A Whirlwind World Tour: 42,339 miles in nine days (SQ, EK, TG F & LH C)
October 7th, 2016 was the day I got a crazy idea. Molly (my wife) and I were planning another December trip to South East Asia and had gotten as far as booking the flights when we decided not to go. Life, family, and work just weren't lining up for us this time around so in early September I pulled the plug. There I was chock-full of miles with no place to fly resigned to the fact that I'd be on the ground for a while when I headed to lunch one day in Newport Beach.
FADE IN
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY
TWO MEN talk over lunch in a quite, empty restaurant. They are smiling and laughing like they know each other but it is clear they have never met.
A waiter (male medium build) interrupts the two men to refill their water glasses and check on their meals.
WAITER
[SIZE="2"]Gentlemen, is there anything I can get you?
Silence. The waiter reaches across the table to refill the second water glass.
SFO777
No, thank you.
The waiter nods and walks away.[/SIZE]
SFO777 (CONT'D)
Yes. Aspirational....you fly [it] just to fly it. That is this whole Garuda trip I have coming up. I have wanted to try their new F product since it came out - can't wait!
MADONE59
Aspirational? I never thought of it that way. I mean yea I want to fly specific airlines or routes when I take trips but I've never considered taking a trip where the flight was the trip.
SFO777
(Thoughtfully)
I don't have many aspirational flights left. Garuda's going to be great but at this point I just want to keep flying La Première.
The two men continue to pick at their food, MADONE59 looks up from his plate at SFO777.
SFO777 (CONT'D)
(Smiling)
It's that good!
The two men continue their lunch...
FADE OUT
It didn't hit me right away, and it really wasn't until later that month when the idea grew roots but when it did there was no going back. Singapore Airlines got its hooks into me on my honeymoon but was always the girl I wanted another chance to take on a date. I was young and naive when Molly and I flew SQ 15 in first class. It was like getting my drivers licence and stepping into a Ferrari; I didn't know what to do with it. I didn't appreciate it. Emirates is Emirates, need I say more? I have wanted to shower on the A380 for a while now, so one of those would definitely be in order and the rest fell into place thanks to United's flexibility and my fleeting 1K status.
This is what I came up with
• January 14, 2017
o 10:50 - 11:57 Flight: UA5543 From San Diego (SAN) to Los Angeles (LAX)
o 16:05 - 22:35+1 Flight: SQ7 From Los Angeles (LAX) to Seoul (ICN)
• January 16, 2017
o 00:25 – 06:00 Flight: SQ7 From Seoul (ICN) to Singapore (SIN)
o 08:25 – 12:25 Flight: SQ860 From Singapore (ICN) to Hong Kong (HKG)
Hotel: Courtyard Marriott Hong Kong
• January 17, 2017
o 16:20 – 21:05 Flight: CX542 From Hong Kong (HKG) to Tokyo Haneda (HND)
Hotel: Courtyard Marriott Tokyo Station
• January 18, 2017
o 17:30 – 22:30 Flight: TG667 From Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Bangkok (BKK)
• January 19, 2017
o 00:05 – 06:50 Flight: TG930 From Bangkok (BKK) to Paris (CDG)
o 08:40 – 09:55 Flight: LH1027 From Paris (CDG) to Frankfurt (FRA)
o 13:30 – 22:45 Flight: LH630 From Frankfurt (FRA) to Dubai (DXB)
Hotel: JW Marriott Dubai
• January 21, 2017
o 10:50 - 18:25 Flight: EK778 From Dubai (DXB) to Cape Town (CPT)
Hotel: Protea Fire & Ice Cape Town
• January 22, 2017
o 13:25 – 01:10+1 Flight: EK773 From Cape Town (CPT) to Dubai (DXB)
• January 23, 2017
o 08:30 – 12:45 Flight: EK215 From Dubai (DXB) to Los Angeles (LAX)
o 16:00 – 16:53 Flight: UA5944 From Los Angeles (LAX) to San Diego (SAN
I'm still not completely sure why I did it, but I am really glad I did. The trip was 13 flights on six different airlines covering 42,339 miles AND I even found time to squeeze in a round of golf 
. This trip put the starch back in my sails, and I look forward to sharing it with you.
Cheers
Last edited by Madone59; Jan 20, 2019 at 12:32 pm