Author Topic: TLV-IST-HKG on the new Turkish Airlines 77W in First (Read 16827 times)

yare · « **Reply #20 on:** June 06, 2012, 05:21:11 PM »

Back on topic.... tk no longer has a first class service on this route? Or any route for that matter?

aussiebochur · « **Reply #21 on:** June 06, 2012, 05:25:04 PM »

Quote from: yare on June 06, 2012, 05:21:11 PM

Back on topic.... tk no longer has a first class service on this route? Or any route for that matter?

IIRC, they gave back those planes.

Galitzyaner · « **Reply #22 on:** June 06, 2012, 11:19:12 PM »

So does that mean, that this TK is no more the best airline to fly this route (TLV-HKG)?

Who are the better ones?

yare · « **Reply #23 on:** June 07, 2012, 05:13:47 AM »

Quote from: Galitzyaner on June 06, 2012, 11:19:12 PM

So does that mean, that this TK is no more the best airline to fly this route (TLV-HKG)?

Who are the better ones?

that's what I'm trying to figure out. Ly has great award avail but their business and first are both pretty uninspiring. Theoretically u could take ly to bkk and then take cathay or Thai in f for a 3 hour flight, but its completely out of the way (11 hours tlv-hkg 11 hours tlv-bkk). Or u could backtrack til lhr and take cx direct to hkg, or go to zrh and take lx... but those are both obviously badly out of the way. Anyone with any ideas?

aussiebochur · « **Reply #24 on:** June 07, 2012, 05:24:47 AM »

Quote from: yare on June 07, 2012, 05:13:47 AM

that's what I'm trying to figure out. Ly has great award avail but their business and first are both pretty uninspiring. Theoretically u could take ly to bkk and then take cathay or Thai in f for a 3 hour flight, but its completely out of the way (11 hours tlv-hkg 11 hours tlv-bkk). Or u could backtrack til lhr and take cx direct to hkg, or go to zrh and take lx... but those are both obviously badly out of the way. Anyone with any ideas?

LY F is best.

PlatinumGuy · « **Reply #25 on:** June 07, 2012, 05:26:09 AM »

Quote from: aussiebochur on June 07, 2012, 05:24:47 AM

LY F is best.

KE F might be better value, no?

aussiebochur · « **Reply #26 on:** June 07, 2012, 06:08:53 AM »

Quote from: PlatinumGuy on June 07, 2012, 05:26:09 AM

KE F might be better value, no?

Could be...
In what way were you referring to?

PlatinumGuy · « **Reply #27 on:** June 07, 2012, 06:13:56 AM »

Quote from: aussiebochur on June 07, 2012, 06:08:53 AM

Could be...
In what way were you referring to?

Cheaper and nicer. Might take longer, and usually a PITA to book.

aussiebochur · « **Reply #28 on:** June 07, 2012, 06:23:08 AM »

Quote from: PlatinumGuy on June 07, 2012, 06:13:56 AM

Cheaper

Cheaper how?

Quote from: PlatinumGuy on June 07, 2012, 06:13:56 AM

nicer

Nicer seat. What about food?

Quote from: PlatinumGuy on June 07, 2012, 06:13:56 AM

Might take longer

Might? 10h50m:18h30m

Quote from: PlatinumGuy on June 07, 2012, 06:13:56 AM

usually a PITA to book.

Actually really easy.

PlatinumGuy · « **Reply #29 on:** June 07, 2012, 06:49:29 AM »

If booking a RT, isn't it 160k UR? That's less than 5k LY. Anyway its for sure cheaper if can combined with travel to the USA.

First of all Sleep>food, I never book a flight for food. But anyway its only nicer on LY for someone who keeps kosher. (And Mehadrin is the same? )

By might I was referring to general TLV>Asia redemptions, although I wasn't clear about that.

Really? Names on acct have to match pax. Call center is open very little. Most of my encounters with them were with very mildly intelligent reps. Elal has very competent reps IME.

aussiebochur · « **Reply #30 on:** June 07, 2012, 07:48:41 AM »

Quote from: PlatinumGuy on June 07, 2012, 06:49:29 AM

If booking a RT, isn't it 160k UR? That's less than 5k LY. Anyway its for sure cheaper if can combined with travel to the USA.

If youre not travelling on one of the many days a year where its 50% more...

Being able to book OW's is definitely an advantage.
(The weird thing is, generally OW's are 50% of RT. But TLV-ICN-HKG prices separately bringing the cost to 112,500. However, HKG-ICN-TLV prices at 80,000)

Depends how you value your miles...

And in my experience you cant combine with an award to the US (But I see you weren't necessarily referring to HKG even though through ICN I haven't been able to either. Anyone done it?)

KE is about $100 more in taxes as well.

Quote from: PlatinumGuy on June 07, 2012, 06:49:29 AM

First of all Sleep>food, I never book a flight for food. But anyway its only nicer on LY for someone who keeps kosher. (And Mehadrin is the same? ).

