A TK Mistake Fare and first time to Asia
Jul 12, 2013, 12:41 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Hamburg
Posts: 483
A TK Mistake Fare and first time to Asia
Let me invite you to read my trip report about my first trip to asia and my first intercontinental trip in my life alone, which starts next Monday .
This will be a write-as-I-go report, which I will always try to keep up to date.
Everything started in mid-November, when I missed the Alitalia JP Coupon offer due to a rhetoric seminar. I thought afterwards...
Oh no, there goes my holiday opportunity since Alitalia closed the Openjaws with the special prices.
But at the beginnig of February I was sitting in the library and in between writing an essay for university and making a coffee break, I noticed, that Turkish Airlines loaded a mistake fare from Warsaw to Kuala Lumpur. What happened ?
As a good flyertalker I booked one set of dates for which I guessed, that I would have free time without knowing it for sure .
This evolved then to a 3 week trip including MH J+Y, TK J , Deutsche Bahn 1st class, Transtar "Solitaire Bus" and Air Asia.
This is then the final itinerary:
Just a word of warning from me... This is my first trip report and I will only have my ipad with me . Therefore don`t expect pictures like from SFO777 uploaded during my travels, but I will add some, when I get home.
I hope , that I haven`t bored you to death yet, have I ?
This will be a write-as-I-go report, which I will always try to keep up to date.
Everything started in mid-November, when I missed the Alitalia JP Coupon offer due to a rhetoric seminar. I thought afterwards...
Oh no, there goes my holiday opportunity since Alitalia closed the Openjaws with the special prices.
But at the beginnig of February I was sitting in the library and in between writing an essay for university and making a coffee break, I noticed, that Turkish Airlines loaded a mistake fare from Warsaw to Kuala Lumpur. What happened ?
As a good flyertalker I booked one set of dates for which I guessed, that I would have free time without knowing it for sure .
This evolved then to a 3 week trip including MH J+Y, TK J , Deutsche Bahn 1st class, Transtar "Solitaire Bus" and Air Asia.
This is then the final itinerary:
Just a word of warning from me... This is my first trip report and I will only have my ipad with me . Therefore don`t expect pictures like from SFO777 uploaded during my travels, but I will add some, when I get home.
I hope , that I haven`t bored you to death yet, have I ?
Last edited by want2fly4less; Jul 12, 2013 at 12:51 pm
Jul 14, 2013, 6:16 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: TK Elite Plus, SAS EBG, QR Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,297
Waiting for the rest too. But honestly I don't see the point of starting the report with one short post. You could've at least waited with posting the report until you had a part of it finished already…
Jul 16, 2013, 1:20 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Hamburg
Posts: 483
ICE to Berlin and the intercontinenal in Berlin
Shortly before noon I boarded a red local commuter train to Basel Badischer Bahnhof ( this is officially german territory in the midst of Basel) .
Soon afterwards arrived some german technology on wheels ..... What is it a porsche or an ICE?
Sorry , it is only an ICE . The boarding was completly hasslefree. No queues or DYKWIA's pushing through. I would wish, that this would also be possible in boarding a plane with an economy class ticket.
Then it was time for some lunch. The Train offered in the first class a service, where you ordered food from the car attendant and it was then brought to your place. I ordered pork belly with an potato mustard mash and steamed stem cabbage. The food was really tasty, but also expensive at 12,90 € for a single plate.
The Menu:
After 7:45h and about 800 km later I arrived at the Berlin central station . You have a nice view out of the main entrance . You can see the washing machine (chancellery) and the German parliament in the picture.
I walked along the taxi queue defending myself against the taxi drivers, which wanted to take my luggage without my consent, but I then finlly found a taxi , which drove me to the intercontinental for the first of my four IHG BRG-stays.
By the way, my grandmother decided, that it would be a great idea to join me till warsaw. I couldn't deny my grandmother her wish.
The check-in was relaxed and they didn't ask myself for my credit card and passport.... Really strange.
The Bellman escorted me after the check-in to my room and recommended a really good vietnamese restaurant in the neighborhood.
The room was really spacious and tastefully decorated, but if you used the sink.... You took an involuntary shower due to the water splashing around .
.
Sorry, but you will get enough pictures from sightseeing, when I arrive in Asia, but Berlin is just a typical faceless big german city and I am only in transit.
Soon afterwards arrived some german technology on wheels ..... What is it a porsche or an ICE?
Sorry , it is only an ICE . The boarding was completly hasslefree. No queues or DYKWIA's pushing through. I would wish, that this would also be possible in boarding a plane with an economy class ticket.
Then it was time for some lunch. The Train offered in the first class a service, where you ordered food from the car attendant and it was then brought to your place. I ordered pork belly with an potato mustard mash and steamed stem cabbage. The food was really tasty, but also expensive at 12,90 € for a single plate.
