Flying to Australia

[mirrodie]

Does anyone recall what airlines and segments Josh and Wendy flew? Can wait to hear about their trip and experience.

Well, as Josh and his wife are raping and pillaging through the Australian outback, Shoshana and I have just booked our 2nd trip over.
I' just excited and must share.

This is our 3rd time booking award travel with AAdvantage.

First time was June 2001, we scored coach seats on AA and Qantas to Australia. What made that sweet was that at the time, we were allowed to book the exit seats months in advance.

So while the JFK-SYD leg on AA was good, the LAX-SYD, SYD-LAX-JFK on QF was awesome all through exit row. :D Those days are gone.

(on a side note, while in Australia, we also flew on Qantaslink, these routes: SYD-BNE, BNE-CNS, CNS-Ayers Rock(AYE?), AYE-CNS and r/t SYD-ADL. Flights throughout were great and jumpsat 5 times while in the air)

Josh, if you get to check this forum even once during the trip, dont forget to ask to visit that cockpit while you are in the air. You never know!!

Second time was March 2004, when we booked Business and First seats (mileage was gifted to us by mom and AAunt) to Maui and Kauai. Again, AAdvantage was awesome. But then again, scoring an award on AA metal is not terrible difficult.

So this is our third. We'd been saving the miles since 2001 and made a deal. You see, Australia is great and i'd love to go back often but its a long trip. And Shoshana, at the time, really wanted to see Europe. So we said we'd see Europe and then visit Australia once more, this time in First, before having kids. the time is coming..... :lol:

After going through 3 tough routings and date scenarios with AAdvantage and a complete stinginess on the part of QF to make life a bit easier, we just booked:

leaving:
JFK-PPT-SYD, First class, on Air Tahiti Nui. (I'm excited as I read its an all A340-300 fleet and just won a Skytrax award for service. Only 1 row of 6 seats in First.)

we'll wander the outback to Perth.

then returning:
PER-SYD on QF Business, connecting in 3 hrs. to SYD-PPT on TN in First.
Then the unexpected bonus. We'll stay 2 days in Tahiti, then venture home,
PPT-JFK on TN in First.

Just wanted to share the news! I'm excited!

Has anyone flown either QF J or TN in F? I'm pumped to finally fly a larger AB (only like the 330 and 340)

Can wait to get back into photography again!

Oh ****, and in December, we're flying D3 on First to London.

Guys. I'm taking pics. Whatcha want to see??!

[/b]

[Alex T]

crap dude! that us a ton of flying, ur making me excited and I am not even going. haha

sounds like you two will have a great time!! enjoy it and take as many pics as u want. its ur vacation, you decide what is betetr for you two to enjoy!

Alex

[jakbar]

Hey Mario...we're actually leaving on Saturday morning, so I figured I'd chime in. We're flying first class on US Airways LGA-CLT-LAX, and then business class on Asiana LAX-ICN (744) and ICN-SYD (777). Sure, it's a lot of flying, but I am not complaining! I'm particularly looking forward to shooting inside the terminal at ICN on our layover. South freakin' Korea. Wow.

I'm kinda unsure about asking for cockpit access during the flight, but I'll play it by ear. Perhaps it can't hurt to introduce myself before the flight and say that I'd be thrilled to come up there and get some pics in flight. :)

I'll be sure to take lots of good pics on the trip. I'll post a thread when I get back and have a chance to edit the pics.

Josh

[Mr Smith]

Perth?? jesus your coming to the most remote city on the face of the planet! it's a lovely place but not alot happens here! our beaches are the best in the world, our city the 3rd most liveable in the world and our crime rate the highest in Oz ;) if your here in summer then your in for a real experience ;)

enjoy the time here! when do you arrive?

[mirrodie]

Josh, I'm excited for you guys. I can't wait to hear about the Asiana experience. Whats the routing coming back?

LGA-CLT-LAX, and then business class on Asiana LAX-ICN (744) and ICN-SYD

ICN I assume is S Korea (Hey, beats North Korea ;) but what is CLT?

The first routing for this trip was originally AA JFK-LAX, QF LAX-AKL-SYD-BNE, returning PER-SYD-AKL-LAX-JFK but it was all in Business. Not that I'm a snob, but just wanted the most for the miles.

Pros: a lot of stretching your legs and different a/c, Cons: business and the length of flight. So after thinking about it a bit, called back AA and worked out another solution.

