The first part of this trip has no pictures as the friends I was traveling with wish to remain anonymous.
The trip was to go to Bangkok via Tokyo, stay overnight and then onwards to Phuket first, then to Pattaya, Penang and back to Newark. However, the maintenance gods at United deemed it not to be.
November 1 2015
Original flights
United 79 Newark to Tokyo Narita connecting to
United 7971 operated by ANA to Bangkok connecting on November 3 to
Thai 215 to Phuket
Arrived at Newark Terminal C around 0830 for the flight to Tokyo scheduled to depart @ 1030.
Checked in at the Premier 1K desk in less than 10 minutes and went back outside to have a smoke and await
the arrival of my travel partner. Upon his arrival he checked in and he went to C2 screening while I went to
C3 screening which is for precheck passengers. Got to C3 and the line for precheck was snaked around 5 times around
the stanchions and then up the staircase to ticketing. Decided to go to C2 and do regular screening at the Premier line, but when the TSA checker scanned my BP it beeped the three times and she handed me a card for precheck and said give it to the screener. Well that let me pass thru the regular metal detector and all the precheck benefits at the regular checkpoint.
Got to the gate and boarding began at 0950. At 1040 the announcement that the door was closed and turn off electronic devices and they played the safety video. However at 1105 the Captain announced that due to maintenance in the process of replacing a tire they somehow damaged a wing panel and they needed to deplane the aircraft to repair it. At 1215 the gate agents announced that they are starting to reboard the passengers. Got back on and about 1235 the captain announces the aircraft is now out of service for mechanical and everyone to deboard once again. The gate agents directed everyone to a new gate to await an inbound aircraft to replace this one. It was announced that the new ETD was now 1445.
Well by this time it was time to go get a Dunkin Donuts coffee and go out for a smoke. The weather was quite balmy by now and stayed outside enjoying myself. While outside I get a text from my friend followed by a text from United stating the flight is now cancelled. Went back down to the gate and tried to find out how they were rebooking us, however this was going to be a exercise in futility as this was a full flight, but they did announce that everyone was going to get a hotel and rebooked on flights the next day.
Unfortunately this was not acceptable due to the fact we had prepaid reservations in Bangkok and Phuket and the flight to Pattaya. So I called the 1K line and got a very good agent who was trying her best to get us out that evening. After working with her for about 2 hours our new itinerary was now on United to Rome, then Austrian to Bangkok via Vienna.
November 1 2015
United 40 EWR-FCO
Dep 1845 Arr 0815+1
B767-300
By the time I finished rebooking the flights, we had to go baggage claim, get our bags and recheck them in, checked to Bangkok. At the kiosk it asked if I wanted to upgrade to BusinessFirst for $600. Pushed no, got an economy plus seat however in was in the middle. This time the maintenance gods were pleased as we took off on time. Pretty smooth flight most of the flight but a little choppy over the Atlantic. Had to sit between two annoying persons who were travelling together, they wanted the aisle seats but kept passing items over me. Had to finally tell them either change seats or stop reaching over me, especially since dinner was being served. Dinner btw was either pasta or chicken and breakfast was a croissant. Arrived in Rome, passed immigration and entered Italy. Since this was unplanned was forced to change USD to Euros at the airport, where I got charged a 30 Euro service fee.
Since we never been to Rome before, we took the TrenItalia to Termini station, then Line A of the Rome Metro to Spagna. Exited the Metro at the Piazza di Spagna, and my friend goes crazy over all the shops there. Since he's a watch and cologne aficionado, the first two shops we see are IWC and Acqua di Parma. While he shopped, I walked around the area and nothing but high end shops and boutiques. The Spanish Steps are here too, but they are closed for reconstruction. While waiting I grabbed some espresso and pastries and sat down in a very comfortable 72F weather. The area is heavily patrolled by Tourist Police and the Carabineri, so the area is quite secure. Afterwards it was time to go back to Fiumicino and take the next flight.
November 2 2015
Austrian 502 FCO-VIE
Dep 1455 Arr 1645
A320
Since we were on a Schengen flight there was no need to pass immigration and after clearing screening went to the gate to wait. There is a smoking lounge there but it was a far enough walk not to go. The gate agents arrived and soon announced boarding for Business and *A Gold passengers. Then one called out my name and handed me a new boarding pass. The flight was overbooked and I was upgraded to Business.
