Mistakes, Advice and Some Luck

[moa999]

So my 2008 DONE4 (partial trip report here - http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...photos/multi-segment-done-part-1-a-14946.html) was close to finishing and I had almost no ability to get leave at work so was going to let it expire.
However something got delayed, something got cancelled so I got a chance. Leave approved Wed for departure Saturday. A quick email to AA Karachi, confirmation of the new process with sydneyforex.com.au, an increase in my transfer limit to their account and things were in motion.


Total cost of the new DONE4 came in at under A$7,500 including taxes and the AA Karachi service charge (which was more than taxes)


On my previous DONE4 I had originally booked SYD-HKG-DEL-HKG-KHI but there was no chance of getting an Indian visa in time so I shifted attack to Japan. Rerouted using AA Dallas to SYD-SIN-NRT-HKG-KHI. However they were unable to accept my Aus credit cards (US credit cards only)


As described here - http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...ng-change-aa-issued-one-19682.html#post268055
reposted below I had a few issues.


AA Agent said not a problem, will set it up so you can pay Qantas at Syd.
Cost will be about US$150 (125 reissue +++)

Stupidly I believed them.

So at Syd, First check-in desk had a problem - no ticket shown. So over to ticketing. After calling AA who refused to do the reissue, he booked me onto SIN and issued a boarding pass but said I would likely have to sort it out in SIN. (Note no collection of any reissue fee)

In SIN, I came to the Airport 4 hrs before the flight expecting problems.
SATS premium desk. No ticket number - why don't you go outside and call AA - we are not helping at all

Over to the JAL desk where I received a lot more help. After she checked with QF for ticket number, called AA twice (and had me speak to them when they again refused to do the reissue themselves), she spoke to JAL Tokyo who said get me on the flight and they would sort it out with AA on Monday.

ON Tuesday received a call from JAL saying they could reissue at the airport before my flight but cost would be US$470, made uo of US$125 reissue, a circa US$75 JAL fee and the rest in taxes. Seems very high.


Thanks to Dave Noble, the free Internet at the Hotel Granvia Kyoto (above the station and a Aus standard 5* hotel), and SkypeOut was very quickly rerouted by AA London for US$118 (cheaper than US$125 by the vagaries of IATA FX rates I assume)


Worked perfectly and no questions by either JL or CX on the remaining flight,


Lesson Use AA London for all future issues unless able to pay with a US credit card or at a US airport.

 

[moa999]

SYD-SIN, QF31 Seat 20K A380 VH-OQC

First trip on the Qantas A380, having previously done SQ Y.

The new outward bound Immigration desks are quite good, although who was the stupid idiot who put the APEC line at the other end to the Express Bag Scanning (I think it is a reasonable assumption that a decent number of APEC card users will also be getting the Express Card) - when I went through there was still a decent queue in priority Immigration so it was a quick walk to the right for APEC, then back to the left for baggage.

The old Duty Free area is now totally boarded off and Duty Free now occupies half of the new glass roofed area. From the Syd Airport site and video walk through I think this area will ultimately be more food and beverage and I suspect Duty Free will move back to where it was (with an expansion no doubt).



At the moment there is no shortcut to the QCs, it is through Duty Free, through some seating area then straight up the escalators.
QF First Lounge was awesome as usual. Veuve champagne and had the salt and pepper calamari with a special of beef and black bean saunce to follow. Was packed so sat at the bar. Unfortunately massage well and truly booked out after my ticketing issue.




Onboard – its an amazing aircraft. Very quiet, as I had experienced on SQ and the SkyBed II is very comfortable. Unfortunately my massage function was broken and my AVOD reset itself to a white screen twice (thankfully it has a decent fast forward function)

 

[moa999]

Food was very good. The snapper was among the tastiest airborne meal I have ever had.




Sat at the Lounge area in the front of the upper deck for a couple of hours shooting the breeze with a few other customers (from both J and F).

 

[moa999]

Singapore

In SIN stayed at the M Hotel via a Wotif Secret Hotel deal (it is pretty obvious what it is). Good hotel, but more in the corporate district, however a very cheap rate.

Bought a Singapore Metro day pass and explored for the day.

Quick visit to the QF First Lounge at Singapore. Interestingly they were coming round with freshly made dishes (eg Singapore Noodles and Shepherds Pie) and offering to customers – much better than the limited food offerings otherwise. I also had the opportunity to use the SATS Premium lounge (right next door) but elected not to as JAL appears to use SATS for Business and QF First for First so I assumed it was the lower class lounge.

 

[moa999]

SIN-NRT, JL

Overnight flight on a SIN.
Lste departure meant only a snack and breakfast which was somewhat disapointing.
JAL Shell Flat Seat is pretty similar to Skybed I in design albeit with a slightly greater angle and not as much of a cocoon – appears to be more of a generic design.

