- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Introduction
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: United First Class Tampa to Washington to Los Angeles, United Red Carpet Club Washington Dulles, Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Holiday Inn Express Los Angeles Airport
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: reLAX Lounge LAX
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Star Alliance Lounge Los Angeles, Singapore Airlines Business Class Los Angeles to Tokyo to Singapore, ANA Business Class Lounge Tokyo
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Singapore Airlines Silver Kris Lounge Terminal 3, a Day at Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore Airlines Business Class Singapore to Kuala Lumpur
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: InterContinental Kuala Lumpur
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Exploring Kuala Lumpur
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Plaza Premium Lounge Kuala Lumpur, Sri Lankan Business Class Kuala Lumpur to Singapore
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Marina Bay Sands Singapore
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Exploring Singapore
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Qantas First Class Lounge Singapore, Qantas A380 First Class Singapore to Sydney
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Holiday Inn Sydney Airport
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Exploring Sydney
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Qantas Business Class Lounge Sydney, Qantas Business Class Sydney to Melbourne
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Park Hyatt Melbourne
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Exploring Melbourne
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Qantas First Class Lounge Melbourne
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Qantas A380 First Class Melbourne to Singapore
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Qantas A380 First Class Singapore to London
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: British Airways First Class Lounge London, British Airways Club Europe London to Vienna
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Le Meridien Vienna
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Exploring Vienna
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Austrian Business Class Lounge Vienna, British Midland Business Class Vienna to London, Great British Lounge London
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Star Alliance Lounge London, Air New Zealand Business Premier London to Los Angeles
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Andaz West Hollywood
- Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Conclusion
If you’ve read this far you’re a trooper. Suffice it to say I had an amazing trip. I loved visiting Melbourne, Vienna, and Kuala Lumpur. I definitely want to return to Melbourne and Vienna soon. I’m happy to have seen Kuala Lumpur, though it’s not a city on my short list of places to urgently return to.
As far as the flights go, Qantas exceeded my expectations massively. The Airbus 380 was amazing, and I finally get what the hype is all about. It just doesn’t feel like an airplane. Air New Zealand remains one of the most fun airlines to fly thanks to their quirkiness. Singapore Airlines was great in business class, as always, and hasn’t changed since the first time I flew them (other than their substantial hard product upgrade).
I had some great hotel stays as well. The InterContinental Kuala Lumpur and Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur were both great. The Holiday Inn Sydney Airport? Meh. The Park Hyatt Melbourne and Le Meridien Vienna were awesome as well.
A lot of you asked for a cost breakdown of the trip, so here it is as accurately as I can get it:
Flights from Tampa to Kuala Lumpur on Singapore Airlines (business class): 67,500 United miles plus $25.80 taxes
InterContinental Kuala Lumpur (two separate stays): $248.22
Le Meiridien Kuala Lumpur: $192.50
Flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore on Sri Lankan (business class): $151.80
Flights from Singapore to Sydney to Melbourne on Qantas (first class): 45,000 American miles plus $45.80 taxes
Holiday Inn Sydney Airport: $218.13
Park Hyatt Melbourne: 30,000 Hyatt Gold Passport Points
Flights from Melbourne to London to Vienna on Qantas/BA: 80,000 American miles plus $127.20 taxes
Le Meridien Vienna: 11,000 SPG points
Flights from Vienna to Los Angeles on bmi/Air New Zealand (business class): 33,750 British Midland miles plus $213.14 taxes
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned, because two more trip reports are on their way shortly!
Hi Lucky, just to let you know (if you don't already know) that Qantas rerouted QF9 . Now it is MEL-DXB-LHR instead of MEL-SIN-LHR. Plus, I was surprised that you didn't have the steak sandwich at least 2 times. When I flew Qantas first class to LA, my mouth was full of that sandwich for 3/4 of the flight. Next time I suggest you to go to Dubai; It is so much better. But that is only my opinion, so it is up to you.
Thanks for the breakdown. Great use of miles. I forget how much more affordable it is for award tix when you don't pay fuel surcharges!
@ rich -- It wasn't the comfort of the plane as much as it was how quiet and smooth it was.
The business class bar is only open to business and first class passengers. They have a snack and drink area in coach, though it's not really a "bar."
You mentioned that it didn't seem like an airplane. Do you think you would have made that statement if you were in coach rather than business/first class?
Are the "bars" open to anyone from economy class to walk up and get drinks anytime they want?
When I grow up, I want to be YOU!
Nice trip report as always, but you did manage to draw this one out a little longer than usual. Must be the conversion from hobby to work :)
@ Carol -- There was no points component to that. Sri Lankan has very reasonable business class fares between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore!
Thanks for the trip report! Another epic.. Can't wait for the next one..
Skip KL next time and come visit Penang!
Flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore on Sri Lankan (business class): $151.80 - was there a points component to this, or all cash?
RE: QF A380 partner awards
WELL I know what I'm saving my AA miles for! Must.... have........
putting all this together for this cost makes me want to head out and spend some miles and travel around again. I haven't done enough RTW in the past decade. I have lots of miles, might as well spend them now
Great report lucky! I'm looking forward to the next one.
@lucky Well, EK does too, they just don't have enough partners!
@ Mike L -- They do not. It's the only airline I know of that readily makes A380 first class available to partner airlines.
I've been lurking around this website for a while but never commented now. I'd like to thank you for sharing your cost breakdown. I'm sure it will really help me decide whether I'm getting a good deal or not the next time I use miles.
Also, Qantas doesn't block off first class for partner redemption like SQ and LH?
Thanks for a great trip report, Lucky! And extra thanks for the price breakdown. Transparency is a great thing and it really helps us understand what we might expect for a trip like this.
You're no matthandy, but you're OK! :)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/1230332-my-first-first-ba-first-class-sydney-uk-return-paris-ireland-bangkok.html
Seriously, I appreciated your report and am looking forward to your upcoming reports.
Thanks,
Lark