Trip Report - Colombia, USA (NYC) & Singapore (August 2019)

[coyote25]

During August 2019 I’ll being undertaking a 26 day trip centred around a tour of Colombia with G Adventures but also allowing me to attend my third Grand Slam Tournament in New York (leaving only the French Open to complete the Grand Slam), attend Hamilton musical on Broadway and experience my first ever Singapore Airlines flight – big bonus I’m starting my SIA experience with first class (award redemption)!

My personal travel blog will cover the different experiences across these 26 days but here on AFF I’ll outline the experience and services across the different lounges lounges and flights.

The interesting thing here is I’ll be experiencing the full range; economy, business and first class flights, and for lounges first class, business class and no class (no access!) lounges so this trip covers a wide range of frequent flyer experiences.

On this journey should have 8 flights, covering 45,821 kms with 56 hours 45 minutes in the air and 6 expected lounge visits.

Welcome aboard for those wishing to follow this trip and especially these flights and lounges.

 

[coyote25]

Flights
The booked flights are as follows:

Qantas
QF488 08.45 Melbourne to Sydney 10.10
B737-800
Business

Qantas
QF007 12.35 Sydney to Dallas 13.00
A380-800
Business

American Airlines
AA1123 17.45 Dallas to Bogota 23.10
A319
Economy

Avianca
AV9841 13.05 Bogota to Armenia 14.08
A320
Economy

Avianca
AV9267 08.10 Santa Marta to Bogota 09.40
A319
Economy

Avianca
AV244 13.00 Bogota to New York (JFK) 19.55
A330
Economy

Singapore Airlines
SQ025 22.55 New York to 10.40 Frankfurt
A380-800
First Class

Singapore Airlines
SQ025 12.30 Frankfurt to 06.50 Singapore
A380-800
First Class

Singapore Airlines

SQ227 22.00 Singapore to 07.25 Melbourne
B777-300ER
First Class

So I’m starting with business class, drop down to economy and finish with first class. My only previous first class international experience was at start of a trip flying Emirates from Melbourne to Nairobi via Singapore and Dubai. This time I wanted to try flying home in First class. Obviously first class trips are very few in my life so always looking to maximise the experience when using some many points for redemptions.

Would love any suggestions on how to make the most of the above flights especially Singapore Airline flights.

 

[coyote25]

Lounges
I should also be visiting the following lounges:

1) Qantas Melbourne Domestic Business Class Lounge
2) Qantas Sydney International Business Class Lounge
3) American Airlines Dallas (T4) Flagship Lounge
4) Virgin Atlantic JFK Club
5) Lufthansa Frankfurt Senator Lounge C
6) Singapore Airlines The Private Room

If anyone knows of alternative better lounges to the above that I have access to based on the above flights (noting QF LTG status) I’m happy to try them.

I’m guessing at Changi Airport I can try the other Singapore Airline Lounges as well.

 

[NoName]

Another trip report that I will love reading! Looking forward to it.

Hope you enjoy the US Open. Have been twice and it is a fantastic event. Which days are you going to? General admission or Arthur Ashe?

I mentioned this in my last trip report but if you enjoy the Honey Deuce which is the official US Open coughtail at circa US$15 a pop, they also serve it in the Virgin Clubhouse at JFK with a couple of important differences - more alcohol and free!

 

[drron]

We also loved the US Open Helped that we were there in 2001-winner a Mr.Hewitt.
Next Wednesday we are off on our first SQ Suites award so will let you know about that.

 

[I love to travel]

Looks like we be in NY at the same time. Hoping for great tennis watching weather.

 

[Solid]

Shoot a PM to @cruiserelite who will give you all the drum on Singapore First Class.

 

[craven morehead]

Jumping on board. Sounds fantastic

 

[coyote25]

Hope you enjoy the US Open. Have been twice and it is a fantastic event. Which days are you going to? General admission or Arthur Ashe?

I mentioned this in my last trip report but if you enjoy the Honey Deuce which is the official US Open coughtail at circa US$15 a pop, they also serve it in the Virgin Clubhouse at JFK with a couple of important differences - more alcohol and free!

I’m just going on the second day of US Open with general admission.

Thanks for the tip on the Honey Deuce I’ll definitely try it at the Clubhouse.

 

[juddles]

I love the overall mix of classes. Starting in J, then sufferring Y, then the shock of real F!

