A Round the world adventure

[fersea]

Finally the trip that was so long coming is here and I have already taken my first (very brief) flight!!!

After about 2 years of planning I am currently sitting in the Qantas Business Lounge in Sydney about to board the first of many overseas flights that won't see me back to Australia to 30 August. I am visiting all six continents, courtesy of a 140K One World award using my Qantas points. My boarding pass has my oneWorld Sapphire number on it courtesy of the Amex Platinum card and the Marco Polo Gold Offer, hence the reason I am in the lounge. There is no doubt that I have learned so much on this site about bonuses of air travel so here, goes with a trip report. Can't promise it will always be timely but I will try and review every flight.

Here is a very brief trip report of the first flight. The first leg is actually three flights, a quick dash to Sydney, cross the ditch to Auckland for an overnight and catch up with friends, then to Santiago, Chilie tomorrow.

Flight - Canberra to Sydney
Airline - Qantas
Flight number - QF1472
Plane - Dash 8
Scheduled departure time - 11.20am
Actual Departure time - about 11.45am
Scheduled arrival time - 12.15pm
Actual arrival time - about 12.30pm
Seat - 3B
On flight Entertainment - read the Canberra Times
Pre Departure Lounge - Canberra Domestic Qantas Club

I will keep this very brief becuase it was a pretty mundane flight that I have done numerous times for work, although today was extra special as it was the first flight of an around the world trip rather than simply a day or two in Sydney for work!!

Arrived at the airport in Canberra around 10.05am, check in was very simple, up to the QF desk, show my passport, I had already pre selected my seats for today (CBR - SYD 3B, SYD-AKL 4C), so everything was very easy. Attendant noticed how many flights I was doing and said she was very jealous. My girlfriend who not joining me for the South American leg but will join me in Miami in April had parked the car and accompanied me to the Qantas lounge. The CBR lounge is often very quiet especially on weekends, in fact you have to wonder why they have both the normal Qantas Club and the business lounge open, it would be an obvious saving to close the business lounge on weekends. Had the bircher muesli and a pancake in the lounge - 99% of people reading this would have done this before, so I don't think there is much need to say any more.

The call for the flight was very late which meant I only had to walk from the lounge to the Gate 13 but they were calling my name by the time I got there. So it ended up being a very quick goodbye at the gate to my girlfriend.

The flight was pretty empty as you would expect on a late Saturday morning plane CBR - SYD. I reckon the only people who fly this route are on business or transiting in Sydney, if you are going anywhere west in Sydney, I find it quicker to drive.

Seat was a bit messy, but ok. Had the two seats to myself so stretched out, looked out the window and read the Canberra Times. They offered some sort of biscuit but I didn't want it. They gave out water in those horrible Mt Franklin tubs rather than the bottle. Accident waiting to happen was avoided.

Arrived in Sydney, straight to gate 15, straight on the transfer bus and to the international terminal. Saw a couple of A380s along the way and a couple of other big birds. (Sorry if you are going to read this trip report for technical airline terms you are probably in the wrong place)

A wait about 1 minute at customes, then went to the TSA and collected my refund for the Bose headphones I bought during the DJs post Xmas sale, no problems. Into the lounge, had a rather bland beef stronganoff and some salad at the island dining a couple of drinks, wifi was very slow so on the computers and typed this. Now have been called. Talk soon!!!

 

[robd]

Wow, this trip is going to be epic! Bon voyage.

 

[opusman]

It's amusing how people have started referring to any sort of officialdom in an airport setting as "TSA"

Sounds like you have a great trip coming up!

 

[fersea]

Sorry it is TRS - tourist refund scheme although of course it is available to Australians leaving the country. For some reason I thought it was called TSA.

 

[Meggsy]

Looking forward to following this trip.. Hope to pick up some tips for a similar trip I am planning. Safe travels Fersea.

