Sun, Snow and Sushi - One Week, OneWorld F Round The World (BA F, AA F, JL F-J-Y)
Aug 19, 2015, 3:45 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: Ronin - churn and burn
Posts: 701
Haha, I'll be sure to let her know her work in the gym is paying off 
Looking forward to reading your TR! I was only able to take one week off work so unfortunately didn't have much time to explore. We just headed straight to Niseko and did as much snowboarding as possible. ^
Thanks! Yes, I'm pretty bummed about the fact I won't be able to book any more travel via the use of highly unorthodox geography lessons.
Haha, thanks as always for the support mad_atta!
Wow, what an awesome use of miles. I really need to get to Palau one day. I remember getting lunch in a truckstop diner in the middle of the desert in Arizona once. I sat next to a former marine at the counter. We started exchanging travel stories and man, he had really travelled. So I asked him what the most amazing, mind blowing place he had ever seen was. He didn't even think about it: "Palau, Micronesia. You could see for a mile underwater there".
Thanks! I hope it lives up to expectations
Thanks!
Looks like a great trip! What did you think of Hokkaido in the winter? I just returned from Japan (writing my TR now actually) and went to Hokkaido during the summer, which was beautiful. Did you visit Yoichi, Otaru, Sapporo, Jozankei, etc? Interested to see what those places are like in the winter.
Yes! Another Jermyn classic in the making.
Glad to hear you're still putting USDM to good use. I briefly became a member in order to make use of another very sweet spot: flying between Australasia and Palau in J for 30K miles round trip. I needed to get back to Australia from NZ, so for about $600 per ticket I flew BHE-WLG-AKL-PVG-ICN-ROR//ROR-ICN-SYD in J. A sweet deal made even sweeter by the knowledge that a revenue one way ticket BHE-SYD in Y on AirNZ would have cost $300+. And I remember only too well the complete geographic hopelessness of the USDM agents, bless 'em.
Glad to hear you're still putting USDM to good use. I briefly became a member in order to make use of another very sweet spot: flying between Australasia and Palau in J for 30K miles round trip. I needed to get back to Australia from NZ, so for about $600 per ticket I flew BHE-WLG-AKL-PVG-ICN-ROR//ROR-ICN-SYD in J. A sweet deal made even sweeter by the knowledge that a revenue one way ticket BHE-SYD in Y on AirNZ would have cost $300+. And I remember only too well the complete geographic hopelessness of the USDM agents, bless 'em.
Haha, thanks as always for the support mad_atta!
Wow, what an awesome use of miles. I really need to get to Palau one day. I remember getting lunch in a truckstop diner in the middle of the desert in Arizona once. I sat next to a former marine at the counter. We started exchanging travel stories and man, he had really travelled. So I asked him what the most amazing, mind blowing place he had ever seen was. He didn't even think about it: "Palau, Micronesia. You could see for a mile underwater there".
Thanks! I hope it lives up to expectations
Thanks!
Aug 20, 2015, 1:44 pm
#18
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: BAEC Bronze, AS MVP Gold 75K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 488
Your experience is interesting to compare to my first First in July. We didn't get offered a tour round of the seat and how it all works. We also weren't given any directions on entering the CR. On the other hand the crew on our service actively offered to turndown our beds and put out the proper duvet (in fact I didn't see the First blanket).
Just goes to show how different crews do things so very differently!
Great start with the BA TR.
Just goes to show how different crews do things so very differently!
Great start with the BA TR.
Aug 21, 2015, 1:37 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Great start to the TR! Looking forward to seeing your impressions of the Hilton Niseko. I went skiing there with the gf back in March (a TR I need to get around to writing).
We loved the skiing but were sorely disappointed by the food options both on and off property (had the worst sushi I've ever had in Japan in Niseko Village).
We loved the skiing but were sorely disappointed by the food options both on and off property (had the worst sushi I've ever had in Japan in Niseko Village).
Aug 22, 2015, 10:55 am
#23
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
Very frustrating that the check-in agent was unprepared to check bags through with additional itineraries; especially considering the connection to another oneWorld carrier. IME, there's no issue 3/4 of the time, but BA really needs to improve that. Ugh, 'Fast' Track, what a joke. Glad the experience improved from then on. The Andaz is a great alternative to PH in NYC. Andaz in San Diego was also very comfortable so looking forward to the review of the one in W Hollywood. Thanks for sharing.
Aug 23, 2015, 5:18 am
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: Ronin - churn and burn
Posts: 701
Part 2 is now up!
