Next summer should be interesting

[Exterous]

We didn't plan much travel this year so I'm really going to make up for it next year. Just booked 2 of these seats for part of our big Summer '25 trip

Perfection: Etihad A380 First Class Apartment

I just flew Etihad Airways' Airbus A380 first class from Abu Dhabi to London, and it was an exceptional flight. Here's what made it so great.

onemileatatime.com

 

[lxskllr]

Fancy!

 

[brianmanahan]

that looks amazing! after going from what i used to spend on vacations to spending 0$ since 2019, i feel overdue for a flight

shoot i still have 175k UR points to spend, i wonder what those are worth these days

 

[BoomerD]

that looks amazing! after going from what i used to spend on vacations to spending 0$ since 2019, i feel overdue for a flight

shoot i still have 175k UR points to spend, i wonder what those are worth these days

Tree fiddy.

 

[brianmanahan]

Tree fiddy.

well i guess i'm flying to inverness for my next vacation

 

[Red Squirrel]

Wow that must cost a pretty penny, but almost looks like it could be a mini vacation in itself, as it's a whole experience. That's about all I could afford if I did it, just stay on the plane for the return flight lol. That's not suspicious at all.

 

[Exterous]

Fancy!

I'm excited about it. That bench turns into a bed so none of this having to sleep in your seat BS - even if it does recline into a bed

that looks amazing! after going from what i used to spend on vacations to spending 0$ since 2019, i feel overdue for a flight

shoot i still have 175k UR points to spend, i wonder what those are worth these days

The value as a credit towards travel expenses is the same. The outsized value from transferring to airlines and hotels has decreased - sometimes by a lot. United really increased their award prices and so many flocked to Aeroplan and now some airlines stopped releasing award space to Aeroplan as a result. Overall a lot harder to use them than in 2019 but not impossible. And there are still a lot of award choices if you're not flying to or from the US

Wow that must cost a pretty penny, but almost looks like it could be a mini vacation in itself, as it's a whole experience. That's about all I could afford if I did it, just stay on the plane for the return flight lol. That's not suspicious at all.

Most of it was miles. And it was a good chunk of miles but with the minimal vacation air travel this year plus a lot of great credit card sign up bonuses we had a ton of miles sitting around

But yeah I'm hoping its a whole experience - including the First Class lounge in the airport

 

[nOOky]

Yea but you won't get kids kicking the back of your seat, lame

In 2019 we planned a trip to New Zealand for 2020, and we paid for the fold flat sleeps on NZ air so we could sleep. Fast forward to 2023 when covid was finally over and our original seats were changed to normal main cabin for even more money, and the better seats were no longer available. Travel sucks.

 

[brianmanahan]

In 2019 we planned a trip to New Zealand for 2020, and we paid for the fold flat sleeps on NZ air so we could sleep. Fast forward to 2023 when covid was finally over and our original seats were changed to normal main cabin for even more money, and the better seats were no longer available. Travel sucks.

yah that's part of why i haven't traveled yet after 2019. it's not as good as it used to be anymore which is kind of depressing, so i end up not going anywhere.

 

[nOOky]

yah that's part of why i haven't traveled yet after 2019. it's not as good as it used to be anymore which is kind of depressing, so i end up not going anywhere.

You have to allow for more time lately to reach your destination. My last two flights on Delta have both been delayed, both due to available crew members. We're flying to Europe in 2 1/2 weeks and we are leaving two days early to be safe.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

My kid just went to Italy for his honeymoon end of June - early July and had one delay in Germany. I think it was a long one though, something like 8 hours. On the return trip, they barely made their connecting flight in London. They had something like 45 mins to get to their plane and were the last ones checked in.

 

[purbeast0]

that looks amazing! after going from what i used to spend on vacations to spending 0$ since 2019, i feel overdue for a flight

shoot i still have 175k UR points to spend, i wonder what those are worth these days

I typically transfer my CUR points to United and sometimes SW. But I have a United hub near me so have a lot of options with United and they have a lot of "saver" flights, and even "super saver" which use even less points.

You can EASILY get a business class round trip flight with those 175k points. I flew business class to Colombia with my wife for 150k points last summer. Had we flown like the peasants we usually do, it would have been 75k points total for both of us to fly non business class.

 

[Indus]

We didn't plan much travel this year so I'm really going to make up for it next year. Just booked 2 of these seats for part of our big Summer '25 trip

View attachment 105126

Perfection: Etihad A380 First Class Apartment

I just flew Etihad Airways' Airbus A380 first class from Abu Dhabi to London, and it was an exceptional flight. Here's what made it so great.

onemileatatime.com

I've flown Emirates like 15 times.. really good service/ staff, nothing even remotely crazy like domestic.

But if I've had such a good experience in economy.. you should have a great time in that apartment. I'm envious. Have fun!

 

[repoman0]

Nice. I’ve started treating the flight like part of the vacation and buying nicer seats. Makes it something to look forward to on both ends rather than something to dread. I’ve never had seats like those though or even the pods.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Did any….you know….things and stuff happen in that private cabin you had on that plane?

 

[nakedfrog]

Are you asking if they FUCKED on the plane?

That's uncouth, and I'm ashamed to be aware of your existence.

 

[Exterous]

My kid just went to Italy for his honeymoon end of June - early July and had one delay in Germany. I think it was a long one though, something like 8 hours. On the return trip, they barely made their connecting flight in London. They had something like 45 mins to get to their plane and were the last ones checked in.

If that was a scheduled connection - it's strange what some routes will consider an acceptable connection time. Sure it might be fine if everything works right - including people being able to get off the plane at a somewhat normal pace but if anything goes wrong at best you're running through the airport.

