Trip Reports - Bear in the Air! "The Fare is Not Enough" MAN-FRA-LAX-SYD-AKL in C/F (UA CNZ Run)

Willard the Bear (http://www.willardbear.com/) is at it again!

Having managed to book the UA CNZ special offer fare, I put together a set of awards to connect Willard and I out to LAX to start the trip, and turned it into a mini-adventure.

The rough itinerary is:

MAN-FRA - LH C
FRA-LAX - LH F including the FCT
LAX-SYD - UA F (thanks to a helpful FT-er!)
SYD-AKL-SYD - NZ C
SYD-LAX - UA C
LAX-LHR - NZ Premier Business - including the new NZ seating
LHR-MAN BD NBM*

Full itinerary with dates is Here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=694081) if you want to see if you might meet Willard in the lounge.

The full report unfolds here: "The Fare is Not Enough" - Willards first trip "down under" (http://www.willardbear.com/LAXAKLSYD07/LAXAKLSYD07.htm)

And, borrowing an excellent idea from KiwiFlyer, here is a list of pointers to the sections uploaded thus far:

Preamble, explanations, and the first Rail trip to MAN (http://www.willardbear.com/LAXAKLSYD07/LAXAKLSYD07-pg1.htm)
MAN-FRA in C on LH (http://www.willardbear.com/LAXAKLSYD07/LAXAKLSYD07-pg2.htm)
FRA to City transfer, and a night in FRA at the Le Meridien Parkhotel (http://www.willardbear.com/LAXAKLSYD07/LAXAKLSYD07-pg4.htm)
Lufthansa FRA First Class Terminal (the famed FCT!) (http://www.willardbear.com/LAXAKLSYD07/LAXAKLSYD07-pg5.htm)
Lufthansa F-Class FRA-LAX (http://www.willardbear.com/LAXAKLSYD07/LAXAKLSYD07-pg9.htm)
Arrival into LAX and a day's shopping! (http://www.willardbear.com/LAXAKLSYD07/LAXAKLSYD07-pg14.htm)
United First Check-In/Lounge at LAX (http://www.willardbear.com/LAXAKLSYD07/LAXAKLSYD07-pg16.htm)
LAX-SYD in UA F (http://www.willardbear.com/LAXAKLSYD07/LAXAKLSYD07-pg17.htm)
Connection Experience at SYD (Star Alliance, what Star Alliance?) (http://www.willardbear.com/LAXAKLSYD07/LAXAKLSYD07-pg18.htm)
SYD-AKL in NZ C (http://www.willardbear.com/LAXAKLSYD07/LAXAKLSYD07-pg20.htm)
NZ Customs "experience" plus night out on the tiles with KiwiFlyer (http://www.willardbear.com/LAXAKLSYD07/LAXAKLSYD07-pg22.htm)


Ken.

GREAT so far. One question: What does Willard do for a living, I see he is traveling a lot, but he doesn't seem to work. He isn't some kind of drug dealer or a money laundrer, is he?

GREAT so far. One question: What does Willard do for a living, I see he is traveling a lot, but he doesn't seem to work. He isn't some kind of drug dealer or a money laundrer, is he?

Funny you should ask that! New Zealand Customs obviously had the same thought, as we had the full (and I do mean full, I got worried when she started putting on rubber gloves :( ) inspection coming into NZ a few days ago (sadly causing us to be late meeting up with KiwiFlyer (sorry!).

This generated what may well be the quote of the trip, when systematically disgourging the contents of my hold bag, she exlaimed "Oh my got it's got clothes!" on finding Willards extensive wardrobe section (all on hangers, naturally). Luckily I finally convinced them (after they went off to peruse Willard's Website (http://www.willardbear.com/)) that we were legitimate, though Willard was most put-out that he lost his gift (of a jar of honey) he got from the staff at Le Meridien earlier in the trip - hey ho.

No, Willard considers himself a bear of independent means - If only I could say the same!

Hoping to get the next installment up today or tommorow - currently in the NZ International Biz lounge in AKL - if you want to find me, follow the sound of giggling attendants, they seem to find Willard somewhat of an oddity!

Ken.


Willard the Bear (http://www.willardbear.com/) - At least she didn't decide to give me an internal examination shudder

LAX-SYD - UA F (thanks to a helpful FT-er!)


Or maybe even two (although the second acting only as a facilitator) ;)

I would love to have been with you at AKL Customs to have seen your face and reaction to the "OMG, its got clothes!" I mean seriously, did she expect Willard to expose himself to all and sundry or to travel to the far side of the planet and back without a change of clothes. Some people have no class.

Which brings me on nicely to the 'lady' reading the book! Did you ask an FA to rectify the problem or speak to the 'lady' directly. It would have annoyed the hell out of me!

I am also amazed that you gave up 83K so easily even though there were plenty of other free seats around the cabin. Being asked politely is one thing but if somebody is disrespectful enough to occupy the seat before asking permission I would not have been as gracious as Willard.

