Oh Babushka - trips within a trip - Thailand, UAE, Oman, Spain, Portugal, UAE again, Sri Lanka and Singapore

[Seat0B]

Today I'm starting the write up of the mega-trip we took around a visit to see Seat Son in Abu Dhabi. We travelled from Nov 2024 to Jan 2025 and had a fantastic time.

The flights were booked during one of QF's DSC offers. Now that we are both all but retired and have more time than before, we deliberately added short stop overs in both Bangkok and Singapore to improve the SC earn. This trip alone generated almost enough SC to retain WP, despite the need to use QF Code shares on EK metal to get to our real destination of the UAE and Seat Son.

Here are our flights:

19 Nov 2024 CBR-SYD - on separate Y classic award ticket on Dash-8 ( DSC from Points Club)
20 Nov 2024 SYD-BKK J revenue ticket on QF 295 Finnair for Qantas on A330
23 Nov 2024 BKK-DXB J revenue on QF 8373 on EK A380 (no DSC)
5 Dec 2024 DXB-MAD J revenue on QF 8143 on EKB777 (no DSC)
20 Dec 2024 MAD-DXB J revenue on QF8142 on EK A380 (no DSC)
26 Dec 2024 DXB -CMB separate Y revenue thicket (why, why, why) on UL226 on A330 (no DSC)
2 Jan 2025 CMB-DXB Y revenue y on UL 225 (no DSC) on A330 (no DSC)
4 Jan 2025 DXB-SIN J revenue on QF 8354 on EK A380 (DSC)
6 Jan 2025 SIN-SYD J revenue on QF292 Finnair for Qantas on A330 (DSC)
7 Jan 2025 SYD-CBR on separate Y classic award on Dash-8 (DSC from points club)

As on previous trips, it remains a quirk of the fares that a trip CBR-DXB return costs $11,000 - and the trip as flow cost $11,500 (+Sri Lanka add on), so it's really a no brainer for us to extend the journey with Asian stop overs in each direction and a side trip to Europe. And further as on previous trips, adding the Canberra leg to this trip always seems to totally blow up the multi-city tool, so we just add the connecting legs on a separate classic award trip and take the risk of delays etc. On this trip it wasn't any real risk as we had to go up to SYD the night before because of the early departure time of QF295, and we allowed a couple of hours clear on the final return home leg in case of delays, although it has never really been an issue as a WP. And as usual, it wasn't any problem for us on this trip. Plus, you get the sublime to ridiculous experience of starting and finishing in a Dash-8!

So, apologies in advance for how long this is going to take, because I do know that I'm a slow TR writer, but please feel free to join me as I relive our fabulous trip.

 

[Seat0B]

Tuesday 19 Nov 2024 - Getting Away

For this trip, we only received 4 changes to our itinerary from QF. That's annoying, but not the most changes we have received.

It was an epic saga getting away this time because we had been doing a lot of work on our house. We had always harboured vague intentions of retiring somewhere other than Canberra, but in early 2024, we realised that life had conspired to keep us here. For a start, there is our darling Seat Granddaughter (both of her parents are public servants and will never leave here) and then there was the surprise leukaemia diagnosis in 2023 that makes me want to stay in a city with good medical services and a doctor I trust after a very delayed diagnosis rather than move away. So we decided to do some glow up on our house, which is 20 years old. We bought some new appliances because the old ones were past it (a new dishwasher, a new oven, a new microwave oven, a new washing machine) and some upgraded furniture now we don;t have hordes of teenagers hanging around spilling things. And best/worst of all, we got new carpet. Let me tell you, I will never again get carpet in a house where I am still living. It was a naive decision in retrospect to get it done just a couple of weeks before we left, and had I known how bad it would be, I would probably never have bought new carpet. It was a totally shambolic experience, with us rushing to move out all the furniture to the corridors or next room, catching our breath while the speedy team of 4 carpet layers put down the new carper, then vacuuming it, putting the furniture back and doing the same again in the next room. It took 2 days from 8-4, plus several long days both before and after taking things out of the furniture (eg books, clothes, shoes) so it was light enough to move it. We have a 2 storey house, and on one of the days I did 28,000 steps and 24 flights of stairs without even leaving the house. So it's not any exaggeration to say I was exhausted by the time we left. But the new carpet is lovely. Anyway, I digress!

