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coming soon
Apologies readers for the delay! It's been a mix of heavy touring in Japan and uninspiring Cathay experiences vs. Qantas. I have also changed my flight on Cathay to LHR to be overnight given the one most fabulous thing they have: that enormous bed! Sweet dreams flyboys and flygirls, and look for the big report coming out of Stockholm in a few days!
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Originally Posted by `X'
(Post 18324284)
I would say the reason they have JW Blue on that route would be because of the Japanese Propensity to high end scotch? Just an idea maybe?
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My Name is Not Susan
Our Asia-Europe transition will need to be my ode to Whitney. Get ready readers -- this one is going to be a big report. Let's forget about those silly regional flights... I have Shanghai Tang photos from my night with Cathay. Question is, who wins -- Qantas or Cathay? |
Take a break from the pickled herring at ARN....
...we are dying to see the hkg lhr sector!
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Originally Posted by IanPurdy
(Post 18383512)
...we are dying to see the hkg lhr sector!
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star threat in ARN
Notice: Star has landed from every corner into Stockholm. Am trying to represent OW but Swiss and SAS are edging their way in! Someone call Pam Ann for a rescue!!!
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. TLV is a must destination. I want to do side trips to Petra and Beirut if I can. Plus BA flies F from London to TLV R/T, which makes it a very nice addition.[/QUOTE]
hahaha, try to do a sidetrip from TLV to Beirut. Technically both countries are still at war. The only way is via Amman (by bus from TLV to Amman, not so easy...) or via Cairo. If they catch you at Beirut Airport with a stamp from Israel you will be on the next plane back, or may spend some hours in jail too |
From Asia to Europe
Trip Report HKG-ARN
Having downloaded some great Whitney tracks, I figured I should devote this experience to Whitney. I know she would have loved it... How Will I Know? Ladies and gents, indeed that was the question of the morning in Hong Kong the day of my flight up to Stockholm. For 2 days thus far, I had really enjoyed Hong Kong despite a ton of rain -- haircuts, shopping, and recovering from Japan (oh Japan). But on my 3rd day, I opened the window and was bedazzled by real sun. I kid you not -- you could see Kownloon *clearly.* So, what to do, what to do... I phoned up Cathay immediately and asked if I could bump to the overnight flight. Unlike Qantas, she actually did pick up the phone, which was gracious -- and quickly sorted me onto the 00:35 flight that evening. Next stop, I huffed it over (via cab, phew) to the Grand Hyatt, level 11, pool / spa deck. I can't even begin to tell you how lovely it all was. As you can see from the first picture below, the pool was pristine, as was my bottle of Ruinart Brut Rose. They had Krug on the menu, but I wouldn't want to compromise my experience that night with Cathay -- too much of a good thing and all that. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a...4_15_15_48.jpg As the afternoon progressed, I realized that I had a choice to make -- do I go to HKG and use the dayroom, or try to figure out something to do at the Hyatt. Miracle of Miracles, and how would I know this, the spa matrons (3 gorgeous ladies with skin like a perfect latte) put together the ultimate treat. They managed in the course of about 5 minutes to sell me a massage, a facial, a bath, and a room of my own for 3 hours. If anyone is ever in need of a moment of glamour in Hong Kong, do check into the GH spa and book a room with a balcony. Here she is, with Japanese-style bed and a bath that steamed throughout the day. You'll see my balcony views as well: first, taken near to sunset looking at Kowloon, and second, post-nap, of Hong Kong Island at night. My lobster-colored skin forgave me by the time I jumped a cab to HKG... https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-C...4_15_15_48.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q...4_15_15_48.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9...4_15_15_48.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1...4_15_15_49.jpg I'm Your Baby Tonight It was now time for my Cathay intercontinental (finally!). I was so excited when I saw this check-in area -- I asked everyone to please move out of the way so I could take a picture for you! Wow you don't even have any sense for actual machinations -- just 15 Cathay women and some computers on stands. Heaven... https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B...4_15_15_49.jpg As I told you last time, the Wing F is closed for a reno. However, they did carve out a section for F passengers. It was awful, and as per the Pier F they only served Moet. I couldn't even take a picture, nay sit down. I turned around and walked out, only to be stopped on the way out to ask if everything was ok. I said that I wanted to look at the QF/BA F lounge, just in case it was more comfortable. Poor thing almost cried. Now, I won't laud the QF/BA F lounge of HKG as anything over the top, but I have to say that it *beats* Cathay's Pier F. It's quite likely that Cathay's new Wing F will be better than this, but we won't know until 2013. It was all very comfortable, fairly quiet, lots of space, and even had an Aussie beer for me to taste -- nice touch. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-v...4_15_15_49.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-N...4_15_15_49.jpg You'll sadly note that I was in seat 1A as I boarded, due to the fact that I had changed at the last minute and rows 2/3 were booked. I have to say, do not take this seat, even if you are with someone -- you can't see the person, but you can kind of hear them grunting and moving about. And, the FAs are constantly going into that cabinet. Fortunately for me, the Krug arrived immediately, and they began to woo me with the goodies of a long-haul with Cathay. I am so in love with my pajama set -- look at that collar! And the amenity kit must have cost a fortune to design. I will make space for these in my luggage, somehow... https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2...4_15_15_49.