TR Mel to Abu Dhabi EY and VA

[malmacdowall]

Booked a business trip via the VA website for a few days in Abu Dhabi to catch up with a French business partner.... Apparently it's 1/2 way.. Sure 14hrs for me, 7hrs for him.... Anyway... Flying out on Sat 26th on the 11pm EY461 fro MEL.

Checking in was painless with nobody in the business queue and within 5 mins was heading off to the customs area... Was given a priority Express card and headed off with the great expectation of bypassing the masses in security screening and customs... Entered security and got stuck behind 2 wheelchair px with assistance needed.... Finally entered the customs hall at the same time as the crew from EY..... Crew were prioritized and the "express" lane quickly slowed down... As we waited the customs chap commented that the airlines seemed to be giving out the express cards like lollies tonight... He was right, the express queue had the most people in it and was the slowest lane .... Ah well, so much for by passing the masses...*

CUSTOMS
A quick wander through customs and a selection of Grant Burge Cab Sav 2006 (for my French friend) as a wine swap gift, as the custom has become during these meetings... I lamented the fact that I was flying back via SYD and couldn't pre-purchase my Duty free alcohol allowance.... Ah well.... Have to buy it in SYD or AUH...*

AIR NZ LOUNGE
Etihad *are using the Air NZ lounge in Melb... A nice but relatively small lounge... Well laid out with work areas, low lit areas, tables chairs and most important, a lounge area with the plasma on tuned to the Adelaide Hawks game.... Arrived in time for the 3rd and 4th quarters.... Go Hawks...*

The food selection was reasonable with a help yourself approach... Rice and sweet and sour chicken available with little quiche and party pies on the hot plate... Cheese selections, fresh fruit salad, sandwiches, 3 salads and a selection of cakes and biscuits. But most importantly a good selection of wine and beer (Heineken, Carlton Draughts, Carlton premium, Steinlarger, Konig Pilsner and Hahn premium)...

Since I was watching the footy I had to go with a beer (Stienlarger ) and a party pie with sauce.... *now T-60mins and the hawks are just behind... It's pretty tense with some strong barracking at the Telly.... Damn umpires...
T - 45mins Boarding called with 10 mins of play left.... poor timing... Well off to the plane...

i have some good pics to add if only someone can tell me how to do it with an IPAD? pics are on the ipad, just cant upload using this websites interface....

Will update the flight rundown shortly...

 

[malmacdowall]

EY461 departed at 11pm right on cue...
On boarding the flight it seems that it was the older style EY configuration A340-500 with a staggered 2 2 2 config. Not quite a "layflat" but still beats economy...

I was some what glad not to have a seat by the window as i think it may have been a little claustrophobic.

Drinks were offered on boarding (the usual champagne of oj).. i went with the OJ, then drinks orders were taken for "After takeoff"... i chose the Chateau Arnauton 2006 Cab Sav.. Nice drop. It arrived approx 20 mins in and orders were taken for dinner.
The amenities pack arrived in a nice little Etihad handbag (I am sure one of my girls will claim it when i return home)... it had the usual socks, mask, earplugs, toothbrush, toothpaste and also had a little bag with lip balm and moisturizer.

ROOM WITH A VIEW
I am sure it is great at 20,000 feet... but a little to open before takeoff....

DINNER
Prior to departure i had been a little concerned that a long dinner service could take up till 2am but was pleasantly surprised by the Express Dinner option.. I went with this and it was served about 50 mins into the flight... (Could have also chosen items from the anytime menu but they explained that these could take a little longer...)

Wood roasted salmon, green and yellow courgettes, peas and hazelnut soup, garlic and parsley bagel and seasonal fresh fruit.... All washed down with a glass of Cape Mentelle Shiraz 2007...

The entertainment system was excellent with plenty of new release movies on demand. However the "noise canceling" headphones mentioned on the website were substituted for some pretty coughpy non noise canceling ones... A bit disappointing as I had chosen to leave my own Sony ones at home..

I managed to watch 1/2 of the movie Red before the second glass of red took over ..... 6 hours of fairly good sleep... until the trolley dolly took out one of my overhanging knees on the way through to the galley ... maybe the window seat would be better?

Breakfast was served with 4hrs to go. A large choice available from breads, pastries, cereals, yoghurt, continental breakfast, traditional english breakfast (I went with this one), mixed herb omelette and seasonal fruit...

