V-Flyer

Apologies if this has already been covered;

Mainly due to the advice of members here, I've opted to use the Miles that the missus-to-be and I have been shamelessly hoarding over the past 3 or so years to fly to SFO UC for our Honeymoon on the 14th of December. We wanted to go on the 12th but the reward seats haven't appeared so, (on the advice of a Flying Club rep), we went for the 14th.

We can't get the return seats yet but we can be flexible about the return date, (coming back from LAX). Hopefully there'll be some available in January!

So we're both pretty giddy with the thought of turning left, (I'm pretending to be all cool, like, whatever, etc... but secretly am properly excited).

Obviously we've jumped straight into our booking to sort our seats out. But now were stuck. I've read a good number of the seat reports but they, understandibly, tend to focus on the single traveler.

My question is; what are the best two UC seats on the A340-600 for couples - assuming that we're still talking at this stage! At the moment we can literally pick any - they're all available!

Oh, and if anyone can give us any tips of how best to enjoy the UC experience, onboard, in the clubhouse etc... This is likely to be the only time[:(]

(this has been longer than some trip reports - and we haven't been anywhere yet - sorry 'bout that)

thanks,

Craig.

This used to be a very common topic, but doesn't seem to get discussed as much now.

If you do a search in the forum using 'couple' as a key word and set the date to go back a while, there are a number.

This one, is a fairly recent one asking the same question.

Nick

I'd suggest 3 & 4K or 4 & 5K. They're facing the wall, near enough the loo without being too near and nice and quiet.

I would say any 2 suites, 1 behind the other facing the wall. HL has suggested the earlier K numbers, or the other option is from 8A backwards as these also face the wall, best not to go to far back as the bar noise might become an issue, so 10/11A is good choice.

will that route not be back to a 747 by then

Oh you'll love San Francisco.

Have you been before? I'll do some hints and tips and send them to you in a couple of weeks.

Oh and congrats to you and the soon to be mrs monster !

tonty can I be cheeky and have some hints and tips for san fran too? Am off their in August with my significant other!

craigmonster, if you have never experienced the UC experience (even with the ever changing services on board and in the clubhouse) I'd get to T3 as early as you can and enjoy the clubhouse, cowshed and on board experience.

enjoy!

yes of course you can baloo ! Anyting for a fellow bear !

Tonty,

Thanks;

We've been to San Francisco before and loved it. This trip is a bit more complicated though; Bear with me (pun intended).
1 night only in San Fran.
Drive to Mammoth for 6 days skiing
Drive to Vegas - Mandalay Bay, (stayed last September), be here for Christmas, about 6 days.
Drive to Palm Springs - 3 nights ish - only because we haven't been really.
Then to LA - somewhere in the middle so we can get down to Longbeach area but also get to Venice/Santa Monica. Maybe a week here?
Then home from LAX UC using another 50K each.
As I write this I wonder if we've been a bit ambitious?
Interesting that the individual luggage allowance is more than I can bench! I wonder if anyone has used the 96kg?

A tip for San Francisco; have a go driving around a bit - Steve McQueen moments aplenty. We had a convertible in June - it was great.

Thanks to all so far for the seat tips.

quote:Originally posted by craigmonster
Tonty,

Thanks;

We've been to San Francisco before and loved it. This trip is a bit more complicated though; Bear with me (pun intended).
1 night only in San Fran.
Drive to Mammoth for 6 days skiing
Drive to Vegas - Mandalay Bay, (stayed last September), be here for Christmas, about 6 days.
Drive to Palm Springs - 3 nights ish - only because we haven't been really.
Then to LA - somewhere in the middle so we can get down to Longbeach area but also get to Venice/Santa Monica. Maybe a week here?
Then home from LAX UC using another 50K each.
As I write this I wonder if we've been a bit ambitious?
Interesting that the individual luggage allowance is more than I can bench! I wonder if anyone has used the 96kg?

A tip for San Francisco; have a go driving around a bit - Steve McQueen moments aplenty. We had a convertible in June - it was great.

Thanks to all so far for the seat tips.




That sounds like an awesome trip - I've done Mammoth a few times now, where are you staying?

The drive from SF in Winter is a bit of a monster as I recall as one of the more direct routes get closed from late Autumn thru spring.

Andrew

quote:Originally posted by phantomtwin

The drive from SF in Winter is a bit of a monster as I recall as one of the more direct routes get closed from late Autumn thru spring.

Andrew



I would agree - from SFO to Mammoth will be a real trek in a day unless you are used to driving long distances. I love to take pictures in the Sierras and the surrounding areas and have been in the locality quite a few times

Tioga pass will shut (120) as will Senora (108) Highway 50 to South Lake Tahoe will almost certainly be open but can be closed by landslides. I have driven this route and its somewhere in the region of 350 miles with quite a bit of snow about so it may slow you slightly.

The alternative is taking I5 south to Bakersfield and up to Mammoth This more like 600 miles but on much easier roads until you get near Mammoth. We did it one year just to try it and were in the car 14hrs with a 40 min break.


