2004: The Travel Year in Review
 

Keeping the tradition alive and with December nearly half way over, I figured it was time to launch the 2004 Travel Year in Review thread! As an added twist, I thought it would fun if each poster proclaimed "awards" for categories such as best flight, best hotel, etc. in addition to the usual summary of the past year's travel. Feel free to be creative and add give "awards" for any category you want. Or, of course, feel free to totally ignore my suggestion.

If you want to see last year's thread, here it is:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...eferrerid=6611

Have fun! :)

My Travel Year 2004
 

Link To Map:

http://gc.kls2.com/cgi-bin/gc?PATH=J...OR=&MAP-STYLE=

Total Miles Flown: 110,226

Details:

January

JFK-SFO AA 767-300 First Class
-Westin SFO
SFO-JFK AA 767-300 First Class

February

JFK-LAX AA 767-200 First Class
LAX-SAN AA Eagle Saab 340 Economy Class
-W San Diego
SAN-LAX AA Eagle Saab 340 Economy Class
-Westin LAX
LAX-JFK AA 767-200 First Class

JFK-CAI Egyptair 777-200 First Class
-Sheraton al-Gezirah
CAI-LHR BA 747-400 First Class
-Sheraton Belgravia
LHR-FRA BA 757-200 Club Europe
FRA-DFW AA 777-200 First Class
DFW-LGA AA 737-800 First Class

March

LGA-DCA AA Eagle ERJ Economy Class
DCA-LGA AA Eagle ERJ Economy Class

JFK-BGI AA 757-200 Business Class
BGI-JFK AA 757-200 Business Class

April

LGA-HOU-AUS AA MD-80 First Class
-Hyatt Regency Austin
AUS-HOU-LGA AA MD-80 First Class

May

None

June

None

July

JFK-LAX AA 767-200 First Class
-Westin LAX
LAX-LIM-SCL Lan Chile A340-300 First Class
SCL-GRU-GIG Lan Chile A340-300 First Class
-Sheraton Barra
-Copacabana Palace
GIG-GRU-SCL Lan Chile 767-300 First Class
-San Cristobal Tower
SCL-LIM-JFK Lan Chile 767-300 First Class
JFK-HKG Cathay Pacific A340-600 First Class
-Sheraton Towers
HKG-NRT Cathay Pacific 747-400 First Class
NRT-JFK AA 777-200 First Class

August

EWR-FRA CO 767-400 Business Class
FRA-FMO LH (Eurowings) ATR-72 Economy Class
-Gasthof Zum Freden, Bad Iburg
FMO-FRA LH (CityLine) CRJ Economy Class
-Sheraton FRA
FRA-EWR CO 767-400 Business Class

LGA-DCA AA Eagle ERJ Economy Class
DCA-LGA US Airways Shuttle Economy Class

September

None

October

JFK-LAX AA 767-200 First Class
-Sheraton Gateway LAX
LAX-NRT JAL 747-400 First Class
-Westin Tokyo

November

NRT-HKG Cathay Pacific A330-300 First Class
-Sheraton Towers
HKG-ADL Cathay Pacific A330-300 First Class
ADL-SYD Qantas 737-400 Business Class
-Westin Sydney
SYD-HKG Cathay Pacific A340-300 First Class
-Sheraton Hong Kong
HKG-LHR Cathay Pacific 747-400 First Class
-Sheraton Skyline
LHR-DUB Aer Lingus A321 Business Class
-Westin Dublin
DUB-SNN-JFK Aer Lingus A330-200 Business Class

BDL-RDU AA Eagle ERJ Economy Class
RDU-DCA AA Eagle ERJ Economy Class
-Marriott Bethesda North Conference Center
DCA-RDU AA Eagle ERJ Economy Class
RDU-BDL AA Eagle ERJ Economy Class

December

BDL-ORD AA 737-800 First Class (pending 12/31)
ORD-BRU AA 767-300 Business Class (pending 12/31)

Awards

Worst Hotel: Sheraton al-Gezirah, Cairo b/c of run down nature of the room

Worst Flight: Eurowings ATR FRA-FMO b/c luggage was not loaded resulting in me attending a wedding in shorts and a t-shirt

Most Dissappointing Hotel: Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro b/c of run down nature of the room

Most Dissappointing Flight: CX 253 HKG-LHR b/c of dramtic cutbacks in snack menu and breakfast served as pre-arrival meal despite late evening arrival

Best Hotel Upgrade: Westin Dublin -- upgraded to two-floor Samuel Beckett Suite

Best In-Flight Meal: Artichoke tortellini in a sage and butter cream sauce on LAN 531 SCL-LIM

Best Hotel: Westin Sydney -- the shower, 'nuff said

Best Lounge: The Wing HKG

Most Overrated Lounge: LAN's Neruda Lounge at SCL

Most Underappreciated Lounge: Admirals Club SCL

Worst Lounge: Cathay Pacific Lounge NRT

Best Flight: LAN 751 -- had the F cabin and the service of two FAs all to myself!

