By nttcPayday Loans
Was recently reading a thread on Airliners.net about LOT’s ongoing financial problems. Found a very unique, yet depressing picture of a LOT B767. I believe this was taken in Warsaw. I sure hope LOT can “ride out” the storm and receive delivery of a brand new B787. LOT will be the first airline to fly the B787 in Europe.
"Grounded" LOT B767
Have a nice clicK life,
-Mark
I was able to change some flights on my return from FRA to LAX to route myself FRA-ZRH-JFK-LAX on Swiss and United so I could enjoy the brand new Swiss First Class product on LX14 between Zurich and JFK. The flight is on Swiss’ newly delivered A333 aircraft which commences service on April 20, 2009. Then it’s PS First on United yet again- one of the very few good things United still has to offer (mainly due to the seat in this market). Unfortunately, neither JFK-CLT-LAX, JFK-PHX-LAX nor JFK-PHX-LAS-LAX were available on US in First- ‘O’ class, thus I settled for United and PS F is better than regular United First so no argument there. Who would argue anyway?
Anyway, back to the main event- new LX F class. It’s stunning. It will be by far the best transatlantic First Class offered. Surely outperforms parent company Lufthansa’s First Class. I think Singapore Air’s New First Class on the 77W isn’t as nice as this either. Link that with award winning Swiss hospitality and you can’t go wrong!
He are some pictures courtesy of FlyerWiki.
Only 8 seats in the cabin in a 1-2-1 arrangement on this A330-300 aircraft
Passengers traveling alone: no longer worry about lack of privacy in a double seating section
Large, personal TV screen
Non-angled, fully flat bed in an suite like enclosure
I will be able to compare the new product to Swiss’ current First Class on the A343 on my way down to JNB and it may actually be my first full trip report. I’ll be taking my Mini 9 along so I could use some of my transit time to type up some drafts and keep my immediate reflections stored before they’re replaced with newer ones. Rush of excitement, I guess! Who wouldn’t be excited?
Luckily, US Airways has already “trained” me to enjoy the A333, so the ZRH-JFK flight will be on familiar aircraft “territory”.
Have a nice clicK life,
-Mark
I’ve had the hardest time buying tickets for my upcoming trip. You see, I am going to Hawaii in April and I need to fly into HNL. My plan was to purchase a revenue coach ticket on US Airways and upgrade using my Dividend Miles as it’s just 17,500 miles each way. The good thing about the mileage upgrade is that it clears you into First at the time of ticketing, and more importantly from the city of origin, which in my case would be Chicago- ORD.
US Airways Hawaii flights are all operated by America West B757′s which offer 14 First Class seats. I say not bad, given that the East B757′s have only 8 in First or 12 Envoy if configured with Envoy!
I planned a simple ORD-PHX-HNL-PHX-ORD, but as you know with my trips, the way they are booked resembles nothing how they were planned. PHX-HNL has two flights a day per direction on US and there were absolutely no upgrade seats. None! I’m not flexible at all, so I politely declined the agent’s offer to look around.
Now the good part. US flies nonstop to four cities in Hawaii: HNL, Maui (OGG), Kona (KOA) & Lihue (LIH) are all daily from PHX. US Airways used to offer LAS (Las Vegas)-OGG, but let’s not get into that. It’s just no longer there and what a shame! Anyway, PHX-HNL/OGG are both double daily. In fact, last year, when I needed three upgrade seats to HNL and back I had to return from Maui, since HNL-PHX had none.
What I did differently this year. I looked at everything. When you’re desperate, you’re desperate. Or may I should call it creative?
The good thing about Hawaii is that the islands are relatively close to each other, and while competition is no longer the same without Aloha Airlines, inter-island fares are still pretty low if booked ahead of time. In addition, Hawaiian Airlines (HA) codeshares with almost every USA based airline and quite a few international ones too. They have baggage and ticketing agreements, and most importantly during these times of a-la carte pricing, they do not charge for the first bag you check. After all, if they did, tourists would not hop around the islands, HA would loose customers and islands would loose potential tourists and the revenue they could scrape off of them. In return, the Hawaiian Islands would be pretty upset with HA.
Another idea to digest is that US Airways (and I’m sure many other carriers) will allow HA segments at no extra charge (aside from a few $ in taxes). I mean, if the ORD-HNL fare basis is, say $505 round trip, in most cases US Airways will let you route it via multiple stops, meaning you don’t have to fly ORD-PHX-HNL, you can fly ORD-PHX-OGG-HNL using US up to OGG and then HA on OGG-HNL. It depends on the fare rules, but sometimes you can do 3 or 4 stops, meaning ORD-PHX-OGG-KOA-HNL and the base fare is still $505. Remember, all you end up paying extra is a few more dollars in airport and other taxes.
