Emerald Archives - Benjamin J Travel

Trip Report: British Airways 777-200 Premium Economy | Houston to London Heathrow - World Traveler Plus - Blog Review

Trip Report: British Airways 777-200 Premium Economy | Houston to London Heathrow

2 October, 2018 Benjamin J Travel Comments 0 Comment

Making my way to London for a long weekend, my in-flight product would be British Airways on the 777-200 in Premium Economy from Houston to London Heathrow. I’ve reviewed the British Airways 777-200 experience in Club World but it’d been a while since I’d been aboard a British Airways 777. Premium Economy is branded as World Traveller Plus but I will refer to it as Premium Economy in this review. The Cabin: Configured in a four-class arrangement (First, Club World, World Traveller…

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Lounge Review: The Qantas London Lounge - Bar - Champagne - Blog Review

Lounge Review: The Qantas London Lounge

30 September, 2018 Benjamin J Travel Comments 2 comments

Making my way home from London to Dallas via Miami, I was surprised to learn that my British Airways flight would be departing from Terminal 3. While Terminal 3 is a bit dated, it does offer the best OneWorld lounges in London Heathrow. Not only would this give me a chance to grab a delicious breakfast at the Cathay Pacific lounge, but it’d also allow me to visit the The Qantas London Lounge for the first time. I arrived at…

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Lounge Review: Qantas First Class Lounge Sydney Restaurant Dining Blog Review Airline

Lounge Review: Qantas First Class Lounge Sydney

11 November, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 2 comments

Not quite ready to leave Australia but time to head home, we started our long journey back to Texas in the Qantas First Class Lounge Sydney. We had woken up quite early so I was still quite sleepy as we made our through the long security queues. The Qantas First Class Lounge Sydney is located just beyond the duty free shopping in Sydney’s Terminal 1. Access to the Qantas First Class Lounge Sydney is granted to those traveling in a premium…

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Trip Report: British Airways 747-400 Economy Class | Dallas DFW to London Heathrow LHR Blog Review

Trip Report: British Airways 747-400 Economy Class | Dallas to London

15 October, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 1 comment

Flying one of my most frequent routes, Dallas to London, I’d be flying aboard the Queen of the Skies aboard a British Airways 747-400 in Economy Class. While I prefer the upper deck on the 747, I snagged an off-peak award with British Airways Avios that I couldn’t pass up for only 16,250 Avios points one-way. Award Booking Cost Points Used: 16,250 British Airways Avios Taxes and Fees Per Ticket: 153.10 USD Total Cost: 16,250 BA Avios + 153.10 USD…

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Lounge Review: The Wing First Class Lounge | Cathay Pacific | Hong Kong Blog Airport Review

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

30 August, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 0 Comment

Connecting in Hong Kong on my flight from Singapore onward to Los Angeles, I had a bit of time to pass on one of my favorite airports. I’ve visited most of the Cathay Pacific lounges at HKG with the The Pier First Class Lounge being my favorite. On this layover, I opted to spend my time in The Wing First Class Lounge. The Cathay Pacific Wing lounge has a Business Class section on the lower level and a First Class…

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Lounge Review: Iberia Dalí VIP Lounge | Madrid Terminal 4 Sala VIP Airport Blog Review

Lounge Review: Iberia Dalí VIP Lounge | Madrid | Terminal 4

28 August, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 0 Comment

Continuing my journey from Dallas to Milan, I had a bit of an extended layover in Madrid. I was connecting from American Airlines and had arrived in Terminal 4S, connecting onto an Iberia flight to Milan. I’d visited the non-Schengen, Iberia Velázquez VIP Lounge in Terminal 4S many times. But this would be my first time having a chance to visit the Iberia Dalí VIP Lounge on the Schengen side of Terminal 4 in Madrid. After clearing immigration, I took the tram…

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Trip Report: Iberia Economy Class | A340 | Madrid to Chicago Airline Blog Review

Trip Report: Iberia Economy Class | A340 | Madrid to Chicago

23 August, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 1 comment

As you you may know, I’ve just returned from a week in Madrid. Originally booked on American Airlines for the flight home, I changed my return journey and booked an Iberia Economy Class award for 20,000 Avios from Madrid to Chicago. I’d never really had a great experience with Iberia before but for 20,000 Avios, it was a cheap way to get home. Award booking method for this flight: Economy Class flight on Iberia Madrid to Chicago: 20,000 Avios +…

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Lounge Review: Returning to the Iberia Velázquez Sala VIP Madrid | Terminal 4S | Using Your oneworld Elite Benefits on Iberia Award Travel Takes Work

Using Your oneworld Elite Benefits on Iberia Award Travel Takes Work

13 August, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 1 comment

I’ve just returned home from my nice week in Madrid and had somewhat of an interesting trip home. As a follow-up to my prior post on booking this trip, I was worried I”d signed myself up for a frustrating flight experience with Iberia.. I’ve had plenty of frustration with their strange baggage policies, slow agents at Madrid, and dingy aircraft. I’ve come to learn that using Your oneworld Elite Benefits on Iberia award travel takes work. As a OneWorld elite status…

