F1 Singapore Grand Prix

via Air France and Emirates First Class

September 2023

Singapore to Bangkok via Singapore Airlines 787 Business Class.]

My trek home today unexpectedly starts with Bangkok. Say what? Sadly, Air France La Première had called me earlier in morning to tell me that due to an equipment substitution, my Singapore-Paris flight tonight had no La Première cabin. Mon dieu! With no ex-Singapore First Class seats on any airline due to F1 weekend, AF was very accommodating and agreed to buy me a Bangkok-Los Angeles First Class ticket, and a Singapore Business Class positioning flight.

Wonderful SQ service in a lovely new 787 Business Class cabin.

What a sweet ride on a 2 hour flight.

My yummy Gaeng Panang Moo... Thai syle braised pork curry with spicy peanut sauce, mixed cargo rice and seasonal vegetables.

Nice sunset thru the 787 windows.

Nice to be back in Bangkok, albeit unexpectedly just two months after my last visit.

My Instagram video of the Singapore Business Class flight to Bangkok.

Michelin 1* Blue by Alain Ducasse

Dinner at Blue by Alain Ducasse Bangkok

With a 7 hour Bangkok connection, what better way to pass the time by heading into the city for dinner at Blue by Alain Ducasse ranked #24 in Asia, and my 2nd Alain Ducasse meal today!! Blue is the flagship restaurant in ICONSIAM, Bangkok’s luxury shopping centre on the Chao Phraya. This was my 2nd visit in two months as I enjoyed lunch there in July. Stunning decor and location overlooking the Chao Phraya River, with exquisite French cuisine and flawless service.

Gorgeous.

Amuse-bouche selections...

Tonight chef's choice 5 course tasting menu with wine.

Black truffle and poultry Pithiviers. Wow.

Wild mushrooms, buckwheat pasta, yellow wine. Incroyable.

Confit Atlantic turbot, beets, green apple, Timut pepper. Delicious.

Coconut and red pepper delight.

Figs from Solliès, yoghurt sorbet, Amalfi lemon.

What a wonderful meal and a great way to enjoy a 7 hour Bangkok connection. And now, back to the airport.

My Instagram video of my fabulous dinner at Blue by Alain Ducasse.

Emirates First Class Bangkok to Dubai

Emirates First Class Bangkok to Dubai

What a treat tonight as I board in Bangkok for nearly 28 hours of Emirates First Class, now that I’ve left the miserable excuse for a lounge seemingly located in another time zone and the opposite end of Bangkok International. But I digress. The rest is wonderful starting with my 7 hour Bangkok-Dubai A380.

Emirates Lounge, seemingly miles away from the gate.

Bangkok to Dubai

Emirates EK 385

A380-800

1:15am-5:00am

September 19th, 2023

Departed 12/14

Tonight's, or rather this morning's menu...

Wonderful in flight service and some marvelous French wine. Yo, Air France, this is what great French wine looks like. You’re from France, you should be embarrassed by the swill that you serve in La Première.

I chose not to sleep on the flghts to help me adjust back to Denver time. Movies and movie snacks.

OMG, Wagyu sliders. Crazy good.

Yummy Thai rice noodle wrap.

My Instagram video of my Emirates First Class flight from Bangkok to Dubai.

Emirates First Class Lounges at DXB

Emirates First Class Lounges at Dubai

As we stepped off the plane in the A gate complex, First Class passengers were met by an Emirates First Class representative, who drove us by golf cart and escorted to the front of security and then to the First Class Lounge. Although my LAX flight was scheduled to depart from the B gates, I decided to stop at the massive A gates First Class Lounge to check out the wine selection and take a much needed shower.

Then by train to the older B gate First Class Lounge where I met @thedarkknightdds who had arrived from Singapore via Jakarta and was heading to Chicago.

We sampled some lovely wines and enjoyed a great "breakfast” with LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman sitting a few tables away.

Oh wow.

My Instagram video of our visit to the Emirates First Class Lounges.

Emirates First Class Dubai to Los Angeles

Dubai to Los Angeles

Emirates EK 215

A380-800

8:50am-2:15pm

September 19, 2023

Departed 4/14

Emirates’ A380 Dubai-Los Angeles flight is one of the longest nonstops in the world… at 8,339 miles and 16 hours. I stayed awake on my Bangkok-Dubai flight so could start to adjust to Denver time.

Today's menu...

And fabulous wine list.

After a couple of glasses of fantastic Opus One and some cheese, I went to sleep shortly after take-off and woke almost 8 hours later with only 8 hours to go to LA.

After a great sleep, I was thirsty and hungry.

Outstanding Burgundy...

Wonderful Poached Lobster tail and masala prawns served with kachumber and coriander chili dressing.

OMG!

Lovely Heirloom tomato salad.

And the always tasty Lamb Biryani.

Apple Ginger Crumble.

After lunch, off for a shower in the best lav in the skies.

Then to the back of the upper deck and the Business Class Lounge.

Playing bartender.

Our First Class FA Omar brought a bottle of the good stuff to the Lounge.

What a great day with Emirates First Class, compliments of Air France. And I earned enough miles to requalify for Skywards Gold.

My Instagram video of my Emirates First Class flight from Dubai to Los Angeles.

PS Private Suite at LAX

PS Private Suite at LAX

My PS rep met me at end of the jet bridge at my arriving Emirates flight, and escorted me down the jet bridge stairs to my private limo across the tarmac to the PS terminal and a private CBP facility where I was the only person. Pleasant CBP agent cleared me and welcomed back into the US in all of 15 seconds.

Sweet wheels in the PS parking lot.

With my change from Air France to Emirates, I only had 45 minutes to relax and enjoy the Garden.

At T-45 or so, private TSA where I was the only passenger, and then to a waiting limo for the drive around the LAX tarmac to Terminal 7 and my United flight home to Denver.