Hi, my name is Ben, and I'm kind of addicted to A380s. Up until Asiana began longhaul service with their A380s in August, I had reviewed A380 first class on every airline that operates the whale jet, including Air France, British Airways, China Southern, Emirates, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, and Thai…
Continue reading: A380 Addiction: Introduction
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Ben, did you write this yourself? It doesn't sound anything like your usual writing style. Have you brought in someone to ghostwrite?
@ Sam -- Hah, really? Yes I did.
Was trying to keep the intro more factual so I could get on with the rest of the trip report.
I do have a nasty cold, so I can't even hear myself thinking in my own head. Not sure if that's part of it or not. 😀
Are you missing the plane type in the header for: Etihad Airways Business Class Abu Dhabi to Cairo?
Wow, Ben....Sam is right.....your style is different. Do colds really cause us to write in a different style? Whatever the case, the A380 info is always appreciated.
Still awaiting for my first A380 experience!
Dave
I'd say the A380 addiction is your upcoming trip with your father since it'll include Emirates A380, Qantas A380, & Singapore A380!
By the way I thought you already wrote your Asiana A380 review a few weeks ago but I guess that was the First impressions post.
So far, on both A380s I've flown, I (sadly) found that it feels just like any other plane. Perhaps because we were upstairs, but I was kind of hoping for a different feeling. Wishful thinking, I guess.
And not for nothing, but that room at the Park Hyatt Seoul is butt ugly.
FWIW, I think you sound just like you. And I loved my only experience on an A380 - upstairs on KE from JFK-ICN. It was eerily quiet. And lovely.
Do you expect a similar love affair with the A350 one day or are you monogamous? 😉
The blog entry sounds like your writing style to me so not sure the cold is affecting anything except your immediate quality of life. Speedy recovery!
@ Todd -- Personally I find the A380 to be substantially quieter and smoother than any other plane in the market. And the lounges found in the front of most of the upper decks is pretty cool as well, in my opinion.
@ Neil S. -- Hah, thanks! Good to know my mind hasn't been taken over by some outside force. 😀
@ Peter -- I'm an airplane size queen, so highly doubt it. 😉
Certainly haven't had the same love affair with the 787.
I think that what's different in this post is that you didn’t write a straight text, but used more headlines inside it (I don’t know how to call that exactly in English).
I found it funny that you started your trip report from the last one and skipped the other two. This seems to be quite large, or are the trips to Portugal and Iceland just one?
By the way, how do you keep your records of the trips? Do you have a good memory, write notes or type them? When the flight attendant serves your food with a smile, do you make a note right away, wait until finishing the meal or else?
Lastly (is this Ask Lucky? 🙂 ) are you going to New Zealand with your dad or did you keep your original plan?
Also I read an article that said Tim Clark wants to operate the A380 two times a week. Would this actually be true and profitable?
Surprised there isn't a way to get the APD refunded, as (I'm assuming) you weren't in the UK for longer than 24 hours.
Oh, and I'm pretty Ben likes A380's, because they are (partially) German made.. 😛
@ Navin -- Unfortunately probably a long ways off from that happening. Would happen eventually, but wouldn't expect it anytime soon.
@ Carlos -- The Iceland/Portugal trip report are just one, as it was a single trip. I do take a lot of notes and already organize the pictures during the trip, so I'm not going off of memory when I write them. I actually constantly take notes on my iPhone, and then after the meals/lounge visits take notes on my laptop.
Still trying to decide for sure regarding the trip with my dad!
Lucky: You are sick because you lowered your standards and flew US Air Biz........and because of that you have probably been hanging your head in shame and it's caused your airways to be blocked...........come back to the dark side Ben and drink the Krug!
Hi Ben, I thought your report sounded like fun until I added up the costs of a weekend away in Cairo. I calculated just the airfare and used values like Lifemiles at 1.5CPM (old buy rate), and AA miles at (2.0 CPM as that is what the Points Guy values them at)
So your addiction cost you
$1155.60 - LAX-Seoul 40 LM x 1.5 ($600) + $555.60
$900.00 - Seoul - CAI 45 AA x 2.0
$1800.00 - Qatar flight LHR
$1311.70 - London - Charlotte 50 AA + $311.70
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$5167.30 + hotels, cabs, food, attractions etc.
I also am addicted to flying the A380 and just flying in F in general. I can't believe that people would not choose flights based on the A380 over other aircraft types, but hey, we are all different. Unfortunately I recently I just reviewed how much I spend on my frivolous weekend travel I do and probably spend similar amounts. It was important for me to re-examine my addiction to travel as I was shocked to see how much I spend, even though I am only spending a small fraction of the retail cost. That trip you describe probably would have been a $20,000 ticket for a round the world in F from the US or more!
Perhaps it would be an interesting story to hear how an individual can make a modest income traveling and flying around the world. Or perhaps that is too personal and I can understand that. Your blog and writing style is second to none. It is one of the best out there and I always look forward to hearing about your adventures.