RTW Part I (very, very long)
Nov 16, 1999, 7:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: New Windsor, NY
Programs: AA LIFETIME GOLD, 1.7MM; HH Diamond
Posts: 210
RTW Part I (very, very long)
On 11/6 Bill and I started off on our trek around the world, in search of 3 100k bonuses and Platinum status on AA. Since, unlike most of you, we have never been that frequent flyers, this is a big deal in our family! For starters our oldest son, his wife and two boys and our daughter and her 2 girls came to escort old Mom and Dad to the ariport. Only Brenday (age 6) was a little confused. Why did he have to get up so early on a Saturday? Anyway, the grandkids ages 4, 5, 6 and almost 7 were really into this goodbye stuff at an airport. We could see them waving at our plane from the airport window (small airport). Off we went from SWF to ORD in 1st on a Fokker (the only way to fly on one of these). I figured since the RTW trip was in 1st out of Canada, we should upgrade the beginning and end of the jtrip as well. Landed in ORD and discovered our connecting flight scheduled to leave at 1:25 for YYZ was delayed due to equipment replacement until 2:10. We had to catch a 5:00 CP flight for YVR. Originally we had an hour to do the connection and I double-checked and it was a legal connect time. Now everything was screwed up. This was the last flight at night to YVR and our CX flight left at 12:35 a.m. I went to the gate and asked the agent what I should or could do. She checked all our tickets and sent us out to the ticketing counter where wonderful AA ground agent Penelope Marsulis went to work, switched us to Air Canada's flight going out at 1:25, got our bags back from wherever and even gost us upgraded to Business. We love that girl and we're letting AA know about her. We collected the bags, walked over to Terminal 2 and checked in with Air Canada. The ground agent was almost dancing with joy over the news just out about the collapse of Onex deal. He spent 10 minutes telling us how wonderful the Star Alliance was and how we should be doing their trip etc. All went well, we arrived in YYZ, got our bags (seemed to take forever), cleared customs, caught the suttle to Terminal 3 and CP and made it to the gate with 15 minutes to spare. Not too bad for 2 senior citizens with 2 very large suitcases, 2 tote bags and one very large handbag.
CP flight uneventful. Arrived YVR with 5 hours to kill until CX flight. Collect bags and head for check-in. Closed until 9:30!! Pushed our trolly loaded with bags to the food court where we sat for nearly 2 hours watching a huge screen display the wonders of Vancouver over and over and over and over.
Finally they open CX for check-in and we're on our way. Or at least as far as the CX lounge where we wait for another 2 hours. Then it's time to board. First Class on CX is something that has to be experienced to trulyt understand. There were 18 seats on this particular flight---15 filled. They began handing out gray two-piece outfits to change into and of course the goody bags. Mine was white satin and had the usual socks and eye mask as well as ear plugs, and the real extras: perfume, toilet water, moisturizer, cleanser, hairbrush with lovely carved wood handle. Bill got a navy bag that feels like soft leather complete with the male equivilent of mine. They're giving Crabtree and Evelyn products in case anyone's interested. Since there was no way I could change clothes in that little bathroom I just settled in for the night. I figured the rumpled look wouldn't be that noticable at 6:30 a.m. when we landed in HKG.
I fell asleep and about 5 hours out I woke to a completely darkened cabin. Not a creature was stirring (not even my devoted spouse who swears he never sleeps on planes). I went back to the restroom---and entered the Far Side. I'm sure most of you have seen that cartoon strip. Does anyone remember the one of the kid at the door to the "School for Gifted Children?" He's trying with all his might to push the door open. Then you notice the sign on the door says "Pull." Well, I'm standing in the dark, pushing on the door and nothing is happening. I'm getting more and more aggravated. I start feeling the door in case there's a nob I'm supposed to pull or something. Suddenly I push on the right part, the door flies open and I nearly fly inot the toilet. Luckily, evdryone was asleep so no one saw me. The rest of the flight was uneventful, thank God.
We stayed in Hong Kong for 3 nights. I was still in the Far Side thought. Their escalators are the opposite of ours. They go up on the left and down on the right and I was always heading for the wrong side.
Nest flight CX again, first class again this time to SIN. We arrive at the airport, check in and go the The Wing. It was unbelievable!!! We sat down to a great buffet. We were pampered beyond belief. I wish CX flew everywhere and built a lounge like this in each airport. We could have had a bath if we wanted, for God's sake!!
This time the first class section only had 3 of us as passengers. Talk about service!! Their FAs are all so nice and the other passenger was a nice guy too. He took pictures of Bill and me in our first class seats (with our camera) for all our friends to see. It's not that we never flew first class before but first class in CX is unlike anything we'd ever seen.
