Earlier this year we bought a flight to Dubai. At the time we booked it with BMI. Since British Airways (BA) had taken over the airline, we didn't know what to expect.
The name BMI is going to vanish. Some of the planes have been already rebranded as BA.
We used the online check in, which is available from 24 hours before the flight. It was a bit difficult to use. The system wouldn't let me log in. I tried around five to six times, before it was finally working. From then on it was easy. It allowed me to print out the boarding passes for the leg between Dublin and London Heathrow, but not the leg between London Heathrow and Dubai International Airport, because the flight was co-shared with Virgin Atlantic.
I wasn't too concerned. Prior experiences taught me that we would get our boarding passes either at check in in Dublin or at the flight connection center in London Heathrow.
Our flight left early in the afternoon, so we tried to be at Dublin Airport three hours before the flight.
We took the Airlink bus from College Green/Dame Street and were surprised, because the whole city was blocked by fans of the Notre Dame American Football team. For a moment we feared we weren't able to get to the airport on time. Thank goodness a bus arrived and managed to get through. It took a bit longer, but we still arrived around 2 hours before our flight left at Terminal 1. The check in was quite. After a short wait it was our turn.
While the lady checked in our bag I asked her regarding our boarding passes for the second leg. We were advised we would receive them in London.
In Terminal 2 the boarding pass check is done by a person, in Terminal 1 it's automated, and there was a change: While BMI's boarding pass codes never worked, BA's did.
Security was not too busy, and it took us only a few minutes to go through.
Airside we passed the time by doing some window shopping and had hot chocolate, tea and cakes at Starbucks. The drinks were very good, but the cakes not fresh, so this was a disappointment, and we thought it was overprized.
When it was time for boarding we made our way to our gate.
First invited were families with small children and persons, who needed more time. Next were First and Business Class passengers, Executive Club members and members of BA's co-share partners frequent flyer programs. The boarding was then done based on seat number, starting at the back.
Our plane, an Airbus A319 had already the British Airways branding, but the interior was still BMI's.
Boarding was done quickly, and we left on time.
There was the usual safety demonstration. We found two British Airways magazines; one was about business, the other about leisure. Both were interesting. The time flew by with reading and drink service. We also could choose between a savory and sweet snack (Doorman's Masala chips or biscuits) there was a wide range of soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, tea and coffee available. I chose an orange juice and water. My better half wanted the same, but for some reason received an orange juice and a little Smirnoff bottle. EW didn't complain. Instead he mixed the juice and vodka together. I tried. It tasted good. No wonder he didn't want to return it.
Otherwise the flight was eventless. We arrived on time in London.
Connecting wasn't as difficult as we imagined. We had heard horror stories about Heathrow, but never experienced any of this. Previously we had booked separate flights with two different carriers, collected our luggage, connected to a different terminal, checked our luggage in and went through security without any hiccups.
Now our luggage was going through to Dubai, so we didn't have to worry about that.
Shortly before landing there was a public passenger announcement, telling connecting passengers to leave the plane, follow the emergency exit signs and wait for a bus. The exit could have been easily overlooked, if there wouldn't have been a ground member of BA, directing us down a flight of stairs. The bus was already there. After waiting for a few other passengers we could start our journey and were directly dropped off at Terminal 1 Connection Center. The bus for Terminal 3 was ready to leave, so we jumped on it.
We know all Heathrow Terminals landside, the only one missing airside is Terminal 4. Out of all terminals, 3 is my favorite. In my opinion it is the most luxurious and offers the best eating outlets beside Plane Food at T5.
Connecting from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 took around 45 minutes.
At Terminal 3's Connection Center we went to BA's desk, trying to get our boarding passes there. We explained our situation. The lady couldn't find our details. She was friendly and directed us to Virgin Atlantic.
At Virgin Atlantic we finally received our boarding passes. There was another passport control and security check.
We had six hours left and spent them strolling around, watching people and eating at Rhubarb and Strada. Both restaurants were to our liking.
It was our first time we flew with Virgin Atlantic in Economy. Since the airline presents itself as sexy and stylish, we hoped it would also have substance.
Our aircraft was an Airbus A340-600. The cabin was held in red and white colors.
A pillow and blanket were already waiting for each customer.
The chairs were overall comfortable. There was no foot rest and the leg room was slightly too small for EW. The magazine holder in front of EW's seat was worn out and hung down, restricting his space even further.
Soon the cabin crew handed out headsets for the entertainment system, a feel well pack (containing ear plugs and other things) and the menu.