Business class on Intra-European flights though are just coach seats with the middle seat blocked. No extra legroom nor a wider seat apart from the armrests up, but service is standard business. Lunch consisted of pasta stew with a salad but dessert was a nice sacher torte. Flight was pretty uneventful and smooth.
Arriving in Vienna, decided to go to town as we had over 6 hours to the next flight. Although we were only two hours north of Rome the temperature was 42F. Took the City Aiport Train into Wien Mitte and just walked around. Found a confectionery store and then off to Starbucks. As it was getting colder, we decided to go back to the airport and hang at the lounge.
November 2 2015
Austrrian 205 VIE-BKK
Dep 2320 Arr 1520+1
B767
Went to check in to see if i can snag an exit aisle seat and was told no problem due to *A gold status. However my friend has only *A silver he would be charged extra for the seat.
Went through screening and exit immigration and went to the VAT refund office. The setup in Vienna is you give the tax officer your receipts, they calculate your refund and gives you a voucher to take to the bank next door which gives you the cash. Then off to the Austrian business lounge. The lounge was nothing special, some finger sandwiches and meatballs with marinara sauce and rice on the side and salad. Asked the lounge agent where the smoking lounge was and she told me by gate 9 about a 10-12 minute walk. However she suggested to use the bar by gate 1, which was my departure gate and buy a soda and smoke there and if I got bored there was free wifi.
Boarded the flight and found that exit row seats are given business class blankets. Dinner was choice of hamburger steak or pasta. It was actually a hamburger that looked liked it was handmade rather than a processed patty with gravy. Don't remember what the pre arrival snack was. Pretty much zoned out on this flight since we were on the go for 18 hours.
November 30 2015
Thai 219 BKK-HKT
Dep 1725 Arr 1845
A320
Arrrived Bangkok and the arrival gods favored us. Got into a gate which was the closest to immigration. Was able to use the Thai Airways priority immigration line and in 10 minutes cleared and went to change money. Got to the baggage belt and my bag was first one off, my friend's was second. Went outside for a smoke and then upstairs to Thai checkin. Explained to the agent how we missed our original flight and needed to get Phuket. Unfortunately, the ticket was non changeable and non refundable, but she was able to give us the same fare we originally paid. She reserved the tickets and directed us to the ticket office to purchase. Got the tickets and returned to the check in counter to check the bags in.
Went through screening and went to the gate. In the domestic area of Suvarnbhumi there are no smoking lounges.
There is a lounge but no time to use it. Meal service consisted of snack box with a tuna and egg sandwich. However tuna and egg does not mean tuna with egg, rather its half a tuna and half a egg sandwich. Arrived in Phuket and the bags were #1 and #2 delivered.
Afterwards grabbed a cab for the 45 minute ride to Patong Beach Hotel. In actuality we arrived 4 hours behind schedule into Phuket. Only lost the money on the hotel in Bangkok and the missed flight.
November 4 2015
Bangkok 282 HKT-UTP
Dep 1510 Arr 1650
ATR 72
After spending the night in Phuket, had to leave the hotel by 1200 to make the flight. Bangkok Airways is located in Terminal 2 @ HKT, where all domestic flights depart. Upon arrival the check in agent informed us that the flight was now delayed until 1630. As my other friends went off to search for food, I went outside to smoke and discovered the smoking area was in front of a bar/restaurant. So food, drink and smokes all neatly rolled into one. My friends eventually joined me and had some beers while waiting for the flight as we couldn't pass screening until an hour before flight time.
When it was time, we went back in and passed screening and off to the gate. We boarded a bus to the plane and boarded. For those who are not familiar with the ATR boarding is at the rear because the luggage hold is in the front. Meal service consisted of a snack box with a sweet pastry and a juice. The flight was uneventful and landed at UTP at 1815. A bus also picked us up and drove to the terminal. Picked up the bags and our hotel provided driver met us outside the terminal.
Even though UTP is the airport for Pattaya, it's an hour drive to the city. Pattaya is known as sin city, as there are two red light districts there. But on the other hand it's also a family beach destination. Plenty of entertainment and great food. We stayed at the LK Empress hotel for the next two nights.
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