from the season 6 of Big Bang Theory and some of the season 7. Also, the really wide screen just makes things more enjoyable to view. Simply astonishing!
On time performance: Nothing really to say.
-0.5 because, well, we did not arrive earlier than scheduled. Plus, the transit time literally took less than 5 minutes since the plane parked right next to the security check point.
0 LIKESLIKE TO THANK THE AUTHORTHANKS ! FLIGHT-REPORT LIKED
One should never assume that a total stranger cannot understand your language. I recently witnessed the reverse situation where a tourist made a disparaging remark about a local security guard in front of him, who turned out to be fluent in that language and the situation turned ugly. I feel sorry for you, that security check staff was a shame. I like the systems which allow you to keep track of the airshow while watching something else, so you do not miss some specific feature on the ground. They obviously avoid Syria's airspace. Too bad for the ruined lamb.. oh well, it is airline economy food, isn't it ? Thanks for this detailed report !
Totally agree with you on that! Yup, those systems are very handy! Loved watching TBBT and where we were on the ground without having to interrupt the show.
And now, Emirates is also avoiding Iraki airspace. I saw on Flight Rdar 24, this flight now passes through Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Thanks for this detailed and interesting report. So it sounds like NCE must have some of the same lovely and polite people working at security than CDG (sarcasm, of course). As a French expat like you, I often get annoyed at how rude some people can be in France. I hate it when Americans (I live in the US) mention that cliché, but whenever I go back to France I do notice it. Maybe it's because in the US, people are just overly polite, who knows. It's great that this route is working for EK--competition is always good and keeps the prices generally affordable. Thanks again for sharing!
Thank you very much for your comment and for taking the time ot read :)
Yeah, its just too annoying and frustrating, but oh well, that's just the way it is. I go to an American School and the cliche I hear the most about France is cheese and croissants ;)
Yeah, I'm glad this route works! I would not be surpised if an A380 is put into service in that route, since flight was pretty much full. They dominate the entire south of France with this route ever since Qatar stopped flights to Nice.
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10 Comments
It's a comprehensive report and it's very pleasant to read
There are stupid and rude people everywhere in the world but when working in a job with interaction with people it's unacceptable.
Comfortable seat and great legroom : ICE is well known and it's always perfect
The catering is a bit disappointing and you're right the tray is way too small
The business class seems to have old seats !
See you for a next FR
Yup you are right, but the staff in French airports is really the rudest I have encountered.
I like the systems which allow you to keep track of the airshow while watching something else, so you do not miss some specific feature on the ground.
They obviously avoid Syria's airspace. Too bad for the ruined lamb.. oh well, it is airline economy food, isn't it ?
Thanks for this detailed report !
Totally agree with you on that!
Yup, those systems are very handy! Loved watching TBBT and where we were on the ground without having to interrupt the show.
And now, Emirates is also avoiding Iraki airspace. I saw on Flight Rdar 24, this flight now passes through Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Yeah, its just too annoying and frustrating, but oh well, that's just the way it is.
I go to an American School and the cliche I hear the most about France is cheese and croissants ;)
Yeah, I'm glad this route works! I would not be surpised if an A380 is put into service in that route, since flight was pretty much full. They dominate the entire south of France with this route ever since Qatar stopped flights to Nice.
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