My acquaintance with T3, the new terminal of Dubai International Airport, happened in the evening before the last, third in a row trial launch. Taking advantage of the friendship with one of the project managers, I entered the neighboring building, which overlooks T3. In anticipation of a miracle, she raised the blinds on the window ... but the miracle did not happen.
In the evening, from above and in the light of bluish lights, the T3 looked like a long, long cucumber, beautifully so cut along the entire length from below. In design, this style seems to be called hi-tech. Aesthetics, for obvious reasons, had to give way to manufacturability, and I suppressed the inner critic who spent decades living almost opposite the Hermitage.
9.20 a.m. On the morning of the next day, I managed to examine the architecture of the T3 close and in detail. And just because, trying to get to the terminal’s tests as a volunteer, I couldn’t find a vaunted three-level parking lot for 2,600 cars. There were no usual parking lots in T1 opposite the building (as it turned out later, they were well camouflaged with greenery), and some kind people set the sign for entering it exactly so that it becomes noticeable after driving through it.
The entrances to the T3 turned out to be no wider than at the Strom terminal, but, considering that the T3 is intended exclusively for passengers flying by the Dubai airline Emirates, there are no traffic jams. Passengers of other airlines were left to crowd in the good old T1, located next to it. Upon closer examination, TK turned out to be not at all a futuristic "cucumber", but a cluster of "waves" adjoining each other, hanging in arcs above the residents and guests of Dubai arriving at the building and departing from it. The building with an interesting solution, for some reason, seemed a bit lonely to me because of its size, completely not obscured by the presence of people, cars and the usual airport bustle next to it.
Having given two serious circles with an exit to the city, I found a parking lot, really large, even some kind of non-Dubai giant, with one ground and two underground levels. Then I still did not know that this was only the beginning of the manifestation of gigantomania from the creators of T3, which I would have to marvel more than once during a busy Saturday afternoon, which I completely gave up for my imaginary departure and arrival as a false passenger Emirates.
10.10 in the morning. I understood the reason for the uncomfortable premonition that tormented me from the moment I entered T3 territory when I entered the building itself through the economy class zone. From the inside, the T3 turned out to be grandiose air: its ceiling hovered somewhere high above the really immense expanses of the main lobby of the departure zone. In the lower level of the arrivals area, the ceilings are much more modest ... By sight, 7-8 meters ... The interior design supports the feeling of huge free space: a lot of white and silver, a lot of glass and metal.
My papers said that "the incredibly spacious passenger terminal Emirates has an area of more than 500,000 square meters." With my 158 centimeter growth, almost everything can be gigantic, but the breathtaking dimensions of the departure area of the new terminal seemed extremely convenient and disastrously uncomfortable: in order not to get lost in the vastness, I had to get into the front of the line of volunteers, more like insects. A girl with Emirates' signature “red” smile (and they are only allowed to use red lipstick) attaches a green badge to my chest that says “I'm proud to be T3 probes.” From now on, I become Agness Jones, a girl of unknown age, but with a British passport and business class tickets to Frankfurt. My friend Louis, the big boss from T3, volunteered to be my guide and a "pass" to where ordinary testers and passengers are not allowed.
10.25 - almost 11.00 in the morning. To inspect the check-in area for economy class departures, it took me 27 minutes in small dashes. For familiar terminals - a record time. For the new T3 - completely insufficient! Inspection of the place showed that in the economy class zone there are 120 (!) Check-in desks for passengers of this class and 7 check-in desks for members of the Silver Skywards loyal customer club (Gold Skywards holders are assigned to the business-class zone). At the entrance, in the center of the hall, there are also self-check-in counters for those passengers who pre-checked in via the Internet. Special automatic machines are also located here, in which you can check in your luggage without assistance and get a luggage ticket.
The immigration control stands are hidden in the back of the room. At the very end, e-gates are also located, replacing the traditional immigration control pass for e-gate card holders.
Despite the presence of hundreds of people, there is no sense of accuracy, again thanks to the dimensions of the zone itself, which is no less than a standard football field! In the light of this crush in the old T1, it causes only sadness ... Next to the economy class area, I found a small duty-free shop, a pharmacy, a Costa cafeteria and two fast foods - Burger King and Mashani Express. So far: in the near future, the food service area will replenish with seven more points.
On the border of the economy and business zones, I find the lobby of the Marhaba guest service, which provides services for expedited and comfortable check-in for flights, and the lounge for minors who fly Emirates unaccompanied by adults with enticing soft sofas.
A little deeper is the zone not indicated on any of the schemes, occupying almost the same area as the registration zone for business and first classes. There are service rooms and a room for Emirates Group employees, where they check in for flights, wait for them and eat. By the end of the epic of the inspection of the giant central pavilion, I really got tired, hungry and wanted to sleep. It’s good that there are a lot of, really a lot of armchairs, and there is where to eat, but Louis convinced me to pull myself together and quickly get to the business class waiting room, from which I should have been absolutely delighted.
11.20 a.m. A terrible shabby test case and Agness Jones papers were stacked on a trolley, and I headed for the business and first class area. Along the way, I meet friends of the Colombians who came to test the T3 in a limousine from Emirates. On it they will go home - there is such a service.
