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Trip Report: Tweeting my way to Paris on Lufthansa

Lufthansa A340

Lufthansa flies three aircraft with staircases onboard. Can you name them? Answer at end of this post!
(Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Last week I took on an unusual assignment: Lufthansa asked me to “take over” its Twitter account and post a series of observations about my trip from San Francisco to Paris via Munich.

Having never flown to or from Munich Airport (MUC), I was eager to have a look around since it’s considered Europe’s best airport by many frequent travelers. I was also interested in flying Lufthansa again– last time I took to the skies on LH was when it first deployed its Airbus A380 between Frankfurt and SFO— way back in 2012.

On SFO-MUC, it uses an Airbus A340-600 with a very unusual feature: a staircase leading to a below-deck bank of lavatories and the crew rest area. I’d often heard about this, but had never actually seen it, so as soon as I boarded, I went straight to the staircase for a photo shoot šŸ™‚

What else made this an attractive offer? Oktoberfest of course! Alas, the day I departed the US (Oct 3) was the last day of Munich’s big celebration, so when I arrived the city was pretty quiet. But it was a big surprise to find the Lufthansa crew on this flight dressed in dirndls and lederhosen— something that Lufthansa surprises passengers with on flights from around the world to Munchen during the festival.

Disclosure: In exchange for my Twitter takeover, Lufthansa covered the cost of my roundtrip airfare. I paid for hotels, transfers, wi-fi, meals and everything else associated with the trip.

Come on along for the trip, check out my tweets and photos, and let me know what you think!

First, let’s take a look at the four cabins on this big long A340-600: First, business, premium economy and economy.

Lufthansa first class A340

First class on an A340 configured 1-2-1 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Lufthansa Business Class

Lufthansa business class on an Airbus A340-600. I was seated on a center-aisle. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Lufthansa premium economy

Premium economy onboard LH A340-600 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Lufthansa economy class

Economy class on the A340 is configured 2-4-2 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Stairway down to lavatories on #Lufthansa #340 #avgeek #aviation #lufthansatravels

A post shared by Chris McGinnis (@chrisjmcginnis) on

 

Answer to the question in the caption at the top of this post: Lufthansa flies three planes with staircases: The Boeing 747, Airbus A380 and the Airbus A340.

Have you flown Lufthansa recently? Flown through Munich airport? What did you think? Comments below, please!Ā 

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Reader Report: Air France Premium Economy to Paris, Airbus A380

Air France A380

Air France flies an Airbus A380 between San Francisco and Paris (Photo: Jason Vaudrey)

In June, I experienced Air Franceā€™s Premium Economy class from San Francisco (SFO) to Paris- Charles De Gaulle (CDG). I was heading to Athens and exploring Crete in Greece and wanted to see Berlin also.

During summer, Air France flies both an Airbus A380 and a B777 on the SFO-CDG route. United flies a Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Paris from SFO.

When pricing out various European carriers in which I could accrue miles on Alaska Airlines, I narrowed my choices to British Airways (through London), KLM (through Amsterdam), and Air France (through Paris) – all of which are Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan partners. I also included Virgin Atlantic, knowing I could earn points on Virgin America, which then would eventually transfer over into Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program. KLM did not offer a premium economy product and between British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Air France, Air France had the best airfare for Premium Economy.

On Air France, a round trip economy airfare was approximately $1,250 between SFO and CDG and its Premium Economy was just $400 more at $1,650. I purchased my ticket in mid-March 2017 for my June trip. Ā I felt $200 extra each way to sit in Premium Economy was worth it.

I spent a few days in Paris, onwards to Berlin via Air France, and from Berlin I flew to Athens (via Aegean Airlines) and then flew to Crete for approximately two weeks. While I knew my experience in Premium Economy would not be the same I experienced on Singapore Airlines this past December, I was quite pleased with Air France and what they offered.

This is a TravelSkills Reader Report by Jason Vaudrey, a frequent contributor to TravelSkills. Thanks, Jason! Would you like to submit your own Reader Report? We’d love to hear from you.Ā Check out our guidelines.

Air France A380 Premium economy

Premium economy on Air France’s A380 is on the upper deck with business in front and economy behind (Image: Air France)

My primary reason for choosing Premium Economy is the comfort of the seat and seat pitch. The other perks such as dedicated priority check-in lane, lounge access [for a fee ā€“ further explanation below], and alternative meal service options were just icing on the cake. I took Air Franceā€™s flight 83, an A380, that departs SFO in the mid-afternoon and arrives in Paris the following midmorning. The flight time was approximately 9 hours 30 minutes. (On the return, I flew an Air France B777.)

Arriving at SFO, Air France has a dedicated lane for Sky Priority, which includes Premium Economy, Business Class, and elite level SkyTeam members. Premium Economy passengers are allowed to bring two bags (a small backpack, handbag or laptop case and a wheelie bag) for a combined weight of 40 pounds. The combined weight limit for economy class passengers is 27 pounds. While Air France does charge to check luggage within Europe, you may check two bags for free on transatlantic flights. I brought a wheelie bag that met the size dimension restrictions for Air France and a backpack. Even with my laptop and my wheelie bag full, my weight was slightly more than 40 pounds, but the ticketing agent said, ā€œthatā€™s close enoughā€ and allowed me to bring both bags on board the aircraft.

At SFO, KLM, Delta, and Air France share a lounge space and for $35, they allow Premium Economy passengers access. I did not have much time upon checking in and the time the flight boarded, so I did not use the lounge.

However, Ā when I returned I had many hours in Charles DeGaulle, I was able to access the Air France/Sky Priority lounge in terminal 2E for no fee. The agents scanned my boarding pass and welcomed me in and did not ask for me to pay. Nice! [NOTE: Despite Jason’s luck at getting in the lounge for free while flying premium economy, the Air France website shows that he should have been charged.]

The food and free beverages (including alcohol), the seating, the peace and quiet, plus views of the runways and fast, free Wi-Fi made my connection between my flight from Athens to CDG and my departure to SFO very enjoyable. Here are some photos from that visit:

Air France lounge at Paris CDG terminal 2E (Photo: Jason Vaudrey)

Free booze at the bar at the Air France lounge at CDG (Photo: Jason Vaudrey)

A nice meal in the Air France lounge at CDG (Photo: Jason Vaudrey)

Okay… back to boarding at SFO: Sky Priority members also get a dedicated security screening lane (both at SFO and CDG) which allowed me to skip the large queue for all the international passengers. Good news because at the time I cleared security, the queue was quite long. The shorter security line saved me approximately 30 minutes at the security checkpoint at SFO.

Premium Economy boards with Business Class passengers in Zone 1, and on the A380, the Premium Economy cabin is located on the upper deck. There are four rows in Premium Economy with bulkheads and curtains sectioning off the intimate cabin space. Seats are configured 2-3-2. I was seated in an aisle, 84K. (The layout in regular economy is 2-4-2 in the upper deck of the A380– on the main deck its 3-4-3.) On the B777, premium economy is configured 2-4-2.

Air France premium economy

Seated upstairs on an Air France A380 in seat 84K (Jason Vaudrey)

The cabin on the SFO-CDG leg was full, except I had the good fortune of having the one empty seat in the cabin by me. With families occupying the middle section, there was not a single person in the middle section who wanted to take advantage of having a window seat and break up their party. On the A380 (but not on the B777), there are compartment bins next to window seats located under the windows, that allow you to store a purse, laptop bag or small backpack leaving you room underneath the seat in front of you.

The seat reclines downwards and out with a leg rest that also swings out. The seat is a fixed-back shell, and your space is never intruded on by the passenger in front of you nor are you intruding into the passenger behind you. I have read mixed reviews about the fixed-back shell (which I experienced on Cathay Pacific in their Economy section on their B747 in 2011), but I found it very comfortable. The premium economy seat pitch in the cabin is a generous 38ā€.

There is a metal bar that serves as a foot rest that comes down, but there is no midpoint stopping mechanism that allows you to set it to the height you would like. It is either all the way up and stored, or completely down to rest your feet. Because my legs are short, my legs could not reach the foot rest. But they did have the lower portion of the seat that extended and raised providing a nice rest for your legs. I just kept the foot bar stored.

Foot rest on the Airbus A380 (Photo: Jason Vaudrey)

There is also a small reading light that is right next to your shoulder that is not so bright and intrusive as the overhead lights on the panel above you. Passengers also are given noise cancelling headphones.

After we pushed back from the gate, I decided to occupy the window and take some photos of our takeoff and the beautiful views of flying over San Francisco before heading northeast to Paris.

Gorgeous view of SF out the starboard windows on an Air France A380 (Jason Vaudrey)

Inflight entertainment is available and in premium economy, the screen is larger than the one in the economy cabin. There are a variety of movies, television programs, and an in-flight map with cameras for outside views, but Franceā€™s media system felt inferior compared with Cathay Pacific, Emirates or Singapore Airlines.

After takeoff, the cabin crew passed around amenity kits and a Premium Economy menu. Meal menus come with two options: chicken in an olive tomato Catalan sauce or a Conchiglie pasta in Marinara sauce with tomatoes and olives. I chose the chicken dish.

Air France premium economy

Air France premium economy amenity kit (Photo: Jason Vaudrey)

Prior to dinner, the cabin crew came around with a beverage cart offering drinks including champagne. Meals are served with plastic utensils there is no difference between the meals offered in economy versus premium economy. I was under the impression that we were being offered different meals than economy, but I observed the cabin crew, during meal service, offer the same meal options to the small Economy section that is located behind PremiumĀ Economy on the upper deck of the A380.

Dinner outbound from SFO to CDG in premium economy on Air France (Jason Vaudrey)

My dinner in SFO-CDG (above) was average in terms of taste and presentation. In addition to the plastic utensils, I was surprised to find a small plastic container of Mottā€™s applesauce included on the tray, along with an unappetizing, flavorless chocolate mousse.Ā After dinner, they offered coffee, tea, and liqueurs, then dimmed the lights and I managed to sleep for four hours.

On the return from CDG to SFO, the fish with pasta was fantastic and the side items were tastier and had a better presentation. (See below)

A much better meal and presentation on the return flight from Paris to SFO on Air France in premium economy (Photo: Jason Vaudrey)

In between meal service in both directions, light snacks included: mini sandwiches, fruit, and packaged cookies and crackers, which are set out in the galley for Economy and Premium Economy passengers to help themselves.

The cabin crew was very pleasant and helpful in responding to the call buttons. As with most overnight flights I have been on, whether they have been to Europe or Asia, I find the temperature of the cabin to be warmer than I would like and definitely a blanket is not required.

About two hours prior to landing in Paris, a warm breakfast was served. Again, the presentation and taste was lacking. The breakfast was not very appetizing and it included a dried-out frittata with two tater tots, a plastic dish of canned fruit and a cold blueberry muffin. See below

Mediocre breakfast served just before landing in Paris on Air France (Photo: Jason Vaudrey)

Upon landing at CDG, Sky Priority members are also given a special lane to clear immigration and customs and that also saved approximately 30 minutes.

In a nutshell: Despite my disappointment with the outbound flightā€™s meal options, I found the seat to be comfortable, the convenience of having a dedicated check-in lane for the flight, a special lane for security, clearing customs at CDG, and the surprise of being able to access the Sky Priority lounge at CDG (for free!), made Premium Economy worth it.

The cabin crews on both flights were amazing, friendly, and worked really hard to make sure everyone was comfortable and received what they were needing. I would definitely choose Air France again when flying to Europe.

Another beautiful view out the window as we approach Paris CDG from an Air France A380 (Photo: Jason Vaudrey)

This is aĀ TravelSkills Reader ReportĀ by Jason Vaudrey, a frequent contributor to TravelSkills. Thanks, Jason! WouldĀ youĀ like to submit your own Reader Report? Weā€™d love to hear from you.Ā Check out our guidelines.

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Routes: United Polaris at SFO + Lufthansa, Hainan, Edelweiss, WOW

A window seat in United’s new Polaris business class. (Image: United)

In international route developments, United puts more aircraft with its new Polaris business cabin into service from San Francisco; San Diego gets new Europe service from two carriers; Hainan Airlines plans a New York route; and WOW adds another U.S. gateway.

United Airlines has taken delivery of more 777-300ERs equipped with its new Polaris international business class seat, and it is putting them into service. The airline is focusing on transpacific flights out of San Francisco for the new planes. This week, it put a new Polaris-equipped 777-300ER into service between San Francisco and Tokyo Narita, and another is due to start flying later this month from SFO to Taipei. United already uses the 777-300ER on its San Francisco-Hong Kong and Newark-Tel Aviv routes.

Lufthansa will out an A380 onto its Los Angeles-Munich route. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Lufthansa has some big plans for California in 2018. For one thing, the airline said it will begin service next summer between San Diego and Frankfurt. It will operate five flights a week on the route, but it didnā€™t say what kind of aircraft it would use. Meanwhile, Lufthansa is planning to shift five of its 14 Airbus A380 super-jumbos from Frankfurt to Munich next year, and it will put one of them onto its Munich-Los Angeles route next summer, where it currently uses an A340. Lufthansa currently uses an A380 for one of its two daily LAX-Frankfurt flights.

Last week, another airline started flying from San Diego to Europe: Edelweiss is operating two flights a week (Mondays and Fridays) from SAN to Zurich. The seasonal service will continue through September 18, using a two-class, 314-passenger A340-300. What is Edelweiss? Itā€™s a sister company of Swiss International Air Lines (and thus part of the Lufthansa family) that concentrates on the leisure market.

Speaking of Lufthansa, the German carrier is reportedly planning to try out a new pricing concept for long-haul trips through its European hubs. Itā€™s called a ā€œflexible routingā€ fare, and persons who buy it would get a discount in exchange for agreeing to let Lufthansa change their flight and routing from a connection through Frankfurt to one at another Lufthansa-family hub like Munich, Vienna or Zurich. The point is to give the airline more flexibility in steering traffic away from Frankfurt, where operating costs are higher, and still get the passenger from his desired point A to point B.

Chinaā€™s Hainan Airlines has filed a schedule to start service this fall between New York JFK and Chongqing. The carrier is planning to offer two flights a week beginning October 20, using a two-class 787-8.

A Wow Air A321Ā (Image: Wow Air)

Icelandā€™s low-cost WOW Air continues its U.S. growth. This week, WOW started flying from Pittsburgh to Reykjavik , with one-way base fares starting as low as $99 (plus ancillary fees for everything from carrying on a bag to selecting a seat assignment in advance). Onward connections are available at Reykjavik to several European cities. WOW will fly the route five days a week, using a 220-passenger A321. Next month, WOW is due to add Chicago Oā€™Hare to its route map.

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Routes: JetBlue to Europe + AA, Delta, Norwegian, United, Avianca, Etihad

Will a larger Mint cabin on a new A321 model make Europe flights work for JetBlue? (Image: JetBlue)

In international route developments, JetBlue sees possibilities for Europe with new planes, more Mint; Americanā€™s new premium economy seating spreads to more routes; Delta kicks off Seoul service from its home base; Norwegian begins Barcelona flights this week; United drops a U.S.-South America route and Avianca adds one; and Etihad goes all-A380 on a key U.S. route.

JetBlue is in the midst of an analysis about how it can operate profitably on routes to Europe, according to an article in The Motley Fool, and the carrier reportedly sees two keys to making transatlantic flights work. One is the right aircraft ā€“ and JetBlue has taken steps in that direction by amending an aircraft order with Airbus to secure some A321LRs starting in 2019. With their longer range, those planes would let JetBlue fly from its Boston and New York JFK bases to major cities in western Europe. (How customers would react to a transatlantic flight on a single-aisle plane is another matter.)

The second key is competing not against ultra-low-cost operations like Norwegian and WOW, but against mainstream airlinesā€™ premium cabins by offering business travelers a front cabin with more flat-bed Mint seats than the 16 that its domestic flights offer.Ā  JetBlue sees its domestic Mint deployment as a major competitive success story, and wants to repeat it.Ā  ā€œAirbus’ Cabin-Flex concept will give airlines full discretion on how big to make their premium cabins by rearranging the locations of the emergency exits,ā€ the article noted, and JetBlue is said to be looking at boosting Mint seating to 22 if it goes transatlantic.

