Emirates Airlines Flight Review

It's been a year since I got to fly on non-budget airlines and now I got to fly again back to Pretoria, South Africa for a short term assignment. After hearing numerous rave reviews about Emirates Airlines, I have decided (with some luck) to fly on Emirates Airlines for the first time.  this is yet my another first experience flying on Emirates Airlines. As a small introduction, Emirates Airlines is an airline based at Dubai International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 

My flight transit at Dubai International Airport for nearly 24 hours before departing on the next day to Johannesburg and therefore I have managed to fly on two different Boeing 777 aircrafts even though I had hope for an Airbus A380. Well no complains as I have flown several times on the Singarore Airlines' A380. 

The Boeing 777 docked at Kuala Lumpur International Airlines (KLIA)

To begin with the review, as usual, I will be showing my readers the seat configuration of the Emirates Airlines economy class.

The usual 3-4-3 seat configuration for KL-Dubai flight with older entertainment system

The newly refurbished Boeing 777 flight for Dubai - Johannesburg with the same 3-4-3 configuration

As this is a long haul flight with at least 7 hours of flight per transit, I will always check out what the entertainment system and amenities have to offer. As I have mentioned before, since my flight requires 1 connecting flight to Johannesburg, I managed to experience two types of entertainment system.

From Kuala Lumpur to Dubai

For this flight, the economy seat at Boeing 777 offers the award winning ICE in flight entertainment system with plenty of latest movies and shows on the conventional 13 inches screen.

Apart from some of AirAsia X Airbus A320 and Singapore airlines' very A380, I have never expect for a USB port in Boeing 777's economy seat together with power supply point. That is really a surprise for me.

the joypad with keyboard is included should you have the need to get your work done

Dubai to Johannesburg flight

The screen is the largest so far I have ever seen in an economy class seat with a whopping 14 inches screen in this refurbished Boeing 777 aircraft. Together with the entertainment system is the USB port and power supply point.

not to forget yet another surprise for me is the PSP-like joypad for smaller interface but without keyword for work..perhaps with virtual keyboard?

was it me or it has been on standard airlines for quite sometime? even if there is no internet, you get to send emails with a price of USD2 per email. The price is not bad for such convenience from the sky

Following entertainment and amenities review, here comes the food review which everyone have been waiting for. 

From Kuala Lumpur to Dubai

The main course dinner, 'Traditional chicken kurma' with macaroni, bread and cake

Mixed sandwiches with chicken tandoori is served as supper

From Dubai to Johannesburg

Lunch is served with mutton curry as main course with salad and desert

Supper is served with chicken fajita and a muffin

general snacks of orange juice and assorted nuts from time to time is served or you can asked for cup noodle

apart from food and entertainment system, the starry night  aircraft ceiling is to be commended. as part of the Emirates effort to increase good feeling and experience during night flight

if you happened to have a long transit in Dubai, be sure to enquire your travel agent if you get to sleep in a hotel for free and also get lunch or dinner coupon. For this case I have managed to obtain a coupon for buffet lunch at the Emirates lounge for free

For this flight experience, I would like to personally rate Emirates airlines for 4 out of 5 in total with special mention on the in flight entertainment system. They really deserve an award even though the food is just above average. With an extremely value for money flight, the food at the Emirates lounge deserves high rating as I really enjoyed the atmosphere with relaxing mood for lunch.

With all the amenities, Emirates Airlines really deserves the title of "Airline of the Year" for 2011. The award has been given based on recognition of its commitment to safety and operational excellence, customer service trendsetters, financial condition including a 22-year consecutive annual profit. I really hope that they can achieve 5 star status in the future and with hope I will be able to experience and fly on the Business Class soon.

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Dubai: City of Cool Architecture

In continuation of the Dubai series, I will be sharing with my readers on the cool architecture and landscapes of Dubai during my half day trip. Due to lack of time, I decided that with the advise of a local Malaysian fellow blogger, Ramble and Wander, I decided to take the metro (public mass transport) of Dubai from one end to another end which ended at the airport for me to catch the connecting flight. This post will be a general post of the landscapes and architectural design of Dubai's organized city structures which will mark the end of my short Dubai exploration.

Aerial view of the organised growing city of Dubai with the Burj Khalifa as the 'epicenter' 

The typical aerodynamic design of Dubai Metro Station

I am impressive of the very clean and neat road of Dubai

developing and growing concrete cities around the central Dubai

a luxury hotel situated in adjacent to the Burj Khalifa

Lake with fountain display (at night) surrounding the Dubai Mall, one of the main attractions 

For club lovers, one can visit the Arabic style Souk Al Bahar

This is one of the neat and clean landscapes in Dubai which I like the most..organised housing estates with plants and flowers and greenness all over

most of the houses are single banglo kind of houses

and yes since Dubai is a Muslim Country, you can find many Mosque with distinct Arabic designs

Heading down till the corporate offices and factories, you will not be surprised to see companies such as IBM, Oracle and Microsoft

Further down is the city of Hotels and Marinas nearby the Jumeirah station, the hotels here are 'wow' and there's a spiraling structure as well just like the one in Malmö in Sweden

This perspective view of the hotel and office skylines are just like those in America

Twin Tower Hotel with similar design of the Chrysler Building in New York City

Never to be missed is the Burj Al Arab hotel, the first 7 Stars Hotel..just passing by

In my opinion on city planning in Dubai, since development in Dubai starts at the epicenter of Burj Khalifa, lands surrouding the perimeter of the tower is not sufficient. With the inland consists of desert sands, it's a good? idea to mine the sand and use it for reclamation in the coastal area. Too bad that due to sand storm, I was unable to witness the magnificent Palm Shape Atlantis.

Sands were also used to create a 'boundary' for sea resorts and port for trading.

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Burj Khalifa Tower: From the Earth to the Sky

I am back again after two months hiatus. This time, with a trip to Dubai. No trip to Dubai will EVER be completed if you do not visit the Burj Khalifa, well the tallest tower in the world. With a height of 829.8m, the building was officially opened in the year 2010. Thanks to a fellow Malaysian travel blogger, Ramble and Wander for the tips he has given to me. The 163 floor tower was mainly constructed by Samsung Engineering and Construction Company .

be sure to purchase your ticket online to get to the observatory tower. The online price is about 135 AED which is about  40USD at http://www.burjkhalifa.ae/en/ . Time is allocated for entering the tower. For this case i chose the earliest which is at 4.30am as the sun will rise at 5.30am. The entrance is at the lower ground of Dubai Mall, the largest shopping mall in the world

exhibition hall at the entrance of 'At the top' Burj Khalifa

once you have entered and scan your ticket, you will be brought to another section  by an escalator with video presentation along the way

it's Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol shooting scene

From the Earth to the Sky!

the elevator is one heck of the coolest ever with lots of lightings and designs

The following photos are the photos shot from the observation deck which is situated at the 124th floor

This night shot was taken early in the morning at 415am

from far..the tower looks like a mega city citadel of the future

miniature trick shot of the Burj Khalifa from the airplane

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