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I’ve been receiving a number of requests of late for directions to more of my Trip Reports. Here they are with a brief description of the contents. Bored? There are over 1000 pages worth of travel reporting here. Just click on the highlighted title.
TWA FIRST CLASS DEN-JFK 1972 ~ The Good Old Days
What started out as a simple post of a menu from a TWA flight of 30 years ago evolved into a forum for many flyers to reminisce about their experiences from the “Good Old days” of commercial aviation. It's worth noting that in 1972 TWA's First Class service on the 3.5 hour Denver to New York flight was on par with what you'd expect in international First Class today. Really an amazing service!
FIRST CLASS ON AMTRAK’S COAST STARLIGHT
The Coast Starlight is the finest train in Amtrak’s system. Here’s my first ever report about riding this train from a First Class perspective
DENVER TO HONOLULU VIA CANADA IN 1976 (On a trip that was supposed to go to Mexico)
When I was in college, I inherited $3000. Whereas most kids back then might have bought a stereo, a car or a quarter pound of good weed, for me it meant Time to travel! After flying from Denver to Vancouver, I thought I was going to Mexico and had the tickets in hand to do just that. Two hours later though, I was booked into a First Class seat aboard a Qantas 747 and on my way to Hawaii. But that’s only the beginning. The journey continues on to Alaska, New York and back to Hawaii before finally returning home to Colorado at Summer’s end. Lots of good old fashioned First Class service which was vastly superior to what passes for "First Class" today.
DENVER TO ALASKA ROUNDTRIP via SO, TI, DL, AA, AS, WC, CP, PW and UA
Travels from Colorado to Alaska and back aboard a wide variety of airlines and aircraft. Five of the airlines no longer exist and most of the aircraft I flew on back then have long since been scrapped. This trip was a great way to start the summer.
EP's MILEAGE RUN ~ AN AMERICAN ODYSSEY
My first ever Flight Report here at FlyerTalk. A pretty typical jaunt back and forth around the country a few times, all in the pursuit of miles. Travel is on Alaska, American and Northwest. I had lots of fun writing this in the early days of Post-911 travel.
ALASKA AIRLINES FIRST CLASS ~ SEA-ANC
This is a continuation of the above thread, covering the last flight back up to Alaska.
SEATTLE TO ANCHORAGE ~ Detailssss
This is a spoof on some of the incredibly detailed Trip Reports some people used to publish at FlyerTalk years ago.
14 Flights, 17000 Miles FAI-SFO-MCO-SEA-MCO-FAI in First and Coach on AS & UA
My first mileage run with United was back in 1988. This was my final Mileage Run on United (for the time being) before many of its nicer First Class services disappeared for good.
ALASKA TO NEW ZEALAND ~ THE LONG WAY
One of my all-time favorite trips ~ First Class aboard British Airways for the first time, across to London, Singapore and on to Melbourne before connecting to Air New Zealand’s excellent trans-Tasman Business Class to Auckland and on to Christchurch. Over 20,000 miles of pampered flying in four days.
NEW ZEALAND TRAIN ADVENTURE ~ Christchurch to Greymouth Aboard The Tranz Alpine
Come with me for a ride aboard New Zealand’s Tranz Alpine from Christchurch across the South Island to Greymouth.
CHRISTCHURCH TO MELBOURNE WITH NZ & UA
The title says it all. This trip included an op-upgrade to Business Class on United’s 747-400 between AKL and MEL.
FROM THE NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC TO THE SOUTHWESTERN PACIFIC
In the middle of my trip to New Zealand, I made a quick trip back to Alaska. Now I had to get back to New Zealand. Travel aboard Alaska Airlines, Amtrak, United and Qantas are highlighted.
TE ANAU to TASMANIA via DC-3, 737, 767 and 717
A surprise flight aboard a DC-3, hitching a ride with some crazy Germans, being mistaken for a famous marathoner, Business Class meal service aboard a 25 minute jet flight from Queenstown up to Christchurch, and fine inflight service aboard aging 767-200 aircraft across the Tasman Sea to Australia where a shiny new 717-200 awaits to get me down to Tasmania. This report has a bit of everything.
