The flight leaves at the ungodly hour of 02.30 so with an extra days accommodation booked we checked out at 23.30 for the 30 minute journey to AUH. Its always fun as they do tend to drive rather fast and also the awesome spectacle of numerous drag races between various AMG V8 Mercs. When we arrived at the Hell hole ,sorry Abu Dhabi International Airport we quickly remembered there is a premium check in area that we were very glad of. Formalities like check-in, real fast track and passport control were completed in under 5 minutes and we were back in the great transit camp dormitory. To be fair it was a lot quieter than on our last trip, sign of the times maybe.
After a quick walk to duty free, why is it every time someone from the pub says bring me back some fags. They smoke an obscure brand that whatever duty free Im in doesnt stock. So with a 1000 Superkings and not hand rolled Turkish with 4 gold stripes, under my arm for about 50, we headed for the Ghazal Lounge. It does have an amazing desert diorama featuring camels and a plastic RAV 4.I think their fish tank must have sprung a leak sometime ago and rather than have it repaired they filled it with sand and plastic camels. At least this visit wasnt in Ramadan so the bar was open. Service was extremely good and there was quite a reasonable spread of food which is useful if you are in CW as its a sleeper. We decided to eat onboard probably not the wisest move as it wasnt going to be an early morning curry after a very heavy Saturday night out on the town. In normal circumstances Im not generally very peckish at 03.30.After a couple of bloody Marys and G&Ts (Bombay) the nice lady from the from the desk came round and told all PAX on the flight individually the flight was now boarding.
Again warmly welcomed and escorted to 1 E&F through 1L we settled in with a glass of 99 Pol and watched everybody board through the first class cabin. After numerous we all get there at the same time and the like comments the doors were shut. To be honest I wasnt in the slightest bit hungry and knew I had a 150 mile drive home on arrival .The crew took drinks orders and asked for food orders before take off just to try and speed up the service on departure. It was made clear that food could be ordered at any time and we didnt have to eat early.
After departure I declined the canaps and had a glass of the 2006 Meursault perfectly fine this time. Both of us opted for what turned out to be an excellent bowl of parsnip soup and a glass of sparkling Highland spring. The crew did a marvelous job and had tables set and food on the table in about 20 minutes of wheels up.
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The soup went down rather well and the piggy in me took over. I ordered the slow roasted beef with ratatouille and garlic mash. It was very good but Im ashamed to say most of it went back.
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Mrs JP polished of a plate of veggie cream pasta which she said was excellent.
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That was it, we both had our beds made up with the new under mattress and quilt (very comfortable) and I at least was in the land of nod until the 40 minute announcement. On moving I was immediately offered the full Monty breakfast with no appetite still I asked for an OJ and coffee. When I returned from freshening up my bed was a seat, table out and set up with a cloth for just a cup of coffee and a glass of OJ.
We landed a little early at 06.00 with no stack at all and both decided not to bother with the arrivals lounge. Again a bus transfer back to the terminal but it was swift, added to a deserted passport and customs hall (did I say 1000 fags earlier I meant 400 of course) and only hand luggage we were outside the terminal at 06.35. The T5 long stay bus arriving just as we got to the pick up point and we were on the M25 by 07.00. 5 hours deep sleep on the flight and only a couple of glasses of fizz/wine and felt fresh as a daisy. When we arrived home at 0910 I really could have eaten that full Monty fry up.
Again a super flight with a great crew, who I know would have been stellar on a daytime service. We debated at home if we should have saved a few miles and traveled home in CW but as it was 241 it really only cost an extra 20k which was well worth it for my sound nights sleep before the drive home. I will be able to see how the NGCW seat compares at the end of the month with our mad dash to ADL and back in under 100 hours.