We arrived into Abu Dhabi 1 hr ahead of schedule, taxi up to the gate and were shown out through the first class doors at the front...... were we waited and waited and waited... finally someone came to connect the bridge, doors opened and we waited and waited... The CSM marched off the plane to a bemused ground crew and said "These are the first class passengers..... why are they the last off?" Not happy Jan...
Anyway, up the aero bridge where we came to another stop... the word went back down the queue that the doors were locked... again a now fuming CSM walked past and said "We don't have any keys but were going to bang on the doors....." Did someone forget to tell them we were coming? ... The CSM came marching back down past us and towards the plane suggesting that "The pilot might be able to radio someone to open the doors".... Welcome to
Abu Dhabi....
Customs and baggage were virtually empty... a long walk out and to the taxi... The Emirates Palace Hotel Please...

 

[malmacdowall]

Ladies and gentlemen... Welcome to the Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi.... Abu Dhabi's only 5 star rated property...

I arrived at 630am.. well before the 2pm checkin time... i had emailed them ahead of time and they said that they would see if they could accommodate having the room ready earlier. On arrival I was shown to reception and greeted by the staff...

They commented on how early I was but said they would check for me... The found a room for me, upgraded from by basic garden view room, to a terrace room on the ocean side.

I was personally escorted to the room by guest services (which was great as the hotels 1km long and has the central section and 2 wings). She explained all the features of my room and said that the butler would be by to introduce himself shortly.

Room pics....

King size bed... with pillow menu selection (PS... if you like the pillow you select, you can buy it and they can ship it anywhere in the world for you...)

52 inch telly... all controlled by this little gadget (Along with the lights, music. dvd etc...)

With a bathroom bigger than my master bedroom at home and open the curtains to reveal the terrace...

The butler arrived, introduced himself, explained the 24hr butler service, showed me the shoe shine box (Just leave them in the box and they come by) and left his card.

I spent the day walking around the property waiting for my French friend to arrive at 9pm. I managed to stay awake most of the day but dozed off just before he arrived. (2am Melb time)... quickly revived myself and left for dinner in the hotels Arabic restaurant... A bottle of red later and it was midnight local time (7am in MEL) and the jet lag was killing me... off to bed... Managed 5 hrs sleep and watched telly and snoozed to kill time till the gym opened at 7am.. a quick workout and here I sit...

a trip report with a view...

Off to Ferrari world theme park today... catch you on the flip side....

 

[MelUser]

Great trip report - thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

[malmacdowall]

MelUser... Thanks for the feedback... My first one... My Virgin TR.....

 

[smithy]

great trip report. I was in abu dahbi for round one of v8 supercars last month and took time out to go to ferrari world. I would be interested to hear your thougths?
Did not stay at same hotel as you but we did drive past it several times to admire and take photos of.

 

[malmacdowall]

Emirates Palace has some very unique features... in the lobby is the worlds largest mothers day card from the wife of the Sheik of ABU DHABI to the mothers of the UAE

In one section of the hotel is a very unique vending machine... you can buy Gold bars..

The cheapest is 2.2oz for around $150. Amazing.

The service continues with a turn down service in the evening....

Note the petals and the slippers...

A fresh fruit basket each day...

A night view of the front of the hotel...

visit the local mall.... enter a competition... attend the local soccer match and this new Ferrari Italia could be yours..... Abu Dhabi ... you've done it again...

 

[Flying Fox]

Great report. The amenities kit looks pretty impressive to me. Esp. considering some of the -ve feedback I have heard recently about the SQ J kits (heard that they are rubbish).

 

[tangof1]

Great Trip Report so far...

Been interested to hear about Ferrari World as i'm heading there next June on my way to Europe.

You said that the Emirates Palace is the only 5 star rated property in Abu Dhabi, i thought Yas Hotel was 5 star as well or is that because its a hotel and this is a palace? Do they class it under a different category?

Dave

 

[malmacdowall]

Tuesday today and my last full day done... Breakfast on the terrace looking over the turquoise sea...

Yesterday we did the Big Bus Tour... The same tour company as in Dubai... So, of the 12 stops the bus makes, the most interesting was at the Mosque..A grand marble structure...
The rest of the via tour 2.5hrs was frankly a bit of a waste...
Nothing like the treasure trove of places on the Dubai bus tours...

Off to Ferrari world to check out the action. The inside of the structure is amazing... A real spectacle... Very few people but 3major rides closed and that didn't leave a lot... One of the best was the dual roller coasters .

Other attractions just didn't seem to live up to the Ferrari name.. The museum was tiny with only 5 cars... The simulator had a scudera sitting on the rams and responds with movement as you drive.

Ferrari world overall impressions was it was ok.. But not as good as i had expected... A pity..

.

Back to the hotel for dinner at the restaurant... A nice evening dinner view ..

On a flight from AUH to SYD on we'd at 11am.. Dog tired... Night all...