TASMANIA TO ALASKA - via FINLAND!
My first ever visit to Finland, but first I must get there – First Class aboard British Airways via Singapore and London, then an SAS MD-90 and an Air Botnia Avro RJ-85 (Bae-146-200) into Helsinki. Travel back to Alaska is in a First Class Suite aboard GE powered 777-200 to Washington, DC, followed by my first experience with Alaska’s First Class trans-con service between Washington DC and Seattle. The report closes with a flight aboard the 3000th 737 ever produced taking me back to Alaska.
VANCOUVER TO LAS VEGAS – via Plane, Train, Bus, Boat and Newfoundland
Starting in Vancouver aboard an ancient ex-Canadian Airlines 767-300, the journey continues across Canada via Toronto and Halifax and on to St. Johns, Newfoundland - the easternmost community in North America. Travel from St. Johns back to Montreal takes 51 hours and incorporates a bus across Newfoundland, an overnight ferry over to Nova Scotia and a First Class bedroom aboard ViaRail’s crack streamliner “The Ocean” for the twenty hour journey into Montreal. As if that weren’t enough, I then head out to the Montreal airport for Economy class travel aboard a pair of Continental 757s down to Newark and on to Las Vegas.
SIX DAYS OF WINING AND DINING ABOVE AMERICA AND CANADA
Seventeen flights on five airlines all over the continent, including one with Mary Tyler Moore. Lots of First Class travel.
NOTES FROM THE OVERFED ~ What's Cookin' at AS & NW This Month
Weekend breaks from my job in Alaska to take advantage of really cheap Mileage runs down to Houston and one Airline Collectibles convention down in Los Angeles. If you're wondering what domestic First Class used to be like in 2002, this report will provide a good historical record.
THE GREAT AUTUMN MILEAGE RUN OF 2002
The first of the big Autumn Mileage Runs ~ 34,880 miles around America on Northwest, Continental and Delta. Total cost to me for the airline tickets: $852.00. Total mileage accrued: 140,610 miles. Not a bad haul if I do say so!
ON THE ROAD AGAIN ~ 2 weeks, 23 flights and 19790 miles around America and Alaska
Twenty three flights on six different airlines, including many dinner flights aboard Alaska Airlines First Class when Alaska's catering was so good that even other airlines talked about it!
SEATTLE TO HELSINKI AND BACK FOR ONLY $95.00
Back in November 2001, British Airways offered – either by design or by accident – a $20.00 round trip fare between any of its western US gateways to any city in Europe. Here’s how I discovered that fare and the trip that followed.
Further Ruminations on the BA World Traveler Plus Experience
A continuation of the above report
A WEEKEND JAUNT WITH NORTHWEST ~ DEN-LEX-DEN
A short Mileage Run taking the long way from Denver to Lexington. Lots of First Class upgrades and surprisingly nice service made this a memorable trip.
Further Thoughts on Coach Passengers Using The First Class Lavatories
What started out as my response to a debate at the Alaska Air Forum regarding whether Economy Class passengers should be allowed unfettered access to the First Class lavatory became fairly spicy with many weighing in with their views. For the record, I grew up flying when nobody from the main cabin was ever allowed in the First Class cabin.
DENVER TO SACRAMENTO ABOARD CALIFORNIA’S CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR
If you like riding trains, especially around the American West, you might like this report. It's one of the very few that describes what it was like to travel in economy class aboard one of Amtrak's long distance trains. I even get to stay in a mansion in Sacramento.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN ~ 106,000 miles via plane, train, boat, bus, truck and thumb
106,000 miles of traveling via plane, train, boat, bus, truck and thumb through America, Canada, Alaska, Australia, Finland, a music festival in Florida and a Red Sox game at Fenway Park in Boston. First Class travel aboard British Airways between the US and Australia is featured.
