MilesBuzz! - What's the greatest award itinerary for luxury of all time?

I'm ever looking for peak experiences, I've traveled on some amazing awards, and need to continually top my previous trips if I'm ever to impress mrs. gleff.

So I'm wondering what the collecting thoughts of the FT community are on the most over-the-top luxurious or special airline mileage awards are.

Let me caveat that it needs to be doable without a rulebuster/double mileage-type award (which generally rules out SQ F on the 77W) and it must be generally available other than by mistake or schedule change (which generally rules out SQ R-class on the 380). And 2 seats must be possible.

I've done F on TN and QF, 2 seats using AA mileage to French Polynesia and Australia (and among other things stayed in an Overwater Bungalow at Bora Bora Nui).

I've done F on NH and TG, 2 seats using US mileage to NRT (to take advantage of the $3 Tokyo Hilton) and BKK (where i had the Diplomatic Suite at the Intercontinental)

I've done F on UA/TG/OZ, 2 seats using UA mileage to HKT and HKG (to take advantage of the UGX rate for the 2-bedroom Presidential Oceanfront Villa at the Meridien Khao Lak).

I've done F on LH/TG, 2 seats using UA mileage, visiting both the LH First Class Terminal in FRA and the TG F Spa in BKK, and enjoying a Jimbaran Bay Suite at the Intercontinental Bali (whose club lounge is the best I've ever visited).

Just a sampling of awards mrs. gleff and I have taken over the past 3 years, many trip reports have been written.

But what can I do to top it?

One thing I've been considering is South Asia, 2 First Class awards on Singapore. SQ almost never releases more than 1 F seat on a flight to its partners at any given time. So for some the strategy is to book 1 F and 1 C on the same flight and hope a second F seat opens up. Others book 1 F seat on each of 2 different routes, doubling the chances that a second F seat appears (but adding the complication of getting back onto the same flight for both outbound and return). But that isn't my plan, I'm more looking for guarantees, so I've been building up my SQ account so I can book 1 seat with partner miles and a second with SQ miles.

But what would be the ultimate, extreme, over-the-top luxury award?

And what would be its routing?

Thinking airline awards here. Certainly IAD-FRA-SIN-DPS-BKK-PEK-FRA-IAD was a wonderful trip, especially for ground service. But it was LH F, which while nice enough is a notch below several of the Asian carriers.

Help me get creative! Airline alliance is a non-issue, I have miles in most major programs. What's the greatest award itinerary there is?

You don't mention oneworld in your plans but new CX F on the 77W/747?

" But what can I do to top it? "

Dang ~ and here I figured you'd already booked award seats on the Rocket-ride .. but of course, it's only a single-pax, no? :p

/.

You don't mention oneworld in your plans but new CX F on the 77W/747?

Well, as I say, I have plenty of miles across all alliances. Just need to find 2 F seats. ;)

Cape Town and its surroundings (many magnificent beaches, Table Mountain, Cape Agulhas, Cape of Good Hope - and thus two oceans at once - The Twelve Apostles, Hout Bay, Fish Hoek, the wineries) on South African Airways. Then up to a camera safari in Kruger National Park, then over to Sun City, then Durban if you still have time. Unfortunately, I don't know what SAA's present service is like - it's been a few years - but when I went, it was marvelous. As to the area of The Twelve Apostles, think Big Sur, then rounding a bend and coming upon a New England fishing village.

Try to get in on a braai. And the "shrimp" (name?): Think of what having a mess of lobster tails would be like. Not rock lobsters (langostinos). These are about 7+ inches long, and also often barbecued and dipped in butter. Then there are South Africa's own kind of Indian curries and other delicacies, if you are into it.

I agree with South Africa. We flew F on CX. When we went, there was only F from HKG-JNB certain months of the year. We flew LAX-HKG-JNB in F, then had an amazing trip throughout South Africa. You can schedule it with a HKG layover, a city I enjoy very much.

Why don't you just get paid tickets for SQ R or similar from a cheap point of origin like CMB/BKK/CAI/wherever?

I agree with South Africa. We flew F on CX. When we went, there was only F from HKG-JNB certain months of the year. We flew LAX-HKG-JNB in F, then had an amazing trip throughout South Africa. You can schedule it with a HKG layover, a city I enjoy very much.

Gleff, I'd have to agree with South Africa. As an avid reader/follower of your trip ideas, I'd have to say you've pretty much done it all, with regard to premium cabins in the Star Alliance.

Why not try either SA on the IAD-JNB direct, or CX via HKG like suggested by SanDiego1K above? You can then compare The Wing with TG's Royal First Lounge. ^^

you could top it by donating some miles to me^:D

wow that is an impressive list.... something to try and match in the future perhaps? I'll try - it'll take many many years - lets hope that it's still doable by the time I bank that many miles!

I've done F on UA/TG/OZ, 2 seats using UA mileage to HKT and HKG (to take advantage of the UGX rate for the 2-bedroom Presidential Oceanfront Villa at the Meridien Khao Lak).

What's the UGX rate at Le Meridien Khao Lak? And how did you swing such great suites at the other hotels? A combination of points and status?