On my dates, only PHX-KOA had upgrade availability, so my outbound was ORD-PHX-KOA-HNL. Of course, as with all mileage upgrades, they only upgrade you on your frequent flyer carrier, so in my case US Airways. Still, I don’t mind a short KOA-HNL where, as a preferred, I still earn 500 miles and another 500 miles bonus for being a Chairman’s Preferred. Return wise, HNL-PHX was also not avalable for upgrades. Only OGG-PHX and LIH-PHX were available for that evening. The LIH schedule fit me better so I routed myself HNL-LIH on HA, and then US from LIH-PHX-PHL-ORD. Why not nonstop from PHX-ORD? Not available, but PHX-PHL-ORD was and the fare only went up by a few dollars, again due to taxes.
In conclusion, I booked ORD-PHX-KOA-HNL-LIH-PHX-PHL-ORD while confirming everything in First instantly (except KOA-HNL and HNL-LIH since it’s operated by HA). What is good is that I paid only $31 dollars more in taxes than I would have paid for ORD-PHX-HNL-PHX-ORD and would have to ride in coach. Plus, think of all the miles I will earn! I told you, the way I plan flights is never similar to how I book them.
Makes me think of last year’s ORD-LAS-SEA-LAS-PHX-HNL-OGG-PHX-SEA-PHL-ORD method of getting to Hawaii.
Now for some thoughts about using miles to Hawaii:
Have a nice clicK life, Aloha,
-Mark
What has Windows XP SP 3, an 8.9 inch LCD screen and a full QWERTY type keyboard?
Answer: A Dell Inspiron Mini 9! A truly blogable device that will even fit in smallest book bag or purse. They’re coming out with a 12, but if you want to keep it small, go with the 9. And while in the aviation world bigger is better and more fun, when you mix blog writing, laptops and travel- smaller does turn out to be wiser.
So it has been a while since I’ve talked to all you fine folks and I wanted to assure you I have not turned my back on you. What has changed? The last time you thought about me, I was 18- now not so much. 19 here and every flight I take less people consider me the “brat” who stole their last available upgrade seat. I sure miss those days!
What’s new, you ask?
A lot has happened since my few hours in PIT. Aside from fuel going sky high and falling down low, one of the best TV series fast forwarding 5 long years into the future, world’s longest all-business class legacy airline flight making it’s way from EWR to SIN and a few other things, I’m still good!
What’s coming, you ask?
I think my tiny photography hobby might be growing in the upcoming months. I’ve upgraded my simple digital point and shoot camera to the Canon EOS 50D. Get ready for some nicer, higher quality travel photos.
Back in September five airlines allocated in two opposing teams fought for the honor of giving up 2 of their highly coveted “O” and “I” class award seats in First/Business Class for Kinglobjaw’s 150,000 (X2) US Airways Dividend Miles Award from USA to Africa.
Team Europe included Lufthansa (LH) and Swiss Intl Airlines (LX) and offered a tempting LAX-FRA-MUC-ZRH-JNB-FRA-LAX which consisted of upper deck 747 First Class on 3 flights, a First Class Terminal visit in FRA, a ride on the rare A300, and exquisite Swiss hospitality service generations have raved about.
Team Asia which included ANA (NH), Singapore Airlines (SQ) and Thai International Airways (TG) offered an exotic ORD-NRT-BKK-JNB-BKK-NRT-ORD involved the elegant Japanease service, the warm and friendly Singapore Girl and the Royal Orchid service by Thai was another excellent choice. NH is known for delicious food and Thai’s First Class lounge at BKK is a true rival for Lufthansa’s FRA First Class terminal due to it’s Royal Orchid Spa.
The winner? Before the decision, only one airline knew it would win regardless of which of the above choices would be selected. Team Africa! Since, JNB isn’t the final destination, there is only one Star Alliance carrier that could fly me from JNB-MRU and back. South African Airways, I’m ready to try your Business Class.
Alright! Alright! You want to know what option was selected between the United States and JNB? Both choices were available in First Class all the way through to JNB, so this decision was tougher than most would expect. In the end Lufthansa and Swiss were chosen. Lufthansa’s ultra private upper deck First Class experience on the B747, the FRA First Class terminal and the option of flying Swiss is what made me choose the two carriers for the July 2009 trip. Plus, I’m dying to fly an A300, especially since Lufthansa is one of the oldest operators of the type and is slowly, but surely beginning to retire them. Therefore, I hope my flight won’t be downgraded to a narrow body. I want to save airlines SQ, NH, TG, and OZ for my next trip to Asia. To my readers, which option would you pick?
A) LAX-FRA (Lufthansa 747) + 1 night in FRA for Zzzz’s…
FRA-MUC (Lufthansa A300), MUC-ZRH (SWISS AVRO RJ100), ZRH-JNB (SWISS A340)
Return: JNB-FRA-LAX (Both 747’s on Lufthansa)
B) ORD-NRT (ANA 777) + 1 night in NRT for Zzzzz’s
NRT-BKK (Singapore Airlines 777), BKK-JNB (Thai A346)
Return: JNB-BKK (Thai A346), BKK-NRT (Thai 777), NRT-ORD (ANA 777)
What else is new, your ask? I’m planning a fun mileage run since I think I can find lower deals than the US Airways’ Buy Up to Preferred program.
