Singapore, Bangkok, a blowout RTW

Thai Royal Orchid First Class Lounge

Thai Royal Orchid First Class Lounge at BKK

At around 9:30pm, we headed for the airport. We passed on the tuk-tuk...

... opting for a real taxi at a negotiated rate of 550 Bhat. (around $18).

And 25 minutes later, we were at the airport.

We retrieved our bags from Left Luggage and headed back to First Class check-in...

... where our Personal Assistant checked us in...

... and escorted us to security...

... and down to cart dispatch for the ride to the First Class Lounge.

Inside the Royal Orchid Lounge, not much has changed since my last visit some 5 years ago.

Comfy seating areas although the place could stand a lot more power outlets.

The private rooms are very nice, although fully occupied by the time we arrived.

batmandds headed off for a complimentary massage while I relaxed in the main seating area.

At around T-30, our PA came to get us and escort us to gate. Although getting there was quite a long haul.

After 5-7 minutes, we arrived at... security. Say what?

After security, we walked the rest of the long, long way to Gate E3.

Thai A380 First Class to London

Bangkok BKK to London LHR

Thai TG 910

A380-800

12:50am-7:15am (sked)

1:20am-7:35am (actual)

July 4, 2019

First Class Suite 2K

Boarding was well underway when we finally arrived at E4.

Our PA escorted four of us who were in the Lounge to the boarding door...

... and onto the plane.

The elegant 12 seat cabin is located on the upper deck. We were welcomed on board by a wonderful staff who provided outstanding service tonight.

Pre-departure Dom.

Thai First pajamas were extremely soft and comfy. So much so that I took them home with me, and I rarely do that.

Tonight's wine and drink list. Unfortunately, I neglected to take a pic of the wine pages. My bad.

IFE was so-so and the movies line-up on par with the mediocre line-up on ANA. Wifi was slow and frustrating. That free 20MB didn't go very far.

Our amuse-bouche.

Showtime, Thai style.

Caviar to start...

... with chilled vodka in a properly iced glass.

Fabulous starter.

For my main, I went with Samrab Thai, Roasted Marinated Pork Ribs with Egglant in Green Curry, Steamed Duo Jasmine Rice with Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas and delicious sides.

Very tasty.

And dessert. Since I couldn't decide, our flight attendant gave me both. LOL.

Time for bed. I headed to the lovely First Class lav...

... while my comfy bed was made.

With the help of Ambien, I slept for 6 hours solid, and then had a little breakfast before landing.

On approach to Heathrow.

All in all, an excellent First Class experience with outstanding service from a friendly and professional crew.

Air France Business Class to Paris

From our Thai arrival gate at the far end of T2, it was a long hike to our connections buses, me to T4 and Air France to Paris and San Francisco, batmandds to T5 and BA to Chicago.

After a wonderful couple of days, we bid adieu at bus connector departures.

I decided to go directly to the T4 AF gate and see if I could get on the 9am LHR-CDG flight and enjoy an extra 3 hours in the LP lounge. Arrived at T-15. As soon as I mentioned the magic words "La Première", wonderful LHR gate agent moved me to the flight, assigned me may fave short-haul 1F, escorted me down the jet bridge and introduced me and handed me off to the Purser.

London LHR to Paris CDG

Air France AF 1681

A321

9:00a-11:25a

July 4, 2019

Business Class (Euro-fraud version)

Seat 1F

I was still stuffed from my Thai flight and declined any food or even beverage service on this short 45 minute flight.

A little more then 30 minutes after take-off, we were descending over Paris.

Despite the last minute flight change, my Personal La Première Assistant was waiting on the jet bridge as I deplaned, and walked my downstairs to my waiting BMW for the short drive to the La Première Lounge.

La Première Lounge at Paris CDG

Air France La Première Lounge Paris CDG

After a short ride from our arriving flight, I was at the lower level of the La Première Lounge where that security officer waived me thru without any further checks. Up the elevator and we were in one of my favorite lounges on the planet. And the only with an Alain Ducasse restaurant.

