Introduction
Planning & Booking
Planning & Booking II
Star Alliance First Class Lounge LAX
Asiana First Class A380 LAX to Seoul (ICN)
Asiana First Class Lounge Seoul (ICN)
Asiana A330 Business Class Seoul (ICN) to Kyoto (KIX)
The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto
Cathay Pacific Business Class 777-300ER Kyoto (KIX) to Hong Kong
Conrad Hong Kong
The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong
Singapore Airlines First Class 777-300ER Hong Kong to San Francisco
Hyatt Regency SFO
For a variety of reasons, we shortened our upcoming trip by a few days. Unfortunately that means no visit to Osaka or Tokyo but we'll still get 3 days in Kyoto and 3 days in Hong Kong. All hotels remain the same - we just mixed it up a bit with the flights. If you're interested in reading more about the initial booking process, please read the first planning and booking segment.
We swapped our United Polaris flight for Asiana's A380 first class service from LAX. Instead of 130,000 United miles, this set us back 110,000 United and 105,000 Aeroplan miles. Not the greatest use of an additional 75,000 miles but we'll be more comfortable. In Seoul, we'll visit the Asiana First Class lounge for a shower before boarding an Asiana A330 in business class to Osaka (KIX).
After three nights in Kyoto, we'll take the train back to KIX and fly Cathay Pacific business class direct to Hong Kong. Not as fancy as Cathay first but should be plenty fine for a 4 hour flight. I booked this flight with 40,000 (total) British Airways miles - pretty good deal considering the length of the flight and better than Alaska's award chart by 5,000 total miles.
Everything else remains the same. I should have the first segment up in the next month or so!
April 30, 2017
LAX Private Terminal Opens in May
It's no secret that a lot of celebrities fly in and out of LAX. A couple years back, we flew with Zoe Saldana and her entourage on Singapore Airlines from Singapore to LAX.
LAX is a congested airport - traffic, security lines, lounges and public spaces are all places where celebrities or bit time executives can be photographed, bothered, or just generally inconvenienced. One solution might be to fly private but that might be prohibitively expensive when flying to NYC or internationally. The latest solution is a completely separate terminal - the PrivateSuite.
The terminal is schedule to open in just a couple of weeks. Located on the other end of the airport, the members only terminal claims to cut the walk from curb to plane down from 2,200 steps to 70 steps.
Not sure why anyone with a Fitbit would want to lose 2,000+ steps especially before sitting on a plane for many hours...clearly I'm not the target market for this service.
As you can see, this service isn't cheap.
The terminal will have a dedicated TSA checkpoint and chauffeur members direct to plane with a fleet of 7 series BMWs.
Waiting rooms will feature seating, daybeds, a bathroom, views of the tarmac, and food/drink.
They claim to have sold more than 1,000 memberships already. Only in LA!
LAX is a congested airport - traffic, security lines, lounges and public spaces are all places where celebrities or bit time executives can be photographed, bothered, or just generally inconvenienced. One solution might be to fly private but that might be prohibitively expensive when flying to NYC or internationally. The latest solution is a completely separate terminal - the PrivateSuite.
The terminal is schedule to open in just a couple of weeks. Located on the other end of the airport, the members only terminal claims to cut the walk from curb to plane down from 2,200 steps to 70 steps.
As you can see, this service isn't cheap.
The terminal will have a dedicated TSA checkpoint and chauffeur members direct to plane with a fleet of 7 series BMWs.
They claim to have sold more than 1,000 memberships already. Only in LA!
April 23, 2017
A Week in Japan: Flight Milenomics
Last week, I published the Planning & Booking segment of the trip report for our upcoming trip to Japan and Hong Kong. I included the mileage and cash cost of each flight segment and I've receive some questions around how to value the redemptions. I figured I'd write a post around the flight valuations and can follow-up with hotels if interesting.
Valuing miles is definitely more art than science but I personally value the vast majority of airline miles between 1.5 and 2 cents a piece. I wouldn't redeem unless I'm getting really close to 2 cents and one of the newest benchmarks is the ability to redeem Amex Membership Rewards points (with Amex Business Platinum) for 2 cents against airfare - which to me is essentially as good as cash.
Here's a recap on the miles redeemed (for 2) for our upcoming trip:
In total, that is 325,250 miles redeemed for $34,048 in flights. Note that is the retail value and if you were going to purchase the flights, you could likely do somewhat better with discounts, credit card bonus categories, and mileage earning. Let's assume that all in, that would amount to a 20% rebate (would vary wildly based on status and fare class but I think a fair assumption) valued as cash knocking the retail value down to $26,970 (including taxes/fees).
Valuing miles is definitely more art than science but I personally value the vast majority of airline miles between 1.5 and 2 cents a piece. I wouldn't redeem unless I'm getting really close to 2 cents and one of the newest benchmarks is the ability to redeem Amex Membership Rewards points (with Amex Business Platinum) for 2 cents against airfare - which to me is essentially as good as cash.
