Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee Edition

TravelStories Episode 52: A Trip Down Under

Feb 21, 2025

Join a thrilling journey to Australia as the host recounts unforgettable travel tales, including a humorous midair encounter and delightful experiences at Qantas lounges. Hear about visits to the world’s largest LEGO store and the iconic Taronga Zoo, alongside tasty food adventures. Dive into the highs and lows of different airlines, as well as tips for navigating Sydney’s public transport. Finally, enjoy reflections on the charming cityscape, memorable gelato, and the breathtaking Sydney Opera House!

01:10:25

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Quick takeaways

Trevor's trip to Australia was marked by luxurious flight experiences, highlighting how service and comfort greatly enhance travel satisfaction.

The hosts encountered various travel challenges, stressing the importance of convenient flight timings for a more enjoyable travel experience.

Culinary and cultural adventures, like visiting Taronga Zoo and exploring local treats, made their journey to Australia uniquely memorable.

Deep dives

Luxurious Travel Experience

The episode discusses the feeling of luxury experienced during travel, particularly on wide-body airplanes. The hosts share their excitement about the spaciousness in the aisles and how it reminded them of being in a private jet, despite knowing they were on a commercial flight. This perception of luxury is contrasted with their various flight experiences, highlighting how amenities like seat configuration and cabin crew can significantly influence the travel experience. For instance, while one of the hosts enjoyed an amazing crew on a short flight, the subsequent long-haul flight had a significantly less favorable crew.

Intro

2min

Travel Tales and Airline Ironies

8min

Travel Tales: Flying High and Low

15min

Airport Lounges and Travel Experiences

14min

Hotel Breakfast Disappointments and Coffee Woes

2min

Sydney Adventures: Food, Ferries, and Lego

6min

Exploring Taronga Zoo and Sydney's Transformation

13min

Gelato Adventures in Darling Harbor

4min

Navigating the Long Journey to Australia

2min

10.

Champagne Tasting at Altitude: A Travel Experience

3min

Episode 52: Show Notes

We’ve taken many trips to Australia, but our most recent one was certainly one to remember! In today’s episode, Trevor walks us through his most recent visit down under, and he begins with his domestic flights leaving the USA before detailing his international flight path. We unpack an awkward midair encounter from New Zealand to Australia, why Trevor was pleasantly surprised with his American Airlines flight home, how he and his family maximized their time in Qantas Business and other airport lounges, and the hotels he chose in Australasia. We also learn about the world’s biggest LEGO store, the Taronga Zoo, an unforgettable cookie, and Paddy’s Markets. To end, Trevor shares his final thoughts on Australia and the wonders of being able to walk across one of the world’s major cities.

Key Points From This Episode:

[0:00:00] Unpacking Trevor’s most recent trip to Australia.
[0:04:00] The flights he took from USA to Australia, both domestic and international.
[0:09:20] His awkward trans-Tasman encounter and pleasant American Airlines flight home.
[0:24:32] Trevor’s lounge experiences throughout the trip including some bucket list ones.
[0:30:57] The Park Hyatt in Auckland, and InterContinental and Hyatt Regency in Sydney.
[0:42:39] Exploring the largest LEGO store in the world and other food and entertainment.
[0:44:52] Local transport options, world-famous treats, and a memorable zoo.
[0:54:40] The Sydney Opera House, Paddy’s Markets, and the joys of a pedestrian city.
[1:05:10] Final thoughts on a great trip to Australia.

Quotes:

“You know what? I might just make the stretch to Executive Platinum [on AAdvantage]. It’s going to come down to the wire.” — @tmount [22:08]

“Qantas does earn a little high praise from me for their à la carte dining in general.” — @TktweetsKim [28:30]

“Three of four people responded to me saying, ‘Why on Earth are you trying to get coffee at a hotel in Australia? There’s so much great coffee, just go up the street.” — @tmount [41:50]

“We walked almost everywhere [in Sydney].” — @TktweetsKim [01:04:07]

“Going back to Sydney felt so good because it felt so familiar.” — @tmount [01:05:21]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

China Eastern Airlines

Delta

AAdvantage Executive Platinum

Qantas | Airport Lounges