 

[Heleigh]

Look forward to TA

Enjoy your trip

 

[fersea]

Flight - Sydney to Auckland
Airline - Qantas Jetconnect
Flight number - QF147
Plane - Boeing 737-800
Scheduled departure - 3.30pm
Actual departure - about that
Scheduled arrival - 8.45pm
Actual arrival - early - 8.05pm
Seat - 4C
In flight entertainment - personal screens
Pre departure lounge - Sydney international business lounge
Flight obtained as part of 140k oneworld award


After enjoying the Qantas Club including typing my first report, I was called for boarding. Gate 50 - must be the furthest gate from the lounge, I was not halfway there and they were calling final call. Two flights, two almost failed to board on the one day!!


Was in seat 4C which was the front row of economy which I changed into the evening before I left. Positive is a bit of extra leg room. Negatives are in flight entertainment is in arm rest so you can't enjoy the QF entertainment all the way from boarding to disembark. However the most annoying thing was the curtain from business class hung down in your leg room. I don't think I would choose that seat again. Seat 4b was free which was nice.


Flight was largely uneventful, I enjoyed the entertainment watching a comedy show called Upper Middle Bogan. It was on the ABC must I missed the series and I had seen a couple of episodes on QF planes before. It has many of the same actors are The Librarians but is funnier. Well worth a look. Normally I hate the word bogan because it currently meaning seems to be "someone who doesn't do the same as me or have the same views as me". You know in the newspaper comments - "these bogans who voted for the ALP or those bogans who voted for Abbott" - WTF. However for this show I will make an exception.


The meal on the flight was some sort of lamb dish which was edible but nothing startling accompanied by a Bundy and coke - now who is the bogan!! They came out later with a Weiss ice cream bar.


Flight arrived very early - about 40 mins early. Being at the front on the plane it was a quick disembark, through the duty free , and through customs. Tried on one computer to scan smart gate and I think I took out the passport too early so it made me go through the humans but that was even quicker than smart gate. I was through customs still about 10 mins earlier than my scheduled arrival time.

 

[fersea]

Flight - Auckland to Santiago
Airline - LAN Chile
flight number - LA800 (QF321)
Plane - Airbus A340
Scheduled departure 4.15pm
Actual departure - boarded on time but we didn't push back to after 4.45
Scheduled arrival - 11.35am (five hours before I left)
Actual arrival - 11.05am
Seat - 26C
In flight entertainment -seat back with a good selection of movies -when it works!!
Pre departure lounge - Emperor Lounge and Qantas Business Lounge.
Flight obtained as part of 140k oneworld award - hardest flight to get an award seat it seems




This flight might be marketed as Qantas / LAN code share but it has no Qantas flavour. I can't see how it is any different to another oneworld flight, at least from the appearances as a passenger.


After an enjoyable night with some friends in Auckland, I was back at the airport for the flight to Chile. Now the real RTW trip begins!!


Check in was very simple using the advantage of priority check in. Said goodbye to my mate and through customs using smart gate very quickly.


Visited the Emperor Lounge first courtesy of my Priority Pass membership through AMEX. First time using it. Lounge basically has two rooms, one with food and a self serve bar (no spirits) and another quiet one with just a self serve bar. You get an internet code at the front desk and wifi works fine. Had a small meal of Chicken rendang which was a bit bland but not too bad and a Steinlarger.


Was only about 25 mins to boarding so thought I would check out the Qantas lounge. Many posters don't rate this lounge because they say it gets too crowded but I had no problems. They had a lounge area with Sky Sports showing the Warriors v Broncos trial so I grabbed a drink and watched that to the flight was called. The food looked more like the Domestic Qantas Club than the International lounge but I didn't have any.


Boarding was easy used the priority line but there were plenty of people that probably didn't have access. Plane was full, I haven't seen an empty seat yet.
I had selected seat 26C because according to seat guru it was an exit row but it turns out row 25 was the exit row. Low and behold who sits in seat 25C but a bloke who I did a short Spanish course with in Canberra to prepare for the trip. We both admitted we hadn't done the study we should have!! For some reason we sat on the Tarmac for a long time and didn't push back to around 4.45pm.