Decent meal and a very good shochu were served.



In seat power is very badly positioned – right near your hip and will not take any big plus (eg my laptop charger). Even using an adapter did not get enough power. My blackberry was low on charge so borrowed a charger from a fellow passenger who was typing away. Equally this charger did not fit, although was okay when I added my multi port adapter to give a bit more room... So a warning on JAL for anyone expecting to be able to charge their equipment.

 

[moa999]

Tokyo

Two days in Tokyo staying at the Granbell Hotel Shibuya as mentioned on a few of these forums. Funky designed hotel and the rooms are definitely a squeeze, but ok when all you are doing is sleeping in them.

Toured around the major sights in Tokyo using a combo metro pass. Certainly worth it as the sites are spread out, although without having access to the JR lines you need to change lines a bit more. Very well run metro, in a lot of ways similar to London with connections at the same station requiring a bit of a walk and a combination of old and new facilities.

Then a local rapid train to Odawara and a quick day trip using the Hakone Free Pass (well, free once you pay Y4,000 for the pass). Unfortunately the typhoon was approaching so cloudy and rainy all day. On the cable car could not see the car in front and certainly couldn't see Mt Fuji. But a very beautiful area of Japan no doubt.

I had been thinking of staying at a Ryokan but was difficult to book at short notice – in retrospect lucky I didn't as the typhoon rolled through the next morning and the rail service was severely delayed.

Shinkasen (Hikari and Nozomi) down to Kyoto where I stayd for two nights at the Hotel Granvia Kyoto. This hotel is part of the new station development and is a Western 5* hotel. Overall was very impressed with it although it is massive (nearly 100 rooms per floor) and over 10 restaurants. Also a wide variety of other choices in the station building.

Bought a all-day bus pass for one day and went out to see the Western area sights including the Castle and Golden Temple.
The following day did Johnny Hillywalkers tour (although Johnny was not conducting it) which was well worth it seeing some of the smaller temples, some local factories, geishas, one of the main Yakuza headquarters.

 

[moa999]

ITM-HND, JAL First

Was running late after doing Johnny Hillywalker's tour and visiting the Kyomizu temple before leaving. Rushed back to the Granvia and picked up my paggage and printouts of my new ticketing information (expecting I may still have trouble with JAL).

Then mistake no. 2, although I knew where an ATM in Kyoto station was that worked (an ATM room with machines from various banks between the JR and Shinkansen entrances) I jumped on the next JR to Osaka. Forgotten that I was down to about Y600 on the Suica card and under Y200

Got to the gate and had insufficient credit. Staff let me out and pointed me in a direction of an ATM – didn't work. Lap around the station – no more machines, across a major road to another big bank and no luck again. Then I spotted a Citibank sign on the 2nd floor across the road and success.

Sprinted back across to the main Osaka station, reloaded the Suica, tagged out. Lugged my luggage up stairs to the Hankyu railway terminal where seemingly the JR Suica not accepted (despite all being based on Sony Felicia technology not all of Japan's rail passes work together). Successfully guessed how to use the non-English ticket machine and jumped on the Express Train on the Takarazuak line.

Now they are obviously not about encouraging people to take public transport to the airport as the stop for the monorail is not on the Express Line. So get off one station before and find out I was on one of the few trains where the Local did not immediately follow the Express.
So a 10 minute wait (I needed it to cool down) and onto the local.

Again no Suica accepted on the Osaka Monorail, so a quick fumble at the ticket machine, sprint up the escalator and just make it into the car as the doors are closing (next train 10 minutes away).
Make it to the JAL desk at 6.08 for a 6.30 flight. Separate JAL First line and am quickly checked in and baggage taken.

Up the escalator to the main terminal then through the separate JAL First screening from where you go straight up the lift to the Sakura Lounge. Very staid lounge – wooden fittings, with rows upon rows of chairs lining up facing the window – no tables or areas for groups to congregate. A quick beer from the beer pouring machine and off to the gate.

Massive seat, huge table, hot towel on its own tray and an absolutely amazing meal and some very good schochu and sake. Very well worth the extra Y8,000 for the 45 min flight.
Note this flight earned 251 FF points and 60 Scs – now that is a good ratio!!






Lesson – Always carry enough cash as you never know when you won't be able to find an ATM that works.
(Lesson B) - Take the limousine bus rather than the train in Japan (with connections) (I just hate buses)

 

[moa999]

Landed in HND, caught the monorail and trains – got a regular rather the the Keisei SkyLiner and ended at Narita station with no more trains to the terminal. Walked round the corner to the Keisei line and caught the train to the terminal.


Then a bus to the Marroad International Hotel where I had a runway view room. Fairly dated hotel but ok for a quick overnight. Unfortunately weren't using that runway in the morning so didn't get to see much.

