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August 13, 2008

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WHERE'S JOHNNY JET?                                 Emirates A380
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BOARDING THE A380
My buddy Nigel Page, Emirates Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations (Americas), conducted and moderated the press conference. It ended when another Emirates executive donated a model A380 Emirates plane to the Flight Path Learning Center. And then ... the boarding call came! Passengers in first and business class boarded through the front door while economy passengers used the back door -- that was my route. Heck, I didn't care if I had to sit on the toilet to get on this thing. Speaking of which, have you ever seen the bathroom on this plane? Even the economy lavatory was grandiose with wood trim, fancy paper towels and a window. The seat I was assigned was an exit row in the middle but it didn't have a window so once they finished boarding, I moved my seat to the lone vacant window seat, right above the giant wing. Now this was massive! I understand the wings on the A380 are 50 feet longer than the 747's and this plane is seven feet longer. FYI: This plane was configured to hold 489 passengers though there were only 250 on this flight.

ECONOMY
The first thing I noticed were the Emirates flight attendants. Holy cow are they gorgeous. Emirates might seriously have the best-looking flight attendants around and they come from all over the world. And I mean all over, from 140 different nations. The downstairs of the A380 is all economy: 88 rows with a 3-4-3 configuration totaling 369 seats. When I took my window seat, it was apparent that Emirates gives more legroom than most airlines. In fact, there's between 32 and 33 inches of seat pitch, the seats are 18 inches wide and they recline six inches. I then started playing with the 9 inch in-flight entertainment system, which has over 1,000 on-demand video and audio channels on the seatback in front. I barely even got to peruse all the entertainment options because there wasn't enough time. We were just about to push back. I felt like a kid in a candy store with a one-minute time limit. What I did have time to notice is that the mapping system rocks and it features three live cameras; one in front of the plane, one pointing below and the third a tail camera. This camera was so cool that I didn't know what to look at when we took off, the screen or out the window. My mind was spinning. Other economy seat notables: There's a cup holder that keeps your cup level regardless of the pitch of the airplane, a button to hold your coat, and what I loved the most were the universal power outlets in each armrest. Plus, get this ... there's a USB port in the back of each seat back so passengers can view their photos. Too cool!

TAKEOFF
When we took off, I couldn't believe how quiet the engines were. It was insane. I later read that the A380 generates less than half the noise of a Boeing 747-400 on takeoff. The minute we lifted off, everyone clapped but me. I was too busy taking pictures with my right hand and video with my left. FYI: The engines on the Emirates A380 are U.S.-made. They are produced by the Engine Alliance, a joint venture between General Electric Co (GE.N) and Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp (UTX.N).

LOUNGE
Shortly after takeoff, the seatbelt sign went off and I jumped up to explore. As I strode down the aisle, the flight engineer made an announcement asking economy passengers (like moi) to go upstairs via the back staircase and the first class passengers to check out downstairs, using the front stairwell. This was a treat because on a regular flight, economy passengers would never get a view of the premium cabin and I doubt the business and first class passengers would want to leave their upstairs haven to explore down below. The back stairwell is a spiral staircase that leads into the lounge area. That's right! There's a bar, lounge chairs and a large flat screen TV so the premium passengers can network or pass time other than in their seats. It's like the good ol' days of flying but blinged out with today's technology.

BUSINESS CLASS
Business class is the back cabin and I entered it from behind. Along the way, I passed by flight attendants popping open an endless supply of Dom Perignon and preparing the on-board snacks for the one-hour, 29-minute flight along the coast. (Here's a scan of the menu.) The business class cabin has 20 rows with a 1-2-1 configuration. There are 76 seats in total and the seat pitch ranges, depending on where you sit, from between 39 and 48 inches. The seats turn into a 79-inch lie-flat bed and each seat has a 17-inch TV with the same entertainment options as in economy, which is arguably the best entertainment system in the world. I was one of the first to go through the cabin and I didn't have enough time (at all) to explore because the long queue behind me was growing. Too bad! I guess I'll just need to test it out for myself on a flight to Dubai.

