2015 featured 2 Business Class trips to Austria and Belgium. I had plans of attending a match at Old Trafford to see Manchester United play. My last visit was in November 2012 and when the opportunity came knocking, I took it with both hands.

I flew to London Heathrow ( just like 2012 ), taking the early morning flight out of Mumbai. My family friend in the UK was more than glad to have me over and was also accompanying me to the game at Manchester.

The Outbound Flight was on 19th January 2016 and the return on 29th January 2016.

Mumbai - London ( 19th January 2016 ) :

My Ride to the Airport, the Mercedes C220 :

Quick check-in, not so quick Security Check and Immigration ( never seen so much rush in the Fast Track, excruciatingly slow ) and I was at the GVK First Class Lounge. The First Class Lounge offers a complimentary Massage and has a separate seating area with A la-carte menu.

Shots from the Lounge :

After a quick nap, it was time to board the early morning flight. The Airbus A380 boasts First Class Suites and it is such a pleasurable experience. The Traditional Welcome includes Dates and Arabian Coffee :

Breakfast Menu :

Video Link for the Emirates A380 Takeoff from Mumbai International Airport :

Breakfast service commences :

Shots of the Business Class Lounge :

Dubai International Airport :

Video Link for the A380 Landing at Dubai International Airport :

A Quick Security Check and I was at the First Class Lounge :

The Boarding Commenced from the Lounge and it was so nice to be in the FIrst Class Suite of the A380 again!

Taxiing to the Runway :

Video Link for the Takeoff from Dubai International Airport :

The Breakfast, Lunch and everything in between Menus :D

Amazing Lunch Spread onboard :

The Unused but Small Lounge in front of the First Class. The Business Class Lounge is the USP in the A380.

76 Business Class Seats :

The Business Class Lounge :

I roamed the Upper Deck for sometime and returned to find my bed ready for a quick nap!

One Hour before the Flight landed into London, I was awakened by the Stewardess for my On-Board Shower Appointment! A Shower 40000 feet in the Sky!

Video Link of a Quick Tour of the Emirates A380 First Class Onboard Shower :

Refreshed and ready for arrival, I was served some fruits and tea before landing. Now that is Service!

Nearing Touchdown at Heathrow :

Video Link for the A380 Landing at Heathrow International Airport, London :

Touchdown :

Heathrow is the Busiest Airport in the world and these photos prove it :

Fast Track Service at Heathrow is brilliant and all formalities were completed in less than 20 minutes. I then walked into the Emirates Arrivals Lounge for my Chauffeur service.

The Mercedes S Class. Pampered! Business Class passengers get chauffeured in an E Class.

Enroute to my Friend's Place.

London - Mumbai ( 29th January 2016 ) :

A memorable trip came to an end and it was time for the return journey. Once again I had the luxury of the S Class to shuttle me to the Airport :

Amazingly, Heathrow wasn't crowded the way it was in 2012. Fast Track ensured brisk movement and I was in the Departures' Hall in no time :

The Emirates Lounge is quite a walk and the Lounge does have the option of Boarding from the Lounge. However our flight would follow the standard single gate boarding procedure.

Shots of the Lounge :

One thing is certain, when flying in premium classes, you are never famished! Lip Smacking Spread :

I boarded the last flight out of Heathrow, I think its termed as the "Red Eye" Flight since it lands at Dubai in the morning. The First Class Suites number 14 onboard the A380.

Video Link for the Takeoff from Heathrow. Goodbye London, until next time!

Dinner Menu :

Food, food and more food. I wanted to binge on desserts!

Light Snacks at the Lounge in the Business Class :

Its quite a tight space to operate from :

The Lounge Host ( A Liverpool Fan, we indulged in some friendly banter ) decided to give up his job and clothed me in his trademark Emirates Suit. A teetotaler was asked to serve up some mocktails ( supposedly ) :P

What an experience!

The Return Flight wasn't full but many wanted to try the Onboard Shower. Unlike the previous flight, I had to shower midway through my journey :( It was a blessing in disguise as I felt so fresh and slept like a baby, even though the nap lasted less than 3 hours.

Shots from the Onboard Shower :

Video Link :

Time to zzzz :

What a beautiful sight, above the clouds, Thank you Lord! One day we won't need airplanes for such heights :)

Approaching Dubai :

It wasn't a clear day in Dubai and the sky was pretty overcast.

Video Link of the touchdown at Dubai International Airport :

Dubai International Airport :

Time to relax in the First Class Lounge of Dubai for the last time on this trip :

The Menu, I opted for an early Brunch :

Yummy :

Boarding at Dubai is always from the Lounge and the final leg of the trip was in the Boeing 777-300ER. There are 16 First Class Suites and the Layout is slightly different. These Suites are next to each other unlike the step formation in the A380 :

A Never ending list of options on Emirates' Multi Award Winning ICE ( Information, Communications, Entertainment ) System, Live TV does offer variety.

The Menu onboard but I had my fill and didn't intend to eat anymore.

Pushback :

Taxiing to the runway :

Video Link of an A380 touching down at Dubai International Airport :

Takeoff from Dubai. Bye Bye Dubai. Thanks for the Hospitality :

Video Link ( No Rear Wing Camera on this ) :

Finish watching The Martian, shut the doors of the Suite and get some sleep :

Hovering over Mumbai, as usual delays due to air congestion :

Nearing touchdown at Mumbai :

Video Link of the Landing at Mumbai International Airport Terminal 2, quite a pleasant evening :




The disembarking was quick and I reached the Duty Free section only to realise I had forgotten my Duty-Free bag onboard!! This trip taught me not to get complacent and not just think that its fine to go through the motions. Anyways, so began the run back to the aircraft and the retrieval of the bag. The Contents of the bag were intact and I made it back to the arrivals hall safely. I exited the terminal after an exhaustive 45 minutes but everything in hand. Thank God for that! It would be a crime to leave chocolates behind haha!


Barring the result Manchester United gave me at Old Trafford, it was a memorable trip. It was nice to have a First Class journey early in the year. Set the tone for the coming months and I already have a journey lined up in less than a fortnight. Where to, well patience! Time will reveal it all.

Once again, a Big THANK YOU to Emirates for all the love and hospitality shown to me. Its a blessing to be a Gold Member of Skywards!

2016 will feature more posts in the "Flying Series". God Bless and thanks for the Support for this Blog :)

2016 has begun and the days were counting down for the season opener in Australia. We are less than 24 hours away from Free Practice 1 and the 2016 season already promises loads of excitement.

Teams have come to terms with the new Turbo era now and focus should shift more towards performance.

There are new entrants vying for the Constructors' crown, new drivers in some teams and yes another revision in some regulations.

The season will be the longest in F1's history, having a total of 21 races with Baku, Azerbaijan being the latest entry under the guise of the European Grand Prix.

A quick look at some rule changes : ( Source : www.fia.com )

1) Tyre supplier Pirelli will introduce a 5th tyre compound known as "ultrasoft",with the manufacturer stating that they would only be available on street circuits.Pirelli will change their approach to tyre supply in 2016, bringing three dry compounds to races instead of two. The compounds will be made public two weeks before each event. Pirelli will assign two "choice" compounds, and a third set (the softest available regardless of Pirelli's selection) will be given to teams reaching Q3. Drivers will select their remaining ten tyre sets for the event between the three compounds and must use at least any two dry compounds of their choosing during the race, so long as at least one set is of the two Pirelli "choice" sets.

Video Link explaining the new tyre rules by Chain Bear F1 :

A Very Complex Rule change but it will definitely spice things up in both Inter and Intra Team battles as drivers mix their tyre strategies in order to find the right balance between pace and longevity.

2) The FIA has opted to increase the number of tokens available for power unit development starting in 2016. While the initial plans would have given manufacturers 15 tokens for the season, the number was raised to 32, the same number as 2014, in order to allow struggling manufacturers such as Renault and Honda to improve their development. This decision also allows further development on parts that were initially planned to be closed off, including the upper and lower crankcase, valve drive, crankshaft, air-valve system and ancillaries drive.

