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Author: Benjamin J Travel

Trip Report: American Airlines 777-200 Retrofitted Business Class | Dallas to London

Trip Report: American Airlines 777-200 Retrofitted Business Class | Dallas to London

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] Making our way to Berlin for a long weekend trip, we found ourselves in American Airlines’ Business Class from Dallas to London on the 777-200. While this wouldn’t be my first flight on one of American’s retrofitted 777-200s, it would be my first flight in the 777-200 retrofitted Business Class. I’ve had several journeys aboard American’s 777-300ER in Business Class on this same route and others and always enjoyed the…

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Hotel Review: Citadines Kurfürstendamm Berlin

Hotel Review: Citadines Kurfürstendamm Berlin

Spending a long (and pleasantly warm) weekend in Berlin, we made the Citadines Kurfürstendamm Berlin our home for a couple of nights. Located in the Kurfürstendamm neighborhood of Berlin, this apartment-style hotel or “Aparthotel” offers amenities well-suited for a longer stay in Berlin. Located in a posh neighborhood along The Kurfürstendamm, there’s not shortage of high-end shopping nearby. Overall Rating: 4 of 5 Stars Location: 5 of 5 Stars Service: 3.5 of 5 Stars Comfort: 3.5 of 5 Stars Cleanliness: 5 of…

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Lounge Review: Plaza Premium Lounge | London Heathrow | Terminal 2 Arrivals

Lounge Review: Plaza Premium Lounge | London Heathrow | Terminal 2 Arrivals

After arriving from Los Angles on my pleasant Air New Zealand flight, I need a quick chance to freshen up before heading into London. I rarely arrive into Terminal 2 so the Queen’s Terminal was a bit of an unfamiliar experience for me. After clearing immigration, I head out through the baggage claim and took a turn towards the Plaza Premium Lounge. The lounge is located just outside the baggage claim area in Terminal 2. As you walk into the entrance,…

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Trip Report: British Airways 747 Economy Class | London Heathrow to Dallas

Trip Report: British Airways 747 Economy Class | London Heathrow to Dallas

Returning from a weekend in Paris, I decided to select a connection flight back to Dallas to join two friends who headed from London to Dallas. This put me in British Airways 747 Economy Class for the ride home. Even though I enjoy the newer 777-300ER that American Airlines’ flies on this route, I won’t pass up a ride on the Queen of the Skies. After spending a bit of time with my friend at the Galleries First Lounge in Terminal…

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Lounge Review: The Club at LAS | Las Vegas | Terminal 1

Lounge Review: The Club at LAS | Las Vegas | Terminal 1

After a long flight from London to Las Vegas on Virgin Atlantic, we had a few hours to pass before our connecting flight to Dallas. Since we weren’t able to catch an earlier flight, we decided to pass some of our time at The Club at LAS in Terminal 1 where our flight to Dallas was departing from. Located in the “D” Gates sections of Terminal 1 at Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport, The Club at LAS is a third-party lounge…

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Hotel Review: Hotel Agora Bruxelles Grand Place

Hotel Review: Hotel Agora Bruxelles Grand Place

With Brussels as our first stop on a 9-day trip to Europe the New Year, I had selected the Hotel Agora Bruxelles Grand Place for it’s incredibly central location and great cash rate. As you know, I’m a fan of the Hotels.com Rewards program with it’s simple rewards earning concept.  I had booked the room on Hotels.com for a cash rate of about $85 USD quite in advance. I’m not one to typically book a hotel five months out but I went ahead and…

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Hotel Review: AMOY Singapore

Hotel Review: AMOY Singapore

Spending a weekend in Singapore, I had selected the AMOY Singapore for it’s solid reviews and a reasonable cash rate. As you know, I’m a fan of the Hotels.com Rewards program with it’s simple rewards earning concept.  I had booked the room on Hotels.com for a cash rate of $100 USD per night which Is fantastic for Downtown Singapore. Located in the Chinatown area of Downtown, the AMOY Singapore is just around the corner from the Telok Ayer MRT Station. Overall Rating: 4 of…

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Trip Report: Cathay Pacific A350 Premium Economy | Singapore to Hong Kong

Trip Report: Cathay Pacific A350 Premium Economy | Singapore to Hong Kong

After a quick two days in Singapore, it was time to make the long journey back to Dallas. My itinerary was routed Singapore > Hong Kong > Los Angeles > Dallas with the fist two segments operated by Cathay Pacific. My segment from Singapore to Hong Kong would put me aboard one of Cathay Pacific’s brand new Airbus A350s. I’d flown all of my Cathay Pacific segments on this trip in Premium Economy but this would be my first time…

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Lounge Review: dnata Lounge | Singapore Airport | Terminal 1

Lounge Review: dnata Lounge | Singapore Airport | Terminal 1

Arriving a bit early at Singapore Changi Airport, I was is in need of a shower and nourishment before my departure to Hong Kong. Cathay Pacific does not operate their own lounges at Singapore Changi Airport but contracts with dnata, an airport ground services and catering company, to provide access to the dnata Lounge. Cathay Pacific passengers with lounge access includes OneWorld Sapphire and Emerald flyers and those traveling aboard Cathay Pacific in First or Business Class. While passengers are…

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Lounge Review: Cathay Pacific | The Pier First Class Lounge | Hong Kong

