Tokyo/Vietnam July 2011 - Cathay Pacific 712 First Class (BKK - HKG)

***This post is part 22 of a full trip report. The index can be found here***

This was my first time ever in international first class, and something I had been looking forward to since I started collecting frequent flyer miles back in 2007. I was extremely grateful to have my first experience be on Cathay Pacific no less... to say I was excited would be a huge understatement!

Since Air Asia did not interline my checked baggage with Cathay Pacific, I had to go through immigrations to pick it up at the carousel. But with an almost 5-hour layover in BKK, I figured it would be nice to explore landside for a bit, recheck-in at the Cathay Pacific counter, and still have plenty of time to visit the lounges and relax. I visited Thailand in 2008, so I was relatively familiar with Suvarnabhumi Airport. Arrivals were on level 2, and you can take a very convenient inclined escalator (along with luggage carts) up to level 4 departures. In between, the level 3 mezzanine has a wide variety of restaurants and fast food joints catering to just about every taste.

Escalators from arrivals level 2 to departures level 4

Level 3 mezzanine

After about half an hour wandering around landside, I decided to check-in for my flight. Unfortunately, when I arrived at the Cathay Pacific counters, it was completely empty! I finally found an employee at the end of the row typing at a computer and asked her when check-in started for CX 712, to which she responded 3 hours before departure. That meant sitting on the benches for another hour or so listening to my iPod :(

Empty Cathay Pacific counters

Finally, at exactly the 3-hour mark, the employees filed out and I went to stand in line behind a very chic-looking couple with their Louis Vuitton luggage. I, on the other hand, was dressed in a t-shirt and hiking pants, backpack slung over my shoulder, and felt like a complete slob. But to be honest, after a 2-week jaunt through Vietnam, the most important thing at that point was comfort. The lady behind the counter was very courteous (despite my dress), and handed me my boarding passes all the way through to SFO, along with lounge invitations for both BKK and HKG. She also gave me an additional printed pass for the fast track security and immigration line that was separate from the normal security checkpoints.

As I approached the guard at the priority security line entrance, I swear he gave me the dirtiest look ever... I was kind of taken aback, and before I even got to him, he barked out "where is your priority line pass?!" Not saying a word, I handed him the pass and he proceeded to look intensely at it, flipping it back and forth, still with a scowl on his face. Not exactly sure what his problem was, but I'm guessing he suspected I was trying to sneak into the "special" line or something. After that, it was a breeze... security and customs literally took less than 5 minutes and I was airside.

There was a large sign immediately past customs that pointed you in the direction to all the different lounges at the airport. Unfortunately, the signage after that sort of disappeared and I wandered around Concourse G for awhile before I finally asked an employee and was directed down to Level 3 where all the lounges were. And yes, I did notice later on as I was going through my pictures that it actually does says "Airlines Lounge on 3rd Floor" on the original sign :)

Plenty of shopping and displays airside

Concourse G

Cathay Pacific operates 2 lounges at BKK, both of which service first and business class passengers together. The Concourse D lounge is a bit smaller, but I kind of preferred this one because it was a lot less crowded and very quiet. Food was sparse, consisting of some mini-hors d'oeuvres, hot dim sum, fruits, snacks, and small desserts. There were some bottom to mid-shelf alcohol for self-service, in addition to plenty of soft drinks and juices. The Concourse G lounge was very similar, just quite a bit larger, with somewhat better views of the tarmac. Food was identical, and both lounges also had WiFi and business centers with computers for passengers' use.

Concourse D lounge entrance

Food and drink offerings 

Concourse G lounge entrance

Identical food offerings as the Concourse D lounge

As the departure time got closer, it got a lot more crowded, and there were barely any seats left. Strangely, there was no announcement for the departing flight until extremely late, and most passengers had already left the lounge by then. When I got to the gate, they were doing last call and I was one of the last people on the plane.