I really want to try to find a deal to Seattle, WA (SEA). I love the city and I want to check out the Boeing museum. Plus, if I can get a free night at the Seattle Airport Marriott that would be fantastic. It is my favorite property near the SEA airport. Their indoor pool is amazing. Few airport properties in the USA are this nice. Marriott sure did an excellent job here. Enough with the words, sometimes pictures do indeed speak more than words.
Pretty long post, but totally worth it since I messed up big time by not posting for a few months. I’m really sorry about that, but I won’t forget this blog or my readers- I promise.
Have a nice clicK life,
-Mark
US Airways’ first ever service to London’s Heathrow (LHR) begins on March 29, 2008 from Philadelphia (PHL). That same day in Toronto (YYZ), US Airways moves under one roof with Air Canada to Terminal 1 allowing for quick and convenient connections with the majority of Star Alliance carriers at Toronto’s Pearson airport. Is a US Airways- Air Canada codeshare now on the radar?
In Warsaw, Poland (WAW), LOT Polish Airlines launches Warsaw- Beijing, China (PEK) service on the 767. The service will operate on a weekly basis, and as soon as LOT takes delivery of their 787, it will be one of the first routes to see this aircraft. Good thing LOT has some codeshare agreements in Asia, and the flight is timed to ‘grab’ inbound connections from USA. EWR-WAW-PEK anyone?
March 29-30, 2008 is also the weekend a bulk of new LHR flights commence with a lot of first ever services provided by first-time-ever-at-LHR airlines. United’s Denver- LHR, Continental’s Newark- LHR and Houston- LHR, Delta’s JFK- LHR, Atlanta- LHR as well as Northwest’s Minneapolis- LHR are all new. American Airlines also brings Raleigh/Durham (RDU) and Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW) nonstops to LHR as of March 30, 2008. Blue1 goes Helsinki (HEL)- LHR as of March 30, 2008. And while this may be an odd one, Air France will fly from LHR to Los Angeles (LAX) beginning on March 31, 2008. I honestly don’t think that will work out. Bon Voyage however!
Today, London Heathrow opened it’s fifth and newest terminal. Check it out here. Like it’s partners and rivals from the USA, British Airways also starts out new service on March 30, 2008, and may I add all from London Heathrow:
Have a nice clicK life,
-Mark
My previously unannounced trip to KRK involved some intra-Europe Lufthansa segments. The German airline touts itself as very punctual. Did they inherit that by swallowing the Swiss clock? Maybe… I haven’t flown them before.
It’s true, though. Very punctual, and as one of the lounge agents said so herself, “I don’t know about those other airlines, but LUFTHANSA! We always fly, and we fly on time!” As for lounge agents being called “dragons”, sure they are strict, but at least I know I’m surrounded by people who actually belong there.
What about the crews? Some are very friendly, some are very strict and downright bitter, but both types provide excellent service. 3 drinks in Coach on a short-haul, regional flight from MUC-KRK? Not 3, but how about 4! And if that isn’t enough for a 1hr20 minute flight, why don’t you enjoy a sandwich and a Toblerone? Yep, that’s Lufthansa and Lufthansa Regional.
Advice I’ve gotten when it comes to Lufthansa, “Never ask the crews for pictures. They will shred you to pieces.” Apparently, the royal treatment for the King extends everywhere, even to a Friday late-night flight from Munich to London’s Heathrow. No shredding this evening:
Augsburg Airways, it’s who operates on behalf of Lufthansa to Krakow, Poland:
It’s quite a celebration when a short regional flight yields such a quality meal:
Have a nice clicK life,
-Mark
While I have heard about this for the past week, today’s Press Release issued by US Airways confirms that US Airways will indeed fly to Heathrow.
I think this is excellent news. Not only will it increase healthy competition on the Philadelphia-London market, but it will also make for convenient and timely connections to Star Alliance partners out of Heathrow.
For a passenger like myself, flying to Poland on US Airways currently invloves two seperate tickets and an overnight in London on the return, should I connect through London. Now, the new PHL-LHR flight times are set up perfectly for connections in both directions. On the way out, I get in at 11:05 A.M. No need to change airports, and I will make a connection to a LOT or Lufthansa flight going to Poland. On the way back, the flight to Philly leaves 12:50 P.M. Before, even if I took the earliest flight from Poland leaving at 6.A.M., I would still not make it in time to be able to change airports and connect to a US Airways flight from Gatwick. Now, I have 3 things working to my benefit: a) The Philly flight leaves almost 2 hours later than the US Airways Gatwick flights, b) I don’t have to change airports in London and c) By March of 2008 all Star Alliance carriers will co-locate at Terminal 1, meaning I don’t have to change terminal facilities. For those travelling to Europe, this is very exciting news!
Have a nice clicK life,
-Mark