I’ve been living in hotels for over a month now, and I know the thing a lot of you were looking forward to with my ”hotel life” was lots more trip reports. And I know the past month has been fairly boring on that front.
Continue reading: Using American AAdvantage Miles For Middle East Travel
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Drop me a note when you are in the UAE. I'm up in Ras Al Khaimah but happy to drive down to Dubai or AD to meet up if your schedule permits.
@Lucky,
Did AA allow you to combine the Jet to BRU and Qatar to DOH on the same award so it was only 67,500 for both flights?
A bit concerned you're not aware of the MERS virus in the M.E, Lucky...You are aware of it, right?
@ Ben -- You are going to live in the middle of the effing desert in the summer. You are insane!
I just came from 2 weeks in Jordan/Israel/West Bank and in May I got there 102F! It will be brutal for you. But really waiting on the reports.
Enjoy the trip Lucky! Excited to see these new products. Also be bold and drink a beer once in a while!
Im taking the EY flight on June 6, do you know anything about the Chauffeur service ex-LAX? Do you know if they will provide it? The website doesn't state it. Would be a shame if they wont provide one, especially for a drive only city like LA.
Heavens to Betsy, you people do realize we have fcuking air-conditioning in the Middle East, right? And if Americans can tolerate living in places like Texas and Arizona during the summertime, I'm sure Lucky can survive for a few days in the Middle East?
@ Nick -- We have a seatmap and we know that the cabins will basically be identical to the rest of the longhaul fleet (including first class), though I don't think we have any *actual* pictures of the cabin yet.
@ Doug -- Yes, absolutely, Toronto to Brussels to Doha was 67,500 AAdvantage miles in business class.
@ jiffy -- I use the BA award search tool:
https://onemileatatime.com/british-airways-search-tool/
@ Alejandro -- There are a lot of things I'm willing to try/compromise on. Drinking beer isn't one of them! 😀
@lucky - you can check jet availability on their own website ( you need and account). I have never verified whether the availability they show matches what is available to partners. Perhaps it would useful for you to investigate.
@ Andrew -- As of now they haven't announced that they'll be offering it in LA. My guess is that they will soon enough, but they just haven't gotten around to it yet.
@ SK -- I tried that, and as a member without any miles in my account there was a message saying "you are currently not eligible to redeem online."
So maybe members with miles in their account can search, but I can't, sadly.
Ben,
I see you used Jet Airways & Qatar on the same award. This is where I'm a bit unclear. Can you combine any of AA's partner s to construct an award? Can you intermingle one world carriers with AA's partners for awards as well???
BTW- currently, I'm in route back from AUH as I write this and we stayed at the Ritz Carlton Grand Canal. It's a year old and prob one of the nicest Ritz I have ever stayed at. You should strongly consider that property while in the UAE
Adam
@ adam -- Yep, American lets you mix airlines on an award, even if some are oneworld and some are non-oneworld partners. The only caveat is that the overwater carrier has to publish a fare between the origin and destination. In this case Jet Airways publishes a fare between Toronto and Doha, so it's allowed.
Lucky, Hamad in Doha is actually open right now, but only to a few airlines (flydubai, etc.) It's a beautiful airport from the inside and out (I haven't seen it air side yet). If you want to do a meetup in Doha, and grab dinner at a local spot, let me know.
Ben,
Thanks for clarifying!!! So would it be possible for me to construct an award with my AA miles that looks like: NYC ---> Bru ---> TLV using Jet Airways then El Al???
I really liked the Hyatt Capital Gate. Great architectural marvel and the suites are fairly nice. They also had a free happy hour of sorts at the pool during my stay. One free drinks and they kept bringing small appetizers. Nothing to make a meal out of but a nice gesture nonetheless.
Nice!!
Any info on what cities Etihad has through fares to from L AX? For example, can I fly to Male on one award (they didn't have a published fare last I looked), or Capetown or Dar es Salaam?