Seat back entertainment seemed to have a lot of problems. There were problems right across the cabin and then individuals had further issues. I didn't have any for the first 3 1/2 hours of the flight and had to ask for mine to be individually reset a couple of times. Eventually it worked but then crashed again after a while and had to be reset again. In between I watched an excellent movie called Rush about the battle between James Hunt and Nikki Lauda for the Formula 1 Title in the 70s.


Meal was quite nice, lamb and potatoes. Followed by an ice cream. Accompanied by some Chilean wine which was nice. I chose the white which isn't quite the done thing with lamb but each to their own. The staff came around and topped up the wine but took some time to clear the trays. All the staff speak perfect Spanish and English and the announcements are in Spanish then English. There were ham and cheese rolls up the back of the plane and then a frittata was served for breakfast a couple of hours from landing.


Flight arrived 30 mins early got off and went and paid the reciprocity fee which is now $117US for Australians. I think they need to rethink this because I am sure it will prevent a lot of people from having a short stop over in Chile on their way to Argentina or Brazil.


Then into the customs line where I realised I needed two immigration forms rather than the one I had been given. Therefore had to quickly fill one in whilst in the line. Baggage collection was a bit messy but I then seemed to join a shorter queue and was through the x-Ray in about 5 mins. Bought a mini bus ticket from Transvip for $US12 and that dropped me off at the front door of where I was staying.

 

[Major]

This certainly will be an epic TR, which I am looking forward to

 

[zig]

Looking forward to the TR, sounds like it will be a wonderful trip.

 

[fersea]

Apologies, my last flight was actually back on Fri 28 Feb. since then I have been in Rio for carnival and travelling through Brazil. Internet connection is not always great.

Here is the (belated) trip report:-

SCL to GIG


Flight - Santiago to Rio de Janeiro
Airline - LAN Chile
Flight number - LA786
Plane - airbus A320
Scheduled departure - 8.25am
Actual departure - on time
Scheduled arrival - 12.20pm
Actual arrival - about 12.10pm
Seat - 13C
In flight entertainment - drop down shared screens - American movie but dubbed in Spanish
Pre departure lounge - LAN Salon VIP lounge / Admirals Club
Flight obtained part of a South American Airpass direct from LAN.com Australian site


After a few very enjoyable days in Santiago and Valparaiso, I got back to Santiago quite late last night and asked the reception at the hostal to book me the Transvip mini bus. Like always these companies seem to want to go much earlier than you need, and eventually a 4.45am pick up for the 8.25am flight was arranged.


I was in the reception at 4.35 and the mini bus was already there. I was the 4th and final person to be picked up. It didn't take very long at all to get out to the airport with no traffic and despite them stopping at their office on their way where you pay your fare (6200 CLP - about $12-13) we were at the airport before 5.


I had checked in online but didn't know whether I could drop my bags off that early but there was no problem. I didn't notice any priority line but I was hardly in a hurry and the wait was less than 2 mins. Bag drop off easy, customs a breeze, X-ray of carry on and then land side.


Because I knew I would be there early, I had planned to shower in the lounge. I went into the LAN lounge which I realised afterwards was probably the smaller version. Went in hombre bano (men's bathroom) and no showers so thought I would have something to eat and check the internet before going to one of the other lounges for a shower.


They had a small selection of snacks including fruit plates and sandwiches which were all very fresh and tasty. Wi-fi very fast so much so that I had no problems downloading the Canberra Times to the ipad, calling my girlfriend via viber and even downloading the full Qanda from last Monday night. Bar had full help yourself alcohol but at that hour I wasn't partaking and I suggest carnival over the next few days is not going to be a dry affair!!


