LY27 1FEB08 Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV) to Newark-Liberty International, Newark, NJ (EWR) 12:10a 5:25a 772 4X-ECC
Flight Time: 12:05
I boarded at about 11:40a and stopped just short of the airplane as I finished up an Internet transaction. At the door, I was greeted by the flight attendant who ushered me to the first aisle of this twin aisle Boeing 777-200. I walked by the Business class area with its 2-3-2 configuration then to the first cabin in Economy with its 3-3-3 blue cloth seat configuration. There were individual monitors in each seat as well as overhead monitors at each bulkhead and around the airplane hanging from the ceiling.
I made my way to the second cabin and found my seat. There was a lady sitting in my aisle seat and I looked at my boarding pass again and she moved over to the window. She exchanged some talk in Hebrew with the lady in the row in front of this one as she did so. I settled in, looking through the Atmosphere in-flight magazine as well as the Duty Free catalog. I noticed that the Atmosphere said that this aircraft was equipped with Video On Demand (VOD). This was indeed good news. I felt below my seat and found a electric outlet and across the middle seat and found another outlet. This was indeed more good news as I was running low on power and fast.
I made a trip to the lavatory and when I got back, the lady at the window was in the process of moving to the row in front of me to sit with her friend. I think she was hoping to get this row free, but alas, that would not be the case tonight.
At 12:03a, the Captain came on the PA and announced in Hebrew and English a welcome on board and said that the safety video would start in a bit. It did on all the individual screens as well as the individual screens in each seat. The sound was low, but I think it was in Hebrew. On screen, there was text in Hebrew and English to the cartoon programming.
The departure time came and went and we finally pushed back at 12:13a, just 3 minutes behind schedule. On my left, I could see an El Al Boeing 757-200 in old colors at the gate and an El Al Boeing 767-200 in the new livery at the gate next to that one.
As we commenced our taxi the Captain came on the PA first in Hebrew and then in a clear and concise English explained that we were delayed leaving the gate as the tow truck was broken and they had to get a replacement. He continued saying that we would take runway 26 tonight and that our flight is unusually long this morning at 12:05 (I assumed it was due to winds); this was longer than our scheduled time he continued. He also said that when we arrived the weather would be fair, but would become heavy rain as the day progressed.
The taxi out to runway 26 was a long one and it looked like we taxied the full length of the runway before turning left onto it and starting our take off roll at 1:38a. The takeoff was quick and we were airborne in no time. I could clearly see the terminal below and only a few planes were at the gate. Delta bound for New York-JFK and Continental, bound for Newark had left just before this flight. There was also a Boeing 747-400 at the gate that was scheduled for a 1:00a departure to New York’s JFK airport. I could also see a Boeing 767-300 at the gate as well; it was bound for London-Stanstead; this is a once weekly flight. I was actually thinking of taking that route home. but changed my mind.
After takeoff, there was a voice on the PA explaining the service in Hebrew and English. First there would be drinks followed by the dinner service weather permitting. About three hours before landing, we would receive a second service.
I was waiting for the VOD to get activated, but that did not occur. I tried switching channels, but nothing as yet. I got distracted and noticed another passenger watching a channel with a movie on it. I changed my channels and realized that the channels were activated, but to my dismay the VOD was not. The movies for this flight were:
- Martian Child
- Michael Clayton
- King of California
- Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
- In the Valley of Elah
- TV Series and Short (Joey was one of the choices)
- Gone Baby Gone
- King Arthur
- Light Entertainment
- Israeli Video Clips
The English movies all had Hebrew subtitles and the alternate audio channel was dubbed in French also with Hebrew subtitles, even the Hebrew programming had Hebrew subtitles. There were also ten audio channels.
At 1:10a, I was served a snack (mini cereal crackers) and beverages, I greeted the flight attendant with “Shalom” and she responded “Shalom” as well as some other words in Hebrew, which I think meant “What do you want to drink?” I answered some water and wine. She handed me the snack and I was looking at it and she said, “you trying to learn Hebrew, and indicated that I had the packet upside down” with a smile. I cracked up as well. This has happened to me all trip; every time I try to read Hebrew, I initially turn it upside down sadly.
I saw a flight attendant and asked him how come the VOD system was not on and he advised that is was not working; bummer L. I also asked him about the laptop power and he said he would check; somehow though, I think it was connected to the VOD system so I may be out of luck tonight.
Dinner came at 1:41a and the flight attendant gave me choices in Hebrew, I requested English and she said there was a tuna sandwich or chicken, I chose chicken and was offered a pita as well. The meal consisted of water, a salad, a coffee/tea cup. Cake for desert and chicken with something I could not recognize. It was all very good though and I ate heartily. There was a note in it that said there would be soup available throughout the flight and also a certificate saying that the meal was kosher.
I saw the flight attendant again and he said that the power system was not working either. He did offer to take my computer up to Business Class though and plug it in; a nice gesture I thought. I gave it to him and said about an hour should do it. He came back and said that he had to tell me that leaving it in a seat was at my own risk, I told him that was O.K.
I continued watching “Martian Child” with John Kusack and fell asleep after it was done and restarted on the same channel.
I awoke at 8:15a local time in Tel Aviv (1:15a in New York). We were heading straight for St. John’s New Foundland and were just directly under Greenland at 34,000’. I felt hungry and remembered that there was soup available so I made my way back to the galley. They had corn, broccoli and tomato as well as chocolate cup cakes. I had some corn soup and a cup cake. Later, I had another cup cake as they were really good. I also had some water as well.
At 8:40a, the flight attendant came through with water.
At 9:23a, we started getting a little chop so the seat belts signs went on; we now had 3:57 to go. This lasted for five minutes.
At 3:15a, the lights came on and the breakfast service started first with hot towels. Next the special meals were handed out and then the other meals.
The meal consisted of a roll, an omelet, a bowl of fruit, cheese, a yogurt and some cream. I ate everything except the cream.
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