American’s new Premium Economy section, with 2-3-2 leather seats, is coming to more routes later his year. (Image: American Airlines)

We noted recently that American Airlines has started installing its new international premium economy seating on its 777-200ERs, and Airlineroute.com reports that the carrier is taking reservations for premium economy travel starting December 15 on a number of routes. (The new section has initially been available only on select routes where AA uses new 787-9s.) In mid-December, the premium economy seats will be available on AA’s 777-200ER routes from Dallas/Ft. Worth to Buenos Aires, Frankfurt and Tokyo Narita; from Los Angeles to Tokyo Narita and Tokyo Haneda; and from Miami to Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Madrid, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Santiago (Chile).

Delta has launched new daily transpacific service from its Atlanta hub to Seoul Incheon, supplementing the daily flight in the same market operated by its partner Korean Air. The Delta flight uses a 777-200LR featuring a Delta One cabin with 37 lie-flat seats; 36 Comfort+ extra-legroom economy seats; and 218 main cabin seats in a nine-across layout. All seats have power ports and entertainment on demand, and satellite Wi-Fi is available.

Low-cost transatlantic specialist Norwegian kicked off three new U.S. routes this week, all of them to Barcelona with 787 Dreamliners. The carrier is operating twice a week to Barcelona from Los Angeles (increasing to three a week in August); twice a week from Newark (going up to four a week in August); and twice a week from Oakland (increasing to three in August). Norwegianā€™s Oakland-Barcelona route is already facing competition from new entrant Level, a low-cost subsidiary of British Airways/Iberia parent International Airlines Group.

Venezuela has been going through unprecedented political and economic turmoil in recent months, and travel to that country has suffered as a result. The latest evidence: United Airlines plans to end its daily flights to Caracas from Houston Bush Intercontinental effective July 1. United is just the latest of several carriers that have suspended Venezuela flights, in part because they have had trouble getting money from ticket sales out of the country.

Avianca added A319 service to Boston from Bogota. (Image: Avianca)

Avianca has launched new U.S. service between Bogota, Colombia and Boston Logan. The Star Alliance member flies the route four times a week from Terminal E at BOS, using a two-class A319 with 12 business class seats and 108 in economy. The flight operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from Boston, and is the only non-stop service between the two cities.

Etihad Airways has put an Airbus A380 onto its second daily New York JFK-Abu Dhabi Ā flight, replacing a 777-300ER. The other daily flight has been using an A380 since late 2015, so the aircraft change makes JFK-Abu Dhabi one of the airlineā€™s few all-A380 routes, along with Abu Dhabi-London and Abu Dhabi-Sydney.

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New: Oakland-London on British Airways

777 Oakland

British Airways Boeing 777 landing at Oakland International Airport (Photo: Port of Oakland)

Brexit does not seem to be having much impact on British Airways’ plans for the boomingĀ San Francisco Bay Area.

Today the airline launches nonstopsĀ from Oakland to London-Gatwick.Ā The new flights areĀ in addition to BA’s recently deployedĀ daily 787 Dreamliner nonstop between San Jose International and Heathrow, as well as its two dailies between SFO and Heathrow using an Airbus A380 or Boeing 777.

This means that you can now fly BA to London from all three Bay Area airports- no other carrier offersĀ that. It also means that British Airways now flies aboutĀ 1,250 seats per day, each way, between the San Francisco Bay Area and London.

The new Oakland flight allows BA to tap into the populous and wealthy East Bay suburbs full of travelers who don’t (or won’t) cross the Bay for a flight out of the more congested SFO. BA is the only carrier at OAK offering lie-flat business class seatsĀ to Europe— essential if you want to hit the ground running after an overnight flight!

See a slideshow of BA’s inaugural flight event at Oakland International!

British Airways’ signature forward & rear facing business class seat- now flying from SFO, SJC and OAK. Ā (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Checking fares for April and May, British Airways hasĀ OAK-LGW for about $500Ā round trip in economy. Premium economy is running about $1,200. Business class is about $4,000 round trip.Ā Unlike other carriers flying to Europe from Oakland, British Airways does not charge a fee for the first checked bagĀ in any class of service.

Fares available on BA.com & Google flights on Tues March 28 & subject to change. Sale good through March 31

The new Oakland-GatwickĀ flights will operate four days a week using a Boeing 777-200ER that seats 275 passengers: 203 in economy, Ā 24 in premium economy and Ā 48 in business class. That’s a lot of room for upgrades or award flights! British Airways’ premium economy (aka World Traveller Plus) is in aĀ separate cabin, bigger seats with 38-inch pitch, in-seat power, and choice of meals from the business class menu.

BA Club World (business class) travelers flying out of Oakland receive up to five days of free parking in OAKā€™s Premier Lot, an added value of $190. They also getĀ complimentary access to a new Escape lounge located in Terminal 1 near BA gates. One-time passes to the lounge go for $45.

Don’t miss! Trip Report: British Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner San Jose-London

Oakland

BA business class passengers now have access to Oakland’s new Escape Lounge (Photo: K Taylor)

On Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays the flight departs London Gatwickā€™s South Terminal at 10:20am and arrives into Oakland at 1:15 pm. From Oakland, the flight departs at 2:45 pm and arrives London Gatwick at 9:25 am the next morning. On Tuesdays, the flight departs at 11:25 am from London Gatwick and arrivesĀ Oakland at 2:20 pm, returning at 3:50 pm with an arrival into London at 10:30am the next morning.

At Gatwick, BA uses the recently renovatedĀ South TerminalĀ — recentĀ improvements include a brand new business class lounge, and upgraded check in area, and easier access to the Gatwick Express.

Gatwick Airport (LGW) is 28 miles south of central London but still convenient and even preferred by many travelers. Why? Because theĀ easy 30-minute, approximately $25Ā Gatwick ExpressĀ train can whisk you from the airportĀ to Victoria Station in the heart of the city every 15 minutes. London’s Heathrow Express, while speedier, drops you off at Paddington Station, which may not be as convenient. On the flip side, those traveling into Oakland from London can now get to downtown San Francisco via a new BART spur that connects the the airport to the city in about 30 minutes for about $10 each way.

London’s three primary airports. The Gatwick Express train connects the airport with Victoria Station (Image: Visit London)

BA seems to be on something of a roll recently. InĀ addition to the new Oakland flight, British Airways is adding newĀ nonstops to Ft Lauderdale and New Orleans Ā from London this spring.

Do you have plans to fly to Europe this spring or summer? Where will you go and how will you get there? Please leave your comments below!

–

Disclosure: Thank you for reading TravelSkills!Ā We will periodically create posts or send outĀ messages like this one from commercial partners about topicsĀ relevant to frequent travel.Ā Ā Our sponsorsā€™ support, and yours, help us keepĀ TravelSkillsĀ a free publication.Ā 


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Reader Report: Best economy seat on Qantas A380

Qantas 71D A380

Pay a little more for a lot more comfort when flying Qantas to Australia (Photo: Dan Knous)

Looking for a good Economy seat to Australia? I found it ā€“ seat 71D on a Qantas A380

This is a Reader Report by Dan Knous

The most miserable night of my life was spent on a United 747 from LAX to SYD a number of years ago. I was in the middle of their 3-4-3 economy seating (United did not honor my Air New Zealand aisle seat assignment). No legroom, big people on either side of me, it was terrible. I was determined to never let that happen again.

Last fall I planned another trip down under to ride a motorcycle across the outback and began looking for a good, affordable seat. When my wife and I travel internationally we usually go business class but she would not be along on this adventure and I did not feel it was worth paying $3,000 for premium economy or $9,700 for business.

Seatguru shows seat 21D in green-- as having extra legroom

Seatguru shows seat 71D in green as having extra legroom. Only two other seats get the greenlight: 80 A&K – click to see full chart

A little research led me to Qantas and seat 71D. This seat on Qantas A380ā€™s has twice the normal pitch of a standard economy seat. The seat in front of 71D has been removed to allow emergency access through the floor to a crew rest area down below.

I am a couple inches over six-feet tall and Qantasā€™ 31-inch pitch in economy is just not enough for me. Seat 71D is on the aisle and when I first sat down it was great to be able to get into and out of the seat without the usual gymnastics imposed by the seat in front of you and the armrests. (See above)

Qantas A380, QF93 at Melbourne

Qantas A380, QF93 readying for take off at Melbourne (Photo: San Knous)

Qantas sells this seat for a premium on top of the regular fare ā€“ an additional US$275. Total price for my travel OKC-DFW-SYD-PER and return PER-MEL-LAX-OKC was about $1600, a little over half the cost of premium economy- plus I had more legroom.

DFW-SYD is a long 16+ hour flight but I was able to actually stretch out and sleep, cross my legs, easily stand up and move about. Wow! The only problem I had was a few times during the flight other passengers intruded into my space from the aisle.

Qantas did a good job with food service, snacks, and drinks all night long. I used the video screen on the seat in front of me to track flight progress and watched several movies on the screen at my seat. 71D is about a half-inch narrower than a standard seat due to the tray table installation in the armrest but this was not a problem for me.

Dan Knous and his Honda CT-110 near Meekathara, Western Australia

Dan Knous and his Honda CT-110 near Meekathara, Western Australia

In Perth I joined a group of 30 fellow motorcycle riders on small-displacement Hondas on a trek across the outback to Broome, Western Australia. We rode 3,500 km. (about 2,100 miles) in nine days, camping out each night in remote outback towns. It was a great ride across some of the most remote real estate on the planet.

My flights home were all on time, pleasant and uneventful. I again had seat 71D from MEL-LAX and on all my flights had the good fortune to have an empty seat next to me.

London Bridge Arch, Sandstone, Western Australia (Dan Knous)

London Bridge Arch, Sandstone, Western Australia (Dan Knous)

Thanks, Dan! That’s an outstanding Trip Report with excellent practical info and personal experience. Just what we are looking for in Reader Reports!

If you’d like to submit a Reader Report to TravelSkills, please take a look at our Reader Report guidelines and start writing! We’d love to hear from you.Ā 

Here’s an archive of recent Reader Reports!

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At LAX: New United terminal, Qantas hangar, American & Delta swap

QANTAS LAX

A new home for Qantas’ lumbering jets at LAX (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

United is said to be looking for more space ā€“ perhaps a new terminal ā€“ at Los Angeles International; also at LAX, American and Delta shift some gates and Qantas finally opens a big new hangar out by the beach.

United Airlines President Scott Kirby told pilots recently that the airline plans to increase its presence at Los Angeles International in the years ahead, in an effort to catch up with market share gains made there by American and Delta says Bloomberg News. (Unitedā€™s share at LAX is estimated at 15 percent, vs. 16 for Delta and 20 for American.) But to do that, he said United will need more terminal space ā€“ either in existing terminals or in a new terminal. He referred to a possible Terminal 9, Bloomberg said.

An old plan for LAX shows a Terminal 9 linked to Concourse 8 by a bridge, and a commuter terminal. (Image: GPA Architects)

An old plan for LAX shows a Terminal 9 linked to Concourse 8 by a bridge, and a commuter terminal. (Image: GPA Architects)

That was apparently a reference to a long-dormant plan at LAX to build a terminal across Sepulveda Boulevard from the existing Concourse 8, with a passenger bridge over the roadway connecting the two terminals. If so, it would add even more construction hassles to the already huge agenda for expansion at the airport. United currently uses Terminal 7ā€™s Concourses 7 and 8, and it has been carrying out a big renovation project there, including the recent opening of a new United Club.

Last week Qantas opened its new state-of-the-art hangar– the first to be built at LAX in the last 20 years. It is capable of fitting an A380 completely inside either nose- or tail-in. It is also capable of accommodating other aircraft types including the B747 and 787 Dreamliner (entering service later this year). It also includesĀ the carrier’s corporate office space and ground support equipment facilities. It’s located WAY out on the western edge of airport grounds by the beach– you’ll get a good gander of it on the rare occasion flights land from the west. In the video above, watch how Qantas carefully parksĀ a big A380 in its new digs. Qantas’ old hangar was recently demolished to make way for a big extension of the Tom Bradley International Terminal- more about that here.Ā 
So far 1,300 readers have taken the TravelSkills trivia quiz. Have you? COME ON! It’s fun!

In other LAX news, the airport announced that effective January 31, American Airlines is shifting four boarding gates and its American Eagle shuttle bus gate from Terminal 6 to Terminal 5. The new AA T5 gates are 50A, 50B, 53A, 53B and 52 (the shuttle bus gate). As for the gates American is leaving in T6, Delta will take them over temporarily, the airport said. ā€œThis is the first step in the months-long process that will eventually relocate all of Deltaā€™s operations from its current Terminals 5 and 6 to Terminals 2 and 3, as soon as this May,ā€ a spokesman said.

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Countdown is on for Unitedā€™s final Boeing 747 flights

United-s 747s disappearing sooner than expected (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

United’s 747s disappearing sooner than expected (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

United Airlines had been hinting for a while that it might speed up the retirement of the venerable Boeing 747 from its long-haul fleet. This week company officials confirmed that October 2018 is the target date for the end of the airlineā€™s 747 flights.

United execs said in an investor conference call that all 20 of the aging wide-bodies should be permanently groundedĀ by then, as the airline relies on 777s and 787 Dreamliners to take over its long-distance routes.

The newer long-haul aircraft in Unitedā€™s fleet canā€™t carry as many passengers as the 747. Its 777-200s accommodate 266 to 364, and Dreamliners can seat 219 (787-8) or 252 (787-9), vs. a passenger capacity of 374 for Unitedā€™s remaining 747-400s.

United will likely be the last U.S. airline to fly the 747, since the only other one that has the plane in its fleet ā€“ Delta ā€“ expects to retire the last of its few remaining 376-passenger 747s by the end of 2017. Delta is turning to Airbus jets as long-haul replacements, including the A330 and the new A350.

Don’t miss: Is the 747 nearing its end?Ā 

Newly refurbished economy section in a British Airways 747. (Image: British Airways)

Newly refurbished economy section in a British Airways 747. (Image: British Airways)

The U.S. carriers are not alone in turning away from the 747 . Boeing recently said that because of a lack of new orders, it plans to reduce production of the 747 ā€“ its current model is the 747-8 ā€“ from 12 a year to just six. Competitor Airbus is seeing a similar shrinking of demand for its competing jumbo, the A380.

Economics are at the heart of the trend. The four-engine 747 canā€™t compete on fuel efficiency with the newer twin-engine wide-bodies from both manufacturers. Other international airlines have also been taking the 747 out of their fleets over the past several years, although a few ā€“ like Lufthansa and Korean Air ā€“ are using the newer 747-8, and British Airways has been overhauling its 747s to keep them flying for the yearsĀ ahead.

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Are double-decker jumbo jets doomed?

An Airbus A380 an an air show with an A350 approaching. (Image: Airbus)

An Airbus A380 an an air show with an A350 approaching. (Image: Airbus)

Effective this month, Boeing has cut back production of its iconic 747 to just six planes a year, as we noted several months ago when we speculated that the big plane might be on its way outĀ of the aviation scene altogether in the months and years ahead. And now there is talk that the 747ā€™s only double-decker rival, the Airbus A380, might be nearing a similar fate.

The latest blow to the A380 came from Singapore Airlines, which has decided not to renew a lease for one of its A380 after it expires about a year from now. The airline operates 19 of the planes.

The Wall Street Journal noted that the rejection of a single leased plane isnā€™t a huge blow to Airbus, but represents ā€œa symbolic hitā€ for the A380, for which it said Airbus has been struggling to find customers.

The manufacturer said recently that its A380 production will be reduced from 27 planes a year in 2015 to just 12 a year by 2018. ā€œThe backlog of A380s to be delivered has eroded during years of no or few orders,ā€ the Journal noted. It said that Airbus was expected to start losing money on the A380 once again under the lower production rate, and suggested that not even the manufacturerā€™s existing backlog of scheduled production is completely safe since some airlines are canceling their earlier orders.

