Erk's 2014 Pacamerican Circle

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The Japanese Shinkansen trains I've been on were functional & efficient & fast. I've done both Y & F. There & apart from the 3 + 2 compared to 2 + 2 & a little extra attention in F, there's not a lot of difference between the 2.

It's not uncomfortable & comfort for a 90 min to 3 hour trip which seems to be common in Japan is relative, I guess. They seem to travel more to commute than for leisure.

There seems to be a mixture of leisure & business on the European high speed trains. Europeans seem to be more into luxury with travel than the Japanese & the trains reflect that, I think.
 
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drron said:
Will do a bit of train travel in August.Your Shinkansen and then on to Sapporo and some local excursions on Hokkaido until our JR pass runs out.
So I will take lots of piccies for you!
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Thanks for the great TR.
The JR rail pass is great. Great thing is you could "ride ahead". Being OCD we were usually early at the stations and would kindly ask if they could move us to an earlier train. Also if you missed your train you could ask them to put you on another train (best not done - as I think this destroys the goodwill... but nevertheless a good insurance to have).
 
Erk - loved this trip report, and the profusion of photos!

Thanks for taking the time to share it - it has felt like one of the most personal TR's I've read on here (mainy because of your fearless use of selfies, and willingness to take the time to photograph the mundane, but unusual, that most of smile at but don't record!)

Well done, sir!
 
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erkpod said:
The Japanese Shinkansen trains I've been on were functional & efficient & fast. I've done both Y & F. There & apart from the 3 + 2 compared to 2 + 2 & a little extra attention in F, there's not a lot of difference between the 2.

It's not uncomfortable & comfort for a 90 min to 3 hour trip which seems to be common in Japan is relative, I guess. They seem to travel more to commute than for leisure.

There seems to be a mixture of leisure & business on the European high speed trains. Europeans seem to be more into luxury with travel than the Japanese & the trains reflect that, I think.
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I must be more European than Japanese. :lol:
 
I've just spent the last 2 hours reading my own TR - I got to most questions/replies that I saw during the trip.

I decided today to cancel my next trip to Perth that I had booked prior to this trip which was due to leave in a couple of weeks. VA put me on to a red eye PER - MEL & I couldn't get alternatives to work.

I am, however, going to Europe & the UK via AUH in June. Today, I upgraded to J using points on VA29/30 partly using points that I had previously used MEL - PER - MEL. So apart from a possible status run to get WP before June, that will be my next trip & TR.
 
erkpod said:
I've just spent the last 2 hours reading my own TR - I got to most questions/replies that I saw during the trip.

I decided today to cancel my next trip to Perth that I had booked prior to this trip which was due to leave in a couple of weeks. VA put me on to a red eye PER - MEL & I couldn't get alternatives to work.

I am, however, going to Europe & the UK via AUH in June. Today, I upgraded to J using points on VA29/30 partly using points that I had previously used MEL - PER - MEL. So apart from a possible status run to get WP before June, that will be my next trip & TR.
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If it's anything like this one I'm sure I speak for most, we can't wait!
 
A benchmark TR Erk, well done, I was going to my notification page everyday before looking at timeline just to read these reports.
 
Thoroughly enjoyed your TR :)
I have loved following your adventures in real time and the fearless use of selfies :D
 
My whole aim was to give people the feeling that they were there & the selfies I think assist in that.

I know that selfies aren't for everyone nor are near live trip reports so I don't expect to see everyone doing it.

While I was away, someone asked here on AFF about how to do a trip report - the best thing is just to get in & do it.

So who is up next? ;)
 
erkpod said:
My whole aim was to give people the feeling that they were there & the selfies I think assist in that.

I know that selfies aren't for everyone nor are near live trip reports so I don't expect to see everyone doing it.

While I was away, someone asked here on AFF about how to do a trip report - the best thing is just to get in & do it.

So who is up next? ;)
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It was interesting with the selfies watching you become more hirsute as the TR progressed.

My last attempt was here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....os/november-2012-status-run-little-44608.html
 
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And the razor companies are complaining about their market decreasing... maybe erk and his travelling hirsuteness will become the enemy #1 poster boy for them... :sly:
 
Thanks also for all your entertaining (and possibly pioneering) work here erkpod. If you haven't actually invented the RTTR (Real Time Trip Report), you've certainly made it a standard top be measured against!
 
Just got a reply from VFF Retro in relation to my retro claim for Original Routing Credits while in America.

I was originally booked on DL from SEA - SLC - PHX. Because my previous leg operated by AS ALW - SEA was cancelled, I could not make any of the DL sectors.

I realise that AS metal (even with a DL flight number) is no good for VFF points/SC so I wasn't expecting them for SEA - ALW - SEA.

If I was put onto an alternative DL flight, I would not have had a problem getting points/SC. However, AS put me onto their metal SEA - SFO.

So do I have a leg to stand on with ORC or isn't that a VA thing?
 
Success! After speaking to the GCC, I have been told that I can claim ORC because it was beyond my control what happened.


Woohoo!
 
Awesome TR Erk, great reading and following your travels, as you allowed us into your travelling world, we all drew you onto our computer screens. Like family now, you are going to be missed. Write again soon. Thanks and cheers !!
 
A.Butts said:
Awesome TR Erk, great reading and following your travels, as you allowed us into your travelling world, we all drew you onto our computer screens. Like family now, you are going to be missed. Write again soon. Thanks and cheers !!
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Never fear! I hang around here in the Off Topic (Playground) and Velocity threads. My next trip is a status run & a weekend to Perth in May & then a trip to the UK & Europe via AUH in June.
 
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