Best value from US
Dec 9, 2003 | 5:19 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Dallas, TX, USA AA Plat
Posts: 1,342
Best value from US
I've been lurking for a while. In 2004 I'd like to make a RTW (going for EXP)
The places I need to get to - Togo, West Africa - Chiang Mai, Thailand -- Novosibirsk, Russia/ Siberia -
I realize there will be some land travel - maybe more than I want.
The reason for this itn. is our church sponsors missionaires at these places. So I am using the flimsy excuse - someone needs to go visit them, to justify the trip.
I see Cairo listed as a great cheap starting place - I'm leaving from DFW - and wonder when considering the cost to GET to Cairo - if there is not a more economical way to do this trip.
I plan to fly Biz Class - (flying first to visit missionaries in foreign fields seems a bit tacky, doesn't it? )
right now I'm PLAT on AA. I love the miles.
I'm open to other places to visit.
Thoughts? Conjectures?
Thanks.
CFM
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TANSTAAFL - but if you work it right, FF miles comes pretty close.
The places I need to get to - Togo, West Africa - Chiang Mai, Thailand -- Novosibirsk, Russia/ Siberia -
I realize there will be some land travel - maybe more than I want.
The reason for this itn. is our church sponsors missionaires at these places. So I am using the flimsy excuse - someone needs to go visit them, to justify the trip.
I see Cairo listed as a great cheap starting place - I'm leaving from DFW - and wonder when considering the cost to GET to Cairo - if there is not a more economical way to do this trip.
I plan to fly Biz Class - (flying first to visit missionaries in foreign fields seems a bit tacky, doesn't it? )
right now I'm PLAT on AA. I love the miles.
I'm open to other places to visit.
Thoughts? Conjectures?
Thanks.
CFM
------------------
TANSTAAFL - but if you work it right, FF miles comes pretty close.
Dec 9, 2003 | 6:44 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,641
If you don't mind a ride that's decent but not up to the standards you'll enjoy on your OWE, you can fly JFK-CAI on Egyptair reasonably. F was USD1500 last summer, and it was okay. Check itn.net for current pricing if you don't have another source.
Dec 9, 2003 | 10:39 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: None any more
Posts: 11,017
You have a fundamental problem that OneWorld doesn't, as far as I know, serve any of those places.
I suspect Togo would be served by AF, and Novisibirsk by SU, so you're probably better off looking at some sort of similar ticket from the Skyteam alliance.
[This message has been edited by christep (edited Dec 11, 2003).]
I suspect Togo would be served by AF, and Novisibirsk by SU, so you're probably better off looking at some sort of similar ticket from the Skyteam alliance.
[This message has been edited by christep (edited Dec 11, 2003).]
Dec 10, 2003 | 9:47 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Dallas, TX, USA AA Plat
Posts: 1,342
Christep,
I understand what you are saying - My plan was to get as close to each place as I can on ONEWORLD and then take a puddle hopper to each location.
Any help is apprecaited.
------------------
TANSTAAFL - but if you work it right, FF miles comes pretty close.
I understand what you are saying - My plan was to get as close to each place as I can on ONEWORLD and then take a puddle hopper to each location.
Any help is apprecaited.
------------------
TANSTAAFL - but if you work it right, FF miles comes pretty close.
Dec 11, 2003 | 11:41 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA Platinum, FB Silver, Krysflier, Hertz #1 Gold, A|Club Silver
Posts: 175
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">I understand what you are saying - My plan was to get as close to each place as I can on ONEWORLD and then take a puddle hopper to each location.
</font>
</font>
You can fly to Moscow (MOW) with BA then make your way to Novosibirsk (SVO) with Aeroflot.
You can fly to Bangkok (BKK) with BA then go to Chiang Mai (CNS) via Thai Air.
Dec 12, 2003 | 12:24 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: HEL, Finland
Programs: AY Plat, SK Silver, FB Gold
Posts: 604
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The places I need to get to - Togo, West Africa - Chiang Mai, Thailand -- Novosibirsk, Russia/ Siberia -</font>
[This message has been edited by JuPe (edited Dec 12, 2003).]
Dec 12, 2003 | 8:07 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Dallas, TX, USA AA Plat
Posts: 1,342
I've modified my goals -- cutting out Togo.
Bangkok will work for Thailand destination.
Firguring out Novosirbirsk is a little more difficult.
Looking at the map - getting to Beijing on OneWorld -- then a side trip.
Flyertalk is wonderful for planning these kind of trips.
Thanks.
Bangkok will work for Thailand destination.
Firguring out Novosirbirsk is a little more difficult.