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Z...4_15_15_50.jpg Happily, the doors were shut and I spied that 2K was empty. The FAs were happy to move me over, and I spouted about how it was claustrophobic a bit in 1A in order not to offend the rather noisy and large fellow in 1K. I was also presented with the menu, which FY is asking me to not put in this report given bandwith constraints:( Shortly after we were in air, I started watching some bizarre TV series that my friend Jose has been going on about -- Terra Firma? I can't remember the name. I should have kept on with Downton Abbey, but was worried I'd be distracted by the Krug. Oh, the bliss of my first (and possibly last) caviar on the trip... Here she is, the full presentation. I have to say, this may have been the best caviar plates I've ever had. Not because of the caviar, but because the fish that went with it was just delicious. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L...4_15_15_50.jpg See if you can tell whether the following two dishes are subtly different. Guess what, they served me seconds. Should have asked for thirds it was so good! https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-b...4_15_15_50.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8...4_15_15_50.jpg Now, what came after this was absolutely awful, and remained such for the rest of the flight. Cathay cannot bring food and flavor to life apparently, either for Chinese or Western food. I have pictures of a terrible caesar salad and then the pork spare ribs, which my Jewish grandmother could have done better when she was 70 years old. What a pity -- I stopped taking pictures and concentrated on the Krug! The pear dessert was fine, but I was just plain hungry so wolfed it down. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-q...4_15_15_51.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9...4_15_15_51.jpg As I've said before, Cathay's greatest contribution to cabin experience in F is the bed. I only got a couple of pictures of it, as I think you saw more of it last time. On the intercontinental, they do a bed-making service while you change into your Shanghai Tang pajamas in the loo. I LOVE THIS BED -- I want it in my house, along with the Qantas F lounge leafy walls. I couldn't be bothered to do much else for the rest of the flight, apart from refilling my Krug between snoozes. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-H...4_15_15_51.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e...4_15_15_51.jpg I Will Always Love You So by now, I have been homeless for about 24 hours when I hit LHR. And you know what I think about Heathrow -- I need not reprise my LAX rant. Given that I took my flight overnight, I lost my non-refundable Sofitel room. However, landing in Terminal 3 with Cathay, I found a new airside mini-hotel. It was like those Japanese coffin rooms we used to use when Tokyo was so expensive. Anyhow, I hid in there for 3 hours to shower and read my book, and nap a bit. Sorry about the lack of photos -- my iPhone was dead when we landed, and I didn't find my charger until I had gotten my act together and headed to Terminal 5. Which is where, glory of glories, BA F lounge welcomed me with open arms. They told me that the Concorde was for BA F only, so my Cathay card wouldn't help me, but I thought the BA First lounge was fabulous. Check out the horse at the front -- Pam Ann, are you reading this??? It was all very kitschy and random, with chandelier-emblazoned curtains going all over the place. Sort of felt like a take-off on Virgin's lounge, but elegant as opposed to space-aged. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-m...4_15_15_51.jpg Shortly after, I boarded my 767 to ARN. As someone warned me early on, it was indeed now the short-haul configuration, so nothing much to report there. Just a busty and vibrant FA who welcomed me warmly -- think she may have spiked her coffee. Now, you must all be wondering, why did I bother with all of the drama of a flight to ARN. See below -- Stockholm at 9:10pm. It is really the most beautiful city I've ever seen, even in rain and snow. Stockholm, I will always love you! https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y...4_15_15_51.jpg The Verdict If I had it to do over again, I would have made the Asia/Europe transfer on the QF 380. I realize this is a matter of personal taste, and most would vehemently disagree. Here's my reasoning... First, the Qantas crew have personality -- they can be a bit .....y, but then they can camp it up as well. In other words, they are human. The Cathay crew, however, are sweet as apple pie but the most robotic set of workers I've ever seen. Second, the Qantas food / wine trumps Cathay. The caviar was gorgeous, but many of the dishes on QF from Rockpool were just as tasty. And there were no real losers from a food perspective on QF. While I do think the Cathay bed is super-comfortable, and yes it is even more private, the differential does not make up for the robotic service and bad food. I'm anxious to see where BA will line up on this battleground. Already I'm getting a sense that my TLV flights will be old F, so it may take all the way until May to give you the lowdown on the new BA F. Let's see who will come up on top then! |
New BA F
I had the new BA F on the LHR-TLV segment. It was fantastic -- will say more in a proper write up. Short story is that the furnishings are of higher quality than any seat I've seen. Really heavy metal for fixtures and fine leather stitching all over. Not a big seat but very nice. So from what I can see the three airlines are competing well in different spaces: QF (food/experience), CX (service/space), BA (luxe/tradition). Sure they are all great on all 3 dimensions, but this would be the oversimplified product strategy I see.
