Los Angeles Archives - Benjamin J Travel

Trip Report: Cathay Pacific 777-300ER Premium Economy | Los Angeles to Hong Kong Airline Blog Review

Trip Report: Cathay Pacific 777-300ER Premium Economy | Los Angeles to Hong Kong

31 August, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 2 comments

Making my way to Singapore, my outbound transpacific leg would be in Cathay Pacific 777-300ER Premium Economy. After spending some time at the Qantas First lounge in the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), I decided to head to the gate a bit early. Our flight was to depart from Gate 153 although no boarding the time was published on my boarding pass or in the lounge so I decided it wouldn’t hurt to head the gate a bit early. As…

Read More Read More

Lounge Review: Star Alliance Business Class Lounge LAX Los Angeles TBIT Blog Review

Lounge Review: Star Alliance Business Class Lounge LAX

18 August, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 2 comments

Arriving earlier at LAX for my Swiss Business Class flight to Zurich, I’d have plenty of time to check out the Star Alliance Business Class Lounge at in LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). Positioned near the other premium lounges on the 6th floor of TBIT, I headed up the escalators to the lounge entrance. Access is permitted to Star Alliance Gold passengers and those traveling in a premium cabin on a Star Alliance carrier. Check-in was quick and friendly…

Read More Read More

Trip Report: American Airlines Business Class | 777-300ER | DFW to London Heathrow Blog Review August 2017

Trip Report: American Airlines Business Class | 777-300ER | DFW to London Heathrow

8 August, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 2 comments

I’ve written extensively about American’s Business Class product on the 777-300ER on the DFW to London route as well other routes like Sydney to Los Angeles. But I wanted to write-up a “mini review” of my latest journey aboard American Airlines Business Class. Boarding from Gate D23 (which I despise for it’s compact space), the boarding process started right on time for AA 78 from DFW to London Heathrow. Boarding was slow as there was only one agent scanning boarding…

Read More Read More

Trip Report: American Airlines 787-9 Economy Class | Dallas DFW to Paris CDG Blog Airline Review

Trip Report: American Airlines 787-9 Economy Class | DFW to Paris

3 August, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 2 comments

Making my may to Paris for a quick extended weekend, I’d be traveling with American Airlines in 787-9 Economy Class. I was pleased when American “upgraded” this route from an older 777-200 to a 787-9 although now that nearly all 777-200s have been retrofitted, the 787-9 is newer but a slightly smaller passenger capacity. Before departure, I spent about an hour in the DFW Amex Centurion Lounge before heading to my gate about 15 minutes before departure. American loves to…

Read More Read More

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…

Read More Read More

Trip Report: Trip Report: Swiss 777-300ER Business Class | Los Angeles to Zurich Blog Airline Review777-300ER Business Class | Los Angeles to Zurich Blog Airline Review

Trip Report: Swiss 777-300ER Business Class | Los Angeles to Zurich

17 July, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 8 comments

Making my way to the the Cote d’Azur for a week long holiday, my outbound journey would be in Swiss 777-300ER Business Class. I booked an award journey on Star Alliance carriers via Aeroplan, Air Canada’s reward program. Aeroplan represents a great value for transatlantic premium cabin bookings with roundtrip Business Class bookings from North America to Western Europe for 110,000 Aeroplan miles. After spending the day in Los Angeles, I arrived at the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) at…

Read More Read More

Trip Report: American Airlines 777-300ER Business Class | Sydney to Los Angeles

Trip Report: American Airlines 777-300ER Business Class | Sydney to Los Angeles

19 June, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 2 comments

Returning home from a fantastic trip in Australia, it was sadly time to head home to Dallas. On the bright side, our ride home would be in comfort in American Airlines’ 777-300ER Business Class from Sydney to Los Angeles. On our outbound journey, we had flown to Sydney in Economy Class which wasn’t quite as comfortable. We would be departing from Sydney’s International Terminal 1. After spending about 45 minutes in the Sydney Qantas First lounge, it was time to head…

Read More Read More

Trip Report: American Airlines 777-300ER Economy Class | Los Angeles to Sydney

Trip Report: American Airlines 777-300ER Economy Class | Los Angeles to Sydney

13 June, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 3 comments

Heading out on a long holiday in Australia, we made the long journey from Dallas to Sydney on American Airlines. We had snagged a steal of a price on a roundtrip Economy ticket from Dallas to Sydney for ~$750 USD. Roundtrip flights from Dallas to Sydney typically average well over $1500 USD. On the outbound, our primary segment was American Airlines 777-300ER Economy Class from Los Angeles to Sydney. We arrived from DFW and found ourselves with a layover just…

Read More Read More

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

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

6 February, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 11 comments

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…

Read More Read More

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

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

30 January, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 1 comment

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 as possible before hiking over the Gate 27 for boarding….

Read More Read More

Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel

Hotel Review: Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel

28 January, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 2 comments

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 to loyalty program as I…

Read More Read More

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…

Read More Read More

Lounge Review: Alaska Board Room LAX

Lounge Review: Alaska Board Room LAX

15 January, 2017 Benjamin J Travel Comments 2 comments

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 had multiple enjoyable visits. Located…

Read More Read More

Air New Zealand 777-300ER Economy Class

Trip Report: Air New Zealand 777-300 Economy Class | Los Angeles to London

1 September, 2016 Benjamin J Travel Comments 9 comments

Taking the unconventional routing from Dallas to London via LAX, I was excited for my first flight aboard Air New Zealand, even if it’s in Economy! I had snagged a pretty cheap flight for under $400 USD one-way from LAX to London Heathrow. This route is “fifth-freedom” route for Air New Zealand, and a popular one! I had arrived on a separate American Airlines flight from Dallas so I used my Priority Pass membership to access the KAL Lounge in…

Read More Read More

Lounge Review: KAL Lounge LAX

Lounge Review: KAL Lounge LAX

29 August, 2016 Benjamin J Travel Comments 2 comments

Ready for some relaxation before my departure for London, I headed to the KAL Lounge LAX in the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). Since I was traveling on two different airlines on this journey, I gained access thanks to my Priority Pass membership. This lounge serves premium SkyTeam passengers in addition to Priority Pass members. Note: If you are accessing the KAL Lounge LAX using Priority Pass, you can only access the lounge between 12:00 PM and 8:00 PM daily….

Read More Read More