Looking at the map - getting to Beijing on OneWorld -- then a side trip.
Flyertalk is wonderful for planning these kind of trips.
Thanks.
Feb 8, 2004 | 2:28 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM; Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 18,588
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JohnAx:
If you don't mind a ride that's decent but not up to the standards you'll enjoy on your OWE, you can fly JFK-CAI on Egyptair reasonably. F was USD1500 last summer, and it was okay. Check itn.net for current pricing if you don't have another source.</font>
If you don't mind a ride that's decent but not up to the standards you'll enjoy on your OWE, you can fly JFK-CAI on Egyptair reasonably. F was USD1500 last summer, and it was okay. Check itn.net for current pricing if you don't have another source.</font>
I tried to e-mail you about this, but I a message indicating that you did not get the message. Anyway, if you have a few minutes, can you elaborate on your MS F experience from JFK to CAI? I am holding a ticket on this flight later this month and am still not 100% certain whether to use this flight or am 80,000 business class Oneworld award on EI and BA to get to CAI.
Specifically, I am most interested in:
1. Check-in. How was it? Staff attitude okay?
2. Security. Any special MS security or just the regular TSA experience? If MS had its own layer to security, how was it?
3. Boarding. Total chaos, or did they board by class?
4. Seat assignments. MS is telling me they don't preassign, even in F -- was this your experience?
5. Seat comfort. How does it compare to AA's wooly mammoth or international J seats? How was the pitch?
6. Smoking. I have some reason to beleive MS has gone non-smoking on its flights. Was this your experience?
7. Meal service. Any good? A la carte? Course by course? All at once? What meals were offered (dinner and breakfast I assume)?
8. Did the flight arrive on time? My flight is showing a 10 hour flying time. For a 5600 mile flight, this seems like a short flying time, even for a 777.
9. Immigration/arrival in CAI. How was arriving in Terminal 1? Are there places to buy the visa stamp as there are in Terminal 2?
Thanks so much. I appreciate it.
Feb 8, 2004 | 5:57 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Agoura Hills, CA USA
Posts: 2,683
Just returned from the LHR-CAI run. Spoke to people who have taken the MS flight. According to them it was miserable. They flew in first. Cannot answer questions about visa. But I flew in to the NEW terminal as it is referred to, and the visas were very easy to obtain
Feb 12, 2004 | 1:29 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: New York City, United States.
Posts: 2,736
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by RTW4:
Just returned from the LHR-CAI run. Spoke to people who have taken the MS flight. According to them it was miserable. They flew in first. Cannot answer questions about visa. But I flew in to the NEW terminal as it is referred to, and the visas were very easy to obtain</font>
Just returned from the LHR-CAI run. Spoke to people who have taken the MS flight. According to them it was miserable. They flew in first. Cannot answer questions about visa. But I flew in to the NEW terminal as it is referred to, and the visas were very easy to obtain</font>
C'mon. Lets keep some perspective. How bad could it have been?
I think this flight is less than 6 hours.
Feb 12, 2004 | 2:07 pm
#11
In Memoriam
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Boca Raton, FL DL FO/MM AA EXP SPG PLT
Posts: 968
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by writetorich:
I think this flight is less than 6 hours.
</font>
I think this flight is less than 6 hours.
</font>
Edited to add revised flight schedules. Still 10+ hours on the bird.
[This message has been edited by ExMo (edited Feb 12, 2004).]
Feb 12, 2004 | 3:31 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: New York City, United States.
Posts: 2,736
Ex- Lon is no more than six hours though. I interpeted the post to be complaining about UK-Eqypt.
Is "first class"on three class or two class service?
I can't picture first class on a plane with three classes of service to be "miserable",
or unbearable.
Is "first class"on three class or two class service?
I can't picture first class on a plane with three classes of service to be "miserable",
or unbearable.
Feb 12, 2004 | 6:52 pm
#14
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,641
Although the e-pony eventually arrived with your mail, for the greater good, here are my comments. Everyone should keep in mind that some of my opinions are colored by the fare, and should realize that beyond expecting a certain level of courtesy, we're pretty tolerant of stuff, i.e. you'll never find me posting that seat 3K is the best, or that caviar is critical to life.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PresRDC:
Hi John,
I tried to e-mail you about this, but I a message indicating that you did not get the message. Anyway, if you have a few minutes, can you elaborate on your MS F experience from JFK to CAI? I am holding a ticket on this flight later this month and am still not 100% certain whether to use this flight or am 80,000 business class Oneworld award on EI and BA to get to CAI.