If it was asked here, they probably keep kosher, no?

Quote from: PlatinumGuy on June 07, 2012, 06:49:29 AM

By might I was referring to general TLV>Asia redemptions, although I wasn't clear about that.

Ok. But the conversation was particular about TLV-HKG. If you wanted to go to ICN, it would be silly to go TLV-HKG-ICN...

Quote from: PlatinumGuy on June 07, 2012, 06:49:29 AM

Really? Names on acct have to match pax. Call center is open very little. Most of my encounters with them were with very mildly intelligent reps. Elal has very competent reps IME.

I doubt that theres too many people here racking up KE miles. So to make a KE account with the pax name and transfer in, really isnt a big deal.
Their website is pretty easy to use to book.

Now to cancel once its no longer possible online, yes, its a PITA.

This is besides the fact that KE doesnt service TLV every day.

Btw, I dont mean youre wrong. Hence,

Quote from: aussiebochur on June 07, 2012, 06:08:53 AM

Could be...

Just pointing out some factors...

damaxer91 · « **Reply #31 on:** June 07, 2012, 09:59:34 AM »

KE F from TLV-ICN-MNL were probably the best flights I've ever had.

Great KSML ex-TLV and Hermoles ex-ICN. Service was amazing and you can ask them for Haggen Dasz from Business Class

Make sure to have the CC used to pay the taxes with you as they will ask to see it

aussiebochur · « **Reply #32 on:** June 07, 2012, 10:06:51 AM »

Quote from: damaxer91 on June 07, 2012, 09:59:34 AM

KE F from TLV-ICN-MNL were probably the best flights I've ever had.

Great KSML ex-TLV and Hermoles ex-ICN. Service was amazing and you can ask them for Haggen Dasz from Business Class

Make sure to have the CC used to pay the taxes with you as they will ask to see it

TLV-HKG, LY F or KE F?

yare · « **Reply #33 on:** June 07, 2012, 10:29:30 AM »

i was looking at ke f, it adds 7 hours to the trip which is pretty significant... for that kind of time i could go to lhr or zrh and fly from there... wouldn't be too much longer. ke first looks beautiful though, and i'm sure they have an excellent f experience, as opposed to ly which will be better food, but a pretty boring experience overall, and nowhere near the ke seat in terms of comfort.

the main problem with ke is that it seems like it's a major pita to book... online it doesn't let me view international award availability (is that because i don't have miles in the account?), and to start calling them and checking every possible date to see what kind of availability they have on the route seems like a pain. also the have the whole summer bain hazmanim blocked out as peak season, which means 210k rt. if i were to go another time though, it's actually only 140k in f off season, not 160k. i think that's definitely cheaper in the "big picture of point values" than 5k ly.
mehadrin food is necessary and so i'm sure ly would win in the food dept, but for that kind of time on a plane i think the comfort/experience would be a higher priority for me.

Bp · « **Reply #34 on:** June 07, 2012, 10:50:02 AM »

@yare
The Wandering Aramean, in his travel tools lets you search KE availability for free.

aussiebochur · « **Reply #35 on:** June 07, 2012, 11:09:27 AM »

KE First Class Kosmo Suites (which are on the TLV-ICN-HKG route) are more expensive.
On the award chart, its the column all the way to the right.

aussiebochur · « **Reply #36 on:** June 07, 2012, 11:09:55 AM »

Quote from: Bp on June 07, 2012, 10:50:02 AM

@yare
The Wandering Aramean, in his travel tools lets you search KE availability for free.

Only F.

yare · « **Reply #37 on:** June 07, 2012, 11:20:10 AM »

Quote from: Bp on June 07, 2012, 10:50:02 AM

@yare
The Wandering Aramean, in his travel tools lets you search KE availability for free.

awesome! Works like a charm. Thank you

yare · « **Reply #38 on:** June 07, 2012, 11:22:39 AM »

Quote from: aussiebochur on June 07, 2012, 11:09:27 AM

KE First Class Kosmo Suites (which are on the TLV-ICN-HKG route) are more expensive.
On the award chart, its the column all the way to the right.

that's what I was hoping to fly... we don't get so many opportunitiesto get away for a few days.. gotta make sure we get it all in. Even though its 160k rt its still only 210k peak? Officially peak is an extra 50%

Great availability,but really bad times on the return.. either stay overnightin icn or wait in the airportfrom 5am until330pm

aussiebochur · « **Reply #39 on:** June 07, 2012, 12:04:29 PM »

Quote from: yare on June 07, 2012, 11:22:39 AM

that's what I was hoping to fly... we don't get so many opportunitiesto get away for a few days.. gotta make sure we get it all in. Even though its 160k rt its still only 210k peak? Officially peak is an extra 50%

Great availability,but really bad times on the return.. either stay overnightin icn or wait in the airportfrom 5am until330pm

There timing is atrocious for many awards

TLV-ICN-HKG-ICN-TLV F