FROM TUNDRA TO TROPICS ~ FAI - MIA in First Class Aboard Alaska Airlines
A weekend with nothing to do in Alaska turned into a round trip First Class jaunt down to the Florida tropics courtesy of a bump ticket from Alaska Airlines.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN ~ In Pursuit of Bonus Miles
Back in Autumn of 2003, Alaska Air Group offered its Mileage Plan members a chance to earn 100,000 free miles. The catch? You had to fly at least thirty-five separate segments between October and the end of November. I did that and more. Lots of flights aboard smaller propeller and regional jets.
FAIRBANKS TO KALGOORLIE - THE LONG WAY
This report describes my First Class trip from Alaska to Australia via Los Angeles, London and Singapore, including a bump from British Airways’ flight out of LAX that resulted in my getting to sample American’s First Class Flagship Suites aboard it’s new 777-200 between Los Angeles and London. From Melbourne, the journey continues across to Perth aboard a Qantas A330-200, followed by a rail journey across the Western Australian hills to the gold mining center of Kalgoorlie.
FROM TASMANIA TO SOUTH AFRICA – In A Roundabout Way
Description of an eleven day journey that began with First Class travel from Tasmania back to Alaska via Singapore, London and Los Angeles. After running a quick load of laundry, it was back to the airport for a trip across the continent to New York where we'll relocate to a First Class suite aboard Cathay Pacific’s 747-400 back across the continent to Vancouver. From there Canadian low fare success story WestJet takes us into Edmonton where a First Class rail journey aboard ViaRail’s famous streamliner "The Canadian" takes us back across the Canadian Rockies to Vancouver. Thank goodness we were on time because six hours after arriving in Vancouver we're back in First Class aboard Cathay’s long range A340-300 for the thirteen hour flight across the Pacific to Hong Kong, connecting to another thirteen hour flight across south Asia and the Indian Ocean to South Africa. South African low fare carrier Kulula jets us down to Durban where we'll continue in First Class aboard the South African Railways’ “Trans Natal” back up to Jo’Berg connecting to the “Alcoa” down to Port Elizabeth.
WINDHOEK TO SWAKOPMUND ABOARD THE DESERT EXPRESS ~ Luxury Train Travel Across Namibia
A First Class all suite luxury train trip from the Namibian capitol city of Windhoek across the Namib Desert to the Atlantic coast town of Swakopmund.
FROM NAMIBIA TO NEVADA
Travel from Namibia by train down through South Africa where I fly my first ever A340-600 with SAA before returning to Cathay Pacific’s First Class from Jo’Berg back to New York via Hong Kong and Vancouver. A pair of American DC-9-80s deliver me to Nevada.
DENVER TO ALASKA ROUNDTRIP via SO, TI, DL, AA, AS, WC, CP, PW and UA
Memories from a 1979 trip involving a lot of airlines, aircraft and service standards that no longer exist today.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN - 108,000 Miles Around America on Planes, Trains and Automobiles
A bunch or Mileage Runs with Northwest, Alaska, Horizon, and American wrapped around a drive from Alaska down to Montana, a First Class rail journey aboard Amtrak’s Coast Starlight and a music festival in Florida.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN - Three Weeks of Mileage Running around America
Life aboard American, Alaska, Northwest and Continental Airlines during a mega-Mileage Run back and forth between Denver and Florida
FROM LARAMIE TO LONDON (and on to Melbourne) ~ First Class on AS & BA
Spur of the moment travel in First Class luxury aboard British Airways 747s from the US to Australia via London and Singapore.