Don’t miss: How Emirates glamorously welcomes a new plane (photos)

Emirates' new version of the A380 has 617 seats. (Image: Emirates)

Emirates’ new version of the A380 has 617 seats. (Image: Emirates)

A recent article in TheStreet.com cited one aerospace expert who noted that the international aviation marketā€™s interest has shifted from ultra-large passenger jets like the 747 and A380 to somewhat smaller, newer twin-aisle jets like the 787 and A350 that are more fuel-efficient and can be deployed more profitably on longer non-stop routes. He said the sweet spot now is for planes that carry 300 to 370 passengers.

The Airbus A380s currently in use carry from 400 to 538 passengers in a three-class configuration, although the plane is certified to carry up to 853 in a one-class layout, and Emirates has come out with a 615-passenger version with two classes.

Manufacturers are turning to larger versions of the 787, 777 and A350 for the years ahead, a trend that could siphon even more business away from the double-deckers from airlines that want aircraft with more capacity, the article noted.

Readers: Could you live comfortably in a world without double-decker jumbo jets? What do you think of the A380?

Don’t miss out on these popular TravelSkills posts! Shocked passenger refuses to pay $3 for water | More Delta SkyMiles for Asian trips |Ā Tips from a Hawaiian Vacation | JetBlue-Delta slugfest means lower faresĀ | Test your planespotting skills!Ā )

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Routes: LAX-Paris for $446 + Atlanta, San Francisco, Dallas, New York

Norwegian started new 787 flights from LAX and New York to Paris. (Image: Norwegian)

Norwegian started new 787 flights from LAX and New York to Paris. (Image: Norwegian)

In international route news, a low-cost airline launches a pair of new transatlantic routes; Delta will beef up Atlanta-London service; San Francisco attracts a Mexican airline; and Emirates and Etihad reshuffle their U.S. A380 plans.

European low-cost specialist Norwegian this week kicks off its newest transatlantic routes, beginning service to Paris Charles de Gaulle from New York and Los Angeles with two-class 787s. The carrierā€™s schedule calls for twice-weekly flights from LAX and four flights a week from New York JFK. When we checked Norwegianā€™s website, we found low-season (i.e. December) roundtripĀ no-frills fares as low as $446 from Los Angeles and $396 from New York. This comes on the heels of Air France warning about its concerns about France as a destination.

Related: Norwegian Air- low fares, low frills

According to Routesonline.com, Delta will adjust its Atlanta-London schedule next spring along with partner Virgin Atlantic. Effective May 25, Delta is due to restore a third daily ATL-London departure, while Virgin will scale back from two flights a day to one. Meanwhile, Delta is also planning to end its seasonal Ā Pittsburgh-Paris CDG service at the end of September, a month earlier than previously planned. The carrier will cut back frequencies in early September from daily departures to five a week.

Mexico's Volaris will start San Francisco-Mexico City flights this fall. (Image: Volaris)

Mexico’s Volaris will start San Francisco-Mexico City flights this fall. (Image: Volaris)

Mexican low-cost airline Volaris will introduce a new route linking San Francisco with Mexico City starting October 10. The carrier plans to operate four flights a week on the route, on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with one-way fares starting at just $125. Itā€™s a trip for night owls, however: The southbound flights are scheduled to arrive in Mexico City at 2:29 a.m.

A schedule update posted by Emirates for its Dallas/Ft. Worth-Dubai route says that the carrier will not put an Airbus A380 super-jumbo back onto the route September 1 as previously planned, but instead will keep operating it with a 777-300ER. Meanwhile, Etihad next spring is planning to go all-A380 on its Abu Dhabi-New York route after June 1, 2017. The carrier will use the super-jumbos on both of its daily JFK flights after that date; currently, one of the two uses a 777-300ER.

Related: How Emirates welcomes a new A380. Wow!

NOTE: Be sure toĀ click hereĀ to see all recentĀ TravelSkillsĀ posts about: How to get the BEST summer fare deals |Ā One airline fee fading fastĀ | Trip Report: Aer Lingus Economy ClassĀ | 5 top jobs for frequent travelersĀ  | First class phase out coming soon

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Is the Boeing 747 nearing its end?

Boeing's iconic 747 is gradually flying off into the sunset. (Image: Jim Glab)

Boeing’s iconic 747 is gradually flying off into the sunset. (Image: Jim Glab)

The Boeing 747 has been a popular intercontinental aircraft since its first commercial passenger flight in 1970, but now the iconic jumbo jet’s days may be numbered.

Boeing said it plans to cut back production of the four-engine 747 from 12 a year to just six starting in September, not only because airlines continue to prefer more fuel-efficient twin-engine planes like the 777 and 787 for their long-haul needs, but also because a slowdown in global cargo demand has hurt orders for 747 freighters. The same trend has restricted orders for Airbus’ rival jumbo, the A380.

Major global airlines have been phasing the 747 out of their fleets for several years, with more to come. Just this month, Air France celebrated the final flight of its last 747 after flying the plane as the mainstay of its intercontinental fleet for almost 46 years.

Related: Trip Report- Korean Air 747-8 ICN-SFO

According to Airways News, other airlines that retired all their 747s in recent years include Air New Zealand, Air Canada, All Nippon, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Singapore Airlines. Delta and United are phasing out their remaining jumbos as well.

But 747s will continue to be seen at airports worldwide as some carriers still find them useful for their needs. Lufthansa recently started flying the newest version of the aircraft — the 747-8 — on some U.S. routes; Korean Airlines last year started flying its first new 747-8 and has several more on order; and British Airways last summer started to refit the interiors of a number of its 747s to keep them going for the immediate future.

Newly refurbished economy section in a British Airways 747. (Image: British Airways)

Newly refurbished economy section in a British Airways 747. (Image: British Airways)

Readers: Where does the 747 rank on your list of preferred international aircraft? Will you be sorry to see them go?

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Route news: Tokyo, Cologne, Buenos Aires, Casablanca and more

Japan Airlines is using a 787-8 on new Dallas./Ft. Worth-Tokyo service. (Image: Japan Airlines)

Japan Airlines is using a 787-8 on new Dallas./Ft. Worth-Tokyo service. (Image: Japan Airlines)

In international route developments, Japan Airlines returns to a big U.S. gateway; American sets a starting date onĀ a new route from LAX; Hawaiian adds a transpacific route; a German carrier adds service to three U.S. cities; Delta kicks off a Latin America code-share; Royal Air Maroc plans a new U.S. gateway; an eastern European carrier will go transatlantic; and Etihad upgrades its New York service.

Japan Airlines this week came back onto the Dallas/Ft. Worth-Tokyo Narita route that it had dropped 14 years ago. JAL will initially operate four flights a week to DFW using a 161-seat 787-8 with business and economy class seating, but plans to go daily on the route next March. The airline’s Oneworld partner American already flies the route twice a day.

Speaking of Tokyo, the Transportation Department has reaffirmed American’s rights to take on the Los Angeles-Tokyo Haneda route, rejecting a complaint from Delta that American hadn’t launched service on the route in a timely manner. (AA got the route because Delta gave up its Seattle-Haneda authority.) DOT gave American until late March to start flying LAX-Haneda, but the carrier said it expects to start daily flights on February 11.

Tokyo's Haneda Airport is much more convenient than distant Narita.

Tokyo’s Haneda Airport is much more convenient than distant Narita.

And in yet another bit of Tokyo news, Hawaiian Airlines announced plans to begin service next summer between Honolulu and Tokyo Narita; it already flies from Honolulu to Haneda. Hawaiian said it will begin daily HNL-NRT flights on July 22, using an A330-200 with business class, regular economy and Extra Comfort seating.

Lufthansa’s Eurowings (previously known as Germanwings)Ā will start flying to the U.S. from Cologne. The carrier will use A330-200s to fly three times a week to Miami beginning May 1, followed by three weekly flights to Boston and two a week to Las Vegas, both starting May 4. The flights will carry the Lufthansa code.

Delta on December 10Ā starts code-sharing to Argentina with SkyTeam alliance partner Aerolineas Argentinas. The Delta code is now on Aerolineas flights from New York JFK and Miami to Buenos Aires; from Miami to Cordoba, Argentina; and on the Argentine carrier’s domestic flights from BA to Cordoba, Mendoza and Trelew, Argentina.

Morocco’s flag carrier, Royal Air Maroc, will add another U.S. gateway next year when it begins service between Casablanca and Washington Dulles. Starting September 8, the airline plans to operate three weekly flights using a 787-8 Dreamliner. Its only existing U.S. service is to New York JFK.

Subject to government approvals, Air Serbia — which was launched two years ago — plans to start flying its first transatlantic route in June 2016, according to Travel Weekly. The carrier, which is 49 percent owned by Etihad Airways, plans to use a two-class A330-200 to operate five weekly flights between Belgrade and New York.

Speaking of Etihad, that airline has put an Airbus A380 super-jumbo into service between New York JFK and its Abu Dhabi base. The plane features super-luxury accommodations called The Residence — three-room suites with a double bed, shower and butler. That’s in addition to first class, business class and economy. The A380 is used on one of the airline’s two daily New York flights; the other is a 777-300ER. Meanwhile inĀ San Francisco, we are still waiting for a real Etihad jet instead of the current Jetihad plane.Ā 

NOTE: Be sure toĀ click hereĀ to see all recentĀ TravelSkillsĀ posts about: 5 ways to save using Uber/LyftĀ Ā +Ā New overseas plan from VerizonĀ + Trans-Pac fare war?

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World’s largest passenger plane unveiled

Economy class on an Emirates A380 (Chris McGinnis)

Imagine a plane with 557 of these! It’s coming next month. (Chris McGinnis)

Airlines that fly Airbus’ giant double-decker A380 generally install between 400 and 500 seats on the plane in a three-class configuration. But now Emirates has unveiled a 617-passenger version, which will make it the world’s largest commercial aircraft in terms of passenger capacity.

Emirates made the big reveal at the Dubai Airshow this week. It will put the new version of the A380 into service December 1 on the Dubai-Copenhagen route.

How did Emirates manage to fit so many seats on the plane? Easy: It eliminated the spacious first class section, instead fitting the aircraft with just two classes: 58 flatbed seats in business class and 557 in economy. (The airline notes that even on this version, its A380s will still offer their trademark OnBoard Lounge.)

Related: How Emirates welcomes a new A380

First and business class lounge at the rear of the upper deck (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

First and business class lounge at the rear of the upper deck (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Actually, 617 seats on an A380 isn’t all that much when you consider the aircraft’s technical specifications. The A380-800 is certified to carry as many as 853 passengers in an all-economy configuration (ouch!).

Emirates is a big believer in the A380 — it’s already the industry’s biggest A380 operator, with 68 of them in its fleet and firm orders for another 72.

The carrier’s new two-class A380 will have 101 more seats than what was previously the largest — Air France’s 516-seat version (which used to be 538 seats before the carrier installed premium economy seating). Here’s Wikipedia’s listing of airlines with A380s and their configurations.

As for the A380 with the least passenger capacity, Seatguru.com notes that Singapore Airlines has a version of the A380 outfitted with its new premium economy section that has as few as 379 total seats. Otherwise, Korean Air’s A380s have the fewest seats– 407 total. (Here’s Chris’s Trip Report from last fall about flying Korean’s A380 from Seoul to Atlanta.)

Have you flown on at A380 yet? What did you think?Ā 

NOTE: Be sure toĀ click hereĀ to see all recentĀ TravelSkillsĀ posts about: Ā 5 ways to save using Uber/LyftĀ Ā +Ā New overseas plan from VerizonĀ + Trans-Pac fare war?

 

 


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Alaska Air’s new partner + United trims Mideast + Lufthansa Denver + London

Emirates Dubai Business Class Lounge

Alaska’s elites will get access to Emirates’ business class lounge at Dubai. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

In international route news, Alaska Air takes on a newĀ code-sharing partner; United will drop flights to Kuwait and Bahrain; Lufthansa adds a Denver route; British Airways will revive service to Gatwick and changes planes to Miami; and Austrian Airlines adds a U.S. route.Ā 

  • Alaska Airlines and Emirates have had a frequent flyer program partnership since 2012, with reciprocal mileage-earning and spending, but now they’re getting even closer. Subject to government approval, they plan to begin code-sharing that will enable travelers from 49 Alaska cities to connect seamlessly to Emirates’ twice-daily flights from Seattle to Dubai. The deal will put Emirates’ code onto as many as 300 Alaska flights a day (although the announcement says nothing about Alaska’s code going onto the Emirates flights). In addition, Alaska’s MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75 elites will be able to use Emirates business class lounges at Dubai, and will get priority boarding and check-in at Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Dubai; and Emirates elites will be able to use Alaska’s Board Room lounges at four airports.
  • United Airlines is no longer taking reservations for travel on its very-long-haul flight from Washington Dulles to Kuwait and Bahrain after January 13, according to airlineroute.net. And it may not be a matter of insufficient traffic on the route. According to one popular blogger, United’s route termination may have been ordered by the Kuwaitis due to anger over U.S. anti-discrimination laws that will not allow airlines serving the U.S. to deny boarding to Israeli passport holders — something Kuwait Airlines reportedly did on a London-New York flight.
  • In addition to its existing daily service from Denver to Frankfurt, Lufthansa says it will begin flying from Denver to Munich five times a week effective May 11, 2016. The German carrier will use an A330-300 with first class, business class, premium economy and economy seating.
Gatwick Airport is about 30 mins south of Victoria Station (Image: Visit London)

Gatwick Airport is about 30 mins south of Victoria Station (Image: Visit London)

  • British Airways and joint venture partner American have plenty of flights in the New York-London Heathrow market, but next spring BA plans to add a flight from New York JFK to London GatwickĀ as well, according to airlinerotue.net. Effective May 16, British Airways will use a 777-200ER to operate daily service on the JFK-LGW route, which it last served in 2009. In other news, British Airways has just started flying a big Airbus A380 super-jumbo on its London Heathrow-MiamiĀ route. The 469-passenger A380, with four classes of seating, will initially operate one of BA’s two daily Miami flights; the other will still use a 747.
  • Speaking of Miami, Austrian Airlines — a member of the Lufthansa Group — has added the Florida city as its newest U.S. gateway. The new Miami-Vienna flights, using a two-class 777, operate five days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday).

NOTE: Be sure toĀ click hereĀ to see all recentĀ TravelSkillsĀ posts about: Global Entry gets more global +Ā New York’s lowest ranked hotels +Best/worst hotel programs for awardsĀ + More flat seats

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Atlanta airport getting faster, bigger. SFO, too

NextGen technology is speeding things up at Atlanta's busy Hartsfield Jackson

NextGen technology is speeding things up at Atlanta’s busy Hartsfield Jackson

If flight operations in and out of Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson seem to be running more smoothly these days, that’s because air traffic control improvementsĀ resulting from the FAA’s new NextGen technology are allowing more flights to take off and land at the busy airport.

The new procedures let aircraft fly closer together on approach, and opened up an additional parallel flight path for departures.

This means shorter taxi times, and even shorter flights, which saves airlines big buck on fuel costs– for example, Delta is expecting to save $13-18 million due to the improvements.Ā See videoĀ (It’s really good!)

The airport can now handle 112 to 134 departures per hour during periods of peak activity, up from 96 to 130 previously.

The same technology will soon be deployed to help delay-plagued San Francisco International AirportĀ according to the FAA. See FAA video.Ā 

Have you noticed?Ā 

Flying upstairs in biz on the only A380 jumbo now calling on Atlanta- Korean Air (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Flying upstairs in biz on the only A380 jumbo now calling on Atlanta- Korean Air (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Meanwhile, ATL is taking bids on a a plan to modify Gate F3 in the new international terminal’s F Concourse so it can accommodate super-jumbos like the Airbus A380.

Currently, only two E Concourse gates can do so.

