Okay FT, my first trip report On Tuesday, 5 July I embark on my fourth European Adventure and my first as *G. 24 days, 13 flights, 3 train journeys, multiple Airport lounges, and 8 European countries. Of all my trips over the past two years, this one promises to be the second most exciting (nothing will beat the three weeks I spent in South Africa last year for the World Cup!) and for the first time I have had to apply for a visa to enter a country (The Ukraine).

The Route
AKL-BKK (Thai)
BKK-FRA (Lufthansa)
FRA-HAM (Air Berlin)
HAM-VIE-KBP (Austrian)
KBP-VIE-VCE (Austrian)
VCE-VIE (By Train)
VIE-BTS (By Train)
BTS-BUD (By Train)
BUD-DUS-LHR (Lufthansa)
LHR-GVA-FRA (Swiss)
FRA-NRT (Lufthansa A380 )
NRT-AKL (Air NZ)

The Experience
After spending a bit of time in Air NZ's premium economy cabin earlier this year I approach these long haul flights with a bit of apprehension - especially the LH 744 from BKK-FRA. I am putting a lot of faith in the Star Alliance Gold lounges to make the journeys that little more comfortable and will be seeking out spare seats wherever possible.

One thing that will be fun is seeing what kind of reaction I get going through the Lounges. I'm in my mid-20's and for the European segments I will be joined by my younger g/f. Using the NZ domestic lounges I feel decidedly young and that further enhances the experience as it is a reminder of how many more years I have left to explore.

Planning
In a word, putting together this trip was a nightmare. All up it took several weeks of research and planning to find a route that took me where I wanted to go and as there is no Ukraine Embassy in New Zealand my passport had to take a trip over to Canberra. Only took 8 days so there clearly are not too many Antipodeans travelling to Kiev at the moment

Work and Travel
And one more thing: I will be working the whole time too. The nature of my employment contract means that I can travel for weeks at a time and provided I continue to do the work, no annual leave is taken. So in between flying; sightseeing; visiting family in Hamburg, Kiev and London; and catching up with friends scattered around the place; I will be working as well. So one thing this report will look at is the practicalities of working in the cheap seats.

More to come

The Reviews
Making economy bearable: AKL-BKK on a TH 772
Another torrid LH long-haul: BKK-FRA on the 744
The better Deutschland airline: FRA-HAM with Air Berlin
Heading East: HAM-VIE-KBP
Back West: KBP-VIE-VCE
Europe by Train: Venice-Vienna-Bratislava-Budapest
More LH: BUD-DUS-LHR
A day in Geneva: LHR-GVA-FRA
Heading home, part I: FRA-NRT
Heading home, part 2: NRT-AKL