Most Dissappointing Travel Experience: Rio, only because it rained the whole time

Most Unusual Travel Experience: Having an Egyptian security officer give me his gun so that he could take a picture of me with it for money

Craziest Thing Done for Miles: Flying HKG-JFK-NRT-JFK in 72 hours

Best Travel Experience: Cairo

Total Sectors: 20 (0 in First, 18 in Business, 2 in Economy)
Miles flown (excluding status and tier bonus): 39,166
________________

Best flight of 2004: LHR-SFO BA Club World (10th Sep)
Worst flight of 2004: IAD-LHR United Economy Plus (30th June)

Best meal: Mozarella cheese, Goat cheese and roast tomato timbale (BA Club World LHR-SFO starter, 10th Sep)
Worst meal: Something on United (LHR-IAD)

Best lounge: LHR British Airways First Lounge London Heathrow Terminal 1
Worst lounge: United Red Carpet Club - Washington Dulles

Best Service: BA Club World LHR-SFO 10th September
Worst Service: Iberia Business BCN-AGP 27th November

Miles earned across all FF programmes: 230,823

Total Sectors: 20 (0 in First, 18 in Business, 2 in Economy)
Airports visited: LHR, IAD, SFO, BCN, AGP, TXL, CDG
Most visited airport (ex-UK): IAD, BCN - four times
New aircraft: MD-87
New airlines: Iberia, bmi

A couple of random ones...
Best celebrity spot: Kelly Holmes (double Olympic gold winner at Athens) in Terminal 1 LHR two weeks after the Olympics. Passing through terminal to cheers and claps
Worst celebrity: Toby Anstis (former kids TV presenter) heading back to Euro Traveller on BCN-LHR (13th November)

I'll just post my leisure flights here.

January

LGA-DFW AA 737-800 First Class
DFW-PHX AA 757-200 First Class

February

Nones

March
PHX-DFW AA 757-200 Main Cabin
DFW-BNA AA MD-80 Main Cabin
BNA-STL AA Connection ERJ-140 Main Cabin
STL-LGA AA MD-80 Main Cabin

LGA-MIA AA MD-80 Main Cabin
MIA-TPA AA 757-200 Main Cabin
TPA-LGA AA MD-80 Main Cabin

JFK-LGB AA 757-200 Main Cabin
LGB-JFK AA 757-200 Main Cabin

-Wyndam Garden LGA
LGA-BOS AA Eagle ERJ-135 Main Cabin
BOS-JFK AA Eagle ERJ-135 Main Cabin
JFK-PHX AA 757 Main cabin

April

None

May

PHX-ORD AA MD-80 Main Cabin
ORD-STL AA MD-80 Main Cabin
- Dorm Room Floor
STL-DFW AA MD-80 First Class
DFW-ORD AA 777-200 First Class
ORD-PHX AA 757-200 First Class

PHX-SEA AS 737-400 Main Cabin
SEA-JFK AA 757-200 Main Cabin

June

LGA-DCA AA Eagle ERJ-135 Main Cabin
DCA-LGA AA Eagle ERJ-135 Main Cabin

July
LGA-ORD AA MD-80 First Class
ORD-STL AA MD-80 Main Cabin
STL-LGA AA MD-80 First Class

JFK-LAX AA 767-200 Business Class
LAX-SFO AA MD-80 First Class
- SFO Airport Hyatt
SFO-JFK AA 767-200 Business Class

August

No Flights
- Hampton Inn Youngstown , OH (West)
- Marriott Residence Inn - Oakbrook, IL
- Embassy Suites - Colorado Springs, CO
- Hyatt Regency - Phoenix, AZ

September

PHX-ORD AA MD-80 First Class
ORD-MCI AA 737-800 Main Cabin
- Homestead Studio Suites MCI Airport
MCI-DFW AA MD-80 Main Cabin
DFW-PHX AA 757-200 First Class

October

PHX-SEA AS 737-400 Main Cabin
SEA-BOS AS 737-700 Main Cabin
- Dorm Room Floor
BOS-ORD AA 737-800 First Class
ORD-PHX AA 757-200 First Class

November

PHX-DFW AA 757-200 First Class
DFW-DTW AA MD-80 Main Cabin
DTW-LGA AA Eagle ERJ-140 Main Cabin

LGA-DFW AA MD-80 Main Cabin
DFW-PHX AA MD-80 Main Cabin

Awards

Worst Hotel: Homestead Studio Suites MCI - Not the kind of hotel for a one night stay and no shuttle bus.

Worst Flight: DTW-LGA - due to weather conditions we arrived nearly 3 hours late in LGA, no one should have to spend that much time on an ERJ

Most Dissappointing Hotel: Homestead Studio Suites MCI - Not the kind of hotel for a one night stay and no shuttle bus.

Most Dissappointing Flight: AA 299 JFK-PHX, for a nearly 5 hour flight I expected a catered hot meal, not a bistro bag. Also no pillows or blankets were loaded and they annouced boarding at 5:10 for a 6 Pm flight.

