2014: Your travel year in review
Dec 30, 2014, 5:49 pm
#76
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Scandinavia
Programs: EB
Posts: 81
Total flights: 92 (new personal record)
Most frequently used airline: Scandinavian Airlines (74 flights)
Shortest flight: BOO-SKN (92 miles)
Longest flight: SFO-MUC (5870miles)
New countries/territories: United States of America, Canada, France, Finland
New airports: KUO, HEL, SFO, LAX, CDG, SDL, KRN, ZRH, YUL
New airlines: Icelandair, Finnair, Virgin America, Swiss
Most frequently used airline: Scandinavian Airlines (74 flights)
Shortest flight: BOO-SKN (92 miles)
Longest flight: SFO-MUC (5870miles)
New countries/territories: United States of America, Canada, France, Finland
New airports: KUO, HEL, SFO, LAX, CDG, SDL, KRN, ZRH, YUL
New airlines: Icelandair, Finnair, Virgin America, Swiss
Last edited by Pangro; Dec 31, 2014 at 7:22 am
Dec 31, 2014, 3:27 am
#77
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K/MM, AA GLD
Posts: 1,709
As I wait for NYE festivities to get going, and having just finished my last flight of 2014, might as well throw my numbers in:
427k BIS miles, 205 flights, hit million miler status on two airlines, saw plenty of amazing sights around the world, and had an awesome year all around.
427k BIS miles, 205 flights, hit million miler status on two airlines, saw plenty of amazing sights around the world, and had an awesome year all around.
Dec 31, 2014, 5:00 am
#78
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Durban, South Africa | LHR
Programs: Emirates Skywards Gold | South African Airways Voyager Gold
Posts: 863
Pretty good for a 16 year old...
Total Flights: 68
Shortest Flight: DUR-JNB (313mi)
Longest Flight: DXB-LAX (8,336mi)
Total Miles on EK: ~120,000
Total Miles on South African: ~52,000
Lots of new countries and airports. No new airlines.
Started the year in Saudi Arabia, spent birthday and Christmas in the air and ending in London.
Total Flights: 68
Shortest Flight: DUR-JNB (313mi)
Longest Flight: DXB-LAX (8,336mi)
Total Miles on EK: ~120,000
Total Miles on South African: ~52,000
Lots of new countries and airports. No new airlines.
Started the year in Saudi Arabia, spent birthday and Christmas in the air and ending in London.
Dec 31, 2014, 6:45 am
#79
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CGN
Programs: KL FlyingBlue Gold, AY+, MM FTL, TK*G
Posts: 348
In 2014 I:
* Took 48 flights, the third highest number ever, behind 2009 and 2013.
* Flew to/from 8 new airports (IST, BKK, SIN, VIE, KSD, DUB, TBS, LCY)
* Flew on 6 new airlines (TK, SQ, OS/VO, BM, EI, WX)
* Flew on 2 new aircraft types (Airbus 330, Embraer 135)
* Most frequent aircraft type: Fokker 70 (17 flights)
* Most frequent aircraft: PH-KZU (F70, 3 flights)
* Longest distance aircraft type: Boeing 777 (16447 km, 3 flights)
* Flew 19 new routes (GOT-IST, IST-BKK, BKK-SIN, SIN-BKK, BKK-IST, IST-GOT, CGN-VIE, VIE-FRA, KSD-FRA, DUS-DUB, DUB-DUS, NRK-AMS, DUS-IST, IST-TBS, TBS-IST, IST-CGN, FRA-KSD, AMS-LCY, LCY-AMS)
* Busiest route: AMS-CGN (7 flights)
* Kept Gold Status on KLM Flying Blue, scored one op-up due to my status.
* Highlights of the year were the TK Business Class flights to/from BKK on the 9V B777s, I managed to get seats in the old F cabin on both flights.
Links to previous years:
2013
2012
2011
* Took 48 flights, the third highest number ever, behind 2009 and 2013.