The Menu:
After 7:45h and about 800 km later I arrived at the Berlin central station . You have a nice view out of the main entrance . You can see the washing machine (chancellery) and the German parliament in the picture.
I walked along the taxi queue defending myself against the taxi drivers, which wanted to take my luggage without my consent, but I then finlly found a taxi , which drove me to the intercontinental for the first of my four IHG BRG-stays.
By the way, my grandmother decided, that it would be a great idea to join me till warsaw. I couldn't deny my grandmother her wish.
The check-in was relaxed and they didn't ask myself for my credit card and passport.... Really strange.
The Bellman escorted me after the check-in to my room and recommended a really good vietnamese restaurant in the neighborhood.
The room was really spacious and tastefully decorated, but if you used the sink.... You took an involuntary shower due to the water splashing around .
. Sorry, but you will get enough pictures from sightseeing, when I arrive in Asia, but Berlin is just a typical faceless big german city and I am only in transit.
Last edited by want2fly4less; Jul 16, 2013 at 3:45 am Reason: Added the Menu
Jul 16, 2013, 4:06 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,697
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/milea...s-j-900-a.html
Was this the "Lieu in Berlin" on Kurfürstenstraße? If so, it really is excellent!
Was this the "Lieu in Berlin" on Kurfürstenstraße? If so, it really is excellent!
Jul 18, 2013, 5:11 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Hamburg
Posts: 483
Sightseeing in Berlin and the Berlin-Warszawa Express(EC 45)
At around 10:30 I left the hotel and walked into the direction of the Kurfürstendamm in order to take the metro to the main train station.
Main Train Station:
I arrived at around 11:15 at the main train station and went into the "DB Lounge".
They offered softdrinks, coffe, tea , sandwiches, fruit salad, beer and a soup. The lounge was splitted into a DB Comfort area and a 1st class passenger area. DB Comfort is a purely spend based status. You need to spend around 2000€ per year to get this status.
Soon afterwards I left the lounge again to walk to the chancellery and the parliament.
The chancellery
The Parliament:
Finally it was time for boarding the Berlin-Warszawa Express.
The train used the standard IC Wagons from the mid-90s.
Legroom:
But the most amazing thing was, that the diner was operated by a polnish company and the food was better on the ICE and really cheap.
You even got FREE Coffee
I passed the rest of the time to Warsaw with reading a really good ebook. The title is: In Her Name Empire
From: Michael R. Hicks
At 19:05 the train stopped at Warszaw Centralna Station and I got into a taxi to the Sofitel.
The Location is great, but the main disadvantage is, that they have a building site besides the hotel and, that they have major renovation works in the hotel.
Main Train Station:
I arrived at around 11:15 at the main train station and went into the "DB Lounge".
They offered softdrinks, coffe, tea , sandwiches, fruit salad, beer and a soup. The lounge was splitted into a DB Comfort area and a 1st class passenger area. DB Comfort is a purely spend based status. You need to spend around 2000€ per year to get this status.
Soon afterwards I left the lounge again to walk to the chancellery and the parliament.
The chancellery
The Parliament:
Finally it was time for boarding the Berlin-Warszawa Express.
The train used the standard IC Wagons from the mid-90s.
Legroom:
But the most amazing thing was, that the diner was operated by a polnish company and the food was better on the ICE and really cheap.
You even got FREE Coffee
I passed the rest of the time to Warsaw with reading a really good ebook. The title is: In Her Name Empire
From: Michael R. Hicks
At 19:05 the train stopped at Warszaw Centralna Station and I got into a taxi to the Sofitel.
The Location is great, but the main disadvantage is, that they have a building site besides the hotel and, that they have major renovation works in the hotel.
Jul 20, 2013, 4:42 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Hamburg
Posts: 483
TK: Warsaw to Istanbul in Eurobusiness
I arrived at the airport around 2 hour before my flight and checked in. The passage through security was uneventful . I could even keep my belt on.
My ride to the airport :
I then went to the lounge and behold ..... It had a great design.
But the food offerings were not so great. They had Muffins, bread rolls, cold cuts and Gazpacho. After an hour in the lounge, I went back to the general airport area in order to do some planespotting .
Qatar with an A320 in Warsaw ?!
Emirates A 332
Lot 787
And finally the TK A 321, which would take me to Istanbul.
Boarding time arrived and be warned, that boarding at TK is a total mess.... You want masses of gate lice
.... Fly TK !
10 minutes before boarding
But Business class was able to board at their convenience and I boarded relativley late. The cabin was already full and I couldn't take any cabin pics without disturbing anyone.
The legroom was quite spacious.
The Meal:
Starter:
Main:
The 2,5 hours to Istanbul were soon over, as another flyertalker was in the same row and we chatted about mistake fares in general and the legal point of view, if the airlines can be forced to honour them.
In Istanbul I made my way with the metro, tram and Furniculare to the taksim square and finally to my hotel for the night.... The intercontinental Istanbul, which is the 2nd of my 4 free nights .
