Benjie's planning his first "real" trip since joining DDF!

[benjie1305]

Hey Guys!

So I wanted to stop clogging up a different thread ( ) and decided to start my own where I can continue to bounce off ideas and ask for advice from all of you. I appreciate all the feedback I have gotten so far and hope to get much more in the next weeks, months and years for my travel.

My first trip will - most likely- be to Thailand this coming summer and Ill quickly go over what has been discussed so far:

I will have a total of 10 days which includes travel time.

I currently booked my wife and I in CX J and F from JFK-HKG-CNX (DragonAir Y)



Thanks to everyone's input and insight it seems that its not worth forcing a day in HKG into the itinerary as there just isn't enough time and there will a) be a lot to do in Thailand while HKG also serves as a mega Asian hub that Ill most likely be seeing whenever I travel into that region next.

The flight back is still very undecided and will be something I will definitely bounce off you guys in the near future (or daily  ).

[Chapshnell]

KE F for the return? availability is usually good & not expensive.

[benjie1305]

Hotels:

Being that Thailand seems to be a sweet spot for SPGs due to them being relatively low CATs and hearing so many fun stories and experiences about CNX I plan on staying at the LM Chiang Mai for 3-4 days (through Shabbes) and hope that SPG Plat comes in handy for a nice suite.

Ill then be moving over to USM and seem to have several options over there:

For 7k SPG the Sheraton seems to be a steal; especially if I could get a suite upgrade. Not sure how that compares to the LM Koh Samui but not sure I'd want to spend 16k on that with the Sheraton right there as well.

The other obvious option would be the Conrad. Especially with the 2 Conrad advocates Marco Polo and AJK who have yet to drop a bad word about an international Conrad resort. I assume that would be 80k/night currently. Not so cheap but maybe worth the experience? I say that could really be considered if I (or my wife) get matched to Hilton Diamond.

[benjie1305]

KE F for the return? availability is usually good & not expensive.

Have that on hold but is actually not so cheap. 142.5k + $200 p/p.

[Marco Polo]

First question, who did you put in F and who got J so far

Get the Hilton Reserve for free nights at the Conrad.

[benjie1305]

First question, who did you put in F and who got J so far

Its currently me in F. DW found out yesterday when we read AJK's TR. She insisted of me showing her CX's J seat and said "Oh , not bad at all". She then made me show her CX's F seat and was very close to slapping me across the face.

Get the Hilton Reserve for free nights at the Conrad.

Isnt that just for "Earn 2 weekend night certificates "? I will not be there over a weekend.  Versus Surpass which is only 60k but can get 6x on pharmacies.

[Marco Polo]

If not going to be there weekends, then Surpass is a good idea.

[shoobi]

http://thepointsguy.com/2015/12/faa-downgrades-thailand-safety-rating/

What do you think?

[benjie1305]

http://thepointsguy.com/2015/12/faa-downgrades-thailand-safety-rating/

What do you think?

Nothing yet.

Well, usually FAA regulations are followed by similar actions from other global aviation authorities. The results of the European Aviation Safety Agency’s audits are due on December 15, so we’ll know then whether Thailand’s safety ratings have dropped in the EASA’s eyes or if the country’s airlines will continue to operate throughout Europe. If Thailand’s rating were to be downgraded by the EASA, that should raise concerns for the Thai carriers that have direct flights to Europe, as well as the government, as tourism (a huge industry in Thailand) would most likely decrease.

This on the other hand will matter. Lets hope they pass. BKK-CDG is definitely on the agenda.

[benjie1305]

As I am contemplating how to get back from Thailand I think its safe to say that flying TG F is what would make it a great ending to a trip. So USM-BKK-FRA-JFK would seem like a nice way to do it with LH F on the last segment. So now I wonder even more why AJK chose to go:

BKK-CDG-xx-xx-U.S.

Why not just go BKK-FRA-U.S.? TG F does fly the A380 on the BKK-FRA route. Or is that one of the routes that just never really opens up?

Questions upon questions..

[Marco Polo]

Could be the flight wasn't available to book.

KE is during peak times?

[benjie1305]

Could be the flight wasn't available to book.

KE is during peak times?

From Asia > US it is pricing at 142.5k so Ill take that as a yes.

ETA: Just checked: 7/15 - 8/21 from Asia > US.

[Marco Polo]

From Asia > US it is pricing at 142.5k so Ill take that as a yes.

ETA: Just checked: 7/15 - 8/21 from Asia > US.

Is it all of Asia or select cities?

[benjie1305]

Is it all of Asia or select cities?

They seem to only differentiate Korea from the rest of Asia. See here

[@Yehuda]

Trip sounds great and good luck planning! Sorry I don't have any Asia input to help out with, but wanted to give you a word of encouragement

[yakrot]

Trip sounds great and good luck planning! Sorry I don't have any Asia input to help out with, but wanted to give you a word of encouragement

+1

[benjie1305]

So now that my Hilton match went through and I am Diamond I guess the only "cool" thing to do would be to stay in the Conrad while in USM. Huh? 

[CS91]

I'm hoping to take a very similar trip in Aug/Sept so definitely gonna follow this thread. I also just matched to Diamond. Out of curiosity, why is having Diamond a determining factor? Aren't even the base rooms there incredible? 

[benjie1305]

I'm hoping to take a very similar trip in Aug/Sept so definitely gonna follow this thread. I also just matched to Diamond. Out of curiosity, why is having Diamond a determining factor? Aren't even the base rooms there incredible?

Google the property. The standard rooms are great but if I could somehow get myself a Suite upgrade. Wow!

[CS91]

Google the property. The standard rooms are great but if I could somehow get myself a Suite upgrade. Wow!

Ok - just looked. Enough said haha.