After doing all this, I then left the lounge and went to the admirals club. The Amex lounge finder said it was a priority pass lounge but I walked in and handed over the MP Gold card and the Priority Pass and it was the Marco Polo card they scanned. A warm welcome in English and confirmation there was showers and they handed me a towel pack and reminded me to keep an eye on the screens because they don't call flights (it's the same in the US).


Went into the spotless shower and had a nice relaxing shower. Came out, had a small fruit plate and glass of water (I am not sure this one had alcohol out and the food selection wasn't as large) but it was comfortable and very quiet at that time.


The lounge was near gate 19 and I was flying out of gate 11 so I thought I had better leave a bit early. (They were calling me at CBR last Saturday, didn't want to get lost in an airport I didn't know!!!). Was probably a smart decision because boarding had already started. They encourage you to print the boarding pass twice when checking in online because they take it at the gate. Also checked you had a Brazilian visa in your passport.


Through the gate then onto a bus for a 1 min ride to the stairs of the plane. Boarding front and back. Because of this long process boarding had started very early and I was on the plane probably 25 mins before the last passengers boarded. No one was in a hurry to get on and I think all flights include checked luggage so no issues with locker space.


Plane was similar to an AA plane, blue leather seats, looking a bit old but still comfortable. All staff spoke English but I tried to use Spanish if I could. I would have expected a flight to a Rio on carnival weekend would be packed but it was probably only 60% full.


Flight was comfortable. Entertainment was an American movie dubbed in Spanish but I was happy reading the downloaded Canberra Times and Qanda. Most people went to sleep - I think 8.25 is very early in Latin America. They did take some time to turn off the seat belt sign but they allowed shutters to be down and no issues reclining as soon as you take off. A small meal was served and was quite tasty. It was a comfortable and uneventful flight.


I was flying economy but I don't think there was any great advantage in business. Unlike the AKL - SCL flight which


Flight arrived a few mins early and disembarking was quick. Got straight through immigration very quickly. Picked up the bag and then out of the airport. Unlike the Santiago airport there didn't seem to be an organised mini bus system. Taxi was $90BRL set price but I found another bus which was about $20BRL into the city. Met another Australian couple on the bus and between us we worked out where to get off the bus and how to get to the hotel.

 

[Melburnian1]

fersea, in 'meeting another Australian couple' after your latest flight, you have efficiently summed up a cultural feature of Australians.

For our 23 million population, we punch above our weight when it comes to air sectors flown (and presumably foreign rail lines ridden).

On a flight with perhaps 100 passengers on it, you found this couple, while (sadly) on the missing MH370 there were four Caucasian Australians and two Australians of Asian (mainland Chinese) ethnicity. It would be an exaggeration to claim that on every flight worldwide Australians are present, but the chances of finding 'fellow travellers' on many flights must be higher than our relatively small population might initially suggest.

Your report is interesting and well written.

 

[bass_ke]

On a flight with perhaps 100 passengers on it, you found this couple, while (sadly) on the missing MH370 there were four Caucasian Australians and two Australians of Asian (mainland Chinese) ethnicity.

I'm curious, why not just call an Australian an Australian?

I also find it sad that so many other souls have (likely) perished on MH370.

Back in topic, this is a trip report of joy!

 

[fersea]

Currently waiting for cab to go to EZE to fly to Lima this morning. Just had a sensational 5 weeks in Rio for Carnival then travelling through Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

Also so got some great news yesterday with a confirmation from Tennis Australia that I have tickets in the ballot for centre court at Wimbledon in June. Also have tickets to the French Open.

Will most ist more including a report from this mornings flight later.

