After three days of intense visit to Dubai, the highlight of which will remain the visit to Expo 2020 in privileged conditions, it is time to return to our homes.
If you skipped or already forgot the previous episodes, the catch-up session is just below.
At the begining of 2022, the return of the Covid and its omicron variant seems less terrible than we could have expected. However, many countries have tightened their entry conditions and quarantine is back on some destinations.
Among the “far” destinations, i find one where the entry requirements are not too harsh, proof of vaccination and a PCR test within 72 hours is enough to travel to Dubai. In addition, the city hosts the Dubai 2020 World Expo.
Once the destination has been find, it remains is to find a comfortable and not too expensive way to get there. As The solution will come from Google Flights where I find a round trip Paris Dubai in business for just over 1000€ sold by Lufthansa. The plus is, the flight from Frankfurt to Dubai is operated by 747-400. The return flight will be by Zurich and it is planned in Boeing 777. The flight from Paris to Frankfurt and the return from Zurich to Paris being more classic.
I share my discovery with some friends and I will have the pleasure of making the trip with the famous "Père Fouettard."
Here is a reminder of the routing.
Flight routing
- 1
- 2
- 3Dubai DXB - Zurich ZRH - LX243 - Boeing 777-300 - Affaires
- 4Zurich ZRH - Paris CDG - LX632 - Airbus A320 - Affaires
The flight schedule is not ideal, we leave our hotel around 11 p.m., my friend traveler not being a fan of late arrivals at the airport.
The taxi picks us up at the appointed time and it won't take us long to reach the airport. So I ask the coachman to drop us at Terminal 3
Terminal hopping
Here we are.
No waiting to find a taxi for new arrivals.
Follow the guide.
Strange, our flight is not on the FIDS and there seem to be only EK flights.
Of course, I just screwed up the terminal, we don't leave from 3 but from 1… I let you imagine the face of my traveling companion when we discover the mistake.
Nous voici au « bon » terminal
Cherry ? on the cake, the metro closes at midnight, stay the taxi and luckily, there is no crowd in the line. An unfriendly driver picks us up and we share the carriage with a charming young girl who had also chosen the wrong terminal.
The setback will only have taken 20 minutes and we are still well on schedule.
Let's join the LX counters.
There are a few more people here but it is still reasonable.
Direction border control and security at the other end of the terminal.
Arrived at the border control, there is the choice between automatic terminals and classic counter. As there are more people at the automaton and the passage in front of the officier ensures to have a stamp on the passport we choose the stamp. few people at the checkpoint and here we are quickly airside.
However, there is no fast lane.
walking to the train.
KLM cerw is also waiting.
Terminal 3…
Arrived at destination.
A large FIDS with all evening and next morning flights.
And it's time to go to the lounge(s)
You could go with Priority Pass but the reviews aren't fantastic.
The LH lounge has reopened so we go.
But it's full.
And the catering is not so nice.
So as Priority Pass also allows us access to the Ahlan Lounge, we change.
Ahlan business class lounge
First positive point, it's big, well laid out and it's not crowded.
Looks good.
Cheers.
and catering is very good.
I take this opportunity to have a nice dinner.
My travel companion cowardly abandoned me to reach the door on the simple pretext that the word boarding had appeared on the FIDS.
Head to the Skyteam Lounge, also accessible to lucky holders of a Priority Pass card.
Except that it's not possible in the evening after 8:00 p.m. so I get kicked out like a chump.
Good for a long layover.
The Alhan first class lounge not being accessible by P Pass, I head for the doors.
So I have time to go to Duty Free
I head for the door, we are at H-33 so we have time.
Not even last call.
Boarding is in progress but the fast lane is preserved
So I walk towards the counter, there will be no magic beep.
THE flight report
When booking, the flight was planned on a B777 and it metamorphosed into an A330 after a few days except that the throne which had been graciously granted to me, certainly by mistake, suddenly disappeared and the choice of another throne will cost me some 90CHF which I don't look forward to. On the LX A330 the right row is composed of solo seats but they are not accessible for reservation while Expertflyer does not mark them as occupied. So I wait, at worst it will be a seat in the central aisle with a neighbor and at best, let's dream a little, an upgrade.
In fact, I was able to reserve a solo seat a few days before the flight and no saving beeps marked my passage through the door.
PS4 time.
KLM is right next door.
The door for Esteban.
My aisle seat rather than a window seat, but no neighbour.
The Sylvester test.
The width of the seat is 20.5 inches or 52.07 cms and the outbound LH seat was 20.5 inches wide, the same size.
View of the wing and dirty window but at night it's less annoying.
Welcome drink.
The menu and the menu for breakfast are provided as well as the comfort box.
The IFE, although small, is a bit dated.
The box contents are standard and sufficient.
Good space for my legs, the seat, although a little narrow, is well designed.
We leave almost on time, the mood lighting gives a very cozy atmosphere for taxiing.
And we take off on runway 30R
Shortly after, I put the seat in the bed position and fell asleep instantly to wake up over Austria.
For a technical break, the latrines are impeccable despite the flight being well advanced.
Then I fall back into sleep above Constance Lake I had taken care to check the box not to offer me breakfast if I sleep, so I was able to sleep as long as possible on this fairly short flight.
The descent begins
Wifi is (was) available during the flight
But at Swiss prices…
Our flight is ending.
And we land at Kloten on runway 34 with Swiss precision.
To park at gate E57
Going to immigration.
At this time, my traveler companion continue by train and i go for my next flight.
For me the journey continues, my flight to Paris is announced on time
the flight with flightradar 24
With the zoom on the departure and the approach.
Thank you for doing this night flight with me, See you soon for the return flight to Paris
A walk in dubaï marina
If you want to enjoy some views of Dubai Marina, I invite you to see the French version of the FR by going to the page indicated below
https://flight-report.com/fr/report/57289/swiss-lx243-dubai-dxb-zurich-zrh