Best In-Flight Meal: SFO-JFK, Ravioli filled with Rock Shrimp enhanced by a delicious Shrimp Sauce served with a duet of Tomato and Cilantro.

Best Hotel: SFO Airport Hyatt, nice room nice staff

Best Lounge: LAX Admirals Club

Most Overrated Lounge: Are domestic lounges overated?

Most Underappreciated Lounge: SEA Admirals Club

Worst Lounge: MIA Admirals Club, Concourse B

Best Flight: AA 1032 PHX-DFW, an operational upgrade to start my Thanksgiving vacation gave me a great crew

Most Dissappointing Travel Experience: Boston, the weather in October is terrible and the people at BU can suck it.

Most Unusual Travel Experience: Being told "Long Beach is NOT a Honky Tonk town!" by an offended resident of the city.

Craziest Thing Done for Miles: my March spring break of 12 flights to get that AANYC voucher.

Best Travel Experience: San Francisco

All leisure flights...

Jan
LHR-HKG CX, J
HKG-AKL CX, J
AKL-WLG QF Yx2
WLG-AKL QF Yx2
AKL-HKG CX, J
HKG-LHR CX, F

Feb
LHR-CAI BA, Y
CAI-LHR BA, Y
LHR-ORD AA, Y
ORD-MSY AA, Y
MSY-BOS AA, Y
BOS-LHR AA, Y

Mar
LHR-JNB BA, Y
JNB-LHR BA, Y
LGW-TLL OV, Y
TLL-LGW OV, Y

Apr
LHR-LAX BA, Y
LAX-AKL QF, J
AKL-WLG QF, Y

May
WLG-AKL QF, Y
AKL-WLG QF, Y

Nothing since May...

Best flight: HKG-LHR CX, F
Worst flight: LHR-JNB BA, Y - Got stuck next to a guy that divided his time between chatting up women and drinking... (Teach me from asking for a bulk head seat...)

Best lounge: The Pier, HKG
Worst lounge: TBIT, LAX (what lounge?)

1 8.1.2004 HEL CPH SK
2 8.1.2004 CPH BHX SK
3 8.1.2004 LTN BCN EZY
4 11.1.2004 BCN LTN EZY
5 17.1.2004 STN GSE FR
6 18.1.2004 GSE STN FR
7 7.2.2004 LHR FRA LH4731
8 7.2.2004 FRA HEL LH3104
9 13.2.2004 HEL ARN SK1709
10 13.2.2004 ARN LHR SK527
11 14.3.2004 EDI BHX BE293
12 26.3.2004 STN CIA FR3014
13 29.3.2004 CIA STN FR3013
14 30.3.2004 LHR MLA KM103
15 1.4.2004 MLA LHR KM100
16 10.4.2004 BHX CPH SK2534
17 10.4.2004 CPH HEL SK712
18 17.4.2004 HEL ARN KF443
19 17.4.2004 ARN CPH SK415
20 17.4.2004 CPH BHX SK2535
21 28.4.2004 BHX MUC LH5999
22 28.4.2004 MUC SJJ LH5328
23 29.4.2004 SJJ MUC LH5355
24 29.4.2004 MUC BHX LH1950
25 28.5.2004 BHX BRU SN2050
26 28.5.2004 BRU HEL SN2333
27 29.5.2004 HEL ARN SK701
28 29.5.2004 ARN LHR SK531
29 29.5.2004 LHR MAN BD590
30 2.6.2004 MAN LHR BA1389
31 5.6.2004 LHR MUC LH4753
32 5.6.2004 MUC NRT LH714
33 8.6.2004 HND HKD NH853
34 8.6.2004 HKD HND NH864
35 14.6.2004 NRT MUC LH715
36 14.6.2004 MUC LHR LH4762
37 26.6.2004 LHR CPH SK504
38 26.6,2004 CPH HEL SK714
39 27.6.2004 HEL KAJ AY387
40 27.6.2004 KAJ OUL AY388
41 27.6.2004 OUL RVN AY435
42 28.6.2004 RVN HEL AY426
43 3.7.2004 HEL FRA LH3107
44 3.7.2004 FRA BHX LH4900
45 4.8.2004 LHR CPH SK502
46 4.8.2004 CPH LHR SK1507
47 17.8.2004 LHR PRG OK651
48 17.8.2004 PRG OTP OK804
49 19.8.2004 OTP PRG OK805
50 19.8.2004 PRG LHR OK650
51 3.9.2004 BHX CPH SK2536
52 3.9.2004 CPH HEL SK6626
53 4.9.2004 TMP STN FR2195
54 6.9.2004 LHR HEL AY834
55 7.9.2004 HEL EVN AY7223
56 8.9.2004 EVN HEL AY7224
57 9.9.2004 HEL CPH KF639
58 9.9.2004 CPH BHX SK2533
59 11.9.2004 MAN DUB FR553
60 11.9.2004 DUB MAN LG4984
61 12.9.2004 MAN HEL AY938
62 12.10.2004 HEL DUS AY707
63 15.10.2004 AMS HEL AY842
64 21.10.2004 HEL FRA LH3105
65 21.10.2004 FRA HEL LH3102
66 13.11.2004 TKU HEL AY3234
67 13.11.2004 HEL TLL AY3115
68 16.11.2004 TMP STN FR2195
69 17.11.2004 STN PMO FR3916
70 18.11.2004 PMO STN FR3917
71 19.11.2004 STN TMP FR2194
72 9.12.2004 HEL AMS KL1170
73 10.12.2004 AMS HEL KL1171
74 19.12.2004 HEL AMS KL1164
75 20.12.2004 AMS HEL KL1167