And right now, only one A380 calls on ATL, Korean Air’s daily nonstop from Seoul.Ā 

Related: Trip Report- Seoul-Atlanta on Korean Air’s A380

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San Francisco gets fourth Airbus A380, larger lounge

TravelSkills was out on the runways at SFO to watch the first British Airways A380 touch down (Chris McGinnis)

TravelSkills was out on the runways at SFO to watch the first British Airways A380 touch down (Chris McGinnis)

San Francisco International took on its fourth A380 flight on Sunday afternoon (March 29) when British Airways flight 287 touched down on a perfect spring day– and TravelSkills was there on the runway to watch the big bird touch down!

In addition to the new British Airways arrival, there are now three more A380s calling on SFO: Air France (Paris), Emirates (Dubai), and Lufthansa (Frankfurt).

TravelSkills editor Chris McGinnis was out on the runway on Sunday to watch to big bird land! Watch the 30 second clip hereĀ or see below.

BA’sĀ A380 will operate as BA286 from SFOĀ to London on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.Ā  The same flight on Tuesdays and Wednesdays will continue to be operated by a Boeing 747, as will the carrier’sĀ second daily flightĀ the BA284.

British Airways served 500 cupcakes adorned with A380 photos to passengers in boarding area (Chris McGinnis)

British Airways served 500 cupcakes adorned with A380 photos to passengers in boarding area (Chris McGinnis)

A British Airways A380 carries 469Ā passengers– 14 in first class (on the main, or lower deck), 97 in business class (split between upstairs and downstairs), 55 in premium economy (on on the upper deck), and 303 in economy (both upper and lower decks).

BA’s A380Ā has 111 first or business class seats, plus a lot more room for elite level members of its Executive Club and Oneworld alliance programs. Compare that to its 747 with just 84 first/business class seats (299 seats total).

British Airways intends to squeeze in another floor at its SFO lounge (Chris McGinnis)

British Airways intends to squeeze in another floor at its SFO lounge (Chris McGinnis)

A largerĀ plane means that the BA Terraces Lounge at SFO is barelyĀ large enough to comfortably accommodate the largerĀ crowd. As a result, a BA spokesperson told TravelSkills that plan are currently underway add a third floor to its existing Terraces LoungeĀ at SFO’s Boarding Area A (Int’l). Renovations should be complete within a year or so.Ā 

BA has a word of warning about A380-related crowding on its website. While I have been unable to confirm, I expect that “alternatives” mentioned here might include use of its Oneworld partnerĀ JAL or Cathay Pacific lounges nearby.

British Airways

Lounge regulars should also know that when flying on BA’s new A380, there is no longer a private boarding area as there is with 747 flights. Due to its size, the A380 must dock at gate A9 at the end of the concourse, not in front of the lounge like its 747s do.

Related: Riding on the Red Carpet Route to London (BA A380)

British Airways' signature forward & rear facing business class seat. Note window bins on upper deck (Chris McGinnis)

British Airways’ signature forward & rear facing business class seat. Note window bins on upper deck (Chris McGinnis)

I thinkĀ best business class and economy seats on BA’s A380Ā plane are on the upper deck. Why? In business class, the front and rear facing seats are configured 2-3-2– narrower than on the main deck where it’s 2-4-2 with two middle seats. Plus, window seats on the main deck in all classes do not get the special bins underneath windows (due to curvature of the fuselage).

Best economy class seats are rows 81-83 at the rear of the upper deck (Chris McGinnis)

Best economy class seats are rows 81-83 at the rear of the upper deck (Chris McGinnis)

The best economy class seats on the plane are at the back of the upper deck– rows 80-83, which is a small intimate cabin that feels almost private, plus it’s very quiet due to its distance from the engines. There’s also one economy seat on the main deck, 25D, that does not have a seat in front of it.

(On BA economy and business class, you can choose seats 24 hours ahead of your flight for free; otherwise you must pay a fee to reserve a specific seat. Details.)

British Airways premium economy seat on upper deck configured 2-3-2 (Chris McGinnis)

British Airways premium economy seat on upper deck configured 2-3-2 (Chris McGinnis)

British Airways posh First class can be yours for $10K round trip (Chris McGinnis)

British Airways posh First class can be yours for $10K round trip (Chris McGinnis)

Currently fares for May round trips between SFO and London Heathrow are $1275 in economy, $2,200 in premium economy, around $7,000 in business class and $10,000 in first class.

MoreĀ good news: More premium seats on BA’s A380 mean that it could be easier to redeem miles for these trips.

–Chris McGinnis

Related: Riding on the Red Carpet Route LAX to London (BA A380)

 

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How Emirates welcomes a new plane [Photos]

TravelSkills editor Chris McGinnis having fun with Emirates flight attendants during the A380 tour at SFO

TravelSkills editor Chris McGinnis having fun with Emirates flight attendants during the A380 tour at SFO (Selfie!)

This week Emirates Airline deployed not just one, but TWO giant Airbus A380sĀ between Dubai and the US.

On Monday, the 489-passenger double-decker touched down at San Francisco International and on Wednesday another one landed at Houston Intercontinental.

Luckily, TravelSkills was invited to tour the new planeĀ and toĀ attend two of Emirates celebratory events in San Francisco, and both were, as expected, way over the top. Way. Like Moet champagne and canapes served by butlers at the airport, a private dinner on the stage of San Francisco’s Davies Symphony Hall, thousands of deep red roses, and a special performance by a orchestral quartet. See photos of all of it below!

Emirates now has a whopping 54 A380s in service and has 86 more on order– more than any other airline in the world.

The journey from San FranciscoĀ over the North Pole to DubaiĀ takes 16 hours– the longest commercialĀ flight from SFO. With the upgauge, Emirates now has 135 more seats to sell on the increasingly competitive route from SFO to the Middle East and particularly to India. Another UAE carrier, Etihad, recently launched new nonstops from SFO to Abu Dhabi. Turkish Airlines arrives at SFO in 2015.

The A380 jumbo jet is too large to park in front of Emirates’Ā 10,000 square foot business/first class loungeĀ at SFO (see photos), which means passengers must now walk from the lounge to the end of Terminal A at Gate 9, one of fourĀ gates with the three jetways needed to load and unload this behemoth. Previously, business and first class passengers could walk from the lounge directly onboard Emirates’ B777.

What are the two best all-around credit cards? Both currently offer 40,000 mile sign up bonuses!

Emirates’ A380 is currently the only commercial airline with showers on board. On this plane, there are actually two showers for exclusive use of those seated in the 14 first class seats onboard. Showers last five minutes, with a full stream of hot water for four minutes and a pulsating warning stream for the last minute. A flight attendant told me that nearly every first class passenger takes a shower on A380 long haul flights. (See photos below and here’s Emirates’ A380 web page)

Take a spin through our photos below and leave your comments at the end. Enjoy!

 

Emirates

The Emirates celebration started out with a reception at SFO’s Aviation Museum. I’ve been to several receptions here, but have never seen one as lavish as this one! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Emirates

Yep, that’s right, a champagne reception at 11:30 on a Monday. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Emirates

At least 10 different, and delicious, canapes from which to choose served by a team of white coated butlers…at the airport! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Emirates

A delicious vanilla and strawberry cake is cut by dignitaries to celebrate the A380 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Emirates

Time for the tour of the new A380 a gate A9 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Emirates glam crew waiting to board the aircraft for the 16 hour flight to DXB (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Emirates glam crew waiting to board the aircraft for the 16 hour flight to DXB (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Screen Shot 2014-12-04 at 3.58.09 PM

There are only four gates at SFO with the three jetbridges needed to unload a behemoth A380 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Emirates

The entire main deck on the Emirates A380 is economy class (399 seats)– configuration is 10 across configured 3-4-3. All seats have 12 inch screens, electrical outlets and the plane is equipped with wi-fi and phone service. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

That's the economy class loo! How nice, and big, is that? (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

That’s the economy class loo! How nice, and big, is that? (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

First and business class lounge at the rear of the upper deck (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

First and business class lounge at the rear of the upper deck (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

A sea of business class seats on the A380 upper deck-- 76 of them, all true lie-flat (Photo: Chris McGinnis(

A sea of business class seats on the A380 upper deck– 76 of them, all true lie-flat and configured 1-2-1 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Two center business class seats- one set up for dining, the other for sleeping (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Two center business class seats- one set up for dining, the other for sleeping (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

First class (14 seats) on this bird is just insane (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

First class (14 seats) on this bird is just insane (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

This is what you see when seated in first class. Note the make up mirror w lights and fresh flowers! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

This is what you see when seated in first class. Note the make up mirror w lights and fresh flowers! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Entering the shower spa. Ever seen a airplane lavatory like this? (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Entering the shower spa. Ever seen a airplane lavatory like this? (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Here's the shower stall and look at that sink! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Here’s the shower stall and look at that sink! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Showers are limited to 5 minutes each. This is the timer to let you know... (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Showers are limited to 5 minutes each. This is the timer to let you know… (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Ā 50,000 miles = first class round trip flight … for <$100
Manufacturer stamp on the door jamb- just like a car (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Manufacturer stamp on the door jamb- just like a car (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Emirates private dinner on the state of Symphony Hall (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Emirates private dinner on the stage of Symphony Hall- that’s a dinner party down there, not an orchestra! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Speeches, toasts, and dinner on stage at Symphony Hall (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Speeches, toasts, dignitaries and dinner on stage at Symphony Hall (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Elegant dinner on stage (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Elegant dinner on stage (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Red roses everywhere... and I mean everywhere. In the thousands, I'm sure. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Red roses everywhere… and I mean everywhere. In the thousands, I’m sure. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Printed menus - just like onboard :) (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Printed menus – just like onboard šŸ™‚ (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Elegant, delicious. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Elegant, delicious. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Post prandial performance by a string quartet from the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Post prandial performance by a string quartet from the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Soooo…whaddya think? Please leave your comments below!Ā 
.
That oddball credit card offer just got richer! 50,000 miles = 1 first class roundtrip for <$100. Seriously. Check this out.Ā 

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Trip Report: Korean Air A380 Seoul-Atlanta (Part 2)

Flight attendants are eager to help take photos of folks like me crossing scenes like sitting in KAL's Celestial Lounge off the bucket list

KAL flight attendants are eager to help take photos of folks like me eager to cross a scene like this off the oleĀ bucket list. (Chris McGinnis)

It takes three jetways to load up an A380 here at Seoul's Incheon Airport (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

It takes three (clear glass) jetways to load up an A380 here at Seoul’s Incheon Airport (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Last month I finally crossed this off my bucket list: Ā Flying from Seoul to Atlanta onĀ a Korean Air A380. KAL’s big blue A380 is Atlanta’s one and only double decker and I’ve wanted to float into my old hometown on it since the service started inĀ September 2013.

The first leg of that journey started in San Francisco where I boarded a KAL B777 for the trip to Seoul. I was a guest of Korean Air andĀ wrote about that part of the trip here.

In the first post, I concluded that there was not much difference between business class on the two planes once you are in your seat. But theĀ differences do become evidentĀ when you walk around and explore the enormity of theĀ big A380 bird.

See Part 1

Upstairs in business class on KAL's A380 feels big, bright and spacious (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Upstairs in business class on KAL’s A380 feels big, bright and spacious (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

There are 94 lie flat business class seats on the upper deck of KAL's A380 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

There are 94 lie flat business class seats on the upper deck of KAL’s A380 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

The keyĀ feature of Korean Air’s A380 is its dearth of seats. I know that sounds crazy, but did you know that there are fewer seats, just 407, on a KAL A380 than on any other commercial A380? On most other carriers, the number is closer to 500, or well over it in some cases. (Lufthansa, for example, squeezes in 526 seats on its A380.) This means that there is a lot more room for passengers…for onboard lounges (two of them)…for two staircases….and even for a duty free store.

Ninety-four (94) lie-flat business class seats configured 2-2-2 fillĀ the entire upper deck of this bird. On the main deck there are 12 first class “suites” up front configured 1-2-1, and 301 economy class seats configured 3-4-3 with a generous pitch of 33-34 inches. Korean Air does not offer a premium economy section. See the KAL A380 on SeatGuru.

Nice big storage bins reserved for window-seat flyers (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Nice big storage bins reserved for window-seat flyers on the A380 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

To me, the best business class seats on the A380 are window seats. That’s mostly becauseĀ I really like looking out the window. But it’s also because of storage space. Due to the curvature of the plane, there is roomĀ for a good sized storage bin between the seat and the window. The bin is big enough to hold the contents of a briefcase, and that really comes in handy on a long flight (in this case about 14.5 hours). These bins are not available on the B777. The downside of the window seat is that you have to skirt aroundĀ your neighbor to get to the aisle. Not a big deal to me but I know some folks don’t like that. All the other business class seats offer direct aisle access.

Roundtrip business class fares between Atlanta and Seoul run about $4,800. Economy class is about $2,100 in mid December. First class round trips? $18,000.

If you redeem Delta SkyMiles for the ATL-ICN roundtrip, you’ll pay a minimum of 70,000 in economy and 190,000 in business class. KAL first class is not available to SkyMiles members redeeming miles. (Based on a search for nonstops in mid January.)

Mood lighting in business class onboard KAL A380 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Mood lighting in business class onboard KAL A380 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Another feature that I noticed on Korean Air was the mood lighting which varied in brightness and color throughout the trip. I think flight attendants were trying to re-create morning and evening with the lights. Regrettably, I was on a different schedule and every time I opened my window shade for a peak out at the view, I was asked by flight attendants to close it. Nice: When window shades are up, business class seats enjoy quite a show out of two or three windows for each row.

Related Trip Report: Ā British Airways A380 on the “Red Carpet Route”

Korean Air

KAL’s Celestial Lounge at the rear of the upper deck business class section (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

This is the lounge at the front of the business class section adjacent to the staircase to the main deck (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

This is the lounge at the front of the business class section adjacent to the staircase to the main deck (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Here’s a look at the “Celestial Lounge” at the rear of the upper deck business class cabin. There is room to sit down and strap in if it gets turbulent. Those high cushions you see are for leaning if it gets a little bumpy. On my flight, business class was only half full, so the lounge never attracted a big convivial crowd…on my two trips back there I smiled through my bleary eyes at a few other bleary-eyed travelers checking out the space like I was. Flight attendants were eager to take photos of passengers saddled up to the bar or on the sofa. There’s another smaller lounge with similar catering at the front of the business class section.

Korean Air

Here’s part of the spread offered in the Celestial Lounge. Korean Air has partnered with Absolut, so there’s a icy well full of various flavors of vodka, wine and Champagne (Perrier Jouet). Snacks (which few passengers ate) consisted of a plate of nice canapes, some nuts, a big bowl of kettle fried potato chips and these colorful Korean-style dessert lollipops or gosibol— fermented cookies made of sweet riceĀ and various freeze-dried fruits and grains. Since this flight departed Seoul at around 9 a.m. and arrived in ATL at about 9 am, it felt like morning to me throughout the (mostly sleepless) 14.5-hour flight, so I never partook of the boozy bevs.

Korean Air

Here’s a view down the rear staircase– this one is spiral while the one up front is not. Both staircases were roped off during the flight to prevent mixing of the classes. But I noticed several other curious travelers (like me) ignoring the ropes and taking self-guided tours of the plane.

Korean Air

A spacious and cushy first class “Kosmo Suite” on the main deck of KAL’s A380 (Chris McGinnis)

Korean Air's first class cabin flew empty from ICN to ATL (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Korean Air’s first class cabin flew empty from ICN to ATL (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

When I snuck downstairs to check out the first class section, I was surprised to find the the entire cabin empty. All that beautiful real estate just sitting there so lonely. Does this haveĀ something to do with Delta not allowing SkyMiles members to redeem miles for KAL first class? Probably. Especially on this route. But it made it much easier for me to take photos– which is usually something that first class passengers don’t appreciate. Korean Air calls its big seats “Kosmo Suites” and they are super spacious (79 inches long by 27 inches wide) and plush. Unlike a lot of carriers that wall off first class passengers into compartments, the KAL A380 open plan would be a lot more convivial if there had been more passengers.Ā Korean Air is one of the few carriers that still serve caviar in first class.

