Welcome to my next trip report, which will account my recent whirlwind trip to East Asia, including an absolutely delightful last-minute diversion to a new country for me: Timor-Leste.

East Asia Adventure In Business Class + First Class

It’s not often I get to visit a new country anymore or even take an extended “review” trip (a trip specifically geared at gathering content for Live And Let’s Fly). For better or for worse, my familial and professional obligations make the sort of extended trips I took in my youth much more difficult. That said, my wife granted me a “hall pass” for this trip and I was thrilled to embark on a frenzied journey around the world.

The entire trip was booked around saver award space I was able to book on Singapore Airlines in First Class (on the 777) and Suites Class (on the A380) from Jakarta to London. That cost 141,000 KrisFlyer miles plus 292,600 INR (about 17 USD).

For the outbound journey to Asia, I really wanted to fly via Taipei on either EVA or Starlux and spend a night there (I’m concerned about the future of Taiwan as an independent nation). EVA space may have eventually opened (75K miles one-way and an EVA Infinity Miles is a transfer partner of Capital One), but Starlux space opened first…and opened wide.

For 85K Alaska Airlines miles and 37 USD, I booked Los Angeles – Taipei – Bangkok, with the TPE-BKK segment deliberately on an A321neo (the A350 from TPE-BKK was also available, but this gave me a chance to review a different aircraft).

As I mentioned in my first impressions, Starlux was excellent…a lovely onboard experience on both flights and nice lounges in TPE.

I already shared about my time in Taipei, which I will not rehash except to mention that I love that nation and I’d love to spend a lot more time there.

In Bangkok I spent the night at the St. Regis and found it excellent, with the breakfast particularly outstanding. After lounge hopping at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, I flew Thai Airways from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur onboard the 787-9 in business class, a flight I booked for 20,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles and 62 USD in taxes/fees.

I spent three nights in Kuala Lumpur, staying at a different property each night, including the brand new Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur on the 107th floor, the pinnacle of my trip both literally and figuratively when it came to hotels.

From Kuala Lumpur, I flew to Bali on a brand new Malaysia Airlines A330-900neo in business class, once again enjoying a very pleasant onboard experience. I used 20,000 British Airways Avios and 33 USD (interestingly, the space was not bookable with American Airlines AAdvantage, at least online).

Bali is where the fun began, with a “wresting victory from the jaws of defeat” experience at the Aero Dili check-in counter then a two-hour flight to Dili, capital of Timor-Leste.

I had such a great time in Dili…it was without a doubt the true highlight of this journey. I’ve already fully documented my time on the ground there, which you can read about below.

To get to Dili and back to Bali, I flew Aero Dili, the flag carrier of Timor-Leste. On the way out, I flew in economy class and on the way back, in business class. I already offered first impressions of both flights, but I’ll offered a more detailed review in this series.

Back in Bali, I caught a Garuda Indonesia domestic widebody flight (A330-300) to Jakarta, where I spent two nights at the Park Hyatt Jakarta. Garuda is a pleasure to fly and I’d like to fly Garuda on a longer service next time I return to the region.

While the Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur was sublime, the Park Hyatt Jakarta was excellent too. I did not get a suite ugprade, but my room was still very spacious, service excellent, breakfast delicious, and best of all the price was only 213 USD per night.

My trip home began with an early morning departure from Jakarta to Singapore, where I had the first class cabin to myself. After a brief stop in the Private Room in Singapore, I boarded my 14.5-hour flight to London which was without any doubt the best flight of the year, filled with delicious food and drink, excellent hospitality, and a very comfortable suite.

In London, I spent the night with family before flying Aer Lingus home the next day, a journey in “business class” (AerSpace) (eventually) from London to Dublin (on the A321neo) and Dublin to Los Angeles (on the A330-200) in business class. My flights were somewhat underwhelming, though the warm Irish service onboard was tough to beat.

I finally reached home after 10 days of near nonstop moving.

You can expect the following reviews as part of this trip report:

• oneworld Lounge Los Angeles (LAX)
• Starlux A350-900 Business Class Los Angeles – Taipei
• W Taipei
• Starlux Lounge Taipei (TPE)
• Starlux Lounge Taipei (TPE)
• Starlux A321neo Business Class Taipei – Bangkok
• St. Regis Bangkok
• Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Bangkok (BKK – Concourse D)
• Thai Airways Royal Orchid Lounge Bangkok (BKK)
• Singapore Airlines Lounge Bangkok (BKK)
• EVA Airways Lounge Bangkok (BKK)
• Turkish Airlines Lounge Bangkok (BKK)
• Thai Airways 787-9 Business Class Bangkok – Kuala Lumpur
• Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur
• Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur
• Hyatt Centric Kuala Lumpur
• Malaysia Airlines Satellite Lounge Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
• Malaysia Airlines A330-900neo Business Class Kuala Lumpur – Bali Denpasar
• AeroDili A320 Economy Class Bali – Dilli
  • You can review all my Timor-Leste posts here
• AeroDili A320 Business Class Dilli – Bali
• Blue Sky Premier Lounge Bali (DPS)
• Garuda Indonesia Lounge Bali (DPS)
• Garuda Indonesia A330-300 Business Class Bali – Jakarta
• Park Hyatt Jakarta
• Singapore Airlines Lounge Jakarta (CGK)
• Singapore Airlines 777-300 First Class Jakarta – Singapore
• Private Room Singapore (SIN)
• Singapore Airlines A380-800 Suites Class Singapore – London
• Aer Lingus Lounge London (LHR)
• Aer Lingus A321neo Business Class London – Dublin
• Pre-Clearance In Dublin Was An Off Half-Measure
• Aer Lingus A330-200 Business Class Dublin – Los Angeles

Thanks for reading! If you have any specific questions about my journey, do not hesitate to reach out in the comments section below.

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