FZ1209 Dubai – Tel Aviv 09:50 – 11:40 (flight time 3hr 50min) / FZ1550 Tel Aviv – Dubai 09:55 – 15:00 (flight time 3hr 05mins)
Sheraton Tel Aviv
I was actually quite excited about trying out flydubai as it’s bling bling Emirates’ budget version and I figured even if budget, it wouldn’t be that bad, no?
And so I decided to combine my flight reviews from this trip as they turned out to be rather samey samey and uneventful ie not substantial enough to be 2x separate posts. So while it may not be 100% sequentially coherent, it’ll save quite abit of empty spaces 🙂
Also, please excuse any discernible fatigue in the writing as I am restarting my mental engine after a long break and I hope I remember enough details to be adequate!
I should confess that Israel would have never been on my checklist for leisure but there was nothing I could control for a work trip so might as well try to wring a trip report out of it, even though flying Y is not the most exciting thing to write about.
My itenary for this work trip would be 7 days all in, including a 5-night stay in total – 1 night in Dubai and 4 nights in Tel Aviv:
Singapore Airlines – I was super glad that I was booked on Singapore Airlines for the 2x 7-8 hr flights. This will be my first Y experience for >5hr flight since 2020 but I’m pretty sure I’d survive quite well on our national carrier. Also time to test out the new economy class meals which has triggered a love-hate avalanche on the internet!
From SQ website
flydubai (website) – never heard of this airline prior to this. Have no idea what to expect but it seems like a decent short haul option for almost 3-4hrs. I also played around with their Manage Booking function (sometimes wonky) and was able to see that Y was laid out in a 3-3 configuration but I wasn’t able to select a fee without incurring additional costs so I’ll leave it up to fate. May the travel gods be with me.
When we began operations in 2009, our aim was to take more people to more places, more often. We now fly to more than 90 destinations and we’re constantly adding new cities to our network as we continue to grow. Over 70 million passengers have chosen to flydubai, making us the second largest carrier, by passenger numbers, operating out of Dubai International.
From flydubai’s website
Bye bye business class seat
AIRPORT LOUNGES
I will be optimistic about having the chance to check out these lounges as sometimes work trips can make stuff like these less flexible. Will try my best!
Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
Krisflyer Gold Elite Lounge / 24hrs
Airside – Level 3 (Near Central Immigration towards Gates A)
I am really excited about this one as it had re-opened on 20 May 2022 after an extensive facelift and the official photos of the space and reviews (you guys are fast!) were so pretty. This is also my first time stepping into Changi Airport’s airside after obtaining my Krisflyer Gold Elite status so double happiness!
From SQ’s website
Dubai International Airport (DXB)
I have never stepped foot into Duabi anywhere (suaku) so I can hopefully use my transit time to lounge hop abit although Priority Pass website didn’t exactly have very enticing photos of the options.
Ahlan Business Class Lounge (Terminal 1 Concourse D) / 24hrs daily
Airside – prior to Immigration, board the train to boarding gates level then take the lift or stairs on the left to Arrival Level, turn left and then right.
Airside – the lounge is located at lounge level, near the Food Court Area, opposite the ‘DIH Lounge’. International flights only.
Grabbed from Priority Pass’ website
Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV)
Same same suaku traveller for this airport but pics for this lounge looks way better than those in DXB!
Dan Lounge (Terminal 3) / 24hrs daily
Airside – after Passport Control, follow the signs to Concourse C
Grabbed from Priority Pass’ website
HOTEL
Holiday Inn Express Dubai Airport
This IHG property (website) was an unexpected stop due to the retiming of our Dubai-TelAviv sector, so I am hoping it will suffice for the overnighter and crossing fingers that it’ll be at least clean? And I can’t believe this is where I’ll be testing out my newly minted Diamond status from the fast track. Yeesh. May or may not review this one depending on circumstances (and mood).
Sheraton Tel Aviv
I was really psyched to learn that the choice of accommodation was Sheraton Tel Aviv (website) – yays to the chance to experience the newly renovated property! The rooms looked absolutely gorgeous in pics and the club lounge looks crazy nice too. A dummy search revealed a rather crazy rate of USD500++ a night so high expectations indeed.
Sheraton Tel Aviv sits on a prime beachfront location, right in the heart of the Herbert Samuel Boardwalk, overlooking the Mediterranean coastline, within walking distance to Tel Aviv’s hotspots, artist’s quarter and picturesque Jaffa. Enjoy our fitness room as well as our unique SPA featuring dead sea treatments and much more.
Excited to be able to try out this brand new SilverKris Lounge at Incheon!
On my last trip to Seoul in June, I was mockingly devastated that I was only eligible to try the Asiana Business Lounge as the SilverKris Lounge had closed in end 2018 as part of some airport planning (yes, I don’t know what exactly that means too).
So imagine my delight when I found out that Singapore Airlines has quietly re-opened their SilverKris Lounge at Incheon on 28 Oct 2019.