Don't get me wrong - you can drive it the top way easily in a day but expect to spend a lot of time in the car.

Make sure you get a decent Jeep too - you are going to want 4WD!



Mark

Thanks to Mark & Andrew for the driving tips;

Just looking at the US Road Atlas i've got. It does say in really tiny writing that the 120 & 108 are closed. Probably wouldn't have spotted that until it was too late!

What about I80 through Sacramento and then down Highway 89 to the 395? Or would the I80 onto Highway 50 be OK?

We're both Ok with a long road trip - as long as we get there eventually!

The route south looks long and I'm not allowed to speed when in the US - Mrs monster-to-be thinks the police will shoot us - too many Hollywood films, the damage is done.

Any advice would be welcome.

thanks,

Craig.

quote:Originally posted by craigmonster
Thanks to Mark & Andrew for the driving tips;

Just looking at the US Road Atlas i've got. It does say in really tiny writing that the 120 & 108 are closed. Probably wouldn't have spotted that until it was too late!

What about I80 through Sacramento and then down Highway 89 to the 395? Or would the I80 onto Highway 50 be OK?

We're both Ok with a long road trip - as long as we get there eventually!

The route south looks long and I'm not allowed to speed when in the US - Mrs monster-to-be thinks the police will shoot us - too many Hollywood films, the damage is done.

Any advice would be welcome.

thanks,

Craig.



Firstly - don't risk speeding on the route from LA into Mammoth, at least NOT in the towns, even if it is 2 in the morning - just don't.

We got through the Tioga pass in mid October 2 years ago - literally hours before they closed it due to snow. It's a great drive but a hell of a long one. A 4x4 is a must.

Nothing against Palm Springs (must admit I've never been there) but I'd be tempted to rethink part of your trip. Have you considered doing the Pacific Highway from SF into LA - that is a great trip in itself, a few days in LA, Santa Monica etc, drive to Mammoth, then drive to Vegas, then pick up an MCA to LAX flight concluding with San Diego etc before heading home?

Andrew

Highly recommend the pacific coast highway

I would agree with the PCH its a nice relaxing way to cover some of the miles. We did the easy journey over a couple of days.

We went from SFO to Monterey
Monterey to Morro Bay
Morro Bay to Santa Barbara
SB to LA

Along the route we explored quite a bit seeing sights along the Big Sur that are easily bypassed by some. There are quite a few state parks along the route so make some time to explore if thats your thing

Mcway Falls on the Big Sur


Bixby Bridge from Hurricane Ridge (I think!)



Santa Barbara sunset



Driving the PCH




If you want to make the most of the Skiiing then feel free to ignore the above



Mark

OK.

Now we're properly confused!

We did a bit of Highway 1 when we went to San Francisco last year, only from Santa Cruz back to Fisherman's wharf but I agree it is amazing.

I've done the SF to LA via Highway 1 before in a two week trip which is something I'd encourage everyone to do. Cold though in some places even in the summer. But we'd hired a convertible so the roof was staying down!

We really want to ski so the new plan is;

Land at SFO. Get a 4x4, (need to make sure it actually has 4 wheel drive, some of the SUV's are front drive only - the size is for show). Drive to Sacramento for the first night. Not as romantic as SF but it's that much further to Mammoth.

Day 2; Wake at about 5am due to the jet lag - take advantage by leaving early for Reno along I80 then south on the 395 to Mammoth. This route should be OK in winter - seems to be the best way accross the Sierra Nevada from the Bay area.

Ski for 6 days then drive from Mammoth to Vegas via Death Valley - I've done this in summer - hopefully should be OK in Winter.

6 -7 days in Vegas.

Then skipping Palm Springs we'll go to San Diego - few nights here.

Finally to LA for a few nights before flying home around 10th Jan.

Although it's all very 'fluid' at the moment.

Thanks

Craig.

It looks very much like you have it sorted [:D] You should cover the trip to Sacramento in a couple of hours and to be fair its probably as much as I would want to do after the flight.

I was planning a trip to Yosemite next month which now unfortunately isn't going to happen. Part of the requirement for vehicular entry to Yosemite is carrying snow chains and know how to use them - make sure there isn't a similar requirement for Mammoth in the snow season. If they are required then you can hire them in quite a few places.


I love Vegas - but I use it as a springboard to other places as well
We can easily do 6/7 days in Vegas which would be a chore for many. This year we actually took a whole day out to visit Zion NP (yes it was a long day). In 2007 we did the obligatory trip to the Grand Canyon.

If you can, grab a night or 2 in Death Valley and explore a little. We spent 5 days there this year and I am very keen to get back as there is so much more to see. As you will already have a 4x4 you are really well placed to get to some of the less accessible locations.

Again this is more from my point of view as an amateur photographer who likes scenery, but I would never have looked at Death valley as I like many others just assumed there wasnt too much too see. It took someone else to point out the error of my ways.


All in my opinion of course and as usual I am quite happy to be ignored [:D]



Whatever you do - enjoy it!


Mark