Flight with Emirates Dublin - Dubai - Kuala Lumpur and return in Economy Class

Our holiday in July 2015 took us to Malaysia and Singapore.

We booked our flights with Emirates to Kuala Lumpur via Dubai in economy class.

A few days before our departure we received an email containing the inflight menu and what was on offer at ICE, the entertainment system.
Check in in Dublin at Terminal 2 was done efficient and with a smile. Originally we had chosen all our seats online at the time of booking our flights, but for some reason on the leg between Dubai International Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport it was changed. 
Since seat selections are complimentary we used this service on each leg, but we still sat  together and it was just a row or so behind the original selection we didn’t mind. Our luggage was checked through to Kuala Lumpur. We also liked that the baggage claim tag was stuck onto a separate card than the boarding passes or one of our passports.
On the return flight our seat choice was honored.

On this occasion we had purchased Fast Track security access from DAA for 5.99 Euro (ca. 6.65 USD) per person, online. It also included a voucher for free coffee. Without fast track the waiting time was approximately 15 minutes. We were through security with no waiting at all and took maybe two minutes or less.

We had lunch at Flutes, one of our favorite outlets airside in Terminal 2. A review is going to follow.

Afterwards we browsed the shops a bit and went to our gate when it was time to board.

All flights were on a Boeing 777-300 ER. The seats were comfortable and in a 3-4-3 configuration. Only on one leg nobody sat beside us in the aisle seats. All flights were booked out or near capacity and had families with small children, who were overall well behaved, on board.

The food was as always good and there were two main courses to choose from. It was either a fish and meat option or beef and chicken. On one leg the chicken was in hot demand. Some guests might have been scared by the idea of eating an unfamiliar perch, a fresh water fish. It was what we would have chosen in the first place, so it didn’t matter to us. We liked it. Of course the desserts and ice cream were the highlight. The meals reflected where we started from and the destination, for example there were curries and braised beef, a lentil salad and other dishes.
Vegetarian and other special dietary needs meals have to be pre-ordered.
Non-alcoholic beverages were served regularly. There were also tea and coffee, wine and liquor available after meals, plus there was the option to enjoy a snipe of Champagne for USD 15.

ICE, Emirates in-flight entertainment system had a wide selection, but on some older Boeings we had problems with the touch screens (They weren’t very intuitive or suddenly stopped in the middle of a documentary or film and it took some effort to get it working again.)
When it was functioning, we watched documentaries, a classic, foreign movies and played “Who wants to be a Millionaire?”.

Toilets were spotless clean. Only once I saw crew discarding left over juices and some of it splashed on the walls, leaving a sticky mess and a sweet smell in the toilet.

The crew was overall attentive and friendly.
The flight attendants on our leg between Kuala Lumpur and Dubai were a bit stressed out and tired, because their journey began in Australia.

There were turbulences over India, because of the monsoon season and the seat belt sign was on while passing through.

We had planned in a generous layover of around three hours each time we had to connect in Dubai to have enough time for a meal and to avoid generally stress. There’s nothing worse than running through a large airport to catch your flight.
Arriving in Dubai from Dublin we had a remote stand and had to take a shuttle to bring as to the B Gates. It was a fairly long ride, around 25 minutes.

We had ice cream at Haagen Dazs and on the return lunch at Carluccio’s, located at the A Gates.  Reviews for those are going to follow.

One important thing about Kuala Lumpur International Airport: There are two security checks, one directly at the gate, so it is not possible to bring water bottles on board.

Of course we will fly with Emirates again. It is one of our favorite airlines. We like breaking up a long-haul flight to the Far East in Dubai. The service is great and reliable, the food good and the entertainment system should cater to most tastes.

©2015 

Flight Aer Lingus Dublin - London Gatwick / Emirates London Gatwick via Dubai International - Bangkok Suvarnabhumi

My better half found a good deal on Emirates' website from London Gatwick (LGW) to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK). We hadn't been there for five years and wanted to return. We were at first a bit concerned about the coup and unrest in Thailand, but it seemed peaceful enough, so we decided to book the flight. To get to London Gatwick we bought a separate flight with Aer Lingus from Dublin.

The flight from Dublin to LGW South Terminal was full. Previous experience had shown that a pre-booked seat wasn't necessary. On this flight we were unlucky and weren't able to sit together. We chose then two middle row seats behind each other. Thank goodness a lady was so nice to change seats with us when she realized we belonged together.

Next time we consider the payable option of choosing our seats when booking the flight.

We had pre-ordered a meal, because our flight left in the afternoon, and we thought we would be peckish. Since a few months in-flight catering is provided by Clodagh McKenna, an Irish chef and TV personality. We chose the quinoa chicken salad with multi seed crackers, gluten free chocolate cake, fruit salad and coffee. For those, who don't like coffee, there's also tea available. Overall we were happy with the meal. It was refreshing, healthy and tasty. We would appreciate, though, if the description of the ingredients would be slightly more detailed. The salad contains raisins. One of us is allergic to them, so he had to pick them out.

More choice in regards to the beverage selection would be also great, i.e. also juice or water.

We find it also a bit sad that the beef salad is no longer available.

