Travel Summary 2015

Travel Summary 2015

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Actual miles flown: 147,849
Miles / points redeemed: 187,000
Status earned: AA EXP, UA/*G
# of segments flown: 81
# of trips: 17
# of trips forfeit (VX:LAX, DL: SVO)
# of airports / (new): 38 / (17: TMP, ARN, UME, PHL, PEK, CLE, MIA, GIG, SJU, PHX, LCY, VIE, BMA, GVA, NCE, MCM, ZRH)
# of airlines (new): 13 / (6: SK, OS, DY, TF, LX, YO)
# of int'l premium cabins: 4 (AA-J, BA-F, AY-J, UA-J)
# of trip in rotary aircraft: 1 (MCM-NCE)
# of states / (new): 19 / (7: ID, MT, WY, SD, IA, IN, OH)
# of territories / (new): 1 / (1: PR)
# of countries / (new): 16 / (3: BR, CH, MC)
# of continents: 4
$ spent on airfare & fees: Don't even ask (info missing and too lazy / scare to look up bank statements)
Most popular route: UME-ARN (11)
Most popular airport: ARN (23)
Total time spent on planes: 14d, 3h, 12m.

The mysterious world of Op-up

So I got op-uped on my flight to Washington DC from Heathrow. These are the best upgrades you can have. Because it costs you nothing. I board my flight as usual, found my seat in Economy. I got settled in, waiting for the rest of my flight to board. 10 minutes later I saw the gate agent come on board. She stopped by my seat, handed me a new boarding pass and said "Here is your new seat Mr. Lee. Happy holidays!"

What the hell is an op-up? An op-up is a shorthand for operational upgrade. The airline upgraded you based on their operation need. The easiest example is that Economy is oversold and there are empty seats in Business. Instead of bumping people, they decide to upgrade certain passengers based on various factors, usually booking class of the ticket or elite status.

Here is the thing: Airlines have gotten really good at managing their load factors. Operational upgrades don't happen much anymore. On top of that, on this flight I was only United Silver, the lowest tier in MileagePlus. If I was upgraded because of status, that would mean there were no other Gold / Platinum / 1K / GS, which I find unlikely. I also talked to the gate agent before boarding, and while I was nice enough, I didn't have enough of a conversation with her to make a lasting impression.

This was only the 2nd time I've been op-uped. Who know why it happened. Not going to complain!`

1 Night in Monaco + Monaco to Nice in a heli

After a long and painful project, I decided to do a quick overnighter. I've been meaning to go to Monaco for a while and thought this would be a a good time to get some Mediterranean warmth in December. Year ago my friend Brian mentioned how his family took a helicopter ride between Monaco and Nice. I checked the price, and it was a relatively reasonable €141. After years of wanting to try a flight in a helo, this was the perfect opportunity. I can get from Monaco to Nice Airport in 7 minutes!

Finnair Business Class HEL-AMS A350-900 inaugural

Finnair got the first Airbus A350 in Europe. I figured I'd book myself on the inaugural revenue passenger flight.

People getting anxious

Lots of excited airline nerds

One of the best features of this IFE, I wish I had a better picture of: It shows the time under both cities in both time zones. So simple, yet no one did it until now

Gorgeous tailcam view

Since this is only a short haul flight for crew training, the plane is only catered like an intra-European flight

When we landed we got a water cannon salute

Quite a crowed gathered to see the first European A350 in service

British Airways First Class MIA-LHR 744

BA First Class. Very comfortable, but service is just average.

The motorized window shade is very cool

United Premium Economy SFO-ICN Status Run

I need StarAlliance Gold before I move to Europe, so I flew from San Francisco to Seoul and back with a 3 hours layover. Basically got off the plane, ate, got right back on the same plane.

Yes I have a problem.

BTW I forgot my passport at home, so when I almost reached SFO I had to drive back to San Jose to get it. Good times.

16 Hours in Rio

When a $600 SFO-GIG fare came up, I couldn't resist. What I didn't count on was getting a rush Brazilian visa was gonna cost me $300. Then AA cancelled my outbound so I had to depart a day later. My original trip was 2 days 1 night, which was already short enough. Now I arrive and leave on the same day.

No hurry.

