Between all we had done over the last week, and our exciting day in Munich, we were exhausted. There was no way we were going to be awake for any portion of our flight to Dubai…. so I thought.
-The Big One! Introduction/Giveaway
-Day One: Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport Review
-Day Two: United First Class B737-800 SFO-IAD summary
-Days Three through Six: D.C Area recommendations: Smithsonian, National Harbor, Baltimore Aquarium
-Day Seven: Lufthansa Business Class Lounge IAD summary, Lufthansa First Class A330-300 IAD-MUC Summary
-Day Eight Part 1: Six hours in downtown Munich, Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich Summary
-Day Eight Part 2: Lufthansa First Class A330-300 MUC-DXB Summary
-Day Nine Part 1: Dubai Exotic Limo brief review part 1 & Abu Dhabi recommendations: Ferrari World, the Grand Mosque
-Day Nine Part 2: Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Review
-Days Ten through Twelve Part 1: Park Hyatt Dubai Review
–Days Ten through Twelve Part 2: Dubai Exotic Limo brief review part 2 & Dubai recommendations: Burj Khalifa Sky
-Days Ten through Twelve Part 3: Dubai Recommendations: Tea at the Ritz Carlton Jumeirah Beach, Atlantis Monorail, Dubai Mall
-Days Ten through Twelve Part 4: Dubai recommendations: Platinum-Heritage Falconry Heritage Tour. The Dubai Museum
-Day Thirteen: Emirates 777-300 DXB-MLE summary, Moonima Lounge MLE summary, Park Hyatt Maldives transfer summary
–Days Thirteen through Sixteen Part 1: Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa Review
-Days Thirteen through Sixteen Part 2: What to do at the Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa
-Day Seventeen: Maldivian Dash-8/Boat Transfer Park Hyatt-MLE summary, Conrad Rangali MLE Lounge summary, Trans-Maldivian Twin Otter transfer MLE-Conrad Rangali Island
-Days Seventeen through Twenty-One Part 1: Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Review
-Days Seventeen through Twenty-One Part 2: What to do at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort
-Day Twenty-Two Part 1: Trans-Maldivian Twin Otter Conrad Rangali Island-MLE summary, Conrad Lounge MLE summary, Leeli Lounge MLE summary
-Day Twenty-Two Part 2: Turkish Airlines Business Class A330-300 MLE-IST summary.
-Day Twenty-Three Part 1: Turkish Airlines IST Lounge Summary, six hours in Istanbul
-Day Twenty-Three Part 2: Turkish Airlines Business Class B777-300 IST-SFO summary
-Day Twenty-Four: Hyatt Regency San Francisco Embarcadero Review
-Trip Summary/The Numbers
-The BIG Question: Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa or Conrad Maldives Rangali?
After our meal at the lounge, it was time to go to the gate. Unlike in Washington, nobody came to get us for boarding, we were on our own. We left the lounge and walked a short ways to find the line had already begun to form. We took a seat at the edge of a restaurant across from the gate and waited about 10 minutes before the call for initial boarding. We got up, went to the first class boarding line, and with minimal wait started down the jet-bridge to our seats.
We loaded our hat collection (3 hats for the two of us), and our luggage into the overheads. Then it was time to change into pajamas before our departure.
After getting ready, the flight attendant approached us and politely asked if we would give up our two middle seats in the first row to trade for two middle seats in the second row. I was at first confused by the request, until I realized that the only other soul in our cabin was a woman with a window seat in the first row. The flight attendant was just trying to give us all our own rows. So we obliged, settled in, and were soon on our way to Dubai.
Unlike our previous flight, we decided to go without a meal for the evening. The flight attendant offered us caviar, and we looked at each other trying to decide. We agreed that we’d try it in the morning, and quickly passed out… for just a few hours…. until it was 4:00 A.M and we were awake. A flight attendant noticed we were up and he offered us a drink menu. Being a fan of dessert wines, I asked for a glass of the Neef Emmich 2013 desert wine. And then another. And then another. All told, I probably downed 4-5 glasses of what became my new favorite wine. We were also served chocolates, and overall just had a great relaxing morning wrapped in blankets 30K feet in the air. I also took the moment to boast about our treatment and beverages on Facebook. Of course my main intent with a little boasting is to encourage friends and family to join my points and miles crusade so they can share such amazing experiences with me in the future. It truly isn’t out of reach for any of them.
We knew there was no more sleep to be had, so we continued to relax as we cruised towards Dubai. For breakfast I took them up on their offer of caviar and enjoyed a pineapple Coco smoothie. Then it was time to get dressed.
After a smooth landing, we begrudgingly disembarked and trotted up the jet-bridge with our luggage in tow.
We were met just outside the gate by Khloe, who guided us through Customs and out to the curb. Having her by our side all the way to the curb made the experience of arriving in Dubai extremely comfortable. We gathered our bags at baggage claim and continued on until we reached a lounge by the curb with all of our belongings. It was at this moment that we realized we had left our 3 hats in the overhead bins and Khloe showed us her true value. While Kim stayed with our bags at the curbside lounge, Khloe guided me to lost and found. They in turn got in touch with the gate crew, who informed us that the plane had not been fully cleaned out yet. Unfortunately there was nothing more that could be done at that time, but Khloe volunteered to follow up with lost and found and get in touch with us as soon as she knew more. Later that day while in Abu Dhabi, Khloe left a voicemail informing us that our hats would be waiting for us at lost and found. More on that story to follow.
Next: Day Nine Part 1: Dubai Exotic Limo brief review Part 1 & Abu Dhabi recommendations: Ferrari World, and the Grand Mosque.