In SIN we stayed at the Shangri-la on Sentosa Island. When we checked in I asked for theGolden Circle perk of a suite upgrade for US$25 a night and voila we were installed in a beautiful 2 room suite overlooking the water with its own private terrace. It was a great stay. We'll definitely use some of those bonus miles to go back there again.
Business class flight from SIN to BKK yesterday. Nice enough but definitely nowhere near first class. Right now we're ate the Shangri-la (no suite but very nice room overlooking the river). We leave here on Thursday night--really Friday at 12:35 a.m. on QF to LHR, change to BA and on to FCO. From there it's on to Athens (via MAD and BCN on IB for those bonus miles), Edinburgh and finishing up in Montreal.
I'll post again from Europe somewhere. I hope I haven't bored everyone to death with all this. Or maybe made you all fall asleep. Look for Bill and me in an airport someplace if you're travelling through LHR, FCO, BCN, MAD or ATH within the next 2 weeks.
Chrism
CP flight uneventful. Arrived YVR with 5 hours to kill until CX flight. Collect bags and head for check-in. Closed until 9:30!! Pushed our trolly loaded with bags to the food court where we sat for nearly 2 hours watching a huge screen display the wonders of Vancouver over and over and over and over.
Finally they open CX for check-in and we're on our way. Or at least as far as the CX lounge where we wait for another 2 hours. Then it's time to board. First Class on CX is something that has to be experienced to trulyt understand. There were 18 seats on this particular flight---15 filled. They began handing out gray two-piece outfits to change into and of course the goody bags. Mine was white satin and had the usual socks and eye mask as well as ear plugs, and the real extras: perfume, toilet water, moisturizer, cleanser, hairbrush with lovely carved wood handle. Bill got a navy bag that feels like soft leather complete with the male equivilent of mine. They're giving Crabtree and Evelyn products in case anyone's interested. Since there was no way I could change clothes in that little bathroom I just settled in for the night. I figured the rumpled look wouldn't be that noticable at 6:30 a.m. when we landed in HKG.
I fell asleep and about 5 hours out I woke to a completely darkened cabin. Not a creature was stirring (not even my devoted spouse who swears he never sleeps on planes). I went back to the restroom---and entered the Far Side. I'm sure most of you have seen that cartoon strip. Does anyone remember the one of the kid at the door to the "School for Gifted Children?" He's trying with all his might to push the door open. Then you notice the sign on the door says "Pull." Well, I'm standing in the dark, pushing on the door and nothing is happening. I'm getting more and more aggravated. I start feeling the door in case there's a nob I'm supposed to pull or something. Suddenly I push on the right part, the door flies open and I nearly fly inot the toilet. Luckily, evdryone was asleep so no one saw me. The rest of the flight was uneventful, thank God.
We stayed in Hong Kong for 3 nights. I was still in the Far Side thought. Their escalators are the opposite of ours. They go up on the left and down on the right and I was always heading for the wrong side.
Nest flight CX again, first class again this time to SIN. We arrive at the airport, check in and go the The Wing. It was unbelievable!!! We sat down to a great buffet. We were pampered beyond belief. I wish CX flew everywhere and built a lounge like this in each airport. We could have had a bath if we wanted, for God's sake!!
This time the first class section only had 3 of us as passengers. Talk about service!! Their FAs are all so nice and the other passenger was a nice guy too. He took pictures of Bill and me in our first class seats (with our camera) for all our friends to see. It's not that we never flew first class before but first class in CX is unlike anything we'd ever seen.
In SIN we stayed at the Shangri-la on Sentosa Island. When we checked in I asked for theGolden Circle perk of a suite upgrade for US$25 a night and voila we were installed in a beautiful 2 room suite overlooking the water with its own private terrace. It was a great stay. We'll definitely use some of those bonus miles to go back there again.
Business class flight from SIN to BKK yesterday. Nice enough but definitely nowhere near first class. Right now we're ate the Shangri-la (no suite but very nice room overlooking the river). We leave here on Thursday night--really Friday at 12:35 a.m. on QF to LHR, change to BA and on to FCO. From there it's on to Athens (via MAD and BCN on IB for those bonus miles), Edinburgh and finishing up in Montreal.
I'll post again from Europe somewhere. I hope I haven't bored everyone to death with all this. Or maybe made you all fall asleep. Look for Bill and me in an airport someplace if you're travelling through LHR, FCO, BCN, MAD or ATH within the next 2 weeks.
Chrism
Nov 16, 1999, 2:36 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
Fantastic report! It's great to hear about airlines I don't travel with - is the grass ALWAYS greener?
Have a great rest of the trip, and I look forward to the rest of your reports.
