I need another break…
Summer adventures to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur
Contents
- Seriously – Take a holiday!
- Morning Manoeuvres in the dark, Terminal 5 and Galleries South
- BA776 London Heathrow to Stockholm Arlanda (Club Europe)
- Exploring Stockholm on the cheap (Travel Plus!)
- Back to Arlanda, Stockholm Arlanda Lounge
- QR168 Stockholm Arlanda to Doha (Hamad International Airport) – (Business Class)
- Six Hours in at Al Mourjan Doha’s Lounge
- QR944 Doha – Singapore Changi International (Business Class)
- Intercontinental Singapore
- Exploring Singapore by boat
- From the Top of the Marina Sands
- Back to Changi T2, SATS Lounge
- MH624 Singapore to Kuala Lumpur International Airport
- Into KL, Holiday Inn Express KLCC, Kuala Lumpur
- Adventures in KL
- KL Tower (or yes, Kevin is in yet another tall building)
- Back to KLIA
- MH611 Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Singapore Changi
- Exploring Singapore again with a tweep
- Back to Premium, dnata lounge, Singapore T3
- QR947 Singapore Changi to Doha (Business Class)
- A Dash through Doha…
- QR169 Doha – Stockholm Arlanda (Business Class)
- From Premium to Economy featuring the Aurora Lounge
- BA777 Stockholm Arlanda to London Heathrow
- To have flown, To Wait…
- I need another break…
Well, that was an epic trip and a bit to say the least. But there’s something you might had lost sight of… and it’s one of the reasons I took this trip (apart from trying this luxury travel malarkey).
And it’s Tier Points.
In my attempts to lock down British Airways Silver for yet another year of mediocre service (no, let’s not go there), Silver is important when I’m flying in the back of the plane – where I can take advantage of services on the ground to make economy class flying… well… bearable.
It did take time for the tier points to post (with a week elapsing before all the points were posted), but for the privilege of flying to Singapore with Qatar Airways, I got a total of:
Note, I got nothing for the Malaysia Airlines segments.
Or for those who like simple numbers: 560 Tier Points (which is almost good enough for BA Silver on its own) and 16,882 Avios. Of course, I have other flights to make to lock in Silver (mainly my four coded British Airways flights), but this pretty much seals the deal for 2018-2019.
Not the greatest trip in terms of Tier Points and Avois I’ve racked up – but it will do.
Let’s look back at some of the experiences
British Airways Short-haul (Business Class)
The breakfast never disappoints – a shame the seat does.
Stockholm
A lovely city to explore – although I do wish the Arlanda Express offered a lot better for money train tickets.
Qatar Airways
Four flights and four different levels of services, each improving as the trip went on.
Again, it’s the details that matters when flying long haul like this. This focus improved as I racked up the segments.
However, Qatar Airways needs to focus on the ground too. The lounges that they are using away from Doha vary from meh (Stockholm Arlanda Lounge T5) to awful (dnata lounge Changi T3).
For a premium product, airlines need to look at the end to end experience – and lounges form part of that premium service (along premium fares that are being charged that a premium experience). There’s work to be done here.
Their home lounge is impressive, and immersive, but there are places to find peace and quiet.
Malaysia Airlines
Whilst I experienced an abbreviated service on these 45 minute to 1 hour flights, they were pleasant enough flights, with standard leg-room. What made me smile the most was the warmness of the crew.
That and their choices of lounges at Singapore Changi and their home lounge are excellent.
I’ll also note they did a drinks and snack run in that time, with IFE fully booted up and power at seat. A lot better than a certain British Airline
British Airways Short Haul (EuroTraveller)
One of the ways to improve the passenger experience if you’re stuck in EuroTraveller is to go for an exit row and be done with it. Whilst you won’t have access to your bags during take off and landing, you’ll have legroom. Which is more than most of the plane will have.
But bring your own drinks and snacks. It’ll make the time pass by with the lack of Wi-Fi, IFE and… well… and anything else.
I wonder… did I review another airline that actually had IFE short-haul in this trip… oh yes. Malaysia Airlines…
The Intercontinental Singapore
Sublime. A wonderful property with great service and lots of little touches. It’s a property I intend to return to if I come back to Singapore.
Holiday Inn Kuala Lumpur
It might be a basic property, but it delivered in comfort and amenities – although access via that Monorail can be… entertaining.
And… that’s your lot for this premium trip. Lots of places to return to in the future, lots of new experiences. And of course…
NO DURIANS!
Up next
I’m celebrating spending a lot of time with friends, crossing the pond with chocolate twice a year to Chicago.
And this won’t be a break – but a time to catch up.
Please join me in Celebrating Chicago – with British Airways and American Airlines starting next week!
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