Rushing to the gate

Cathay Pacific 712

Boeing 747-400
Bangkok (BKK) - Hong Kong (HKG)
Monday July 18, 2011
Departure: 4:05 PM (scheduled) / 4:10 PM (actual)

Arrival: 7:55 PM (scheduled) / 7:47 PM (actual)

Duration: 2h 50m (scheduled) / 2h 37m (actual)
Seat: 2K (First)

I had to smile a little when I boarded the plane and turned left for the first time ever. It really is a beautiful cabin, and extremely private. I took my seat at 2K and was greeted by name and offered a glass of Champagne Amour De Deutz Brut 2002, which I happily accepted. As I looked around, I started to realized it was a strange sensation to finally be sitting in the Cathay Pacific first class suite. I had read dozens of reviews over the past few years, so I was intimately familiar with every little detail surrounding me, yet everything was also new and exciting... I felt oddly conflicted.

Champagne Amour De Deutz Brut 2002

Views after takeoff

The seat, as expected, was extremely comfortable and almost too wide. And despite having been introduced in 2007, it still looks and feels very new. There was plenty of storage space all over the suite, from your own private coat closet next to the entertainment screen to the cubby holes next to your seat to the storage area under the ottoman.

There were no pajamas or amenity kits for this short flight to Hong Kong, and the food and beverage selection were slightly different from the usual long-haul international first, but I had absolutely no complaints about any of those things. Shortly after takeoff, I took a quick trip to the first class restroom and snapped a few pictures.

Menus were handed out prior to departure and the meal service began soon after takeoff. I'm not really sure how the orders are usually taken, but I noticed that I was skipped over at first, with almost all the other passengers' orders taken before the flight attendant came around to me... and this was a completely full cabin in first class. Luckily, my main course choice was still available! The table was pulled out and white cloth laid over.

The avocado, prawn, scallop, and salmon appetizer was absolutely delicious... I think I almost licked the plate clean. For the main, I decided on the Chinese option with stir fried lamb loin and choy sum. Both were very good, and the lamb was especially tender. This was paired with the Chateau Branaire-Ducru 2004... now I'm no wine connoisseur by any means, but from what I could tell, it was pretty tasty :) And for dessert, the warm rhubarb frangipane cake with vanilla sauce was a perfect way to end the meal. Afterwards, I had some jasmine tea along with pralines.

The mood lighting was turned on, and with my stomach full, I decided to recline the seat a bit and try out the Studio CX entertainment system and 17" screen. There were literally hundreds of Asian and Western film and television show options, plenty of new releases as well as older selections. I decided to watch a few episodes of How I Met Your Mother and Family Guy since there wasn't a lot of flight time left anyways.

Service was great, but I didn't feel like it was spectacular by any means. The 3 flight attendants in first class were all pleasant and very courteous, but I didn't feel like they were particularly warm or friendly. After the meal service ended, I hardly saw any of them come out of the galley to ask if passengers needed drinks or anything else. So while I would say the service was excellent, it didn't seem like it was above and beyond anything else I've ever experienced. Now granted, I've only experienced domestic first class and international business... but to be perfectly honest, I didn't feel a significant difference compared to those either.

The plane started it's descent into Hong Kong, and I noticed it was already dark outside. Landing was perfectly smooth, and immediately after the seat belt lights had been turned off, the flight attendants drew the curtain between business class and allowed us to deplane first. Sadly, my first experience in international first class was quickly coming to an end. But I was hardly feeling down, since I had a number of lounge visits and a true international first class flight to San Francisco still ahead of me!

Goodbye 2K!

Tokyo/Vietnam July 2011 - Thai Air Asia 3721 Economy Class (SGN - BKK)

***This post is part 21 of a full trip report. The index can be found here***

When I was booking this positioning flight from Saigon to Bangkok, I had to chuckle a little when I realized I was going to travel on perhaps the lowest of the ultra-low cost carriers in order to catch a flight on one of the best first class offerings in the world. Slightly ironic I suppose :)

I arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) via taxi early in the morning for the 9:45 AM departure. Lines at the Air Asia counter were already fairly long, with mostly Western backpackers ahead of me. One of the pains of dealing with ultra-low cost carriers are the endless add-on fees that you end up paying if you don't plan ahead. Literally everything costs extra aside from your actual seat on the plane. Unfortunately, a few ladies in front of me didn't realize this and had to pay an arm and a leg to get their multiple bags checked in. Things got fairly ugly as their conversation with the agent became heated and the agent proceeded to direct them to another counter and started to completely ignore them.