Here's a recap on the miles redeemed (for 2) for our upcoming trip:
- United Polaris Business Class DEN - KIX for 130,000 United MileagePlus miles
- Cathay Pacific First Class HND - HKG for 55,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles
- Singapore Airlines First Class HKG - SFO for 140,250 Singapore KrisFlyer miles
And the cash costs when I looked last week:
- $9,276 for United to Osaka
- $8,168 for Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong
- $16,392 for Singapore Airlines to San Francisco
- $212 for United home to Denver
- $268 in taxes/fees
In total, that is 325,250 miles redeemed for $34,048 in flights. Note that is the retail value and if you were going to purchase the flights, you could likely do somewhat better with discounts, credit card bonus categories, and mileage earning. Let's assume that all in, that would amount to a 20% rebate (would vary wildly based on status and fare class but I think a fair assumption) valued as cash knocking the retail value down to $26,970 (including taxes/fees).
At that rate, the blended rate for each mile redeemed would be 8.3 cents. Still amazing. But how much would you actually pay for these flights? That question is totally subjective but this is our fifth anniversary and I'd consider a splurge. The best I could do to mimic the flights (combination of United and ANA) in economy priced out at $1,323 each. No thanks.
I think premium economy fares would be a fair comparison as I think a lot of you would be willing to pay a premium to be a bit more comfortable for a big trip like this for a special occasion. How do those flights price out? $3,238 each on Orbitz. Since this is not a premium fare, booked from an OTA, and unlikely to earn as many miles, I'll discount the rebate to 15% which brings the fare to $5,505 for 2.
See what I'm talking about in terms of the art? That brings the redemption per mile to 1.7 cents - right in the middle of my valuations. Another factor to consider is that I'm mileage rich and it's not that big of a deal to burn 325,250 miles on a balance of +1,000,000 miles. It's a different story when considering paying $3,000 - $6,500 for two tickets. I'd much prefer to spend the miles which require a bit of time and ingenuity to acquire and save the cash for other experiences. In addition, there are both comfort and enjoyment factors that need to be considered. We'll arrive rested (on both ends) and enjoy our vacation and make the transition back to work a lot easier. We also love flying - especially on these carriers and wouldn't be able to do it without miles.
Overall, this is a great set of redemptions regardless of your valuation.
Double Dip at Jonathan Adler
Jonathan Adler is one of our favorite home stores. Everything is super expensive but very much our style. You can check out the review of our 2016 stay at the Parker Palm Springs (designed by Jonathan Adler) for more context.
I received an email from them offering 20% off any purchase which is a pretty good deal in and of itself since it applies to everything - including furniture pieces that cost thousands of dollars.
A couple of funny things about the offer. First, there is an expiration (it is ~10 days past) date on the offer but seems to still be working. Second, when I actually add an item to my cart and apply the offer it seems to be coding as 25% off.
American Express has an Amex offer out for $50 off $250 in spend at Jonathan Adler. This offer showed up on nearly all of our Amex cards and we were able to add it to 7 of them for a total of $350 off $1250 in spend.
In order to maximize this, you'd need to buy 7 separate gift cards which is annoying but I might just do it. In theory, you could buy a $1250 item for $588 after combing the promo code with the Amex offer. It would take a bit of work but you'd be saving nearly $700.
If you are into Jonathan Adler, keep an eye on your email for a promo code and check your Amex offers!
I received an email from them offering 20% off any purchase which is a pretty good deal in and of itself since it applies to everything - including furniture pieces that cost thousands of dollars.
A couple of funny things about the offer. First, there is an expiration (it is ~10 days past) date on the offer but seems to still be working. Second, when I actually add an item to my cart and apply the offer it seems to be coding as 25% off.
American Express has an Amex offer out for $50 off $250 in spend at Jonathan Adler. This offer showed up on nearly all of our Amex cards and we were able to add it to 7 of them for a total of $350 off $1250 in spend.
In order to maximize this, you'd need to buy 7 separate gift cards which is annoying but I might just do it. In theory, you could buy a $1250 item for $588 after combing the promo code with the Amex offer. It would take a bit of work but you'd be saving nearly $700.
If you are into Jonathan Adler, keep an eye on your email for a promo code and check your Amex offers!
April 16, 2017
Review: Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi
Introduction
Planning & Booking
British Airways First Class 747-400 Denver to London
British Airways Concorde Room LHR
British Airways First Class 747-400 London to Dubai
JW Marriott Marquis Dubai
Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa Dubai
Park Hyatt Dubai
Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi
Etihad Airways First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi
Etihad Airways First Class 777-200LR Abu Dhabi to Los Angeles
The ride from the Park Hyatt Dubai to the Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi took about 90 minutes. We had expected to hit F1 traffic but never did. The ride was somewhat boring (lots of desert) with one exception. Our driver asked if he could stop at a gas station (we figured for gas) and of course we said yes. Instead of pulling in to get gas, he pulled into a parking spot. Maybe it was prayer time? Nope. Bathroom? Not entirely convinced. We never figured out what it was but 15 minutes later he returned to the car with a coffee for him and a couple of waters for us.
