This is my first TR and first time flying premium cabin. Here's my experience in the air, on the ground, and with booking
Highlights:
-8 countries in 3 weeks | 81 hours, 40,147 miles flown
-7 days in French Polynesia, 3 in Bora Bora over-water bungalow
-F on LH, TG, CX
-J on CX, TG, SQ, NZ
-12 lounge reviews
Background
[Flights & Lounges]
Code:
31 hours flying F fully flat
4 hours flying J fully flat
7.5 hours flying J angled
16.5 hours flying F/J recline
22 hours flying Y
Layover (under 24 hours each): 53 hours
Chicago to Singapore via Europe, F ticket, 70,000 UA miles + $33 (pre-devaluation)
AC J, ERJ-175, ORD-YUL |
United Club ORD T2
LH F, A330-300, YUL-MUC |
AC Maple Leaf Lounge YUL International |
LH First Class Lounge MUC
TG F, 747, MUC-BKK |
TG First Class Lounge & Royal Orchid Spa BKK
TG J, 777-200, BKK-SIN
Singapore to Tahiti RT, J/Y ticket, 40,000 UA miles* x 2 + $215 (pre-devaluation)
SQ J, 777-200, SIN-PVG |
SQ SilverKris J Lounge SIN T3
NZ J, 767-300, PVG-AKL |
CA J Lounge PVG
NZ Y, 767-300, AKL-PPT |
Emperor Lounge AKL
NZ Y, 767-300, PPT-AKL |
Salon Manuhiri Lounge PPT
SQ Y, 777-200, AKL-SIN | Emperor Lounge AKL (again)
Tahiti to Bora Bora RT, Air Tahiti (VT) Y ticket, 42,268 XPF x 2
Tahiti to Bora Bora and boat transfer
Bora Bora to Tahiti
Singapore to Indianapolis w/a stopover in SF (before AA eliminated stopovers), F ticket, 67,500 AA miles + $75 (incl/$25 phone fee)
CX J, 777-300ER (77G), SIN-HKG | SkyView Lounge SIN | CX Arrival Lounge HKG
CX F, 777-300ER (77H), HKG-SFO | CX The Wing First Class Lounge
AA F, 757, SFO-DFW | AA Admirals Club SFO T2
AA F, S80, DFW-IND | AA Admirals Club DFW A23
* Outgoing = 25K in J, Return = 15K in Y
[Hotels]
Chicago O'Hare Marriott, 1 night, $100 + tax
Radisson Tahiti, 3 nights, 2 x 38,000 Club Carlson points (booked before 2014 category change; last night free from CC)
Hilton Bora Bora Nui, 4 nights, 2 x 95,000 HHonor points + 2 free weekend nights from Citi Hilton Reserve card.
Auckland: Airbnb @ $55/night.
[Destinations]
Montreal, Canada - 1/2 day
Munich, Germany - 1 day
Shanghai, China - 1/2 day
Tahiti - 2.5 days
Bora Bora - 3.5 days - see
Hilton Bora Bora Nui
Auckland, New Zealand - 3 days
Singapore - 5 days
Hong Kong - 1 day
Head-to-head comparisons
Misc
Conclusion