Mistake fare: Two days in Beijing, x2

So AA had a mistake fare. Washington to Beijing for $440. In business class. At that rate I had to book it. Hell I booked two trips for all the sweet sweet RDM and EQM. Ended up doing two tue-thurs trip to Beijing over two weeks.

Nordic Tour 2015

I applied to a few graduate school in January, and they are all in Sweden and Finland. I figure I make a trip out there in the winter to see if I can survive the cold.

Highlight: Had the whole plane to myself between Tampere and Stockholm, finally meeting Rebecca and Anna, and saw a VW XL1.

Travel Summary 2014

Travel Summary 2014

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Actual miles flown: 99,564
Miles / points redeemed: 310,000
# of segments flown: 46
# of trips / (PNR): 10 / (14)
# of airports / (new): 26 / (11: STR, AMS, GOT, BNE, SYD, HNL, AES, DTW, FCO, BUD, PHX)
# of airlines (new): 12 / (6: LH, KL, AF, QF, HA, AZ)
# of int'l premium cabins: 3 (LH-F, QF-J, BR-J)
# of states / (new): 8 / (1: HI)
# of countries / (new): 15 / (5: NL, AU, VA, HU, AT)
# of continents: 4
$ spent on airfare & fees: $3,664,67
Total time spent on planes: 9 days, 1 hour, 40 min.

Mistake fare: Around the world in 132 hours

8 flights
7 countries
6 days

Alitalia had a one way ticket from Los Angeles to Tokyo for $360. Guess what? It routes through Europe via Paris, Rome, Budapest, Amsterdam before finally arriving in Tokyo. A $60 ticket from San Jose to Los Angeles plus another 20,000 miles + $45 for a one way ticket from Tokyo to San Jose via Honololu. Total cost: $465 + 20k AA miles.

Bonus: I was able to convince Cherie to come along too.

First stop: Lunch with Erin in LA

#vaticanselfie

Budapest

Absinthe shot

Daytripping to Austria

Shy panda

Yes, that schnitzel is bigger than my face

Amsterdam canal tour

Taking the monorail from Tokyo Haneda

Honolulu...almost home

Weekend in Ålesund

$700 fare San Francisco to Ålesund, Norway. Yes please. Erica would you like to come? Of course you would!

Weekend in Sydney

Cousin got married in Australia. Good excuse to go for a long weekend and fly Qantas business class on the outbound.

Weekend in Gothenburg

$500 SFO-GOT. Saab & Volvo museum. I am a giant nerd.

Lufthansa First Class FRA-YVR + First Class Terminal

Lufthansa First Class is well know among the miles and points crowd as one of the best first class experiences available, especially if your pair it with the First Class Terminal experience when you fly out of Frankfurt. For most of us based in North America, the best way to book this is with United Mileage Plus miles. I was able to book this before the upcoming United devaluation.

Outside of the First Class Terminal (FCT) building

Flying from Frankfurt, the Lufthansa First Class exprience starts with the amazing First Class Terminal. It is a dedicated building just to the northwest of Terminal 1. If you arrive on a connecting flight, exit Terminal one, turn left walk along until you see a staging area for taxis. The FCT should be just past it.

Entrance to the First Class Terminal (FCT)

If you arrive by foot, this is the ground floor entrance you will see. Enter, and take the elevator to the left to the 1st floor (2nd for us North Americans). If you arrive by car you should be dropped off on the 1st floor already.

When you exit the elevator on 1st floor, of the the Lufthansa staff member should greet you and ask for your documents. He or she will be your personal assistant for the day. Your PA will guide you through security, introduce you to the lounge area, and fetch you when it is time for your flight. The FCT is only accessible to first class passengers and HON circle members, so it is unlikely that you will arrive at the same time as others. At this point, your PA will point you towards the security screening. After your clear the security screen, the PA walks you into the lounge. One of the first thing you see if the bar:

FCT bar.

Right next tot he bar is the restaurant, with food made to order.

FCT restaurant

Along with the bar and restaurant, you have a wide open lounge area, shower facilities, and a cigar room. Be sure to find the shower attendant and ask for one of the famous Lufthansa rubber ducky

These rubber duckies changes for various occasions and are quite the collectible item.

