DXB-BAH-CAI Business Class
Written: Sep 09 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Staff are very personable.
Cons: Some other Airlines offer better Economy.
The Bottom Line: If it were not for the crews approach to it's passengers, they would not have any passengers left!
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| down_the_back's Full Review: Gulf Air |
General
GF have recently appointed an Australian CEO who is making some major changes to this GCC based Airline, with government shares from the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar.
Check-In
Although only a short flight, you must still allow for two hour check-in even when flying business class. There was no queue at the counter which I later discovered was due to the fact there were two passengers in first class on just myself in Business. There were also only 5 passengers in economy. This was an 8:30 departure on a Friday morning, which is virtual Sunday in the United Arab Emirates. There were no Business Priority Tags, so my luggage (3 pieces) were tagged as priority First Class. Armed with my customs Fast Track and Lounge Invitation I headed for the Swiss/Gulf Air lounge.
Lounge Swissair/Gulf Air (Dubai)
I have still not worked out the connection between the two Airlines, never-the-less the lounge was spacious (as I said there were only three passengers able to avail to the facilities) yet the two people I spoke with in the “smoking area” (always a big bonus with me) were flying Emirates and had asked reception if they could come in and smoke! Tea and coffee was served and plenty of other refreshments, including alcohol was readily available. Good waiting staff and due to the lack of custom, they were more than tentative. Internet facilities would have been available if the system was not down.
Flight/Aircraft/In-Flight Service
An on time departure and smooth take off. Airbus 320 and again, I was the only passenger in J-Class this particular morning. Seat configuration was 2+3. Hard to judge and make comments on such a short flight. Breakfast was more than adequate for an hours flight, served well on linen table cloth, metal cutlery. This aircraft had been revamped and was clean and neat throughout. F-Class had very large peachy colored, J-Class in Blue, and Y gray seating throughout.
Crew
I had “Joy” an Irish crew member who really was a “Joy” she was more than friendly, sat on the arm rest beside me for the entire duration of the flight once I had finished my breakfast. She obviously enjoyed her job and valued customers and more importantly, customer service. There was also banter between her and the remaining crew on board. I have always thought highly to the Gulf Air system, where crews do “lines” together for up to three weeks at a time. It is a delight to see when the crew know each others names, and they can enjoy working together, makes everything altogether more personal.
Bahrain GF Falcon Lounge (First & Business)
Again, empty except for one family with two children running riot. However, when I walked in the staff member on reception went up to the parents, and the children soon stopped running around. This was not my request, she saw initiative, and had turned a blind eye to it previously as there were no other passengers – a nice touch! The lounge had two TV’s playing very loud Arabic Music from one, and a current affairs program also in Arabic on another, perhaps it would be easier to have one in English (the business language of the Gulf) and the other in Arabic and neither so loud please! Good supply of drinks and snacks, again alcohol available and a smoking area! Plus Plus Plus!
Flight/Aircraft/In-Flight Service
Boeing 767 one of the oldest aircraft in GF’s very young fleet. Operating two class only and not a spare seat in J or Y. I was offered a paper and orange juice or water before take-off and had to ask for a further glass of water as my empty glass remained in the center arm rest. I am not sure exactly how old the plane was, but it sure was showing it’s age from the interior. Fabric coming away from the seats itself, it looked very tired. As did the Sri Lanken SFS. At one point I asked if I was dumb as I could not get the leg rest to operate, I was asked to stand, whilst the SFS gave it a hard kick to make it operational – I wasn’t dumb after all. Typical 2+2+2 seat configuration. I had ordered a vegetarian meal, which had not been picked up miraculously, they found a “crew meal” which I ate. Lunch was adequate, well presented, good selection of wines and lots of top-ups (see later), but no salad dressing choice. Lindt Chocolates too – nice! I was the only none Arabic passenger, the passenger sitting next to me was a Bahraini so I did not want to offend him by consuming too much wine. I joined the crew in the galley where I spoke with an Australian who had been flying for GF for several years and loved the job – this showed in her way of service to the other passengers. She was more than happy to keep topping up my glass. I commented on the number of children in J-Class on this flight, and was told that the BAH-CAI flights are always like that! I have to say, they were very well behaved children, one family of 11 with 8 under 12’s! Good parents!
Arrival into Cairo
No fast Track for the Immigration line (I later found out that BA do not have this either, so maybe it is just not available) and the labels had been taken off my luggage and were the last to show up on the carousel. After all, a baggage handler was doing his job right, there was no first class on the flight. I had to join the queue for baggage inspection after all the economy passengers!
Overall
I was not made to feel anymore special on this flight than many others I have done in economy. I was on a Redemption Ticket and wanted to spoil myself a little – I did not in any way fell spoilt! Economy on many other airlines is far superior, even if the crew on other airlines are no was as personable as the GF air crew. If it wasn’t for the crew I really would not have enjoyed the flights at all.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
down_the_back
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Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Reviews written: 18
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
Interested in Airlines and Destinations above all else
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