Related Trip Report: Lufthansa’s inaugural A380 flight

Economy class on the A380 is configured 3-4-3 and seats have a generous 33"-34" of pitch and oversized seatback screens (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Economy class on the A380 is configured 3-4-3 and seats have a generous 33″-34″ of pitch and oversized seatback screens (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Korean Air

Korean Air flight attendant serving the first course of one of two meal services on the 14.5 hour flight from Seoul to Atlanta (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

KAL serves two meals (both lunch or dinnerish…no breakfast) on this 14-hour flight that departs Seoul at around 9 a.m. and arrives in Atlanta at about 9 a.m. on the same day. My jetlag counselor Bill Ashton (www.stopjetlag.com) suggests getting as much sleep as possible as early as possible in the flight, I postponed my first meal until later into the flight. Flight attendants were happy to oblige.

Korean Air

Roasted red snapper with paprika sauce served with squid ink spaghetti and braised zucchini (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

"Chinese style bean curd with minced beef and xo fried rice" (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

“Chinese style bean curd with minced beef and xo fried rice” in business class (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Korean Air

Korean Air’s duty free store is located at the rear of the economy class section near the circular staircase up to business class. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Americans are typically not big fans of duty free shopping. That’s because our government does not impose heavy excise taxes on luxury goods like booze, watches, cosmetics or cologne. But duty free is HUGE business in Asia. This is made very clear when you see the queue to get into the duty-free Louis Vuitton boutique at Seoul-Incheon airport. Korean extends similar discounts in its well stocked onboard duty-free store located at the rear of the main deck economy class section. From what I saw, Americans were there to gawk and pass the time….but the Asians were buying.

Related: 20 different business class seats in one room

Even the lavatories felt more spacious on KAL's A380- note the counter space (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Even the lavatories felt more spacious on KAL’s A380- note the wide counter space (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Korean Air

See Part 1 of this trip… my KAL flight from SFO to Seoul on a Boeing 777.

Disclosure: I was a guest of Korean Air on this trip

–Chris McGinnis

New extra bonus offer:Ā Get a whopping 50,000 Rapid Rewards points by signing up for Southwest’s Premier cardĀ – that’s enough for TWO free tickets.Ā 

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Trip Report: Korean Air B777 & A380 (Part 1)

Korean Air

Business class seats on Korean Air’s B777 are nearly identical to those on its A380 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Ever since Korean Air launched its Airbus A380 service between Seoul andĀ Atlanta in September 2013, I’ve longed to take a seat on that 14.5-hour whopper of aĀ flight.

Last month, I finally got my chance when Korean Air invited me over to Seoul for a look at the fast-growing, modern-yet-quirky South Korean capital.

The first leg of my journey was an 11.5-hour Boeing 777 flight from San Francisco to Seoul. I was in Seoul for three busy days, then boarded an A380 for the trip toĀ Atlanta.

I was especially excited to be able to compare the business class experience on two different planes in a singleĀ trip. What did I discover? Well, it’s that business class on Korean Air is very consistent across these two planes. Except for the unbelievable business class lounges onboard KAL’sĀ A380 (tune in to my next postĀ for details/photos), nearly everything else was identical. There’s no need to be too disappointed if you can’t ride on an A380 because once you are in your seat, there’s very little difference– the seats, service, food, inflight entertainment, lavs… it’s all pretty much the same. And in both directions, the planes were squeaky clean– even down to the floor of the lavatories (see below).

Today, let’s take a look at that B777 flight from San FranciscoĀ to Seoul. Tomorrow I’ll post about my experience on KAL’s big A380 to Atlanta and we’ll explore the slight differences between the experiences.

At SFO, Korean Air uses British Airways Terraces lounge for first and business class flyers (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

At SFO, Korean Air uses British Airways’ Terraces lounge for first and business class flyers (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

At SFO, Korean Air new uses British Airways Terraces lounge for first and business class passengers. Luckily the KAL flight and the BA flights are timed well apart from each other so the lounge did not feel overcrowded.

Direct access to the plane from the lounge (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Direct access to the plane from the lounge (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Nice touch: When boarding KAL’sĀ B777 from the Terraces lounge, business and first class passengers walk directly onto the planeĀ from the lounge…Ā the jetway is just beyond the door in the photo above.

Now, let’s jump onboard.

Korean Air

Carpet in the lavs on Korean Air’s B777 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

On the B777 flight from SFO to Seoul, I noticed something I’ve never seen on any aircraft:Ā Carpet in the business class lavatories! My first thought was “eeuuww, what if this gets wet?” But upon closer inspection, I noticed that the carpet was actually a rug that was velcroed to the floor. If it gets wet, it’sĀ removed and replacedĀ with another. Based on how many times I noticed the hard working KAL flight attendants enter the lavs for cleaning during the flight, I was certain that it would get switched out if needed. But in any case, I have to say that it added a cozy or homey feel to the lav– much better than the black rubber floor I’m used to. It’s one of those “little things” but I noticed and appreciated it.

Korean Air

Buttonholes in the napkins on Korean Air (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Another one of the “little things” I noticed on this flight…. napkins with button holes.Ā I’ve seen this on a handful of other carriers and always appreciate it… especially when I’m wearing a light colored shirt and eating things that easily spill… like soup or salad dressing. It shows that someone has really thought through inflight dining… a good sign. (And a shirt saver!)

Popular: Oddball card offers reap big rewards

Korean Air

The dinner starter on SFO>Seoul: Seared tuna (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Meal service on the flight from San Francisco (which departed at 2 pm) started with seared tuna– accompanied of course by the ever present Korean chili paste gochujang and a two servings of kimchee-like pickles with an unusual rubbery crunch.

Korean Air

KAL’s famous bibimbap (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Next up for dinner was the popular Korean specialty bibimbap. Korean Air is famous for this… and even serves it from a truck at promotional eventsĀ like its recent launch in Houston… it even offers it the Aspen Food & Wine Classic. It’s delicious and healthy. To eat it, you squirt that tube of chili pasteĀ over the top and then mix all the ingredients together. Yum!

Economy class on Korean Air B777 offers 33-34 inches of pitch (Chris McGinnis)

Economy class on Korean Air B777 offers 33-34 inches of pitch (Chris McGinnis)

Economy class on Korean Air’s B777s offers a roomy 33-34 inches of seat pitch– that’s very generous compared to other carriers (United, for example, only offers 31 inches on its B777). Seats are configured 3-3-3. Korean Air does not offer a premium economy seat.

Stay tuned! My next post will be about my 14.5 hour journey on KAL’s A380 to Atlanta! Here’s a teaser photo… explanations coming soon!Ā 

Korean Air

–Chris McGinnis

Disclosure: I was a guest of Korean Air on this flight

New extra bonus offer:Ā Get a whopping 50,000 Rapid Rewards points by signing up for Southwest’s Premier cardĀ – that’s enough for TWO free tickets.Ā 

>>Take a peek atĀ what you may have missed onĀ TravelSkills.comĀ this week!Ā <<

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Another British Airways A380 for the US

On BA's A380, business class is an upstairs-downstairs affair (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

On BA’s A380, business class is an upstairs-downstairs affair (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

British Airways announced today that it will deploy a brand-newĀ Airbus A380 double-decker between San Francisco International and London HeathrowĀ on March 29.

This will be BA’sĀ third USĀ destination to get the big bird, after Los Angeles and Washington, DC.

BA’s Sean Doyle, EVP, Americas, told TravelSkills that the decision to put the A380 on the SFO run was an easy one, “This helps bringĀ together the burgeoning innovation economies in the Bay Area and London. It’s a logical fit and a sophisticated product for a sophisticated market,” he told us, citing the aircraft’s advanced inflight entertainment system, fuel efficiency and smooth, quiet ride.

The A380’s two decks carry a whopping 469 passengers, with 14 suites in first, 97 Ā seats in business, 55 in premium economy and 303 in economy. (See BA’s A380 page)

What makes BA’s A380 unique is that all premium seats are at the front of the plane: first class is downstairs (“main deck”) in the nose, and business class is both upstairs and downstairs. Economy sections are in the rear half of the plane. Most other airlines with A380s put all business or first class seats upstairs only.

Related: Emirates to bring its big A380 to San Francisco & HoustonĀ | Trip Report: LAX-London on a BA A380

Premium economy onboard BA's new Airbus A380 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

EconomyĀ class onĀ BA’s new Airbus A380 is configured 3-4-3 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

British Airways has two daily flights between SFO and London. Starting in April 2015 (no firm date announced yet), BA will operate the A380 on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (#286). On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, BA will operate its Boeing 747-400. BA will continue to use a 747 for its secondĀ daily flight from SFO (#284).

BA’s Doyle told TravelSkills that the A380 and 747 will share the route “for the moment” but could not elaborate on longer term aircraft deployments in the SFO-LHR market. (Click here for news aboutĀ a big refurb for BA’s 747s)

Please join the 50,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month!Ā Sign up hereĀ for one email-per-day updates!
British Airways posh first class suites onboard its new Airbus A380 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

British Airways nice, big first class suites onboard its new Airbus A380 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Fares on both the A380 and the 747 will be the same, but Doyle expects there to be more demand for the newer aircraft. Plus, of BA’s two daily flights, the A380 is the later one in both directions, allowing more time in either San Francisco or London.

When BA launched A380 service from Los Angeles on what it calls theĀ “Red Carpet Route” to London last fall, TravelSkills was there. Here’s our trip report from that fun ride!

Have you flown on an A380 yet? What did you think? Will you give this new flight a try instead of competitors like United or Virgin Atlantic? Please leave your comments below.Ā 

–Chris McGinnis

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More A380s + Cathay discounts biz class + SJC courts Asia + Double Elevate pts

The first Air France A380 arrived at SFO in June 2011 (Chris McGinnis)

The first Air France A380 was here during summer of 2011…now it’s coming back again! (Chris McGinnis)

NOTE: We’ll spend this week catching up on several snippets of Bay Area travel news that have been accumulating in our inbox….

HERE COME THE A380sā€¦Lufthansa has suspended its Airbus A380 operations from SFO to FRA for the season, but plans to return the double-decker aircraft to the route April 8, 2014. The bigger story is that Air France will deploy a 516-seat A380 on its SFO-Paris nonstops effective March 31, 2014. Last time Air France flew the A380 to SFO was the summer of 2011 when it switched the A380 reserved for the Paris-Tokyo run to SFO due to the earthquake/tsunami/radioactive disaster in Japan. Ā Now we are hearing rumors about yet another A380 lumbering into SFO in the next yearā€¦any guesses?

VIRGIN AMERICA LAUNCHES DOUBLE POINTSā€¦In line with other airlines this fall, Virgin America is jumping on the double points bandwagon offering twice as many Elevate points per flight between now and the end of the year. All cabins and fares are eligible. Elevate members whoā€™ve registered for the “Feel the Earn” offer can also get a boost of up to 25,000 bonus points based on their total qualifying points earned for Virgin America flights in all cabins during that time.Ā Ā Plus, to make the deal even sweeter, all the bonus points earned will count towards reaching or renewingĀ Elevate Silver or Elevate Gold StatusĀ on Virgin America. Full details.

Subscribe to TravelSkills- Ā via e-mail!

Cathay Pacific's new business class seat on its B777's (Chris McGinnis)

Cathay Pacific’s new business class seat on its B777’s (Chris McGinnis)

CATHAY PACIFIC DISCOUNTS BIZ CLASS TO HONG KONGā€¦Fancy a trip to Hong Kong over the holidays? Well, Cathay Pacific just gave you a present. By booking before Dec 1, you can save up to $1,500 off the cost of a roundtrip business class ticket for travel during the heart of the holiday season– between Dec 23 and New Year’s Day– a period when most business travelers stay home. The roundtrip cost is $4,689 (all in) Ā and is valid from SFO and other US gateways to HKG. Ā If you prefer Cathay’s jumbo 747 from SFO to Hong Kong, remember that itā€™s only around for one more year. Starting in Oct 2014, Cathay will run only B777s on SFO-HKG. Here’s a previous BAT post on the pros and cons of Cathay’s 747 and 777.Ā 

SAN JOSE HINTS AT NEW ASIA FLIGHTā€¦The new director of aviation at San Jose Norman Mineta International, Kim Aguirre, announced that the airport is expanding its international terminal from two to four gates. She also noted that the ANA Dreamliner flight to Tokyo Narita is spurring interest from other Asian carriers, and that a new flight to Asia could be announced within the next 12 months. Wanna make any guesses as to what that city or airline that may be?

SOUTHWEST BOOSTS SJC FLIGHTSā€¦What is no secret, however, is that Southwest is planning bulk up its schedules from San Jose beginning April 8, 2014. One new nonstop to Denver, Orange County, San Diego, and Seattle will be added. Southwest currently owns about 50% of all flights to/from SJC.

—Chris McGinnisĀ 

And just in case you missed it, here’s what else you need to know aboutĀ Bay Area TravelĀ over the last month:

>Southwest FINALLY joins PreCheck

>United to allow handhelds below 10K feet

>Travel advice fit for a Queen (Latifah!)

>New landing procedure at SFO should help w delays! Hallelujah!

>Big, bad United MileagePlus surpriseĀ 

>Virgin’s new Safety Dance

>Riding the Red Carpet Route to London!Ā 

>Double Miles on United & Southwest

>$100 hotels in NYCĀ 

>Two posh new lounges coming to SFOĀ 

***

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Riding British Airways Red Carpet Route to London

London's Regent Street decked out in US flags and NFL banners amid rumors of a possible London NFL team. (Photo Chris McGinnis)

London’s Regent Street decked out in US flags and NFL banners amid rumors of a possible London NFL team. (Photo Chris McGinnis)

With the sights and sounds of the San Francisco 49ers playing at Wembley Stadium on TV today, Ā it’s a perfect time for me to write about my latest business trip to London, my favorite city in the world.

First class flight attendants pass pre-flight glasses of Laurent Perrier Grand Seicle Champagne (Chris McGinnis)

First class flight attendants pass pre-flight glasses of Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle Champagne (Chris McGinnis)

Last month British Airways invited me to fly from Los Angeles to London aboard its brand new Airbus A380. With typical British pomp, BA is cleverly calling this ā€œThe Red Carpet Route,ā€ due to the heavy film industry traffic between the two cities.

LAX-LHR Ā is the type of route where movie stars and industry moguls actually pay the $19,216 first class (or $7,356 business class) round trip fare. While I saw no big stars aboard my flight, Kate Moss was in the line next to me at customs at Heathrow.

BAā€™s departure from LAX is lateā€”8:45 pm, which means you can get in a full dayā€™s work, board and eat a quick meal after departure, go to sleep (hopefully) and wake up in time for arrival in London at about 3:00 pm the following day. Those in the Bay Area who would like to give BA’s A380 a try can jump on a cheap flight down to LAX, transfer over to the airportā€™s shiny new Tom Bradley International Terminal to board BAā€™s jumbo for the 9.5-hour flight to London.

Most carriers flying the A380 have first and business class on the upper deck, and economy class on the lower or ā€œmainā€ deck. BA has opted to keep premium passengers at ā€œthe front of the plane.ā€ This means first class and business class sections are located at the front end of the upper and main deck and economy class is at the back end of both the upper and main deck.Ā Take a video tour of BA’s A380 here.

Below are some notes and 12 photos from my trip. Enjoy!