 

[fersea]

EXE to LIM


Flight - Buenos Aires to Lima
Airline - LAN Argentina
Flight number - LA4640
Plane - Boeing 767-300
Scheduled departure - 8.25am
Actual departure - on time
Scheduled arrival - 11.20am (Lima is 2 hrs behind)
Actual arrival - on time - in a car before noon.
Seat - 18F
In flight entertainment - personal inflight screens
Pre departure lounge - AMEX Centurion Club
Flight obtained part of a South American Airpass direct from LAN.com Australian site


After a fantastic couple of weeks initially in Rio for Carnival and then a tour with Tucan Travel through Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay it was time to say goodbye to some great people I met on the tour and make my way to Lima where a second tour starts tomorrow.


An 8.25 flight meant an early wake up (and in bed before midnight - not something that has been done regularly) and a car out to the airport. I asked the hotel reception to book me a taxi and I ended up getting a hire car and driver for a set price about the same as the taxi. At 6am there wasn't much traffic so the driver decided to go in the left lane cruising at about 135kms. I think the speed limit was 80!! So in the end the 35-45 min journey was less than 20.


Check in was a breeze through the priority lane but I didn't need it. Immigration was just as quick, no forms, just a thumb scan. I was told where the LAN lounge was but because it was so early, I decided to walk around the terminal and get my bearings. I knew there was an Amex lounge in the airport but wasn't sure if it was in this terminal. LAN lounge was next to gate 9 and the Amex lounge a bit further down.


I decided to use the AMEX lounge by showing my Platinum Charge Card. Lounge was excellent. Breakfast fare was pretty standard with cereal, rolls, toast etc. There were also plenty of fridges with a selection of drinks, and there were plenty of top shelf spirits available but the hour didn't encourage their consumption.


They also had Apple Mac computers which is a bit unusual because Apple products are not available in Argentina. I parked myself at one of those and watched the last 30 mins of the Raiders match from last week. I had seen the first 50 mins live but had to leave to catch a bus. I had my girlfriend texting me updates so I knew what had happened but it was good to see it. I then streamed a little of the live Friday night games (funny how you can be in Australia and not see the second game to late at night but on the other side of the world you can stream both live.)


I left the lounge and headed to the gate where boarding shortly commenced. I used the priority boarding and was one of the first to board in my section of economy. I knew I had an aisle seat but didn't realise it was in the middle section but that was ok. Business looked like the business section from the AKL to SCL flight with the flat beds.


Legroom in my seat was adequate and the flight was quite full. We took off on time and I settled back to watch a pretty good selection of movies. Any of the American films are in English with Spanish subtitles although I think you can choose a Spanish or Portuguese dubbed version. I find the subtitles also help improve my Spanish. I watched an excellent movie called 12 years a slave about black slavery in the US during the 1840s. I then listened to the massive audio selection including the best of INXS. No problems with the IFE being needed to be reset this time.


Staff generally spoke to me in English and were friendly. Breakfast was served reasonably early into the flight and included a warm ham and cheese roll, some fruit and other bits and pieces. They pour juice or soft drinks into a glass here rather than giving you a small bottle or can. Coffee and Tea service came around soon after. However after the trays were cleared around 90 mins into the five hour flight we didn't see the staff again.


Most if the flight the plane was in darkness as the shades had been closed despite it being a daytime flight. Most people tend to sleep I have noticed.


Landing was on time. Again straight through immigration and customs and picked up the bags. They tend to have someone checking here that the bag you have picked up matches your ticket which I think is a good thing.


Into a car and into the centre if Lima. Talk soon.

 

[Magpie10]

A great TR happy and safe travels, can't wait to read the next instalment..

 

[fersea]

A report of my last two flights, which were on 23 and 25 Mar. Sincé then I have walked the Inca Trail and the hotels I have been staying have had pretty ordinary wifi. I warn you from the start that I am typing this on a Spanish keyboard, so apologies for any additional typos!!