Meanwhile, note that I will be in Row B, seats 1 and 2, at Pam Ann Bloomsbury April 27. Come say hello! And tell Pam to watch out... |
Great trip and trip report; thanks of sharing. Looking forward to the rest.
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Landed in LHR
Sorry for the silence! I was busy-busy-busy in the desert playing Lawrence of Arabia.
I did manage a 60-minute layover in AMM between TLV and BEY on Royal Jordanian (it was quite weird). So I will write up a report on that and also why I love Queen Alia airport (and would transfer through her ANY day). Meanwhile I landed today in LHR with BA 164. She was a relic -- the 17-seater in F. With a ~8 pax F and ~20 pax C load, she still got it wrong: F galley fridge broken so drinking C champagne, got my order wrong, didn't top water up unless asked, had to ask twice for the iPad, couldn't speak to my FA due to language barriers, etc. I had a debrief with the cabin king and queen. British Airways: Sally-Anne was GREAT on the flight -- she is an A+ ambassador. Also, I should note that the purser did run off the airplane when he heard through Sally-Anne how junk I thought their service was. Nobody else in the cabin did much but huddle in the galley and scarf down F class main courses as far as I could tell (witnessed). This is all completely fine if I'm flying Y, but for example Royal Jordanian provided sharper service in Y than BA did in F. I expect nothing further from BA, but will post any remuneration I do receive right here if it does arrive. Let's all hope they don't add some miles to the account -- how embarrassing for them if they make that choice. Pam Ann is on in 23 hours, so I hope to at least have a laugh about it!!! My personal OneWorld ratings on premium service: Qantas #1, Cathay #2. Who will be #3? Let's let the final leg decide next week! |
As others have said, amazing report. Love the pictures. The food ones make me salivate so bad.
This might have been addressed already, but was this one of those fixed price RTW tickets? If so, do you mind sharing how much it was? I'd be very interested in doing one of these a year or two down the road. In fact, would love to hear more about how much you researched/planned out the trip, for example if there is an excel spreadsheet that you created to map out everything. Great work!! |
When can we expect the final report?
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Originally Posted by BostonFlyer1624
(Post 18552044)
When can we expect the final report?
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Originally Posted by accrue450
(Post 18522146)
As others have said, amazing report. Love the pictures. The food ones make me salivate so bad.
This might have been addressed already, but was this one of those fixed price RTW tickets? If so, do you mind sharing how much it was? I'd be very interested in doing one of these a year or two down the road. In fact, would love to hear more about how much you researched/planned out the trip, for example if there is an excel spreadsheet that you created to map out everything. Great work!! I did have a spreadsheet, but used that to record my budget and other confirmation numbers (like hotels). One thing you can imagine happens is that you book the trip, and you really don't remember how much each portion will cost. If you leave off little things like "airport transfers" -- that could be several thousand dollars. if you don't plan. Also I like working out, so my gym budget was pretty high. It just helps put into perspective the things you're going to buy (which you will get vaguely wrong), so you can make sure to have enough cash on hand. Unless you have a bank account bursting with cash, you will need to plan a bit on that front -- the ticket price is low compared to several months in various places (especially if you're traveling in the developed world for the most part!). Let me know if you have more questions. People have told me I need to get a job planning these trips, but frankly there's no money in it -- however, I could be persuaded to do a few of these in my spare time just for fun!!! Oh, one exception. My trip to Beirut was not on this ticket. Because I was flying to TLV, I needed those sectors to be separate. I need to write up the whole BEY process for you, in case you do the crazy thing I did which was to use BA in and out of TLV BEFORE going to Arab countries -- not smart, but you can make it work. |
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