Day 7:

The funny thing with this 7th day is that actually I left home not 7 but 6 days ago because of crossing date change line.

Whatever it is, this day did not really started up the right way has I have been woken up by the house keeping at 7 am. She knocked at the door, waited 3 seconds and opened the door.

Needless to say, it took me more that 3 second to wake up, realize where I was and what was going on. Fortunately I put the chain on the door. I said to myself I should have few words about this to the manager later during check out.

I was so bothered about this hotel because of the overall poor quality that I decided right after my shower (the 2nd one in 8 hours) to run out for breakfast and went to “Le pain Quotidien” located 2 blocks away near Central Park South.


Around 9AM, I went to JR Electronics to buy my wife a new laptop. A 10 inch glossy pink Tosh, so girly!

I went then to give my respect to the Brooklyn Bridge in order to breathe the city and went back to my hotel room for packing.


Brooklyn Bridge

By this time, I was starving and went to “Burger Joint” (I am sure you guys know) for my standard burger. The place was packed and it took me more than 20min to get my meat dope.

I went back slowly to the hotel and checked out before 3PM not without telling a manager what I think about his hotel.

In any case, I was not angry at all. I was happy for simply being in NYC and just impatient for my last 2 legs including my VS flight to LHR.
I took my time and opt in the subway to Jamaica and Air Train for JFK.

We were nearly 3 hours before ETD and check ‘in was empty in all classes.
I had enough time to indulge myself a serious lounge experience and went to straight the VS Club House.


VS Club Lounge in JFK.

I started up with severe thing and asked for my invitation to the revival lounge in LHR.
This done, I went to the computer side and printed my BP for my last leg with BA to CDG.
Everything was now in order thus I could start to relax with a Margarita. I was not in the mood for Champagne has I had no one to share it with.

I ordered a very nice Club Sandwich. If you find the picture appetizing, you will be happy to note that the taste was also very good.


Club Sandwich.

I had my second Margarita and ordered a dessert I cannot remember (Margarita’s drawback).

By the time I finished, it was time for boarding and I made my way to the fast lane skipping a line of 100+ meters long.


Madam Butterfly

We boarded nearly on time into our 346 “Madam Butterfly”.

I have to say here on this forum how much I love the VS Upper class. I really do find the cabin awesome. The layout, colors and equipment are for me part of the best airlines.

For sure there are things that can be improved -such as the very Ethno centered Brit Staff that do not provide an Asian Class Service- but still good though.


Upper Class Interior

I took my PJ and was quickly dressed up like the sand man right after take-off.
By the way, did anyone here notice the pants rope on the L size PJ is too short and get lost easily? Funny isn’t it?


I was meant to sleep right after take-off as the flight last only 6+ hours but I lost myself watching an Episode of Top Gear in Vietnam. Again with these guys, I pissed on myself. I love this broadcast.

As I was watching TV, I finally accepted a Caesar Salad with a glass of red while I was watching the guys riding their bikes across VN.

Thus, my night was shortened and I finally had around 3 hours sleep which is a bit thin for me.

We landed in LHR with delay because of heavy air traffic and clearly I was not really awake as I set my clock wrongly. Actually I set it up on GMT+2 and not +1. Thus, despite the fact that I was supposed to have 2h20 for transit from T3 to T5 and go to the revival lounge. I thought I was in a rush and made my way to the T5 directly.

It is when I arrived at the T5 I discovered my mistake but this was too late now.
I had though enough time for a breakfast in the meantime.


T5 Hall


Well, from this point there is nothing more to say.
My trip was ending with this BA flight to CDG. Short routine flight (only 45min without taxi), nothing Special.

I arrived in CDG at 11h15AM (that is to say 7 days and 2 hours and 25 min since I left), crossed quickly customs and jumped into my wife’s arms who was waiting for me. Happy to be back in Paris.

Overall and in details, this was a great experience. This was something I wanted to do for a while and I am very happy for having performed it.
Of course if flying/crossing borders/go through security controls makes you sick, I recommend not doing this.

Also, if you have problem to sleep anywhere, I would recommend surely taking a different option.

At the end, if you ask me what would I change or do differently next time, I will surely try to skip any domestic segment in the US and pay more attention about the lounge equipment (showers).

And, if you ask me would I do it again? YES, but certainly a different one and look for new horizons.

Before leaving, I want to thank you for reading this post. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed building it and doing it.

I want also to express my thanks to my wife for her eternal support and understanding in this experience (by the way, she thinks I am nuts).

…And for those who like numbers, here are some small stats for you.

Total Legs: 11
Total Trip time: 7 days and 2 hours and 25 min
Total Fly time: 56h40
Airlines flown: MA, MH, KE, DL, CO, VS, BA
Longest segment: 8h15 (SEL-HNL on KE)
Shortest Segment: 1h20 (LHR-CDG on BA)
Nr of Countries Crossed: 9
Nr of Red Eye Flights: 5


My itinerary: No way back!

Nr of Miles Redeemed: 14500
Nr of Miles Won (Exc Hotels): Should be a bit more than 50000
Total of Hotel Nights booked: 3
Best Equipment: VS 346 JFK-LHR
Worst Equipment: DL 763 HNL-SLC
Best Catering: KE dinner on ICN-HNL
Worst Catering: BA for Sandwich aspect from far (I declined) and CO (CUN-EWR) for an overcooked fish sold as … Chicken (for real!)
Best Booze: An excellent 2001 Saint Julien on KE ICN-HNL
Worst Booze: A horrible Champagne on MH on IST-DXB
Best Staff: KE on ICN-HNL
Worst Staff: Difficult to score, probably BA but this was a short haul.
Best lounge: JFK VS Club House
Worst Lounge: HNL NW of course
Best Experience: Again difficult to say, probably chilling on a roof top overlooking Bosporus and Asia the first night or wasting some time in KL before a spa treatment.
Worst experience: Sheraton NYC obviously


Thank you again for reading this post and do not hesitate to share your comment.


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