Thanks, that was my first ever flight with the GoPro - the wide angle shots really do capture the cabin so much better than a regular lens don't they?
BA are known for the inconsistency of their cabin crews, I guess this comes from the fact that some of them have careers spanning multiple decades. It must be much harder to remain consistent than with Asian carriers where the crews are probably no more than 5 years out of training before they retire.
De nada, muchas gracias por leerlo! ^
Glad to hear you've subscribed, thanks!
Yeah, fast track can mean very different things in different parts of the world. I think some of the legacy EU and US airlines have a real problem balancing the needs of premium passengers vs those of their elites.
I've interlined SQ to PL before no problems, yet BA-AA across 3 hubs is a problem
Don't forget this was all booked on a single PNR by US airways!
You'll have to stick around and see I partially agree with some of what you've said.
Your experience is interesting to compare to my first First in July. We didn't get offered a tour round of the seat and how it all works. We also weren't given any directions on entering the CR. On the other hand the crew on our service actively offered to turndown our beds and put out the proper duvet (in fact I didn't see the First blanket).
Just goes to show how different crews do things so very differently!
Great start with the BA TR.
Just goes to show how different crews do things so very differently!
Great start with the BA TR.
De nada, muchas gracias por leerlo! ^
Very frustrating that the check-in agent was unprepared to check bags through with additional itineraries; especially considering the connection to another oneWorld carrier. IME, there's no issue 3/4 of the time, but BA really needs to improve that. Ugh, 'Fast' Track, what a joke. Glad the experience improved from then on. The Andaz is a great alternative to PH in NYC. Andaz in San Diego was also very comfortable so looking forward to the review of the one in W Hollywood. Thanks for sharing.
I've interlined SQ to PL before no problems, yet BA-AA across 3 hubs is a problem
Don't forget this was all booked on a single PNR by US airways!Great start to the TR! Looking forward to seeing your impressions of the Hilton Niseko. I went skiing there with the gf back in March (a TR I need to get around to writing).
We loved the skiing but were sorely disappointed by the food options both on and off property (had the worst sushi I've ever had in Japan in Niseko Village).
We loved the skiing but were sorely disappointed by the food options both on and off property (had the worst sushi I've ever had in Japan in Niseko Village).
I partially agree with some of what you've said.
Aug 23, 2015, 1:51 pm
#25
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: NCL
Programs: FB Plat; BAEC Gold
Posts: 930
Nice start to what looks like a very interesting trip. I'm always jealous when I see someone has been to Japan, loved my time there earlier this year.
I look forward to reading more.
Edited to add - your Katz recommendation has been added to my list for my 'Viking' trip to NY in May.
Last edited by DaveNCL; Aug 23, 2015 at 11:43 pm
Aug 23, 2015, 2:54 pm
#26
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: UK
Programs: Virgin Flying Club Red, Emirates Skywards Blue, BA Executive Club Blue, Amex BA
Posts: 2,377
Thanks for your report. I flew on a 12 hour BA F flight this month from LHR to KUL. The check-in and boarding process is horrible. i had to wait 5 mins for a free check-in desk and I had to satnd in a queue to board. If you are paying over £3k for a ticket one does not expect to have to queue.
Aug 23, 2015, 8:38 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,789
Whenever I read a Jermyn trip report, I feel like I'm looking at pictures out of GQ with ridiculously good looking people living a life far beyond my own. But I suppose that's because you don't chronicle commutes to work on the tube.
Great start so far!
But I suppose that's because you don't chronicle commutes to work on the tube.Great start so far!
Aug 23, 2015, 8:59 pm
#28
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 343
Jermyn, great report as usual. Two questions:
1. What kind of boots are those? They look similar to a pair of Alden's I own. Can you share?
2 What kind of mount are you using for the GoPro shots in the cabin or are you just sitting the camera on a ledge, etc..?
Looking forward to the rest or your report.
1. What kind of boots are those? They look similar to a pair of Alden's I own. Can you share?
2 What kind of mount are you using for the GoPro shots in the cabin or are you just sitting the camera on a ledge, etc..?
Looking forward to the rest or your report.
Aug 24, 2015, 8:21 am
#29
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Aberdeen
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 751
Ahhhh, welcome back, I have a few favourite trip reporters, you are one of those. Very thorough as usual. I'm heading to NYC for Hogmanay and trying the A321T over to LAX on 01st January, so good to read reports about it. Thank you.