Also, have you got flights planned to bounce around Australia? Cities planning on seeing? BTW, in Darling harbour, facing a fountain/manmade lake, had a great pizza at Blackbeards. An open front store. Check out Daintree and Mossman up in Cairns. Silky Oaks is a great place to stay.

hope to hear from you before you go!

MrSmith, Perth is calling for us.....back around May 31, 2001, I spent the weekend in South Beach Miami and while connecting flights home, I met a guy in a bar in Detroit (flew NWA). Turns out he was from Perth. We were due to leave for Australia on June 3. he asks me what cities I'll see then tells me, "you're missing Perth?! Its the forgotten gem!"

Then a few months ago, I call my professional mentor. Who picks up the phone? Her boyfriend who recently moved in from... Perth. We'll be going out for dinner next week. Tells us we'll love Perth.

we're destined to visit!

arrive July 1 in Sydney. I recall June in Sydney wasn't terrible cold. Only wore a flannel or a sweater. Hows the wx in Perth that month? Also, need to see what other cities to visit. Whitsundays? Darwin? We'll see.

im dating myself, but when we were in Sydney last, I recall an air carrier went under. It was no Ansett, was it? What carrier ceased ops in June 01 in Oz?

[Mr Smith]

july here is pretty good, not to cold but can be quite wet...there is lots to do here and it's a very pretty place but the best time is summer, november to april because it's really an outdoors city, best seen on bike or walking or by public transport.

Josh
you won't be photographing squat at Incheon mate, it's getting dark fast in that part of the world now and if i'm correct the Asiana flight arrives after 6pm when it will be pitch black.

Mario

here are a few photos i took from out n about over here.

http://www.studio1.com.au/sc/gallery/vi ... tic-Photos

[jakbar]

Josh, I'm excited for you guys. I can't wait to hear about the Asiana experience. Whats the routing coming back?

LGA-CLT-LAX, and then business class on Asiana LAX-ICN (744) and ICN-SYD

ICN I assume is S Korea (Hey, beats North Korea but what is CLT?

CLT = Charlotte, NC (one of US hubs)

Our routing coming back is AKL-LAX on ANZ 744 (biz class), and then US LAX-PHL-LGA (first class).

Before we come back, we're also flying up to CNS on Jetstar (not sure if 717 or A320), and then returning back to SYD on Virgin Blue (738). Our trans-Tasman flight is on an ANZ A320 (first class).

We had to cash in a ****load of ff miles to get all these flights, especially in biz/first class. We actually paid for the SYD-CNS and CNS-SYD flights, but they were cheap.

Monty, even if its dark at Incheon, I'll try night shots of static aircraft by pressing the camera right up against the glass. I may take pics of the inside of the terminal as well. Better than nothing, I guess. Can't say I'll be in Incheon again any time soon!

Josh

[mirrodie]

Josh, real qucik, tell me how you booked the intra-australia flights.


I plan to pay for them as well. But last time, they were extremely cheap through Ozpass/Aadvantage. HOw did you go about booking them?

Orbitz?
Qantas or Virgins websites directly? Also, surely you'll gain miles on them right?

[mirrodie]

BTw, Phil, thanks!! I love my co-pilot's photo!

taken on the B 717 simulator in Long Beach CA

[jakbar]

Mario, I booked directly through Jetstar and Virgin Blue websites. The prices were cheap because we booked far in advance.

[mirrodie]

Hey, happy Trails to Josh and Wendy! :) hoping they are on their way, sipping champagne and relaxing!

So we'll here from them in what?2-3 wks? looking forward to it!

[jakbar]

Hey all...I thought I'd check in from the Asiana Business Class Lounge at ICN. It's been some great flying all day long, and we're about to get on the last flight to SYD. The Asiana 744 from LAX was just awesome. Smooth as can be for 12 hours. Being on the upper deck was nice, too...much quieter and much more personalized service.

Haven't taken any pics today, but I saw some interesting stuff. Wunala was at LAX, along with China Airlines Dreamliner. Here at ICN I saw an Aeroflot Cargo DC-10 along with just a few Korean Air and Asiana planes.

Anyway, Wendy is giving me the look that means I should stop playing and go eat a snack. :)

Later...

Josh

[IslipWN]

sounds like your having a great time....have fun!

[Mr Smith]

welcome to Oz mate, hope you enjoy your stay in this part of the world!

[mirrodie]

glad its been good so far!



Anyway, Wendy is giving me the look that means I should stop playing and go eat a snack.

damn, sounds a bit like the look I get from Higheels when I've been online too long ;)