Flight: Thai Airways TG 475 from Bangkok to Sydney Duration: 9 hours Aircraft: B744(Boeing 747-400) Class: First Seat: 3E-3F (middle seats together with direct aisle access) Seat Specification: True Flat Bed, Seat pitch: 76 “. Seat width: 21 ” Thai Airways operates Boeing 747-400 aircraft on its Bangkok – Sydney route for its twice a day flights. Thai First Class on the 747 comes in two different configurations – a new first class with semi-enclosed suites and older with just plain open seats (with almost no privacy), both featuring flat-bed seats. Due to notorious aircraft swaps by Thai Airways (as reported by frequent flyers on …
Airline Reviews Reviews Thai AirwaysAirline Review: Thai Airways – First Class (Boeing 747-400 with Lie Flat Sats) : Bangkok – Sydney (TG 475)
Lounge Reviews ReviewsAirline Lounge Review: Thai Airways Royal First Lounge and Spa, Bangkok
Thai Airways Royal First Lounge, Suvarnabhumi Airport (Concourse D) I had read several outstanding reviews on Thai Airways ground service for Thai Airways First Class passengers departing Suvarnabhumi Airport. About 4 days before our Bangkok-Sydney flight on Thai Airways, I found award space for 2 passengers on Thai F and booked it right away for me and Karen. My parents were already booked on Thai F on the same flight months earlier. I was pretty stoked about trying out both Thai First Class as well as the Royal Thai First Class lounge in Bangkok. We had a 10 hour layover in Bangkok and it …
Airline Reviews Cathay Pacific ReviewsAirline Review: Cathay Dragon – Business Class (Airbus 320-200 with Recliner Seats) : Hong Kong – Kolkata (KA 168)
Flight: Cathay Dragon KA 168 from Hong Kong to Kolkata Duration: 4 hours 15 minutes Aircraft: A322 (Airbus 320-200) Class: Business Seat: 10A (Window seat in 2 x 2) Seat Specification: Recliner seats Seat pitch: 42″. Seat width: 20″ Cathay Pacific operates Airbus 320-200 (Version 1) in its Hong Kong – Kolkata route which features 2 rows of recliner seats in Business and rest is economy cabin. For a 4 hour flight, it mostly serves its purpose although I have been on flights of that length that had full lie-flat seats or angled flat seats on other carriers. I was surprised when the FA’s showed up …
Airline Reviews Cathay Pacific ReviewsAirline Review: Cathay Pacific – Business Class (Boeing 777-300 with Lie Flat Seats) : Los Angeles – Hong Kong (CX 897)
Flight: Cathay Pacific CX 897 from Los Angeles to Hong Kong Duration: 15 hours 15 minutes Aircraft: B773(Boeing 777-300ER) Class: Business Seat: 18K (single seat with direct aisle access) Seat Specification: True Flat Bed, Seat pitch: 81.0 “. Seat width: 21 ” MilesPointsTravel Disclaimer: This review is solely the work of Karen. I personally did not fly on this segment. Cathay Pacific operates 4 daily flights between Los Angeles and Hong Kong of which all are on Boeing 777-300 ER. The aircraft features 53 flat-bed seats in business class in 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration. The veal chipolata was really tasty and did not taste anything …
Choice Hotels/Radisson Hotel Reviews ReviewsHotel Review: Park Plaza Sukhumvit Bangkok
Park Plaza Sukhumvit Bangkok BTS Asoke Station, 16 Ratchadapisek Road, Klongtoey, Bangkok Park Plaza Sukhumvit Bangkok is one of 4 Carlson Rezidor Hotel properties in the Sukhumvit area of Bangkok. It is located in the heart of Bangkok right next to BTS Asoke station as well as Sukhumvit MRT station. Because of its accessibility to both BTS and MRT lines right next door, this hotel can be an ideal base for exploring the city. A cab ride from Suvarnabhumi International airport and Don Meuang International airport takes around 40 mins – 60 mins in each case depending on traffic. A complimentary night at …
Airline Reviews Cathay Pacific ReviewsAirline Review – Cathay Pacific – Business Class (Airbus 330-300 with Lie Flat Seats): Hong Kong – Bangkok (CX 705)
Flight: Cathay Pacific CX 615 from Hong Kong to Bangkok Duration: 3 hours Aircraft: A333(Airbus 330-300) Class: Business Seat: 16K (single seat with direct aisle access) Seat Specification: True Flat Bed, Seat pitch: 82.0 “. Seat width: 20.2 ” My Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong to Bangkok was operated by an Airbus 330-300 featuring lie-flat seats in 1-2-1 configuration. For such a short flight (3 hours), even a recliner seat would be just fine by me. I did the long haul LAX – HKG flight 2 years back on a similar flight on Cathay Pacific and was very happy with the seat. After …
Airline Reviews Reviews Singapore AirlinesAirline Review – Singapore Airlines – First Class (Boeing 777-300 with Lie Flat Seats): San Francisco – Hong Kong (SQ 1)
Flight: Singapore Airlines SQ 1 from San Francisco to Hong Kong Duration: 14 hours 20 minutes Equipment: B773(Boeing 777-300 ER) Class: First Seat: 1K (Window) Seat Specification: Flatbed seat (non-suite), Seat pitch: 71 “. Seat width: 35 ” This was my second time ever on a Singapore Airlines First Class flight (or any First Class for that matter). My first time in Singapore F was on this same route but in reverse (Hong Kong to San Francisco). I had wait-listed my award about 330 days out and the wait-list cleared about 2 weeks before the flight. The First Class cabin consists of 8 seats in 1 x 2 x 1 …