MORE CHAMPAGNE, SIR? ~ Life and times in BA's First Class Between Australia and California
This trip starts in Perth with a flight aboard Virgin Atlantic to Melbourne. The journey continues from Seat 2A aboard British Airways from Melbourne to London to San Francisco.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: From the Top of North America to the Bottom of South America
Travel from Alaska all the way down to the very tip of South America via First and Business Class with Alaska and LAN Chile. Also included are accounts of luxury bus travel around Argentina along with a four day ferry trip down through Chile’s Inside Passage.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES: From the Bottom of South America to the Top of Australia
Continuing from Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, I fly fly a variety of LAN Chile aircraft (Business Class) through six South American cities back to Miami. On to Alaska for a change of clothing, then down to Vancouver Island for a 24-hour ferry trip up to Prince Rupert, BC. ViaRail's "Skeena" provides the transport over to Prince George, AC to YVR, then First Class aboard Cathay Pacific daytime flights to Hong Kong and Sydney. Virgin Blue to Adelaide is followed by a ride on the world's only South to north transcontinental train trip aboard "The Ghan" up to Darwin.
FIRST CLASS TRAVEL FROM AUSTRALIA TO AMERICA (via HONG KONG)
We'll commence our travels out of Hobart, Tasmania aboard a Boeing 717, upgrade to a 767-300 up to Sydney and finally relocate to a First Class suite on Cathay Pacific's A340-300 up to Hong Kong. The next day we'll continue on aboard Cathay's 747-400 across the Pacific to Los Angeles and on to Fairbanks, Alaska. Travel between Tasmania and Alaska does't get any finer!
FROM FLORIDA TO ALASKA via Planes, Trains, Cars, Ferries and Churchill, Manitoba
We begin our travels in Miami, Florida - flying to Denver where I'll pick up my truck and commence a long and round about trip back to Alaska. We'll head west to Utah's canyon lands before tracking north to Canada where we'll park the truck at the Kelowna airport and fly Westjet to Winnipeg. From there we'll board ViaRail's streamliner "The Hudson Bay" for the 38 hour journey to Churchill, Manitoba. A six hour tour complete with a distant polar bear sighting will follow before heading back down to Winnipeg and Kelowna and continuing over to Prince Rupert through winter weather. There we'll board the MV Taku to Haines, Alaska only to find that the 158 mile road up to the Alaska Highway is closed due to heavy snows. Relocating to Skagway, we barely make it over White Pass before continuing on through three fat tires to Fairbanks. Definitely one of my more memorable trips!
British Airways First Class Inflight Dining – The Trip Report
Descriptive account of First Class travel between Phoenix and Melbourne, Australia on British Airways. This means travel via London and Singapore. Lots of pictures of fine BA inflight cuisine.
FOUR DAYS AND 25,610 MILES FROM NEW ZEALAND TO HAWAII (via BA FIRST)
Why fly from New Zealand straight to Hawaii when you can travel in First Class via British Airways through Singapore, London and Los Angeles before connecting on to Hawaii via Northwest? If you agree this is a good way to go, read on...
Planes, Trains and Automobiles Around North America
Starting with a drive around the Desert Southwest, continuing on to Florida, Nova Scotia and on down to Mexico with First Class train travel through three countries and some flights on obscure airlines. A fun trip.
Dear Diary ~ Random Thoughts and Observations From Three Weeks of Flying Around America
The title pretty much says it all. This was a mega-Mileage Run
From One Extreme To Another ~ Adak, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina
Travels by plane, train and bus (Business or Executive Class most all of the way!) between Adak, Alaska (Located way out in the western Aleutian Islands) and Ushuaia, Argentina (Located way down at the bottom of South America)
LAN Business Class From Argentina to Miami
The title pretty much says it all. The highs and lows of Business Class travel on LAN Chile
Fast As Freedom On Good Wind ~ Travels Around The West via Air, Rail & Road
What could have been a simple round trip from Alaska to Colorado turns into a 10,500 mile adventure including a First Class ride aboard Amtrak's California Zephyr.
Further Tales of First Class Decadence as Experienced On British Airways
“Good evening, Sir. May I offer you something to drink? A glass of Champagne, perhaps?”
