Almost around the world...
Nov 6, 2010 | 5:29 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: MAD
Programs: DL, UA, AA, BA, Marriott
Posts: 599
Almost around the world...
Okay so i'm taking a trip, thanks to the mint and aeroplan.
I'm departing on the 19th November, but i'm going to go ahead and get a post started with the itinerary and such. I will update with photos and such as I travel.
This trip is all in the best cabin of service available, for anything over a couple hours, that's first class. There is no economy.
Total Price:
308 USD
140k Aeroplan Miles
+ 1 DL Tic
DEN -(UA)- DFW -(LH)- FRA -(LH)- AMS (10 days)
AMS -(LH)- MUC -(LH)- BKK (1 week)
BKK -(TG)-SYD-Auckland (2 weeks for the Air NZ get together)
SYD -(TG)- BKK -(TG)- FRA (1 night)
FRA -(LH)- DFW -(UA)- DEN
I'm departing on the 19th November, but i'm going to go ahead and get a post started with the itinerary and such. I will update with photos and such as I travel.
This trip is all in the best cabin of service available, for anything over a couple hours, that's first class. There is no economy.
Total Price:
308 USD
140k Aeroplan Miles
+ 1 DL Tic
DEN -(UA)- DFW -(LH)- FRA -(LH)- AMS (10 days)
AMS -(LH)- MUC -(LH)- BKK (1 week)
BKK -(TG)-SYD-Auckland (2 weeks for the Air NZ get together)
SYD -(TG)- BKK -(TG)- FRA (1 night)
FRA -(LH)- DFW -(UA)- DEN
Last edited by joesmoe; Nov 17, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Nov 7, 2010 | 1:02 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 22,646
Looking forward to the full report! Did you think about taking LH for the DEN-FRA segment? Seems kind of silly to go to DFW, unless it was the only option...
Safe travels!
Safe travels!
Nov 7, 2010 | 9:27 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: MAD
Programs: DL, UA, AA, BA, Marriott
Posts: 599
yes i did, thanks for the suggestion!
It was over the max allowed miles in an award ticket from DEN, so they had to route it through DFW, then I purchased a Delta skypesos ticket DEN<->DFW.
Thanks for the heads up though!
It was over the max allowed miles in an award ticket from DEN, so they had to route it through DFW, then I purchased a Delta skypesos ticket DEN<->DFW.
Thanks for the heads up though!
Nov 17, 2010 | 1:14 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: MAD
Programs: DL, UA, AA, BA, Marriott
Posts: 599
Okay here comes the first update.
Checked @ United.com, and my UDU cleared for Friday Morning DEN-DFW leg.
More to come.
(This is one of 2 non upgraded flights, DEN-DFW and DFW-DEN are both an economy ticket that was actually purchased with cash, not miles. Everything else is in biz/F on award tickets).
Checked @ United.com, and my UDU cleared for Friday Morning DEN-DFW leg.
More to come.
(This is one of 2 non upgraded flights, DEN-DFW and DFW-DEN are both an economy ticket that was actually purchased with cash, not miles. Everything else is in biz/F on award tickets).
Nov 21, 2010 | 1:20 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: MAD
Programs: DL, UA, AA, BA, Marriott
Posts: 599
United First from DEN to DFW:
Arrive at the airport around 1 hour before the flight. I had checked in online prior to arrival, just had to check my one bag. My upgrade had cleared a few days in advance.
Upon getting into the DEN terminal, I waited in the Intl First Class/Global Services line, and was eventually called forward. The agent then proceeded to ensure I was qualified for the line 3 times, first by asking if I was gs/F, then asking if I was flying intl F, then asking if the intl F was over the water, and if it was business of F.
A little excessive, but after verifying I was flying intl f (overseas), the rest of the checking proceeded smoothly.
Security at DEN was horrible, even worse than usual, with the Premium Passenger line extending far beyond the ropes they use to keep the queue in formation.
No line getting into the RCC, and was promptly allowed access after showing my LH intl F boarding pass (even though its departing from DFW later this afternoon, not this morning from DEN).
Bars closed, doesnt open till 9:30 (I Swear it use to be 9). Food selection is dismal (toast, 3 types of cereal, and an automated espresso machine oh yeah, and a toaster).
Boarded 10-15 minutes before departure and was offered a Bloody Mary, F crew was very welcoming and friendly on this flight.
8 seats in F on this A319, full F cabin, with at least 1 crew (and potentially 1 fam?).
Not a bad flight to start everything off with, worst bloody mary Ive had in a while though.
Also, something of note, the person next to me in F asked me to turn off my cell phone soon after getting into the air (I left it off for take off, but then turned it back on to look at my tasks list (cell reception was disabledi.e. airplane mode). He asked me to shut it off as he didnt feel safe with it on).
I thought this to be very odd, but politely complied. (FAM?)
Arrive at the airport around 1 hour before the flight. I had checked in online prior to arrival, just had to check my one bag. My upgrade had cleared a few days in advance.
Upon getting into the DEN terminal, I waited in the Intl First Class/Global Services line, and was eventually called forward. The agent then proceeded to ensure I was qualified for the line 3 times, first by asking if I was gs/F, then asking if I was flying intl F, then asking if the intl F was over the water, and if it was business of F.
A little excessive, but after verifying I was flying intl f (overseas), the rest of the checking proceeded smoothly.