We booked ourselves an Uber XL and a friendly Nepali driver got us and all our bags there in style. I didn't take a photo this time, but the luggage situation was as it always is when we go to visit Seat Son - we had a LOT of luggage:

• Mr Seat 0A -20.4kg
• Me - 21 kg
• Seat Son's stuff - 2 suitcases combined weight 50.6 kg ( red wine, vegemite, shapes, nutrigrain, tim tams, eucalyptus oil, favourite lemon myrtle soap etc). And both of our bags included Christmas gifts for Seat Son, his GF, and her family who will host us for Christmas.

A mere 92 kg this time, compared to last trip where we achieved 115.6kg . Plus we each have a medium sized day pack and I have a cabin sized roller bag (filled to the brim with all my medications). OMG, I do not know how people travel hand luggage only. Thai railway from the airport to the hotel tomorrow on arrival in Bangkok will be very interesting!

I always relax when I get to the lounge, and this time was no different. Enjoyed a coffee and a muffin and then a basic and uneventful flight on a packed Dash-8 CBR-SYD.



I participated in a "too good to be true" promotion with Accor last year to get 30 nights credited for a 3 night stay, and by this method, made Platinum with Accor, so we appreciated all the extra bonuses of that status in our swanky hotel, Pullman Sydney Airport. We checked in at 2pm and amused ourselves with the hotel facilities.

I took a long bubble bath, once I worked out how to get the bubbles into the bath - answer, used the water glass to collect some liquid soap, and then pored it into the bath . Then sat in a big wing back chair with my (newly washed and very clean) feet on the bulkhead with a cuppa and a new book - winning. Dinner was hotel canapes and drinks. Watched the Barbie Movie for a second time. OMG it is so cutting and funny in a "funny because it's true" kind of way. Early night tonight as we have an early (for me) start tomorrow.





Mr Seat 0A appreciated the attempt to add aviation colour to the hallway - but said it was giving him a conniption every time he saw L34 on the carpet instead of 34L


Sadly, we did not get to use the Platinum perk complimentary breakfast buffet vouchers, but I was quite sure that breakfast in the QF F lounge would make up for that. However, based on our experience, I reckon the hotel breakfast may well have been a better option. But more of that tomorrow.

 

[ellen10]

Great start to your trip report.
I will look forward to following along.

 

[Flyfrequently]

On board with you @Seat0B
Love the feet on bulkhead !

 

[Seat0B]

On board with you @Seat0B
Love the feet on bulkhead !

I know right! I felt very wicked.

 

[MARTINE]

Tuesday 19 Nov 2024 - Getting Away

For this trip, we only received 4 changes to our itinerary from QF. That's annoying, but not the most changes we have received.

It was an epic saga getting away this time because we had been doing a lot of work on our house. We had always harboured vague intentions of retiring somewhere other than Canberra, but in early 2024, we realised that life had conspired to keep us here. For a start, there is our darling Seat Granddaughter (both of her parents are public servants and will never leave here) and then there was the surprise leukaemia diagnosis in 2023 that makes me want to stay in a city with good medical services and a doctor I trust after a very delayed diagnosis rather than move away. So we decided to do some glow up on our house, which is 20 years old. We bought some new appliances because the old ones were past it (a new dishwasher, a new oven, a new microwave oven, a new washing machine) and some upgraded furniture now we don;t have hordes of teenagers hanging around spilling things. And best/worst of all, we got new carpet. Let me tell you, I will never again get carpet in a house where I am still living. It was a naive decision in retrospect to get it done just a couple of weeks before we left, and had I known how bad it would be, I would probably never have bought new carpet. It was a totally shambolic experience, with us rushing to move out all the furniture to the corridors or next room, catching our breath while the speedy team of 4 carpet layers put down the new carper, then vacuuming it, putting the furniture back and doing the same again in the next room. It took 2 days from 8-4, plus several long days both before and after taking things out of the furniture (eg books, clothes, shoes) so it was light enough to move it. We have a 2 storey house, and on one of the days I did 28,000 steps and 24 flights of stairs without even leaving the house. So it's not any exaggeration to say I was exhausted by the time we left. But the new carpet is lovely. Anyway, I digress!