Booked segments (14.12.2004): 75

Airlines: 18
Finnair (AY)
Blue1 (KF)
Aero Airlines (EE)
SAS (SK)
Lufthansa (LH)
Lufthansa CityLine (CL)
Eurowings (EW)
British Airways (BA)
bmi (BD)
easyJet (U2/EZY)
flyBE (BE)
Ryanair (FR)
Luxair (LG)
KLM (KL)
SN Brussels Airlines (SN)
Air Malta (KM)
CSA (OK)
ANA (NH)

Countries: 15
Finland
Sweden
Denmark
Estonia
UK
Rep. of Ireland
Germany
Netherlands
Italy
Malta
Bosnia-Hercegovina
Spain
Romania
Armenia
Japan


Best airport: MUC – always fast and convenient transfers
Worst airport: EVN (Erevan-Zvartnots, Armenia) – immigration took ages, no organisation, dirty
Best airline: ANA(NH) & Finnair (AY)
Worst airline: Ryanair (FR) & Air Malta (KM)
Best deal of the year: 390GBP LHR-MUC-NRT return on LH, qualified for double miles (“Neue Strecken”)
Worst deal of the year: 190GBP BHX-BRU-HEL one-way on SN, not eligible for AA miles (a student ticket from STA Travel)
Most useless flight: MAN-LHR one-way that was 2.5 hours late

Here goes:

9.1 KF445 HEL - ARN
9.1 LH2505 ARN - HAM
11.1 LH5224 HAM - ARN
11.1 SK1700 ARN - HEL
23.1 SK701 HEL - ARN
23.1 SK744 ARN - VNO
25.1 SK745 VNO - ARN
25.1 KF446 ARN - HEL
30.1 DC348 HEL - MIK
2.2 DC341 MIK - HEL
8.2 KF445 HEL - ARN
8.2 SK499 ARN - OSL
8.2 KF506 OSL - HEL
12.3 KF445 HEL - ARN
12.3 SK2597 ARN - BRU
15.3 AY814 BRU - HEL
5.4 KF209 HEL - OUL
5.4 KF210 OUL - HEL
14.4 KF209 HEL - OUL
14.4 KF210 OUL - HEL
23.4 4U285 HEL - CGN
25.4 4U224 CGN - HEL
8.5 KF639 HEL - CPH
8.5 SK693 CPH - VIE
10.5 SK694 VIE - CPH
10.5 SK1710 CPH - HEL
29.5 KF639 HEL - CPH
29.5 SK2681 CPH - MXP
30.5 SK688 MXP - CPH
30.5 KF646 CPH - HEL
24.6 KF249 HEL - KUO
27.6 KF248 KUO - HEL
12.7 KF244 KUO - HEL
19.7 KF639 HEL - CPH
19.7 QI743 CPH - BSL
23.7 QI750 BSL - CPH
23.7 SK714 CPH - HEL
25.7 5D1084 HEL - NRN
27.7 LH258 DUS - TXL
27.7 X33129 TXL - CGN
28.7 5D1083 NRN - HEL
2.8 OS348 HEL - VIE
5.8 OS325 VIE - CPH
5.8 KF646 CPH - HEL
5.9 LH3107 HEL - FRA
5.9 LH178 FRA - TXL
5.9 LH227 TXL - MUC
5.9 LH3116 MUC - HEL
24.9 KF443 HEL - ARN
24.9 SK415 ARN - CPH
24.9 EZY6148 CPH - BRS
26.9 EZY6147 BRS - CPH
26.9 KF646 CPH - HEL
22.10 AY817 HEL - BRU
22.10 SN2909 BRU - VIE
24.10 SN2906 VIE - BRU
24.10 AY818 BRU - HEL
29.10 KF249 HEL - KUO
26.11 AY863 HEL - ZRH
26.11 LX1734 ZRH - FCO
28.11 LX1737 FCO - ZRH
28.11 AY864 ZRH - HEL
10.12 SK719 HEL - CPH
10.12 SK667 CPH - STR
12.12 LH149 STR - HAM
12.12 KF776 HAM - HEL

Still to come:

23.12 KF243 HEL - KUO
27.12 KF246 KUO - HEL
30.12 AY715 HEL - PRG

Total flown to date: 66 segments, 35174 miles.
Yet to fly in 2004: 3 segments, 1238 miles.
Total for year 2004: 69 segments, 36412 miles.