@ Beachfan -- In looking at fares out of LAX, looks like Etihad publishes fares to Male. It's a moot point whether or not they publish a fare to Cape Town or Dar es Salaam, as American doesn't let you route from the US to Africa via the Middle East, as ridiculous as that rule is.
Looking forward to it! I'm on LAX-AUH in F in June and for my return I have a QR A380 segment but only in J ... hope F opens up!
Be warned that your visit to the new airport in Doha will be before the QR lounges are complete. They're not going to have them open until July. I'm bummed because I'll be there next month and will miss out. Construction photos look amazing.
I flew Qatar Airways new business class product on the Dreamliner a couple of weeks ago, on exactly the same route as you will fly (BRU-DOH). I was great (read my review here: http://theluxurytravelexpert.com/2014/04/15/flight-review-qatar-airways-boeing-787-dreamliner-business-class-bru-doh/). I hope you experience will be a great one too!!! Enjoy your trip.
Don't forget to write the detailed review on your TPA->ORD flight. Need to know what kind of boxed rose' they're serving.
@lucky and @Andrew: Wife and I will be on the EY flight June 4 (in F), and I just called EY to ask same limo question. They suggested to call back next week for more detail and to book, and explicitly said to not use the website at this point for that flight.
Will also have chance to check out new Doha airport en route to DAR / JRO, but unfortunately only in Y.
@Lucky - I hope that you're not underwhelmed by the QR 787. I was. Actually by all of QR as a whole. Admittedly, maybe I had way too high expectations with all the talk of "5 Star Airline."
Also, the new DOH airport is already open and low cost airlines are operating there since April 30th. They're doing a phased launch. Do you mean you're going on the day QR moves there? They begin on May 27th, I believe. I suppose they may be selling that as the "real opening day."
Just one more thing: the lounges won't be ready for another 2 months, so if you're flying on day 1 then you'll be at either a generic lounge or they'll give you a "voucher." Kinda sucks.
Read this: http://dohanews.co/four-airlines-begin-flying-new-hamad-airport-may-22/
Lucky, I'm on a AUH-JFK direct on Etihad Business class but also see availability on their Jet Airways leased aircraft operated by Etihad, is there much difference in seats? Should I stick with Etihad Business on their own plane or change to Etihad's Jet Airways leased Business Class? What would you do? Thanks
Hi Lucky
can you tell me your favorite middle eastern cities? I want to burn some AA miles and plan for 2 weeks in the middle east but not sure which cities to hit up (never been there).
Ben,
Just curious... Why didn't you book the non-stop from PHL to DOH? No availability, or you wanted to make sure you got to try Jet Airways as well?
@ Neet -- Etihad has a staggered business class product, while the Jet Airways plane has a herringbone seat. I'd say Etihad's hard product is marginally better, but both are quite good.
@ danny -- I've only visited Doha, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. I didn't really enjoy Doha, I thought Dubai was fascinating/glitzy/shallow (so is worth seeing), and Abu Dhabi actually has some culture. The top of my bucket list in the Middle East is Muscat, as I've heard Oman is fascinating.
@ Coutureguy -- Because I wanted to sample two products. Also keep in mind Qatar Airways' hard product is better on the 787 than the 777.
Ben, Having just flown AB business for the third time, I would say you are magnanimous for wanting to try it out. Admittedly I am spoiled by Singapore, Cathay and Asiana. AB has not trained their FAs to provide premium class service, though they were very pleasant. The new flat beds are mighty uncomfortable. The old ones were better. It is the only business class I have been truly unhappy about. The fact that they want to give me 50 Euros for my new suitcase they destroyed doesn't make me any happier.
My friend has been there for 2.5 years building that airport. They finally did a soft opening last month.He is at the moment picking his friend up from the new airport right now. It is open but not all of it. The lounges are not open yet, and only a few of the retail. There is no exchange place and he is not sure if there is a ATM. He is going to send me a picture to give you that the local media does not have.