TRIP REPORT: 50 Up. Growing Old with In Style – Return to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur with Three Alliances and an LCC 

50 Up. Growing Old with In Style
Return to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur with Three Alliances and an LCC.

And to quote Monty Python, Its time for something completely different. Join me as I try a few new airlines and experience destinations I love. Join me as I get old. Disgracefully. 

In this mammoth trip report (note, headings subject to change)

• Yes. I’m that old. Next.
• Off to Heathrow, Terminal 3 and Cathay Pacific Lounge
• BA768 London Heathrow to Oslo (Club Europe)
• The Best Laid Oslo Plans, and the OSL Lounge
• TK1754 Oslo to Istanbul International Airport (Business Class)
• A new airport – Istanbul transit. Shame it was in a rush….
• TK055 Istanbul to Singapore (Business Class)
• Welcome back to Changi, Ibis Budget Ruby, Geylang
• Back to Changi Terminal 4 and AirAsia AK710 Singapore to Kuala Lumpur International.
• Into Kuala Lumpur and the Holiday Inn Express KLCC
• To the Batu Caves
• Exploring Kuala Lumpur
• Back to KLIA, The Golden Circle Lounge
• MH627 Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Changi (Economy Class) with Malaysia Airlines
• HOTEL: Intercontinental Singapore, Bugis
• For the love of Nasi Lemak and Hawker Markets
• Exploring Singapore, whilst avoiding Rain
• Pokémon Centre Singapore
• Back to Changi, and the Lounge
• TK209 Singapore Changi to Istanbul Airport (Business Class)
• Into Istanbul and the Sheraton Levent, Istanbul
• Back to Istanbul Airport and the Turkish Airlines Lounge
• TK1753 Istanbul Airport to Oslo Airport
• A leisurely Oslo transit
• SK815 Oslo Airport to London Heathrow
• Homward
• Older, Never Wiser

I’m that old. Yes. Next

I’ve celebrated my 50th year going around the planet. And to be honest, if you’ve read the blog so far this year, it’s been a bit of a downer, with certain trips shelved, and my travel being… messed up.

It also didn’t help that a certain software corporation made life hard for everyone whilst creating eWaste by the bucketload in the process.

Don’t get me started with your antics, Microsoft. I am NOT done with you. 

That and if you know what is happening in certain parts of my world (where I work for a three-lettered organisation), you’d know that there’s only been two points of discussion in my office – both of which are… unpalatable.

But it’s resulted in a lot of trips abandoned this year, with only Romania, not one, but two Chicago trips, and a run to Hamburg (which seemed to get lost amongst the cracks).

One of the reasons I’ve not been flying (well, apart from the Hamburg Trip. That trip report was written, but I never hit the publish button), is… British Airways, IAG and the realignment of The BA Club. 

And I’m going to be blunt – it’s played on my mind.

I was considering the Flying Blue Status match, but I would need a bunch of cheap Euro Runs to get enough XP to make it worthwhile. (or match via Vietnam Airlines Lotus miles to a lower tier).

Oneworld – there are options, going with Royal Jordanian and matching with a hotel status, then requalifying for Gold via that route, or switching to Iberia (to make it via segment qualification) or Finnair (to make it using points and spend).

Finally, the hard graft of a Star Alliance qualification run with Turkish Airlines or Aegean, with very few matches going on at this time (sadly, I spent my TAP Air Portugal one some time ago).

To me, Gold Status (or BA Silver) was never about the lounge access (nice as it is). It’s for when I go to the USA, to avoid paying extra for luggage fees.  Which is why you’ll probably see me on BA/AA for a few flights whilst I work on my replacement status.

For inspiration for this trip, I turn to the usual friends and methods. That’s the Premium Fare forum on FlyerTalk and Google Flights, and of course, planning any departure in Europe (as opposed to departing from the UK, due to Air Passenger Duty).

With that, it’s time to explore.

For me (living in the UK), I’ve always found fares from the Nordics to be competitive on long-haul east-bound flights, so my searches tend to be focused on departures from Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki, and Copenhagen, which tend to be my starting point in searches.

Let us dance our merry dance, Google Flights.

This year, Oslo came to be the winning option… more than once (in fact, this was the case in the summer), with Turkish Airlines being the winner, with Singapore being competitively priced at all times to the Lion City. This would be with Airbus A321s on the short-haul legs, and a Boeing 777-3000ER and Airbus A350-900 on the long-haul.l legs

Getting me to Oslo would be British Airways on a redemption flight from Heathrow, with a good Avios redemption flight.

Whilst I was thinking of somewhere else, Singapore is always a good jumping-off point. Given I’ve been to Bangkok a few times in recent times, I feel the love of Malaysia, as I haven’t been there in so many years. So the urban sprawl of Kuala Lumpur was calling me.

Given I tend to fly out lightly, but come back with a suitcase normally, I chose AirAsia on the way out on a cash fare, and Malaysia Airlines on the way back (again, with an Avios Redemption).

Finally, to get me home from Oslo to London, it was a choice of Ryanair or SAS to get me home on the same day. Well, SAS it is. Another new airline.

So, three new airlines this trip.

For hotels on this trip, I’ve gone with a mixture of fallbacks and discounts. For night number 1, I was cheap and went for an Ibis Budget in Geylang. This time, the Ibis Budget Ruby, right in the middle of the red light district.

And who says I don’t have taste?

For Kuala Lumpur, I wanted value, but I was happy for a chain hotel, so I fell back on the Holiday Inn Express in KLCC. At £40 a night, it was a no-brainer.

For my big stay in Singapore, I decided to go for my favourite property in Singapore – the  Intercontinental Singapore (and for the last time – as it’s being deflagged in January).

Finally, Turkish Airlines offered a free Stopover hotel on my return flight, so I went for the Sheraton Levent in Istanbul as one of the options – I took it.

And of course, FlixBus to get me back and forth to Heathrow.

So, lots of new experiences ahead.

Let’s hope no one makes off with my iPhone…

Next:

Every journey starts with one step. Or one Uber ride if it’s wet.

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