Welcome to my next trip report, which will recount in detail my trip to Tunisia last month, and include a number of new airline, lounge, and hotel reviews.
Business Class Journey To Tunisia – Trip Report
This trip came about when Delta (finally, after literally years of searching) opened up Airbus A350-900 business class award space, which I booked for 50K Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles – the rest of the trip was planned around that space.
Delta is notoriously stingy with its premium cabin award space, particularly what it releases to partners. It is even stinger when it comes to A350 or A330-900neo space, which includes its flagship business class suite. So when I saw space from Detroit to Amsterdam, I just booked it.
Looking at my options, I thought this would be a good opportunity to visit Tunisa and Algeria. Algeria proved a problem, however, because flights are still limited and demand is incredibly high. Most flights were sold out and those that were not were prohibitively expensive. Indeed, when my wife and I took a trip to Paris over the summer, we saw the huge line of people outside the Air Algérie city ticket office attempting to buy tickets and even a half year later, this shortage of seats remains.
I almost booked a $200 Air France economy class ticket from Amsterdam to Tunis via Paris, which I was fine with because I have SkyTeam elite status via ITA Airways (status match) and thus would have lounge access even though I was traveling in economy class. But then the price doubled and so I just used 35K Flying Blue miles plus $78 to buy a business class ticket. I was particularly excited to review both the Airbus A318 and the Airbus A330. I’ve never flown either on Air France and it would be my first A318 flight in my life (sadly, that was not meant to be).
> Read More: The Airbus A318 Eludes Me Yet Again
I flew United Airlines from Los Angeles to Detroit via Newark and won’t review those flights except to say that United Airlines gives you a ton of food on redeye transcontinental flights in business class, with dinner after takeoff and a light breakfast before landing:
During my stay in Tunis, only one night, I chose the Four Seasons Hotel Tunis, which is a beautiful resort with superb service and food. I also had a lovely walk around Tunis that truly was the highlight of the trip.
From Tunis, I booked a one-way ticket to Montreal on Tunisair in business class for $955. Pretty pricey for what I ended up receiving, but I didn’t have to use any miles and it made for a very interesting experience.
After arriving in Montreal, I also flew United back home via Newark. That flight was operated by a 757-200 and I didn’t even upgrade, choosing instead to save my PlusPoints and stretch across three seats in economy (and slept the entire flight).
I reviewed a lot of lounges on this trip, with some surprising me much more than others. Stay tuned for the following segments in this report:
- Lufthansa Lounge Detroit (DTW)
- Delta Sky Club Detroit A38 (DTW)
- Delta Sky Club Detroit A43 (DTW)
- Delta Sky Club Detroit A18 (DTW)
- Delta Sky Club Detroit A68 (DTW)
- Delta Sky Club Detroit C (DTW)
- Be Relax Spa Detroit (DTW)
- Delta A350-900 Business Class Detroit – Amsterdam
- KLM Lounge 52 Amsterdam (AMS)
- Air France A319 Business Class Amsterdam – Paris
- Hyatt Place Paris CDG Airport
- Air France Lounge Paris 2F (CDG)
- Air France A330-200 Business Class Paris – Tunis
- International Arrival Experience In Tunisia
- Four Seasons Tunis
- 24-Hours In Tunis
- Tunisair Premiere Lounge
- Tunisair A330-200 Business Class Tunis – Montreal
I have to warn you, the Delta lounge reviews will be repetitive, but I will post multiple reviews per day, essentially just substituting photos (food and drink were the same at all lounges except for the new A43 lounge in DTW).
Stay tuned for another fun adventure. I look forward to sharing this superb trip with you.
The pictures of the food above look disgusting. First picture shows some sort of protein swimming on a red oily sauce. Second picture shows a sad bread that must have been revived in a microwave. Now I understand your post about eating healthy during trips.
Santastico never misses a chance to post negative comments on things he does not understand. Having travelled extensively in North Africa, Algeria and Tunisia are real gems
I think in this case he was just commenting on the United Airlines meal.
As a one time legal resident of Algeria (2015/16), I fully disagree. It HAS potential, but lives nowhere up to it, except maybe Oran. I’ll just leave it at that. I hear Tunisia is much nicer.
We just flew United Airlines Delhi to Newark. The same bun was served twice in the 15- hr flight. Second time with mashed potato serving as stuffing. Along with its 5- rupee packet of Ali bhujiya and a Parle G biscuit packet for snacks. Served in a flimsy plastic carry bag
Happy to see airline reviews.