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My Next Travel Gamble: Flying Home With Iberia via Chicago Madrid Terminal 4S

My Next Travel Gamble: Flying Home With Iberia via Chicago

8 August, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 3 comments

As you may know, I’m currently spending the week in Madrid. I flew American and British Airways Business class on the outbound which was an overall pleasant experience. For the return, I booked a rather undesirable routing home via Amsterdam with an overnight layover on Iberia and American Airlines. I had planned to return home this Saturday but the overnight layover didn’t put me back in Dallas until Sunday. Thanks to my Executive Platinum status with American Airlines, I can…

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Lounge Review: Galilei VIP Lounge | Pisa International Airport Blog Airline Review Italy

Lounge Review: Galilei VIP Lounge | Pisa International Airport

7 August, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 0 Comment

Bound for London, my sister and I were flying British Airway from Pisa to London Heathrow after wrapping up a nice time in Florence and the surrounding region. While we were staying in Florence, there a more flight options out of Pisa than the Florence airport. Plus, award availability on British Airways was much better from Pisa. After riding the train from Florence, we took the brand new Pisa People Mover to the airport. The ride takes less than 5…

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Trip Report: British Airways 777 Club World | DFW to London Heathrow Dallas Blog Review

Trip Report: British Airways 777 Club World | DFW to London Heathrow

2 August, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 0 Comment

Thanks to the joint transatlantic venture between OneWorld partners American Airlines and British Airways, there isn’t a shortage of flight options between Dallas (DFW) and London Heathrow (LHR). We had purchased tickets from Dallas to Budapest in British Airways Business Class cabin (branded as Club World) for a fantastic cash price. We were looking forward to the experience in 777 Club World and our trip to Budapest. Our journey started in the Amex Centurion Lounge at DFW but ultimately spent most…

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Lounge Review: oneworld Business Class Lounge LAX | Los Angeles

Lounge Review: oneworld Business Class Lounge LAX

26 July, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 0 Comment

After a long light from Hong Kong, I found myself with a long layover at LAX. With time to kill, I decided to check out the oneworld Business Class Lounge LAX in the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). I had access to the more upscale Qantas First Lounge in the same terminal but I wanted to sample something new. Access to the oneworld Business Class Lounge LAX access is permitted to oneworld elites with Sapphire or Emerald status or those traveling in…

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Lounge Review: British Airways Terraces Lounge | Berlin Tegel Blog Review

Lounge Review: British Airways Terraces Lounge | Berlin Tegel

23 July, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 0 Comment

After a nice long weekend in Berlin, it was time to fly from out Berlin’s Tegel Airport (TXL). Arriving a bit early, we decided to spend some time in the British Airways Terraces Lounge in Terminal A. TXL is an older airport but I love the clean, yet brutal design of hexagonal terminal, a throwback to the 1960s. However the layout at TXL is a bit confusing to the unfamiliar passenger. The location of the Terraces Lounges is a bit vague…

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Lounge Review: Qantas T3 Domestic Business Lounge | Sydney Blog Terminal Paxex

Lounge Review: Qantas T3 Domestic Business Lounge | Sydney

25 June, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 0 Comment

After a very long flight in Economy from Los Angeles, a bit of refreshment was in order. Qantas hosts numerous lounges in it’s home airport but as our connecting flight was departing from Terminal 3. We headed to the the Qantas T3 Domestic Business Lounge. Access to the Qantas T3 Domestic Business Lounge is granted to those traveling in a premium cabin with Qantas or OneWorld carrier, Qantas Platinum/Platinum One, Emirates Platinum, or OneWorld Emerald in any cabin of travel. One guest…

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Trip Report: British Airways 747 Economy Class Boston to London Airline Review

Trip Report: British Airways 747-400 Economy Class | Boston to London

9 May, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 2 comments

Making our way to Florence for a siblings trip, my sister and I found ourselves in British Airways’ 747 Economy Class from Boston to London. A short hop just over 6.5 hours, the flight from Boston to London is on the short end of transatlantic flights. I flew in this same cabin and aircraft from London to Dallas just about 2 months ago. We had arrived from DFW on an American Airlines flight which was quite delayed. We had to move…

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

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

16 March, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 1 comment

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: dnata Lounge | Singapore Airport | Terminal 1

Lounge Review: dnata Lounge | Singapore Airport | Terminal 1

5 February, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 1 comment

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

1 February, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 4 comments

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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Lounge Review: Qantas First LAX Lounge

Lounge Review: Qantas First LAX Lounge

24 January, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 4 comments

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 Pacific itinerary. This lounge also grants access to passengers ticketed…

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Quirks of Iberia Basic Fares and OneWorld Elite Status

Quirks of Iberia Basic Fares and OneWorld Elite Status

9 January, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 5 comments

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” fare which doesn’t include a checked bag. We were both going…

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