EDIT: I apologize for the long lull in the posts, I will be posting a part every 2 days for the remainder.

Contents
Introduction
IAD-FRA in LH F on 747-8i
First Class Lounges FRA, ZRH and MUC; around Zurich
MUC-BKK in TG F, BKK-CNX in TG C
Le Meridian Chiang Mai, Elephant Preserve
Around Chiang-Mai and CNX-BKK in TG C
Sheraton Royal Orchid Bangkok, Around Bangkok
BKK-HKT TG C, Westin Siray Bay Phuket
HKT-BKK TG F, Thai First Lounge and Spa BKK, BKK-NRT in TG F
Conrad Tokyo, Around Tokyo
Global First lounge NRT, NRT-ICN in UA F
First Class Lounge ICN, ICN-FRA in OZ First Class
Sheraton Frankfurt Airport
LH First Class Terminal FRA, MUC-IAD in LH F

Introduction

Last year (2011) I told myself I was taking at least a week vacation. It had been years since I had taken anything longer than 3 days. I started planning early as I wanted to hit the major parts of SE Asia and Japan in 1.5 weeks. I was going to be using United Mileage Plus miles and planned on flying at least 6 long haul First class segments.

My goal was to include a mix of carriers including LH, TG and OZ. I knew SQ was out due to them blocking F redemptions for partners. So I settled on the following routing. IAD-FRA-BKK-HKT-BKK-NRT-ICN-FRA-IAD. This would come to change, quite a few times especially in the weeks leading up to the trip.

As most of you know, Lufthansa only releases F award space on TATL routes 14 days in advance. While I had originally booked UA on IAD-FRA, all along I had planned to switch to LH within the 14 days. Sure enough about 11 days out IAD-FRA (being operated by their new 747-8i) opened up in F and I snatched it up. I also decided to add a city at the recommendation of a fellow FT’er: Chiang Mai, the second largest city in Thailand. He suggested I make time to visit the elephant preserve there, and wow was it worth it. Other changes I made were to spend the day in Zurich since the Bangkok flight is overnight and a change on the return from Europe to LH as well. In the end the routing was this: IAD-FRA-ZRH-MUC(LH F & C)-BKK-CNX-BKK-HKT-BKK-NRT(TG F & C)-ICN(UA F)-FRA(OZ F)-MUC-IAD(LH C & F) a total of 24910 miles, 13 flights, 4 carriers, 2 new aircraft. All this for 160K miles + BKK-CNX, BKK-HKT-BKK paid (~$350).



I invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy the flights and travel as much as I did!