On the ground - Saudi Arabia
Aug. 22nd, 2005 03:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
patgundStep three of the trip is done, with the plane currently in Damman, Saudi Arabia, after a course that took us flying over parts of Eastern Europe, past Buda-Pest, over Turkey, and down though the eastern half of Iraq.
We've got about an hour on the ground here, and those of us going though to Doha have to stay on the plane. Not a problem. It does mean I will have to post this when I reach Doha though - no WiFi or other connection in the aircraft
KLM business class isn't bad, the plane, (a 767) feels a bit worn down, but the service is top notch. However, it was my first experience with seeing in-flight duty-free shopping, (your seat has a catalog. After the meal, they push a cart filled with the items from the catalog down the aisle. You show them what you wanted from the catalog, they ring you up and give you your purchase right there.) Also, KLM has an interesting gift for their business-class passengers. Little ceramic replicas of houses in the Netherlands. While on normal KLM flights, these houses would be filled with a liquor made in Amsterdam. However, SA customs won't allow them to give those away on this flight, (all liquour had to be removed from the cabin and locked away along with non-KLM magazines that passengers didn't claim), so the houses we got were empty.
It's 8pm local time here, and 95F / 35C outside. Blegh.
The Amsterdam Airport (Schiphol) was interesting. I was startled by the fact that they're still letting passengers get greeted at the gate. Too used to that not being the case in the US anymore. And the inside middle looks like a shopping mall exploded. Not to mention that there's a casino as well. (Couldn't find post cards, sorry![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
nolly)
You know, I had joked before that the airport should offer hash bars and brothels. I'm wondering now if I just missed them on the directory..... (yes, I'm joking)
Got some more sleep on this flight, about two and a half hours worth. Caught a look at myself in the bathroom mirror, yeah, I look pretty haggard, red eyes and all. Maybe just as well that WCMC-Q is only having me come in during the mornings during my first week - I will need a few days to catch up on my sleep. Not to mention that my internal clock is trying to tell me it's 11am and I've only gotten maybe 6 hours of sleep here and there since I woke up Saturday morning.
And I really really really want a shower. You know, that's something International hub airports should offer, like truck stops do. You pay a small fee, and get a shower room to yourself to shower and change into fresher clothes. Should be getting into Doha a little before 10pm.
The plan according to WCMC-Q is that I will be met by a representative of Al-Maha Services when I land in Doha. This is a company that specialises in assisting people with visa formalities etc. Their representative will meet me as you come off the bus from the plane and will take me to their lounge. Hopefully they'll have WiFI there while they collect my luggage, and sort out the immigration requirements. Once all that is completed the Al-Maha representative will take you through to the arrivals hall, where the WCMC-Q driver will be waiting for you, carrying a message board with your name on it. Please note that the airport luggage porter service is paid for by WCMC-Q and the basic payment will already have been made, however should you wish to provide any gratuities to the porters that would of course be at your own discretion.
We've got about an hour on the ground here, and those of us going though to Doha have to stay on the plane. Not a problem. It does mean I will have to post this when I reach Doha though - no WiFi or other connection in the aircraft
KLM business class isn't bad, the plane, (a 767) feels a bit worn down, but the service is top notch. However, it was my first experience with seeing in-flight duty-free shopping, (your seat has a catalog. After the meal, they push a cart filled with the items from the catalog down the aisle. You show them what you wanted from the catalog, they ring you up and give you your purchase right there.) Also, KLM has an interesting gift for their business-class passengers. Little ceramic replicas of houses in the Netherlands. While on normal KLM flights, these houses would be filled with a liquor made in Amsterdam. However, SA customs won't allow them to give those away on this flight, (all liquour had to be removed from the cabin and locked away along with non-KLM magazines that passengers didn't claim), so the houses we got were empty.
It's 8pm local time here, and 95F / 35C outside. Blegh.
The Amsterdam Airport (Schiphol) was interesting. I was startled by the fact that they're still letting passengers get greeted at the gate. Too used to that not being the case in the US anymore. And the inside middle looks like a shopping mall exploded. Not to mention that there's a casino as well. (Couldn't find post cards, sorry
nolly)You know, I had joked before that the airport should offer hash bars and brothels. I'm wondering now if I just missed them on the directory..... (yes, I'm joking)
Got some more sleep on this flight, about two and a half hours worth. Caught a look at myself in the bathroom mirror, yeah, I look pretty haggard, red eyes and all. Maybe just as well that WCMC-Q is only having me come in during the mornings during my first week - I will need a few days to catch up on my sleep. Not to mention that my internal clock is trying to tell me it's 11am and I've only gotten maybe 6 hours of sleep here and there since I woke up Saturday morning.
And I really really really want a shower. You know, that's something International hub airports should offer, like truck stops do. You pay a small fee, and get a shower room to yourself to shower and change into fresher clothes. Should be getting into Doha a little before 10pm.
The plan according to WCMC-Q is that I will be met by a representative of Al-Maha Services when I land in Doha. This is a company that specialises in assisting people with visa formalities etc. Their representative will meet me as you come off the bus from the plane and will take me to their lounge. Hopefully they'll have WiFI there while they collect my luggage, and sort out the immigration requirements. Once all that is completed the Al-Maha representative will take you through to the arrivals hall, where the WCMC-Q driver will be waiting for you, carrying a message board with your name on it. Please note that the airport luggage porter service is paid for by WCMC-Q and the basic payment will already have been made, however should you wish to provide any gratuities to the porters that would of course be at your own discretion.
