• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  Trip Reports  >  Introduction: A Quick Summer Adventure Around The World
Trip Reports

Introduction: A Quick Summer Adventure Around The World

Matthew Klint Posted onAugust 8, 2019 4 Comments

RTW Summer Trip Report

Welcome to my next trip report, which will cover the recent 14-leg journey I took around the world.

It all started when I noticed ANA had released some first class award space on its A380 from Honolulu to Tokyo. As the latest A380 to enter service, I was keen to test it out, especially because it included ANA’s new first class suite. 

But then I thought, why stop there? Why not use the summer lull to make this an “epic” review trip? So I started constructing an elaborate itinerary around the ANA flight. 

When the dust settled, I came up with the following:

RTW Trip

This trip report will include the following reviews:

  • ANA Honu Lounge Honolulu (HNL)
  • ANA First Class Suite Honolulu (HNL)
  • ANA A380-800 First Class Honolulu to Tokyo Narita
  • ANA First Class Suite Tokyo (HND)
  • Thai 747-400 First Class Tokyo Haneda to Bangkok
  • Thai A350-900 Business Class Bangkok to Guangzhou
  • China Southern Lounge Guangzhou (CAN)
  • China Southern A380-800 First Class Guangzhou to Beijing
  • Cathay Pacific Lounge Beijing (PEK)
  • Cathay Pacific 777-300 First Class Beijing to Hong Kong
  • The Deck (HKG)
  • The Pier (HKG)
  • Cathay Pacific A330-300 Business Class Hong Kong to Colombo
  • ShangriLa Colombo
  • SriLankan A330-300 Business Class Colombo to Kuala Lumpur
  • Cathay Pacific Lounge Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
  • Plaza Premium Lounge Kulala Lumpur (KUL)
  • Royal Jordanian 787-8 Business Class Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok
  • Royal Jordanian 787-8 Business Class Bangkok to Amman
  • Ryanair 737 Amman to Milan via Bucharest
  • Sheraton Hotel Milan Malpensa Airport
  • Air Italy A330-200 Business Class Milan to San Francisco

There are several lounge reviews that I am skipping because I already have comprehensive reviews posted. This entire itinerary took place over a span of less than eight days.

How I Paid For It

The trip constituted seven tickets; including what I consider to be two outstanding awards redemptions, one bad award redemption, and four revenue tickets.

  • Ticket One – $307.60 (but I had a United compensation voucher)
    • Los Angeles to Honolulu on United
  • Ticket Two – 80K United miles + $30.90 in taxes
    • ANA A380-800 First Class Honolulu to Tokyo Narita
    • Thai 747-400 First Class Tokyo Haneda to Bangkok
    • Thai A350-900 Business Class Bangkok to Guangzhou
  • Ticket Three – 50K American miles + $49.60 in taxes
    • China Southern A380-800 First Class Guangzhou to Beijing
    • Cathay Pacific 777-300 First Class Beijing to Hong Kong
    • Cathay Pacific A330-300 Business Class Hong Kong to Colombo
  • Ticket Four – $550.00 (including $4.19 Orbitz booking fee)
    • SriLankan A330-300 Business Class Colombo to Kuala Lumpur
    • Royal Jordanian 787-8 Business Class Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok
    • Royal Jordanian 787-8 Business Class Bangkok to Amman
  • Ticket Five – $78.66
    • Ryanair 737 Amman to Milan via Bucharest
  • Ticket Six – 92K British Airways Avios + $385.63 in taxes
    • Air Italy A330-200 Business Class Milan to San Francisco
  • Ticket Seven – $83.30
    • San Francisco to Burbank on United

I will not be covering the two United flights in this trip report.

It was tough to pay so many miles for the Air Italy flight considering the alternatives (Lufthansa First Class for 70K and the same fees), but you sometimes duty calls over comfort. And I did end up having a wonderful flight on Air Italy… 

CONCLUSION

These flights occurred less than a month ago, but it already seems so distant. Thanks for reading and let me know if there is anything you’d like me to focus on in this report that I may have not have mentioned above!

Previous Article An Open Letter To Flight Attendants Concerning Standby Travel
Next Article Southwest Pilot Reunited With His Father…52 Years Later

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Qatar Airways Al Safwa Lounge Review

    Review: Qatar Airways First Class Al Safwa Lounge

    January 25, 2023
  • chatgpt

    What Are The Effects Of AI (ChatGPT) On Travel Blog Writing?

    December 11, 2022
  • Turkish Airlines A350 Business Class Review

    Review: Turkish Airlines A350 Business Class

    June 9, 2021

4 Comments

  1. Bill n DC Reply
    August 8, 2019 at 6:31 pm

    I’m interested in reading about CAN, And the rest with great variety Safe Travels

    I’m locking down RTW20 1.0 next March and transiting CAN from HKG on the way to DOH to experience Qatar 1st & especially the lounge in Doha. using AA miles I could have flown CAN-DOH-LHR for 90K, but only 2.5 hr transit, so two bookings for 112,500 miles and a day in Doha (nice). Snagged a 70K Alaska Award for 1st in Cathay JFK-HKG afternoon flight to watch for the North Pole. 🙂

    • Matthew Reply
      August 9, 2019 at 4:59 am

      You’re going to love the Al Safwa lounge!

  2. Alvin Reply
    August 8, 2019 at 6:45 pm

    That’s a long list of reports. Good on you for kickstarting another series of reports, and wishing you all the motivation it takes to write them (it’s labour intensive – I speak from experience). Thanks for your dedication to this blog with everything else that’s going on, and say hello to Augustine and Heidi for me!

    • Matthew Reply
      August 9, 2019 at 4:58 am

      Will do! Thank you for your words of encouragement Alvin.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • United Airlines Steakhouse Cheeseburger
    Steakhouse Cheeseburger On United Airlines February 4, 2023
  • Woman Pants Miami Airport
    “Why Would I Need Pants On?” (Woman Strides Through Miami Airport) February 4, 2023
  • Catfight Over Window Seat Leads To Massive Brawl, With 15 People Thrown Off Flight February 4, 2023
  • United Airlines Newark Collision
    United Airlines 787-9 Collides With 757-200 At Newark Airport February 3, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Spirit Airlines Captain Runs Out Of Cockpit After Woman Yells “I Hope Y’All Crash And Die!” January 17, 2023
  • Hotel Worker entered room
    Woman Demands $3,000 In Compensation After Hotel Worker Walked Into Her Room At Midnight January 24, 2023
  • United Airlines 2023 Status Extension
    United Airlines Quietly Extends MileagePlus Premier Status…Again January 14, 2023
  • British Airways 787-10 Business Class Review
    Review: British Airways 787-10 Business Class (Club Suite) January 10, 2023

Archives

February 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728  
« Jan    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.