A funny safety demonstration video was shown, and soon we were pushing back.
The entertainment system was good. There was a selection of Hollywood blockbusters, international movies, documentaries, TV programs, games and much more.
My favorite past time was to play Who wants to be a Millionaire, Trivia and Tetris.
Dinner was a three course. It was served ca. 90 minutes into the flight.
The starter was a mixed salad, followed by a choice of three main courses (chicken, beef or a pasta dish), bread roll, Irish butter and a Gue Banoffee dessert. Both of us had the minced beef with breadcrumb topping, potatoes and beans). We loved it. The quality was high, and in my opinion it was fresh and relatively healthy.
Drinks were also served regularly. With some other airlines staying hydrated can be an issue, but not here.
After another round of games, I went to sleep.
I could rest well until it was time for breakfast. Normally I have issues with getting sufficient sleep or ending up with tensions in the neck and shoulders. This time everything was fine.
Breakfast included tea/coffee, a fruit yogurt and a muffin. Again it was very tasty, light and one of the best in-flight breakfasts we ever had.
Soon after our meal we were approaching Dubai International Airport and landing. Our flight took 6 hours and 35 minutes.
Deboarding was done quickly.
Immigration wasn't busy, so after a few quick questions and having received our visa stamps we were free to enjoy our 10 nights/11 days in Dubai.
The return flights were as pleasant as the first two legs. This time around we received all our boarding passes at check in in Dubai.
Unfortunately on our return flight from Dubai to Heathrow the meal - fish - we had liked to have for our lunch wasn't available at all. It had been replaced with lamb. My better half and I weren't interested in the other two dishes. I like lamb, so it wasn't a problem for me, but EW doesn't. He left his main course barely touched. He didn't complain about the quality, though. Again the salad and dessert were excellent.
Since our flight was seven hours we also got ice cream, which was very much welcome.
The flight attendants came regular around with drinks.
We also liked the special cocktail served either with alcohol or without.
The afternoon tea with sandwiches was also very nice.
The only other gripe I had was the toilet.
Somebody had made a small mess in it and hadn't cleaned up, so it was a bit disgusting to use it. Shortly before landing I had to use the toilet again. Unfortunately toilet paper and hand towels were out, so to keep up with hygiene was difficult.
Connecting from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 was slightly different. This time around we used the official way and followed the purple signs for Flight Connection.
Again it was very pleasant and quick, thinking about Heathrows' size.
Our time between the two flights was a bit more than two hours and was ample. We bought a perfume and had a snack at Prêt-a-Manger.
Soon enough it was boarding time. There was an unexpected gate change, and there was some confusion to which gate we had to go to due to the way the number was pronounced. 18 or 80? Since nearly all flights to and from Ireland arrive and leave generally from gates 70+, we knew we had to go to 80.
This time the plane was BMI branded, but the rest was as on our outbound flight.
Arriving in the early evening in Dublin we were hungry and tired. We wanted something quick to eat, so we used the food court landside. To our dismay our favorite Starbucks in the airport wasn't existing anymore. The only two options at the food court left were Alcock & Brown, which had closed, and McDonalds. Having no choice, we went to the Golden Arches. The quality has deteriorated over the years. This meal was the low point. Never ever McDonalds for us.
The Big Mac had an odd taste and the chicken wrap was undercooked and cold instead of hot. The cheese was not melted. After a few bites EW left it.
Having had great experiences during the twelve days we were away, this was a big disappointment.
The food court in Terminal 1 landside has changed very much - from thriving to being boring, offering a wide and good quality choice to only two outlets with low quality. This doesn't leave a good impression to locals and tourists/business travelers alike, and I hope this is going to improve. I doubt it though.
After Terminal 2 opened and Aer Lingus, Etihad and all American carriers have emigrated there, Ryan Air is dominating Terminal 1.
We have seen a lot of shops and food outlets close down and the cleanliness deteriorate since Ryan Air is the largest airline in Terminal 1. We all know Ryan Air isn't willing to pay high charges.
Anyway our mood recovered considerable, when our shuttle bus to the Holiday Inn Express Dublin Airport arrived on time.
Returning to British Airways and Virgin Atlantic:
BA
It is nice to have a carrier that offers full service to London after a longer period.
I liked the friendly staff and the concept they offer.
We are definitely considering flying with them again.
Virgin Atlantic
I understand Virgin Atlantic better now, and I'm glad I didn't let my prejudices stand in my way to try them out.