Fortunately I didn't have any issues as I prepaid for my checked bag online and it was far below the weight limit. Customs was a bit of a pain since I seem to always choose the line with the grumpiest officer. He gave a bunch of rowdy students in front of me a hard time, but luckily I was spared any questioning. Security was a breeze and soon I was at the gate waiting for our A320.

Thai Air Asia 3721

Airbus A320-200
Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) - Bangkok (BKK)
Monday July 18, 2011
Departure: 9:45 AM (scheduled)

Arrival: 11:10 AM (scheduled)

Duration: 1h 25m (scheduled)
Seat: 25D (Economy)

Boarding was actually fairly orderly, with row numbers called and most people lining up. Once on the plane, I think most male passengers' attention immediately turned to the young female flight attendants, or shall I say flying models. It's hard not to laugh at the absurdity of it all because it's quite blatant that every single one of them were selected mainly for their appearance. If this were in the United States, I think Air Asia would probably be facing a massive class action lawsuit from flight attendants who were fired the moment they turned 30, or from those who weren't even considered for the job because of how they looked.

The seats were comfortable, pitch was bearable for the short flight, and service was quick and efficient. I didn't bother ordering any food or drinks since I would be eating at the lounge when I arrived in Bangkok. But their menu was kind of comical as it was hawking all sorts of interesting stuff, from instant ramen to candy bars to t-shirts and hats. One other thing I noticed about Air Asia was the massive amounts of advertisements plastered all over the interior of the plane. This was literally a flying billboard in the sky. The funny thing was that all the advertisements were for Air Asia itself, specifically it's travel insurance add-on and it's new hotel and vacation booking features online.

Advertisements galore

Other than that, this was an extremely uneventful flight. Landing into Suvarnabhumi was a bit rough, but nothing out of the ordinary. Flying with ultra-low cost carriers always makes me smile, not because they're particularly pleasant, but because of how ridiculously hilarious some of the situations their business model can lead to. It's definitely a different breed of air travel, but with the proper caution and preparation, it can definitely be a very cheap and entertaining way to fly. With Air Asia checked off my list, I'll have to move on to RyanAir soon... I've heard great things about them ;)

Arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Tokyo/Vietnam July 2011 - Exploring Ho Chi Minh City

***This post is part 20 of a full trip report. The index can be found here***

In many ways, Saigon's relationship with Hanoi reminds me somewhat of that between Shanghai and Beijing. If Hanoi is the uptight, staid elder statesman, then Saigon is his rebellious and seductive mistress out on the prowl. Saigon exudes confidence, from the towering new skyscrapers to the mega-malls filled with teenagers to grandmas all decked out in the latest fashion. Granted, this is a city of more than 7 million people, and perhaps a vast majority of them still live within meager means, but there is the sense that Saigon is at the tip of the modernity spear in Vietnam, and despite the clampdown and torment it endured after the war, there was always an impatient population bubbling just beneath the surface.

Saigon is a thoroughly modern metropolis... chaotic, cosmopolitan, and full of charisma. This is especially true in District 1, located around the city center, where the bulk of the business, tourist, and shopping areas all converge. I would definitely recommend staying at a hotel in this vicinity so major tourist spots are within walking distance. Some of the more well-known sights in Saigon include the Notre-Dame Basilica, the Reunification Palace, and the War Remnants Museum. The Reunification Palace (formerly the seat of government for South Vietnam during the war) is definitely worth a visit, since it has been meticulously maintained and almost appears to be suspended in time.

Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica

Saigon Central Post Office (designed by Gustave Eiffel)

Reunification Palace

Cabinet Meeting Room

War Remnants Museum (aka American Military Equipment Museum)

One interesting thing I noticed about Saigon was that cars actually obeyed the signal lights (for the most part at least), whereas in Hanoi, a red light and a green light might as well have been the same color. Also, the wide, tree-lined streets and French colonial architecture provided a generally more pleasant atmosphere, at least in District 1.

Streets of Saigon

Of course, many people also take day trips (or longer) to experience life on the Mekong Delta, or see the Cu Chi Tunnels built by the Viet Cong. We had 3 full days in Saigon, and 2 were taken up by visiting sights in the city, so with one full day left, we decided to do the Mekong Delta day trip with Saigon River Express. This was booked directly with our hotel, and consisted of a fun speedboat ride to and from the delta area. For a day trip, this was an incredibly worthwhile tour, stopping at a Buddhist pagoda, a bustling and vibrant market, a small village on the delta, lunch at a local orphanage, and an interesting look at a Cao Dai temple. This was definitely one of the highlights of the entire trip.