Shame in a way that you are not doing any J travel on Avianca within Colombia. Avianca have really upped their game over the past few years with their domestic lounges. The regional lounges are still pretty much beer + peanuts things, but in Bogota they have excelled. The domestic Aviaca lounge in Bogota these days offers things from freshly cooked french fries to made-on-order eggs for brekky. Completely the opposite to their only real competitor within Sth America (Latam) who have gone the LCC model.....

 

[Major]

An interesting mix flights/lounges. I hope the return in F is worth it

 

[coyote25]

Okay the adventure has began.... well sorta of.

Last night my Melbourne to Sydney flight was cancelled and shortly after the Sydney to Dallas flight was advised of a 7+ hour delay. This meant I could no longer make my Dallas to Bogotá flight. The only good was I was originally arriving in Bogota a day early for the tour.

After 4+ hours waiting for Qantas SMS, App Chat and waiting for phone call back all three services got back to me at the same time at 1 am. Turned out that most alternative options weren’t available so it was new Melbourne to Sydney (3 pm now) and the delayed Sydney to Dallas (7.30 pm) followed by AA1123 Dallas to Bogotá but a day later.

I will lose the non-refundable pre tour hotel and needed to book a new Dallas hotel for a 20 hour stay. When I get back I’ll check with insurance but it’s all just pat of the adventure I guess

I’m guessing QF was overwhelmed with demand last night.

 

[coyote25]

Well my rebooked Melbourne to Sydney flight schedule to depart 3 pm has been delayed now and is scheduled to leave 16.40 and arrive 18.05.

My later Sydney to Dallas flight Q7 starts boarding at 18.50. QF representative says I’ll be okay with that connection. Hopefully QF7 is delayed even further. I wonder what the chances that flight is further delayed and if my check bag will make it.

The QF Melbourne J Lounge is standing room for new entrants. They are starting to asking for volunteers to fly tomorrow after cancelling almost half MEL-SYD flights. I wonder what the offer is for that (not that I can accept it)?

Fly and games I guess.

 

[moa999]

Not a good day to be transiting Sydney.
Good luck.

Fyi in the OP you mention DFW T4, assume you originally meant the new terminal D flagship lounge. New plan probably means just going to whatever terminal you flight departs from in the morning.

Also worth emailing the Bogota hotel to at least see if they'll give a refund give it's not you fault and you've provided decent notice

 

[coyote25]

Not a good day to be transiting Sydney.
Good luck.

Fyi in the OP you mention DFW T4, assume you originally meant the new terminal D flagship lounge. New plan probably means just going to whatever terminal you flight departs from in the morning.

Also worth emailing the Bogota hotel to at least see if they'll give a refund give it's not you fault and you've provided decent notice

Yes somehow got Terminal 4 from the actual correct title Terminal D - DOH.

 

[coyote25]

Okay so after the chaos of cancellations (QF418 MEL-SYD), delays (QF7 SYD-DFW) and resulting need to re-book last connecting flight (AA1123 BOG-DFW) it was time to really begin the trip.

This started with checkin at the Qantas Melbourne Domestic Terminal using the Internationals Connection Checkin. The customer service officer noted I was a Platinum member (I’m actually now LTG) with a major delay to get to Dallas so started to try and get me there by calling Sales I said don’t bother as they couldn’t get me to DFW in time for my DFW-BOG flight, plus I had booked overnight accommodation in DFW. Still I appreciated that they were going to try again.

I went though security around 1.50 pm for my 3 pm flight and there were minimal lines. Time for Qantas Business Class Lounge which I had access due to J flight but also would have due to WP on my boarding pass. The lounge was fairly full I’m guessing from the earlier cancelled flights MEL-SYD, just like my QF418.

While in the lounge I noticed that my replacement flight QF442 was also delayed to 4.10 pm. While waiting in the service line to see if I could be moved to earlier flight they started announcing a lot more cancelled flights. I also overheard customer service manager state that it was likely flights after 7.30 pm will also be cancelled. While I now only have 40 minutes to connect in Sydney (based on QF7 boarding time) I was assured I’d be fine.

Within a few minutes of this announcement we received another announcement, all flights to Sydney are now full but if you would like to postpone your flight to tomorrow please come forward. Over the next hour it become standing room in the lounge for new arrivals but still was too over crowded.

Having found a seat I made use of the fresh food area to make a couple of sandwiches. The toilet area in the lounge had a long line so I just left and visited the next door Club Lounge for which there were no problems.

