Business class question
Dec 25, 2011 | 9:24 pm
#16
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: CHI / SFO
Programs: UA*G, AC*S, Marriott LTP, National Exec
Posts: 3,893
If you go with that itinerary or something like it, having flown both CO and CX in all cabin classes in the past, I would give CX the nod over CO unless you have some sort of fear/extreme dislike of JFK. (which is not irrational, by the way) I respect CO BusinessFirst, it's a solid product at a solid price but at least imo CX C is miles better than anything any US carrier can offer. I'd even rather fly CX in C over UA in F. Service, IFE and lounges will all be far better on CX over CO, I'd rate food about the same (one of CO's strong suits). With that being said, CO is *A and they'll fit into a *A RTW nicely.
Btw, isn't a westbound RTW "backwards"?
I'd do it eastbound.
Btw, isn't a westbound RTW "backwards"?
I'd do it eastbound.
Dec 25, 2011 | 10:31 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: DL Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,777
I would also agree with going "eastward" but wasn't sure if the OP's destinations are time specific or not.
NYC-GRU/GIG (AA/DL/JJ/UA-CO)
GRU-ZRH (LX)
Travel around Europe ending in Milan/Paris (any EK destination city which is many)
MXP(other destination city)-DXB (EK)
DXB-SIN(SQ/EK)
SIN-HKG (SQ/CX)
HKG-NYC(UA-CO/CX)
NYC-GRU/GIG (AA/DL/JJ/UA-CO)
GRU-ZRH (LX)
Travel around Europe ending in Milan/Paris (any EK destination city which is many)
MXP(other destination city)-DXB (EK)
DXB-SIN(SQ/EK)
SIN-HKG (SQ/CX)
HKG-NYC(UA-CO/CX)
Dec 25, 2011 | 11:45 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: United Arab Emirates & Arizona, USA
Programs: UA MM/1P, EK Ag, Marriott Life Ti, Hilton Dia, IC Dia, Hyatt Glob, Accor Pt
Posts: 4,721
You don't say if you have a budget, but you can certainly find a good business-class round-the-world itinerary for around $10,000 or less, but your best bet would be to buy one of the fare products specifically designed for this, like the SkyTeam around-the-world ticket if you want to take Air France, or some others that airline partners have come up with (like one combining Emirates and United, if that still exists). There are many discussions about these, and the travel agents that specialize in them, on FlyerTalk.
Dec 26, 2011 | 11:12 am
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lee, NJ
Programs: continental one pass, delta skymiles, platinum american express
Posts: 172
Well, I wouldn't get too excited about this. Anyone can put together a dream hypothetical itinerary with the best airlines in the world, but it will take a bit more effort to construct an itinerary that is feasible from a price perspective, not to mention one that suits your schedule and has seats available.
You don't say if you have a budget, but you can certainly find a good business-class round-the-world itinerary for around $10,000 or less, but your best bet would be to buy one of the fare products specifically designed for this, like the SkyTeam around-the-world ticket if you want to take Air France, or some others that airline partners have come up with (like one combining Emirates and United, if that still exists). There are many discussions about these, and the travel agents that specialize in them, on FlyerTalk.
You don't say if you have a budget, but you can certainly find a good business-class round-the-world itinerary for around $10,000 or less, but your best bet would be to buy one of the fare products specifically designed for this, like the SkyTeam around-the-world ticket if you want to take Air France, or some others that airline partners have come up with (like one combining Emirates and United, if that still exists). There are many discussions about these, and the travel agents that specialize in them, on FlyerTalk.
Dec 26, 2011 | 11:14 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lee, NJ
Programs: continental one pass, delta skymiles, platinum american express
Posts: 172
I didn't think of alliance in putting this together, just what I'd prefer as an airline for direct flights. I am pro CO but can't think of a reason to bash CX. My reasoning of CO over CX is that I hate JFK and prefer EWR *yes I took a softball to the head when I was 3 months old but the doctors said no damage was done :P *, BusinessFirst is the premier class on CO while CX has F so CO has put great efforts into making it better than an average business Class. Some may argue that CX is better but I haven't flown them so I cannot comment. I have flown on CO's 777 and found the seat to be great, the food to be quite nice for airplane "fine dining" and the AVOD to be ideal for passing the hours.
You could book it together yourself using ORBITZ even. You'd have to call in saying you can't book that many segments at once to get the phone fee waved but I'd just pay the booking fee anyways if they give you any flack. Call up with the specific flights you want, the class you want and see what you get. To make sure you're not getting screwed go online and price out 2-3 segments together at time and add up the total. This will help gauge how much it'll be and should be less than the total to book it all as one ticket. Orbitz will then work as your travel contact which can be a pain if changing things as airlines will not touch the ticket until day off but it also makes Orbitz responsible for the tickets.
I did take a look at the star alliance RTW planner and plugged in just the alliance flights and it priced them out to be $12560.00 which you'd then have to add in the EK flight and your EU travel around and to Zurich.
You could book it together yourself using ORBITZ even. You'd have to call in saying you can't book that many segments at once to get the phone fee waved but I'd just pay the booking fee anyways if they give you any flack. Call up with the specific flights you want, the class you want and see what you get. To make sure you're not getting screwed go online and price out 2-3 segments together at time and add up the total. This will help gauge how much it'll be and should be less than the total to book it all as one ticket. Orbitz will then work as your travel contact which can be a pain if changing things as airlines will not touch the ticket until day off but it also makes Orbitz responsible for the tickets.