A Welcome Change to bring more parity in the field ( in Honda's case ) and hopefully an opportunity for Renault to catch up.

3) Any driver who causes the start of the race to be aborted will be required to start the race from pit lane at the restart.

Quite Harsh on the driver in case of a Technical Failure.

4) The procedure for issuing gearbox penalties will be amended so that penalties are applied in the order that they are awarded, bringing the system in line with the wider grid penalty system.

The Penalty System has become interesting and clarity will come when it comes into effect during a race weekend.

5) The Virtual Safety Car system will be used in practice sessions as well to avoid the unnecessary use of red flags and session stoppages.

An Important change in the sessions and will allow continuity in the case of minor incidents like stoppages on track.

DRS which is deactivated when under Virtual Safety Car periods and full-course yellow flags, will be available as soon as a Virtual Safety Car period has ended allowing drivers to start racing immediately after green flag conditions are restored.

6) The process new drivers go through in order to qualify for F1 for a super license has changed.

7) Qualifying has seen a big change.

The qualifying process was heavily revised two weeks before the season opener. The Q1, Q2, and Q3 format that has been in place since 2006 will be retained, but with a progressive "knock-out" style of elimination. Drivers conducting a lap at the end of each session will still be allowed to complete their lap, though this does not apply to mid-session eliminations.

a) Q1 will last 16 minutes, with the slowest driver being eliminated every 90 seconds after the first 7 minutes until 15 cars remain.

b) Q2 will last 15 minutes, with the slowest driver being eliminated every 90 seconds after the first 6 minutes until 8 cars remain.

c) Q3 will last 14 minutes, with the slowest driver being eliminated every 90 seconds after the first 5 minutes until pole position is determined.

This means that no driver will have a respite and everyone has to be on the limit to stay afloat. Its going to be a lot of fun. I am reminded of the now defunct A1 GP Series which ran a similar qualifying format.

As Stated earlier, Baku is the new entrant making this the longest season in F1. The Calendar has gone through some revisions as well. Malaysia has been pushed back to October while Russia moves up into May becoming Round 4. Germany will be the last race before the Mid Season break in July.

On the Teams side, Lotus F1 Team has been rechristened as Renault Sport F1 Team, Haas F1 make their debut and Red Bull Racing will sport a Tag Heuer Branded Renault Engine after Renault and Red Bull parted ways ( sort of ) at the end of 2015. Manor Racing is the new name for Marussia for 2016.

2016 will not feature the reckless Maldonado, Roberto Merhi, Will Stevens & Alexander Rossi.

So who drives for who? How did the teams fare in pre-season tests? Who are the contenders for the crown? I hope what follows does justice and addresses these questions.

Mercedes AMG F1 Team :

Favourites to win it all this year again, Mercedes have flexed their muscles, although not completely in the pre-season tests. The Team has the most number of laps to its name and reliability doesn't seem to be an issue for now. The team does have something in reserve and maybe masked their true pace. Their pace advantage, if any will come to the fore in China and Bahrain.

Hamilton and Rosberg will be at it this year and both have worked hard in the pre-season tests. Its a very close call between the two for 2016 again. Hamilton does have an edge when it comes to statistics but Rosberg had the momentum at the end of last season. Can the German recreate that form? Its a tough ask but he is capable. On his day the German is unbeatable. Will those days outnumber Hamilton's? I have my doubts.

The Mercedes duo don't just have to contend with each other...



Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :

Ferrari had a strong 2015. "Strong" is a word not good enough at Ferrari. You have to win it all and you don't rest until your goal is reached. 2016 should be that year. Ferrari have played second fiddle long enough. Pre-season results promise a fantastic 2016. The SF-16H is more than just a strong contender. Vettel and Raikkonen have been fastest on their respective days ( albeit on Ultra-softs ), Raikkonen being the fastest overall but just. Ferrari didn't clock the same number of laps as the Mercedes but they will be the only worthy contender according to me. The Car is also kinder on its tyres so the team could adopt more aggressive strategies and match the Mercs on pace.

Vettel had an edge over Raikkonen in 2015, the Finn being riddled by misfortune and reliability problems. 2016 should be a more even battle between the two. As a Raikkonen Fan I am confident that he will justify Ferrari's decision of retaining him in 2016 and will be a strong contender for the Drivers' crown.
Vettel has been on the pedestal 4 times so he is no stranger to winning it all. Vettel will be on the limit right from day 1 and has the knack of getting under the skin of the Mercedes duo.
Both drivers have to be consistent throughout the season to maintain pressure and I am confident that the Prancing Horse will shine again.



Williams F1 Team :

Williams were the best of the rest ( excluding Mercedes and Ferrari ) in 2015 and the strongest Mercedes Customer Team. Pre-season Tests suggest that challenging the Works teams would be difficult and Williams would have to be wary of other customer teams breathing down their necks. Both drivers haven't been particularly quick on the softer compounds but could Williams be holding back? Only time will tell.

Massa and Bottas stay with the team for 2016. It was a well contested battle for supremacy between the two, Bottas getting the better of his team-mate. Massa had a not so memorable second half of 2015 and has to step up his performances to not lose his seat to younger drivers. Bottas on the other hand has to optimize results if he garners hopes of making it into a Works Team in the future. Bottas should have the edge in this year's team-mate battle according to me and if Williams can bring him close to the Mercs and the Ferraris, he will be more than a handful.



Red Bull Racing F1 Team :

Red Bull had an eventful 2015. Reliability issues and a misfiring power unit bogged the team down. The boss Christian Horner was extremely critical of Renault which led to their eventual fall-out at the end of the season. The search for a new engine supplier never materialized after talks stagnated with Mercedes and an understanding could never be reached with Ferrari. Finally it was agreed that the team will run a Tag Heuer branded Renault engine for 2016. Aston Martin has also joined the long list of sponsors for the team. Something brewing? Maybe. Red Bull will be strong at street circuits but making it to the top 10 could be quite challenging elsewhere. Aerodynamically Red Bull are brilliant but the Power Differential is too big to bridge the gap with the Mercs or the Ferraris. They could spoil the party though with aggressive tyre choices.

Kvyat and Ricciardo finished 2015 with just 3 points between their respective tallies, new graduate Kvyat outshining the Honey Badger. Red Bull would be really pleased with their driver choices as the duo were instrumental in holding off Force India's challenge with consistent finishes. 2016 will see a close quarter battle but Ricciardo should pull this off this time. I eagerly wait to see Red Bull return to the sharp end of the grid and this duo is capable of capitalizing when the opportunity comes knocking at the door.



Sahara Force India F1 Team :

Force India a team that came close to beating the mighty Red Bull in 2015 will hope to carry the momentum into 2016. However the bosses have dominated headlines in News Dailies for all the wrong reasons. There is a Management Reshuffle on the cards and how it will affect the team remains to be seen. That said, Force India have been flying in Pre-Season Testing as the 3rd Fastest Team on the timesheets. Powered by Mercedes again, 4th place in the Constructors' should be achievable but Force India have to maintain a steep development curve and stay in touch with the bigger spending teams. Do they have that Financial Prowess? I hope they do.

Perez and Hulkenberg continue their partnership and both are quick and reliable. My Money is on Hulkenberg although Perez pipped him to 9th place in the Championship last year. Mr. Consistent Hulkenberg is on the shortlist of bigger teams but his height and lack of sponsorship works against him. Perez on the other hand is pretty mercurial in his performances but on his day is unbeatable. I can't wait to watch the 2 battle it out on track.



Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 Team :

Toro Rosso the sister concern/B Team of Red Bull Racing had an exciting 2015. 2 youngsters who jumped the ranks to land themselves a F1 Seat bowled over fans and experts alike with their amazing performances in 2015. Toro Rosso switch to Ferrari power for 2016 and this year should be no different. Toro Rosso had a very potent chassis in the rain and caused a lot of upsets last year. Ferrari power should help them make a few more places in 2016. Toro Rosso were the 4th Fastest team in Pre-Season Tests ( Albeit on ultrasofts )

Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Jr. have learned a lot about the sport in 2015. Both have to raise the bar in 2016 as this year will test their maturity and guile in F1. Both have the desire, the fire, the passion and the pace. Now to bring home the results. I am sure either one could get a call to move up within the next couple of years. Verstappen won the team-mate battle last year and might do the same again but I promise you this will be a hotly contested and well followed battle. Bringing home strong finishes should help the team fight for 5th place in the Constructors, probably with the Mother Red Bull team.



Renault Sport F1 Team :

Renault parted ways with Red Bull Racing at the end of 2015. Renault then took over Lotus F1 Team to ensure not just their presence in the sport but also save the team from certain bankruptcy. Renault have a roadmap for making their way back up the grid and its no secret that they are here to stay. A Little Birdie told me Renault's plan for the coming years : 2016 will be a struggle, 2017 aim for 7th place, 2018 aim for 5th, 2019th 3rd and 2020 be a Championship Winning team.

Lotus on the other hand had a decent outing in 2015 with Mercedes Power and had to terminate its contract with Mercedes due to the takeover. Renault's 2016 Challenger is the 2015 Car with loads of upgrades. It was too late to build a new car due to the delayed process of the takeover.

Renault hired Kevin Magnussen to join 2015's reserve driver & 2014 GP2 Champion Jolyon Palmer. Magnussen was released by McLaren midway through 2015. Palmer on the other hand might only remain with the team for one year but you never know what conspires over the duration of a season. Magnussen with his past experience of F1 should fare better than Palmer. He was quicker during the pre-season tests as well. 2016 will be a tough year for the team according to me due to the under-powered Renault unit but I would be overjoyed if the team ( the  I love so much ) grabs some podium finishes.



McLaren Honda F1 Team :

McLaren had a horrendous 2015. Honda struggled to come to terms in their first year of the New Turbo era. Reliability problems bogged the team down all season long. 2016 Pre-Season did see them clock a considerable number of kilometres but the latest challenger isn't flawless. Both drivers had their fair share of breakdowns. The power disparity might cost the team valuable points as reliability remains priority in 2016. The team is addressing every gremlin one at a time and when they finally iron out these issues, they would be right up there with the high-fliers.

Alonso and Button form a formidable partnership. Their vast experience will help the team optimize points scoring. Button outscored Alonso but only just in 2015. 2016 will be an even contest. Alonso is a driver who can extract everything from a car so beating him consistently will be tough. Alonso has backed his decision of switching to McLaren this year, hope the stance doesn't change at the end of 2016. The increase in the number of tokens should help Honda improve their power units throughout the season.



Sauber F1 Team :

Sauber had a torrid 2014 & 15. The Lack of Funding hasn't helped their cause either. However Sauber keeps soldiering on and a big salute to their indomitable spirit. Sauber retained the services of Nasr and Ericsson for 2016. Nasr was faster of the duo in the pre-season tests and agonizingly close to McLaren's fastest time on a slower tyre. Initial reports suggest that Sauber should be the 8th fastest team on the grid. Nasr will be the stronger of the two ( personal opinion ). I do hope Sauber brings in efficient upgrades throughout the season to help propel them up the grid and maximize their point scoring chances. It won't be easy sailing in 2016 either.



Manor Racing F1 Team :

Manor, formerly Marussia sport a brand new lineup of drivers in GP2 graduate Rio Haryanto ( First Indonesian in F1 ) and DTM Champion / Mercedes Protegee Pascal Wehrlein. Manor switch to Mercedes power for 2016 and have undergone a huge management reshuffle. Scoring points and finishing races are of paramount importance for the team. Both drivers are well funded and should help the team stay above water. For Pascal this is like an internship, for Rio his hope to move up the grid. Pascal might just pip Haryanto as the lead driver.



Haas F1 Team :

Haas F1 garnered a lot of interest even before their formal entry into the sport. The New Kids on the block have hired the services of 2 experienced drivers in Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez. Grosjean left Lotus ( now Renault ) at the end of 2015 wanting a new challenge. Gutierrez, ex-Sauber and Reserve Driver for Ferrari will be auditioning for the prancing horse seat with Haas it seems. Both are intelligent drivers and will provide valuable feedback for the team. Its going to be a steep learning curve for the team ( as Pre-Season results suggest ). Reliability first, performance later should be the approach. I do hope Haas finish some races in the points, which for now seems a long shot.




To sum it all up, Tyres are going to dictate play over a race weekend. Aggressive Tyre Strategies will throw the cat amongst the pigeons at many races. I am sure we shall see drivers out of position more often trying to make right the wrongs done during qualifying.


There isn't much to choose in terms of pace between the Williams, Force India & Renault. Can McLaren return to the sharper end of the grid this year? Haas F1 would hope for a strong start to the season. Renault likewise.

God willing, I would like to attend 3 races - Barcelona, Hungary and Abu Dhabi again ( if Kimi does leave at the end of 2016 ) this year.


Ferrari is closer to Mercedes than ever. Battle Royale Beckons!

I can't wait for the season to being. F1 returns and so does sanity.

We have waited long enough! Its time for the 2016 Formula 1 Season!!!

C'mon KIMI!!

The 2nd Race I had the privilege of attending in 2015 was at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium. Spa is a fair distance away from Brussels, the capital of Belgium but closer to the German Town of Aachen & Dutch Town of Maastricht. I had to make a choice and chose Maastricht as my resting place for the First 4 days of my trip.

I flew out of Mumbai on 20th August 2015 bound for Brussels. Maastricht was an hour away from the airport. The return pickup was form the heart of Brussels and on 28th August 2015.

Mumbai - Brussels ( 20th August 2015 ) :

A brisk check-in, not so brisk Security and Immigration check and it was time to relax in the lounge.

Shots from the Lounge :

The Boarding commenced and I received a big surprise. I had been upgraded to First Class due to the Flight being overbooked. I had Bollywood Celebrity Akshay Kumar and I wasn't complaining.

Well, who doesn't enjoy an upgrade! My First Class Suite!

Shots of the Suite from the GoPro Hero4 Black :

The Best Piece of News I received on boarding the flight. Ferrari had retained Raikkonen for 2016! YES!

The Menu onboard :

Taxiing to the runway :

Video Link to the Airbus A380 taking off from Mumbai International Airport :

Breakfast service :

I decided to sleep during the flight and was awakened when the flight was nearing touchdown at Dubai International Airport :

Video Link for the Emirates A380 landing at Dubai International Airport :

A quick transit and it was time to relax in the Business Class Lounge :

Business Class enroute to Brussels :

Taxiing to the Runway :

Spoilt for choice when it comes to food!

Video Link for the 777-300ER takeoff from Dubai :

Up in the air, Brussels beckons!

Live TV on ICE, Emirates' entertainment system :

Kimi Raikkonen sounds so happy about his contract renewal at Ferrari :

Food, food and more food!

Flying over different European Cities :

Nearing touchdown at Brussels :

Video link of the Emirates 777-300ER landing at Brussels :

Mercedes E Class for pickup at Brussels, nicely done!

Enroute to Maastricht, Netherlands. Emirates chauffeur drive are allowed to cross borders.

Brussels - Mumbai ( 28th August 2015 ) :

My Pickup was a Mercedes Minivan again :

Enroute to Brussels International Airport :

The formalities complete, time to enjoy the Hospitality in the Lounge :

Business Class onboard Boeing 777-300ER :

Heading towards the Runway :

Video Link for the Takeoff from Brussels Airport :

Up in the Air :

Flight Path :

Lunch Service onboard :

Time to have a nap :

Video Link for the landing at Dubai Interantional Airport :

Business Class Lounge at Dubai :

The return flight was also a 777-300ER and a red-eye flight.