Welcome to the world of International First Class travel as practiced by British Airways. With all the attention being given to the next generation of First Class suites and services as offered by airlines like Singapore, Emirates and India’s Jet Airways, how does BA’s service stack up? Is it still worth paying the big bucks for? I’ll report on my recent experience and let you be the judge.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN ~ From Alice Springs, NT to Tecopa Springs, CA
Starting from the Australian outback town of Alice Springs, we'll log our first flight aboard a Qantas 737-800 down to Sydney where we'll then pay a visit to the fabulous Qantas First lounge before boarding the first of three long flights in First Class with British Airways from Sydney to Miami, Florida. In London we'll visit the Concorde Room in the newly opened Terminal 5 where a sewage backup chases us from the Concorde Room down to ;the decidedly inferior Business Class lounge. In Florida, we'll take a drive down the Florida Keys before heading to Colorado where we'll drive across the Rockies to the Mojave desert community of Tecopa Hot Springs, located just outside of Death Valley National Park.
MY 1000th FLIGHT ON A 737 (And Other Aviation Milestones)
Have you ever wondered how many times you've flown? Or how many of those flights have been on a particular type of jet or airline? I've logged all of my flights since I was just six years old. Here are some of the more entertaining statistics.
Winter Wanderings Around America by Plane And Train
With temperatures dropping to -46°F in Fairbanks, leaving town to go harvest some miles seemed like a good idea. Come along on a one month trip around America involving eight airlines, one national railroad and a variety of First and Coach Class travel.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN ~ Spring Travels Above And Around North America
Seven airlines, a couple of trans-con mileage runs and a nice mixture of First Class and Coach travel
Miles and Milestones from 2 Weeks of Flying Around America
From the Desert Southwest to the shores of Tampa Bay - and many points in between - this report covers flights on a variety of airlines along with certain milestones such as flying my 169th flight on Northwest, which just happens to also be my 250th flight on a 757 and my 4000th flight overall.
Tales From The Troposphere ~ Random Thoughts & Observations on 3 Weeks of Air Travel
Tales of travel all over America interspersed with schedules and reminiscing from flights forty years ago
6 Trains on 6 Continents ~ Connected by 44 Flights on 14 Airlines ~ PART 1
A fantastic journey incorporating primarily First and Business Class travel with premium class train travel. Part 1 covers First Class train rides in the United States, Scotland and Africa along with First Class air travel on Cathay Pacific. Flights with American, flyBE, Aer Lingus, Mango and 1Time are also covered
6 Trains on 6 Continents ~ Connected by 44 Flights on 14 Airlines ~ PART 2
The journey continues from Hong Kong down to Australia with extreme budget accommodations in Singapore and Australia contrasted with Premium Class train travel through Western Australia and Malaysia. Cathay Pacific First Class gets us back to North America followed by LAN Airlines Business Class down to Argentina where a ride aboard the third highest railroad in the world awaits.
Dispatches From The Railways, Roadways, Runways and Marine Highways of North America
Starting with a ride aboard the Alaska Railroad from Denali Park up to Fairbanks, we continue aboard a ferry from the Alaska Marine Highway from Skagway down to Ketchikan. A road trip through the desert southwest is followed by some mileage running with Alaska and Delta before relocating to Colorado for a beautiful autumn ride aboard the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad’s La Veta Mountaineer.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Traveling From -23°F to +27°C in Style
First Class all the way from the chilly climes of Interior Alaska to the warm and sunny city of Cape Town, South Africa. We'll fly from Alaska to Johannesburg via Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific, then relocate to a room aboard South Africa's Premiere Class train for the 25 hour journey to Cape Town.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: From The Bottom of Africa to The Top of Alaska
It's a long trip, one best appreciated from the comfort of a First Class suite. We'l start with Cathay Pacific from Africa to the U.S. followed by a ride on Amtrak's Southwest Chief from LA to Chicago. A western road trip follows before finally returning home with an intermediate stop in Barrow, Alaska - the northernmost city in the U.S.
AUTUMN PERIGRINATIONS - 50000 Miles of Air and Rail Travel Around America
This one's all over the map! It's essentially a mileage run in bits and pieces all over the country. In between are road trips and train rides with visits to a couple of spectacular stations.