The check-in area for elite passengers is much smaller in size than the economy class one, but there is more than enough space here: 32 racks, girls smiling with red lips, nimble boy porters to help elite passengers carry luggage during monitoring ... You can walk, but you can horizontal moving tracks: there are only 97 of them at the terminal, which is important considering the distance.
My attempt to try the car for baggage check-in itself ended in failure: the friendly interface turned out to be alien to me, but the idea itself is good and speeds up the already quick check-in process. Due to the abundance of racks and a variety of "smart" cars, up to 8,000 items of baggage can go through T3 per hour.
Left without Luis after going through customs, I got lost along with several other passengers: on our way there were a couple of elevators and no signs. This oversight was instantly taken on a pencil, because in order to hear complaints and praises we were called that day.
12.05 days. Once in the waiting area, again and again, I was lost in space. To my right, as far as the eye could see, duty free shops extended. And to the left are shops, shops, and again shops.
Having decided to go stoicly to the end, both figuratively and literally, I refused Luis’s kind offer "to pull" to drive around the territory with him on an electric car, and went to study it on foot. Since 11,000 square meters are allotted here for retail space m, I soon regretted my decision.
There was no end to the shops! The assortment is familiar, the same as in T1, but the choice is richer, given that the T3 has 26 gates (5 of which, by the way, can take Airbus A380 airliners), this is convenient, since I don’t have to go far for shopping (I had to go all the way from start to finish).
On both ends of the really long lobby, almost the length of the terminal itself, there are fast-food cafes Costa, Starbucks, Paul and Haagen-Dazs. I have also discovered high-class restaurants - The Seafood Market and Spanish Cadiz, which looks more like a bar than a full-fledged restaurant. There are two bistros here - with Arabic and European cuisine. There is also a beer bar, which could not be reached: its doors were closed in connection with the post (pass tests during Ramadan - author's comment).
Having tuned in to the hotel, which was built into the terminal to enhance the convenience of the guests, I decided to sit down to relax in one of the two kindergartens decorated in the Japanese Zen style. The right landscape design led me to the philosophical desire to go with the flow, doing nothing more, so I took off, let go of fatigue, took off my shoes and joined the fun company of my Colombian friends, once again with the hoot of an electric car passing me by.
As for the hotel, I will say from the brochure: a high level, fully equipped rooms, a fitness center, a bar and restaurants. Most importantly, it is located inside the terminal itself.
14.00 days. May the chefs who prepare food for Emirates first class passengers be healthy and happy! Even being brutally hungry, I appreciated the taste and serving of dishes in a restaurant of the above class, where I managed to get in from the business class, thanks to Louis. Helpful waiters offered a choice of several dishes (naturally, for free!). I was ready to eat everything and dessert. The chicken with rice turned out to be fresh, tasty and, already traditionally, gigantic: a piece of it occupied almost the entire plate.
Satisfying my hunger, I felt that I no longer have the strength to study this incredibly large structure! And yet, still ... The inspection of the first class waiting area showed that it is extremely extensive, filled with comfortable sofas, toilet rooms, where you can also take a shower, and is serviced by courteous staff. There are also places to watch TV, which are more like a corner of a residential building than a place at the airport.
Through a window to the door of the winery, again closed due to fasting, it was possible to examine a wide selection of wines that promise to be served free of charge, as well as accompany the sommelier with a consultation. Also in the waiting area there is a Emirates branded Spa-salon - Timeless Spa with a full menu of services. The business class waiting area is simpler, but it also corresponds to the 5 * level. It is decorated in the Asian style of the "four elements": water, earth, fire and air. On the large territory of the zone there is a Spa-salon, toilet rooms with a shower, as well as two business centers and a playroom for children. Having returned to the first class, I decided to try on armchairs-beds, from which a magnificent view of the street through the transparent walls of the terminal opened.
15.50 days. Someone with a sweet female voice asked what time I needed to be on the landing ... Opening my eyes, I was horrified to find that my flight to Frankfurt had already flown out and returned, and at that time I should have already received my test case Arrival! But my mortal body, tired of wandering around the giant terminal, instead, with pleasure rested in a turquoise chair-bed, basking under a rug kindly brought by someone. I didn’t even hear how the phone was torn. And even more so I didn’t hear how I was called to land through the speakers ...
16.15 days. The fact that the area of the arrival zone turned out to be no less than another football field did not surprise me at all. A couple of hundreds of people imitating arrival seemed to occupy only a negligible part in it. Going down from the top floor on the escalator, I immediately noticed my friends, tiredly lounging in soft chairs next to the passport control, on which there was no one else: the trial launch of T3 was completed.
For about twenty minutes I sat next to the only running conveyor belt waiting for the suitcase entrusted to me for the time of testing. She sat alone in this gigantic room, which can be walked from beginning to end in about ten minutes, looked at the propped up high ceiling of the column, echoing with a booming echo, for almost 90 km of conveyor belts. And I thought that I would put a strong “T3” on T3: Emirates, together with Dubai, were again ahead of the rest: the terminal reflects the essence of Dubai, its desire to have the biggest, highest, longest, new, beautiful, delicious and multifaceted. But let’s miss the dimensions (although they simply cannot be left out of our heads (!). The work was done really soundly, T3 can be considered a worthy air gate of the emirate and, indeed, this terminal can pass the declared traffic of 46 million passengers a year!
And yet, it seemed to me that the T3 is too big and cold. Maybe because with my 158 centimeter height almost everything can be giant.
