May 2012 I did a trip to HKG, Shanghai, Suzhou(Venice of China), Beijing(The Great Wall), Lhasa Tibet, Everest Base Camp, Kathmandu and Dubai here is the itinerary and report:
Redeemed AA 67.5K First class:
JFK-HKG CX 831 777-300ER Suite 2A
HKG-PVG Dragon Air A333 Business classShanghai - Beijing express train @ 190 MPH
PEK- XNN (Xining, China) A320 Paid cash $120 using ctrip.com great site for purchasing tickets within China domestic flights
18 hour train ride Xining, China to Lhasa, Tibet from here on this trip is not for the faint of heart, due to high altitude sickness.
To be able to travel to Tibet, you must hire a tour guide, our tour company took care of our Tibet Visa,Train ticket from China to Tibet all prior to our arrival in China via Email, we then drove from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp we then drove from Everest Base Camp to Kathmandu lots of windy roads with no signs and then checked into the KTM Grand Hyatt paid around $150 for 1 night, we were going to stay in KTM for Shabos, however Wednesday night we got a letter from the Hyatt that due monthly strike in Kathmandu they advise us not to leave the hotel grounds, so it was dangerous to leave the hotel even for shabos, so I decided to call AA and change my itinerary to stop in AUH for shabos which costed me an extra AA 25K
Coach for 15K was sold out on Etihad and I really wanted to see Dubai.
Redeemed AA 115K First class Award ticket on Etihad Airways:
Redeemed AA 115K for EY F:
KTM-AUH EY A333 Business Class
AUH-JFK EY 101 A340-500 Suite 2K
Long Stopover in JFK
JFK-LAX AA 767-200 Trash can 1A JFK BA F LoungePre Departure checklist complete, ready for Pushback and Taxi to RWY 22LSuite 2A the best seat on the Airplane since you get your own private aisle, Pjamas and Amenity Kit and hot towel were distributedThe private Aisle from Suite 2AOnly 3 Passengers in F for todays ride to HKGRegal KSML fish, I did not post pictures of the meat which was not edibleBerries and creamJohnnie Walker BlueTea and PralinesCruising over the North Heading true North versus Magnetic NorthThe North Pole view from Suite 2A, Only in Spring, Summer and a bit of fall can you get a daylight view of the North PoleCX Signature Kiwi drink plus more Berries and creamLove Bon JoviFull Flatbed Vegetarian snackKSML SnackFruit PlatePre Arrival transfers InformationWe then went to the CX Arrivals lounge to get some coffe, Tea and freshen up,then got a cab to the HKG ConradView from the Conrad Executive Floor