Wintertime Travels & Tribulations ~ Through The Last Frontier by Air, Land and Sea
One of my most enjoyable trips, taken in the dead of winter through America's northernmost state. After flying up to Barrow, its off to Sitka where I board the MV Taku for a 4 day sail down to Prince Rupert and back before delivering a car down to Denali National Park and catching the once weekly Winter Train back up to Fairbanks.
Not For The Faint Hearted ~ 82 Flights and 87830 Miles of Mileage Running
The title says it all - How to go from zero to MVP Gold 75K status in just 30 days while battling winter storms along the way. As always, this includes the usual road and rail interludes... along with lots of First Class air travel on Alaska Airlines.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Another Boring Trip Report on Cathay to South Africa
Starting with a springtime ride aboard the Alaska Railroad's once weekly winter train from Denali Park up to Fairbanks, we continue in plutocratic comfort in First Class aboard a pair of Cathay Pacific 747s routing San Francisco - Hong Kong - Johannesburg.
Cookin’ Up An Adventure: Traveling From Cape Town to Chicago in Style
One of my favorite trips to both travel and subsequently write about. Starting with an appetizer of First Class travel aboard South Africa's Premiere Class train between Capetown and Johannesburg, I offer a main course flying across the Indian and Pacific Oceans in First Class aboard Cathay Pacific before finishing with dessert in First Class aboard Amtrak's Empire Builder between Seattle and Chicago. Bon Apetite!
THE GREAT AFFAIR IS TO MOVE - Travels by Plane, Train, Boat & Car Around America
There's a little bit of everything in this one - a road trip through the desert southwest, a train ride in First Class aboard Arizona's Verde Canyon Railroad followed by yet another train ride aboard the famous Cumbres & Toltec Narrow Gauge Railway, the longest and highest narrow gauge railway in America. Then it's off on a road trip through Michigan's Upper Peninsula followed by a boat ride across Lake Michigan aboard the S.S. Badger, last coal fired ship still operating in America. Next up, a pair of Air Tran 737s deliver me to Washington, DC where I board a pair of Amtrak trains to Chicago and on to Austin, Texas. Delta delivers me to Florida where a ride aboard Amtrak's Silver Meteor awaits before I relocate to Colorado for a short road trip through the Rockies. The trip closes out with a drive around Washington's Olympic Peninsula including a visit to Olympic National Park. Definitely one of my favorite trips!
MY WEEKEND JAUNT TO CALIFORNIA - All 23000 Miles of it!
The analogy I like to use is that in the process of creating a good trip, I'm much like a full blown alcoholic after two or three drinks in that I then gain momentum and what started out as a weekend getaway eventually becomes a full blown three week, 23,000 mile adventure. Such was the case with this trip involving the usual collection of planes, trains and automobiles all over America. Here's hoping you enjoy reading about it all as much as I enjoyed traveling it all.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale on a SAAB 340 and other great flights!
After a while, I got tired of reading trip reports covering premium class travels aboard Star Alliance carriers. I've got to get me some of that! So I did a status match with United Airlines and embarked upon a 31 flight, 33000 mile mileage run all over the country. Many of those flights were in First Class and eventually I acquired enough miles to support my Business Class trip between San Francisco and Johannesburg later that year (Two reports down).
ALL ABOARD: A Photographic Rail Adventure Through The American West
My only photo report - three days by First Class rail from Denver, Colorado to Havre, Montana via the California Zephyr, The Coast Starlight and the Empire Builder. I was blessed with beautiful weather throughout which allowed for some beautiful photos from the trains. All aboard!