Longest flight: HEL-ZRH (1107 miles)
Shortest flight: HEL-MIK (121 miles)
Most expensive flight: SK/QI/KF HEL-CPH-BSL-CPH-HEL in full Y: 1200 EUR.
Cheapest flight: X3 TXL-CGN: 29.99 EUR.
Best value for money: 5D HEL-NRN-HEL: 48 EUR.

Everything for leisure except for that BSL jaunt (surprise).

This year has been a long-haul year:

27/02 HEL-HKG AY091
01/03 HKG-BNE QF86
04/03 BNE-SYD QF541
07/03 SYD-AKL QF163
07/03 AKL-NAN FJ411
12/03 NAN-AKL FJ410
12/03 AKL-SCL LA800
14/03 SCL-MDZ LA932
16/03 SCL-LIM LA530
17/03 LIM-CUZ LP131
21/03 CUZ-JUL LP131
23/03 JUL-AQP LP132
25/03 AQP-LIM LP106
27/03 LIM-JFK LA530
28/03 JFK-HEL AY6
01/07 HEL-CPH AY661
01/07 CPH-HEL AY664
28/09 HEL-CPH SK713
30/09 CPH-HEL SK1710
03/10 HEL-FRA AY825
03/10 FRA-SCL LA705
05/10 SCL-EZE AR1287
06/10 EZE-SCL AR1286
06/10 SCL-FRA LA704
07/10 FRA-HEL AY826
18/10 HEL-BKK AY91
21/10 BKK-HEL AY98
25/10 HEL-PEK AY51
28/10 PEK-HEL AY52
07/11 HEL-CDG AY871
07/11 CDG-MEX AM6
08/11 MEX-EZE MX1691
09/11 EZE-GIG RG8615
10/11 GIG-CDG AF441
11/11 CDG-HEL AY872
30/11 HEL-LED AY165
30/11 LED-HEL FV229
01/12 HEL-LHR AY831
01/12 LHR-DEL BA143
02/12 DEL-BOM IC810
04/12 BOM-LHR BA138
04/12 LHR-HEL AY832

Best hotels: Hyatt Regency Mumbai, club floor and Park Miraflores in Lima
Worst hotel: Posada del Monasterio in Arequipa (Peru)

Best flight: HKG-BNE in QF J (very good service and meal)
Worst flight: AQP-LIM (aborted take-off, no information, long delay)

Not as many sectors (37) as last year (39), but I think more miles:

January
NCL-BRU SN AR1 Y
BRU-MRS SN 146 Y

February
MRS-CDG AF 321 Y
BRU-NCL SN R85 Y
NCL-LHR BA Y
LHR-NCL BA 320 Y

March
NCL-LHR BA Y
LHR-NCL BA Y
NCL-LGW BA 735 Y

April
LHR-NCL BA Y
NCL-LHR BA 320? Y
LHR-HKG BA 744 Y
HKG-LHR BA 744 Jumpseat

June
NCL-LHR BA 320 Y
LHR-BAH GF 343 Y A4O-LH
BAH-LHR BA 744 Y
LHR-NCL BA 319 Y

July
NCL-LHR BA 320 Y G-EUUO
LHR-NCL BA 757 Y G-CPEM

August
NCL-LGW BA 735 Y G-LFFG
LHR-BAH BA 744 Y G-BNLP
BAH-HKG CX 772 Y
HKG-BKK CX 333 Y
BKK-USM PG 717 Y

September
USM-BKK PG A72 Y
BKK-HKG CX 343 Y
HKG-LHR BA 744 J
LHR-BAH BA 744 Y
BAH-LHR BA 744 W

November
LHR-NCL BA 733 Y
NCL-LHR BA 319 Y
LHR-DUB EI 321 J
DUB-LHR EI 321 Y

December
LHR-NCL BA 320 Y G-BUSH
NCL-LHR BA 734 Y
LGW-NCL BA 734 Y
NCL-LHR BA 320 Y

Number of miles flown: 44171 :)
Number of miles earnt: 0 :(

Best Flight: HKG-LHR, BA J :)
Worst Flight: LHR-BAH, GF Y :(
Most Insane Routing: USM-BKK-HKG-LHR-BAH all in one go.
Coolest Airport: HKG or USM (Ko Samui)
Most visited airport: LHR

My travel year 2004
 

Hi!
This was my travel-year 2004. All flights were leisure-flights in Y.