View over the A380's enormous wing from main deck business class (Chris McGinnis)

View over the A380’s enormous wing from main deck business class. There’s room for 469 passengers on this big bird: 14 giant first class “suites”, 97 business class seats, 55 premium economy seats and 303 economy seats. First and business class seats are at “the front of the plane” on both the main (lower) and upper decks. Ā (Chris McGinnis)

 

These are two "suites" at the rear of of the first class section. Window suites have two windows with electronic ally controlled shades. All first class seats have their own closet for coats and shoes. (Chris McGinnis)

These are two “suites” at the rear of of the first class section; configured 1-2-1. Window suites angle outward toward to windows with electronically controlled shades. In full flat recline, the seat is 7 feet long. Nice: each seat has its own valet closet for hanging suits or coats and storing shoes. When itā€™s time to bed down, flight attendants make up the bed with a feather bed pad that lies on top of the seat, swathed in an all cotton comforter and full sized pillows. (Chris McGinnis)

 

British Airways trademark Yin-Yang seats are both forward and rear facing. To avoid awkward eye contact, a translucent privacy screen rises between seats after take off (Chris McGinnis)

British Airways trademark Yin-Yang business class seats are both forward and rear facing, configured 2-4-2. (Chris McGinnis)

The translucent privacy screen allow flight attendants to see through when looking down at window seat passenger (Chris McGinnis)

To avoid awkward face-to-face eye contact, a translucent privacy screen rises between seats after take off. This screen allows flight attendants to see through when looking down at window seat passenger (Chris McGinnis)

 

At this angle (looking toward seat mate) view is obscured in BA business class (Chris McGinnis)

At this angle (looking toward seat mate) view is obscured in BA business class (Chris McGinnis)

 

In economy class, seats are configured 3-4-3. Each seat has a large video screen with hundreds of options (Chris McGinnis)

In economy class, seats are configured 3-4-3. Standard economy pitch is 31 inches. In premium economy, pitch it 38 inches. Each seat has a large video screen with hundreds of entertainment options (Chris McGinnis)

 

Similar to Virgin America's Red system, passengers can send text messages between seats on British Airways A380 (Chris McGinnis)

Similar to Virgin America’s seatback Red system, passengers can send text messages between seats via “High Life Chat” on British Airways A380 (Chris McGinnis)

Wow! Check out the superb presentation of "Herb roasted organic chicken with a morel fava & pancetta ragout" for first class passengers (Chris McGinnis)

Wow! Check out the superb presentation of “herb roasted organic chicken with a morel fava & pancetta ragout” for first class passengers (Chris McGinnis)

 

This is "12 month aged serrano ham with roasted tomato timbale & shallot dressing" in first class (Chris McGinnis)

This is “12 month aged serrano ham with roasted tomato timbale & shallot dressing” in first class (Chris McGinnis)

 

A business class starter: "Oxspring cured ham with spiced black fig & goat's curd salad." (Chris McGinnis)

A business class starter: “Oxspring cured ham with spiced black fig & goat’s curd salad.” (Chris McGinnis)

 

No problem with carry on space on this big bird-- the A380 has some of the largest overhead bins I've ever seen. My briefcase is dwarfed by the space! (Chris McGinnis)

No problem with carry on space on this behemoth– the A380 has some of the largest overhead bins I’ve ever seen. My briefcase is dwarfed by the space! (Chris McGinnis)

 

Check out this wall of Global Entry kiosks at the new international terminal at LAX. 13 in all! I was through customs in 3 minutes! (Chris McGinnis)

Check out this wall of Global Entry kiosks at the new international terminal at LAX. 13 in all! I was through customs in 3 minutes! (Chris McGinnis)

—Chris McGinnis

Ā 

 


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Catching up on Bay Area Travel News (March 10 2013)

Virgin America wingtip over downtown San Francisco (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Virgin America wingtip over downtown San Francisco (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

AIRLINES (OVER) REACT TO VIRGIN MOVES?Ā Itā€™s interesting to see how other airlines have reacted to Virgin Americaā€™s recent, and relatively minor expansion plans.

>For example, a day after Virginā€™s announcement of plans to serve the San Jose-Los Angeles LAX market, Delta announced it would jump on the route, too, but with regional jets versus mainline aircraft offered by Virgin and Southwest. Alaska serves the route with a turboprop.

>Within days of Virginā€™s announcement of a single daily nonstop between SFO and Austin, United countered with the addition of TWO more nonstops on the route, for a total of six daily (beware, most of those 3-4 hour hauls are on Unitedā€™s regional jets). JetBlue also jumped into the fray with one additional daily SFO-AUS flight with continuing service to Ft. Lauderdale.

>Anchorage? After Virgin announced a single daily flight, United came back by increasing its daily summer season flights from just one to two daily.

>Back in December, Virgin announced new nonstops (3x daily) to Unitedā€™s fortress hub at Newark starting on April 2. Notice how United (over) reacted to that? It increased daily SFO-EWR nonstops to 16 each way (!) from the current seven per day starting June 6. (Hat tip to routesonline.com for staying on top of all these changes!)

VIRGIN CONTRACTING TOO. Despite new routes, Virgin, which is still struggling to get into the black, is trimming schedules to cities it already serves. Examples: Starting May 1, SFO-Cancun is reduced to once weekly; SFO-Ft Lauderdale reduced to once daily instead of twice; SFO-New York JFK down to four daily instead of five. Orlando down from daily to just 4x per week. Philly: once daily down from twice. Washington Dulles down to three daily from four.

NEW NONSTOP TO SHANGHAI. Currently, only United offers nonstops (on a B747) on the red-hot route between SFO and Shanghai. But China Eastern Airlines cranks up new daily nonstop service between SFO and Shanghai (PVG) on April 26 using an Airbus A330. Currently, itā€™s US website is down and its San Francisco office is just getting established, so stay tuned for more information as we get it. SFO-PVG Fares are already decliningā€”coach is down to just $1100 round trip compared to about $2,200 prior to MUā€™s arrival. Business Class is now about $4,500 round trip. China Eastern recently joined the SkyTeam alliance. Last year it won ā€œWorldā€™s most improved airlineā€ from the SkyTrax World Airline Awards. Have you flown China Eastern? How was it?

TIPS FOR USING PHONES OVERSEAS. One of the most-viewed posts on TravelSkills over the last year was our primer on saving money when using smart phones overseas. CNN liked it, too, and interviewed BAT editor Chris McGinnis about it at SFO. Check it out here:

VIRGIN AMERICA, SINGAPORE RECIPROCATE. Starting this month, members of Virginā€™s Elevate program can earn and burn their points when flying Singapore Airlines. Since Virginā€™s program is revenue (points)-basedā€¦and Singaporeā€™s is miles-based, it gets complicated. Hereā€™s a helpful breakdown of the deal from The Wandering Aramean blog. To celebrate the launch of the partnership, Virgin America is offering the chance for one Elevate member to win two round-trip economy class tickets on Singapore Airlines to Hong Kong or Seoul. Ā Youā€™ll earn 500 Elevate points just for entering the Win a Stylish Ride on Singapore Airlines contest on Virginā€™s Facebook page.

***

Are YOU signed up forĀ TravelSkills? If not, why not?Ā Subscribe to TravelSkills via e-mail!

***

NICE WORK, UNITED. Did you catch this bittersweet tale about how United held a flight for a San Francisco man whose mother was dying in Texas? He made it to Lubbock just in time, thanks to the work of United crews.

NO HASSLE TRAVEL TRIFECTA ON KCBS. My post last week about how using the ā€œno hassle travel trifectaā€ could alleviate worry about impending slowdowns at airport security and immigration lines due to the sequester received a ton of play locally. KCBS called BAT editor Chris McGinnis for a chat about the strategy.Ā You can listen in here!

BRITISH AIRWAYS A380.Ā British Airways is deploying itsĀ first big Airbus A380Ā to California on October 15. Alas, itā€™s going to LAX instead of SFO. But nonetheless, BAā€™s Executive VP Simon Talling-Smith reached out to TravelSkills with some interesting info:Ā  When it comes to configuration, BA is putting all premium class seats (14 in first and 97 in business) at the front of the plane, on both the main and upper decksā€”this makes for a quieter flight, and faster boarding/deboarding. (Most other carriers have business class on the upper deckā€”front to back.) BA says that it knows that premium passengers donā€™t like to fly at the back of the plane, even if in a business class seat. BAā€™s move represents the first time an A380 will be deployed between the US and London. LAX is BAā€™s second largest market after NYC. Introductory roundtrip business class fares between LAX and London will be just $3,800 round trip. Premium economy is $1380; coach is $830. Currently, BA does not have plans to bring its A380 to SFO. Would you add an extra leg from SFO to LAX in order to jump on this big new bird?

BritishAirwaysA380SeatMap

 

***

PLEASE, RECRUIT YOUR FRIENDS.Ā If you like TravelSkills, would you please tell your friends and colleagues about it? The ONLY way we grow is via word of mouth from happy readers. Like every online publication, we need more eyeballs and appreciate your support.Ā  Hereā€™s something you can copy and paste into an email TODAY!

Have you ever heard aboutĀ TravelSkillsā€”TravelSkills– for frequent travelers? Itā€™s a free local travel blog that I subscribe to. Itā€™s full of helpful news and advice for frequent travelers who live in the Bay Areaā€¦just like us. For example, I first learned thatĀ PreCheck was comingĀ to SFO, or that Virgin America wasĀ matching United Premier statusĀ from TravelSkills. I think itā€™s definitely something you could use. See ā€œSubscribeā€Ā in the upper right margin of the blog, or justĀ sign upĀ right here.Ā Thanks! ADD:Ā *Your signature*

 

 


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10 things about Singapore Airlines A380 at SFO (Photos)

 

Here’s a slideshow of the TravelSkills’s private tour of a Singapore Airlines A380 parked at SFO. Enjoy!

[pb_slideshow group=”3″]

 

While the double-decker Airbus A380 has been plying the skies around the world for five years now, itā€™s still a sight to see it take off or land at SFO. While you may have seen one of these big birds from the outsideā€¦only a few have been able to see what they look like on the inside.

Last week, lucky BAT contest winner David Zippin got one of those prized close-up looks when he took a private tour of a Singapore Airlinesā€™ A380 parked at SFO. TravelSkills chose Zippin randomly from the hundreds of readers who helped us attract nearly 300 new subscribers in a word-of-mouth contest late last year.

BAT contest winner David Zippin on a private tour of Singapore Airlines' A380

BAT contest winner David Zippin on a private tour of Singapore Airlines’ A380

Thanks to all of you who helped turn your friends and colleagues on to TravelSkills! As a result, we are growing like gangbusters! And thanks to Singapore Air and other BAT sponsors– their support keeps TravelSkills free (and in this case, very interesting) for readers.

Now, back to that tourā€¦ BAT editor Chris McGinnis accompanied Singapore Airlines VP Paul Ng along with Zippin and three of his friends to see the plane. Here are nine interesting things we learned about Singaporeā€™s A380 service at SFO along the way:

1-SEXY: Singapore Airlines (SIA) has aĀ super-sexy flight numberĀ on its SFO>HKG>SIN run:Ā SQ1, which departs SFO at 10:50 pm for Hong Kong and Singapore. SQ2 arrives back in SFO at around 8:30 pm. Ng told us that the SFO flights bear those numbers because San Francisco was Singapore Airā€™s first US destination 33 years ago.

2-BEST BUSINESS CLASS: There are 60 business class seats on the A380ā€”and they are so wide (34 inches) that SIA has added a pillow and a cushion to cozy the expanse up a bit. Upstairs window seats have special storage bins. (See slideshow above.) The business class cabin in split into two sections– the section closest to the front is smaller, more intimate and likely more quiet. Business class fares on Singapore for mid-March flights run from $4,000 to $6,000.

3-BEST COACH SEATS: There are 88 coach seats at the rear of the upper deck (which are considered the best coach seatsā€”windows in this section have the same special seat-side bins as in business class.) Upstairs, coach is configured 2-4-2 vs 3-4-3 on main deck. Due to the curvature of the fuselage, coach seats downstairs on the main deck donā€™t have the bins. Round trip coach fares on Singapore Air currently run around $1,200.

4-FIRST CLASS SUITES: Downstairs, there are 12 ā€œSuitesā€ in the first class section at the front, and then 311 coach seats in the back. Ā Each plush, rich leather, first class seat is enclosed in a private shell, with a sliding door to the aisle. Sleeping mattresses are 4″ thick. A seat in a first class suite to Hong Kong or Singapore runs about $12,000-$14,000 round trip. Ng said that the two pairs of adjoining suites (non-window) with collapsible walls between them are usually the first seats to sell out. (Think about that, all you Valentines Day romantics!)

5-MURPHY BEDS. Unlike other airlines, Singapore seats in both business and first class fold over, and then down, so you sleep on a separateĀ mattressĀ thick mattress, a different surface that what you sit on. See the slide show above for a demonstration. (On most other airlines, first and business seats recline to a flat bed-like surface for sleeping.)

6-THREE LEVELS. Thereā€™s a basement on this bird! Behind a combination-locked door in the middle of the main deck, thereā€™s a steep staircase down to a crew rest area. The space consists of 12 bunksā€”with entertainment systems, mirrors and noise deadening privacy curtains. Itā€™s a bit claustrophobic down there, but those nice flat beds look cozier than the first class suites upstairs. (Several shots of this in the slideshow above)

7-BIG BIRD. Ā The top of the tail of the A380 stands eight stories off the ground. According to Ng, one wing could keep a group of 2,000 people dry in the rain. We were skeptical about that claim until we peered out the window at the massive wing.

8-TWO VERSIONS: Singapore Airlines flies two different configurations of the A380. Version 1 is configured with both business and coach seats on the upper deck. Version 2 is all-business-all-the-time (86 seats) upstairs; first and coach are on the main deck. Ā Both versions have a grand wide staircase in the front, and a smaller curves staircase in the back.

9-SINGAPORE GIRLS. A small army of 22 flight attendants (Singapore girls and boys) staffs the flight, which takes about 13 hours to reach Hong Kongā€¦ then 3-4 hours more to Singapore. The flight departs SFO at 10:50 pm, crosses the International Date Line and then arrives in Singapore at noonā€”two days later. (So if you leave on a Sunday night, you get there in time for lunch on Tuesday.)

10-SAD TO SEE IT GO. Singapore Airlinesā€™ A380 is currently scheduled for what the carrier is calling ā€œpopupā€ service at SFOā€”it started on Dec 28 and will revert back to a Boeing 777 service on March 24. But thereā€™s hope: Ng says that the airline is always evaluating where to deploy its fleet of A380s, and it could come back.

 


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Singapore Airlines giant Airbus A380 arrives at SFO

Singapore Airlines’ giant Airbus A380-800 on a rainy Friday night at SFO preparing to depart for a midnight departure for Hong Kong (Photo: SFO)

Last Ā Friday (Dec 28), a giant double-decker Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 arrived at San Francisco International from Hong Kong at 7:10pm, marking the first A380 flights between SFO and Asia. (SFO has seen A380s from Lufthansa and Air France previously.) Singapore Airlines is offering this “pop-up” service on the San Francisco>Hong Kong>Singapore route between now and March 24 only– and will switch back to standard Boeing 777 service after that.)

To mark the occasion, Singapore held a reception at the gate for its flight SQ 1, departing at 11:48pm for Hong Kong and then continuing on to Singapore. Ā There were 438 passengers on the departing flight, with eight in the jumbo’s well-known luxury suites (first class); 45 in business class, and 385 in economy class.

The big bird departs from gate 101 at SFO’s international terminal– specially designed to accommodate passengers entering the upper and lower levels. When boarding, economy class passengers take an escalator down to the lower level for boarding. Business and first class passengers board from the terminal’s main level via a third jetway connected to the plane’s upper deck. (See photo)

Unlike other carriers, Singapore’s seat configuration on the A380-800 has its 12 first class suites at the front end of the lower deck, with 311 economy class seats behind. Upstairs, there are 60 business class seats in the front end of the deck, Ā then 88 economy class seats behind that. (Here’s a link to the configuration.) There are staircases at both the front and the rear of the aircraft.

