This series of flight reports chronicles my journey from tropical Indonesia to France where I would go skiing. It is part of an Aeroplan miles redemption in First Class. Like my previous reports, the journey can also be read in my blogfor the original format.

The background for this story is that I had to return to Canada and my return flight to Canada is via a return ticket for LOT Polish on the Warsaw to Toronto route. That meant I needed a flight between Asia and Europe, and I had long wanted to try Lufthansa First Class for its impeccable service in Frankfurt Airport. In addition, I do fancy German products (BMWs, Volkl skis, Beer, Pork Knuckles) and you get the drift.


Onboard Lufthansa First Class

For this trip, I had to find availability revolving Lufthansa First Class, and surprisingly I manage to get several routes available when searching for departure dates within 14 days.


Ducks of Lufthansa First Class Terminal

Lufthansa flies airplanes with First Class to Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong and Singapore. While Singapore was the most convenient, availability was zero, and I fancied the trip on the 747-8 which flies between Frankfurt and Beijing or Tokyo, but the timing and connecting flights were none to be had. So that left Hong Kong as the most viable stopover point. I also added a Singapore Airlines flight on First between Jakarta and Singapore since it is one of the few routes that is easily available to be booked on miles.


Boarding pass for SQ First Class

Then I managed to get a Singapore to Hong Kong first class flight on United Airlines flying a 777. Not bad since I have never tried the Global First product on United before.


United Global First Class

And now for the best part, I have planned a 6 hour layover in Frankfurt to enjoy the First Class Terminal. That should be enough time to get a shower and enjoy the terminal facilities to my heart's content, before my connecting flight to Paris. I would spend a couple of days to explore Paris since I really liked exploring this city and have yet to return for some time.


Eiffel Tower

For the skiing portion, I was keen on spending time in Zermatt again after visiting it during the summer last year. Then news of some Design Hotels joining SPG gave me some new ideas as 2 of the hotels were ski-lodges near St. Moritz in Switzerland and La Thuile in Italy. However, I was also aiming to ski at the Les Trois Vallées which is considered as the largest ski area in the world spanning 8 ski areas in 4 different valley regions with a network of inter-connected pistes. The search for the best value lodging came down to an itinerary of staying 4 nights at Hotel Pashmina in Val Thorens with a half board (breakfast and dinner included).


Beautiful ski lodge at Hotel Pashmina in Val Thorens

From Switzerland I would fly back to Canada with the eventual flight back to Indonesia. This meant it would truly be a round-the-world itinerary with the return trip to feature trips in Business class onboard LOT/Air Canada/Korean Air. Do bear with me as I re-post the trip from my blog as I have yet to complete the TR in its entirety.