The Menu Onboard :

Bye bye Dubai :

Video Link of the takeoff :

Breakfast Service :

Touching down at Mumbai Airport on a very rainy morning!

Video link to the touchdown at Mumbai Airport :

It was the first time that I had to travel in the afternoon on a return flight since Emirates only operates one flight to Brussels. I landed at 9 in the morning which was pretty bizarre and personally I would still prefer a night flight for my return.

Nevertheless the service onboard was impeccable. Only one post remains in the Flying Diaries series ( Mumbai - London ) but rapid updates coming your way. The latest being the F1 Season preview.

Watch this space!

I had made a short trip to Dubai at the start of 2015. Plans were already in place for the races to attend in 2015. Austria would be the First Destination.

The Track was situated in Spielberg, a considerable distance from Vienna but closer to a city called Graz. Graz was an hour's drive from Vienna and plans were drawn to fly into Vienna for the race.

The Outbound Flight was on 18th June 2015 and the inbound on 25th June 2015.

Mumbai - Vienna ( 18th June 2015 ) :

Business Class lounge at Mumbai Terminal 2.

My Maiden journey in A380 Business Class. Shots of Business Class :

The Menu for the Mumbai - Dubai leg :

Enjoying ICE ( Information, Communication, Entertainment ) :

Quick Selfies in seat :

Video Link to the Emirates A380 taking off from Mumbai International Airport :

Breakfast time :

Shots of the Business Class Lounge :

A quick nap before landing into Dubai International Airport :

Nearing Touchdown at Dubai :

Video Link to the Emirates Airbus A380 landing at Dubai International Airport :

Dubai International Airport :

A Brisk Security check during transit and I was standing in the Business Class Lounge. I have lost count of the total number of lounges at Dubai!

The spread :

Loads of departures in the morning.

A good rest in the lounge and it was time to board the flight to Vienna. This was a Boeing 777-300ER.

Well Settled in the seat :

Planes, planes and more planes, all around! Codeshare Qantas A380 in the mix as well.

The Menu enroute :

Video Link to Emirates 777-300ER Takeoff from Dubai bound for Vienna :

Gaining Altitude :

Ginger Ale, Nuts, Soup, Seafood Biryani, Ice Cream, what a wholesome meal :

The flight also featured Live TV :

Nearing touchdown in Vienna :

Video Link for the landing at Vienna International Airport :

Vienna International Airport :

A Mercedes E Class to drive me down to Graz, more than an hour away.

Beauty of Austria :

Vienna - Mumbai ( 25th June 2015 ) :

The return pickup was from Le Meridien Vienna. I had a Mercedes Minivan for pickup.

Photos from outside the Airport :


A brisk check-in, security check and it was time to relax in the Lounge :

The view from the Lounge :


Waiting to board :

Business Class, again in a 777-300ER to Dubai :


The Menu onboard :

Taxiing to the Runway :


Video Link for the Emirates 777-300ER leaving for Dubai :




Emirates engines getting us up in the air :


Emirates replicate the night sky in their cabins. Nice touch!


Time to fill the tummy :


Bed time :

Nearing touchdown at Dubai International Airport :

Dubai International Airport :

I got some more time to spend in the Business Class Lounge on my return journey and I was awed by the Service Offered.


The Spread at the Lounge :

My Seat on the Final Leg of the Flight :


Taxiing to the Runway :


Menu onboard :

Video Link for the Takeoff from Dubai International Airport :




The Burj Khalifa towering above everything else in the sky :


The Elaborate Wine-list onboard, irrelevant for a teetotaller

The Final meal before landing :

Nearing Touchdown :


Mumbai! Home!

The Mercedes taking me home :


I really enjoyed the trip to Austria and Emirates ensured that the journey was as good as the destination.

There is nothing that is found wanting in Emirates' Hospitality.

I continue to be a patron.

2015 was the 2nd year in the new era of F1.

2015 saw teams ironing out issues from the previous year and even forming new partnerships. 

2014 Champions Mercedes AMG Petronas had high hopes for 2015, Ferrari were determined to take the fight to the Mercs while Red Bull were hoping to have a faster and a more reliable engine with Renault.

Lotus F1 saw it wise to switch to Mercedes power for 2015, Toro Rosso to Renault while Sauber & the new entrant Manor F1 ( formerly Marussia ) stuck to Ferrari Power.

McLaren welcomed the return of Honda to F1 and became the works team. Experts said the First year for Honda would be tough but McLaren had hopes of rolling back the years to Senna - Prost era.

Hamilton who became a Double World Champion in 2014 hoped to replicate his form in 2015 while Rosberg promised to leave no stone unturned in his challenge. Sebastian Vettel said goodbye to Red Bull and switched to Ferrari to partner the Iceman and his close friend Kimi Raikkonen.

Alonso moved onto a new challenge and rejoined McLaren to partner Button while Kvyat graduated to the Senior Red Bull Team and the Junior sported very young and inexperienced drivers.

The removal of double points for the final race was a welcome change.

Enough of the teasers, time to assess the performances of teams and drivers alike in 2015.

Mercedes AMG F1 Team :

Mercedes flattened the opposition in 2014. The Constructors' Championship was like a "Walk in the Park". Lewis Hamilton prevailed against his team-mate in the final race to win the 2014 Drivers' Title. 2015 promised to be no different. The 2nd year of the V6 era would see the Works Team produce a faster and more refined version of its predecessor. Constructors' Championship was an easy feat to achieve. Barring a blip in Singapore alongwith a couple of retirements, the W06 was a highly reliable car. Lewis Hamilton sealed his 3rd Drivers' Title in United States while Nico Rosberg finished strongly in the 2nd half of the season. Lets take a quick look at the driver performances.

Lewis Hamilton had the measure of Rosberg right from the start. Once he won the Championship, it looked like he let his foot off the gas. Hamilton was on it right from the start of the season, notching up 5 wins, three 2nd places and one 3rd place in the first half of the season. Post the Mid-season break, Hamilton won 5 out of 6 races, Singapore a retirement for the Brit. Hamilton sealed the deal in United States matching the number of titles of his childhood hero and legend Ayrton Senna! Hamilton did lose some momentum finishing 2nd best to his team-mate in the last 3 races but he had performed when it mattered. He proved his mettle on the Sunday, more often than his team-mate making the most of the opportunities for the 2nd consecutive year. Hamilton scored 381 points.

Nico Rosberg hoped to take the battle to Hamilton and won 3 races in the first half of the season, besides 5 podium finishes. He didn't have an answer after the break unfortunately being beaten fair and square by his team-mate. 2 retirements, engine failure in Italy & throttle failure in Russia almost ended his title hopes. An uncharacteristic error in USA meant curtains. Rosberg found a gear in the final 3 races and turned the tables winning them all, too little too late though. The results should galvanize him for 2016, boost confidence and make him believe that his team-mate can be beaten. Rosberg worked hard but Hamilton just had that edge. Rosberg had a tough battle with Vettel for 2nd place in the Championship but sealed his place with his victories in the end. Rosberg scored 322 points.

Mercedes had the quickest car on the grid but Ferrari gave them a reality check in 2015. Mercedes had to dig deep to maintain their advantage and smashed the record for the points scored in a Constructors' Championship with a mammoth tally of 703 points! Mercedes remain favourites for 2016 but I do see them nervously looking over their shoulder hoping to keep the Scarlet Red cars at bay.

Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team :

Ferrari had a shocker in 2014. They had got everything wrong in the inaugural year of the V6s and a change of guard at the helm was brought about with the hope of restoring some order. Fernando Alonso chose a move to McLaren seeking a new challenge, which he might regret now. Raikkonen was joined by friend and neighbour, not to mention a 4 time World Champion Sebastian Vettel. Hopes were high and Ferrari had a quiet confidence about themselves going into 2015. 2 race victories ( minimum ) was the target set. Ferrari clearly was the team that took the fight to Mercedes AMG F1 and were the "best of the rest" on the grid. Vettel won the team-mate battle comfortably.

