Welcome to my subsequent journey report sequence, which can embody enterprise class critiques on ITA Airways, EgyptAir, Air France, and Virgin Atlantic, and a first-class overview on British Airways. On prime of that, there will probably be a number of airport lounge and resort critiques.
Why I took this journey
This was a “pure” overview journey, which is to say that I took this journey solely to overview as many airways, airport lounges, and inns, as potential, all whereas minimizing my time away from residence. I do know many OMAAT readers benefit from the critiques on the weblog, so as a brand new guardian I’m making an attempt to maintain that going whereas being away from residence as little as potential.
I’ve a protracted checklist of merchandise I’m seeking to overview, so once I began planning this journey, I did so with the purpose of reviewing as many of those experiences as potential, whereas being environment friendly. My prime priorities have been reviewing ITA Airways, Virgin Atlantic’s new A330-900neo, Air France’s new enterprise class, and the brand new American & British Airways lounges at JFK (Chelsea, Soho, and Greenwich).
The airways I flew on this journey
On this journey I flew a complete of 20,043 miles, unfold throughout six segments. I had transatlantic flights departing from and arriving in Miami, that means I didn’t have to take any positioning flights inside North America, which was handy.
I booked this journey as 5 separate one-way tickets. This journey value me a bit extra “out of pocket” than my typical overview journeys, each as a consequence of my one paid itinerary (on ITA Airways), plus the hefty service imposed surcharges and taxes for journey on British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. Nonetheless, I figured it was value it, as I do know there are a number of merchandise right here that individuals are concerned about studying about.
I kicked off the journey with my solely money itinerary. Italy’s new nationwide airline, ITA Airways, doesn’t have any actual award redemption companions (regardless of belonging to SkyTeam), so the one solution to guide flights on the airline is with money. Luckily I discovered a reasonably respectable fare sale from Miami to Cairo (with the primary flight on the A350 and the second flight on the A320), and managed to guide the next in enterprise class for $1,436:
2/06 AZ631 Miami to Rome departing 8:00PM arriving 11:40AM (+1 day)
2/07 AZ894 Rome to Cairo departing 10:10PM arriving 2:25AM (+1 day)
From there I made a decision to fly from Cairo to Paris in EgyptAir enterprise class. Particularly, I booked a flight on the service’s Boeing 787-9, that includes its latest enterprise class product. I managed to guide the next for 20,000 Air Canada Aeroplan factors, plus $79 in taxes & charges:
2/08 MS799 Cairo to Paris departing 9:35AM arriving 1:25PM
Subsequent up, I made a decision to fly Air France’s new Boeing 777-300ER enterprise class from Paris to New York. I booked the next for 55,000 Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles, plus $377 in taxes & charges:
2/09 AF22 Paris to New York departing 8:30AM arriving 10:50AM
Whereas I had initially deliberate on ending the journey right here, I made a decision I’d as nicely have some extra enjoyable, and knock out two extra attention-grabbing critiques. First I flew British Airways’ new Boeing 777-300ER first-class from Newark to London. It is a lengthy story, however I used to be initially going to fly out of JFK, however as a consequence of a final minute plane swap, I as an alternative flew out of EWR, as that route featured the brand new first-class. I’ll clarify extra about that within the precise overview submit.
So I booked the next in first-class for 85,000 American AAdvantage miles plus $731 in taxes & charges:
2/11 BA188 Newark to London departing 9:30PM arriving 9:10AM (+1 day)
Final however most actually not least, I flew from London to Miami in Virgin Atlantic’s new Airbus A330-900neo Higher Class (enterprise class). I booked the next for 47,500 Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership factors, plus $748 in taxes & charges:
2/13 VS5 London to Miami departing 12:20PM arriving 5:40PM
Along with flight critiques, you’ll be able to anticipate critiques of the next lounges:
- The ITA Airways Piazza di Spagna Lounge Rome Airport (FCO)
- The Prima Vista Lounge Rome Airport (FCO)
- The EgyptAir Lounge Cairo Airport (CAI)
- The YOTELAIR Lounge Paris Airport (CDG)
- The Air France Lounge Paris Airport (CDG)
- The Chelsea Lounge New York Airport (JFK)
- The Soho Lounge New York Airport (JFK)
- The Greenwich Lounge New York Airport (JFK)
- The British Airways Lounge Newark Airport (EWR)
- The No1 Lounge London Airport Terminal 3 (LHR)
- The Amex Centurion Lounge London Airport (LHR)
- The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse London Airport (LHR)
Suffice it to say that there have been some highs…
…and lows to the lounge experiences.
The inns I stayed at on this journey
Throughout this journey, I spent a complete of 4 nights in inns. I had one evening in Paris, two nights in New York, and one evening in London. Whereas these are all cities with iconic inns, I ended up simply staying close to the airport in all instances, as my main purpose was to make amends for relaxation and decrease additional journey time, given how a lot I used to be shifting round already. I additionally assume airport resort critiques are helpful generally, since not all airport inns are created equal.
In Paris I made a decision to remain on the Sheraton CDG Airport. That is essentially the most handy full service resort on the airport, because it’s linked on to the terminal.
Then for my two nights in New York I made a decision to guide the Hyatt Regency JFK. It is a resort that has intrigued me because it opened, for the reason that title suggests it’s an airport resort, although in actuality it’s a resort connected to a on line casino with out an airport shuttle. This resort actually stunned me, so keep tuned…
In London, I made a decision to remain on the Renaissance Heathrow Airport. I had heard that this resort has unimaginable views of the runway, they usually didn’t disappoint. That’s about the one cause you’d wish to keep right here, although.
Backside line
2023 is off to an excellent begin with regards to overview journeys! I accomplished my whirlwind Aeroplan journey in January, after which had one other superior overview journey in February. On this sequence you’ll be able to anticipate critiques of enterprise class on ITA Airways, EgyptAir, Air France, and Virgin Atlantic, in addition to a first-class overview from British Airways.
I’ve to say, this was additionally (to me) an particularly attention-grabbing journey by way of lounges and airport inns, as there have been some actual surprises in there.
Thanks for studying, and keep tuned!