FIRST CLASS SUITES
Business class was nice but other airlines have similar and even nicer business class sections. However, Emirates' first class is outrageous! I know ... at $18,000 for a round-trip ticket from JFK to Dubai, it had better be. But get this: at the top of the first class staircase, a waterfall greets passengers! There are 14 seats ... or should I say luxury compartments? The suites are insane. They each have a 23" plasma television screen, a full lie-flat seat complete with in-seat massage and pre-set seating adjustments, a personal mini bar (yes, your very own mini bar) and Bulgari amenity kits. There's even a seven-inch touch screen control system for the doors, lights, entertainment, seat and on-demand dine service. Oh yeah, each compartment also comes with slippers and a luxurious duvet. The kicker? You might want to sit down for this one: there's not one but two on-board spas! Each passenger can reserve 25 minutes in these havens, which has a full shower tall enough for a 6'3" passenger with supposedly "five-star hotel" quality water pressure. The water limit is five minutes and there's a warning system when your time is up. The spa even has heated floors. Is that insane or what?

OTHER NOTABLES
I was sorry when I heard the pilot say that it was time to get back to our original seats because we were about to make our final approach into LAX. We flew around the Channel Islands and right over Catalina before landing at 1:33pm. Landing was a bit rough and when they were being operated, the wing flaps made a noise like a cargo door opening but I probably wouldn't have heard it if I hadn't been sitting directly above them. The A380 is incredible and it will spoil you.

AIRBUS
If you live in Australia, Singapore or England news of the A380 might not be such a big deal because Singapore Airlines has been flying one (they currently have a total of five) for a while now; over a 1,000 flights in fact. But Emirates is the first carrier to bring one to the U.S. Without a doubt, Airbus hit it big when then unveiled the A380. One of the biggest selling points is that it burns up to 20 per cent less fuel per seat than the 747. Airbus has had over 200 orders of A380 planes from 16 airlines, but none from U.S. carriers. Each A380 plane costs $327 million and Emirates has been the biggest buyer with 58 on order. Wow! FYI: Emirates is a Gulf-based carrier, owned by the government of Dubai. The airline ranks number seven in the world in terms of international passengers and they serve 101 destinations in 61 countries. Emirates will operate the A380 in three configurations: a long-range, three-class, 489-seater (this plane), a medium-range, three-class, 517-seater and a medium-range, two-class, 604-seater.

DID YOU KNOW?
Only 20 airports worldwide are currently able to handle the giant A380, which needs extra-wide runways for its long wingspan and two-tiered facilities for loading and unloading passengers.

A380 DIMENSIONS
The overall length of the A380 is 239 feet, three inches (73 meters). The height is 79 feet, seven inches (24.1 meters) and the wingspan is 261 feet, eight inches (79.8 meters).

EMIRATES A380 FLIGHTS
A380 flights are currently operating from Dubai to New York's JFK International Airport (EK 201 on Sunday/Wednesday/Friday) and on Emirates Flight EK 202 from JFK to Dubai (Sunday/Wednesday/Friday). Emirates will operate 777s for their Houston, Los Angeles (October 1st) and San Francisco (November 20th) to Dubai routes. The cost of an average round-trip ticket on the A380 will fluctuate, but approximate prices are: $10,000 for economy, $14,000 for business and $18,000 for first.

VIDEO
Here's a two-minute Johnny Jet video of my trip on the A380. We also have all the Johnny Jet videos ever made on YouTube.

NEXT WEEK
Next Week We head back east to a city that gets a bad rap but is not deserving of it.

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Note: This trip was sponsored in part by Emirates Airlines. *PLEASE tell us what you think of this week's newsletter!



Copyright 2008 JohnnyJet, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Pictures From

The Trip

 

Time To Board!

 

Look At That Wing!

 

FA Checking Tickets

 

Finding My Seat

 

Side Tracked

 

Back On Track

 

Economy Bathroom

 

So Happy

 

Tail Camera

 

Take Off

 

Upstairs To Premium Classes

 

Lounge

 

Business Class

 

Business Class Seat

 

I See Food

 

Dom Anyone?

 

First Class Waterfall

 

First Class Suite

 

First Class Shower

 

Thumbs Up!

 

NEXT WEEK

 

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