Sebastian Vettel was in the title hunt for quite sometime until the engine penalty ( planned ) in USA ended his title hopes. Vettel was involved in a see-saw battle with Rosberg for 2nd place until the German got his act together to win the last 3 races and squash the challenge. Vettel gained the love and support of the team and the Tifosi fairly quickly with his stunning performances. Mistakes were sparse and Vettel had the joy of being on the top step of the podium in 3 races - Malaysia, Hungary and Singapore. Vettel suffered 2 retirements, one due to a dangerous tyre blowout denying him a 3rd place in Belgium and a crash in Mexico which followed a series of errors. Vettel had 10 podium finishes besides the 3 victories to finish 3rd in the Championship with 278 points.

Kimi Raikkonen, the Iceman had a better 2015 but not an ideal one in his own words. Raikkonen finished 4th after winning a hotly contested tie with Bottas, 138 points behind his team-mate. The points disparity was huge but the Flying Finn had his wings cut more often than not in races - A loose wheel in Australia, puncture in Malaysia, accident in Austria, Wrong tyre call in Britain, MGU-K Failure in Hungary, Gear-box Failure in Belgium GP Qualifying.

Raikkonen had committed mistakes too, the one in Russia on Bottas and the spin in Montreal handing the same man a podium. The Worst misfortune was when his car stalled on the grid at the start of the Italian Grand Prix. Raikkonen had qualified 2nd in front of the Tifosi and hopes were high for a Ferrari victory.

Many wanted the Finn sacked but Raikkonen showed his class and ability by finishing 2nd ( season best ) in Bahrain and  notching up two 3rd place finishes in Singapore and Abu Dhabi. Raikkonen eventually prevailed in his battle with Bottas to finish 4th in the Championship with 150 points.

James Allison, Ferrari's Technical Director praised Raikkonen and defended Ferrari's decision to retain him rightly pointing out that Raikkonen was faster than Vettel on many occasions, qualifying being the only gremlin that needed to be addressed. Raikkonen also had reliability issues that denied him better race results. 2016 should be a better year for the Finn.

Ferrari had a satisfactory 2015 but knowing Ferrari, the goals for 2016 will be much higher. The duo of Vettel and Raikkonen changed the atmosphere within the team. Retaining Raikkonen was the right decision and will maintain stability besides strengthening the challenge for 2016. As a Raikkonen Fan I dare to believe that he will be a close contender for the crown in 2016. Remember he belongs to the select few who won a Drivers' Championship in their debut year!

Williams Martini Racing F1 Team :

Williams was the quickest customer team of Mercedes in 2014. The duo of Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa humbled the mighty Ferrari, a victory of sorts especially for Massa. Williams had their work cut out for 2015 and the benchmark was raised. Massa and Bottas would bear the load of carrying the team through in 2015. Williams however weren't able to replicate the form of 2014. Williams was always playing catchup with the Mercedes Works team and Ferrari. They were able to capitalize on the mistakes of their rivals in a few races but other than that they were the 3rd best team on the grid. Silverstone was their best chance at a double podium and possibly a victory. Tactical errors robbed them. Lets take a quick peek at how their drivers fared.

Bottas won the team-mate battle and the gap of 15 points is deceiving. The Finn wasn't able to start in Australia due to a mechanical failure but scored a chunk of points consistently from thereon. Two 3rd Place finishes in Canada and Mexico helped him keep pressure on Raikkonen for 4th place in the Championship. Bottas and Raikkonen came together in Russia and both were robbed of a potential 3rd place. Kimi was blamed for the incident and penalized. The duo came together again in Mexico with Kimi being the aggrieved party but Bottas escaping penalty. Bottas suffered just one other retirement in USA. A dismal final race in Abu Dhabi denied Bottas a shot for 4th place. Bottas scored 136 points to finish 5th in the Championship.

Massa had a roller coaster season in 2015. From the highs of finishing 3rd in Austria ( Thanks to Vettel's slow pit stop ) & Italy ( Thanks to Raikkonen stalling on the grid ) to the lows of 2 retirements in Singapore and USA and disqualification at his home race in Brazil due to discrepancies in tyre pressures, Massa has experienced it all. Massa had a good 2015 nonetheless and would hope for a better year in 2016. He scored a total of 121 points and finished 6th in the Championship.

2015 was somewhat of a step back for Williams and the team would be hoping to be a lot closer to their competitors in 2016. They have the funds and the people to accomplish this. 2016 will be interesting for them.

Red Bull Racing F1 Team :

Red Bull Racing, works team for Renault had a topsy-turvy 2014. The Team hoped for a change of fortunes in 2015 but it was worse than 2014. The Relationship that saw the team bring 4 Consecutive World Championships ( Drivers and Constructors ) was fractured and eventually destroyed over the course of 2015. Red Bull were not happy with the Renault power units which besides misfiring were extremely unreliable. Claims of improvement post upgrades produced next to nil results. The tie was severed for 2016 and 2015 just became a season that had to be "finished" for the team. The latter stages of the season featured being peppered by the media about the engine deals the Milton Keyes based outfit were exploring. Mercedes deal fell through, Ferrari refused 2016 spec engines from the fear of competition, Honda had no intentions and the threat of a withdrawal loomed for the team. It was sad to see the focus shifting from the performances of 2015. I must not repeat the mistake. So, returning to 2015, Daniil Kvyat joined forces with Daniel Ricciardo, the Russian replacing the highly decorated and loved Sebastian Vettel who jumped ship to switch to the red overalls of Ferrari. Ricciardo had beaten the outgoing Vettel in 2014 and it was interesting to see how he would cope with his quick and young team-mate. Ricciardo lost the battle this time, albeit a very closely contested one. Red Bull finished 4th in the Constructors' Championship with 187 points.

Kvyat finished 7th in the Drivers' Championship narrowly beating his team-mate Ricciardo. The Russian was at home in his car and didn't let the disappointment ( Did Not Start ) of his debut hamper his performances. Scoring consistently, his efforts were rewarded with a 2nd place finish in Hungary.  Kvyat finished with 95 points.

Ricciardo didn't lag behind in his performances and matched Kvyat in many races. He scored 2 podium finishes too ( 2nd in Singapore & 3rd in Hungary ) but 4 finishes outside the top 10 hurt him bad. 92 points and 8th place in the Championship for the Honey Badger. Ricciardo has his work cut out for 2016 now and I would like to see him get the upper hand this time.

"Oh how the mighty have fallen" summarizes the state of Red Bull Racing. The ruptured relationship with Renault almost left them without an engine supplier until an understanding was reached when they confirmed a deal to run TAG Heuer branded Renault engines in 2016. The travails of Red Bull don't end here though. The loss of revenue, their say in the future structure of the sport leaves their future in balance. All this could change if the team returns to the pedestal which would be really good for the sport!

Sahara Force India F1 Team :

Force India have been in F1 for a fairly long time. The aim to move up the grid never was a walk in the park but the team has kept at it and produced their best season in F1. 5th place in the Championship is a big thing considering the resources on offer. Force India had to wait for their B-Spec car and they greatly benefited post its introduction. Nico Hulkenberg & Sergio Perez form a quick pairing for Force India . There was a time when they had the more successful and moolah laden Red Bull Racing nervously looking over their shoulder and many believe the Mercedes powered team could have beaten them but for the lack of finances. Force India scored 136 points in 2015

Sergio Perez won the team-mate battle in 2015. Perez had almost a trouble-free 2015 with just one retirement. His 3rd Place Finish in Russia saw Force India return to the podium for the first time since the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix. Perez finished in the points in 11 other races. Perez finished 9th with 78 points.