* Flew to/from 8 new airports (IST, BKK, SIN, VIE, KSD, DUB, TBS, LCY)
* Flew on 6 new airlines (TK, SQ, OS/VO, BM, EI, WX)
* Flew on 2 new aircraft types (Airbus 330, Embraer 135)
* Most frequent aircraft type: Fokker 70 (17 flights)
* Most frequent aircraft: PH-KZU (F70, 3 flights)
* Longest distance aircraft type: Boeing 777 (16447 km, 3 flights)
* Flew 19 new routes (GOT-IST, IST-BKK, BKK-SIN, SIN-BKK, BKK-IST, IST-GOT, CGN-VIE, VIE-FRA, KSD-FRA, DUS-DUB, DUB-DUS, NRK-AMS, DUS-IST, IST-TBS, TBS-IST, IST-CGN, FRA-KSD, AMS-LCY, LCY-AMS)
* Busiest route: AMS-CGN (7 flights)
* Kept Gold Status on KLM Flying Blue, scored one op-up due to my status.
* Highlights of the year were the TK Business Class flights to/from BKK on the 9V B777s, I managed to get seats in the old F cabin on both flights.
Links to previous years:
2013
2012
2011
Last edited by marbe166; Dec 31, 2014 at 6:50 am
Dec 31, 2014, 2:07 pm
#80
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: New York
Posts: 7,352
Travel Review 2014:
Here is my annual travel review for 2014. I have flown 230,321 miles and 134 segments, and spent about 480 hours in the air in 2014. My average flight is 1719 miles in distance and 3 hours and 34 minutes in duration. Longest flight is flying American Airlines’ inaugural flight Dallas Ft Worth to Hong Kong, which has a distance of 8119 miles, but the longest flight of the year actually belongs to a JFK to HKG flight I took on CX in March, which lasts 15 hours and 53 minutes. Shortest flight in both distance and duration is a short flight from Kapala (West Maui) to Kahului (Maui) airport, which is only 16 miles long with a flying time of 16 minutes. I was also the only passenger on this Cessna 208B propeller, which can fit 9 passengers. It was a cool ride. The highlights of the year included being the first to fly Boeing 787-9 on ANA (despite how uncomfortable the seats are - 9 abreast in 787 is really bad), the first to experience JetBlue’s fantastic Mint product, and American Airlines’ inaugural flight to Hong Kong.
This has not been a good year for aviation in Asia, but air travel is still one of the safest modes of transportation. I wish for a safe travel year in 2015! Hopefully I will get to fly a few new airlines, some new aircraft types (A350 & ATR72-600 are to of my list), and to finish off flying all the A380 operators – Etihad and Qatar Airways are missing from my log.
New Airlines:
1. Hop! For Air France/Brit Air
2. Air Asia X
3. Delta Connection Operated by Go Jet
4. People Express Operated by Vision Airlines
5. China Eastern Airlines
6. Scoot
7. Qantas Link Operated by National Jet System/Cobham Aviation
8. Mokulele Airlines
9. Ohana by Hawaiian Operated by Empire Airlines
New Airports:
1. Toulouse Blagnac International Airport
2. Savannah Hilton Head International Airport
3. Hyannis/Cape Cod Municipal Airport
4. Newport News Williamsburg International Airport
5. Kunming Changshui International Airport
6. Shanghai Pudong International Airport
7. Taichung Ching Chuan Kang International Airport
8. Uluru Ayers Rock Connellan Airport
9. Alice Springs Airport
10. Kapalua – West Maui Airport
11. Charleston International Airport
New aircraft type:
1. Canadair CRJ-1000
2. Airbus A321-200 Sharklet
3. Boeing 787-9
4. Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX
Inaugural Flights:
1. Air Asia X Inaugural flight D7 542 from Kuala Lumpur to Nagoya on March 17, 2014
2. American Airlines Inaugural flight AA 137 from DFW to HKG on June 11, 2014
3. JetBlue “Mint” Inaugural Flight B6 324 from LAX to JFK on June 15, 2014
4. JetBlue’s Inaugural flight from JFK to Hyannis/Barnstable Municipal on June 26. 2014
5. JetBlue’s Inaugural flight from Hyannis/Barnstable Municipal to JFK on June 26, 2014
6. People Express’ Inaugural flight from Newark to Newport News on June 30, 2014
7. People Express’ Inaugural flight from Newport News to Pittsburgh on June 30, 2014
8. ANA All Nippon Airways Inaugural 787-9 and First Scheduled 787-9 Flight: NH 241 From Tokyo Haneda International to Fukuoka International on August 7, 2014
9. Virgin America’s Inaugural Flight from San Francisco to Dallas Love Field on October 13, 2014
10. Virgin America’s Inaugural Flight from New York La Guardia to Dallas Love Field & First Virgin America’s scheduled departure from New York La Guardia on October 28, 2014
11.