Given the circumstances I still found this lounge visit to be more than satisfactory. Definitely better to be in a lounge during delays like were occurring during this visit.

Full Lounge Review here.

 

[coyote25]

Qantas Melbourne Domestic Business Lounge

 

[coyote25]

QF442 Melbourne to Sydney Flight

Seat: A (Business Window)
Plane: B737-800
Boarded: 15.55
Pushback: 16.27
Departed: 16.34 (Scheduled 15.00)
Arrived: 18.13 (Scheduled 16.25)
Duration: 1 hour 39 minutes
Distance: 706 kms

This short distance flight was 100% full due to the many cancellations MEL-SYD which made the flight attendants have to play a game of Tetris with carry on bags. Boarding passengers were encouraged to put their bags in the first free overhead spot they see (so Economy PAX used Business Overhead bins).

There were three meal choices:

1. Fried rice with lamb, bread and caramelised coconut milk chocolate
2. A cheese box
3. Penne Soup

Entertainment system required you to use the Qantas App. There was also free and fast wifi with downloads clocking in at 15.3 mbps. The flight crew did well managing the flight.

Full flight review here.

 

[coyote25]

QF442 Melbourne to Sydney Flight

 

[coyote25]

QF7 Sydney to Dallas Flight

Gate: 8
Seat: 12E (Business Middle Aisle Upper Deck)
Plane: A380-800
Boarded: 19.14
Pushback: 19.53
Departed: 20.01 (Scheduled 12.35 SYD)
Arrived: 19.42 (Scheduled 13.00 DFW)
Duration: 14 hour 49 minutes
Distance: 13,804 kms

The long delayed flight to Dallas that eventually departed almost 7.5 hours late due to the windy weather at Sydney airport was still a great flight. Due to very tight connection I only got to visit the Qantas First Class Lounge for around 8 minutes, I was hoping for a longer delay since I was new only going to be staying at Dallas overnight as I could no longer make my Bogota connection but alas the ‘scheduled’ initial delay is more or less how it stayed.

The get to the boarding area you need to go though TSA security since this flight flies in the USA. I was pulled aside to ask some additional questions. I’m guessing a combination of being a single male and travelling to Colombia might have something to do with it. Still only took around 90 seconds of extra questions and the TSA officer (or TSA rep) was happy with my answers.

Priority boarding on Qantas International normally works, unlike domestic, and it did this time as well. I past a huge line of passengers heading for economy whereas I had a destination on the upper deck business class cabin away from the common folk (what happened to me - I used to be a backpack sleeping on overnight dodgy buses!!). I was actually in the forward business class mini cabin with only 12 seats and for this flight 10 passengers.

Amenity kit and pyjamas were given out as soon as I got to my seat. I decided to change immediately before departure. Preflight drinks are also offered and breakfast orders taken. Despite the lengthy schedule delay the flight kept to the lunch / breakfast meals which meant that my pre-selected meals held.

Dinner (Originally lunch served 30 minutes into the flight)
Entree: Pork and shiitake dumplings with pickled cucumber and spicy black vinegar and sesame dressing
Main: Seared Humpty Doo barramundi with tamarind sauce, gai lan and jasmine rice.
Dessert: Ice cream

Breakfast (served 1 hour 45 minutes from landing)
Orange juice, croissant (which was very large), free range scrambled eggs with bacon, sautéed mushrooms and tomatoes

The Qantas Entertainment System is available via the pop up 12.1-inch touchscreen and had an extensive range of movies (including Premiere, Marvel, Disney, and Classic movie selections) and TV shows (with most shows having a complete season to binge watch), although I used my own device keeping my device charged using the seat’s power outlet.

The lounge area on this A380 wasn’t used except by myself for around 20 minutes. I’m sure they could do more with this space.

The service was excellent. Staff regularly checked in with you to see if you wanted something and on the occasions I did request an item it arrived promptly.

On arrival at the airport you have to clear Immigration which is a series of lines, first to get to kiosk, second to get to a two pathways to see Immigration officer, and the third line to see the Immigration officer. It took approximately 30 minutes.

Now baggage claim was another matter. From landing to sighting my bag it took just over an hour despite the ‘first’ bag tag. Still with the tight connection in Sydney I was very happy the bag made it at all.

If you book this flight with a connection try to leave a minimum of 3 -4 hours as you need to clear Immigration and Customs and then recheck onto your next flight and that can be a lengthy delay.

Full review here.