Building boom along Saigon River

Riverfront shanty towns

Everything is transported by water here...

... and I mean everything

Local market

I think the pig is smiling

One of the smaller tributaries along the delta

Delicious fish for lunch (cool presentation too)

Cai Dao Temple

One of the more interesting (and colorful) religions I've come across, combining the powers of Buddha, Jesus, Confucius, Laozi, etc.

There is plenty of nightlife in Saigon, and some of the bars and clubs there reminded me of the large venues I've visited in Los Angeles or New York. Plenty of pricey drinks, bottle service, reserved booths, and other status symbols for sale if that's your cup of tea. And I must say, the younger Vietnamese sure know how to dress these days... I felt like a slob in the club compared to most of them!

Saigon is definitely a city I'd like to visit again someday. In another decade or two, it may be well on it's way towards becoming the next Shanghai.

1,800 Southwest Rapid Rewards Points For Hyatt Stays

Hyatt has been offering a number of different airline partner bonuses this fall. I reported in a previous post about the 1,000 bonus British Airways Executive Club miles per eligible night at any Hyatt hotel worldwide through October 31, 2011, as well as another post about the 2,500 bonus Air Canada Aeroplan miles per eligible stay at any Hyatt hotel worldwide through September 30, 2011. Now add this one to the list:

Southwest Rapid Rewards bonus points at any Hyatt hotel worldwide:

• Between October 1, 2011 and January 15, 2012, every eligible stay at any Hyatt hotel worldwide will earn 1,800 bonus Rapid Rewards miles. A maximum of 18,000 points (10 hotel stays) can be earned with this offer.

• A stay is defined as any number of consecutive nights at one hotel - regardless of if you check-in or check-out. So the best way to maximize the bonus points for this offer is to do multiple non-consecutive 1-night stays at different Hyatt hotels within one area. For example, I will be hopping between the Hyatt Place Denver-South/Park Meadows and the Hyatt Summerfield Suites Denver Tech Center in early October.

• You must choose to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points for your stay and provide your Southwest account number at check-in. This is one of the downsides of the Hyatt Gold Passport program. There is no way to change your preferences online so that you always earn with one specific airline; you must specify this each time you check-in at the hotel. In addition, keep an eye on your Hyatt Gold Passport account after your stay because sometimes they will still post Gold Passport points instead of the airline miles/points, and you must call customer service (1-800-228-3360) to get it fixed. 

• 1,800 Rapid Rewards points is 3x the normal 600 points earned per stay at Hyatt hotels.

• Make sure you register here prior to your first stay during the promotion period.

• This offer can be combined with another promotion Hyatt is currently running, where you earn 5,000 Gold Passport points for every 3 eligible nights at any Hyatt hotel worldwide through November 15, 2011. You must register here prior to your first night during the promotion period.

This is a fairly lucrative offer given that you can stack it with the 5,000 Gold Passport points for every 3 nights promotion. I had a couple of stays booked with Starwood hotels near Denver in early October to take advantage of the 1,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards bonus points offer, but switched them over to Hyatt hotels instead.

1,000 Southwest Rapid Reward Points For Watching A Short 2-Minute Video

Via this thread on Flyertalk, you can earn 1,000 Rapid Rewards points just for watching a short 2-minute tutorial video on how to use your RR points. You must have a Chase Southwest Airlines credit card in order to receive the points.

Head on over to this website, and click through the video. Don't start the video and leave because it pauses a number of times during playback to wait for your click to continue. At the end of the video, you will be asked to enter your Rapid Rewards number and the last 4 digits of your Chase Southwest Airlines credit card number. This offer may be targeted, since I did also receive an email about the promotion with a unique link to the website. However, many people on Flyertalk have reported success despite not receiving the email. Others have said they received the error notice "The information you entered is not recognized. Please reference your printed offer." So perhaps certain accounts are not eligible.

Watch the video and complete the promotion page by November 1, 2011. Points should post 6-8 weeks after the promotion ends.