New A380 Operator in 2014:
1. British Airways from London Heathrow to Los Angles on January 13, 2014 G-XLEB
2. Asiana Airlines from Tokyo Narita to Seoul Incheon on July 21, 2014 HL7625
Here is my annual travel review for 2014. I have flown 230,321 miles and 134 segments, and spent about 480 hours in the air in 2014. My average flight is 1719 miles in distance and 3 hours and 34 minutes in duration. Longest flight is flying American Airlines’ inaugural flight Dallas Ft Worth to Hong Kong, which has a distance of 8119 miles, but the longest flight of the year actually belongs to a JFK to HKG flight I took on CX in March, which lasts 15 hours and 53 minutes. Shortest flight in both distance and duration is a short flight from Kapala (West Maui) to Kahului (Maui) airport, which is only 16 miles long with a flying time of 16 minutes. I was also the only passenger on this Cessna 208B propeller, which can fit 9 passengers. It was a cool ride. The highlights of the year included being the first to fly Boeing 787-9 on ANA (despite how uncomfortable the seats are - 9 abreast in 787 is really bad), the first to experience JetBlue’s fantastic Mint product, and American Airlines’ inaugural flight to Hong Kong.
This has not been a good year for aviation in Asia, but air travel is still one of the safest modes of transportation. I wish for a safe travel year in 2015! Hopefully I will get to fly a few new airlines, some new aircraft types (A350 & ATR72-600 are to of my list), and to finish off flying all the A380 operators – Etihad and Qatar Airways are missing from my log.
New Airlines:
1. Hop! For Air France/Brit Air
2. Air Asia X
3. Delta Connection Operated by Go Jet
4. People Express Operated by Vision Airlines
5. China Eastern Airlines
6. Scoot
7. Qantas Link Operated by National Jet System/Cobham Aviation
8. Mokulele Airlines
9. Ohana by Hawaiian Operated by Empire Airlines
New Airports:
1. Toulouse Blagnac International Airport
2. Savannah Hilton Head International Airport
3. Hyannis/Cape Cod Municipal Airport
4. Newport News Williamsburg International Airport
5. Kunming Changshui International Airport
6. Shanghai Pudong International Airport
7. Taichung Ching Chuan Kang International Airport
8. Uluru Ayers Rock Connellan Airport
9. Alice Springs Airport
10. Kapalua – West Maui Airport
11. Charleston International Airport
New aircraft type:
1. Canadair CRJ-1000
2. Airbus A321-200 Sharklet
3. Boeing 787-9
4. Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX
Inaugural Flights:
1. Air Asia X Inaugural flight D7 542 from Kuala Lumpur to Nagoya on March 17, 2014
2. American Airlines Inaugural flight AA 137 from DFW to HKG on June 11, 2014
3. JetBlue “Mint” Inaugural Flight B6 324 from LAX to JFK on June 15, 2014
4. JetBlue’s Inaugural flight from JFK to Hyannis/Barnstable Municipal on June 26. 2014
5. JetBlue’s Inaugural flight from Hyannis/Barnstable Municipal to JFK on June 26, 2014
6. People Express’ Inaugural flight from Newark to Newport News on June 30, 2014
7. People Express’ Inaugural flight from Newport News to Pittsburgh on June 30, 2014
8. ANA All Nippon Airways Inaugural 787-9 and First Scheduled 787-9 Flight: NH 241 From Tokyo Haneda International to Fukuoka International on August 7, 2014
9. Virgin America’s Inaugural Flight from San Francisco to Dallas Love Field on October 13, 2014
10. Virgin America’s Inaugural Flight from New York La Guardia to Dallas Love Field & First Virgin America’s scheduled departure from New York La Guardia on October 28, 2014
11.