Total Segments: 20
Countries visited: 5
Germany, Switzerland, Spain, USA, Hongkong/China
Airports: 10
GRZ, VIE, ACH, ZRH, MUC, MAD, LPA, JFK, EWR, HKG

Date / Route / Airline / Flight / Equipment / Reg

January
04/01/04 LPA-VIE Flyniki HG0761 Airbus A-320-200 D-ALAF

February
07/02/04 GRZ-VIE Tyrolean OS5970 Dash 8-Q300 OE-LTH
07/02/04 VIE-JFK Austrian OS0087 Airbus A-330-200 OE-LAN
14/02/04 JFK-VIE Austrian OS0088 Airbus A-330-200 OE-LAM
15/02/04 VIE-GRZ Austrian OS5963 cancelled / bus-service!
19/02/04 VIE-ZRH Swiss LX1577 Avro RJ-100 HB-IXT
26/02/04 ZRH-VIE Swiss LX1580 Airbus A-319-100 HB-IPT

March
30/03/04 GRZ-ZRH Styrian Spirit LX4263 Canadair CRJ-200 OE-LSC
30/03/04 ZRH-HKG Swiss LX0138 Airbus A-340-300 HB-JMB

April
06/04/04 HKG-ZRH Swiss LX0139 Airbus A-340-300 HB-JMF
07/04/04 ZRH-GRZ Styrian Spirit LX4260 Canadair CRJ-200 OE-LSC

May
30/05/04 VIE-ZRH Flyniki HG8252 Airbus A-320-200 OE-LOF

June
25/06/04 ACH-VIE Austrian OS0594 Dash 8-Q400 OE-LGD
25/06/04 VIE-GRZ Austrian OS0975 Canadair CRJ-200 OE-LCK
30/06/04 GRZ-VIE Austrian OS0978 Dash 8-Q300 OE-LTD

July
01/07/04 VIE-ACH Austrian OS0593 Dash 8-Q400 OE-LGD

August
none

September
07/09/04 ZRH-EWR Continental CO079 Boeing 767-200 N69154
12/09/04 EWR-ZRH Continental CO078 Boeing 767-200 N76156

October
none

November
none

December
24/12/04 MUC-MAD Iberia IB3539 Airbus A-319-100 EC-+++ (upcoming)
24/12/04 MAD-LPA Iberia IB6970 Boeing 757-200 EC-+++ (upcoming)

Longest Flight:
5764 miles (HKG-ZRH) 12h20min

Shortest Flight:
94 miles (VIE-GRZ) 00h20min

Worst flights:
1, VIE-GRZ Austrian, 15.02.04:
technical problems, flight cancelled; 02h30min bus-service instead of 30min flight!
2. VIE-JFK Austrian, 07.02.04:
long delay (3 hours), no information, rude FA´s
3, GRZ.VIE-ACH Austrian, 30.06. / 01.07.04:
missed my connecting flight, no compensation by the airline, spent the night at Vienna airport! This was the day when I stopped flying Austrian.

Best flights:
1. GRZ-ZRH Styrian Spirit, 30.03.04:
Tablecloth, full meal service (by Do&Co) and real glassware on an one-hour flight in Economy-Class!
2. ZRH-HKG Swiss, 30.03.04:
very empty flight, great crew, great AVOD-entertainment;
3. ZRH-EWR Continental, 07.09.04:
my best transatlantic flight so far; comfortable plane (762), nice FA´s, tasty food (!)

Best airport:
HKG - Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok

Worst airport:
VIE - Vienna Schwechat

Best travel experience:
Hongkong - amazing city!

special award:
Best boarding muzak:
Swiss

and because fbgdavidson launched this category:
Best celebrity spot:
-Claudia Schiffer shopping at Prada SoHo, NYC

Merry christmas and a happy new travel-year 2005!

-Thomas

Although I cannot compete with some here and am under severe time pressure I will at least offer a link to the flight routing taken in 2005:


http://gc.kls2.com/cgi-bin/gc?PATH=G...avy&MAP-STYLE=


I thoroughly enjoyed travelling this year, I had amazing experiences.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3201592

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=364582

Best City Hotel: The Mandarin Oriental New York and The Oriental Bangkok

Best Beach Hotel: The Banyan Tree Bintan

Worst Hotel: Sheraton SFO

Best Upgrades: Westin Cabo San Lucas and Sheraton Hacienda del Mar (to spectacular suite with jacuzzi on balcony and duplex two bedroom suite respectively), The Mandarin Oriental Hongkong to a Harbour View Suite,...


Worst Flight: LAX-SJD on Mexicana. Total mess at LAX airport, almost missed the flight and lost luggage.

Most Dissappointing Hotel: Mandarin Oriental Jakarta

Most Dissappointing Flight: SFO-SAN in F. Only one Drink served.

Best In-Flight Meal: Caviar Appetizers and Lobster Thermidor on SQ

Best Lounge: Silver Kris F Lounge SIN

Worst Lounge: IAD RCC

Best Flight: SQ1 SFO-HKG First Class, never before did I sleep 8 hours like in my own bed on a flight.

Most Unusual Travel Experience: Almost getting lost at night on the back side of Victoria Peak in Hongkong on a "hash rally run".