Nico Hulkenberg didn't have smooth sailing in 2015. 4 retirements and a "Did Not Start" in Belgium ( Engine Failure ) hurt his chances of a 9th place finish badly. Hulkenberg was a tough nut to crack and produced great results when he had a proper functioning car under him. Him best finish was 6th, thrice in the season - Austria, Japan & Brazil. Hulkenberg completed the top 10 with 58 points.

Force India, just like Lotus F1 show a lot of promise. Progress is slow and the battles get tougher higher up the grid. Force India dare to dream and I do see them challenge that elusive 4th place in the Constructors and the benefits that come with it. How much will they have in the wallet for 2016 remains the big question.

Lotus F1 Team :

Lotus F1 had a dismal 2014. 2015 saw them switch engine suppliers from Renault to Mercedes. Romain Grosjean & Pastor Maldonado continued their partnership & the team hopes to have a better outing. The Lack of finances meant that the frequency of upgrades was low and progress slow. The team also suffered from delayed arrival of freights on race weekends, not to mention being locked out of their Hospitality units due to non-payment of dues. This occurred more often than not in the second half of the season. However these off track issues didn't deter the team from producing stunning results come Sunday. The team displayed amazing grit and will power to keep fighting and finished a commendable 6th in the Constructors' Championship. How did the drivers fare?

Romain Grosjean, unsurprisingly was the more successful of the duo. Grosjean was on the edge of point scoring positions in many races but Belgium saw him score a fairy-tale 3rd, rewinding back the time to 2012 and 2013. Grosjean scored a total of 51 points and finished 11th in the Championship. His performances proved to be pivotal in the battle with the Toro Rossos.

Maldonado on other hand attracted the ire of Fans and Media alike with his reckless moves on co-drivers. 5 out of the first 6 races were retirements. The 2nd Half of the season yielded better results but the final tally still don't justify his place in the pinnacle of motorsport. 7th was the best Maldonado could conjure, albeit 3 times this year - Canada, Austria, Russia. He finished 14th in the Championship tied on 27 points with Nasr, the latter's better finishing position at Australia giving him the upper hand.

Lotus F1 is a team I shall always love and support. It was nice to see them recover from the shock of 2014. There isn't a team like them and I am so happy to know that Renault have taken over the reigns for 2016. This will not only address financial issues but also provide the bright minds at Enstone the much needed money to build a more than capable challenger. The Driver Lineup sees a change as well with Palmer partnering the misfiring Maldonado. Prospects will be explored in the 2016 Preview.

Scuderia Toro - Rosso F1 Team :

Toro Rosso were at the centre of media attention throughout the season. The Team hired the services of two youngsters one a minor. Both had Fathers who raced in F1 and maybe that fast-tracked their entry into F1. Carlos Sainz Jr. made a name for himself in the lower categories and was soon justifying the backing of the Red Bull Driver program. Max Verstappen landed the 2nd seat after being the test driver in 2014. The Dutch Youngster completed only 47 races, Formula 3 being the only series he had raced in before F1. Experts and media alike were skeptical of this new pairing. Questions were raised about the inexperience of both drivers since Red Bull had drivers racing in GP2 the feeder series.
However the performances of both the drivers would leave everyone impressed.

Max Verstappen quickly developed a reputation of a fearless but not reckless rookie. He was fast all season, seriously fast! The youngster learned quickly and pulled off some sensational moves. He refused to abide by team orders on a few occasions too but these decisions helped him stay ahead of his team-mate and score 49 points with 4th being his best finish twice in the season ( Hungary & USA ). Max is young but has been on a rapid learning curve and 2016 will see him go from strength to strength. Respect to the Dutch Stallion for proving doubters ( including me ) wrong!

Carlos Sainz Jr. another Red Bull protegee and a fan of Alonso earned a name for himself in the lower categories and landed a seat in 2015. Sainz matched Verstappen in terms of pace but suffered from reliability issues more than his team-mate ( 7 to 4 ) and that hampered his 2015 campaign. Verstappen grabbed all the news but Sainz always managed to put in solid shifts and please his employers in his rookie season. Sainz best finish was 7th in USA and he scored a total of 18 points in the championship which was less than hald of what Verstappen achieved. Verstappen was the bolder one and was willing to take risks. Sainz was more calculative in his approach and I hope to see him do substantially better in 2016.

Toro Rosso have a talented lineup and 2015 saw them outperform the A-Team in some races too. Upwards is the only way for them for 2016.

Sauber F1 Team :

Sauber hired the services of Nasr & Ericsson for 2015. However Sauber's early season preparations were disrupted by a series of legal challenges from former Caterham driver Giedo van der Garde, who claimed that he had a contract to race that was signed in June 2014. Van der Garde went to court in an effort to force the team to replace one of their drivers with him at the opening round in Melbourne, with the court finding in his favour. Van der Garde later agreed to not participate in the event, with the driver and team settling the dispute for an undisclosed sum to terminate the contract following the first round.

Backed by Ferrari power, Sauber hoped for maximizing points all season long to bring in the much needed revenue for survival. However the team has seen contrasting performances at different race tracks. The car has dialed in pretty well on some and had been totally at sea in the others.

Nasr was the better of the 2 drivers at Sauber. 5th was his best finishing position with 5 other races in the points. Nasr finished 13th in the Standings with 27 points. Ericsson, a lot slower than his Brazilian Team-mate finished 18th in the Championship with just 9 points, 8th being his best finish in Australia.

Sauber suffered funding issues all season long and with Sahara Force India launched a formal complaint at the European Commission raising concerns about funds distribution in F1. The lack of funding meant that development was slow and I doubt this will change going into 2016. Sauber hopes to enjoy a better share of the pie in 2016 and I hope they do with their case at the Commission.

McLaren Honda F1 Team :

McLaren reignited an old partnership with Honda as the engine supplier. Honda the new entrant in the Turbo Era had a mountain to climb. The Power Unit Allocation was reduced from 5 to 4 for 2015 but Honda being a new supplier, got the comfort of a 5th unit. However they would need many more! McLaren's longest continuous testing session lasting twelve laps in Barcelona and Problems started from the season opener in Australia. Alonso's injury gave Magnussen a race but an engine failure for him didn't allow him to even reach the grid. Both cars suffered multiple retirements, grid penalties all season long and Honda invited the ire of Alonso over team radio on a few occasions. Honda top brass remained adamant that they were making progress.

The Balance of Performance and Reliability had to be reached and the team were fortunate to score some points over the course of the season, thanks to the misfortune of others or rapid weather changes. Nevertheless it was a dismal year for McLaren. The Team also lost some valuable sponsorship to rivals Mercedes and Red Bull ( for 2016 ). McLaren finished only above Manor and suffered a huge loss in terms of revenue & performance in 2015. A team of McLaren's history and stature shouldn't be lingering in 9th in the Constructors' Championship.

Jenson Button & Fernando Alonso featured in the 2015 lineup. The Former World Champions struggled to get to grips with their cars all season long. Button prevailed in the team-mate battle scoring 16 points with 6th place in USA being his best finish. Alonso scored a meagre 11 points best being 5th in Hungary.

13 retirements combined for both the Drivers in 2015 and doubts prevail for 2016. It will be intriguing to see how patient McLaren & Co. are going to be in this new partnership.

Manor F1 Team :

Manor, the Old Marussia F1 under new ownership hired the services of newbie Roberto Merhi and Ex-Caterham Driver Will Stevens. GP2 driver Alexander Rossi also got to race in 5 events - Singapore, Japan, USA, Mexico, Brazil. Although neither of the 3 scored points, Merhi & Rossi were classified above Stevens in the championship due to their best finishing positions of 12th ( Britain for Merhi, USA for Rossi ) to Stevens' 13th in Britain. 

