I’m making an attempt to complete the yr off robust with regards to planning journey. Earlier I shared the small print of an upcoming evaluate journey to Oman, and I’ve now largely finalized one other evaluate journey that I’ve deliberate within the coming weeks.
Background on my upcoming evaluate journey
For many who aren’t longtime readers, let me clarify that I take evaluate journeys with the only real intention of reviewing as many airline and resort experiences as attainable whereas being away from residence for as little time as attainable (since we’ve got an toddler son). I additionally take extra leisurely holidays with household the place I spend extra time in locations, however these journeys aren’t these. 😉
My aim is often to evaluate merchandise that readers could get pleasure from redeeming their factors for, and/or merchandise that I simply usually discover attention-grabbing, together with flights, airport lounges, and accommodations.
A portion of this evaluate journey had been deliberate a very long time in the past. Japan Airways will quickly begin flying Airbus A350-1000s, that includes all-new cabins. This aircraft will debut between Tokyo and New York within the coming weeks.
The airline has been teasing this product for a lot of months, even earlier than the schedule for the primary flights was introduced. So many people had speculatively booked Japan Airways top quality tickets between Tokyo and New York utilizing factors. For me, a kind of tickets is understanding with the timeline for entry into service.
So I’ve had one route of the evaluate journey deliberate for fairly a while, however for a very long time I used to be making an attempt to determine get to Tokyo. Nicely, I’ve now deliberate most of that…
The itinerary that I’ve booked…
With the above out of the way in which, let me share the small print of the itinerary that I’ll be flying. Nicely, a minimum of a lot of the itinerary, as a result of there’s one half I haven’t selected but. I’ll share the small print of this journey in reverse chronological order, because it’s the primary portion of the journey that I haven’t but finalized.
Japan Airways A350 top quality
As acknowledged above, I’m flying Japan Airways’ Airbus A350-1000 top quality from Tokyo to New York, which I’m very enthusiastic about. This ought to be the most effective new top quality product that we’ve seen launched since Emirates’ “new” top quality again in 2017, and I can’t wait to expertise it. I’m additionally wanting ahead to reviewing a number of Haneda Airport lounges, together with the Japan Airways First Class Lounge, Japan Airways Enterprise Class Lounge, and Cathay Pacific Lounge.
ZIPAIR lie-flat seat
So, how am I attending to Tokyo? Nicely, I’ll be flying into Narita Airport, so I’ll have to alter airports. Particularly, I’ll be flying ZIPAIR, Japan Airways’ low price provider, which arguably options the world’s most simple enterprise class.
It’s not even a separate class of service, however slightly you simply pay to assign these bizarre reverse herringbone seats with out TVs. Suffice it to say that I’m intrigued. Whereas the airline operates lengthy haul flights, I’ll be flying the airline from Seoul to Tokyo, as I don’t essentially really feel like I have to get pleasure from 12 hours of inflight non-service.
I paid money for this ticket, and paid $300 all-in, together with nearly each add-on possible (an amenity equipment, meals, drinks, cute wanting candies, a carry-on baggage allowance, and so forth.).
I’m curious, for many who have flown ZIPAIR earlier than, any clue what the boarding course of is like? I all the time attempt to board as early as attainable to get good photos, however I can’t really discover any actual clarification of the provider’s course of on-line. Is it a free for all, or…? Additionally, whereas we’re at it, any ideas on the most effective Haneda Airport resort when departing Terminal 3? It looks as if there are a couple of choices, however I’m undecided if one is considerably higher or extra attention-grabbing than the others.
MIAT Mongolian 787 & 737 enterprise class
So, how am I attending to Seoul? Nicely, through Mongolia, after all, as one does! Whereas I’ve reviewed MIAT Mongolian’s Boeing 767 enterprise class again within the day, the airline has properly refreshed its fleet with new Boeing 787s. So I’ll be flying from Frankfurt to Ulaanbaatar on the Boeing 787, and from Ulaanbaatar to Seoul on the Boeing 737. The nation additionally has a brand new airport since I final visited, so I’m curious to verify that out.
I booked this ticket for money, and the fare was a surprisingly affordable ~$1,100 one-way. Then once more, maybe that pricing isn’t stunning, on condition that one wonders who’s flying between Germany and Mongolia within the lifeless of winter? As somebody from Florida, how will I deal with the 30 seconds I’ve to spend within the jet bridge in Mongolia?
An unknown journey throughout the Atlantic
Now we get to the a part of the journey that I haven’t but found out. I haven’t determined how I’ll fly from Miami to Frankfurt. I’m making an attempt to think about merchandise I haven’t reviewed lately. Just a few enterprise class choices come to thoughts:
- Scandinavian Airways’ Airbus A321LR through Copenhagen or Oslo (although there’s no award availability as of now)
- British Airways’ Boeing 777 Membership Suites enterprise class through London (that is straightforward sufficient to e book)
- Royal Air Maroc’s Boeing 787 enterprise class through Casablanca (I don’t see availability as of now, however possibly that can change)
- Air France’s new Airbus A350 enterprise class through Paris (this appears to be on routes from New York and Newark)
- Aeromexico’s Boeing 787-9 enterprise class through Mexico Metropolis and one other European gateway (I’m not seeing any award availability… am I lacking one thing)?
- Air Europa’s Boeing 787-9 enterprise class through Madrid (additionally not seeing any award availability, so curious if I’m lacking one thing, or if SkyTeam is simply being SkyTeam)
- American’s Boeing 777-300ER enterprise class through London (that’s straightforward sufficient to e book, and is an efficient backup)
What would y’all discover most attention-grabbing? Some other choices I ought to contemplate, or tips about award availability I is perhaps lacking with Aeromexico, Air Europa, and so forth.?
Backside line
I’ve two very thrilling evaluate journeys arising. The primary evaluate journey is to Oman, whereas the second includes Japan Airways’ A350 top quality, ZIPAIR’s flat mattress whatever-class, MIAT Mongolian’s 787 and 737 enterprise class, and one different product that I haven’t but determined.
It ought to be an important begin to the yr for evaluate journeys, Thanks for studying, and pleased new yr to everybody!
Any ideas or predictions on my itinerary? Keep tuned!