Hotel Reviews Hyatt ReviewsHotel Review: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa 200 Nohea Kai Drive, Lahaina, Hawaii, USA, 96761-1985 Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa is a category 5 Hyatt property located right on Kaanapali Beach in Lahaina, Maui. A complimentary night at this resort costs 20,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points (27,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points for Club Level room). The hotel waives resort fees ($32 USD per night + tax) when staying at this hotel using points. We arrived at the resort around 1 PM. We were staying for 2 nights and had booked Club Level room for 1 night and regular room for 1 …
Hotel Reviews Hyatt ReviewsHotel Review: Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa 1571 Poipu Road, Koloa, Hawaii, USA, 96756 Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa is the sole Hyatt property in Kauai, located in Poipu area close to 15 miles from Lihue Airport. It is a category 6 property costing 25,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points per night for redemption stays (33,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points per night for Grand Club). If you are using Hyatt Gold Passport points for stay then the resort waives the mandatory $30 resort fee. We checked in around 11 AM and the front desk agent upgraded us from standard room to partial …
Airline Reviews Reviews Singapore AirlinesAirline Review – Singapore Airlines – First Class (Boeing 777-300 with Lie Flat Seats): Hong Kong – San Francisco (SQ 2)
Flight: Singapore Airlines SQ 2 from Hong Kong to San Francisco Duration: 12 hours 45 minutes Aircraft: B773(Boeing 777-300 ER) Class: First Seat: 1A-2K (Window-Window) Seat Specification: Flatbed seat (non-suite), Seat pitch: 71 “. Seat width: 35 ” One of our bucket-list items was to travel in First Class on a long-haul flight. Our return flight from Hong Kong to Los Angeles was originally booked on Cathay Pacific Business Class and I had wait-listed 2 seats on Singapore Airlines First Class from Hong Kong to San Francisco. The wait-list cleared only 10 days before travel date and I immediately ticketed the flight. I did have to pay 175$ for mileage redeposit …
Hotel Reviews Hyatt ReviewsHotel Review: Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui
Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui 18 Hanoi Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China Hyatt Regency Hong Kong is located in Tsim Sha Tsui area of Kowloon district in Hong Kong. Located close to the very popular Nathan Road, is a good base for your travels while staying in Hong Kong. The hotel is also right opposite of the Tsim Sha Tsui (and Tsim Sha Tsui East) subway station which connects different tourist attractions of Hong Kong with this hotel. A free night at this hotel costs 15,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points. We stayed 2 nights at …
Hotel Reviews Marriott/SPG ReviewsHotel Review: Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka
Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka 6-1-55, Uehonmachi, Tennoji-ku Osaka, Osaka 543-0001 Japan Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka is a SPG Category 3 hotel located next door to Osaka Uehommachi Train station. The hotel is also located right opposite of one of the exits of Tanimachikyuchome subway station (on Tanimachi line). Being located next to the subway station allows easy access to most of Osaka attractions. There is a KFC across the street from the hotel. There are quite a few dining options available on the Kinetsu department store located next door which shares its building with the Osaka Uehommachi Station. While checking in, …
Hotel Reviews IHG ReviewsHotel Review: ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto
ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto Nijojo-Mae, Horikawa-Dori Nakagyo-Ku, Kyoto-shi Kyoto – 604-0055, Japan ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto is an IHG Hotels property located next to Nijo castle in Kyoto. A free night at this hotel costs 30,000 IHG points. The hotel is located about 3.5 km (10 minutes drive) from Kyoto station and provides a complimentary shuttle service to and from the station. The hotel is also located right next to Nijōjō-mae Station on Tozai subway line which connects this hotel to most of the sightseeing attractions of Kyoto. We arrived quite early around 11 AM and the room was not …
Hotel Reviews Independent ReviewsHotel Review: Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport
Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport is located just outside the airport terminal, connected with an over-bridge. For travelers arriving at this airport in late night flights or departing early morning flights, it is an excellent option for a one night stay. We arrived from our Tokyo Haneda flight around 10 pm and walked across the terminal and bridge to the hotel building. The reception is downstairs while the terminal level has a few dining establishments along with a grocery store. Check-in was quick and we made our way to the room. The room is fairly small but …
Hilton Hotel Reviews ReviewsHotel Review: Hilton Tokyo Shinjuku
Hilton Tokyo 160-0023, Shinjuku-ku, 6-2 Nishi-Shinjuku 6-Chome, Japan Hilton Tokyo Shinjuku is a Category 7 Hilton property located in the heart of Tokyo, just about 1 km from Shinjuku railway station. The Airport Limousine Bus stops right outside the door of the hotel and is a very convenient, hassle free way to get to this hotel from both Narita & Haneda International Airport. The hotel also provides a very frequent shuttle service to Shinjuku station. The hotel is also right next to Nishi Shinjuku subway station on Marunouchi line. On top of everything, the hotel is steps away from a Dennys restaurant …
Hotel Reviews Marriott/SPG ReviewsHotel Review: Renaissance Beijing Wangfujing Hotel
Renaissance Beijing Wangfujing Hotel 57 Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District Beijing Renaissance Beijing Wangfujing Hotel is a Category 3 Marriott property located about 2 blocks from the famous Wangfujing Street. A free night at this hotel costs 15000 Marriott Rewards points. We had booked 2 rooms for 2 nights using Cash + Points (16,000 points + $130 USD per stay per room). Since neither Karen nor I have elite status with Marriott, there was no complimentary breakfast during our stay. Also the in-property dining options were very expensive compared to the city. There are plenty of dining options within 2-3 blocks of this …
Choice Hotels/Radisson Hotel Reviews ReviewsHotel Review: Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing
Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing 97 Jinbao Street,Dongcheng District, Beijing 100005 Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing, a property of Carlson Rezidor Hotel group is located close to the Wangfujing shopping area of Beijing. The hotel has two subway stations within close walking distance – Dongsi subway station and Dengshikou subway station. The Dengshikou subway station entrance by the Regent Hotel (next to Park Plaza) is only a few steps away and gives access to most of tourist attractions in Beijing. A free night at the Park Plaza Wangfujing costs 44,000 Club Carlson points. Since I considered this price to be too steep considering the cost …
Airline Reviews Delta ReviewsAirline Review – Delta Airlines – Business Class (Boeing 767-300 with Lie Flat seats): Seattle – Beijing (DL 129)
Flight: Delta DL 129 from Seattle to Beijing Duration: 11 hours 50 minutes Aircraft: B763(Boeing 767-300) Class: Business Seat: 1C-1D (Middle Rows) Seat Specification: Flatbed seat, Seat pitch: 76.0 “. Seat width: 21 ” Delta operates a Boeing 767-300 on Seattle – Beijing route with a 26 Flat bed Business Class in 1-2-1 configuration. I was happy to have redeemed a total of 280,000 Skymiles for this one-way trip for 4 of us. I had forgotten to select seats and after arriving in Seattle the agent assigned me and Karen 1 C-D (first middle row) and my parents 7 C-D (last middle row). Compared to other business …
Airline Reviews KLM ReviewsAirline Review: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines – Business Class (Boeing 747 with Lie Flat Seats) : Amsterdam – Los Angeles (KL 601)
Flight: KLM KL 601 from Amsterdam to Los Angeles Duration: 11 hours 5 minutes Aircraft: B744(Boeing 747-400) Class: Business Seat: 1J-1K (Window-Aisle) Seat Specification: Flatbed seat, Seat pitch: 63.0 “. Seat width: 20 ” I knew what to expect in the lower deck of the 747 KLM business class after traveling in it for the first time just a few hours earlier on Nairobi to Amsterdam flight. After boarding I took a few quick pictures of the cabin and me and Karen got seated. I really liked the 1A seat but it only is suitable for solo travelers. Soon after sitting down, the flight attendant came by …
Airline Reviews KLM ReviewsAirline Review: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines – Business Class (Boeing 747 with Lie Flat Seats) : Nairobi – Amsterdam (KL 566)
Flight: KLM KL566 from Nairobi to Amsterdam Duration: 8 hours 15 minutes Aircraft: B744(Boeing 747-400) Class: Business Seat: 1J-1K (Window-Aisle) Seat Specification: Flatbed seat, Seat pitch: 63.0 “. Seat width: 20 ” I had booked our return flight from Nairobi back to USA on KLM using Delta Skymiles. I had never flown KLM before but knew that both segments were on the Boeing 747 which featured the newly redesigned business class with flatbed seats instead of old angled flat. I had selected seats on the lower deck because of good reviews of the 2J-2K seats although in hindsight I should have selected upper deck cabin for at …