Flight - Lima to Puerto Maldonado (via Cusco)
Airline - Star Peru
Flight number - 2I 1181
Plane - BAe 146
Scheduled departure - 8.35am
Actual departure - about half hour late
Scheduled arrival - About 10.30 from memory
Actual arrival - close to 11
Seat - 11E
In flight entertainment - Nil
Pre departure lounge - Nil
Flight part of Tucan Tour

Unlike all the other flights for this trip, I had no control over this one. It is part of a tour that I am doing from Tucan travel from Lima to La Paz and includes a trip to the Amazon Jungle for a couple of days, walking the Inca Trail, a homestay on an island on Lake Tititaca and through to the capital of Bolivia, La Paz.

Up until the day before, I had no idea which airline it was on, what time we were leaving etc and whether it was a direct flight or not.

The airline was Star Peru. I learned afterwards there are only two airlines to fly from Lima to the Jungle and that is LAN or Star Peru. Either way, you have about a 70 min flight to Cusco then stay on the plane before about 40 mins to Puerto Maldonado.

We arrived at Lima airport in plenty of time along with four others who are on the tour. The tour guide basically checked us in at the desk and we had plenty of time so went and got some breakfast landside. Most of us just got McDonalds which was the pretty standard fare. It was then through the departure checkpoint where they check your Passport to your boarding pass (even though you are going to the domestic part of the terminal) and through airside. There was a priority pass lounge in the airport, but being on the first day of the tour, it wouldnt have been a good look to leave the others behind and go into the lounge so it was to the departure lounge.

The plane was about half hour late in arriving but once we got on and boarded the plane was ok. I had a window seat but the problema was it was bloody freezing with the air coming at the side. Not a good thing as I was trying to get over a cold and this did not help. Need to remember to pack a jacket on any transport in South America because like the buses, it can be hot outside but freezing under the air conditioning. They served a light snack of a muffin and some other roll thing that had some sort of spread thing in it that was awful and a drink. Drinks tend to be room temperatura in Peru and they dont use ice because as a Westerner you are very wary of any of the wáter. All annoucements were in Spanish and English and the crew spoke enough English to get by.

We arrived in Cusco and waited on the tarmac for probably 40 mins for the passengers to get off and a smaller amount to get on, then it was off to the jungle. As this was a very short flight no catering was provided

 

[fersea]

Flight - Puerto Maldonado to Cusco
Airline - Star Peru
Flight number - sorry dont still have it
Plane - BAe 146
Scheduled departure - morning - about 11.30am?
Actual departure - on time
Scheduled arrival - about 12.30pm??
Actual arrival - on time
Seat - 8D
In flight entertainment - Nil
Pre departure lounge - Nil
Flight part of Tucan Tour

My memories of this flight are only pretty sketchy. There was nothing wrong with the flight, but I felt really crook during it sometimes burning hot, othertimes freezing and then the initial altitude in Cusco really hit me for the first couple of hours.

The terminal at Puerto Maldonado is being redone and is currently a worse tin shed than Melbourne T4. There is certainly no lounge, just a Little resturant landside, and a Little kiosk airside, a couple of toilets and some seats. You learn pretty quick that there are not a lot of luxuries in Peru!!

As I say, I hated every minute of the flight because I wasnt feeling well and the couple of hours afterwards werent great either but that was nothing to do with the airline. Cusco is about 3300m above sea level and altitude really does hit you.

As I write this now it is Tues April 1 and I am in Puno after doing the Inca Trail from Thursday to Sunday. I have to say it is probably physically and mentally one of the hardest things I have ever done, especially as from day 2 I couldnt keep any food down so I basically did it without food and without more than a couple of hours sleep. But I am really proud that I have done it, but I cant see myself choosing to climb the Andes mountains or anything similar again for a while!!

I have however felt really good in the couple of days since, I thought I would be sore for a week!!

 

[fersea]

Should also add that I am currently in Puno which as the crow flies I dont think is that far from the Chile earthquake but at 3800m I dont think we are in any danger of a tsunami. Hope everyone is ok.

 

[ellen10]

Loving your trip report.
Looking forward to more.
Hoping to do my own RTW next year.