The Team had a decent outing in 2015 with the resources they had. The team was unable to participate in the opening round in Australia but ensured their participation in all other rounds. 2015 had not been smooth sailing for them with top personnel leaving and new ones being added. The Drivers too were instrumental in bringing in some sponsorships to keep the team afloat all season long. 

I really hope to see Manor back on the grid in 2016 and in a much more competitive avatar.

2015 saw faster cars in the new era of F1. It was interesting to see the drivers finish in pairs ( two by twos ) in the first 10 places in the Drivers' Championship, some team-mate battles being hotly contested ones.

Mercedes reigned supreme again with Ferrari being the only challengers to the crown; Williams enjoyed being on the sharp end of the grid, Red Bull amazingly finished 4th despite their issues with the Renault Power Units, Force India had their best season in F1, Lotus recovered from a dismal 2014, Toro Rosso was the surprise package while Sauber, McLaren and Manor have a lot of catching up to do.

Lewis Hamilton now a 3 Time World Champion in his Three Pointed Star Machine will hope for a repeat in 2016. Will Rosberg mount a bigger challenge? I definitely think so!

I hope to see Raikkonen in the mix in 2016 and notching up a few victories too.

2015 was a great year and I had the privilege of being in Austria and Belgium, 2 stunning race locations, highly recommended!

Plans for 2016 might feature Barcelona, Canada and Hungary...time will tell.

The 2016 Season Preview will follow post pre-season tests.


Congratulations to the Three Pointed Star - Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes AMG F1 Team!!!

Happy Holidays everyone!

The Month of February in 2015 was my First Foreign Trip of the year. I was to visit Dubai for the "Gulf Foods" Exhibition, a work related trip.

The Flight to Dubai is just a 3 hour ride and as always I flew with Emirates, my favourite carrier.

Documented below is the Business Class Experience. The Outbound Flight was on 10th February & the Return on 14th February.

Mumbai - Dubai ( 10th February 2015 ) :

Emirates Chauffeur Service to Mumbai International Airport :

A brisk check in and Security and it was time to relax in the newly launched Lounge.

The Newly opened First & Business Class Lounge :

Shots from the Lounge :

Soon enough it was time to board the Flight to Dubai. It wasn't a new flight and still ran the old 777-300ER Configuration.

Business Class onboard the Boeing 777-300ER :

Taxiing to the runway :

Airborne & enroute to Dubai :

The Menu for the day :

The Food never fails to impress onboard Emirates and the Brunch Service was exceptional.

Brunch Service :

Nearing touchdown at Dubai :

Dubai International Airport :

A Short Drive to the Hotel and it was time for the Business Trip / Holiday to start.

Dubai - Mumbai ( 14th February 2015 ) :

The Return Pickup was from Hotel Atlantis at the Palm Jumeirah.

Emirates Chauffeur Service to Dubai International Airport :

Enroute to Dubai International Airport, always a beautiful drive :

Necessary Formalities complete, it was time to board the Aircraft and head home!

Business Class on the Return Flight :

So, whats cooking ?

Nearing Takeoff :

Up in the air and on my way home :

Lunch Service :

On Time Performance, Brilliant Service, Exceptional Hospitality characterize Emirates!

This was a short "Flying Diaries" post. Trips to Vienna & Brussels coming online soon! So watch this space

1999 was the last time I visited Toronto, Canada. The Next Race I lined up for 2014 was the Grand Prix at Austin Texas. The Itinerary was drawn up and my mum and I chose to fly to Toronto for a trip to visit my uncle as well as attend the race down south.

My Mum and I had gathered enough miles to upgrade from Business Class to First Class all through.

The Only disadvantage was that upgrades were done in sectors rather than a whole trip which was due to availability opening up at different periods of time. As a result, we had to shed more miles than we would have liked to.

This was also the first time when mum would experience First Class aboard the Airbus A380.

The Outbound Flight was on 22nd October 2014 and the return on 7th November 2014.

Mumbai - Toronto ( 22nd October 2014 ) :

The dropoff at Terminal 2, Mumbai :

A brisk completion of the necessary formalities and it was time to relax in the Lounge :

The Spread at the lounge :

An hour of rest and it was time to board our flight bound for Dubai. The A380 boasts of spacious Private Suites and these never fail to impress :

Mum settling into her Suite :

The Menu for the Flight to Dubai :

Breakfast!

We walked to the back of the aircraft, through the Business Class to enjoy the atmosphere in the Lounge, unique to Emirates A380!

In Dubai, First Class Lounge. Feels so different compared to the Business Class one.

Onboard the flight to Toronto, the Private Suite feels so different in the day!

So cozy :) :)

Whats for Lunch, Snacks and Lunch???

Up in the air and the Lunch Service commenced!

We even indulged in some snack time during the 13 hour long flight.

The Lounge in the Business Class :

I always make it a point to have a shower and change an hour before landing. The Emirates Airbus A380 offers a shower spa 40000 feet in the air.

Touchdown in Toronto :

Video Link for landing into Toronto Pearson Airport :

Our Pickup from Toronto Airport, Lincolns!

Enroute to my Uncle's place :

Toronto - Mumbai ( 7th November 2014 ) :

Our Pickup for the Toronto Pearson Airport :

The Lounge at Toronto is pretty ordinary.

Our Private Suites in the Airbus A380 :

Mum in her Private Suite :

The Menu for the return journey :

The fare started with snacks before moving onto a 3 course dinner. Lip-smacking to say the least.

The Bed readied for a quick nap :

Business Class in the A380 with the famous lounge :

Up in the sky, enroute to Dubai in the setting sun.

Dinner Service :

Shots from the Shower Spa, 1 Hour before landing into Dubai :

Nearing touchdown into Dubai :

Video Link for landing into Dubai :

The First Class Lounge at Dubai International Airport :

The First Class Suites for the final leg of the trip :

We loved the experience in our Suites. One Last time..

The Menu for the Flight to Mumbai :

Dinner Service :

Landing into Mumbai, our pickup was waiting to take us back home

The Emirates A380 First Class is still the best in business when it comes to hospitality. One might say that competitors now have a more premium product but Emirates are the pioneers in dreaming, believing and providing such hospitality since a long time.

My mum cherished this experience onboard the First Class Suites of the A380! I cant wait to be back on one of these and I know the time is not far.

This concludes the Flying Diaries posts from 2014. Dubai ( Business ), Vienna ( Business ), Brussels ( Business ) from 2015 coming up..soon..

Watch this space and thanks a ton for your support! God Bless!

July is the month when the European Leg of F1 is at its busiest. I had the privilege of being at Nurburgring in 2013. 2014 saw Hockenheim host the German GP ( as it alternates between the 2 venues ). This was the first race I had the privilege of attending - Live.

Mum accompanied me for the journey to Frankfurt. We flew Business Class, outbound travel on 17th July and inbound on 24th July ( arrival +1 on 25th )

Mumbai - Frankfurt ( 17th July 2014 ) :

I opted for the early morning flight which enables travellers to land in Europe in the afternoon.

Our Chauffeur service was punctual and efficient as always :

Mumbai Airport's New International Terminal "T-2" is an amazing piece of architecture and a benchmark when it comes to passenger mobility. Completing formalities is such a breeze. ( in Departures )

The "First Class and Business Class" Lounge of GVK wasn't ready yet and we were still making use of the makeshift one for our journey.

Mum Relaxing in the Lounge :

The Lavish Spread in the Lounge :

Brilliant artwork at the airport :

Our Flight being readied for the Dubai Leg :

Our seats in Business Class :

We had been so well fed up until our flight that neither of us opted for breakfast. Just the Beverage Service :

Nearing touchdown at Dubai :

The Boeing and Airbus of Emirates all lined up at DXB :

Business Class Lounge :

Breakfast in the Business Class Lounge :

A restful time in the Lounge and we were ready for the 2nd leg of our trip to Frankfurt! Our Seats in Business Class :

The Menu for the Food & Beverage service to Frankfurt :

Other operators to Dubai :

Food, Food & More Food!