New A380 Operator in 2014:
1. British Airways from London Heathrow to Los Angles on January 13, 2014 G-XLEB
2. Asiana Airlines from Tokyo Narita to Seoul Incheon on July 21, 2014 HL7625
Jan 1, 2015, 11:20 pm
#81
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: South Bend, IN
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM; Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 18,562
Not a bad year, looking back at it.
New Airports: DOH, RZE, DEL and MEX
New Airlines: None
New Aircraft: 787-8 (LOT)
New Countries: Mexico
January
STT-MIA AA 757-200 J Class (Domestic Configuration with Updated Seats)
Lounge: MIA Admirals Club
MIA-JFK AA 757-200 F Class (International Configuration)
February
Lounge: Delta Skyclub JFK
JFK-AMS DL A330-300 J Class (Reverse Herringbone Seats)
Lounge: KLM Crown Lounge in Shengen Area
AMS-WAW KL 737-300 J Class
Hotel: Westin Warsaw
Lounge: Didn't Bother With Shared Lounge in WAW
WAW-AMS KL 737-700 J Class
Lounge: KLM Crown Lounge in Non-Shengen Area
AMS-JFK KL 747-400 J Class (New Seats)
March
Lounge: JFK Flagship Lounge
JFK-LAX AA A321 F Class (My First Flight in this Aircraft)
Lounge: LAX Flagship Lounge
LAX-SFO AA 737-800 F Classs
Hotels: St. Regis San Francisco and Andaz Napa
Lounge: SFO Admirals Club
SFO-JFK AA 767-200ER F Class (My Final Flight On This Aircraft)
April
Lounge: JFK Admirals Club
JFK-LHR AA 777-300ER J Class
Lounge: AA Arrivals Lounge LHR and BA Galleries Lounge Terminal 3
LHR-WAW BA A320 Y Class
Hotel: Westin Warsaw
Lounge: Proirity Pass Lounge
WAW-LHR BA A320 Y Class
Hotel: The Marble Arch by Montcalm
Lounge: LHR Admirals Club and Cathay Pacific Lounge
LHR-JFK AA 777-300ER J Class
May
Lounge: BA Galleries First Lounge JFK
JFK-HKG CX 777-300ER F Class
Hotel: Sheraton Towers Hong Kong
June
Lounge: CX F Lounge, QF Lounge (bought a refundable HKG-TPE F ticket for access) and KE Lounge
HKG-ICN KE 747-400 F Class (Sole Passenger in F)
Hotel: Sheraton D Cube Hotel
Lounge: KE ICN F Lounge
ICN-JFK KE A380 F Class
Lounge: KE JFK J Lounge
JFK-WAW LO 787-8 J Class (First Ever 787 Flight)
WAW-RZE LO E-175 Y Class
Hotel: Hotel Rado, Mielec, Poland
Lounge: LOT Lounge RZE
RZE-WAW LO DH8-400 Y Class
Lounge: LOT Lounge WAW and Priority Pass Lounge WAW
WAW-JFK LO 787-8 J Class
Lounge: BDL USAirways Club
BDL-ORD AA E-175 F Class
Hotel: Sheraton Northbrook
Lounge: AA Admirals Club
ORD-BDL AA E-175 F Class
July
None
August
Lounge: BDL USAirways Club
BDL-DFW AA 737-800 F Class
Lounge: AMEX Centurion Lounge
DFW-MEX AA MD80 J Class
Hotel: Hilton Mexico City
Lounge: Iberia Lounge MEX and MEX Admirals Club