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Spending My Hard Earned Miles on The Suite Life
How does 70000 miles of travel around the world aboard fifteen airlines sound? Those travels include four flights in First Class aboard Emirates along with some quality Business Class flights aboard United, Austrian, Turkish, South African, Asiana, EVA, Singapore and All Nippon. Also included are train rides in Portugal, Scotland and South Africa. In all, a 90000 word chronicle of the good life aloft.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Strolling Down Memory Lane Between London and Sydney in 1969
British Airways predecessor Imperial Airways used to fly 'Empire class' flying boats on an 11 day journey from Southampton to Sydney, Australia. Using the 1937 schedule as a guide, I tried to recreate this trip with schedules from a 1969 OAG. The beauty of this was lots of flights with exotic aircraft like VC10s, Convair 990s and Hawker Siddeley Tridents, not to mention a raft of F.27s. If only I could travel back in time... This is my attempt to do so - if only in a literary sense.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Alaska to Singapore and Back via Argentina and Dubai
After acquiring 1K status with United, my Mileage Plus and Mileage Plan accounts were well enough stocked to allow me to purchase First Class travel from Alaska down to Buenos Aires, then on to Southeast Asia highlighted by First Class flights aboard a pair of Lufthansa and Asiana 747s. First Class flights from Bangkok back to the US aboard Emirates close out this 8 day odyssey.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Seeing America from "See Level"
Trains are a wonderful way to travel and here in America we have some of the finest examples of long distance train travel combined with fantastic scenery along the way. This trip is all-First Class from New Orleans to Seattle aboard the City of New Orleans, the Southwest Chief and the Coast Starlight. Lots of detail and railroad history included...
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Goin' Where The Climate Suits My Clothes
One of my favorite trips! This one starts with a quick First Class jaunt to Hawaii, followed by First Class travel from Honolulu to Santiago, Chile with a brief break in the U.S. where a couple of great outdoor concerts and a 10000 mile First Class rail tour of America are thrown in for good measure. From Santiago, a Business Class award to Capetown, South Africa allows us to experience flights with Avianca and COPA along with South African Airways' excellent Business Class service between Sao Paulo and Johannesburg. In South Africa we'll rent a car for two weeks of exploring and close the trip out with First Class passage aboard Emirates from Johannesburg back to the US. Definitely one of my favorite spring time trips!
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Breaking Through The 5 Million Mile Threshold in Style
Not many people have flown 5 million miles. It's a significant milestone - one that I wanted to cross in style. So, on 16 hours notice I put together a fantastic five day itinerary that included First Class on Cathay Pacific from Vancouver to New York to Hong Kong to Singapore followed by First Class on Emirates from Singapore to Brisbane to Dubai to San Francisco. I crossed the 5 million mile mark over the Java Sea, comfortably reclined in a First Class suite aboard an Emirates 777. Now then - on to the next 5 million!
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: On The Run From Old Man Winter
An Arctic cold front over New Year's weekend with threat of high winds and power outages chased me out of Alaska and down to Northwest Illinois where I visited friends in Galena before driving to Milwaukee where a roomette awaited aboard Amtrak's Empire Builder across the northern plains to Seattle where more bad weather brought my train ride to an early end in Spokane. By the time I returned home after a week's sojourn, it was sunny and 10°F - much nicer!
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Across Siberia to Southeast Asia, Fiji and the American West
This trip was months in the planning and worth every every bit of time and money spent. Starting with a First Class flight aboard British Airways 747 from San Diego to London, we continue with my first ever flights aboard a KLM Fokker 70, an Air Baltic CS300, LOT Polish Airlines, Norwegian Airlines and Aeroflot. From Moscow we board the Trans-Siberian where the finest possible accommodations await for the seven day journey across Asia to Beijing. Hainan Airways delivers us to Bangkok, after which I make my way to Denpasar, Bali in style aboard an Ethiopian 787-8 and a pair of 737s with Malindo and Batik Air. Following a three day respite in Bali, it's off to Singapore in Business Class aboard a KLM 777-300, then on to Taipei in Business aboard a brand new 787-9 from local discount carrier Scoot. A Business