Travel Planning

(This was originally posted in 2019)

I spent 63 hours traveling home from Bali, Indonesia. To most people, the thought of this would bring them to tears. But for me, it was a dream come true. The secret. Business class and lounge Access.

My travel plans included five flights. Three of them were in business class. Three amenity kits. Seven lounges. Four showers. Unlimited food and drink. All for only $221.93. This trip should have cost over $15,000.

How can 63 hours of travel be enjoyable? Between my business class flights and lounge access, I get through my American Express Platinum, I was able to take advantage of seven lounges. 

If you have never traveled business class, you are missing out — Lay flat seats, gourmet meals, champagne, amenity kits, lounge access, etc. The list goes on and on. 

Let me start at the beginning. 

T/G Lounge and Premier Lounge, Bali, Indonesia (DPS)

I had access to two lounges at DPS. I had a trip first, a lounge invitation. Because of my business class ticket, I was invited to the Premier Lounge. I felt important, but honestly, I had access to the Premier Lounge and the T/G lounge with my Priority Pass.

 I prefer the T/G lounge as it is newer and brighter. And they have self-serve Bak Pao. One negative is that you are only allowed two alcoholic beverages. Luckily, the Premier Lounge has unlimited drinks.

 After spending several hours eating and drinking for free, it was time to check one off my bucket list.

Thai Airways Business Class 747-400, Bali-Bangkok

Of everything on this list, my flight from Denpasar, Bali to Bangkok, Thailand, was a bucket list item for me. I was going to fly in Business class on the top deck of a Boeing 747-400. 

I have always dreamed of walking up the gold staircase. Just like you see in old TV shows and movies. It was everything I imagined. 

While yes, there are newer planes with a top deck far more modern, the 747-400 is the most iconic. The “Queen of the Skies.” It is also uncommon in today’s travel. Delta, the last US airline to fly the “Queen of the Sky,” retired it in 2018. Many of the few remaining 747-400s operated by international airlines are said to be retired by 2022. 

After climbing the gold staircase, I took my seat. The plane was old, but I appreciated the fact that it still had its “retro” flair. The overhead bins were too small for today’s carry-ons, so my bag had to be put in bins on the level deck. The seats did not have much storage, but interestingly, they were spacious. They were not crowded together in modern fashion, where airlines try to jam as many seats as possible in one tiny area. 

These “negatives” might be unattractive to the general traveler, but they made the flight even more meaningful. It was a short 4-hour flight. I don’t think I stopped smiling the whole time. 

Royal Orchard Lounge, Bankok, Thailand

After arriving in Bangkok (BKK), my business class ticket gave me access to the Royal Silk Lounge, Thai Airways’ Business Class Lounge. There are several throughout the airport, but there was one right near my gate in concourse E. BKK has thirty-two lounges. Many of which I had access to, but it was 8 pm, and I only had a two-hour layover. 

I discovered that there is a Royal Silk Lounge and directly across from it, the Royal Orchid Lounge. Both are business class lounges, and since I had access to both, I picked the one with a shorter line. From what I have read, they are both similar, except the Royal Orchard Lounge has sleeping rooms. Here is a great review of both.

The lounge was nothing fancy, but it had the basic complimentary food and drinks. Although, I made a significant mistake and did not realize I was able to receive a free 30-minute massage at the Royal Silk Spa. Epic fail. 

Thai Airways Business Class, Bangkok – Narita

Next, I had a 6-hour flight from Bangkok to Narita on Thai Airways. Again, this was in business class but on the newer Airbus A330. 

I enjoyed another amenity kit, my take-off glass of champagne, and got a few hours of sleep before an excellent breakfast and more champagne. Overall, I was impressed with the level of service that Thai Airways provided. The product may be dated, but the food and service made up for that. 

Travel Tip: This version of the A330 has a staggered configuration in business class. Rows alternate 2-2-1 and 1-2-2. This leaves a single seat with double the space in each row, also known as the “throne seat.”

I should mention that I planned to stay on Eastern Standard Time to try to limit my jet lag. I didn’t want to spend my vacation in North Carolina fighting jet lag. The plan became difficult because the times I was supposed to be sleeping, I would be in the middle of a layover. I tried to force myself to stay awake on the plane when I had a bed, comfy pillows and blankets. 

Eventually, this came to bite me in the ass when I fell asleep at the gate in Philly before my last one-hour flight to Virginia. 

ANA Lounge, Narita, Tokyo

I have flown through Narita multiple times. Through my Priority Pass, I had access to five lounges. The Priority Pass is available through my Chase Sapphire Reserve or my American Express Platinum. 

Travel Tip: The Korean Air KAL Business Class Lounge is the only lounge on the Priority Pass at Narita that has free unlimited alcohol.