MEX-DFW AA MD80 J Class
Lounge: AMEX Centurion Lounge
DFW-BDL AA 737-800 F Class
Hotel: St. Regis New York
Lounge: AMEX Centurion Lounge and LGA Admirals Club
LGA-DFW AA 737-800 F Class
Hotel: Grand Hyatt DFW
Lounge: AMEX Centurion Lounge
DFW-LGA AA 737-800 F Class
PVD-PHL US E90 Y Class
PHL-FLL US 320 Y Class
Hotel: West Palm Beach Marriott
FLL-CLT US 321 F Class
Lounge: USAirways Club CLT
CLT-BDL US 321 F Class (a/c painted in new AA livery)
September
None
October
Lounge: NetJets Lounge HPN
HPN-SBN NetJets Cessna Citation
Hotel: Private Residence
SBN-HPN NetJets Cessna Citation
Lounge: VS Clubhouse JFK
JFK-LHR DL 767-400ER J Class
Lounge: VS Arrivals Lounge and EY Lounge
LHR-AUH EY 777-300ER J Class
Hotels: Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort, Sheraton Dubai Creek and Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi
Lounge: New EY F/J Lounge
AUH-LHR EY 777-300ER J Class
Lounge: VS Clubhouse
LHR-JFK DL 767-300ER J Class
November
Lounge: BA Concorde Room
JFK-LHR BA 747-400 F Classs
Lounge: BA Arrivals Lounge, BA Galleries First Lounge, Cathay Pacific F Lounge, EK Lounge
LHR-DXB QF A380 F Class
Lounge: EK Terminal 3 F Lounge
DXB-SYD QF A380 F Class
Hotel: Westin Sydney
Lounge: QF F Lounge SYD
SYD-DXB QF A380 F Class
Lounge: EK Terminal 3 F Lounge
DXB-LHR QF A380 F Class
Lounge: AA Arrivals Lounge and BA Concorde Room
LHR-JFK BA 747-400 F Class
Lounge: BDL Admirals Club (rebranded from USAirways Club)
BDL-DCA US E75 F Classs
Lounge: DCA Admirals Club (rebranded from USAirways Club)
DCA-BDL US E75 F Classs
December
Lounge: Admirals Club (rebranded from USAirways Club)
LGA-PHL US E-175 F Class
Lounge: BA Galleries Lounge
PHL-DOH QR 777-300ER J Class
Lounge: QR J Lounge
DOH-AUH QR A320 F Class
Hotel: St. Regis Saadiyat Island
Lounge: EY Combined F/J Lounge
AUH-DEL EY A330-300 J Class
Hotel: Taj Mahal Hotel
Lounge: Plaza Premium Lounge
DEL-AUH EY A330-300 J Class
Hotel: St. Regis Saadiyat Island
Lounge: AUH Shared Lounge
AUH-DOH QR A320 F Class
Lounge: QR J Lounge
DOH-JFK QR 777-300ER J Class
Best Flight: JFK-HKG CX 777-300ER F Class (the KE and QF flights were close runners-up, but this was a near perfect flight, so it gets the slight edge)
Best Hotel: St. Regis New York (a truly flawless stay)
Best Lounge: None really impressed me this year and I visited several top tier lounges, including the QF F lounge in SYD, the CX F lounge in HKG, the QR J lounge in the new DOH, the VS Clubhouses in JFK and LHR and the EK F lounge in DXB Terminal 3. I think I give the nod to the VS Clubhouse in JFK.
