Flights Insider: Experiencing Emirates for the first time [Emirates Airlines] EK 720 NBO-DXB (Nairobi/Jomo Kenyatta->Dubai) trip report [에이레이트항공] EK 720 나이로비->두바이 탑승기

EK 720 NBO-DXB (Nairobi/Jomo Kenyatta->Dubai)

DEP NBO 16:40 29 JUN 2013

ARR DXB 20:40 29 JUN 2013

Flight Duration: 5:00

Aircraft: B777-200

I arrived into Nairobi, Kenya via a long non-stop flight with Korean Air from Seoul/Incheon. Sadly, the flight has been discontinued since 2014. I am not really surprised since the load factors were not meeting satisfactory levels in order to sustain the route. You can see how empty the seats were on the Korean Air KE 959 flight from Seoul/Incheon to Nairobi/Jomo Kenyatta.

Korean Air flight KE 959 (non-stop from Seoul to Nairobi) trip report is on the next link <http://flightsinsider.blogspot.com/2013/06/first-time-in-africa-ke-959-icn-nbo.html>

After a short stay in Nairobi, it was time for me to head back to the states. The itinerary back to New York/JFK from Nairobi was with Emirates Airlines. I would be taking an Emirates B777-200 from Nairobi to Dubai, stopping over in Dubai Airport before taking an A380 flight from Dubai to New York. The flight from Nairobi to Dubai was EK 720, scheduled to depart from Nairobi/Jomo Kenyatta at 4:40PM in the afternoon, arriving in Dubai 10:40PM. My connecting flight to New York would be leaving the next day at 2:00AM.

I headed for the airport around 8AM on the 29th of June.

Nairobi's international terminal (in 2013) was divided into three separate units; 1, 2, and 3. Emirates Airlines check-in counters were within unit 2. Korean Air counters were located in unit 3.

This building is where the immigration customs are located. Unfortunately, in August of 2013 (two months after I was here), there was a big fire that destroyed the whole edifice. The immigrations and baggage claims area have been temporarily moved to a parking lot facility.

The ones in red uniforms are Kenya Airways employees.

The Pub, located between Unit 2 and Unit 3.

Korean Air counter desks as they were being opened.

The flight attendants for Korean Air were on their way for their flight back to Seoul/Incheon.

"So... Nice" Coconut Biscuits

I headed back to Unit 2 to check into my flight.

Each units had its own security checkpoints.

At around 13:00 the employees for Emirates Airlines started setting up the counter desks.

Check-in started around 14:00

There seemed to be a lot of Europeans on this flight. I suppose they booked their Africa trip with Emirates.

After I got the boarding pass, I headed for the gates, which were accessible via these escalators after passing through the passport check counters.

On top of the escalators were the gates. Units 1, 2, and 3 are all connected to the same concourse.

The Jomo Kenyatta Airport's international concourse configuration was of half-circle formation and about half a mile long to walk from one end to another. There were cafés, souvenir shops, and duty-free shops along the halfway.

At one end of the international concourse was a café called Nairobi Java House. The place was packed with people.

I ordered a Steak Pie.

Another look at the Java House.

I wanted to go to a quiet place to eat and take a nap. I walked around the terminal, and eventually found a children's playroom by Gate 9. The room was quiet and there was only one other person in the room. I ate my steak pie here and took a quick nap.

Nairobi Airport's exterior window was within the exterior columns, making it hard to see outside.

Steak Pie~

Steak pie was alright, just a bit too oily for my likings.

At around 15:30 I saw my plane landing.

I headed toward Gate 9, where I would be boarding my plane.

Each gate had a security check point. This is the waiting room for Gate 9.

The Emirates B777-200.

They were playing some Christian music in the airport. I thought it was pretty cool.

At around 16:05 we started boarding.

Business class seats for Emirates B777-200

Economy class looked like this. It was the 3-4-3 layout. I think Emirates may have been one of the first airliners to start configuring B777s economy class into 3-4-3 layouts.

3-4-3 layout didn't look so bad to me!

My window seat, 54K

The seat pitch was enough for my legroom. The seats were similar to the Korean Air's new economy seats.

Emirates Airlines' AVOD System contained an entertainment system called "ICE".

ICE stands for Information, Communications, and Entertainment.

Waiting for everyone else to fill in.

The windows of Emirates B777-200

Before push-back, the flight attendants distributed menus to each passengers.

For today's flight, dinner would be served about two hours before landing.

Dinner choices:

1. Red Thai Chicken Curry - served with stir-fried vegetables and rice

2. Breaded Tilapia - with creamy coriander sauce, fried potatoes, French beans and carrots

3. Green dal (Indian) - Green lentils served with Jeera flavored vegetables and biryani rice

*For Appetizer, potato, chickpea, and pineapple salad would be served

* Dessert was Macadamia gateau, offered with chocolate sauce.

Push-back!

And the plane took off toward northeast.

At FL 360

Quiet Cabin Interior

Savory Biscuits and beverages were served.

All windows were closed for passengers' comfort.

The sun was setting gradually.

Three hours after take-off the dinner services commenced.

I chose the Red Thai Curry Chicken, served with stir-fried vegetables and rice.

I apologize for the lack of quality of the picture, but this meal was a delicious one.

The plane was now about an hour and half away from Dubai.

Crossing over Yemeni Airspace.

Getting closer to Dubai.

After announcement by captain, the flight attendants started to prepare the cabin for arrival.

Dubai roadway.

At around 10:30PM local time the plane landed at Dubai International Airport.

This would mark my first time ever in Dubai.

Emirates Airlines plane everywhere.

"Welcome to Dubai"

It took a long walk from the gate to immigrations customs. It was probably about 20-30 minutes.

Escalator down to underground immigrations and customs/baggage claim facility.

In Dubai airport, the terminal entrances/check-in area and the concourses are connected via underground passages that have security checkpoints, immigrations, passport control points, and baggage claim areas.

The baggage claim area for my flight EK 720 from Nairobi.

I had about four hours until the next flight so I decided to explore some hot Dubai air.

And it was unbelievably hot. Even at midnight I think it exceeded 100 degree outside.

So I went straight back toward the airport^^

Subway interior.

Terminal 3 of DXB

Passport Control didn't take much long, despite the amount of people in the area.

DXB Terminal 3 Concourse. I have always wanted to check this place out. I've seen pictures of the terminal on airliners.net or airport magazines. And here I am right now!

Departures status for tonight. My New York-bound EK 203 flight would be departing on time from Gate B15.

Food court at the end of the concourse.

Dubai's Burger King meal at 1AM.

I headed toward B15 afterwards. For each gate, passengers must show passengers and boarding passes in order to go downstairs into the gate waiting area.