We chose the Hyatt Capital Gate because it was free and relatively close to the airport/F1 track. There are lots of other great points options in Abu Dhabi but given the race, many of them were sold out. We were lucky to find a free night available.
Check-in was relatively smooth and the front desk confirmed that they had our F1 tickets (Thanks Doug!) and would send them up in a few minutes.
Planning & Booking
British Airways First Class 747-400 Denver to London
British Airways Concorde Room LHR
British Airways First Class 747-400 London to Dubai
JW Marriott Marquis Dubai
Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa Dubai
Park Hyatt Dubai
Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi
Etihad Airways First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi
Etihad Airways First Class 777-200LR Abu Dhabi to Los Angeles
The ride from the Park Hyatt Dubai to the Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi took about 90 minutes. We had expected to hit F1 traffic but never did. The ride was somewhat boring (lots of desert) with one exception. Our driver asked if he could stop at a gas station (we figured for gas) and of course we said yes. Instead of pulling in to get gas, he pulled into a parking spot. Maybe it was prayer time? Nope. Bathroom? Not entirely convinced. We never figured out what it was but 15 minutes later he returned to the car with a coffee for him and a couple of waters for us.
We chose the Hyatt Capital Gate because it was free and relatively close to the airport/F1 track. There are lots of other great points options in Abu Dhabi but given the race, many of them were sold out. We were lucky to find a free night available.
Check-in was relatively smooth and the front desk confirmed that they had our F1 tickets (Thanks Doug!) and would send them up in a few minutes.
A Week in Japan: Planning & Booking
Introduction
Planning & Booking
United Polaris Business Class 787-8 San Francisco to Osaka (KIX)
Intercontinental Osaka
The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto
Park Hyatt Tokyo
Cathay Pacific First Class 777-300ER Tokyo (HND) to Hong Kong
Conrad Hong Kong
The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong
Singapore Airlines First Class 777-300ER Hong Kong to San Francisco
Hyatt Regency SFO
I'm still working on a couple of segments from our latest trip to Al Maha in November of last year. I plan to finish those trip reports in April but given that our next trip is coming up next month, I wanted to get the introductory post on the blog.
Hotels:
At the moment, we have 10 hotel nights planned. We fly out early to San Francisco, catch the direct United flight to Osaka and land early afternoon. I booked the Intercontinental Osaka for 40,000 IHG points for the overnight. We have nearly 150,000 IHG points so seemed like the right thing to do given we'll only be in town for one night and convenience is key. The hotel is located next to the train station so will be convenient to get from the airport and to Kyoto.
In Kyoto, I booked the Ritz-Carlton for a total of 210,000 Marriott Rewards points using a combination of Marriott Rewards points and SPG points. This was an incredible redemption given cash rates of $1,700 per night! The property looks gorgeous and we're really excited about visiting Kyoto.
Planning & Booking
United Polaris Business Class 787-8 San Francisco to Osaka (KIX)
Intercontinental Osaka
The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto
Park Hyatt Tokyo
Cathay Pacific First Class 777-300ER Tokyo (HND) to Hong Kong
Conrad Hong Kong
The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong
Singapore Airlines First Class 777-300ER Hong Kong to San Francisco
Hyatt Regency SFO
I'm still working on a couple of segments from our latest trip to Al Maha in November of last year. I plan to finish those trip reports in April but given that our next trip is coming up next month, I wanted to get the introductory post on the blog.
Hotels:
At the moment, we have 10 hotel nights planned. We fly out early to San Francisco, catch the direct United flight to Osaka and land early afternoon. I booked the Intercontinental Osaka for 40,000 IHG points for the overnight. We have nearly 150,000 IHG points so seemed like the right thing to do given we'll only be in town for one night and convenience is key. The hotel is located next to the train station so will be convenient to get from the airport and to Kyoto.
In Kyoto, I booked the Ritz-Carlton for a total of 210,000 Marriott Rewards points using a combination of Marriott Rewards points and SPG points. This was an incredible redemption given cash rates of $1,700 per night! The property looks gorgeous and we're really excited about visiting Kyoto.
April 9, 2017
We're Going to Montreal
Emily and I have spent a fair amount of time in Canada over the last few years. We've taken a couple trips to Vancouver and Toronto. We've both had Montreal on our list for awhile but given the short summer, has been hard to fit into our schedules.
While it's not Paris, we're headed to Montreal for anniversary this summer. I was hoping to burn a couple of Fairmont free nights at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth but unfortunately, the hotel won't be open (has been undergoing renovations for over a year) in time for our trip.
I've booked a couple of speculative reservations including one at the W Montreal where I am leaning on staying. Cash rates were pretty good and the hotel is a great location.
In terms of getting to Montreal, Air Canada launched a direct flight from Denver last year and we're looking forward to flying the route. Business class tickets were only $175 (roundtrip) more than coach so we splurged - and will earn 200% EQM towards United elite status.
We're both excited to spend a little time up north and experience the European side of Canada. Will have a full trip report on the flights and hotels later this summer.
Any readers have any thoughts on Montreal hotels and things to do while in the city?
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