 

[moa999]

NRT-HKG, Boeing 747-400


No issue at all checking in – AA London did a good job. Tried unsuccessfully to use the Premium security clearance but appeared to be only for JAL First and JAL Ffers (no logos for oneworld). So onto regular security where my large clear plastic bag that folds rather than seals was deemed to be not ok. Instead I was handed a new very small 8cm by 8cm bag and told I had to fit everything in there – and after repacking was told I had to lose one item. The security guy wanted to confiscate my almost brand new aftershave – he got an almost empty $5 100ml shaving cream can instead!


Up to the lounges. Separate First Lounge on the left with the Sakura Lounge on the right. Good selection of foods (similar to the CX Haven buffet) and the champagne (Henry Lanson) was flowing at 8am. Quick breakfast, 10min in the massage chairs and a few glasses of bubbly and on my way.

 

[moa999]

Upper deck seating for me. JAL doesn't use its space particularly well. Toilets front and back and a big galley mean there is only room for 12 seats, 6 each side of the exit row.

Impressive Japanese set (in a Kyoto style) and some good shocu. Interestingly most of the Japanese are drinking champagne.



A few hours to kill in Hong Kong necessitated a quick visit to the echannel desk to get my Frequent Entry enrolment (courtesy of APEC card) (used the pre-immigration point which is near the temparature control point towards the bagcheck 8-14 gates) – enrolment meant to take 5 min, I took a slow walk back to the echannel, but not accepted so went to the APEC line instead, checked-in suitcase in left luggage, then back inside this time using echannel (note this means your HK immigration paperwork is not taken by anyone) and back to the Wing for lunch, a bath, shower and some downtime in the Cabanas. Then a quick detour to the Pier before flight from Gate 71.

 

[moa999]

HKG-BKK-KHI-BKK-HKG, CX701/ CX2700 A330

So onto the 18hr or so KHI turnaround. First two flights (one sector) were the last part of my 2008 DONE4 and the second flights the start of the new DONE4. Staff change in BKK both ways so I was flying much further than the crew.

Regional A330 configuration with the blue-green seats. Aircraft somewhat tatty with the floor on the right showing severe scuff marks under the seats and the toilet seat flaking.

Usual top quality CX service with Billecart champagne for the first three flights (nothing on the breakfast BKK-HKG flight). Decent quality menu for all sectors – with dinner style meals on the first three flights (all different). Only ate once on the outgoing sector having had lunch in the Haven to start with.

Had been unable to get my KHI-HKG boarding pass issued at HKG so had the CSM message ahead my booking ref and ticket number and as met at the gate by a Cathay Rep who gave me my boarding pass and escorted me to the CIP lounge. CIP lounge unchanged from the previous visit (at least only one hour this time).

Tried to sleep both ways on the BKK-KHI segments which ensured me a decent nights sleep, with a few glasses of Billecart along the way (including the CX champagne coughtail which is made with the main champagne on offer).
Breakfast on the final BKK-HKG segment was disappointing and no alcohol on offer.

Plane was relatively empty inot KHI but quite full coming out.



Echannel worked perfectly (giving me a 90 day visa) although I must say the stickers are rather large (put it sideways to save space) and would be a pain if continually going in and out of HKG.

A quick stop at the Arrival for a shower and change, luggage checked in and Airport Express to Central for a few drinks with a friend who has recently moved to Hong Kong.

Back to HKG airport, straight through controls using echannel (awesome)

 

[moa999]

HKG-SYD, CX111, A330

So my first trip on a 'real' CX plane (not regional) – had typically always flown BA or QF in preference but this flight got into Sydney earlier and I was keener for the flat bed over the QF skybed.

Champagne was a downgrade to Deutz, after being served Moet in the Lounge.

Quite impressed with the CX A330 setup – seats are not as thin as I had imagined from reading and it is a very impressive video screen albeit some parts (eg flight information) are still the old screens, music and video selection is very good.

Seat impressive and interestingly seems to have sensors which stop it moving if it senses blockages (eg putting things behind the head rest). Massage function is average (nowhere near hard enough). Only downside is limited storage space. Good quality NC headsets which come already plugged in. Annoyingly (when in music mode) the screen keeps trying to go to sleep.




For an 8-hr flight service was relatively slow. I would prefer the option of a quick meal and lots of sleep (but enabled me to finsh this trip report).
Interestingly the Empower power port is easy to reach and fits all plugs (inc Australian).

 

[moa999]

Trip total
7.5 days
9 flights, 7 segments, 680 Scs, 38,662 points (inc 2 loyalty bonuses)
5 hotel nights, 3 aircraft nights
Copious bottles of champagne, free and paid for (Roppongi!)


Till the next instalment...

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Wow, great TP.
I really enjoyed that.
Well done.

 

[docjames]

Nice TR. Thanks for sharing some useful insights there.