While it is always fun to try a new A380 first class product, I did not expect such a great flight on Thai Airways…my best overall flight ever with them. After spending about 40 minutes in the Thai Airways Royal Orchid Lounge in Osaka, boarding was announced and I walked over to the nearby gate, […]
Review: Qatar Airways A380 First Class Doha to Paris
After literally a day in the Al Safwa lounge, I ventured back into the terminal and proceeded to the gate for my connecting flight to Paris. This would be my first time aboard a Qatar Airways A380. Boarding had started early and I found myself one of the last passengers onboard. Stepping onto the aircraft, […]
Review: Etihad A380 First Class Apartment
What is it like to fly in an Etihad A380 First Class Apartment on a shorter flight? This is part of my previously unpublished 2016 Gulf Carrier Mezze trip report. Although Etihad now uses a 787-9 instead of a A380 on this route, the soft product remains virtually unchanged. For now, at least. As Etihad […]
Review: GVK First Class Lounge Mumbai (BOM)
We laugh about Emirates First Class being gaudy and pretentious, but the GVK First Class lounge in Mumbai Terminal 2 takes ostentatiousness to a whole new level. That’s a backhanded compliment, but I did enjoy this lounge. It’s gold and ornate, a bit much for the confined space, but arguably a welcome change of scenery from […]
Review: Middle East Airlines A320 Business Class Dubai To Beirut
Other than the smoking, I had a wonderful flight on Middle East Airlines from Dubai to Beirut. In my teaser about this flight, I mentioned that the pilots were smoking onboard. I must mention it first here, for I know that it is a deal-breaker for many of you. Indeed, as I stepped onboard the […]
Review: Air France 777-300ER Business Class Paris To Dubai
My first ever flight on Air France presented a startling revelation, to me at least: not only was Air France acceptable, it was excellent. I arrived in CDG’s Terminal 2 early and proceeded to the “Sky Priority” check-in area. There was a line to enter this area: every passenger’s name was checked against a manifest. […]
Review: Emirates A380 First Class Dubai to Frankfurt
By almost every measure, my second flight on Emirates in first class far surpassed the first. With excellent food and service, my only complaint that the flight was too short. Boarding commenced directly from the first class lounge, a great feature of the A Councourse lounge. Please note this review is from 2015. Click here […]
Review: Emirates A380 First Class Los Angeles to Dubai
Emirates First Class is rite of passage for any aficionado of miles and points. I was absolutely giddy with anticipation for my flight. But were my expectations too high? Check-in was easy at LAX and the the agent did not even bat an eye when she asked me where I was heading and I said […]
Review: Emirates Lounge Los Angeles (LAX)
While not as fancy as other top-tier first class lounges, the Emirates Lounge at LAX offers a truly exceptional buffet and plenty of room to spread out prior to your trip to Dubai. The lounge is only open between 12:45p and 4:45p.m. during the summer and is used only for Emirates passengers. If you’re flying […]
Next Up: Los Angeles to Frankfurt via Dubai in Emirates First Class
My next trip report will be a short one, covering my journey from Los Angeles to Frankfurt via Dubai in Emirates First Class onboard the A380 for both sectors. Whenever I post a review that is more than a year old, I inevitably receive a complaint that my review is no longer relevant or out […]
Why I’m Excited About the New LAX American Express Lounge
American Express officially announced today it will open a lounge at LAX in 2019. We’ve known about this lounge for several months thanks to various leaks from LAX board meetings, but the official announcement comes with exciting details. First, the lounge will have a spa (much like the spa in Dallas, which is great). Second, […]
Review: ANA 777-300ER First Class Chicago to Tokyo
My ANA first class expectations were quite high going in, so I was ecstatic when they were exceeded. The seat and service were exactly as expected, but the meals onboard were not just great, but tremendous. This review is from 2016. I outline my reasons behind publishing older flight review here. Further, note that Gary […]
Review: Lufthansa A380 First Class Los Angeles to Munich
This flight review is going to be a bit different than my usual ones. It will be a bit more casual, since I just reviewed Lufthansa’s A380 First Class product last year and (thankfully) very little has changed. But I’ll say at the outset that Lufthansa First Class never disappoints. Always Say YES To An […]
Qatar Airways First Class vs. Qsuite Business Class
I’ve received many questions asking whether I prefer Qatar Airways First Class or fancy new Qsuite Business Class. Here’s a comparison of the two products. Qatar Airways still offers first class aboard its A380-800 aircraft. Thus far, Qsuite Business Class is only available onboard its 777-300ERs. I’ll be comparing a flight from Doha to Paris […]
Review: Qatar Airways 777-300ER Qsuite Business Class New York to Doha
After spending the day in the AA Flagship Lounge, it was time to fly to Doha aboard Qatar Airways’ new Qsuite Business Class. The flight departed from Gate 14, jut a few paces from the lounge. I was unable to check-in online since my destination was Vietnam, which requires a visa for U.S. travelers. Instead, […]
First Class: Lufthansa vs. SWISS
I’ve recently flown both SWISS and Lufthansa First Class. Which product is better? Certainly there is subjectivity in what I value and how I compare the two products, but I’d like to think this is not an arbitrary comparison. I will compare SWISS and Lufthansa in ten different categories. 1. Ground Services In the interest […]
Review: Qatar Airways A350 Business Class Doha to New York
Sleep and food…two of my favorite things and the two items my Qatar Airways A350 flight from Doha to New York centered on. After spending a couple hours inside the Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge in DOH, it was time to board my 14hr flight to New York. Enhanced Security at Doha Hamad International Airport for […]
Review: Lufthansa A380 First Class Los Angeles to Frankfurt
Last week, I reviewed the Lufthansa 747-8 in first class from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. I had the rare opportunity to fly the same route just weeks apart on an A380. This review covers that flight. I wrote about this flight a bit already–this was the flight with Jane Fonda, Amanda Seyfried, a German executive, […]
Review: Qantas A380 First Class Dubai to London
This first class flight report is a continuation of Qantas 001 which travels from Sydney to London Heathrow with a stop in Dubai for a crew change. You can check out Part I from SYD to DXB here. Just to note, this review is from March 2015. I publish older reviews because they have never been previously […]
Review: Qantas 747-400 Business Class from Hong Kong to Sydney
My first flight in Qantas business class was a great one: the overnight journey from Hong Kong to Sydney was comfortable. Although I still prefer Cathay Pacific, Qantas offers a solid product in business class. Just to note, this review is from March 2015. I publish older reviews because they have never been previously published, […]
