SFO777

Last April, an improperly loaded Myanmar exchange rate triggered one of the biggest mistake fare frenzies of the year. And as it happened just before a weekend, the fare was live for at least three days before airlines and in particular Korean Air realized a good chunk of their TPAC First Class inventory had disappeared. Forget that I lived 8,000 miles away. The US$254 one way First Class fare from Bangkok to LAX on Korean, including their new A380, was too good to pass up even if I had no idea whether I would have the time or, more importantly, Mrs. SFO would let me. The only fly in the ointment is that the fare requires that you start the trip in RGN. Minor details. I booked three trips... two one ways @$254 and a round trip RGN-LAX at the outrageous fare of $450.

When Korean execs discovered the carnage, they immediately cancelled all the tickets and refunded the fare paid. Enter the DOT, which had recently imposed new "you must honor mistake fare" rules. Within 10 days, and no doubt after discussion with the DOT and a few dozen lawyers, Korean agreed to reinstate all the cancelled tickets.

Now that Korean agreed to honor the tickets, I needed positioning tickets. And what better way to get there than Cathay First. Fortunately, CX had availability to match the dates I picked... in November, January and March.

So here we are. I booked random dates in months when I thought I had some time. Unfortunately, I forgot about the US elections. Turned out to be a wise choice as I now get to escape three days of wall-to-wall coverage and commercials. Plus I've already voted.

UA 989 Economy DEN-SFO
SFO International Terminal
Cathay Pacific First and Business Lounge at SFO
Cathay Girls (and Boys)
CX 879 First Class SFO-HKG
CX 709 Business Class HKG-BKK
BKK and the Royal Silk Lounge
TG 301 Economy BKK-RGN
Yangon (Rangoon) Myanmar
RGN Airport Lounges
KE 654 First Class BKK-ICN
KE First Class Lounge at ICN
KE 17 First Suites A380 ICN-LAX
-AA First LAX-DEN

UA 989
DEN-SFO
A320
November 4, 2012
6:00a-7:49a (sked)
5:55a-7:12a (actual)
Seat 21C (exit row aisle)

Mercifully, the change back to Standard Time made this a somewhat tolerable departure time. Wouldn't try this one with Mrs. SFO.

Happy with my exit row aisle and only 1 F seat open, I passed up my unknown upgrade position by changing my MP# to TK. TK gave me a status match to *G but won't send my card until I credit one flight. So this is the one that will give me NA UA/US/AC lounge access for the next two years.







Uneventful, but wow on the exit row legroom. Way more than First on this sucker.





"Your priorities will always be ours." Sure they will.



Don't much like the airline, but the old CO livery is still OK, IMO.

SFO777

The International Terminal at SFO

My 2nd favorite terminal at my favorite US airport.
As our arriving flight arrived at Gate 75, it was only a 3 minute walk to the International Terminal. Unfortunately, the wrong side but still better than following the signs and taking the train. Pretty deserted at this hour of the morning.



















Too early as the CX counter only opens at 7:50A or 4 hours before scheduled departure.









Not open? No problem. Since I OLCI'd and had my BP, I figured I may as well go thru security and check out the lounges. Although there was no one in the priority security lane, all lanes funneled into a long queue of about 50 pax. CLEAR is now open at the International Terminal and wow, SFO has it right. Once again, the CLEAR agent escort me thru all the queued pax, cut ahead of everyone, grabbed two trays and placed them at the end of the conveyer just before the x-ray machine.

Up next:
All alone in the CX lounge and CX goes after the Singapore Girls.

FriendlySkies

Looking forward to the rest of the TR

SanDiego1K

I love seeing the FT tag on your carry on. I look for them when I travel.

ZFW-ATC

Looks like it's going to be a good one. Looking forward to the rest!!!!

Eric

Wiirachay

Wow - this is live coverage of a trip.

fieldeng

Another EPIC SFO777 trip. This should be a good one!

will2288

I hope we can count on some ladies of Myanmar photos.

matthandy

My god, do you ever stay still SFO777?!!

Looking forward to this, as always.

lewende

SFO777 - you are always the man living in the dream... can't wait for your pictures!

amolkold

Über jealous. Though I'm going to wait until it's all said and done to read . Looking forward to it!

quirrow

Looking forward to reading the rest of the report!

thespeedskater

Follow modus on!

lewende

Hi SFO777 - just read this new update about round 1 RGN ticket and would like to bring up to your attention. I think you have an exactly same itin as Freewilly's.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/19626823-post8019.html

SFO777

Thanks FriendlySkies.

+1
I look all the time but rarely see any. I only recall twice in the last year... WChou and hobo13.

Thanks ZFW-ATC.

Well it started off pretty good, but no wifi for 20 hours is slowing this puppy down.

Thank you fieldeng. Will try not to disappoint.

From the pics I've seen, that may be a challenge. But I'll give it my best, especially since Mrs. SFO isn't around.

I try not to stay in one place too long.
Thanks Matt.

Thanks very much amolkold.

Thank you quirrow!

I appreciate it speedskater.

Thanks for the heads up lewende.
Wouldn't be cool if KE started canceling at this point. Just arrived at the Novotel airport hotel in BKK. Since my BKK-RGN isn't until 1pm Tuesday, I'm going to hit both KE and TG counters in the morning and try to get all my BPs. FWIW, KE.com is still showing my rez and proper F seat assignments.