A flight a day ...

[JessicaTam]

What's up? Haven't heard.

IT issues. It’s always IT issues. The reason I was stuck at a remote stand waiting for a bus last week was they had to manually call a bus to go and pick us up. They cancelled a fair whack of flights last week as it just got “too hard”!

 

[JessicaTam]

I have spent a little while in the Maple Leaf lounge at FRA this morning and am now in the LH J lounge. Much bigger with a greater food and bev range. Although the view from the AC lounge was better. My flight is delayed from 1230 to 1250.

For those who need it there is a DeutschePost agency in the bookshop at the airport. I managed to send some souvenirs and the race program home to make room for the next round of nick-nacks (or is that knick-knacks?) to come. Happy to pay a few € to avoid checking a bag.

 

[Nukie]

Great TR, thanks. Safe onward travels.

 

[Skyring]

Looking at your sunny shot of the harbour at Monaco - one crammed full of superyachts - reminds me of possibly the most tense time in my travelling career. We finished 18 days aboard the Oceania Riviera and booked a limo. Stood around for the best part of an hour with our bags looking for our driver. Finally someone came through with a signboard. Apparently some limo drivers don't have security passes to get into the cruise terminal area and so he'd been waiting outside. Ooops.

A nice - heh - drive to Nice airport for our AF flight to CDG and then home. Unloaded our bags, checked in for our flight, or at least tried to. My dear wife couldn't find her passport. After much searching decided it was likely left in the limo so tried to call. No phone service. I forget whether I had no service or a drained phone, but had to go to the info counter and beg to use their phone in my broken French and their broken English.

Limo driver had clocked off and gone home but eventually woke him and begged him to check his backseat. Sure enough, there was a handbag there, and we arranged a meeting time and place.

When he arrived, I scooped out any Euros I could find in the bag - about 40, I think - thanked him profusely and headed back to the missus who was sitting with our luggage. Disaster averted, apart from being in France for another half day with no ready cash.

Thanks for the memory. All's well that ends well, and I have to say that Monaco is a spectacular piece of the world.

 

[JessicaTam]

Oh dear, the pressure is on. My TR has got a mention in this week's Gazette!

 

[JessicaTam]

The flights to SIN and then KUL were uneventful. The Sin flight left and subsequently landed a little late leaving me about 45 minutes to transfer. SQ staff were waiting on arrival to tell me and others which gates to go. I was at mine in less than ten, so as I said - uneventful. SIN really is easy to do a quick transfer. Don’t get me started on HKG!

 

[JessicaTam]

As I said up thread, the LH J lounge had a better range of food than the AC lounge. Including some yummy Black Forests cakes. I may have had more than one.


And more cakes while wandering KUL.

 

[Pushka]

Oh dear, the pressure is on. My TR has got a mention in this week's Gazette!

There's a gazette? I used to get these but haven't for ages. Sorry if OT Jess but you started it!

 

[Flyfrequently]

SIN really is easy to do a quick transfer. Don’t get me started on HKG!

Enjoying your TR @JessicaTam especially Nice & Monaco, great memories.
Hoping my 6 hours transit in HKG from CX to KLM will be enough time

 

[JessicaTam]

There's a gazette? I used to get these but haven't for ages. Sorry if OT Jess but you started it!

The Frequent Flyer Gazette: 1 June 2023

 

[JessicaTam]

Enjoying your TR @JessicaTam especially Nice & Monaco, great memories.
Hoping my 6 hours transit in HKG from CX to KLM will be enough time

6 hours is loads of time. I had a connection <1hr and had to run. The trouble with HKG is there is only one area for transit screening. So if you land at one of the far gates you have to head all the way to the other end of the airport to get back airside. And then quite possibly head back to the far end of the terminal for your next flight!

That is why SIN/KUL have the advantage with their at the gate security screening. Pax arrive into the terminal proper.

 

[Flyfrequently]

6 hours is loads of time. I had a connection <1hr and had to run. The trouble with HKG is there is only one area for transit screening. So if you land at one of the far gates you have to head all the way to the other end of the airport to get back airside. And then quite possibly head back to the far end of the terminal for your next flight!

That is why SIN/KUL have the advantage with their at the gate security screening. Pax arrive into the terminal proper.

Thanks @JessicaTam , would only be concerned if flight was delayed 5 hours then. I have been following my CX departure lately and so far 1-2 hours max has been the very occasional delay.

Slightly OT if I may ask, as SG on CX transferring to KLM I presume I do not get Cathay/Qantas lounge access?

 

[JessicaTam]

Thanks @JessicaTam , would only be concerned if flight was delayed 5 hours then. I have been following my CX departure lately and so far 1-2 hours max has been the very occasional delay.