This particular Airbus A319 was a former Iberian plane. When Aer Lingus bought it they didn't change the interior, so the first generation Recaro seats are a bit uncomfortable (too few leg room) and don't have a net at the seat in front to store items.

Otherwise the flight was event less.

Before our next legs to Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Bangkok we spent a night at the Hilton London Gatwick.  The review for this will follow.

The next morning we made our way to LGW North Terminal, where Emirates is based. The check in went flaw less and very few people were queuing.

Having heard only good things about Emirates we were looking forward to our first flight with them and we weren't disappointed.

The plane type was a Boeing 777-300ER. The seats were comfortable and there was ample leg room.

ICE, the entertainment system, offered a wide choice of movies, series, documentaries, games and music.

We were served lunch (prawn salad, chicken curry, chocolate dessert) and afternoon tea. Alcoholic beverages like beer, wine and liqueurs were also available.

I watched a documentary about Lance Armstrong and a few World Cinema Movies.

Connecting in Dubai was easy. To our surprise we were handed new boarding passes at the gate and advised our seat had changed. I thought I didn't read right. It stated we had been upgraded to business class - a first for us.

The plane type used was an Airbus A380. The Business Class configuration was 1-2-1. I had an aisle seat; he had the window seat. Our hostess introduced herself as Suzie and explained she and her colleague Fatima would take care of us during the flight. We were offered a welcome drink and had a glass of Champagne (Moet & Chandon NV Brut Imperial).

We were handed the wine list, which included two white (De Bortoli Estate Grown Chardonnay 2012 Yarra Valley and Voyager Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2012 Margaret River) and red wines (Les Fiefs de Lagrange 2005 and Te Muna Road Pinot Noir, Craggy Range 2011 Martinborough) as well as Quinta do Portal Colheita Port 2000 Douro.

There was also a large selection of spirits, beers, cocktails and liqueurs available. We tried the Patron XO Cafe. The coffee liqueur was excellent.

Our order from the light bite menu was taken. There were sandwiches, vegetable pie, Asian-style chicken fried rice, fried udon noodles, coconut tart, and instant cup noodles. We chose the Asian-style chicken fried rice. It was very tasty.

We were also asked if we wanted to be woken for breakfast and invited to join the bar at the back any time.

The amenity bag containing Bulgari toiletries was handed out and we were also offered to have our bed made.

The seat itself was very comfortable and at the press of a button turned into a lie flat bed. I thought it was romantic when looking up and the ceiling twinkled with star lights. There was enough room to either sleep fully stretched out or on the side.

There was also a minibar stocked with a Sunrasia juice, Voss water and other beverages.

ICE could be accessed via the IPad at the seat or via the large flat screen TV. Storage space was either overhead, in front of the seat or at the side.

The window blinds could be opened and closed fully automatic.

The seats were angled in a way that guaranteed privacy and nobody would disturb the neighbour, if they had to get up for some reason.

It was an overnight flight and if we hadn't taken care, we could have been easily overwhelmed with all the services provided and not slept at all. Lying flat definitely helps arriving more rested at the destination.

Continental breakfast consisted of fresh fruits, yogurt, croissants, pastries and bread, butter and preserves. He had as hot item the scrambled eggs with mixed peppers and I had the courgette and cheese omelette. There was coffee/tea, Champagne, orange or apple juice to choose from.

We were also given priority lane access at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. Immigration was a breeze and the wait for our luggage wasn't too long.

After ten days in Bangkok it was time to return to Dublin.

Checking in at BKK was hassle free again and waiting time very short.

Our planes was on the legs between Bangkok/Dubai and LGW the Queen of the Skies.

It seems we had a slightly older Airbus A380 between BKK-DXB, because the seats were slightly different than between DXB-LGW and ICE slightly more difficult to use.

There was only lunch service (we had fish), but there was also noodle pots as snacks available for those, who felt a small hunger pang.

Connecting in Dubai was longer than on the journey to Bangkok. We had to take the connecting train. Previously we were able to simply walk to our next gate.

My fiancé wanted to surprise me with a watch from duty free shopping between DXB and LGW. When asking the attendant if it was available she promised me she would check with her colleague if he had it in his cart, because it wasn't in hers. After waiting for ages I had to follow up and was left disappointed. It wasn't available.

The crew on this flight seemed to be generally stressed out and tired.

For lunch we had chickpeas and sweet corn salad with tuna, grilled chicken and blueberry streusel cake.

Later afternoon tea with cheese and chutney and chicken sandwiches, double chocolate cake and scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam was served. Unfortunately the scone was with raisins again and no alternative offered, so my better half had to forgo it.

Arrival at London was on time. After crossing the longest  gate connecting bridge in the world we had to walk for about ten to fifteen minutes to Immigration, where a long queue had built up. It was moving fluid and within twenty minutes we were at the baggage claim to pick up our suitcase.

We enjoyed flying with Emirates, the comfort in both Business and Economy Class, the service, the delicious food and ICE.

After staying another night at the Hilton LGW we checked in for our flight with Aer Lingus back to Dublin.

We were sitting together even without having chosen our seats prior to the flight and hadn't any meal, because we had paid access to the Number 1 Traveller Lounge at the South Terminal.

The flight was eventless, punctual and the staff as always friendly.

Dublin International Airport was efficient and we were at home two hours after landing.

©2014