Taksim square and Gezi park:
The review of the intercontinental will follow once I have landed in Kuala Lumpur as I will board MH 31 soon.
My ride to the airport :
I then went to the lounge and behold ..... It had a great design.
But the food offerings were not so great. They had Muffins, bread rolls, cold cuts and Gazpacho. After an hour in the lounge, I went back to the general airport area in order to do some planespotting .
Qatar with an A320 in Warsaw ?!
Emirates A 332
Lot 787
And finally the TK A 321, which would take me to Istanbul.
Boarding time arrived and be warned, that boarding at TK is a total mess.... You want masses of gate lice
.... Fly TK !10 minutes before boarding
But Business class was able to board at their convenience and I boarded relativley late. The cabin was already full and I couldn't take any cabin pics without disturbing anyone.
The legroom was quite spacious.
The Meal:
Starter:
Main:
The 2,5 hours to Istanbul were soon over, as another flyertalker was in the same row and we chatted about mistake fares in general and the legal point of view, if the airlines can be forced to honour them.
In Istanbul I made my way with the metro, tram and Furniculare to the taksim square and finally to my hotel for the night.... The intercontinental Istanbul, which is the 2nd of my 4 free nights
.Taksim square and Gezi park:
The review of the intercontinental will follow once I have landed in Kuala Lumpur as I will board MH 31 soon.
Jul 21, 2013, 4:39 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: WAW/QDG
Programs: SU, LO
Posts: 59
Originally Posted by want2fly4less
Qatar with an A320 in Warsaw ?!
Anyway, nice trip report!
Jul 21, 2013, 9:54 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Singapore, Little Red Dot
Programs: IHG Platinum AMBASSODOR, HHNOURS Gold, Krisflyer Member, SPG Gold Member
Posts: 117
Shortly before noon I boarded a red local commuter train to Basel Badischer Bahnhof ( this is officially german territory in the midst of Basel) .
Soon afterwards arrived some german technology on wheels ..... What is it a porsche or an ICE?
Sorry , it is only an ICE . The boarding was completly hasslefree. No queues or DYKWIA's pushing through. I would wish, that this would also be possible in boarding a plane with an economy class ticket.
Then it was time for some lunch. The Train offered in the first class a service, where you ordered food from the car attendant and it was then brought to your place. I ordered pork belly with an potato mustard mash and steamed stem cabbage. The food was really tasty, but also expensive at 12,90 € for a single plate.
The Menu:
After 7:45h and about 800 km later I arrived at the Berlin central station . You have a nice view out of the main entrance . You can see the washing machine (chancellery) and the German parliament in the picture.
I walked along the taxi queue defending myself against the taxi drivers, which wanted to take my luggage without my consent, but I then finlly found a taxi , which drove me to the intercontinental for the first of my four IHG BRG-stays.
By the way, my grandmother decided, that it would be a great idea to join me till warsaw. I couldn't deny my grandmother her wish.
The check-in was relaxed and they didn't ask myself for my credit card and passport.... Really strange.
The Bellman escorted me after the check-in to my room and recommended a really good vietnamese restaurant in the neighborhood.
The room was really spacious and tastefully decorated, but if you used the sink.... You took an involuntary shower due to the water splashing around . .
Sorry, but you will get enough pictures from sightseeing, when I arrive in Asia, but Berlin is just a typical faceless big german city and I am only in transit.
Soon afterwards arrived some german technology on wheels ..... What is it a porsche or an ICE?
Sorry , it is only an ICE . The boarding was completly hasslefree. No queues or DYKWIA's pushing through. I would wish, that this would also be possible in boarding a plane with an economy class ticket.
Then it was time for some lunch. The Train offered in the first class a service, where you ordered food from the car attendant and it was then brought to your place. I ordered pork belly with an potato mustard mash and steamed stem cabbage. The food was really tasty, but also expensive at 12,90 € for a single plate.
The Menu:
After 7:45h and about 800 km later I arrived at the Berlin central station . You have a nice view out of the main entrance . You can see the washing machine (chancellery) and the German parliament in the picture.
I walked along the taxi queue defending myself against the taxi drivers, which wanted to take my luggage without my consent, but I then finlly found a taxi , which drove me to the intercontinental for the first of my four IHG BRG-stays.
By the way, my grandmother decided, that it would be a great idea to join me till warsaw. I couldn't deny my grandmother her wish.
The check-in was relaxed and they didn't ask myself for my credit card and passport.... Really strange.
The Bellman escorted me after the check-in to my room and recommended a really good vietnamese restaurant in the neighborhood.
The room was really spacious and tastefully decorated, but if you used the sink.... You took an involuntary shower due to the water splashing around .
. Sorry, but you will get enough pictures from sightseeing, when I arrive in Asia, but Berlin is just a typical faceless big german city and I am only in transit.