I did take a look at the star alliance RTW planner and plugged in just the alliance flights and it priced them out to be $12560.00 which you'd then have to add in the EK flight and your EU travel around and to Zurich.
Thanks for the advice. I wanted the first leg to be NYC to Dubai since I wanted to try the A380's sky suites-is this product really worth doing;if not I think I will go to Brazil first from NYC. Also, is it feasible to land in Zurich and then take trains to Geneva, Monte Carlo, Florence, Venice, Lake Region and Milan before taking off from Milan for the Asian part of my itinerary (or is this area to travel in Europe better to do with some flights?
Dec 26, 2011 | 3:07 pm
#21
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: DL Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,777
When are you thinking of doing this trip? EK flies the A380 to a lot of different places. SIN, BKK, MUC, CDG being just a few. Also HKG BKK is a very cheap F sector. Shower on the A380 for cheap.
As for the intraEurope travel trains make it a lot easier. Your biggest problem with be including MonteCarlo as there is no direct plane flight in. Trains take 7+ hours which would be great for an overnight train ride if available. Flights you have to fly nearby (Nice) and then drive or train in. Same thing out to Italy. Is it doable? yep. Is it ideal maybe not. It all depends on you. Euro trains are great...though Italian trains often disprove this.
As for the intraEurope travel trains make it a lot easier. Your biggest problem with be including MonteCarlo as there is no direct plane flight in. Trains take 7+ hours which would be great for an overnight train ride if available. Flights you have to fly nearby (Nice) and then drive or train in. Same thing out to Italy. Is it doable? yep. Is it ideal maybe not. It all depends on you. Euro trains are great...though Italian trains often disprove this.
Dec 26, 2011 | 6:41 pm
#22
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: CHI / SFO
Programs: UA*G, AC*S, Marriott LTP, National Exec
Posts: 3,893
Dec 26, 2011 | 6:48 pm
#23
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: DL Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,777
Dec 26, 2011 | 11:00 pm
#24
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: United Arab Emirates & Arizona, USA
Programs: UA MM/1P, EK Ag, Marriott Life Ti, Hilton Dia, IC Dia, Hyatt Glob, Accor Pt
Posts: 4,721
Thanks for the advice. I wanted the first leg to be NYC to Dubai since I wanted to try the A380's sky suites-is this product really worth doing;if not I think I will go to Brazil first from NYC. Also, is it feasible to land in Zurich and then take trains to Geneva, Monte Carlo, Florence, Venice, Lake Region and Milan before taking off from Milan for the Asian part of my itinerary (or is this area to travel in Europe better to do with some flights?
In general, you can book a round-the-world itinerary that lands in Zurich and departs from Milan. For the Star Alliance round-the-world product, for example, this would be known as a "surface sector" and would cost one of the sectors (there is a limit to the number that you can use on a single ticket). Then, of course, you would book everything between Zurich and Milan on your own.
Dec 27, 2011 | 2:46 am
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lee, NJ
Programs: continental one pass, delta skymiles, platinum american express
Posts: 172
Unfortunately, the UA/EK round-the-world fare has been ended (according to this Flyertalk post). But, in general, yes, the A380 is worth taking in business, so you could include it somehow either from JFK-DXB or DXB-Asia. (You can get a decent one-way price, e.g., MXP-DXB-BKK, on the B777-300 and then A380, for $1,670 in business for some random dates in May that I tried.)
In general, you can book a round-the-world itinerary that lands in Zurich and departs from Milan. For the Star Alliance round-the-world product, for example, this would be known as a "surface sector" and would cost one of the sectors (there is a limit to the number that you can use on a single ticket). Then, of course, you would book everything between Zurich and Milan on your own.
In general, you can book a round-the-world itinerary that lands in Zurich and departs from Milan. For the Star Alliance round-the-world product, for example, this would be known as a "surface sector" and would cost one of the sectors (there is a limit to the number that you can use on a single ticket). Then, of course, you would book everything between Zurich and Milan on your own.
Thanks for the great advice!
Dec 27, 2011 | 2:47 am
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lee, NJ
Programs: continental one pass, delta skymiles, platinum american express
Posts: 172
When are you thinking of doing this trip? EK flies the A380 to a lot of different places. SIN, BKK, MUC, CDG being just a few. Also HKG BKK is a very cheap F sector. Shower on the A380 for cheap.
As for the intraEurope travel trains make it a lot easier. Your biggest problem with be including MonteCarlo as there is no direct plane flight in. Trains take 7+ hours which would be great for an overnight train ride if available. Flights you have to fly nearby (Nice) and then drive or train in. Same thing out to Italy. Is it doable? yep. Is it ideal maybe not. It all depends on you. Euro trains are great...though Italian trains often disprove this.
As for the intraEurope travel trains make it a lot easier. Your biggest problem with be including MonteCarlo as there is no direct plane flight in. Trains take 7+ hours which would be great for an overnight train ride if available. Flights you have to fly nearby (Nice) and then drive or train in. Same thing out to Italy. Is it doable? yep. Is it ideal maybe not. It all depends on you. Euro trains are great...though Italian trains often disprove this.