Best Travel Experience: Southeast Asia

January

7/1 AMS - HKG on CX C class
8/1 HKG - HAN on VN C class
16/1 HAN - HKG on VN C class
17/1 HKG - AMS on CX C class

February

13/2 AMS - LHR on BD Y class
15/2 LHR - AMS on BD Y class

March

12/3 AMS - HKG on CX C class
15/3 HKG - HAN on VN C class
18/3 HAN - BKK on TG Y class
19/3 BKK - KUL on TG Y class
23/3 KUL - BKK on TG Y class
23/3 BKK - HAN on TG Y class
24/3 HAN - HKG on VN C class
25/3 HKG - ICN on CX C class
25/3 ICN - ULN on KE C class
27/3 ULN - PEK on OM C class
27/3 PEK - HKG on CA C class
28/3 HKG - AMS on CX C class

April

16/4 AMS - HEL on KL Y class
19/4 HEL - AMS on KL Y class

May

19/5 AMS - BKK on KL C class
21/5 BKK - KUL on AK Y class
27/5 SIN - BKK on FD Y class
29/5 BKK - AMS on KL Y class

June

nothing

July

6/7 AMS - CDG on AF C class
6/7 CDG - HAN on AF C class
10/7 HAN - TPE on BR Y class
14/7 TPE - ICN on TG C class
14/7 ICN - ULN on OM C class
22/7 ULN - PEK on OM C class
22/7 PEK - CDG on AF C class
22/7 CDG - AMS on AF C class

August

19/8 AMS - LHR on KL Y class
22/8 LHR - AMS on KL Y class

September

4/9 RTM - SXF on HV Y class
6/9 SXF - RTM on HV Y class


October

10/10 AMS - CDG on KL C class
12/10 CDG - AMS on AF C class

14/10 AMS - BKK on KL Y class
17/10 BKK - RGN on PG Y class
18/10 RGN - NYU on Air Mandalay Y class
21/10 NYU - RGN on Air Mandalay Y class
22/10 RGN - BKK on PG Y class
25/10 BKK - CDG on AF Y class
26/10 CDG - AMS on AF Y class

November

5/11 AMS - SIN on SQ C class
6/11 SIN - CGK on SQ C class
7/11 CGK - SIN on SQ C class
10/11 SIN - KUL on SQ Y class
12/11 KUL - HKT on AK Y class
15/11 HKT - KUL on AK Y class
16/11 KUL - SIN on SQ Y class
16/11 SIN - AMS on SQ C class

23/11 AMS - CDG on AF C class
23/11 CDG - HAN on AF C class
25/11 HAN - BKK on TG Y class
29 /11 BKK - HAN on TG Y class

December

3/12 HAN - CDG on AF C class
3/12 CDG - AMS on AF C class


59 segments

Best flights SQ AMS - SIN and SIN - AMS in C class
worst flights ? no real bad flights this year :)

Best destinations: everywhere I have been this year........

New countries: Finland, Estonia

Best lounge: The Wing, HKG
Worst lounge: AF lounge at CDG 2C

Total sectors: 48 (F4 / C8 / Y36)
Airlines: LX, CX, LH, EW, BA, OS, HG

Awards
Worst Hotel: Le Beluga, Tadoussac, QC, Canada
Worst Flight: LX1498 ZRH-PRG for refusing ausTXhiker to board the plane I was waiting in, despite the jetway still being attached and the door open. :td:
Most Dissappointing Flight: LX456 ZRH-LCY in C with a very measily lunch service (cold cuts and tiny salad only) instead of a proper meal only a year ago.
Best Hotel Upgrade: Sheaton Royal Orchid, BKK: Upgraded to a very nice and large suite from a regular rate - thanks ausTXhiker!
Best In-Flight Meal: Brunch in F on CX504 HKG-NRT
Best Hotel: Conrad Hotel BKK: Marvellous bathroom!
Best Lounge: The Wing HKG, especially the Cabanas
Most Overrated Lounge: CSA Crystal Lounge, PRG
Most Underappreciated Lounge: LX Lounge, JFK T4
Worst Lounge: LX Lounge (airport-run), HAJ
Best Flight: CX451 NRT-TPE-HKG in F
Most Dissappointing Travel Experience: Hanover, Germany: A grey, rainy & cold Sunday in a city with everything closed.
Most Unusual Travel Experience: Chasing the Queen Mary 2 up the St. Lawrence to Québec.
Craziest Thing Done for Miles: Flying ZRH-ATH-MUC-ZRH in half a day to get the LX segments bonus.
Best Travel Experience: Navigating the Tokyo subway on my own (but with mjm's instructions).

Total Sectors: 47 (4 in First, 4 in Business, 39 in Economy)
Miles flown (earned miles): 80,716
Countries visited: Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, France, Liechtenstein, Spain, Netherlands, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, NZ

Awards

Worst Hotel: Country Comfort Sydney Central, just plain boring & outdated

Worst Flight: QF MEL-AKL delayed by 7 hours

Most Dissappointing Hotel: Chancellor James Cook Wellington, very dismal service in restaurants/bars

Most Dissappointing Flight: KL C HEL-AMS-BCN, too high expectations I guess for a business class flight, lousy food, mediocre service

Best Hotel Upgrade: Saville Perth, a wonderful 2 bedroom suite

Best In-Flight Meal: 'Light Dinner' on MH F AKL-KUL, a fabulous feast!