Security at DEN was horrible, even worse than usual, with the Premium Passenger line extending far beyond the ropes they use to keep the queue in formation.
No line getting into the RCC, and was promptly allowed access after showing my LH intl F boarding pass (even though its departing from DFW later this afternoon, not this morning from DEN).
Bars closed, doesnt open till 9:30 (I Swear it use to be 9). Food selection is dismal (toast, 3 types of cereal, and an automated espresso machine oh yeah, and a toaster).
Boarded 10-15 minutes before departure and was offered a Bloody Mary, F crew was very welcoming and friendly on this flight.
8 seats in F on this A319, full F cabin, with at least 1 crew (and potentially 1 fam?).
Not a bad flight to start everything off with, worst bloody mary Ive had in a while though.
Also, something of note, the person next to me in F asked me to turn off my cell phone soon after getting into the air (I left it off for take off, but then turned it back on to look at my tasks list (cell reception was disabledi.e. airplane mode). He asked me to shut it off as he didnt feel safe with it on).
I thought this to be very odd, but politely complied. (FAM?)
Dec 1, 2010 | 9:56 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: MAD
Programs: DL, UA, AA, BA, Marriott
Posts: 599
AMS-MUC
Amsterdam to Munich on LH was the pretty standard business class inter-european flight. A light meal, and very limited selection of free drinks were served. The flight departed on time, but arrived around 15 minutes early (yeah Germany).
MUC-BKK
As I was departing Muc TG not LH, I was NOT permitted to use the FCL, but rather had to use the senator lounge. There was not one free chair in the entire lounge, it was like a zoo. The staff told me that I may have more luck finding a seat over on the business class side. The lounge was run down, didnt have free internet, only served 3 kinds of beer and 2 kinds of wine, and had very little in the means of food.
Overall, the LH Senators Lounge in MUC is a complete an total disappointment. In the future this lounge will be avoided. Also, not picked up by one of the 3 Mercedes that picked up other pax from the LH inbound to MUC as I was departing TG theres no car service.
Once on the plane things took a turn for the better again. Dom was served while boarding and as soon as we got in the air. The other pax and I polished both bottles within the first 15 minutes of being in the air. To my dismay, they only had about a quarter of a bottle of blue label left, as they restock in BKK not MUC, and other pax had drank over half the bottle from BKK-MUC. The service on the plane was exceptional as usual with Thai, a truly enjoyable and respectful experience. This flight also arrived early. Caviar was served as a pre-appetizer.
The new Thai pajamas are great, they dont create any static, are very soft and comfortable, and are actually a little thicker material than what SQ or LH uses (makes it look a lot less like a temporary shirt). The new rimowa amenity kits were also quite nice, Ill be glad to have a few of those for future packing needs.
My next flight was on Bangkok Airlines, from BKK-Cambodia. As it was an economy flight, and TG doesnt technically allow arrival lounge access, they had to make an exception for me (which they gladly did). That lounge is one of my all time favorites, finally getting to know the staff as well, at least 5 or 6 of them remembered me from august. This was a quick, 1 hour flight, on a turboprop. Was a nice flight, even in coach.
Im typing this report up from the taxi, currently about half way through the 4 hour trip to the hostel Im staying tonight. Should be there around 2AM.
Amsterdam to Munich on LH was the pretty standard business class inter-european flight. A light meal, and very limited selection of free drinks were served. The flight departed on time, but arrived around 15 minutes early (yeah Germany).
MUC-BKK
As I was departing Muc TG not LH, I was NOT permitted to use the FCL, but rather had to use the senator lounge. There was not one free chair in the entire lounge, it was like a zoo. The staff told me that I may have more luck finding a seat over on the business class side. The lounge was run down, didnt have free internet, only served 3 kinds of beer and 2 kinds of wine, and had very little in the means of food.
Overall, the LH Senators Lounge in MUC is a complete an total disappointment. In the future this lounge will be avoided. Also, not picked up by one of the 3 Mercedes that picked up other pax from the LH inbound to MUC as I was departing TG theres no car service.
Once on the plane things took a turn for the better again. Dom was served while boarding and as soon as we got in the air. The other pax and I polished both bottles within the first 15 minutes of being in the air. To my dismay, they only had about a quarter of a bottle of blue label left, as they restock in BKK not MUC, and other pax had drank over half the bottle from BKK-MUC. The service on the plane was exceptional as usual with Thai, a truly enjoyable and respectful experience. This flight also arrived early. Caviar was served as a pre-appetizer.
The new Thai pajamas are great, they dont create any static, are very soft and comfortable, and are actually a little thicker material than what SQ or LH uses (makes it look a lot less like a temporary shirt). The new rimowa amenity kits were also quite nice, Ill be glad to have a few of those for future packing needs.
My next flight was on Bangkok Airlines, from BKK-Cambodia. As it was an economy flight, and TG doesnt technically allow arrival lounge access, they had to make an exception for me (which they gladly did). That lounge is one of my all time favorites, finally getting to know the staff as well, at least 5 or 6 of them remembered me from august. This was a quick, 1 hour flight, on a turboprop. Was a nice flight, even in coach.
Im typing this report up from the taxi, currently about half way through the 4 hour trip to the hostel Im staying tonight. Should be there around 2AM.