Anyway, I definitely endorse adding South Africa to your list. Some of the routes that get you there "only" offer C class and no F--SAA via IAD and JFK being examples, though C on SAA has fantastic leg room and the two of you wouldn't need the greater privacy that comes with single F suites anyway. But if you want to go F I was able to get two F seats on Lufthansa last year on our return leg of Joburg-FRA (and the great F terminal)-SFO.

Once in South Africa, I'd heartily recommend the Western Cape Hotel and Spa, a splendid Westin/Arabella Hotel less than 90 minutes drive from Cape Town, less than an hour from wine country (where the mountains make it look like Napa Valley on steroids) and only about 15 minutes from the coast and whale watching. Great suites, a beautiful location, several other nice features, and a fantastic golf course (if you folks play--we don't). Make sure to bag a room on the lagoon side for the better views. I wrote a report with more info on it in December, I believe on the Starwood Forum. There may have been point inflation since we were there, but last year it was a superb award value at only abou 12,000 points/night for a suite. Really, one of the nicest hotels I've ever been to--perhaps even the nicest.

Cape Town itself is great. We stayed at the Westin there, which was nice but something of a business hotel. Not nearly as great as the Western Cape Hotel, nor was the suite comparable. Overall we liked it, but you might want to check out other options.

A few caveats re South Africa. First, in Cape Town and other cities you have to be aware of the crime issue, but with some basic precautions (such as taking taxis rather than walking around town at night) that's not a problem. Second, the country has had some power generation problems recently. You might want to look into how things stand in that regard. Third, unless you're a soccer/football fan you wouldn't want to be there during the World Cup in 2010.

Having said all that, I'd still strongly recommend adding South Africa to your list.

I agree with South Africa. We flew F on CX. When we went, there was only F from HKG-JNB certain months of the year. We flew LAX-HKG-JNB in F, then had an amazing trip throughout South Africa. You can schedule it with a HKG layover, a city I enjoy very much.

Excellent suggestion. I was going to suggest the same trip on CX. The HKG stopover is real attractive to me. We plan on doing this itinerary ourselves. I've got the miles, now just need to find the time and dates that work.

Perhaps NASA will get into the FF game and offer two seats aboard the Space Shuttle. I doubt it will be FC, but the experience would be worth the absence of cocktails... :D

So how many FF miles do you think you would need to redeem that...?

Buying enough subscriptions to Randy's Inside Flyer magazine to fly Condcorde for pennies on the dollar. Oh wait... that bonus deal is dead and Condorde is grounded.:(

Emirates 1st should impress anyone...door-to-door service, private rooms, showers & they are in Star Alliance + stopover in Dubai on way to Cape would be interesting.

gleff, do you have enough VS miles to go on a Virgin Galactic trip? :D I think it is 2 million miles per person

& they are in Star Alliance

:confused:

Not sure about that one...

Fraser: Well, on emirates.com, they list both United & Continental as Skyreward partners and you can earn Skyreward miles when you fly on either airline. On UA site under Star Alliance, Emirates is listed as one of the "other" star partners.

Fraser: Well, on emirates.com, they list both United & Continental as Skyreward partners and you can earn Skyreward miles when you fly on either airline. On UA site under Star Alliance, Emirates is listed as one of the "other" star partners.

Being a partner airline of a *A member doesn't necessarily make you a *A member.

On this United site it correctly lists Emirates under Mileage Plus Airline partners, not Star Alliance network.
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1177,00.html?navSource=partguide&linkTitle=1air
They also don't appear on www.staralliance.com

Gleff, I'd have to agree with South Africa. ...Why not try either SA on the IAD-JNB direct...

Isn't that pretty much an impossible award to get? From what I read, that flight sells out C pretty much every flight.

Gary.....? :confused:

gleff, was there a *right* answer?

Or are we going to hear after you've taken your flights, stayed in luxury accommodations in Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Sun City, (and Kruger NP) and seen your first pride of lions in Kruger?

The above suggestions were great, and South Africa seems to be a strong consensus which tells me I'll need to do a trip there for a vacation.

I've basically put off the dream trip in favor of simple F awards to SGN and CEI (5 *A airlines in F including transpacs on NH and OZ). So I'll have to file these ideas away for next year. :)

I hear Ryanair has a pretty good premium product. You can buy lounge access at Stansted plus you can pay to get priority boarding. What else does your missus need?

Emirates 1st should impress anyone...door-to-door service, private rooms, showers & they are in Star Alliance + stopover in Dubai on way to Cape would be interesting.

I don't think they have joined *A quite yet -- apparently in discussions, but whether or not anything comes out of those is as of yet unknown.

I've basically put off the dream trip in favor of simple F awards to SGN and CEI (5 *A airlines in F including transpacs on NH and OZ). So I'll have to file these ideas away for next year. :)

Thank you for letting us know your choice. We gave it our best. Enjoy Ho Chi Minh, and if you do get to Cape Town someday, maybe you can use this thread to let us know how you think they compare in terms of the "ultimate, extreme, over-the-top luxury" experience you were seeking to show mrs. gleff -- and her take, as well. Thanks again.

:)

gleff, do you have enough VS miles to go on a Virgin Galactic trip? :D I think it is 2 million miles per per...

Nevermind Cape Town AND Ho Chi Minh City.....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7529978.stm

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