Without a doubt we are using Virgin Atlantic again.
The name BMI is going to vanish. Some of the planes have been already rebranded as BA.
We used the online check in, which is available from 24 hours before the flight. It was a bit difficult to use. The system wouldn't let me log in. I tried around five to six times, before it was finally working. From then on it was easy. It allowed me to print out the boarding passes for the leg between Dublin and London Heathrow, but not the leg between London Heathrow and Dubai International Airport, because the flight was co-shared with Virgin Atlantic.
I wasn't too concerned. Prior experiences taught me that we would get our boarding passes either at check in in Dublin or at the flight connection center in London Heathrow.
Our flight left early in the afternoon, so we tried to be at Dublin Airport three hours before the flight.
We took the Airlink bus from College Green/Dame Street and were surprised, because the whole city was blocked by fans of the Notre Dame American Football team. For a moment we feared we weren't able to get to the airport on time. Thank goodness a bus arrived and managed to get through. It took a bit longer, but we still arrived around 2 hours before our flight left at Terminal 1. The check in was quite. After a short wait it was our turn.
While the lady checked in our bag I asked her regarding our boarding passes for the second leg. We were advised we would receive them in London.
In Terminal 2 the boarding pass check is done by a person, in Terminal 1 it's automated, and there was a change: While BMI's boarding pass codes never worked, BA's did.
Security was not too busy, and it took us only a few minutes to go through.
Airside we passed the time by doing some window shopping and had hot chocolate, tea and cakes at Starbucks. The drinks were very good, but the cakes not fresh, so this was a disappointment, and we thought it was overprized.
When it was time for boarding we made our way to our gate.
First invited were families with small children and persons, who needed more time. Next were First and Business Class passengers, Executive Club members and members of BA's co-share partners frequent flyer programs. The boarding was then done based on seat number, starting at the back.
Our plane, an Airbus A319 had already the British Airways branding, but the interior was still BMI's.
Boarding was done quickly, and we left on time.
There was the usual safety demonstration. We found two British Airways magazines; one was about business, the other about leisure. Both were interesting. The time flew by with reading and drink service. We also could choose between a savory and sweet snack (Doorman's Masala chips or biscuits) there was a wide range of soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, tea and coffee available. I chose an orange juice and water. My better half wanted the same, but for some reason received an orange juice and a little Smirnoff bottle. EW didn't complain. Instead he mixed the juice and vodka together. I tried. It tasted good. No wonder he didn't want to return it.
Otherwise the flight was eventless. We arrived on time in London.
Connecting wasn't as difficult as we imagined. We had heard horror stories about Heathrow, but never experienced any of this. Previously we had booked separate flights with two different carriers, collected our luggage, connected to a different terminal, checked our luggage in and went through security without any hiccups.
Now our luggage was going through to Dubai, so we didn't have to worry about that.
Shortly before landing there was a public passenger announcement, telling connecting passengers to leave the plane, follow the emergency exit signs and wait for a bus. The exit could have been easily overlooked, if there wouldn't have been a ground member of BA, directing us down a flight of stairs. The bus was already there. After waiting for a few other passengers we could start our journey and were directly dropped off at Terminal 1 Connection Center. The bus for Terminal 3 was ready to leave, so we jumped on it.
We know all Heathrow Terminals landside, the only one missing airside is Terminal 4. Out of all terminals, 3 is my favorite. In my opinion it is the most luxurious and offers the best eating outlets beside Plane Food at T5.
Connecting from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 took around 45 minutes.
At Terminal 3's Connection Center we went to BA's desk, trying to get our boarding passes there. We explained our situation. The lady couldn't find our details. She was friendly and directed us to Virgin Atlantic.
At Virgin Atlantic we finally received our boarding passes. There was another passport control and security check.
We had six hours left and spent them strolling around, watching people and eating at Rhubarb and Strada. Both restaurants were to our liking.
It was our first time we flew with Virgin Atlantic in Economy. Since the airline presents itself as sexy and stylish, we hoped it would also have substance.
Our aircraft was an Airbus A340-600. The cabin was held in red and white colors.
A pillow and blanket were already waiting for each customer.
The chairs were overall comfortable. There was no foot rest and the leg room was slightly too small for EW. The magazine holder in front of EW's seat was worn out and hung down, restricting his space even further.
Soon the cabin crew handed out headsets for the entertainment system, a feel well pack (containing ear plugs and other things) and the menu.
A funny safety demonstration video was shown, and soon we were pushing back.
