V-Flyer

Hi All,

I've seen quite a few negative comments on redemption from FC recently so I thought I'd balance it out with my tale of happiness.

I have just come off the blower and between my friend & I we are 400k lighter with a itinerary planned that only aviation geeks could endure.

We depart DXB for LHR via a F redemption on Emirates, spend two days in London and then a split for 2 days to see our respective families. The plan is then to meet back in the Clubhouse before flying to HKG for 2 nights (wanted a hop off and on again but this was the only blip with redemption) and then SYD for a four days (Shangri-La) before returning to HKG for a week to spend some time with my father and a visit to the W hotel. I then fly back to DXB in J class with my buddy in Y due to his mileage limitations.

I'd like to say it didn't cost me a dime, we all know that's not true but compared to the actual cost it's a drop in the ocean.

y)

Sounds fantastic y)

Watch out for the Shangri-La though, whilst it's a nice hotel, it is at the top of a very steep hill. I nearly needed oxygen after I arrived a few years ago there with luggage in tow after transferring from the airport via the train B)

Thanks for the advice mitchja!

It was more of a Gold Circle membership influencing our decision to stay in the SL than anything else. Plus it looks pretty decent on the website. We have a car service from the airport so no worries with baggage!

What a great itinerary y) .
I stayed in the SL in SYD on my last trip there and thought it was fabulous (I know Honey Lamb didn't have such a great time there a few years ago though) ^) . The Exec lounge has THE most fantastic views of the bridge and opera house (as do the exec rooms too) and has a fabulous atmosphere. Gerry, the concierge in the exec lounge, is simply fantastic oo) oo) . We arrived at the SL following our foray in the EK First Suites and were awash with Dom Pom so were very grateful for the EK car . It is however as mitchja says, at the top of a very steep hill.
Enjoy.
DL

What a fab trip you have planned....I have stayed at the SL in SYD and agere it is excellent - enjoy!

Jon

DL is correct. I hated the Shangri-La especially after my experience in the Shangri-La in Singapore. The walk up to the hotel was the least of my problems and the proximity to Circular Quay was great. The frontage of the hotel looking at the ramp to the flyover was off-putting but what I found off-putting was their attitude when we were held up in Immigration through no fault of our own and that the driver had left. We had to purchase a phone card to call the hotel and then wait for the driver ordered through the hotel website to appear (who looked like Ming the Merciless and acted accordingly). When we arrived at the hotel the response was "Oh dear" Not good enough!!!!

Aer John, my son loves a pool in an hotel and went down to the pool there. He came back in record time complaining about it. I went down. It was filthy and it stank! xx( . In the restaurant on every occasion we had to seek a server to even request the basic of a pre-dinner drink. It would seem that travelling with a 16year old (who incidentally had won the flights to Sydney in the first VS Swingers competition) means a lesser service.

great to read. hope it all works out as planned.
mind telling us what the total tax cost was for the trip?

I have close to 500,000 miles built up, and have to work out what to do with them in the coming year.

narikin wrote:mind telling us what the total tax cost was for the trip?

Hi Narikin

I have recently booked UC reward flights LHR-HKG-SYD return and the cost per person is £660. I did not look closely before, but I now see that I was charged £5 for the ticket! Outrageous


FARE DETAILS

Fare GBP 5.00
Taxes/Fees/Charges/Surcharges YQ390.00 GB150.00 XT115.03
Total GBP 660.03


Someone wiser than me can tell you what YQ, GB and XT are.

Cheers

Martin

YQ = VS fuel surcharge (which is really part of the base fare!)

GB = UK APD

XT = everything else including airport passenger service fees

Thanks Tonty - you are indeed wiser than I in these matters and quick off the mark too!

I'm really impressed you saved for that long - I know if I had 400K miles, they would be burning a hole in my pocket!