Welcome to my subsequent journey report sequence, overlaying a latest journey that I took to Paris, with a somewhat circuitous return by way of Africa. Let me simply say upfront that this journey didn’t end up the way in which I anticipated. There have been a number of plane swaps, and I (kind of) acquired banned from a rustic within the course of.
On this sequence you’ll be able to count on flight critiques of Emirates’ A380 enterprise class, ITA Airways’ A320neo enterprise class, ITA Airways’ A321neo enterprise class, Ethiopian Airways’ A350-900 enterprise class, and American’s 777-300ER top quality. There will even be lounge and lodge critiques.
On this put up I’ll define all of the fundamentals of the journey, after which I’ll publish all the journey report sequence within the coming days and weeks.
Why I took this journey, and why it went sideways
Not like most of my different latest journeys, this wasn’t a pure evaluate journey, the place I mainly simply fly nonstop. As an alternative, Ford was going to be in Paris for DUCO Journey Summit, a France-focused occasion for journey advisors. Since he was going to be there and could be trying out some good motels, I figured I’d be part of him for just a few days, however fly there and again individually.
So consider it as a hybrid between an precise journey and a evaluate journey, since I acquired to get pleasure from Paris for just a few days, whereas making my journey there and again about reviewing fascinating merchandise. As you’ll be able to see based mostly on the under map, I didn’t precisely take probably the most direct routing again, as I returned by way of Africa.
In complete, I flew eight segments, and coated 17,190 miles.
Earlier than I even focus on the main points of what I booked, let me say that little about this journey labored out as deliberate:
- I used to be speculated to fly EasyJet from Milan to Paris, however regardless of having left an extended layover, I ended up misconnecting off my Emirates flight, because of a delay
- I used to be speculated to fly Ethiopian Airways’ model new A350-1000 and 787-9, however each of my flights ended up being swapped to A350-900s, which wasn’t precisely nice by way of having the ability to evaluate completely different experiences
- I used to be speculated to fly British Airways’ new 787-8 Membership Suites enterprise class, but it surely acquired swapped the morning of my flight, so I ended up simply rebooking on to Miami in American’s 777-300ER top quality
- Oh, and on prime of that, I unintentionally acquired in fairly a little bit of hassle, after I requested the query of whether or not Cairo has the worst main airport on the planet; this ended up inflicting an enormous concern with the federal government, and I received’t be returning to the nation
The airways I flew on this journey
I booked the principle elements of this journey as 4 separate tickets, so let me share the main points of the tickets within the chronological order that I traveled.
To kick off the journey, after positioning, I flew Emirates’ Airbus A380 enterprise class from New York to Milan. I’ve in fact flown Emirates’ top quality many instances earlier than, however I figured it was lastly time to provide the service’s enterprise class one other strive, and the fifth freedom flight between the US and Europe is the right approach to take action.
I booked the next for 87,000 Emirates Skywards miles plus $105.30 in taxes & charges:
11/05 EK205 New York to Milan departing 10:20PM arriving 11:55AM (+1 day)
From there I used to be supposed to attach from Milan to Paris the identical day. Nevertheless, because of a parking concern with the Emirates A380, we had fairly an arrival delay, and I misconnected. So I ended up reserving a final minute ticket on Air France for simply 12,000 Flying Blue miles. I received’t be reviewing that phase.
Then after I was able to depart Paris, I booked a ticket from Paris to Rome to Cairo on ITA Airways. I’ve completely liked my flights within the service’s Airbus A330-900neo enterprise class and Airbus A350-900 enterprise class. On this itinerary, I’d be capable of fly ITA Airways’ Airbus A320neo enterprise class from Paris to Rome, and ITA Airways’ A321neo enterprise class from Rome to Cairo.
I booked the next for an inexpensive money fare of $907.09, and on prime of that, I paid an additional $107 to e book a entrance row “enterprise class plus” seat:
11/10 AZ317 Paris to Rome departing 6:10AM arriving 8:10AM
11/10 AZ896 Rome to Cairo departing 12:40PM arriving 4:55PM
I may’ve truly booked a much less versatile ticket that may’ve been $200 cheaper. The explanation I booked it’s because there was an Amex Presents deal for 17,500 bonus Membership Rewards factors when spending $1,000 with the airline, and this ticket plus the seat task charge triggered that. I credited this itinerary to Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and it helped me qualify for Platinum standing.
Cairo is thought for its enticing premium cabin airfare (RIP, for me!), so from there I booked a ticket to London by way of Addis Ababa. I’ve been desirous to evaluate Ethiopian Airways once more, and initially my motivation was to fly the service’s model new A350-1000. Nevertheless, because of two final minute aircraft swaps, I ended up flying Ethiopian Airways’ Airbus A350-900 enterprise class on each segments.
I booked the next for a money fare of $1,034.27:
11/11 ET453 Cairo to Addis Ababa departing 2:20AM arriving 7:20AM
11/12 ET700 Addis Ababa to London departing 1:35AM arriving 6:35AM
Lastly, whereas I had meant to return to the US on British Airways, a final minute swap to an plane with the outdated interiors made me change my plans on the morning of departure. On the final minute, I made a decision to only e book probably the most direct possibility, and flew American’s Boeing 777-300ER top quality.
I booked the next for 117,500 American AAdvantage miles plus $332.41 in taxes & charges (most of which was the UK Air Passenger Responsibility):
11/12 AA57 London to Miami departing 11:45AM arriving 4:45PM
So far as lounge critiques go, you’ll be able to count on a evaluate of the Ethiopian Airways Enterprise Lounge Addis Ababa (ADD). There will probably be restricted lounge critiques with this sequence, provided that I just lately reviewed the Emirates Lounge New York (JFK) and the ITA Airways Lounge Rome (FCO).
The motels I stayed at on this journey
Throughout this journey, I ended up staying at 4(ish) motels, with three being in Paris, and one being in Addis Ababa.
Ford was staying at two completely different motels in Paris, so I joined him for that, which I used to be trying ahead to, since Paris is an unbelievable lodge market. First we checked out La Reserve Paris, which an unbelievable 40-key property with Palace distinction.
Then we additionally checked out Le Bristol Paris, a part of Oetker Assortment. That is maybe one in all Paris’ most iconic properties, and it lives as much as the hype, although has a really completely different vibe than La Reserve.
I then had an additional evening in Paris previous to a really early morning flight, so I spent an evening at the Moxy Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). Regardless of being fairly a downgrade after staying at two French Palace properties, it was truly fairly nice.
Lastly, I had a really lengthy layover at Addis Ababa Airport, so I may benefit from Ethiopian Airways’ free transit lodge program. So I spent the day on the Skylight In-Terminal Transit Lodge Addis Ababa (ADD).
Backside line
I’ll be publishing a visit report sequence overlaying a latest journey to Paris, with a roundabout return by way of Africa. Except for the 2 superb Paris motels I acquired to remain at, rather a lot about this journey didn’t go as deliberate, from plane swaps on Ethiopian Airways and British Airways, to bother with the federal government of Egypt.
Thanks for studying, and keep tuned!
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