Erk's Northern Hemiwanderer, June 2014

[erkpod]

From the guy who brought you near time travel reports Erk's Pacamerican Circle & Erk To WPerth earlier in 2014, here starts my last big trip of the year.

Part of the trip was planned to take advantage of the VA DSC offer late last year. My original plan was Japan via Singapore until someone or two pointed out the offer is only on VA metal.

I haven't been to Europe or the UK since 2011 & Canadia in 2009.

My Plan:

03/6 SYD - AUH (VA J)
05/6 AUH - LHR (EY Y)
18/6 LHR - DTW - YOW (DL Y)
23/6 YOW - DTW - LHR (DL Y)
25/6 LHR - AUH (EY Y)
27/6 AUH - SYD (VA J)
28/6 SYD - MEL (VA Y)*
2/7 MEL - SYD (VA Y)*

* unbooked at this time

Firsts:


Trip as WP

SYD EY lounge

VA 777 in J

EY flight

Flights in/out of AUH, LHR, DTW, YOW

Visit to the UAE & Middle East

Flights transiting US

Flights in/out Canadia

Highlights:

A pub crawl in London with my UK music podcasting friends

Visiting my Canadian roomie on next year's 70000 Tons of Metal



As usual, I'll do the trip report in my own style in close to real time.

 

[bass_ke]

Awesome effort Erk, I've been awaiting this!

 

[Simo]

Look forward to keeping an eye on it...

Safe travels and may the upgrade gods be on your side.

May you get a suite....

 

[bass_ke]

Also Erk, join foursquare for this trip, it's fun!

 

[erkpod]

So how did I book this trip?

I started with the VA sectors first. I booked a Flexi & then later got the J upgrades on points.

I was thinking of avoiding LHR from AUH & was thinking of flying EY to somewhere like FRA & then catching trains to London.

But when I got the idea to head across to YOW, I thought of various options from either AUH, LHR, FRA, AMS or CPH but found the best options were the EY flights AUH - LHR - AUH & then DL LHR - DTW - YOW to keep in the VA universe.

Then I worked out that on the day I arrive back into SYD, one of the ice hockey teams I support have a roadtrip & two games in MEL that weekend.

Accommodation has been a nightmare. On my last trip, I purchased a timeshare & I am regreting it now. I've been trying to get something booked in London for over a month with the company but with no luck to date. I will need to book something very shortly & their lack of urgency & communications is disturbing - not to mention their online systems.

I'm staying with my Canadian roomie which will be awesome before we room together on the metal cruise next year.

 

[TomVexille]

Sounds like a great tripo Erk. Looking forward to following you around again.

 

[erkpod]

Day 1
SYD - AUH
Tuesday 03 June

This trip has started off way better than my Pacamerican Circle. I got a good night's sleep & did not have to work the day before.

Because I am flying J on VA (points upgrade), I was able to get a nice ride to the airport with a very pleasant car & driver.



There was nice conversation & a nice comfortable ride. Before I knew it, I was at SYD, checked in straight away, right through Customs & security with no issues. Got to love being a WP (or a SG, for that matter)!









I am now in the EY lounge & lunch is served. I was greeted & walked down to the main area downstairs which is very swish.

Apart from a small incident where the guy accidently spilled my Pepsi everywhere (including onto me), the staff are attentive & nothing is a bother.

 

[erkpod]

EY lounge shots:

 

[erkpod]

Smallest. Steak. Ever. I normally have my steak well done but the man next to me suggested I stick with medium rare. My server says that they refuse to cook meat here well done.

So far, this is more QF Flounge-like based on what I've read elsewhere.

I'm waiting for ice cream.

Some of the AFF foodies here might need to wear the extra loose pants.

 

[erkpod]

Plane spotting:









The EY lounge gives great apron views, especially of VA1 at gate 51.

 

[bass_ke]

Enjoy the flight Erk! Is all your us travel on DL?

 

[erkpod]

The ice cream was bigger than the steak. The helpful man next to me suggested I have another steak later. I might just do that!



Virgin selfie.



Looking towards the bar from the windowside lounge area.





Flight info display in English & Arabic.

 

[erkpod]

There's multi-format powerpoints! Australian, UK, USB.







See you later, VA1!

 

[erkpod]

Enjoy the flight Erk! Is all your us travel on DL?

I'm only transiting at DTW.

I could have gone LHR - YOW direct on AC but I have no AC or *A status.

I could have gone LHR - JFK via VX (flew them OK on the last trip) but my VA group options JFK - YOW were limited.

So DL LHR - DTW - YOW it is. DL is totally acceptable.

 

[erkpod]

There's even a family room that would be suitable for toddlers & infant/early primary school kids well away from other areas accessible via a glass sliding door enroute to the toilets/prayer room.







Bye bye CX!

 

[Flashback]

From the guy who brought you near time travel reports Erk's Pacamerican Circle & Erk To WPerth earlier in 2014, here starts my last big trip of the year.

Part of the trip was planned to take advantage of the VA DSC offer late last year. My original plan was Japan via Singapore until someone or two pointed out the offer is only on VA metal.

I haven't been to Europe or the UK since 2011 & Canadia in 2009.

My Plan:

03/6 SYD - AUH (VA J)
05/6 AUH - LHR (EY Y)
18/6 LHR - DTW - YOW (DL Y)
23/6 YOW - DTW - LHR (DL Y)
25/6 LHR - AUH (EY Y)
27/6 AUH - SYD (VA J)
28/6 SYD - MEL (VA Y)*
2/7 MEL - SYD (VA Y)*

* unbooked at this time

Firsts:


Trip as WP

SYD EY lounge

VA 777 in J

EY flight

Flights in/out of AUH, LHR, DTW, YOW

Visit to the UAE & Middle East

Flights transiting US

Flights in/out Canadia

Highlights:

A pub crawl in London with my UK music podcasting friends

Visiting my Canadian roomie on next year's 70000 Tons of Metal



As usual, I'll do the trip report in my own style in close to real time.

Oops, you forgot an AFF London meet as part of your highlights list

I'm in HKG for a few days when you arrive though, so depends how long you're sticking around - assuming you want to anyway!

 

[TomVexille]

EY lounge looks fantastic. Have a great flight Erk.

 

[erkpod]

Oops, you forgot an AFF London meet as part of your highlights list

I'm in HKG for a few days when you arrive though, so depends how long you're sticking around - assuming you want to anyway!

I'm around from Thursday to the 18th & I'm pretty free at the moment apart from the 14th.

 

[erkpod]

Time to board. One of the greeting ladies came around to each person & invited them to board.



The stairs down to the main lounge area.



First look at my plane. I noticed PF written near the landing gear door. I didn't know Princess Fiona had a plane registered in her honour. LOL.





Preparing to board VA29.

 

[erkpod]

My seat, 5K. I had a shadow in 5H &
later found my area could be curtained off.



I can see the bar. For the first part of the trip, it was basically a glorified galley.



Seat controls.



It was very strange but for once, I got to fly over my house.



Part of the supper menu for consumption closer to Abu Dhabi.