Specifically, I am most interested in:
1. Check-in. How was it? Staff attitude okay?
Staff attitude was extraordinary. We were almost late due to the incoming cnx, and were made very welcome at the check-in counter. I think they expect that everyone who flies First is at least a semi-important person.
2. Security. Any special MS security or just the regular TSA experience? If MS had its own layer to security, how was it?
No additional security when we flew.
3. Boarding. Total chaos, or did they board by class?
As noted we were late and waltzed on. I rather expect that if you were there early you'd have gotten the typical international treatment, i.e. a separate line, but that's a guess.
4. Seat assignments. MS is telling me they don't preassign, even in F -- was this your experience?
I suspect we were pre-assigned, since our threesome sat together, and we boarded last. We booked through ITN, and perhaps they had something to do with it.
5. Seat comfort. How does it compare to AA's wooly mammoth or international J seats? How was the pitch?
First-class pitch, a world better than KLM AMS-JFK in J, the only long-haul J I've done recently. Somewhat comparable to SQ's arrangement the year before they got beds. I.E. lots of room, enough recline to sleep comfortably.
6. Smoking. I have some reason to beleive MS has gone non-smoking on its flights. Was this your experience?
I think it's a requirement for flights to and from the U.S.
7. Meal service. Any good? A la carte? Course by course? All at once? What meals were offered (dinner and breakfast I assume)?
Breakfast was exceptionally poor. Meals were served course by course, but the offerings were limited and very, very unexciting.
8. Did the flight arrive on time? My flight is showing a 10 hour flying time. For a 5600 mile flight, this seems like a short flying time, even for a 777.
777's fly a little faster than 744's, and the jetstream may be helpful especially during the winter.. We waited in the takeoff line at JFK for two hours - I asked the f/a to ask the crew how much fuel they burned in that situation, and iirc it was just 2000 lbs/hour - and I think we made up a little schedule but of course were late arriving.
9. Immigration/arrival in CAI. How was arriving in Terminal 1? Are there places to buy the visa stamp as there are in Terminal 2?
Two guys at a table on the left selling stamps. No issue with customs. Front cabin gets off first, so we hit the slopes before the masses.
Thanks so much. I appreciate it.</font>
Hi John,
I tried to e-mail you about this, but I a message indicating that you did not get the message. Anyway, if you have a few minutes, can you elaborate on your MS F experience from JFK to CAI? I am holding a ticket on this flight later this month and am still not 100% certain whether to use this flight or am 80,000 business class Oneworld award on EI and BA to get to CAI.
Specifically, I am most interested in:
1. Check-in. How was it? Staff attitude okay?
Staff attitude was extraordinary. We were almost late due to the incoming cnx, and were made very welcome at the check-in counter. I think they expect that everyone who flies First is at least a semi-important person.
2. Security. Any special MS security or just the regular TSA experience? If MS had its own layer to security, how was it?
No additional security when we flew.
3. Boarding. Total chaos, or did they board by class?
As noted we were late and waltzed on. I rather expect that if you were there early you'd have gotten the typical international treatment, i.e. a separate line, but that's a guess.
4. Seat assignments. MS is telling me they don't preassign, even in F -- was this your experience?
I suspect we were pre-assigned, since our threesome sat together, and we boarded last. We booked through ITN, and perhaps they had something to do with it.
5. Seat comfort. How does it compare to AA's wooly mammoth or international J seats? How was the pitch?
First-class pitch, a world better than KLM AMS-JFK in J, the only long-haul J I've done recently. Somewhat comparable to SQ's arrangement the year before they got beds. I.E. lots of room, enough recline to sleep comfortably.
6. Smoking. I have some reason to beleive MS has gone non-smoking on its flights. Was this your experience?
I think it's a requirement for flights to and from the U.S.
7. Meal service. Any good? A la carte? Course by course? All at once? What meals were offered (dinner and breakfast I assume)?
Breakfast was exceptionally poor. Meals were served course by course, but the offerings were limited and very, very unexciting.
8. Did the flight arrive on time? My flight is showing a 10 hour flying time. For a 5600 mile flight, this seems like a short flying time, even for a 777.
777's fly a little faster than 744's, and the jetstream may be helpful especially during the winter.. We waited in the takeoff line at JFK for two hours - I asked the f/a to ask the crew how much fuel they burned in that situation, and iirc it was just 2000 lbs/hour - and I think we made up a little schedule but of course were late arriving.
9. Immigration/arrival in CAI. How was arriving in Terminal 1? Are there places to buy the visa stamp as there are in Terminal 2?
Two guys at a table on the left selling stamps. No issue with customs. Front cabin gets off first, so we hit the slopes before the masses.
Thanks so much. I appreciate it.</font>