Greg
Have a great rest of the trip, and I look forward to the rest of your reports.
Greg
Nov 16, 1999, 4:05 pm
#6
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: lake forest illinois usa
Posts: 541
Chris - sounds wonderful and I hope it's all as good; and for the good news about Bill. Write when you come home and we'll compare notes on my forthcoming *A RTW in February. I think I really would have found some way to get into the sleep suit, even if I had to ask the FA's to vacate the galley for a couple of minutes.
Nov 17, 1999, 3:47 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: New Windsor, NY
Programs: AA LIFETIME GOLD, 1.7MM; HH Diamond
Posts: 210
Thanks for all the kind words. I neglected to report that I typed it on a keyboard where the letters were English and Thai. Boy, is that a challenge. I keep thinking I'm doing something wrong.
Well, we're off tonight at 12:35 a.m. That doesn't sound right does it? Tonight at 12:35 a.m. Oh, well, it's not Tuesday so I know it's definitely not Belgium. (Old movie for all you young ones) The best part of leaving tonight is that I thought it was tomorrow afternoon. I called the airline to see if there was a first class lounge for Qantas at the airport. She asked for my flight number and informed me we were leaving on the only QF flight at 35 minutes past midnight. Wow, I didn't think I could pack that fast. I am reminded of one of my daughter's friends who used to tell me, "When in trouble, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout." That was my first reaction. However, I soon recovered and became my usual confused self. We pulled all the clothes apart to separate the hot weather from the cool and we're fine now. The hotel was wonderful. Remember, they thought we were staying until tomorrow night and so I went to the desk and they said we could stay late and they would only charge half a day.
That sounded great to me. Especially since I was told by QF that their lounge was in another terminal. Hmmmm, I must say CX wouldn't dream of doing that. So we're hanging around the Shangri-la in the Krung Thep tower which is just for all us Golden Circle members. I love this group. They really know how to treat you.
Well, back to the room and then to dinner and then off to what we hope will be sunny Rome.
I'll be in touch.
Chris
Well, we're off tonight at 12:35 a.m. That doesn't sound right does it? Tonight at 12:35 a.m. Oh, well, it's not Tuesday so I know it's definitely not Belgium. (Old movie for all you young ones) The best part of leaving tonight is that I thought it was tomorrow afternoon. I called the airline to see if there was a first class lounge for Qantas at the airport. She asked for my flight number and informed me we were leaving on the only QF flight at 35 minutes past midnight. Wow, I didn't think I could pack that fast. I am reminded of one of my daughter's friends who used to tell me, "When in trouble, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout." That was my first reaction. However, I soon recovered and became my usual confused self. We pulled all the clothes apart to separate the hot weather from the cool and we're fine now. The hotel was wonderful. Remember, they thought we were staying until tomorrow night and so I went to the desk and they said we could stay late and they would only charge half a day.
That sounded great to me. Especially since I was told by QF that their lounge was in another terminal. Hmmmm, I must say CX wouldn't dream of doing that. So we're hanging around the Shangri-la in the Krung Thep tower which is just for all us Golden Circle members. I love this group. They really know how to treat you.
Well, back to the room and then to dinner and then off to what we hope will be sunny Rome.
I'll be in touch.
Chris
Nov 17, 1999, 8:06 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: East Hampton/Dorado Beach
Posts: 591
Great report!
Remember both CX & QF are One World partners so I always use the closest lounge even if its not the airline I'm actually flying on.
In Bangcock on QF...use the CX lounge so you don't have to switch terminals.
In Rio flying American..use the BA lounge right near the AA gate.
Or you can even go crazy and lounge hop grabbing snacks and odd magazines as you go!
Remember both CX & QF are One World partners so I always use the closest lounge even if its not the airline I'm actually flying on.
In Bangcock on QF...use the CX lounge so you don't have to switch terminals.
In Rio flying American..use the BA lounge right near the AA gate.
Or you can even go crazy and lounge hop grabbing snacks and odd magazines as you go!
Dec 1, 1999, 7:55 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: New Windsor, NY
Programs: AA LIFETIME GOLD, 1.7MM; HH Diamond
Posts: 210
747--that's exactly what we did, used the CX lounge. We are now so spoiled we can't think of going on a flight without getting into a lounge and cruising for food and newspapers at the very least.
I've done the grand finale and posted it here. It's really long. No one would believe I worked for the world's largest condensed magazine for years. I should have taken a red pen to the report but hey, you guys aren't paying me so I guess I can go on and on without worrying.
I've done the grand finale and posted it here. It's really long. No one would believe I worked for the world's largest condensed magazine for years. I should have taken a red pen to the report but hey, you guys aren't paying me so I guess I can go on and on without worrying.