Lounge Review: Cathay Pacific | The Pier First Class Lounge | Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of my favorite airports for lounge access, thanks to Cathay Pacific’s phenomenal lounges at their home base airport. All of the lounges set the bar high but The Pier First Class Lounge sets the highest bar in Cathay Pacific’s lounge portfolio. While some may prefer The Wing First Class Lounge with it’s polished black finishes, The Pier is all round a winner for me. Fresh off my 15 hour flight from LAX, some lounge time and…

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Trip Report: Cathay Pacific A330 Premium Economy | Hong Kong to Singapore

Trip Report: Cathay Pacific A330 Premium Economy | Hong Kong to Singapore

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] Bound for Singapore on my final leg of my outbound journey, I was booked in Cathay Pacific A330 Premium Economy. It’s about a 3.5 hour journey to Singapore from Hong Kong but this aircraft was configured in a long-haul configuration. My last  intra-Asia flight on Cathay Pacific was on the regional two-class version of the 777. I savored as much time as possible at The Pier First Class Lounge as long…

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Hotel Review: The Nadler Kensington | London

Hotel Review: The Nadler Kensington | London

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] Listed in the top 100 hotels in London out of over 3,000 hotels on TripAdvisor, you can bet that I had some pretty high exceptions for The Nadler Kensington. The west end of London is one of my favorite locations to stay in the city so it influenced my decision to book The Nadler Kensington. The rooms at the The Nadler Kensington are more like an apartment-style room than a traditional hotel room. I had…

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Hotel Review: Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel

Hotel Review: Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] After a fun day of planespotting at LAX with a friend, I need a comfortable place to rest my head close to LAX. I browsed a few hotel sites and the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel was giving me the best rate through Hotels.com. If you’ve read some of my prior hotel reviews, you’ve learned that I’m not incredibly loyal to hotel programs although I do like Starwood properties. The Hotels.com Rewards program is my go…

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Lounge Review: Qantas First LAX Lounge

Lounge Review: Qantas First LAX Lounge

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] I can’t count the number of raving reviews about the Qantas First LAX lounge in Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX. Naturally, my expectations were high on my first visit to this lounge. I had just flown into LAX from DFW on an older 777-200 in the old Flagship First suites. I gained access to the Qantas First LAX lounge thanks to my OneWorld Emerald status and my international Cathay…

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Trip Report: Virgin Atlantic 747 Premium Economy | London Gatwick to Las Vegas

Trip Report: Virgin Atlantic 747 Premium Economy | London Gatwick to Las Vegas

After a very nice holiday in Europe, it was time to had back to Texas. We had booked ourselves from London Gatwick to Las Vegas on Virgin Atlantic. I was curious to review the Virgin Atlantic 747 Premium Economy. The Queen of the Skies is quickly disappearing from fleets around the world and at the time of writing, Virgin Atlantic has shifted all of their 747s to their Gatwick base. Because I love the 747 upper deck, I specifically booked our…

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Lounge Review: Alaska Board Room LAX

Lounge Review: Alaska Board Room LAX

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] I’ve had several visits to to the Alaska Board Room LAX and it’s my second favorite lounge at LAX after the KAL Lounge in the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Alaska Airlines is one of those companies who knows what they do well and sticks to it! I’ve also visited the Seattle Board Room in Terminal D, but I prefer the LAX location. While the LAX Board Room is smaller and subject to crowding as well, I’ve…

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Quirks of Iberia Basic Fares and OneWorld Elite Status

Quirks of Iberia Basic Fares and OneWorld Elite Status

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] With just about airline around the world offering or getting ready to introduce “basic” fares, Iberia was early to the party on offering these fare bargains. Like most basic fares, Iberia Basic fares doesn’t include perks like checked bags, seat selections, or refunds. When planning our recent trip to Brussels, we booked a one-way cash ticket on Iberia from Madrid to Brussels. The cheapest option by far was the “Basic”…

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Mini Review: AA 787-9 Premium Economy | DFW to Madrid

Mini Review: AA 787-9 Premium Economy | DFW to Madrid

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] While I’ve already posted two extensive reviews on AA 787-9 Premium Economy on the 787-9 between Dallas and Madrid and reverse, both trip reports were on the inaugural weekend of the product. I found myself in the same cabin about 2 months after the launch of AA’s international Premium Economy product and though I’d provide a min-update on the service. Full Trip Report: AA 787-9 Premium Economy Dallas to Madrid…

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Happy New Year 2017 from Benjamin J Travel

Happy New Year 2017 from Benjamin J Travel

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] Happy New Year 2017 from Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany! I hope all of you are enjoying the holidays season and are ready for the 2017. As the year wraps up, I look back on 2016 which may be my best year for travel yet. I’ve watched Benjamin J Travel grow extensively as I’ve invested more time and resources than ever before. As of the last day of 2016, I’ve clocked 173,872 miles in the air, which included 101…

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Hotel Review: Holiday Inn Express Dublin City Centre

Hotel Review: Holiday Inn Express Dublin City Centre

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] With Trip Advisor stellar reviews and a reasonable nightly rate on Hotels.com, I booked two rooms at the Holiday Inn Express Dublin City Centre for our thee days of exploring Dublin. This was my second stay in Dublin and while I’ll leave it unnamed, I knew I didn’t want to return to the hotel I stayed in on my last visit. The rooms had been booked via Hotels.com for a cash…

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