Worst Flight: WAW-LHR BA A320 Y Class (nothing wrong with it per se, but slightly less enjoyable than the outbound flight, mostly due to having someone in the seat next to me and a slight departure delay)
Worst Hotel: Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi, India (billed as a luxury hotel, but outdated decor and tiny bathrooms with combined shower and tub; I will be making several trips to Delhi in 2015 and this is where my colleagues typically stay, but I will be staying elsewhere)
Worst Lounge: Korean Air J Class Lounge JFK (LOT uses this lounge for its late evening departure from JFK; I was denied access to the LH J lounge, in clear violation of Star Alliance rules; lounge is just terrible, poor food, not clean, old and outdated); tie goes to the Korean Air Lounge in HKG (equally horrible, but here I was smart enough to buy a refundable ticket on CX to get access to the CX F lounge and QF lounge)
New Airports: DOH, RZE, DEL and MEX
New Airlines: None
New Aircraft: 787-8 (LOT)
New Countries: Mexico
January
STT-MIA AA 757-200 J Class (Domestic Configuration with Updated Seats)
Lounge: MIA Admirals Club
MIA-JFK AA 757-200 F Class (International Configuration)
February
Lounge: Delta Skyclub JFK
JFK-AMS DL A330-300 J Class (Reverse Herringbone Seats)
Lounge: KLM Crown Lounge in Shengen Area
AMS-WAW KL 737-300 J Class
Hotel: Westin Warsaw
Lounge: Didn't Bother With Shared Lounge in WAW
WAW-AMS KL 737-700 J Class
Lounge: KLM Crown Lounge in Non-Shengen Area
AMS-JFK KL 747-400 J Class (New Seats)
March
Lounge: JFK Flagship Lounge
JFK-LAX AA A321 F Class (My First Flight in this Aircraft)
Lounge: LAX Flagship Lounge
LAX-SFO AA 737-800 F Classs
Hotels: St. Regis San Francisco and Andaz Napa
Lounge: SFO Admirals Club
SFO-JFK AA 767-200ER F Class (My Final Flight On This Aircraft)
April
Lounge: JFK Admirals Club
JFK-LHR AA 777-300ER J Class
Lounge: AA Arrivals Lounge LHR and BA Galleries Lounge Terminal 3
LHR-WAW BA A320 Y Class
Hotel: Westin Warsaw
Lounge: Proirity Pass Lounge
WAW-LHR BA A320 Y Class
Hotel: The Marble Arch by Montcalm
Lounge: LHR Admirals Club and Cathay Pacific Lounge
LHR-JFK AA 777-300ER J Class
May
Lounge: BA Galleries First Lounge JFK
JFK-HKG CX 777-300ER F Class
Hotel: Sheraton Towers Hong Kong
June
Lounge: CX F Lounge, QF Lounge (bought a refundable HKG-TPE F ticket for access) and KE Lounge
HKG-ICN KE 747-400 F Class (Sole Passenger in F)
Hotel: Sheraton D Cube Hotel
Lounge: KE ICN F Lounge
ICN-JFK KE A380 F Class
Lounge: KE JFK J Lounge
JFK-WAW LO 787-8 J Class (First Ever 787 Flight)
WAW-RZE LO E-175 Y Class
Hotel: Hotel Rado, Mielec, Poland
Lounge: LOT Lounge RZE
RZE-WAW LO DH8-400 Y Class
Lounge: LOT Lounge WAW and Priority Pass Lounge WAW
WAW-JFK LO 787-8 J Class
Lounge: BDL USAirways Club
BDL-ORD AA E-175 F Class
Hotel: Sheraton Northbrook
Lounge: AA Admirals Club
ORD-BDL AA E-175 F Class
July
None
August
Lounge: BDL USAirways Club
BDL-DFW AA 737-800 F Class
Lounge: AMEX Centurion Lounge
DFW-MEX AA MD80 J Class
Hotel: Hilton Mexico City
Lounge: Iberia Lounge MEX and MEX Admirals Club
MEX-DFW AA MD80 J Class
Lounge: AMEX Centurion Lounge
DFW-BDL AA 737-800 F Class
Hotel: St. Regis New York
Lounge: AMEX Centurion Lounge and LGA Admirals Club
LGA-DFW AA 737-800 F Class
Hotel: Grand Hyatt DFW
Lounge: AMEX Centurion Lounge