Slightly OT if I may ask, as SG on CX transferring to KLM I presume I do not get Cathay/Qantas lounge access?

KLM and QF are partner airlines but I don't think it extends to lounge access. Best ask here: Lounge Access Help Desk

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

6 hours is loads of time. I had a connection <1hr and had to run. The trouble with HKG is there is only one area for transit screening. So if you land at one of the far gates you have to head all the way to the other end of the airport to get back airside. And then quite possibly head back to the far end of the terminal for your next flight!

That is why SIN/KUL have the advantage with their at the gate security screening. Pax arrive into the terminal proper.

There is a 2nd transit security at HKG further along the pier. I've used it many times.

 

[Flyfrequently]

KLM and QF are partner airlines but I don't think it extends to lounge access. Best ask here: Lounge Access Help Desk

Thanks, have posted.

 

[Port Power]

I arrived in SIN and headed to immigration. A little tip - fill out the arrival card up to three days before arriving. That saves you having to fill it out in the arrivals hall.

I noticed that my passport e-gate registration expires early next month. But with the new e-gates in SIN I don't think that is relevant any more. A section of the hall is clearly signed for e-gates for AU pax amongst others.

https://eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard/?nas=&country=&terminal=&mac=&lang=en

I was caught out with that last month too! However, I did breeze through the e-gate without even knowing about pre-registering. AFF is the place to learn!

 

[JessicaTam]

I got to the HH KUL a bit early and they had a room ready for me. Not my “usual” suite upgrade but still a great room. I had a shower and a bit of a snooze. While in my room I received my welcome amenity (macadamia chocolates) and a personal welcome note.

I headed out to the Mid Valley Mall for a look around. Quite a good range of shops, and a large food hall on the bottom floor.

I got back to my room to find the amenity and note had gone! It was 6pm so up to the exec lounge to ask. They were a little surprised and followed up for me. Apparently a miscommunication had occurred. The staff member was quite apologetic.

As usual there was a good range of food and drinks in the lounge and attentive staff as well. When I got back to my room an hour or so later the amenity was back - but no note.

An early start the next day and back to KUL and my flight to DOH. Another day, another Qsuite.

When I got to DOH I headed out and grabbed a cab to the hotel. About $20. On the way back the next morning I used Uber for about $10. At DOH checkin was quick for my next four flights. Although the check in agent (CIA? ) could see I had a lot of flights. I got my BPs for DOH-PHL-LAS-MIA-LAX. The first one had the dreaded SSSS on it for extra checking.

The extra checking was the gate agent saying he looked at my booking and asked me just how many flights I was taking in one month. I said “29”. We had a bit of a chat about that and he waved me on shaking his head in bewilderment.

Before I went to the gate I did try out the new South Business lounge. It is about as big as the ground floor of the North Business lounge. It was well laid out out with a lot of staff working in the dining area. I had eggs florentine which was yummy.



And the obligatory DOH teddy bear pic:

 

[JessicaTam]

On arrival at DOH there is a security screening to make sure people do not bring alcohol into the country. I had completely forgotten that I had bought a 50ml bottle of gin ages ago and had it in my toiletry bag. It was not picked up in the screening.

But it went well with some lemonade that night.

 

[SYD]

On arrival at DOH there is a security screening to make sure people do not bring alcohol into the country. I had completely forgotten that I had bought a 50ml bottle of gin ages ago and had it in my toiletry bag. It was not picked up in the screening.

Mouth wash!

 

[JessicaTam]

The last few flights have been a bit of a drag. The joys of status running.

DOH-PHL was about 12 hours in an older 2-2-2 config in J. So a slope bed as opposed to lie flat. It was still comfortable enough and I did get some sleep. A highlight was trading airport and aircraft stories with my seat mate. I want to verify one before posting it, but suffice to say it was certainly the ultimate QR J experience if true. (Chat to you in SIN @editor!)

I overnighted in PHL and then headed to LAS. The aircraft was a pretty new A321 neo with 2-2 config. The only trouble is the limited recline of the seats. No screens but the inflight wifi was pretty good, so I watched Assassin Club.
The advantage of so many flights is I get to catch up with lots of movies.
The disadvantage of so many flights is I run out of movies to watch.
David and the rest of the cabin crew were excellent.

The meal:


I got to LAS about noon and my next flight left at about 2300 so this was definitely the drag part. Also AA does not have a lounge at LAS. Fortunately with a fairly new Amex I had access to the Amex lounge which was actually very pleasant. Definitely worth a few dollars of the annual fee in that visit.