Do keep the TR coming - I am certainly enjoying it! ^

Funny you should ask that! New Zealand Customs obviously had the same thought, as we had the full (and I do mean full, I got worried when she started putting on rubber gloves :( ) inspection coming into NZ a few days ago (sadly causing us to be late meeting up with KiwiFlyer (sorry!).

The only thing that pops into my head, is Bearly Legal. ;)

I see that Willard has a strong liking for a drop of the " hard stuff ". I would suggest that he adds to his extensive wardrobe and the time has come for him to get fitted out for a kilt - his fondness for the whisky clearly shows he has some Scottish blood in him - may I suggest the McWillard tartan?

No, Willard considers himself a bear of independent means


That was the other option I was thinking of. Studying and travelling, without caring about money or the future, what a dream...:)

Great stuff so far! Too bad I will be missing you by a day in AKL, as I will be flying out tomorrow.:o

Our own furry traveller is jealous, not just of the travel in F but the VIB treatment, the pillows and the snazzy clothes!

A mini-me / fur-child DO is possible in SYD, if you get into the city some time with Willard... two little ones here are keen to say g'day :)

As for those sunglasses - I didn't even know there was much sunshine up north! :cool:

Keep us up to date, especially those Willard tourist shots ;)

It seems Willard is a seasoned traveller now... The lucky so and so!

Although I'd watch his whisky addiction... it could hit his unsignable Amex card hard ;)

Great trip report and commentary - looking forward to the rest!

Great report! A perfect preview for my forthcoming adventure to the FCT and LH450! :)

OK - Episode 3 is now up (I sneaked episode 2 up yesterday and didn't tell anyone - sometimes it's an interesting experiment to see if anybody is actually looking at the website ;))

May well work on the next episode tonight - weather here in LA is pretty dull, and so not much point in dragging my (and Willard's) sorry carcass into town to take pictures without any sunlight! Currently in the 4Pts LAX, recovering from the flight over from SYD in (shock, horror) UA-C, Willard looks traumatized - he may need counselling!

I see that Willard has a strong liking for a drop of the " hard stuff ". I would suggest that he adds to his extensive wardrobe and the time has come for him to get fitted out for a kilt - his fondness for the whisky clearly shows he has some Scottish blood in him - may I suggest the McWillard tartan?

Funnily enough this was also suggested in NZ, I'll look into it, I have to agree that the Kilt works from both the Malt Whisky officionado and the Bond-eqsue lifestyle (think Sean Connery - "Very Jamessh Bontd").

Or maybe even two (although the second acting only as a facilitator) ;)

The names had been changed to protect the guilty - but yes, I fully acknowledge your valued assistance in getting Willard up-ed! (And after experiencing the alternative, I am doubly greatful!)


Which brings me on nicely to the 'lady' reading the book! Did you ask an FA to rectify the problem or speak to the 'lady' directly. It would have annoyed the hell out of me!

I am also amazed that you gave up 83K so easily even though there were plenty of other free seats around the cabin. Being asked politely is one thing but if somebody is disrespectful enough to occupy the seat before asking permission I would not have been as gracious as Willard.


Well, I gave her about a hour and a half of leeway, but couldn't stop myself from acting when I realised that every time she opened the shade, the poor woman in 81A woke up! Having realised it was not just my tender sensibilities being offronted, I waited for her husband to wander to the loo (I didn't see it as his problem, he had been nothing but a gentleman) and politely offered to explain the seat and lighting controls to her - the withering look that this caused generated a definite sizzling from the wall panels behind me! (Perhaps I should have approached with a highly polished steel shield, in hindsight). No, she didn't stop, she, in fact, took great delight in keeping the shade open for the rest of the flight - what class! I hope she meets PUCCI on a future flight :p

As for 83K, the gentleman in it apologized profusely and was more than willing to take his own seat, but, as I said, I figured I was getting the best end of the deal with a guaranteed blocked seat next to me, plus, I saw no reason to "fall out" with one of my fellow pax right at the start of the flight.

Now, to sleep, perchance to dream (of LH-F).


Willard the Bear (http://www.willardbear.com/) - All the PAX in the lounge today loved me, but even that didn't help with an Op-Up :(

Just added Episode 4 of the epic, and have implemented KiwiFlyer's excellent idea of an index in the first post. Currently in the BD Domestic DC lounge at LHR - however my soul is probably still floating over the Pacific somewhere (Yawn!).


Willard the Bear (http://www.willardbear.com/) - Was really looking forward to NZ long-haul C - after the trip I wish I was still looking forward to it, rather than recovering from it <sigh>

Nice to read about Willard's new adventures up in the way.

I think, I can understand the open window shade lady a bit. Since FRA - LAX is a dayflight, I prefer an opened window shade, too and would never think about sleeping on this flight. But I would never let it open, if I would disturb fellow passengers by this.

nice report.. thx! :D Looking forward to doing the LAX-AKL portion in Nov.. sans bear :(

Great report. Were thai,emirates,qantas an option to be reaccomodation?