**Would you be interested in a private tour of Singapore Airlines’ giant Airbus A380 double-decker?Ā Click here for details!Ā **

One of three jetways help speed boarding the giant aircraft which carried 438 passengers on its first flight from SFO. (Photo: SFO)

Have you signed up to get TravelSkills via email? If not, why not? Hope to it! Your Email in the subscription box to the right– PRONTO! orĀ click here…

Passengers onboard Singapore’s first A380 flight from SFO saw special signage at check in and were treated to a special reception at the gate. (Photo: SFO)

 

–

SFO spent millions to accomodate the A380 with three separate jetways– two for economy passengers who enter on a lower level, and one for business and first class passengers who enter from the main level. (Photo: SFO)

–

The tail of this big bird soars 80 feet in the air. It’s 238 feet long, and its wings span a whopping 262 feet. (Photo: SFO)

*****

Are YOU signed up for TravelSkills? If not, why not?Ā Subscribe to TravelSkills via e-mail!

Follow @cjmcginnis

Welcome new readers! If this information was helpful to you, pleaseĀ subscribe to TravelSkills via e-mail— and tell your friends about it, too!


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Want a private tour of Singapore’s A380 at SFO?

How would you like to see inside this big bird? (Photo: Singapore Airlines)

Do you likeĀ private tours?Ā Would you like to get a trueĀ insiderā€™s lookĀ atĀ Singapore Airlinesā€™ massive new double-decker Airbus A380Ā when it arrives in SFO later this winter?

Would you like to feel what itā€™s like toĀ snuggle into Singapore Airlinesā€™ signature double bed in first classĀ (and of course takeĀ photosĀ you can post onĀ Facebook or Twitter)?

Peer into all the planesā€™ nooks and crannies, like the galleys where Singapore girls prepare in-flight meals? Run up and down the big shipā€™s secret spiral staircase?

Singapore’s signature first class double be on the A380

Maybe youā€™ve always wanted to check out the first class lavatories to see if they are any different than the ones in coach?

Wondered what itā€™s like to enjoy a pre-flight drink or meal at Singapore Airlinesā€™ first and business class lounge at SFO? Meet BAT editor Chris McGinnis?

Nowā€™s your chance to win that private tour in a fun drawing!

One lucky TravelSkills reader (plus three guests of their choice) will get to check out Singapore Airlinesā€™ big bird, from stem to stern, in a private pre-flight tour at SFO one evening in late January.

All you have to do is help TravelSkills grow by telling your frequent traveling friends about it.

Just follow these three easy steps:

1> Between now and January 5, 2013 compose an email (copy and paste the one weā€™ve prepared belowā€”or modify it) and send it to at least THREE frequent traveling friends recommending that they sign up for TravelSkills.

2> Be sure to copy TravelSkills on the same email: contest@travelskills.com

3> You can only enter once, so be sure to include as many friends as possible on the first email. (NOTE: Emails will be used for this contest onlyā€”they will not be sold or traded or used by any other party for any other purpose.)

On January 5, TravelSkills will draw the winner from among the emails weā€™ve received. Once the winner is chosen, a date for the private tour (in late January) will be set on a mutually agreeable date. The winner can bring along three guests for the tour. (Allow about 90 minutes at the airport for the tour.) On the evening of the tour, weā€™ll meet in the International terminal at SFO, enter the terminal via security, visit the Singapore Airlines first/business class lounge for refreshments, and then tour the plane.

Does that sound like a fun evening or what? So come on and give it a goā€”and help TravelSkills grow!

Here’s the suggested emailā€”copy and paste or modify to your liking:

Dear ____________:

Have you ever heard about TravelSkills blog? Itā€™s a free travel blog that I subscribe to.

Itā€™s full of helpful news and advice for frequent travelers who live in the Bay Areaā€¦just like us. For example, I first learned that PreCheck was coming to SFO, or that Virgin America was matching United Premier status from TravelSkills.

I think itā€™s definitely something you could use, and get this: If I can convince you to sign up, weā€™ll both be eligible to take a behind-the-scenes tour of a Singapore Airlines A380 at SFO one evening in January!

So please check out TravelSkills and sign up by January 5. Ā See ā€œSubscribeā€ in the upper right margin of the blog, or just sign up right here.

Thanks!

*Your signature*

IMPORTANT! Do not forget to copy TravelSkills Ā (contest@travelskills.com) on the email you send! Itā€™s the only way weā€™ll know that you are entering the contest!

Good luck! And Happy Holidays!

–Chris McGinnis

*****

Are YOU signed up for TravelSkills? If not, why not?Ā Subscribe to TravelSkills via e-mail!

Follow @cjmcginnis

Welcome new readers! If this information was helpful to you, pleaseĀ subscribe to TravelSkills via e-mail— and tell your friends about it, too!

*****

Sponsor: Ā 

For a limited period, San Francisco passengers will have the opportunity to experience spacious luxury onboard the world’s largest commercial aircraft, theĀ Airbus A380 on flights to Asia.Ā Ā Between December 28, 2012 and March 24, 2013,Ā Singapore AirlinesĀ will pop into town with daily ā€œPop-Upā€ A380 flights between San Francisco and Singapore via Hong Kong. Ā Flip throughĀ this slideshowĀ to see its famous Suites and the widest Business Class seats in the sky.

SQ1 departs SFO at 10:50 pm and arrives in Hong Kong at 5:50 am two days later. Flight time is about 13 hours to Hong Kong, and with another 3.5 hours to Singapore, you’ll have plenty of time to soak up the luxury and explore the 1000+ onboard entertainment options. Ā SQ2 arrives daily in SFO at 7:45 pm on the same day it departs from Singapore and Hong Kong.

***

 

 

 

 

 


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Summer business class sale beckons bargain hunters

Lufthansa's A380 flying SFO-FRA has a whopping 98 business class seats

Economy class round trips between SFO and Europe during peak summer travel season (July/August) are now approaching $1,500 round trip– and will continue to creep up to near the $2,000 mark over the next few months.

However, airlines have a tough time selling those big business class seats on transatlantic flights because a lot of business travelers are on vacation during July and August. Due to the drop in demand for business class during summer, airlines are dropping prices– from the standard $6,000-$8,000 round trip to as little as $2,250 round trip.


For example, Lufthansa’s round-trip, all-in business class fares from SFO range from $2,250 to $3,500 depending on your final destination. (See chart below.)Ā You must book your trip by May 31 for trips beginning June 29 and ending before September 1.

These fares are good on Lufthansa as well as its Star Alliance partners Air Canada, Swiss or United. United has matched Lufthansa’s business class sale. So have SkyTeam airlines such as Delta, KLM and Air France. Virgin Atlantic has joined in the fun. However British Airways does not appear to be joining in on the sale at this time.

Lufthansa fares from SFO:

With fares that low for business class…would you pay the premium for a big seat up front?


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Q: What is the longest flight from SFO?

Seatback screen aboard an Emirates B777 showing the route of our 15.5 hour flight from SFO to>>>

Q: Whatā€™s the longest flight from SFO?

A: The longest flight from San Francisco International is Emiratesā€™ nonstop, 15.5-hour flight to Dubai on a Boeing 777.

Q: When flying from San Francisco to Dubai, would your heading be west or east?

A: Neither! The 8,100-mile flight between SFO and Dubai heads due northā€”right over the North Pole!

Last fall, Emirates invited me to take this monumental, nonstop journey to the other side of the world. Here are some notes and photos from the flightsā€”in both directions. Cā€™mon along for this spectacular ride– and see the North Pole…

Photo: Chris McGinnis

Emirates flies a Boeing 777-300 between SFO and Dubai in a three-class configuration: First, business and economy. Depending on time of year, economy class roundtrip nonstops cost between SFO and DXB are in the $1,000-$1,500 range; business class fares range from $5,000 to $7,000; first class roundtrip fares are $8,000+.

Emirates says its load factors out of SFO are very healthy– around 80% on average. It says that SFO is at the “top of the list” for deployment of one of Emirates 15 giant A380s, however, at this time the double-decker does not have the range to fly SFO-DXB with a full load during the hot summer months, so there are no set plans to switch to the A380 for now.

Emirates recently opened a brand new 9,500 square foot business class lounge at SFO’s International Terminal A (the southern side).

Forty-two business class seats are configured 2-3-2 on the B777, with a cocoon-like back shell that provides plenty of privacy. Most surfaces (such as the tray table, and even the toilet seat lid in the lavatory) are covered in a classy burled walnut veneer; there are power outlets for laptops, noiseĀ cancelingĀ headsets, and oversized inflight amenity bags– one for men, another for women– full of all sorts of goodies. While there is no in-flight internet, passengers can send and receive text messages from their seats at $1 per message. All seat functions (including recline, in-flight entertainment or IFE controls and even massage) are controlled by the hand held unit you see in the armrest pictured above.

(Photo: Chris McGinnis)

After a 3:45 pm departure from SFO, we headed due north on a clear day, right over the top of Mt Shasta, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver and the snow-capped peaks of British Columbia at sunset. What a view! I tried to get some work done on the laptop, but found it difficult not to watch the show unfold out the window.

I was particularly impressed with Emirates’ IFE system, which provided a 3-D, virtual-reality-like experience that (to me) was much more entertaining than the thousands of movies, TV shows and games from which passengers can choose. For those who don’t want to view the scenery out the window, electronic window shades raise or lower at the touch of a button.

Photo: Chris McGinnis

Upon boarding, flight attendants served a round a Veuve Cliquot champagne to business class passengers. After about two hours, flight attendants then proffered scented hot towels and warmed mixed nuts and then poured a nice Stag’s Leap Chardonnay, which was followed by a nice meal, briskly served, since many passengers were readying for sleep. I chose halibut, potatoes, grilled asparagus and tomatoes (my seatmate had the Lamb biryani). Food was on par with other foreign carriers I’ve flown– and head and shoulders above what’s typically found in business class on US carriers. Service was efficient, not obsequious or doting.

(Photo: Chris McGinnis)

While I was hoping to stay awake long enough to peer out at the North Pole, the two glasses of Chardonnay, the meal, the melatonin and this nice linen covered mini-mattress (see above), full sized pillow Ā and cozy comforter convinced me otherwise. (I did see The Pole on the return, though! Keep reading…)

Business class seats on Emirates B777 are of the “angled lie-flat” variety (vs true lie-flat) which disappointed me at first. However, the tilt was barely detectable once the seat was fully reclined– and get this: I fell asleep somewhere over the Yukon Territory, and woke up seven hours later somewhere over Iran! By far, the longest, best night’s sleep I’ve ever experienced on a plane.

(Photo: Chris McGinnis)

After our 15.5 hour journey, we landed in Dubai the following day at about 7:45 pm. Dubai International Airport (DXB) is simply stunning. What you see above is baggage claim– which should give you some idea of what the entire airport is like– big, bright and beautiful. It felt like a brand new Las Vegas casino– minus the gambling, which is illegal in Dubai.

Sixty percent of Emirates passengers use Emirate’s giant DXB hub as a connecting point to the carrier’s extensive network of flights– especially to India. As a matter of fact, 50% of all Emirates passengers from SFO end up flying onward from DXB to Indian cities such as Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi.

India-bound passenger’s other options include flying from SFO via Asia or Europe. At one time, United and Emirates participated in a frequent flyer program partnership where Mileage Plus members could earn United miles when flying Emirates to Dubai. However, Emirates says that United decided to terminate that partnership last May.

(Photo: Chris McGinnis)

All business and first class passengers get free transportation via a fleet of black Volvo station wagons stationed outside the airport to their hotels in Dubai (most are about 15-30 minutes away). There is also the quick, slick Dubai Metro rail system that connects the airport to the city– however, note that it has limited hours on Fridays, which are holy days in the Arab world.

(Photo: Chris McGinnis)

This photo, taken from the roof of the Shangri-La hotel shows the towering Burj Khalifa, currently the tallest building in the world. In the lower right corner is a Dubai metro station. It all looked like something out of a science fiction movie.

(Photo: Chris McGinnis)

On the day of my return flight, I arrived at the airport early to investigate and enjoy what I’d heard was one of the poshest business class lounges in the world. I was not let down– from the spray of fresh flowers at the entry, to the multiple buffets serving traditional English breakfast, full Indian meals, baked potatoes with all the toppings, salmon with capers, shrimp, endless refrigerated shelves of desserts, juices, tea, and coffee. The selection boggles the mind.

Morning is peak time in the Emirates business class lounge, and the place was packed– almost uncomfortably so. I was told that this enormous lounge could accommodate up to 1,600 travelers, and I think it was running pretty close to capacity that day. Seeing the crowds, and knowing that everyone in the lounge had paid several thousand dollars for their business class tickets made me wonder to myself, “What global financial crisis?” (See additional photos here.)

(Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Flying back to SFO took us over the North Pole once again, and this time I stayed up for the action. In the photo above, you can see our routing over the top displayed on the IFE system.

(Photo: Chris McGinnis)

That’s it! The money shot! In this photo, I’m looking out the window straight down on the North Pole. (See the big striped candy cane? šŸ˜‰ )

(Photo: Chris McGinnis)

After the excitement of seeing the North Pole, it was time for a snooze. Note how Emirates has cleverly installed thousands of tiny fiber-optic white lights (that actually twinkle) into the ceiling of the aircraft to let you know that it’s time to sleep. Nice touch.

(Photo: Chris McGinnis)

For Muslims, who must face east for their daily prayers, Emirates in-flight system displays this icon several times throughout the flight in the IFE system– the arrow points east toward Mecca, no matter which direction the plane is pointed in.

(Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Almost home!

(Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Forward facing cameras on the B777 broadcast the view as we approach SFO and touch down at about 1 pm pacific time.

–Chris McGinnis


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Airline Update

DISCOVER HIDDEN SKYMILES AWARDS. Delta.com has its fair share of kinks that you must work through when booking SkyMiles award tickets. But, there is a way to reveal those hard-to-find seats at the lowest redemption level. Hereā€™s how: Simply sign up for Air France-KLMā€™s FlyingBlue frequent flyer program. Thatā€™s rightā€¦use another airline’s web site to find Delta and partner airline flights. Just look for ā€œClassicā€ awards, which are the same as Deltaā€™s lowest level redemptions. The FlyingBlue web site also searches Air France, KLM, Alitalia, CSA Czech, and Kenya Airways award availability. To enroll, sign up free here. You can then call Delta directly to book the flights that show Classic availability for Delta’s lowest mileage level. Delta.com does show Air France, KLM, and Alaska partner availability and allows you to search a month at a time. However, it is temperamental and not always accurate. Try using the FlyingBlue site to do your research and find more opportunities to use your SkyMilesā€”and let us know it this works better for you! Weā€™d love to hear your feedback.

Korean Air's new A380

SUPER-DUPER JUMBOS AT ATL? Atlanta is preparing to welcome the worldā€™s biggest airliner, the Airbus A380 by spending $30 million to widen taxiways and runway shoulders and make terminal improvements that will enable it to handle the double-decker jumbo jet. Air France could bring theirs in during peak summer travel season next year. While it wonā€™t yet commit to it, Korean Air says that Atlanta is one of the US gateways under consideration for its biggest blue bird. KAL starts A380 flights this summer between Seoul and New York-JFK, and then to Los Angeles-LAX in October. (SIDELINE: Have you seen Air Franceā€™s lovely new bird? Hereā€™s a gorgeous video made by your TICKET editor Chris McGinnis of its first A380 touching down on cool cloudy San Francisco earlier this month.)

GOOD MAY AT ATL. AirTran and Delta ranked second and third, after first place Alaska Air, in on-time performance for the month of May according to FlightStats.com.

 

 

OVERSEAS BAGGAGE CHARGES. Flying across the pond this summer? Ā On Delta, the first checked bag when flying overseas is free, and the second bag is a whopping $75 (or $60 if purchased online). Delta has reduced the weight allowance from 70 lbs to just 50 lbs per bag for international coach passengers (including Ā Medallions). If you travel heavy, be sure to weigh your bag ahead of time to avoid the additional $75 overweight bag fee. (Note: The 70 lb bag weight limit with no fee remains in effect for first/biz class passengers.)