Class award from Taipei to Nadi, Fiji sees travel aboard Thai, Asiana and Air New Zealand. Following a few days at a wonderful Fijian resort, it's back to Taipei in Business Class with Air New Zealand, Air China and EVA. But wait - there's more! We'll check out the Business Class service on Japan Airlines' 787-8 up to Tokyo, followed by the First Class service on JAL's 777-300 across the Pacific and North America to New York. Making our way up to Boston, we then board a roomette across the country to Seattle aboard Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited, California Zephyr and Coast Starlight. A brief road trip from Arizona up to Colorado is next before finally returning home to Alaska just in time for another exciting summer in Denali National Park.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: From Colorado to Alaska in a Roundabout Way
After having flown over 190 different airlines, it's not so easy to find a new airline that also operates jets here in the U.S. - but find one we do, in style aboard a Dornier DO328JET from Denver to Sheridan, Wyoming. Then it's a bus through inclement weather in the middle of the night to Billings, Montana where I stay in my kind of motel before relocating to Seattle for a show with Dark Star Orchestra before heading east to Baltimore where the train takes us to the plane - in this case a First Class leather recliner aboard Virgin America's A320 to San Francisco and on to Seattle before returning home in First Class aboard a pair of Alaska 737s.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: From Connecticut to Alaska by Road, Rail, Air & Sea (and SE Asia)
The narrative for this trip starts in New Haven, Connecticut where I make my way via MegaBus up to Boston whence we commence a four day trans-continental journey aboard Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited, California Zephyr and Coast Starlight to Seattle. Then it's on to Denver and Los Angeles where a First Class suite awaits aboard Cathay Pacific's midday 777-300 departure to Hong Kong. The journey continues the next day - again in First Class - aboard yet another 777 down to Bangkok where we'll relocate to Bangkok's Hua Lamphong Station for a train ride across the border to Vientianne, Laos. Following a few days of bliss in Vientianne, we'll check out a pair of A320s from Lao Airways and Bangkok Airways before continuing on to Ho Chi Minh City aboard a Vietnam Airlines A321 (But not before checking out a variety of premium lounge options at Bangkok's airport). Japan Airlines gets us back to the U.S. in style via Business Class in a 787-8 and First Class to New York aboard a 777-300. A quick visit to North Carolina ensues, followed by First Class from Raleigh to Ketchikan, Alaska where we'll board the Alaska Marine Highway's MV Columbia for a two day sail up to Juneau before flying the final leg home to Fairbanks. What a trip!
FROM ALASKA TO AUSTRALIA : In Hot Pursuit of my 198th, 199th and 200th Airlines Flown
We'll start by flying First Class across the Pacific to Tokyo with Japan Airlines. The next day we'll continue to Kuala Lumpur in Business Class aboard JAL's new SkySuite equipped 787-9. At KL we'll pick up airline #198 - Uzbekistan Airways aboard a 767-300 down to Singapore. The next morning we'll head back to KL aboard Air Mauritius' A330-200 before heading up to Phuket aboard a Malindo 737-900. Finally, we claim airline #200 via a SkyBoss seat aboard a VietJet A320 up to Bangkok. Following little R&R at the Summit Mill Golf Resort, we'll relocate to Singapore aboard a Singapore A330-300. And finally, a First Class suite aboard an Emirates 777-300 proves a stylish and comfortable way to get down to Melbourne. This was a much more enjoyable way to get down to Australia than taking the late night nonstop out of LA.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Selling Postcards at Airline Collectible Conventions
We'll start with American's First Class domestic product between Denver and Charlotte (meh) before continuing on up to Philadelphia where a Business Class seat aboard AA's 767-300 delivers us nonstop to Amsterdam. Following a full day of action at Europe's largest airline collectibles convention, we'll board an Arkia A321LR from Amsterdam to Tel Aviv. Unfortunately, I was unable to stay longer in Tel Aviv, but some consolation could be taken via First Class passage back to London and New York via British Airways' 777-200 and 787-9 aircraft. The First Class adventure continues aboard Alaska Airlines across the country to San Francisco for yet another airline collectible convention before eventually making our way back to Alaska via Denver aboard a new Frontier A320NEO. Unfortunately, a planned ride aboard the California Zephyr was cancelled due to weather, so First Class aboard a pair of Alaska jets returned me back to Alaska.
ON THE RAILROAD AGAIN: Trains, Planes, Boats and More Trains Around North America