This trip happened due to my friend’s mileage run which was the perfect excuse to have another holiday. Yay.
Knowing our sole intention is to chill and not really wanting to mess with the infamous Jakarta traffic, we then decided that this spot is the best option we have to allow us to simply chillax. After all, it’s not everyday you come across a Ritz where all guests get club access – time for us to find out if this is a good thing!
I was looking forward to this stay because I was able to secure a Stay Plus slot with a small top up, plus I would still have my Accor Platinum status at the point of my stay which would hopefully elevate the experience. Excited to see what the former Park Hotel Orchard has become under the Accor group.
Star Alliance Lounge, Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris
SQ335 – Paris (CDG) – Singapore (SIN) Business (Boeing 777-300ER)
Again, over-researching led me to this property for its offering of location, an Executive Lounge, and decently new rooms. After a somewhat underwhelming Eurostar experience, I couldn’t wait to settle in soonest to check out the city as I only had 2 full days in the city..
SQ335 – Paris (CDG) – Singapore (SIN) Business Class (Boeing 777-300ER)
Picked to move from Park Lane to this for a one-nighter because the property is so historic and honestly looks so impressive – just look at that architecture! But alas, it turned out to be memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Star Alliance Lounge, Charles de Gaulle Airport Paris
SQ335 – Paris (CDG) – Singapore (SIN) Business Class (Boeing 777-300ER)
After much researching for places to stay in London, I landed on this property because the rooms look really nice, it has an Executive Lounge, located at a metro station plus Big Bus Tours stop is just around the corner.
Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel and Conference Centre
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
SQ25 FRA-SIN Suites
Part of why I picked this hotel for my last night in Frankfurt was because it was the cheaper Bonvoy brand which will allow me to be near to and directly connected to the airport for my 11+ am flight back to Singapore. Also because the stay will clock my last 2k bonus points per night from the Bonvoy promotion. So despite somewhat being rattled by the reviews I’ve seen on Flytertalk, I decided to keep my reservation here for my short stint.
Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel and Conference Centre
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
SQ25 FRA-SIN Suites
I was excited about this stay as this property only re-opened a few months back after closing fully for an extensive renovation – so everything would be relatively new. This 5-night stay would also fit in nicely with the plans of using my balance of 5x Suite Night Award so I applied them about 3 weeks prior.
Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel and Conference Centre
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
SQ25 FRA-SIN Suites
Ah, the hotel splurge of my trip.
It was only a few months back that the opening of this property popped up on my reading list and I was hooked. Ritz Carlton? New? Club Lounge? With Titanium status? YES PLEASE.
But prices? NO PLEASE.
Nonetheless, massive stalking of anything related to this fancy property commenced.
After my completely devastating forced cancellation of my Etihad Apartment due to COVID (thankssss again), I had shelved any thoughts of flying First (on any airlines) as the roller coaster of disappointment was not something I want to go through again. Yeesh.
I should confess that Israel would have never been on my checklist for leisure but there was nothing I could control for a work trip so might as well try to wring a trip report out of it, even though flying Y is not the most exciting thing to write about.
My itenary for this work trip would be 7 days all in, including a 5-night stay in total – 1 night in Dubai and 4 nights in Tel Aviv:
Singapore Airlines – I was super glad that I was booked on Singapore Airlines for the 2x 7-8 hr flights. This will be my first Y experience for >5hr flight since 2020 but I’m pretty sure I’d survive quite well on our national carrier. Also time to test out the new economy class meals which has triggered a love-hate avalanche on the internet!
From SQ website
flydubai (website) – never heard of this airline prior to this. Have no idea what to expect but it seems like a decent short haul option for almost 3-4hrs. I also played around with their Manage Booking function (sometimes wonky) and was able to see that Y was laid out in a 3-3 configuration but I wasn’t able to select a fee without incurring additional costs so I’ll leave it up to fate. May the travel gods be with me.
When we began operations in 2009, our aim was to take more people to more places, more often. We now fly to more than 90 destinations and we’re constantly adding new cities to our network as we continue to grow. Over 70 million passengers have chosen to flydubai, making us the second largest carrier, by passenger numbers, operating out of Dubai International.
From flydubai’s website
Bye bye business class seat
AIRPORT LOUNGES
I will be optimistic about having the chance to check out these lounges as sometimes work trips can make stuff like these less flexible. Will try my best!
Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
Krisflyer Gold Elite Lounge / 24hrs
Airside – Level 3 (Near Central Immigration towards Gates A)
I am really excited about this one as it had re-opened on 20 May 2022 after an extensive facelift and the official photos of the space and reviews (you guys are fast!) were so pretty. This is also my first time stepping into Changi Airport’s airside after obtaining my Krisflyer Gold Elite status so double happiness!
From SQ’s website
Dubai International Airport (DXB)
I have never stepped foot into Duabi anywhere (suaku) so I can hopefully use my transit time to lounge hop abit although Priority Pass website didn’t exactly have very enticing photos of the options.
Ahlan Business Class Lounge (Terminal 1 Concourse D) / 24hrs daily
Airside – prior to Immigration, board the train to boarding gates level then take the lift or stairs on the left to Arrival Level, turn left and then right.
Airside – the lounge is located at lounge level, near the Food Court Area, opposite the ‘DIH Lounge’. International flights only.
Grabbed from Priority Pass’ website
Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV)
Same same suaku traveller for this airport but pics for this lounge looks way better than those in DXB!
Dan Lounge (Terminal 3) / 24hrs daily
Airside – after Passport Control, follow the signs to Concourse C
Grabbed from Priority Pass’ website
HOTEL
Holiday Inn Express Dubai Airport
This IHG property (website) was an unexpected stop due to the retiming of our Dubai-TelAviv sector, so I am hoping it will suffice for the overnighter and crossing fingers that it’ll be at least clean? And I can’t believe this is where I’ll be testing out my newly minted Diamond status from the fast track. Yeesh. May or may not review this one depending on circumstances (and mood).
Sheraton Tel Aviv
I was really psyched to learn that the choice of accommodation was Sheraton Tel Aviv (website) – yays to the chance to experience the newly renovated property! The rooms looked absolutely gorgeous in pics and the club lounge looks crazy nice too. A dummy search revealed a rather crazy rate of USD500++ a night so high expectations indeed.
Sheraton Tel Aviv sits on a prime beachfront location, right in the heart of the Herbert Samuel Boardwalk, overlooking the Mediterranean coastline, within walking distance to Tel Aviv’s hotspots, artist’s quarter and picturesque Jaffa. Enjoy our fitness room as well as our unique SPA featuring dead sea treatments and much more.