A good sleep and it was time to get ready for the descent into Frankfurt :

The beautiful sky enroute to Europe :

Nearing touchdown at Frankfurt :

Frankfurt from above!

Frankfurt Airport and it was nice to see national carriers of various countries. Frankfurt is the 3rd busiest airport in Europe.

Enroute to our Hotel, The Jumeirah Frankfurt.

Our ride to our Hotel. A Mercedes S500 & the VW Phaeton!

Frankfurt - Mumbai ( 24th July 2014 ) :

The Return Trip started on a brilliant note! I was overjoyed to see the quality of cars offered by Emirates in Germany. Audi A8L & the BMW GT 530d!


Frankfurt Airport Departures :

The Formalities were completed at a brisk pace and it was time to relax in the lounge :


The Dinner Spread :


Business Class on the return leg to Dubai :


Shots from Frankfurt Airport :


The Entertainment screen during night flights :


Dinner Menu inflight :


Beverage Service :


Dinner time! What a lip smacking meal!


Post Dinner, it was time to catch up on some sleep before landing into Dubai.

Flight Path into Dubai :



The Business Class Lounge at Dubai International Airport :


The Final Leg of the trip to Mumbai :

Business Class seats of the Boeing 777-300ER. Comfortable and spacious.


The Menu enroute to Mumbai :


The Plethora of Carriers at Dubai International Airport :


Takeoff from Dubai :


Lunch time onboard. The Final meal of our trip :

Enjoying our Lunch :


Returning Home with Emirates Chauffeur Service :


Once again, Emirates was top class in their Hospitality and nothing was found wanting in both the legs.

Its always a joy to see the crew recognize you as a Gold Member and welcome you on board!

The Next Post will feature my Trip in First Class to Toronto alongwith mum. We also used our Miles for some sweet upgrades. Details coming soon in the next post!

The Big Day had arrived! It was the day of the 2015 Belgian Grand Prix! Saturday was a disaster for Ferrari and Kimi but Sunday was the day that mattered and with renewed hopes I set out early in the morning hoping to catch up on some action before the race!

Enroute to the circuit :

Walking to the circuit from La Source. There are driving experiences available at Spa Francorchamps :

La Source from the Paddock Club :

GP2 grid being readied for the Sprint Race :

Shots of the Ferrari F1 Club with the GoPro Hero4 Black :

1 Minute to Formation Lap :

Video Link to the GP2 Sprint Race Formation Lap :

GP2 Sprint Race Start ( Video Link ) :

GP2 Sprint Race Lap 1 ( Video Link ) :

Shots from the GP2 Sprint Race :

GP2 cars going around Blanchimont and into the Bus Stop Chicane :

Shots of the GoPro!

A Quick Selfie of Sorts with Lewis Hamilton :

Maurizio Arrivabene later joined by Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari F1 Club :

Video Link to Arrivabene and Raikkonen Interview. Apologies for the poor sound quality :

Both looking in different directions. EPIC SELFIE FAIL :

Maurizio Arrivabene being gracious as always :

Lunch before the final Pit lane walk of the weekend :

Shots from the Pit Lane Walk :

Trackside photos before the grid fills up!

Photos from the Pit Lane Walk with the GoPro Hero4 Black :

Drivers returning from the Track Parade :

A Moment with Kevin Magnussen. Hope to see him return to the grid.

Grid Girls making it to the Grid :

Some Photos with the GoPro! We all had to pick our places!

Martin Brundle's Grid Walk :

Kimi Raikkonen and other drivers make it to the front of the grid for the national anthem :

Some More Shots of the Grid Preparations :

Ferrari's Race preparations in full swing :

Final Minutes of Preparation :

Kimi Raikkonen had to undergo a gearbox change but due to the numerous penalties around him, his effective grid position was 14th.

The Countdown to the Start of the Formation Lap ( in Minutes ) :

Cars roll out for the Formation Lap :

Blanchimont to the Bus Stop Chicane onto the Start Finish straight. The final leg of the Formation Lap :

Formation Lap Video Link ( GoPro Hero4 Black ) :

Kimi moves into his grid slot :

Hulkenberg suffered a power unit failure and tried to limp to the grid for the start of the race. However his engine gave up the ghost on the grid. As a result, the start had to be abandoned for another Formation Lap

2nd Formation Lap :

2nd Formation Lap Video Link :

Mechanics rolling Hulkenberg from the grid back to the pits ( Video Link ) :

Video Link for the Start of the Belgian Grand Prix ( GoPro Hero4 Black ) :

Video Link for the Start of the Belgian Grand Prix ( Sony HX400V ) :

Video Link for Lap 1 of the Belgian Grand Prix ( Sony HX400V ) :

Video Link for Lap 2 of the Belgian Grand Prix ( Sony HX400V ) :

Shots from the Grand Prix :

Scuderia Ferrari F1 during the race :

Daniel Ricciardo suffers a retirement and brings out the safety car period :

Mechanics moving Ricciardo's car to safety :

Shots after the Race Restart :

Scuderia Ferrari after the Race Restart :

Mark Sutton the famous photographer busy at his work. Daniel Ricciardo returns to the pit wall to monitor progress of his team mate :

Chequered Flag :

Video Link for the Chequered Flag :

Lewis Hamilton took victory from Nico Rosberg and Romain Grosjean. Sebastian Vettel looked set for a 3rd place finish but a tyre blow out just after Eau Rouge on the penultimate lap brought about his retirement. Kimi battled his way to P7. It was nice to see him finish the race after the disaster at Austria.

Cars returning to Parc Ferme ( Video Link ) :

Track Marshalls taking Daniel Ricciardo's stricken car to safety after the race :

Track Invasion. Love Europe for this!

The Podium Finishers ( Video Link ) :

Podium Interviews underway :

Video Link :

Sky Sports F1 Crew :

Post Race Interviews by various drivers :

Track full of Fans!

Some more photos of Fans on Track :

Fans of the Iceman and they weren't less in number :

Its always nice to have a chair next to the track and who doesn't love superheroes and minions for company :

Panaromic Photos :

Mechanics wrapping up to head to Italy :

The Hosts as the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Club :

The gate was open and the fans had track access!

A Selfie with the Shell Logo!

Relaxing at the La Source Hairpin :

Time to put on the Ponchos as the rain beats down!

Final Shots from Trackside :

The heavy traffic and the inability of my transfer service to make it to the circuit for the return pickup on Sunday meant that I had to meet it in a new place in the track vicinity. Radisson Blu in Spa was the meeting point. I was switching cars when I spotted Kimi Raikkonen in the Hotel Lobby and rushed to get a quick photo with him.

Barring the Rain at the end of the weekend and the loss of a podium for Scuderia Ferrari, it was a brilliant 2015 Belgian Grand Prix.

Spa Francorchamps, nestled in the beautiful Ardennes mountains is a must visit for every F1 Fanatic! Breathtaking views!

I was really happy to see Lotus F1 return to the Podium with Romain Grosjean. Refreshed memories of the 2013 Indian Grand Prix.


Edge Global Events were professional in arranging everything for the weekend and making it a memorable one.

The GoPro Hero4 Black with the Smart Remote and the LCD BacPac was a brilliant piece of equipment and I learnt the lesson of removing it from the waterproof case if I wanted good audio from a distance.

The Sony HX400V lived upto its reputation of being a brilliant camera with a mega super zoom! Captured Cars in its frame with relative ease.

Finally a Big Thank you to the Ferrari F1 Club Hosts and More Importantly Scuderia Ferrari F1 for hosting me throughout the weekend and being so gracious!

This might be the last of the Paddock Club Diaries for 2015. The Diaries might return this year, if not 2016 will be better I promise!

Thank you to YOU too for all the support shown to me.

Flying Diaries have some updates coming! SOON!

God Bless you all!!