Get it INDIA

Jacques Vert · Feb 2, 2019

I should have started this thread back in October when +1 (@Gem56) and I headed off on our trip to India after attending AFF12 in Adelaide.

Our excuse: well it was a busy trip with little down time and we've been busy since our return (you know: Christmas and all that).

Oh well, better late than never; I just hope that I can remember where we went

+1's photos should help.

But first, thanks to all those who contributed and responded to our planning thread: here

This trip was the originally the second half of a Oneworld Classic Award and we had planned to go to Sri Lanka as well. But after +1 contracted pneumonia in Peru and we had to come home early, the rest of the ticket was cancelled and some of the award seats we had booked never reappeared as available through QF (or if they did, someone else beat me to them

).

At least we got (most of) our points back so we were still able to rebook the Indian part of the trip.

Major · Feb 2, 2019

Loved Sri Lanka

craven morehead · Feb 2, 2019

Following along ........

Jacques Vert · Feb 2, 2019

To INDIA (the long way)

There are probably easier ways to get to India from Adelaide but this is AFF after all.

Our route: ADL-BNE-AKL (stop) AKL-DXB-DEL.

After bidding farewell to many AFFers in the lounge in Adelaide, we flew to BNE with QF and stayed overnight at the Ibis at Brisbane Airport. We walked from the domestic terminal to the Ibis as it isn't far.

I'm not normally a fan of Ibis hotels, but landing at 2100 and flying out at 0745 the next morning we only needed a bed for the night and it was perfectly adequate and only $159 for the night.

We didn't take any photos (sorry), but it's pretty much the same as all other Ibis hotels.

Next morning we took the shuttle to the International terminal ($5 each) for our flight to Auckland.

VPS · Feb 2, 2019

Following along with interest. I enjoy your TR

Jacques Vert · Feb 3, 2019

Why Auckland?

Our original plan saw us spend April/May in Sth America before flying back to Auckland from where we had purchased a separate, revenue ticket home (as you know you can't return to your starting country in the middle of a Oneworld Classic Award. (No I won't refer to it as a RTW in deference to @JohnM.)

For the second half of our Classic Award, we were to fly back to AKL, spend a couple of days in the Bay of Islands, and then fly to DEL via CMB. A mentioned above, the remainder of our ticket was cancelled when we had to cut the Sth American trip short.

But I had already taken advantage of an Amex offer for Expedia to spend $400, get $120 back (or something like that). We had the rental car booked. And there were only two options for award seats to DEL; one via HKG that arrived a day later than originally planned, and the other via DXB on an EK 380 with lower taxes than CX from Sydney. Having never flown EK before, nor an A380, we took this as an omen.

Jacques Vert · Feb 3, 2019

Bay of Islands

A few photos of our time in NZ:

Jacques Vert · Feb 3, 2019

A tradesman's upgrade

In the Bay of Islands we stayed at the Kingsgate Hotel Autolodge Paihia.

We had arrived late after the drive up from AKL so checked-in and stayed in for dinner which was fairly basic, but OK.

Next morning we awoke early as tradesmen had arrived to commence renovations, including the one who had the job of removing and fitting a new exit door and all its surroundings, adjacent to our room. We all know what time tradies start work and this guy had arrived very early, along with hammers, drills, crowbars, the works.

So after breakfast we asked the manager if they would be there again the next day and were moved to another room. About half an hour later we were moved again to the wing on the other side of the property and put into a suite with a kitchen, separate lounge room and a deck with a view over the bay.

Jacques Vert · Feb 3, 2019

So after three nights in the Bay of Islands, we headed back to AKL...

The car ferry to Russell (no we didn't go that way)

An interesting toilet block:

kermatu · Feb 3, 2019

Flying EK, I'll take 1K thanks very much.

TomVexille · Feb 3, 2019

I really must revisit the Bay of Islands

Jacques Vert · Feb 3, 2019

AKL EK Lounge

A most enjoyable space to spend the afternoon ...

Don't you just love the way someone has to stick their foot into the corner of your photo?

I think this is where I started to gain those extra kilos.

Enjoying a wine with my friends...

kermatu · Feb 3, 2019

May I ask how full did the lounge get before the Dubai flight? The last three times I've been there - admittedly only for an hour and at around 11am in advance of the DPS flight - I've been the only guest.

drron · Feb 3, 2019

Jacques Vert · Feb 3, 2019

kermatu said:
May I ask how full did the lounge get before the Dubai flight? The last three times I've been there - admittedly only for an hour and at around 11am in advance of the DPS flight - I've been the only guest.

As I remember, a few more but certainly not many.

Jacques Vert · Feb 4, 2019

EK449 AKL 2110 - DXB 0530

This flight was scheduled for 17 hours and 20 minutes flight time.

Now I know there has been a lot of discussion regarding the length of the Perth - London QF flights. I've had mixed feelings. However, after EK449, my longest flight to date, I have to admit I am quite OK with these ultra long flights; provided I'm in J or F.

It seems to me that you can have a couple of hours in the lounge at the airport, 8 hours in the onboard lounge, 8 hours sleep, and still have time for breakfast

Living the dream............

Jacques Vert · Feb 4, 2019

Roda Al Bustan:

As our transit was just under 10 hours, we were provided with day use of the Roda Al Bustan hotel, with a chauffeur-driven Merc there and back.

After checking in we dropped our bags in our room and headed off to breakfast: (more kilos)