TravelStories Episode 66: Aspirational Travel with Paul
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Final Thoughts: Favorite Meals, Soft Product Importance
Paul and hosts compare lounge steaks, airline soft product impact, and memorable surprise service moments.
Episode 66: Show Notes
In this episode, we sit down with seasoned traveler Paul to hear how his family’s mother-daughter trip availed him the opportunity to experience some of the world’s most premium cabins, lounges, and first-class travel experiences. Paul tells us about the Swiss First Class he flew his wife and daughter on after a last-minute Lufthansa cancellation; how he flew Emirates’ stunning 777 “Game Changer”, and the A380 First Class with onboard shower and bar. Find out about Qatar’s A380 First with champagne and lounge bar, and Paul’s series of memorable stopovers from his solo trip. He also shares insights into booking strategies, compares service and food across carriers, and unpacks the pros and cons of the Al Safwa lounge in Doha. You’ll also hear about his adventures into the desert, Etihad’s new terminal with chauffeur service, and lessons any miles and points traveler can use for aspirational awards. Tune in now!
Key Points From This Episode:
- [0:03:00] How Paul’s reroute landed his family unexpectedly in Swiss First after a cancellation.
- [0:10:38] Paul’s solo trip without the family, what surprised him about the American Airlines’ lounge, and his thoughts on the LOT’s lounge in Chicago.
- [0:17:25] What makes Emirates’ 777 ‘Game Changer’ cabin stand out, how he swapped seats for more privacy, and the type of menu and amenities Emirates First has to offer.
- [0:34:35] Hear how a free Dubai stopover turned into a city visit, comparison of two Emirates First lounge experiences, and a last-minute booking change.
- [0:42:00] Emirates’ A380 First, showering on his flight, the food, and how the overall experience compared to other first-class flights.
- [0:49:26] Paul’s Bangkok stopover at the Grand Hyatt, why it is great for a short stay, and his impressions of the Qatar Premium Lounge in Bangkok.
- [0:53:26] Qatar’s A380 First with champagne, unique bar hangouts, and the premium service on the way to Doha.
- [0:58:15] Highlights of a 20-hour Doha layover, desert dunes tour, his Hyatt Regency stay, and why the Al Safwa First Lounge feels more like a museum.
- [1:03:40] How a short Qsuite flight between Doha and Dubai still delivers a full meal and luxury service, and what he appreciated about the new Abu Dhabi terminal.
- [1:13:55] Why he had an issue with the massage Etihad lounge offers, his early flight back to Toronto, and the amenity kits he got.
- [1:25:05] Why Etihad first class is not comparable to other airlines, his arrival back home, and takeaway booking hacks.
Quotes:
“I think if my wife and I ever want to fly Emirates, I would probably go ahead and get the [the loyalty program] and book directly into first class and not take a risk on upgrades being available.” — Paul [0:42:29]
“In my opinion, you can never go wrong with pre-ordering [meals].” — @tmount [0:56:00]
“It was actually plenty of space using Etihad miles to [fly] to Toronto because I think people are less interested in flying it to Toronto than New York.” — Paul [1:16:45]
“[Etihad] has come down, so poorly, and it’s really sad to see because I want to see a third meaningful airline.” — @tmount [1:20:36]
“The hard product sells you on booking the experience, and the soft product keeps you coming back for more.” — @tmount [1:27:15]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
American Airlines Admirals Club®
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