I had a tight connection and making it to the FCT was already a stretch, I didn't get a chance to try the shower, cigar room, or the restaurant. I settled for a cocktail from the bar. After 5 minutes my PA came and fetched me: "Mr. Lee, it is time for your flight". I followed him to the other side of the lounge. He called the elevator and when it arrive, he gestured me to go first and I walked in. Once inside, he reached on, pressed the button for the ground floor, and stepped back. As the door closed, I can see him walking down a set of stairs that is facing the elevator. When the elevator door opened, he was waiting for me!. He didn't ride the elevator with me, but instead, walked down the stairs! I guess that is what Lufthansa considers a premium service?

Once I exited, my PA walked me to a German police officer who is also acting as the border immigration officer. The police returned my passport, and my PA introduced me to my driver, who taking me to the place. My driver grabbed my bag and walked me out to the waiting Porsche SUV and loaded my bag and I climbed in.

Ride to the plane in a Porsche SUV. The other vehicle available is a Mercedes-Benz S600

Lufthansa 747 to Vancouver

Since my flight is parked at a jetway, the driver took me to the bottom of the jetway on the outside, called an elevator, escorted me up, past the normal boarding gate where the agent is collecting boarding passes, down the jetway, and handed me to the waiting flight attendant at the door and bid me farewell. The flight attendant greeted me and escorted me upstairs to the first class section of the 747 and to my seat.

Lufthansa First Class on the 747. Yup. Separate seat and bed.

One of the reason I booked this flight is because Lufthansa is in the process of phasing out this specific seat+bed configuration in favor of a lie-flat seat. I don't know of any other airlines at the time that offers a separate bed. This is a very unique first class product

Also included are pretty standard for a first class product: A set of pajamas, slippers, and an amenity kit. LH has a Rimowa amenity set

Logo on the front of the cabin

Soon after takeoff the meal service started. I'll let the pictures speak for itself.

Butter stamped with the logo

As this point I was so full I had to skip the dessert course, which is a chocolate cake (!!!).

View from the bed

I will say that the one down side of this configuration is that the TV screen is aligned with the seat. While it turns, watching it from the bed is awkward because you still have to turn your head, and the screen is pretty low compared to the height of the bed.

After a nice sleep I woke up to the breakfast service. Once again I'll let the pictures speak for itself. I'm probably missing some pictures at the point.

Both the First Class Terminal and the 747 First Class are fantastic products by themselves, but when you pair the two together it is a really fantastic combination. This was one of the most memorable flights I've done up to this point.
 

Unfortunately, to redeem this with United miles will cost you a lot more miles after the devaluation, and on top of that Lufthansa only release first class seats to partners less than 2 weeks before the flight. This make it much harder to try this using points and miles. I was lucky to sneak this one in when I had the chance.

Music and Porsche

Alex told me that for the last 4 years he has been trying to book a spot on the Porsche factory tour in Stuttgart. This year he finally got it, and he had an extra spot. I planned a quick trip around the factory tour: Ellie Goulding in Frankfurt the night before, Veronica Maggio in Copenhagen after the tour. I love it when schedules work out like that.

BA Galleries Lounge, Heathrow T5

Ellie Goulding in Frankfurt

Enroute to Stuttgart

Veronica Maggio in Copenhagen!

Most concert cocktail with Hanne @ NIMB

Travel Summary 2013

Travel Summary 2013

Actual miles flown: 44,372
Elite Qualifying Miles (AA only): 25,853
Miles / points redeemed: 182,500 (AA, UA, UR)
Segments flown: 23
# of trips (PNR): 7 (8)
# of Airports: 13
# of New Airports: 1 (HEL)
# of Airlines: 5 (AA, BR, CX, AY, VX)
# of New Airlines: 1 (AY)
# of States: 7
# of Countries: 5
# of Continents: 3

Weekend in Helsinki

First trip to Finland. I don't know what happened to the photos. Oops

Travel Summary 2012

Travel Summary 2012

Actual miles flown: 84,316
Elite Qualifying Miles (AA only): 134,940
Segments flown: 51
# of trips (PNR): 20
# of Airports: 15
# of New Airports: 3 (FLL, ATL, PIT)
# of Airlines: 5
# of States: 9
# of Countries: 5
# of Continents: 3

Weekend wedding in London

Ada and Iain are getting married. Always a good reason to visit London. Hanne, who I've known for 10 years but never actually met, decide to be my date for the wedding.