Value of Platinum? [Merged threads]
#61
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,668
That is over-reacting. I've had it I would say at least a dozen times with no problems. One of the worst nightmares an airline could face is food poisoning epidemic onboard, that's why hygienic level on airline catering is high almost everywhere, and I'm sure AY would not use local catering if there was any doubt of food safety.
However, Ive yet to experience a city as filthy as Delhi, sadly. Rats running around the alleys in Connaught Place in broad daylight, in that yellow smog they call air. And that one time I was there, it was only for a few days and I did get food poisoning, which lasted maybe 56 days. It was partly my own fault since I decided to eat Western food etc. If I had stuck with local food, maybe I would have been luckier.
On one hand, if people regularly got sick for eating AYs onboard catering ex-DEL, Im sure it would be all over the news. But on the other hand, who knows people tolerate different things and if many Westeners on those flights will experience problems later on, they may not associate it with the flight but just blame it on generic Delhi belly.
Those of you who have visited the Plaza Premium what kind of food do they serve there? Id assume a well-heated Indian dish from a buffet would be rather safe whereas anything cold, such as a salad bar (not thinking of the FTer salads now!) or a fruit salad would definitely be a no-no.
#62
Join Date: May 2016
Location: BLL
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 405
Don't know about the place you refer to, bit in general buffet food, hot or not, is pretty much as bad as salad, unpeelable fruit and dairy. Street food cooked in front of your eyes is porobably a lot safer.
#63
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+ Plat and several other cards
Posts: 642
Im usually not very picky
that one time I was there, it was only for a few days and I did get food poisoning, which lasted maybe 56 days. It was partly my own fault since I decided to eat Western food etc. If I had stuck with local food, maybe I would have been luckier.
Those of you who have visited the Plaza Premium what kind of food do they serve there? Id assume a well-heated Indian dish from a buffet would be rather safe whereas anything cold, such as a salad bar (not thinking of the FTer salads now!) or a fruit salad would definitely be a no-no.
that one time I was there, it was only for a few days and I did get food poisoning, which lasted maybe 56 days. It was partly my own fault since I decided to eat Western food etc. If I had stuck with local food, maybe I would have been luckier.
Those of you who have visited the Plaza Premium what kind of food do they serve there? Id assume a well-heated Indian dish from a buffet would be rather safe whereas anything cold, such as a salad bar (not thinking of the FTer salads now!) or a fruit salad would definitely be a no-no.
In the lounge at DEL they at least used to have kind of small buffet (buffet? India? read above!) with some hot and cold dishes, but I've never touched those, instead been happy with bottled drinks and hot tea, knowing that it is much safer to eat onboard.
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,083
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,083
Very much doable. Come off the plane, follow the transit signs, go through transfer security (you'll be the only pax, probably) and up the stairs, back to the departure area. I did quite a few transfers at ICN, even though not same plane turnarounds, but to utilize the Chinese 72/144 hrs TWOV opportunities and/or save a bunch to JPN.
#66
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Platinum, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,132
Very much doable. Come off the plane, follow the transit signs, go through transfer security (you'll be the only pax, probably) and up the stairs, back to the departure area. I did quite a few transfers at ICN, even though not same plane turnarounds, but to utilize the Chinese 72/144 hrs TWOV opportunities and/or save a bunch to JPN.
a) make sure you have onward boarding pass or other "proof" of travel, like printed e-ticket
b) be very location aware and do not transfer between concourse/main terminal
because: Transfer security demands proof of onward travel, but transfer desks are located after security! And leaving concourse means no airside way back.
b) be very location aware and do not transfer between concourse/main terminal
#67
Join Date: May 2012
Location: GVA (HEL)
Programs: AY Plat (OWE)
Posts: 536
Yes, you are absolutely right. But here it doesn't really make a big difference, since the second Gold gift will expire only a month later (based on my tracking period), so I'll have to gift it pretty quickly.
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,083
Yes, thanks for the addition, for me they seemed trivial, but first-time ICN:ers might get caught by it.
Going landside is not a biggie though, but frustrating - train from the concourse to the terminal, go through immigration, go to departure, pass immigration and security again and back to the concourse. If the turnaround is ca. 2 hrs, it's still manageable, but a PITA.
Going landside is not a biggie though, but frustrating - train from the concourse to the terminal, go through immigration, go to departure, pass immigration and security again and back to the concourse. If the turnaround is ca. 2 hrs, it's still manageable, but a PITA.
#69
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Platinum, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,132
...
Going landside is not a biggie though, but frustrating - train from the concourse to the terminal, go through immigration, go to departure, pass immigration and security again and back to the concourse. If the turnaround is ca. 2 hrs, it's still manageable, but a PITA.
Going landside is not a biggie though, but frustrating - train from the concourse to the terminal, go through immigration, go to departure, pass immigration and security again and back to the concourse. If the turnaround is ca. 2 hrs, it's still manageable, but a PITA.
#70
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,668
I got a reply. Both J and Y are catered from DEL.
#71
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+ Plat and several other cards
Posts: 642
Meaning you'll get tasty Indian dishes onboard! I'm confident food safety also on DEL catered food is good, as no airline can risk serving food causing food poison epidemy onboard. In any case for sure it is by far much safer than the lounge food at DEL.
#72
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Platinum, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,132
I agree, don't think the risk is significantly higher. (We took the Delhi belly joke too far)
#73
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: Finnair Plus
Posts: 28
Wow its awesome how many replies there have been here and how alive the discussion is
I have been almost a week without internet at home and when checking back here I saw all these messages and posts, very cool
I gave up my plan on flying 76 segments with JAL Domestic as first intended. I know that till the end of my tracking period I will have at least 2 more business flights with AY from Asia to Europe which will bring me each 44000 with the Silver bonus which i reach soon. I would have never thought to look for ICN to HEL instead of KIX to HEL in Business. Prices are like 2000 $ higher almost from Japan cause of the JV and this is crazy. From KIX I can get easy and cheap to ICN without any problems
One thing I saw though raises a question for me. I saw that the flights from KIX to ICN with JAL are operated by Korean Air and they are Skyteam. So if I book the flight with JAL but they put me on a Korea Air plane, do I get the OW miles then ?
I have been almost a week without internet at home and when checking back here I saw all these messages and posts, very cool
I gave up my plan on flying 76 segments with JAL Domestic as first intended. I know that till the end of my tracking period I will have at least 2 more business flights with AY from Asia to Europe which will bring me each 44000 with the Silver bonus which i reach soon. I would have never thought to look for ICN to HEL instead of KIX to HEL in Business. Prices are like 2000 $ higher almost from Japan cause of the JV and this is crazy. From KIX I can get easy and cheap to ICN without any problems
One thing I saw though raises a question for me. I saw that the flights from KIX to ICN with JAL are operated by Korean Air and they are Skyteam. So if I book the flight with JAL but they put me on a Korea Air plane, do I get the OW miles then ?
#74
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: Finnair Plus
Posts: 28
I don't mind it when saving 2000 $ besides a night in Korea is attractive as well. Incheon is a nice city and lots of stuff to do....just need to make sure to not miss the flight
#75
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,668
For non-OW operated codeshares, you can only earn miles/points to the program of the ticketing carrier. So flying SU HEL-SVO on AY flight number will get you AY+ points but not, say, BA Avios.