Worst In-Flight Meal: some kind of vegetarian pasta on LH FRA-HEL, truly disgusting!

Best Hotel: Hotel Kastania, Petersdorf, Fehmarn, Germany: a great unpretentious small friendly hotel

Best Lounge: MH F KUL, a truly fabulous lounge

Worst Lounge: LH SEN FRA, a joke pretending to be a first class lounge!

Best Flight: TG F FRA-BKK, amazing service!

Most Dissappointing Travel Experience: missing NZ F lounges in AKL & SYD due to TG mess-up

Most Unusual Travel Experience: Having a Swiss person in Geneva thinking that New Zealand is in Scandinavia :D

Craziest Thing Done for Miles: 'scenic route' HEL-CPH-HAM-ZRH

Best Travel Experience: Fehmarn Island, Germany - very relaxed & friendly and very German in a good way :)

Total segments: 73 (including 3 segments yet to fly)

Segments by class of service:
Paid Y segments: 58
Paid C segments: 3 (9W)
Op-upgraded C segments: 2 (SQ)
Award-upgraded C segments: 10 (SQ)

Segments by carrier:
Singapore Airlines: 59
Jet Airways: 8
Thai Airways: 4
Nok Air: 2

Total BIS miles: 100,710mi

Frequent Flyer Miles earned:
SQ: 279,270
DL: 39,250
NW: 7,250

Total number of airports: 10
BKK BLR BOM CNX EWR GOI HKG IXE MAA SIN

Total aircraft types: 8
333 345 734 737 738 772 773 744

Longest flight: SIN-EWR 9529mi 18h36m
Shortest flight: BOM-GOI 263mi 0h45m

Hotels stayed in:

BLR:
The Park Bangalore

BOM:
InterContinental the Grand Mumbai
Hyatt Regency Mumbai
Grand Hyatt Mumbai
Le Meridien Mumbai
The Leela Kempinski

CNX:
Sheraton Chiangmai

HKG:
Conrad Hong Kong

MAA:
The Park Chennai

NYC:
Hilton Times Square
Millenium Hilton

SIN:
InterContinental Singapore
Hilton Singapore
Holiday Inn Park View
Marina Mandarin


Worst Hotel: Marina Mandarin, Singapore. Run down room, lied to by duty manager after terrible front desk service.
Worst Flight: One BKK-SIN flight on SQ where the crew blatantly ignored me and answered rudely while they practically kissed the backside of the caucasian seated next to me. Probably the only case of racial discrimination experienced on a flight so far. :(

Best C flight: SIN-EWR nonstop on SQ. Great food, wonderful FAs and a chatty tech crew. Love the A345 C cabin.
Best Y flight: BOM-SIN on SQ. Crew was the same as on my outbound flight and recognized me while I was going through immigration at BOM. Seated in an empty exit row, I was pampered and received better service than many of my Raffles class flights. :cool:
Best in-flight Meal: Wild Mushroom and Chorizo Risotto (SQ Book The Cook)
Best in-flight View: Sea of Okhotsk and the Kamchatka Peninsula from SQ22.

Best Hotel: InterContinental Singapore
Best Hotel Upgrade: Hilton Times Square, HH Gold upgrade from cheapest prepaid room to a huge suite on the top floor for the weekend
Best Hotel Concierge: Michelle at the Millenium Hilton, got us VIP invites to some great clubs, offered use of the fitness center so that I could shower before catching a 11pm flight when the hotel could only give me a 1pm late checkout. ^
Best Hotel Club Lounge dragon: Niyanta at InterContinental the Grand Mumbai.

Most embarrasing flight: HKG-SIN on SQ. Was a bit hungover as I went and sat in the wrong row. Passenger who was supposed to be sitting in that seat called an FA who asked to see my boarding pass and moved me one row ahead, probably thinking "This idiot can't count". I go over to my ex-girlfriend's after the flight to find the same FA moved in to share her apartment a few weeks before that. :o

Craziest Weekend for Miles:
Friday BKK-xSIN on SQ for double miles, used my transit time to party at Insomnia.
Saturday xSIN-BOM on SQ for 50% bonus miles, had a free bed ;) at The Leela Kempinski and partied at Zaha.
Sunday BOM-xSIN-BKK on SQ for 50% bonus miles and double miles and the movies I hadn't seen before.
Earned 13,300-odd SQ miles for $75 out of pocket expense; had too many brain cells destroyed by the alcohol. :D


Best FT deals utilized: ^ ^

30,000 DL Miles for purchasing IC Ambassador for $150
7,250 DL Miles for playing Dash to the Gate
Bought a one-way SIN-xFRA-JFK in LH F for $850
Priority Club 10K points promos
Hyatt WINE and CIGAR promos coupled with FFNs and GP bonuses.