Since I was flying business class on this trip, I had access to three additional lounges. The All Nippon Airways ANA Lounge in Terminal 1, Satelite 4, and Terminal 1, Satelite 5. And also the United Airlines Club in Terminal 1, Main Building.

Travel Tip: If you have not gotten a Priority Pass yet (Seriously? Free food and alcohol!), you can buy day passes to the United Airlines Club and the American Airlines lounge (located in Terminal 2). Well worth it if you have more than a 2-hour layover.

At this point, I needed a shower. One thing that can make travel miserable for people is the gross feeling of sitting on a plane for 8 hours shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of sweaty strangers.

The ANA Lounge in Terminal 1, Satelite 4 had the most fantastic shower. It also contained a Noodle Bar, Sake Bar, and relaxation rooms. 

I had a long layover and needed some sleep. The Lounge’s three relaxation rooms were shockingly empty. They didn’t have a door, but still felt private. The beds were just reclining chairs, but I was able to get a couple of hours of rest. I can and have slept like a baby on the floor of the airport, so I may not be the best judge of comfort.

United Club, Tokyo

After my nap, I decided to move over to the United Club. It was closer to my gate and had a great view of the runway. Plus, I planned to shower before getting on my 10-hour flight and wanted to check out the facilities.

Travel Tip: If you are not in business class but flying on United, Star Alliance or another contracted partner, you can purchase a day pass for $59.

Since my next flight was going to be on United in their Polaris business class product, I had access to the United Club at NRT.

The lounge is located in Terminal 1, Main Building. It is spacious with a large number of seating options. One negative is the food. They are always running out of food and are slow to refill it. This makes sense considering how large the lounge is and how small the selection of food is. I must add that they always keep their wine and Sake stocked.

I was completely disappointed with their showers. They looked right out of the ’80s with limited amenities. I can say they were clean. Yes, I understand I am starting to sound like a spoiled brat. I recommend reading this for a better review of the lounge.

United Polaris Business Class, Tokyo – Los Angelos 

I love United’s Polaris Business Class. Probably because it was the first lay flat international business class I flew. Maybe because of the Saks Fith Avenue bedding and the ice cream sundae cart. And definitely, because it gave me access to the brand new United Polaris Lounge at LAX. 

Oh, and the amenity kit might help too. 

United Polaris Lounge, LAX

I did not realize until I landed that I had 16 16-hour layover at LAX. A long layover at LAX is not a good thing. The food and drinks in the terminals are ridiculously expensive. And the Priority Pass Lounge options come with a lot of restrictions. Most are only open to members for 2-3 hours a day. 

Travel Tip: LAX finally connected its terminals airside. Before, you would not have access to the amenities of another terminal; it is a very long walk, but it can be worth it if you are lounge jumping. 

The other two options for travelers are to buy a day pass to the United Lounge or the American Airlines lounge. The problem is that a day pass is only valid for 3 hours. 

Usually, access to a lounge is based on your outgoing flight. Therefore, since I flew in on United but was flying out on another airline, I wouldn’t have access to the United Polaris Lounge. 

The lady at the desk was nice. My United flight was a codeshare flight with ANA. My original ticket with the ANA flight number was denied, but she reprinted it with the United flight number and Voilà, it worked. 

Little did they know I planned to spend the next 16 hours in this lounge. 

First things first, a shower. Compared to my previous shower, I wasn’t impressed. It was gorgeous but lacked amenities. There wasn’t even a shaving kit. (I know I am getting spoiled.) 

There were maybe five other people in the lounge. The second thing I did was to ask the bartenders to reserve one TV for the New England Patriots game. It was opening day of football! I worked, napped, ate, and then sat at the bar drinking craft cocktails and watching football. I was the last person left in the lounge when they closed. 

American Express Centurion Lounge, Philadelphia

Sadly, my flight to Philly had me back in economy class. Still, when I landed, I had access to the American Express Centurion Lounge through my American Express Platinum Credit Card. The Centurion Lounges are one of my favorite domestic lounges, but they are crowded, and this one was no different. 

I was able to shower. The shower looked like a spa, but again lacked amenities. Unlike the United shower, where I could pick from a selection of amenities, this lounge had nothing but towels, and the basic shower setup of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. 

Overall, after a mimosa and breakfast, I felt refreshed for the last leg of my trip. At least I thought I did. I fell asleep at the gate and slept through the entire boarding process. I woke up to an empty gate and no plane. Thankfully, the American Airlines representative was kind enough to schedule me on the next flight free of charge.

I made it to my final stop.

Finally, after the longest and best travel day(s) of my life, I arrived at my final destination, Norfolk, Virginia. And for the perfect ending, my friend was waiting to pick me up with an American flag and unicorn balloons. Welcome home.