The entertainment system was good. There was a selection of Hollywood blockbusters, international movies, documentaries, TV programs, games and much more.
My favorite past time was to play Who wants to be a Millionaire, Trivia and Tetris.
Dinner was a three course. It was served ca. 90 minutes into the flight.
The starter was a mixed salad, followed by a choice of three main courses (chicken, beef or a pasta dish), bread roll, Irish butter and a Gue Banoffee dessert. Both of us had the minced beef with breadcrumb topping, potatoes and beans). We loved it. The quality was high, and in my opinion it was fresh and relatively healthy.
Drinks were also served regularly. With some other airlines staying hydrated can be an issue, but not here.
After another round of games, I went to sleep.
I could rest well until it was time for breakfast. Normally I have issues with getting sufficient sleep or ending up with tensions in the neck and shoulders. This time everything was fine.
Breakfast included tea/coffee, a fruit yogurt and a muffin. Again it was very tasty, light and one of the best in-flight breakfasts we ever had.
Soon after our meal we were approaching Dubai International Airport and landing. Our flight took 6 hours and 35 minutes.
Deboarding was done quickly.
Immigration wasn't busy, so after a few quick questions and having received our visa stamps we were free to enjoy our 10 nights/11 days in Dubai.
The return flights were as pleasant as the first two legs. This time around we received all our boarding passes at check in in Dubai.
Unfortunately on our return flight from Dubai to Heathrow the meal - fish - we had liked to have for our lunch wasn't available at all. It had been replaced with lamb. My better half and I weren't interested in the other two dishes. I like lamb, so it wasn't a problem for me, but EW doesn't. He left his main course barely touched. He didn't complain about the quality, though. Again the salad and dessert were excellent.
Since our flight was seven hours we also got ice cream, which was very much welcome.
The flight attendants came regular around with drinks.
We also liked the special cocktail served either with alcohol or without.
The afternoon tea with sandwiches was also very nice.
The only other gripe I had was the toilet.
Somebody had made a small mess in it and hadn't cleaned up, so it was a bit disgusting to use it. Shortly before landing I had to use the toilet again. Unfortunately toilet paper and hand towels were out, so to keep up with hygiene was difficult.
Connecting from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 was slightly different. This time around we used the official way and followed the purple signs for Flight Connection.
Again it was very pleasant and quick, thinking about Heathrows' size.
Our time between the two flights was a bit more than two hours and was ample. We bought a perfume and had a snack at Prêt-a-Manger.
Soon enough it was boarding time. There was an unexpected gate change, and there was some confusion to which gate we had to go to due to the way the number was pronounced. 18 or 80? Since nearly all flights to and from Ireland arrive and leave generally from gates 70+, we knew we had to go to 80.
This time the plane was BMI branded, but the rest was as on our outbound flight.
Arriving in the early evening in Dublin we were hungry and tired. We wanted something quick to eat, so we used the food court landside. To our dismay our favorite Starbucks in the airport wasn't existing anymore. The only two options at the food court left were Alcock & Brown, which had closed, and McDonalds. Having no choice, we went to the Golden Arches. The quality has deteriorated over the years. This meal was the low point. Never ever McDonalds for us.
The Big Mac had an odd taste and the chicken wrap was undercooked and cold instead of hot. The cheese was not melted. After a few bites EW left it.
Having had great experiences during the twelve days we were away, this was a big disappointment.
The food court in Terminal 1 landside has changed very much - from thriving to being boring, offering a wide and good quality choice to only two outlets with low quality. This doesn't leave a good impression to locals and tourists/business travelers alike, and I hope this is going to improve. I doubt it though.
After Terminal 2 opened and Aer Lingus, Etihad and all American carriers have emigrated there, Ryan Air is dominating Terminal 1.
We have seen a lot of shops and food outlets close down and the cleanliness deteriorate since Ryan Air is the largest airline in Terminal 1. We all know Ryan Air isn't willing to pay high charges.
Anyway our mood recovered considerable, when our shuttle bus to the Holiday Inn Express Dublin Airport arrived on time.
Returning to British Airways and Virgin Atlantic:
BA
It is nice to have a carrier that offers full service to London after a longer period.
I liked the friendly staff and the concept they offer.
We are definitely considering flying with them again.
Virgin Atlantic
I understand Virgin Atlantic better now, and I'm glad I didn't let my prejudices stand in my way to try them out.
Without a doubt we are using Virgin Atlantic again.
©2012