DFW-LGA AA 737-800 F Class
PVD-PHL US E90 Y Class
PHL-FLL US 320 Y Class
Hotel: West Palm Beach Marriott
FLL-CLT US 321 F Class
Lounge: USAirways Club CLT
CLT-BDL US 321 F Class (a/c painted in new AA livery)
September
None
October
Lounge: NetJets Lounge HPN
HPN-SBN NetJets Cessna Citation
Hotel: Private Residence
SBN-HPN NetJets Cessna Citation
Lounge: VS Clubhouse JFK
JFK-LHR DL 767-400ER J Class
Lounge: VS Arrivals Lounge and EY Lounge
LHR-AUH EY 777-300ER J Class
Hotels: Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort, Sheraton Dubai Creek and Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi
Lounge: New EY F/J Lounge
AUH-LHR EY 777-300ER J Class
Lounge: VS Clubhouse
LHR-JFK DL 767-300ER J Class
November
Lounge: BA Concorde Room
JFK-LHR BA 747-400 F Classs
Lounge: BA Arrivals Lounge, BA Galleries First Lounge, Cathay Pacific F Lounge, EK Lounge
LHR-DXB QF A380 F Class
Lounge: EK Terminal 3 F Lounge
DXB-SYD QF A380 F Class
Hotel: Westin Sydney
Lounge: QF F Lounge SYD
SYD-DXB QF A380 F Class
Lounge: EK Terminal 3 F Lounge
DXB-LHR QF A380 F Class
Lounge: AA Arrivals Lounge and BA Concorde Room
LHR-JFK BA 747-400 F Class
Lounge: BDL Admirals Club (rebranded from USAirways Club)
BDL-DCA US E75 F Classs
Lounge: DCA Admirals Club (rebranded from USAirways Club)
DCA-BDL US E75 F Classs
December
Lounge: Admirals Club (rebranded from USAirways Club)
LGA-PHL US E-175 F Class
Lounge: BA Galleries Lounge
PHL-DOH QR 777-300ER J Class
Lounge: QR J Lounge
DOH-AUH QR A320 F Class
Hotel: St. Regis Saadiyat Island
Lounge: EY Combined F/J Lounge
AUH-DEL EY A330-300 J Class
Hotel: Taj Mahal Hotel
Lounge: Plaza Premium Lounge
DEL-AUH EY A330-300 J Class
Hotel: St. Regis Saadiyat Island
Lounge: AUH Shared Lounge
AUH-DOH QR A320 F Class
Lounge: QR J Lounge
DOH-JFK QR 777-300ER J Class
Best Flight: JFK-HKG CX 777-300ER F Class (the KE and QF flights were close runners-up, but this was a near perfect flight, so it gets the slight edge)
Best Hotel: St. Regis New York (a truly flawless stay)
Best Lounge: None really impressed me this year and I visited several top tier lounges, including the QF F lounge in SYD, the CX F lounge in HKG, the QR J lounge in the new DOH, the VS Clubhouses in JFK and LHR and the EK F lounge in DXB Terminal 3. I think I give the nod to the VS Clubhouse in JFK.
Worst Flight: WAW-LHR BA A320 Y Class (nothing wrong with it per se, but slightly less enjoyable than the outbound flight, mostly due to having someone in the seat next to me and a slight departure delay)
Worst Hotel: Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi, India (billed as a luxury hotel, but outdated decor and tiny bathrooms with combined shower and tub; I will be making several trips to Delhi in 2015 and this is where my colleagues typically stay, but I will be staying elsewhere)
Worst Lounge: Korean Air J Class Lounge JFK (LOT uses this lounge for its late evening departure from JFK; I was denied access to the LH J lounge, in clear violation of Star Alliance rules; lounge is just terrible, poor food, not clean, old and outdated); tie goes to the Korean Air Lounge in HKG (equally horrible, but here I was smart enough to buy a refundable ticket on CX to get access to the CX F lounge and QF lounge)
Last edited by PresRDC; Jan 5, 2015 at 6:05 pm