Around the World in Cathay, Singapore, and Lufthansa First: United Flat Bed First Class from Honolulu to Newark

United flies two flights from Honolulu to the east coast on internationally-configured two-cabin planes. What is sold as First Class on these planes--and BusinessFirst if you fly internationally--is a fully flat bed in a 2-1-2 configuration across the cabin.

Flat bed first class on United flights between Honolulu and Newark and Washington-Dulles

This First Class is far superior to most domestic First Class, which is served by a recliner seat with only seven more inches of legroom than coach.

First Class Seat on a Hawaii to East Coast Flight.

Around the World in Cathay, Singapore, and Lufthansa First: Introduction

I haven't been home since February 16 when I boarded a plane from Honolulu for Newark.

I Lost My Passport Today in Macau

I rushed out of my taxi, flashed my boarding card at the Taipa Ferry Terminal, and fished through my pocket for my passport to exit immigration.

My first reaction was surprise: My passport wasn't in the pocket I expected it to be.

Annoyance: It wasn't in my other four pockets either.

Sinking feeling: It wasn't in my bag either.

I had lost my passport in Macau!

I spent last night at the Grand Hyatt Macau--review forthcoming--and had a 6 AM wake up call to make my 7 AM ferry to Hong Kong International Airport this morning.

My things were strewn

Trip Report: United BusinessFirst (Business Class) London to Washington D.C.

I surprised my family of four by booking them roundtrip business class tickets to Italy for Christmas using US Airways miles. It is very difficult to find four flatbed business class award seats to Europe during peak Christmas travel time. With a bit of flexibility, I was lucky to snag a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt on the outbound and the United flight below on the inbound. I previously reviewed Lufthansa's 747-8 business class, so I will skip ahead to the flight home.

United has recently increased their award chart prices to most regions.

Trip Report: Review of the Andaz Maui at Wailea

I just got back home from two nights at the Andaz Maui at Wailea.

It's a beautiful, luxurious, attentive resort with breathtaking sunset views.

It's also very expensive, poorly located for the activities that interested me on Maui, and charges a $30 mandatory valet fee per day if you come with a car.

What are my thoughts on the service, food, room, value, and more (with tons of pictures)?

Valet
There is no self-parking at the Andaz

Trip Report: ANA Business Class from Tokyo to Washington D.C.

This review is a continuation of my fun US Airways redemption that I wrote about back in this post. I reviewed Turkish Business Class: Washington DC to Istanbul and Cathay Pacific Business Class: Tokyo to Hong Kong already.

I was extremely excited for my nonstop flight from Tokyo to Washington-Dulles on ANA.

Trip Report: Cathay Pacific Business Class from Tokyo to Hong Kong

This review is a continuation of my fun US Airways redemption that I wrote about back in this post. I reviewed Turkish Business Class: Washington DC to Istanbul already and had a similar (great) experience on my flight from Istanbul to Tokyo also in Turkish Business, so I am skipping to the next segment in Cathay Pacific Business Class.

I was in Tokyo, and I wanted to add a quick side trip onto my main award, and Hong Kong seemed like the logical spot.

Trip Report: Turkish Business Class Washington DC to Istanbul

This review is a continuation of my fun US Airways redemption that I wrote about back in this post. I tweaked the itinerary slightly in the interim,  instead electing to fly nonstop from Washington DC to Istanbul and Istanbul to Tokyo on Turkish and Tokyo to Washington DC on ANA. A quick side trip to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific using Avios rounded out the trip. Those reports will come later.

I was thrilled to try out Turkish' business class product. I had heard rave reviews of their food and their lie-flat seats seemed solid.

Trip Report: Lufthansa Business Class Frankfurt to Washington DC on the 747-8

The 50k mile bonus offer is back on the Lufthansa card mentioned in this post until 6/30/14.

Trip Report: Asiana First Class Seoul to Frankfurt

This review is a continuation of my huge US Airways redemption that I wrote about back in this post. I reviewed Swiss Business Class: Boston to Zurich, Thai First Class: Paris to Bangkok on an A380, and the Thai Royal Orchid Spa in Bangkok already.

After a relaxing night at the Park Hyatt Seoul (a great value at 15,000 Hyatt points/night), I took the coach bus from the Gangnam bus terminal to Incheon airport at 10:00 a.m.