NO WI-FI ON THIS DELTA JET? Delta now offers Gogo Wi-Fi access on all of its mainline aircraft that regularly fly domestic routes. But remember that international aircraft flying domestic legs DO NOT have Wi-Fi. If you are unsure if your plane is an internationally configured aircraft, check the layout of the Business Elite/First Class cabin. Boeing 767 aircraft have four rows up front on domestic aircraft. If your plane has more than four rows in First/Business Elite, then you are on an international aircraft that will not have Wi-Fi. Boeing 757s can be trickier as some international planes are used on domestic routes between New York and LAX/SFO. The international 757s have four rows up front whereas domestic planes have six or seven rows up front. The latter are guaranteed to have Wi-Fi while not all of the international 757s do. No Airbus A330s, Boeing 747s, or Boeing 777s have Wi-Fi access. Domestic routes that may use international aircraft include ATL-LAX, DTW-LAX, ATL-DTW, ATL-LAS, and ATL-JFK.

QUAD MILES AT MARRIOTT. Marriott Rewards is offering quadruple Delta SkyMiles to those who stay at any Marriott brand at least twice between June 1 and August 31. Registration is required.

ECONOMY COMFORT IS HERE. Delta is now rolling out its new Economy Plus seatingĀ in the first few rows of all ofĀ  aircraft flying international routes. Seats are designated with a special headrest cover sporting the Economy Comfort logo. Other benefits include priority boarding and complimentary mixed drinks. The best benefit, though, are the four extra inches of legroom and improved recline. The seats are now available for sale on delta.com. Until now, it was pure luck if customers assigned to those rows flew an equipped plane. Now, delta.com sells the Economy Plus for a nominal fee on the flights that have it making it easier toĀ get a modicum of comfort out of your long-haul coach experience. Of course, Platinum and Diamond Medallion passengers get access to the seats for free.

NEW BLACKĀ  BOX. Under development: Aircraft black boxes that transmit data to satellites instead of going down with the plane (as was the case with Air France 447 which crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in 2009.)

THE TICKET ON FACEBOOK: Are you signed up for our FACEBOOK page? If so, you would have learned first about nifty nuggets like a Delta/Zappos promo, a report on Deltaā€™s average fleet age, or when AirTran will dump its ATL-Dallas/Ft Worth nonstops. Come on! LIKE The TICKET on Facebook today!

DID YOU KNOWā€¦ that airlines are now raking more fee income from checked baggage than they are from those onerous $150 change fees?

THE NEVER ENDING BONUS. Itā€™s baaack! Delta and American Express are again offering mega bonuses for first time transfers from Amex Membership Rewards points to Sky Miles. The promotion requires registration. Transfer as few as 1,000 Amex points to Delta and receive a 50% bonus. So 1,000 Amex points becomes 1,500 SkyMiles. Plus if you transfer 100,000 Amex points, you will receive 25,000 MQMs (good for Silver Medallion) and 150,000 miles. This is only valid for first time transfers so if you have taken advantage of this promotion in the past then you are not eligible this time around. The offer is good until Sept. 30.Ā NOTE: If youā€™ve transferred miles before and you donā€™t qualify for the above bonus, Deltaā€™s got you coveredā€¦ those who have transferred before can earn a 25%-40% bonus with a different promo that requires registration.

AMEX PLATINUM BONUS. Speaking of American Express Membership Rewards points, donā€™t forget to stop into any SkyClub if you have the AMEX Platinum card. Currently, all guests who enter a Delta lounge using the AMEX Platinum card (not the Delta-affiliated SkyMiles card) will receive a certificate good for 300 Membership Rewards points.

TO FLYā€¦OR DRIVE? That is the question for a lot of TICKET readers. To help answer it, check out the cool Fly or Drive Calculator from BeFrugal.com. This site helps answer the age-old question among frequent travelers…. Whether it makes more financial sense to drive or fly to your destination. What’s clever about this calculator is that it allows users to enter specific data about their trip, which helps it come up with a specific answer.

THE TICKET PRINT-FRIENDLY VERSION IS BACK! YAY! For all of you whoā€™ve been asking us to bring back a print version of The TICKET, weā€™ve now got you covered. Scroll down to the bottom of this post, look for the row of icons across the bottom and choose ā€œPRINT WITH PRINT FRIENDLY.ā€ Easy!

BETTER DINING AT DELTA GATES. Remember Deltaā€™s major overhaul of restaurants at its terminal in LaGuardia last year? Well, theyā€™re doing it again, but this time in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Plans include an upgrade to the dining options in the terminal with several new restaurants including Minnesota Beer Hall, a Japanese noodle and dumplings bar, a raw bar and brasserie, a grab-and-go gourmet food outlet, and an eatery under the direction of Andrew Zimmern of Travel Channelā€™s Bizarre Foods fame. Another unique feature Delta is testing at the airport is the rental of pre-loaded iPads featuring movies and games. Travelers can take them on board their flights and then mail them back upon landing. Like!

WI-FI AT ATL. While Atlanta remains one of the declining number of airports that charge full freight for Wi-Fi, some airports are rolling out a tiered system: Free for basic access such as email access, but a premium for heavy duty access for streaming or loading photos, programs, etc. Some hotels are already doing this. Thoughts?

COCKTAILS ANYONE? Delta is bringing back some of its signature cocktails for summer with the new ā€œMargaritavilleā€ mixed with tequila.Ā The ā€œJack Daniels Tennessee Honeyā€ combines Jack Daniels bourbon, honey liqueur, and ginger ale. Both are available for $7 in economy. Don’t forget that Medallion members can use free drink coupons that come in their annual renewal package for these drinks. (Weā€™ve also seen Delta offers free drink coupons toĀ Medallions who donā€™t get an upgrade and check in onlineā€¦have you?) If you’re worriedĀ about alcohol breath, don’t worry, Wrigley’s Gum is also being added to Deltaā€™sĀ EATS food for saleĀ menu.

WHO PAYS FOR FIRST CLASS? Passengers from the following cities purchased the most first class airline tickets in the first five months of this year: Beverly Hills, Greenwich CT, Atherton CA, Palm Beach FL, Haverford PA. Source: Airlines Reporting Corporation.

HELP A SICK KID, EARN SKYMILES. Delta has teamed up with the Childrenā€™s Miracle Network, which is hoping to reach $100 million in donations this year to help fund 170 childrensā€™ hospitals throughout North America. SkyMiles members who donate $50 or more by June 30 earn 1000 miles. Donate here.

PLAY BALL WITH DELTA. In New York for a Mets or Yankees game? Well, Delta has you covered, sponsoring free water taxis from either South Street Seaport or East 53rd Street Ferry Landing to all home games. Tickets are freeĀ on the two Delta-branded water taxis operated by New York Water Taxi. Taxis depart 90 minutes before opening pitch. On board, enjoy Delta-signature Fly Ball cocktails or other drinks and snacks while basking in the sun on the boat’s open deck. Reservations are not allowed, and eachĀ taxi can only take 147 people soĀ be sure to get thereĀ early.

AIRFRANCE-KLM ELITES GET MORE THAN ME? Reciprocity ainā€™t always fairā€¦Did you know that Air France-KLM elites get complimentary upgrades when traveling on Delta flights? Itā€™s true. Their domestic upgrades are back in full force (a remnant of the agreement that Northwest originally had with KLM). To be fair, foreign elites only clear after every single Delta Elite has had the chance for the upgrade. Still, itā€™s a shame that Delta elites cannot be upgraded to Air France-KLMā€™s premium product within Europe. But, again in the spirit of fairness, not even Air France-KLM elites have the chance for free upgrades within Europe. Delta elites still come out on top, but don’t be surprised if you see partner elites inquiring with gate agents about upgrades.

DELTA DOWN UNDER. Delta and V Australia have announced a further codeshare on additional routes to Perth, Canberra and Adelaide in Australia plus Auckland and Christchurch in New Zealand. This means more redemption opportunities for Delta Sky Miles members and opportunities to earn miles when booking flights on codeshare tickets. Ā Initially, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne were the only cities included in that agreement. Sky Club members also benefit from access to V AustraliaĀ lounges across Australia as well.

JUNE BABIES. If you were born in June, be sure to try and register for this promotion offering 1,500 bonus SkyMiles for a roundtrip flight flown before July 31. It is a targeted offer so not everyone may be eligible. You also receive a $100 discount on a future Delta Vacations package. While Delta has offered more lucrative birthday bonuses in the past, this one is better than nothing. Remember to insure that your birthday is listed in your Delta.com profile so that you can be included in similar future offers. Register atĀ dmn.delta.com/ace_offers/june_bday/

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR TICKET READERS! ACTION REQUIRED!
We are shifting to a new email distribution method powered by Google’s Feedburner. To continue getting The TICKET via email,Ā you MUST sign up again— and it’s easy. Just enter your email in the form in the upper right corner. IMPORTANT: You’ll be asked to verify your subscription by clicking on a link in an email Feedburner sends to you. Be sure to click on the link! SIMPLE! QUICK! EASY! Please just do it today. We’ll continue sending emails alerting you to The TICKET via Constant Contact for a few more months, but we need you to go ahead and take action now.Ā THANK YOU!

Donā€™t Forget! BOOK ALL YOUR ONLINE TRAVEL VIA LINKS FROM THE TICKET! It helps us help you!

Just click here:

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Bienvenue! Air France A380 lands at SFO (VIDEO)

Today Air France’s big new A380 touched down at SFO for the first time. I was very excited to get special access to the runways and tarmac to shoot this two-minute video.

Check out how close we were to this leviathan as it gracefully touched down. And watch the special water cannon welcome salute from the SFO fire department.

I did not have the chance to see the interior of this big bird, but you can check out interior photos of all three classes here.

Looking out over the summer, roundtrip coach fares between San Francisco and Paris are running in the $1100 to $1500 range. Business class roundtrip summer sale fares are in the $3000 range– not bad compared to standard business class fares which normally runs closer to the $6K-$8K mark.

Bienvenue!


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Planespotters: Air France A380 arrives Monday 6/6

Bonjour! Air France A380 flights between Paris and San Francisco commence with the arrival of flight 84 from Charles de Gaulle airport on MONDAY, June 6 at 12:40 pm. (Departing SFO for CDG at 4:10 pm)

While there is no formal arrival celebration planned at the airport, the city will welcome the giant new Airbus aircraft with a fire department water cannon salute as it taxis in to the gate.

Weather forecast for Monday: Currently a 40% chance of rain.

(photo credit: Air France)


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Lufthansa’s A380 comes to SFO: 6 things you should know

That's your trusty Frequent Travel Advisor underneath one of four engines that propel the A380 through the atmosphere.

That’s your trusty BATman underneath one of four engines that propel the A380 through the atmosphere.

Earlier this week I took a whirlwind 48-hour trip to Frankfurt, Germany to engage in the festivities surrounding the arrival of Lufthansa’s giant A380 to San Francisco.

Come on along and check out photos of all three classes, bathrooms, exterior cameras and several unusual touches that make this leviathan of a plane special.

1) There are 425 coach seats which fill the entire lower level of this big ship. Coach seating is tight in a 3-4-3 configuration (with 94 rows!), however due to the use of new composite materials, thinner seats provide more space, and knee room is not all that bad. Each coach passenger has a touch screen video entertainment system. Seats feel more comfortable than they look in the photos below. Current roundtrip coach fares between SFO and Frankfurt are in the $1300 range for June trips.

I’m 6’1″ and still have ample knee room in coach. Cup holder is a nice touch for those who don’t want to lower the entire tray table.

Yes, that’s right, Row 94! Last row in coach.

2) There is a distinct separation among classes on the A380– it reminded me of how classes were separated in the movie “Titanic.” For example, first and business class passengers board the plane from their own jetway which leads to the upper level. Coach passengers board from two separate jetways that lead to the lower level. While there are two stairways (in the front and back) on the A380, mixing of the classes is obstructed by gates– coach passengers are not allowed upstairs.

This is the gate blocking passage at the rear circular stairway of the A380.

3) Business class seats (all 98 of them!) are identical to those found on Lufthansa’s 747s. Seats are “angled” lie-flat versus “true” or “horizontal” lie-flat for sleeping like you’ll find on United’s flights to Frankfurt or British Airways’ flights to London. I spoke with Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr about this and he admitted that the less desirable angled seat puts them at a competitive disadvantage. Without going into specifics, he said, “It’s time for us to step up– we don’t want to fall behind in this area. We plan to invest in quality and offer the best business class seat in the world which will be a true lie-flat product. You’ll see it first on our new 747-800’s starting next year.” While Lufthansa plans to swap out the A380 for a 747 on the SFO-FRA route during the winter months, it’s not certain that it will be a new 747-800 that will have the new style seat. Spohr said that eventually the A380 will get the new true lie-flat seat, but I’m guessing that could take several years. Current roundtrip business class fares between SFO and Frankfurt are in the $7000 range for June trips.

One of the things I love about flying upstairs on a Boeing 747 are the storage bins alongside window seats. On this big bird, there are storage bins along all 28 rows in business class.

4) Lufthansa’s first class product is outstanding and offers up several unique innovations such as personal storage lockers (with combination locks), electronic window shades, mattresses, sheets and full-sized pillows placed over the fully reclined, true-flat seat for sleeping, humidified air, extra sound-reducing insulation and gorgeous finishes in leather, steel, chrome and wool. There are only eight first class seats on the A380. Current first class fares between SFO and Frankfurt are in the (gulp) $20K range, but upgrades are available from business class for super elite Lufthansa and Star Alliance fliers.

Check out the knee room on the first class seat!

A thin mattress is placed over the flattened first class seat and made into a very cozy bed.

Each first class passenger gets his/her own storage locker with a combination lock.

5) Oh, yes, the all important lavatory! Lavs in coach and business class in this ship are slightly larger than you’ll find elsewhere– some even have their own portholes. First class lavs are strikingly nice– with plenty of room to take care of business (including a urinal for men); a bench to sit down on to change clothes (pajamas provided) and a large sink and vanity area. (No showers as you’ll find on Emirates A380. But I think inflight showers are overkill. The extra room for changing clothes is a more practical use of the space.)

Business class lavatory with a view!

First class toilet and urinal– note the thoughtful handlebar to help maintain aim in turbulence.

Now that’s a first class sink.

6) The A380 has three exterior cameras with awesome views that all passengers can access from their seatback video screens. Below are images of one camera mounted in the tail of the aircraft with a view of our departure gate at Frankfurt. Below that is the view from the bottom of the plane. As we landed at SFO around noon with the sun directly overhead, there was a perfect shadow of the A380 set against the brackish brownish waters of the bay. Gorgeous!

Nice touch! Midway through the 11 hour flight between Frankfurt and SFO, flight attendants served cake and champagne to all passengers to celebrate the arrival of SFO’s first A380.

If you are interested in digging in deeper or hearing other perspectives on Lufthansa’s big bird, check out the stories from fellow travel writers and bloggers who joined me on this trip: Brett Snyder, John DiScala, Stephanie Michaels, Harriet Baskas and David Armstrong.

(Disclosure: I was a guest of Lufthansa for the inaugural A380 event in Frankfurt and SFO)


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Air France to fly giant A380 to SFO

SAN FRANCISCO — Officials from Air France announced today from June 6 through September 4, 2011, they will fly the Airbus A-380 between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Paris’ Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport. The aircraft is scheduled to depart Paris at 10:30 a.m. and arrive in San Francisco at 12:40 p.m. The return flight will depart SFO at 4:10 p.m. and land in Paris at 11:35 a.m. the following calendar day.

Over the summer period, Air France is offering its customers the opportunity to discover the West Coast of the United States on board this super jumbo jet equipped with 538 seats, divided between three cabin classes (9 seats in La Premiere, 80 in Business and 449 in Voyageur). During the summer of 2011, Air France will be operating 10 weekly flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and San Francisco, including one daily flight of an A-380.

Air France is the second carrier to inaugurate A-380 service in to SFO. Lufthansa will begin flying the A-380 between SFO and Frankfurt of May 10, 2011. San Francisco International Airport’s International Terminal, which opened in December 2000, was designed specifically to accommodate super jumbo jet aircraft such as the A-380.


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