Great small bar patterned after the old Plaza Athenée bar.

CEO Ben Smith was in the CDG La Première Lounge this morning, taping a 100th anniversary message. Didn't realize who he was until he started speaking... Québecois, just like me. LOL. After, he walked around the Lounge and introduced himself to each pax and thanked us individually for flying AF. Seems like a nice guy.

I headed for a shower before lunch.

Time for lunch...

... from Alain Ducasse.

I went with two of my menu favorites, the Shrimp Caesar salad...

... and my all time Alain Ducasse favorites, Coquillettes jambon/truffe noir.

OMG!

And finally, my new La Première luggage tag.

Air France 77W La Première to SFO

Paris CDG to San Francisco SFO

Air France AF 82

777-300ER (77W)

3:55p-6:20p

July 4, 2019

First Class

Departed 3/4

Suite 1L

At around T-30, my Personal Assistant came to retrieve me for the short drive to my plane. I chose CDG-SFO because it was the only afternoon departure to the west coast, and it was the 77W.

Staircase from the tarmac to the jet bridge, where we bypassed the crowd since the 1L jetbridge was used today and reserved only for First Class.

I was warmly welcomed on board by our Purser and First Class flight attendant. So happy to back in one of my favorite First Class cabins.

A glass of Krug at the gate prior to departure.

Today's menu...

... and wine list. Other than the Krug, a nice but not overly impressive selection.

Just after take-off, my 3 days of travel started to hit me. I reclined my seat, closed the curtain and slept for a solid 90 minutes. My "power nap" did the trick and I felt great and ready to go again. Showtime, La Première style.

I passed on caviar and went with a couple of starters. The Langoustines with celeriac and green apply remoulade was outstanding

Melon with thinly sliced Parma ham was refreshing.

Then the Center-cut beef tenderloin with red wine, potato cake and sautéed morel mushrooms...

Delicious even though more well done than I typically like.

The cheese selection was wonderful.

Decisions, decisions...

The Lenotre Gianduja nougatine tart was fabulous.

After a movie, I decided to go for some proper sleep.

I slept for a solid 5 hours. At around T-90, time for another meal.

The Leek tart with pickled vegetables was very good.

But the inflight culinary highlight of the year was my Pan fried foie-gras.

It was to die for, with cider apple compote, potatoes with thyme, and port sauce. OMG. The fragrance was orgasmic, especially since the dish was covered and top not removed until it was presented. I stuck my nose towards the dish and inhaled the smells for at least a minute before starting to eat. With another glass of Sauternes... heaven.

Just prior to landing.

We landed on time and were at our gate a few minutes later. Another superb day with Air France, which I believe continues to have the best overall First Class product in the world.

The Club at SJC

Never was the value of Global Entry more valuable than tonight. Literally thousands of people in line for Immigration/Customs and not a single other person at the Global Entry kiosks. I was out in 2 minutes, booked my Uber while exiting customs and my ride pulled up as I arrived at sign post 14 on the departures level.

No traffic on 101 on July 4th...

... and amazingly I was at SJC 35 minutes after I deplaned at SFO.

Busy night at SJC security. LOL.

With more than an hour before my LAX flight, I headed for The Club at SJC, using my Priority Pass for entrance.

Friendly staff welcomed me into what was a crowded lounge, filled mostly with BA pax.

Much nicer and quieter once the BA crowd left.

At around T-45, I headed downstairs for the long walk to my gate. The last pax boarding BA's SJC-LHR 787.

American Eagle First Class to LAX

The only reason I booked this flight is that I wound up needing 5 more BA Tier points by the end of next week to re-quailfy for BA Gold. So I needed an AA flight and SJC-LAX was the only one that worked. Since I only needed 5 Tier points, I booked a cheap $55 Economy ticket and used my BA Gold status for Main Cabin Extra bulkhead seat, which actually has more legroom than First.