I was like a kid in a candy store here. I had half of a day to kill and knew I could get some pictures at Heathrow, but where? It was raining and windy so I called over to the Renaissance Hotel to see if I could rent a day room as I was staying at The Novotel. The gal at the desk said the Renaissance offers access to their club room which faces the runway for a flat fee. Done!
When I got into the club room, I was bummed that the windows were a hazy mess due to the wind driven rain and condesation. But then it cleared up and the party started. Hope you enjoy.

titan airways

astraeus airlines

ghana international airlines

Here is my weekly installment of WTGFA (Where the Good Fares Are) A.K.A. where I am seeing some good business class airfares. For the details of how this came about, what it is meant to be (and not be) click HERE. Unless otherwise noted, I found the fares on Orbitz, one of many sites I use in researching fares for my trips.  Business Class, round-trip, for around the last week of July. Use the flexible date search on Orbitz.

• EWR-HKG: $3091 Air Canada
• SFO-MNL: $1991 Hawaiian
• MNL-CDG & LHR: $2351 & $2447 Qatar
• IST-HKG: $2095 Emirates
• LAX-TLV: $3209 Alitalia; $3257 Air France

The other day I saw a tweet about the “World’s 5 Star Airlines.”  The tweet referenced Skytrax, an outfit that ranks the world’s airlines.  I checked out the Skytrax website and was surprised to learn that I had flown on 5 of the 6 five star airlines.  Now, as I learned in the mutual fund business, stars come and go, but having experienced the airlines firsthand, I am going to have to concur with Skytrax, with maybe the exception of Asiana.  Better still, I have written posts on 5 of 6 and they are posted here for your viewing enjoyment:

• ASIANA
• CATHAY PACIFIC
• MALAYSIA AIRLINES
• QATAR AIRWAYS
• SINGAPORE AIRLINES

DOHA-LONDON
Airbus A340-600

Good morning, from my desk to yours. I am just back from another outstanding trip to Southeast Asia. In my excitement to share everything that makes up air travel, I have gotten a ahead of myself and have to take a few steps back. First off, you may have noticed Planereality has moved to BoardingArea.com. BoardingArea provides a central location that allows readers access to some of the best travel blogs on the web. I am excited to be here and I hope you too discover some great travel writers you were not aware of.
Secondly, I have not shared some of the details from my last trip which included the below flight on Qatar Airways from Doha, Qatar to London’s Heathrow Airport. Unlike my flight to Doha, this flight (#1) was operated with an Airbus A340-600 which has 3 classes.  The business class seats were nearly identical to those on the 777, but do not quite lie entirely flat.  Like my other flight on Qatar, the service and food was fantastic.  Unfortunately I slept through the 2nd meal service, but woke to find a fresh bottle of Evian water and a small box of Godiva chocolates at my seat. Along with an immigration cards, flight attendants distributed passes for the expedited customs line at Heathrow.
Here are the pics:

climbing out of Doha

Doha’s new international airport

route map

cabin

seats

seat control

place setting

prawn & salmon appetizer

linguini with walnut & gorgonzola sauce

lounge

lounge

The next few posts: SkyTeam Lounge Heathrow & Delta’s “New” Lie Flat Seats. Thanks for coming by!

I am little more than half-way through my posts pertaining to my most recent set of flights.  Below, I tried to capture my experience at Qatar Airways Premium Terminal in Doha.  I would ask you to think about the best airline lounge you have ever visited. Now, picture that lounge making up an entire terminal. That, in essence, is the Premium Terminal at Doha International Airport, although there are 2 separate actual lounge areas; one for First Class passengers and one for Business Class passengers.

A bus brought Business Class passengers from the plane to the terminal where we were greeted by two Qatar attendants and escorted to a security check-point with no line.

The lower level of the terminal contains a few shops as well as the departure gates.  The actual First Class and Business Class Lounges can be found on the upper level.

I could not resist posting a picture of the bathroom.  Very clean and modern.  Good thing the bathrooms were staffed with attendants because I couldn’t figure out how to use the soap dispenser or make the water turn on.

Satellite snack and beverage counters could be found throughout the lounge:

In addition to the snack and beverage stations, there was a restaurant.  While the food was self-service, waiters were on hand to clear plates and serve beverages.  The restaurant has hummus, salads and breads available throughout the day and various hot foods are served at meal time.  All food from the restaurant is required to be consumed within the restaurant’s dining area.  I included a picture of my lunch at the restaurant.

Beyond the spectacular setting and wonderful food, what makes the Premium Terminal so great is, like any successful operation, the people.  Qatar staff were focused solely on the well being and comfort of the passengers.  When I inquired about catching an earlier flight to London, the service desk attendant insisted I return to the lounge and relax while she checked out the availability.  I obliged and after about ten minutes the agent appeared in the lounge to let me know I would be able to take the earlier flight.  She then insisted that she wheel my bag while she escorted me to the departure gate.  After a few leisurely hours enjoying all that the Premium Terminal has to offer, I was on my way to London.

Qatar Airways Flight #645 Manila-Doha, Boeing 777-300ER, 9 hours

Like I said to myself when I got off the plane, I can’t speak for the world, but Qatar is my 5 star airline.  Easily one of the top 2 airlines I have flown.  Seat, food, entertainment, service…it was all there.  Within the first fifteen minutes of taking my seat, 3 flight attendants addressed me by name and introduced themselves.  One presented me with a menu in a bound leather folder.
Panjamas, amenity kits and noise cancelling headphones were each deliverd to my seat.  Then I was given (well maybe they offered and I obliged) a human size glass of champagne.  Just before pushback, breakfast orders were taken and I was served a hot towel on its own individual serving tray. How many times have you been on a flight and the flight attendants disappear shortly after meal service? Not on Qatar.  In fact, the longest time period I counted without a flight attendant checking on all of 5 passengers was about 3 minutes.  A few FA’s engaged me  in genuine converstaion.  Ready for this? I think they were making an effort to get to know their customers.

What about eating an entire airline meal you knew wasn’t very good, but you were so hungry you ate it anyway? The food on my Qatar flight was fresh, delicious and served on actaul dishes.  It appeared that as much effort was put into presentation as preperation.

Ever fallen asleep and woke up with your legs on the floor? Neraly impossible as Qatar’s 777-300ER features fully flat business class seats that provide a good amount of privacy.

Ever watched every bearable (in your eyes) movie & show available and still yearned for something else? See title.  I think every James Bond movie made was available, made that much better by true noise cancelling headphones.  Lots of breadth and depth on this entertainment system.

Towards the end of the flight, passengers were given comment cards to fill out.  There were no jet ways upon arrival in Doha, but business class passengers have a separate stair well to make their way off the plane.  At the end of the stairwell a bus took all of the business class passengers to the Premium Terminal.  Many thanks to the great crew of  QR#645 for a true 5 Star experience (and making it look effortless in the process)

check-in

gate

departing mnl

snack

somewhere

more food

amenity kit

pajamas

doha approach