I typically transfer my CUR points to United and sometimes SW. But I have a United hub near me so have a lot of options with United and they have a lot of "saver" flights, and even "super saver" which use even less points.

You can EASILY get a business class round trip flight with those 175k points. I flew business class to Colombia with my wife for 150k points last summer. Had we flown like the peasants we usually do, it would have been 75k points total for both of us to fly non business class.

I've flown internationally through United's Mileageplus program more than any other program but man have they increased award prices over the last two years. In May 2023 a business class award to Europe on Lufthansa cost 70k miles. Now its 88k+. And if you book <30 days out they add a mile surcharge. The average increase of that 2023 devaluation seems to be around 33% across all regions/classes. The summer trip I'm planning now is going to involve a lot of award flights but, so far, zero through Mileageplus. Over 10 years of award travel I don't think I've ever gone this long without making a United booking. The flights are still there they just cost so much more than their alternatives.

Nice. I’ve started treating the flight like part of the vacation and buying nicer seats. Makes it something to look forward to on both ends rather than something to dread. I’ve never had seats like those though or even the pods.

Yeah I describe it as "If I'm in economy the vacation starts when we land. If I'm in business class it starts once I pass through security." I've been stuck on the ground for a delay in a nice seat before and thought "I'd be ok if this delay keeps stretching". If I'm in a sardine can seat I want to get off the plane as quickly as possible.

Did any….you know….things and stuff happen in that private cabin you had on that plane?

I mean people do....things in economy seats too. Beware the couple sharing a blanket.

I know its easier in the bigger seats but the doors don't go all the way up to the ceiling so you still have to disguise it a little bit. Plus it's not a domestic crew/station so the crew and ground team actually have cleaning and service expectations. If people did do something in these seats its still probably cleaner than the average domestic flight seat

 

[iCyborg]

If that was a scheduled connection - it's strange what some routes will consider an acceptable connection time. Sure it might be fine if everything works right - including people being able to get off the plane at a somewhat normal pace but if anything goes wrong at best you're running through the airport.


Yeah I describe it as "If I'm in economy the vacation starts when we land. If I'm in business class it starts once I pass through security." I've been stuck on the ground for a delay in a nice seat before and thought "I'd be ok if this delay keeps stretching". If I'm in a sardine can seat I want to get off the plane as quickly as possible.

I generally avoid connections under 2hr. I've had 2 cases where the plane was basically waiting for me, and while I made it, my checked luggage didn't.
If I only got a carry-on, then probably fine, they do seem to be aware of short connections and will wait a bit if needed.

I describe it as "would you like to make $300/hr (after tax) by flying economy". But "to each his own", flying isn't something that excites me, if I could use teleportation, I would.
Though I am getting tempted lately, seat shrinkage is getting ridiculous, I'm 6' and it's bad, no idea how people 6'4"+ can deal with it...

 

[iRONic]

Damn, that’s sweet! Luckily Shady Vance doesn't fly commercial...

 

[Exterous]

I generally avoid connections under 2hr. I've had 2 cases where the plane was basically waiting for me, and while I made it, my checked luggage didn't.
If I only got a carry-on, then probably fine, they do seem to be aware of short connections and will wait a bit if needed.

I describe it as "would you like to make $300/hr (after tax) by flying economy". But "to each his own", flying isn't something that excites me, if I could use teleportation, I would.
Though I am getting tempted lately, seat shrinkage is getting ridiculous, I'm 6' and it's bad, no idea how people 6'4"+ can deal with it...

I'm 6'2" with very broad shoulders (to the point I need custom dress shirts) and the body is getting creakier with age so my 'acceptable duration in an economy' seat has been shrinking

 

[Fanatical Meat]

If that was a scheduled connection - it's strange what some routes will consider an acceptable connection time. Sure it might be fine if everything works right - including people being able to get off the plane at a somewhat normal pace but if anything goes wrong at best you're running through the airport.


I've flown internationally through United's Mileageplus program more than any other program but man have they increased award prices over the last two years. In May 2023 a business class award to Europe on Lufthansa cost 70k miles. Now its 88k+. And if you book <30 days out they add a mile surcharge. The average increase of that 2023 devaluation seems to be around 33% across all regions/classes. The summer trip I'm planning now is going to involve a lot of award flights but, so far, zero through Mileageplus. Over 10 years of award travel I don't think I've ever gone this long without making a United booking. The flights are still there they just cost so much more than their alternatives.

Yeah I describe it as "If I'm in economy the vacation starts when we land. If I'm in business class it starts once I pass through security." I've been stuck on the ground for a delay in a nice seat before and thought "I'd be ok if this delay keeps stretching". If I'm in a sardine can seat I want to get off the plane as quickly as possible.

I mean people do....things in economy seats too. Beware the couple sharing a blanket.

I know its easier in the bigger seats but the doors don't go all the way up to the ceiling so you still have to disguise it a little bit. Plus it's not a domestic crew/station so the crew and ground team actually have cleaning and service expectations. If people did do something in these seats its still probably cleaner than the average domestic flight seat

Darn it so no nookie will happen

 

[nakedfrog]

Darn it so no nookie will happen

He didn't confirm or deny, he just said you have to be careful 😏

 

[Fanatical Meat]

He didn't confirm or deny, he just said you have to be careful 😏

Yay!

 

[Muse]

yah that's part of why i haven't traveled yet after 2019. it's not as good as it used to be anymore which is kind of depressing, so i end up not going anywhere.

I saw posts a couple days ago from people who said their only covid infections happened from flying. Masked on plane with obviously infected people next to them. It has me thinking.

 

[JulesMaximus]

My wife complained so much about spending an extra $340 per ticket to fly first class vs coach from San Diego to FL in Sept that I canceled the trip altogether. Sorry Mom, guess we won’t get to see you for your 80th birthday.