We booked ourselves an Uber XL and a friendly Nepali driver got us and all our bags there in style. I didn't take a photo this time, but the luggage situation was as it always is when we go to visit Seat Son - we had a LOT of luggage:

• Mr Seat 0A -20.4kg
• Me - 21 kg
• Seat Son's stuff - 2 suitcases combined weight 50.6 kg ( red wine, vegemite, shapes, nutrigrain, tim tams, eucalyptus oil, favourite lemon myrtle soap etc). And both of our bags included Christmas gifts for Seat Son, his GF, and her family who will host us for Christmas.

A mere 92 kg this time, compared to last trip where we achieved 115.6kg . Plus we each have a medium sized day pack and I have a cabin sized roller bag (filled to the brim with all my medications). OMG, I do not know how people travel hand luggage only. Thai railway from the airport to the hotel tomorrow on arrival in Bangkok will be very interesting!

I always relax when I get to the lounge, and this time was no different. Enjoyed a coffee and a muffin and then a basic and uneventful flight on a packed Dash-8 CBR-SYD.

View attachment 441118View attachment 441119

I participated in a "too good to be true" promotion with Accor last year to get 30 nights credited for a 3 night stay, and by this method, made Platinum with Accor, so we appreciated all the extra bonuses of that status in our swanky hotel, Pullman Sydney Airport. We checked in at 2pm and amused ourselves with the hotel facilities.

I took a long bubble bath, once I worked out how to get the bubbles into the bath - answer, used the water glass to collect some liquid soap, and then pored it into the bath . Then sat in a big wing back chair with my (newly washed and very clean) feet on the bulkhead with a cuppa and a new book - winning. Dinner was hotel canapes and drinks. Watched the Barbie Movie for a second time. OMG it is so cutting and funny in a "funny because it's true" kind of way. Early night tonight as we have an early (for me) start tomorrow.



View attachment 441133View attachment 441135View attachment 441131

Mr Seat 0A appreciated the attempt to add aviation colour to the hallway - but said it was giving him a conniption every time he saw L34 on the carpet instead of 34L

View attachment 441132
Sadly, we did not get to use the Platinum perk complimentary breakfast buffet vouchers, but I was quite sure that breakfast in the QF F lounge would make up for that. However, based on our experience, I reckon the hotel breakfast may well have been a better option. But more of that tomorrow.

View attachment 441134

Really enjoying this CLEO! You have communicated that utterly delicious feeling when you are passed security and preflight in the lounges tired but wired for the adventures ahead.
Looking forward to the next installment

 

[Seat0B]

Wednesday 20 Nov 2024 - The Journey Begins With Breakfast in the First Lounge

Up at 0615 and in our next Uber XL by a few minutes to 0700. Traffic was surprisingly busy for that time of the morning, although what would I know because we haven't really done this before as we don't usually take day flights so we usually fly up the same day and don't have to check in at SYD. Anyway, we had to wait quite a while to get into a drop off spot at the INT terminal, where cars were disgorging people in three lanes at once, but we were inside and ready to check in by 0730. This was another moment where I really enjoyed the perks of WP status by being able to check in at the First counter because even the business lines were long - and the economy line was extremely long.

Immigration and security were extremely fast today, and we were in the First Lounge with a window seat and breakfast ordered by 0800. On the way in, I lucked into a spa appointment for later in the morning after breakfast. Just the one appointment, and Mr Seat 0A let me have it without a fuss, bless him.

We both ordered the Qantas signature breakfast of eggs, toast, bacon, sausage, hash brown and tomato, an apple and ginger juice, and a flat white.



It was OK, but nothing more. Presentation left a lot to be desired. They clearly need to do something about either their bread or the cutlery, because this toast was totally impossible to cut - a recurring problem I have experienced several flights in a row with onboard breakfasts. The poached eggs were firm poached, despite me asking for soft poached. This is the first time I have had breakfast in the F Lounge, because we usually take afternoon or evening flights, and honestly it was underwhelming - more like a pretty average cafe standard and nowhere near as nice as the evening meals we have enjoyed in the lounge on other trips. I suspect that the breakfast at the Pullman would have been better.

Still, it's a first world problem and we enjoyed the view from the window as we ate, including seeing our Finnair for Qantas aircraft at the gate.

And I really enjoyed my spa appointment for a 20 min hot stone massage. Came out feeling very zen and really looking forward to the flight.