Category Archives: Reviews

Mykonos Luxury Mykonian Priority Pass Lounge At Mykonos Airport (JMK)

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Mykonos island is one of my the most favorite vacation destinations in Greece. It’s a tiny, sick expensive, ridiculously fun, yet posh and luxury island, which cannot be compared to anything else in Europe.

Mykonos Airport Lounge Access

Luxury Mykonian Airport Lounge can be accessed by Priority Pass, Lounge Key members, Dragon Pass members, and Daily Pass holders.

I have used Priority Pass unlimited card, which I got with my American Express Platinum. Unfortunately, none of the big airline alliances have an agreement with the lounge, so having Aegean Airlines Gold or any other top-tier status within Star Alliance, SkyTeam or oneworld won’t grant the access to the Mykonos JMK lounge.

Note that the lounge is located in Domestic Departures hall and landside (before security). So you can do a check-in and then move to the lounge, but you will need to pass the airport security after leaving the Mykonos lounge. Keep it in mind and keep an eye on the clock, given that international (outside of Greece) departures are usually a mess and have massive lines.

Working hours: Daily 7:00 to 23:00

Closed: Winter Season (04Oct-Apr).

Luxury Mykonian Lounge is decorated in the authentic style of Mykonos island. I’d say it can handle no more than 30-40 visitors at the same time. There’s a big dining table, high sitting seats, sofa area and a few more seats here and there. To my biggest surprise, there’s even working area with two workstations. There are enough charging plugs all over the lounge. As domestic flights depart from Mykonos with several hours difference, so I doubt the lounge is ever crowded.

You can enjoy soft drinks, coffee, Greek wines and prosecco in Mykonos Airport Lounge. My favorite part about airport lounges in Greece is that they stack up all the wine bottles in the fridge and make it available.

Greek wines are one of my the most favorite, I would highly recommend having a pre-departure glass of wine :).

There’s also a selection of fresh fruits, traditional Greek pies and different cookies and cakes. I was in the lounge an hour before closing and didn’t see any warm food.

Overall

Luxury Mykonian Lounge by Goldair Handling CIP is a pleasant place to wait for the flight at Mykonos Airport, given how tiny the airport is. You can grab a drink and a small bite before your flight, but I wouldn’t arrive much ahead just to visit the lounge.

Remember it’s only accessible for Priority Pass, Lounge Key members, Dragon Pass members, and Daily Pass holders. 

Has anyone else been to this lounge?

SAS WiFi – how fast is in-flight Internet on short-haul flights?

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SAS started to finally roll out in-flight WiFi for its short-haul fleet.

While having internet connection during the flight is definitely a huge improvement for SAS, their advertising of it might be a bit misleading.

How fast is SAS onboard WiFi?

SAS is claiming their WiFi is High Speed and allows to stream from Netflix. I recently took a SAS flight from Copenhagen to Munich and here’s a SpeedTest of the connection during that flight.

SAS onboard WiFi

SAS onboard WiFi

I wouldn’t say the speed is enough for comfortable streaming of Netflix or Youtube. Netflix automatically adjusts quality, when there isn’t enough internet speed, while Youtube was working properly only at 360p quality.

Switching quality to 480p makes Youtube to constantly lag and stop for buffering, which is less than pleasant experience. Surely, I wouldn’t even hope for any HD videos working fine.

Also, the connection was interrupted few times during a short 1,5 hours flight.

SAS not working WiFi

SAS not working WiFi

Perhaps, the speed and stability will increase in the future on short-haul flights, given that on SAS long-haul A330/340 fleet I haven’t experienced the same problem.

How to get SAS onboard WiFi?

Slow WiFi is still better than no WiFi.

SAS EuroBonus Gold and Diamond members and SAS Plus travelers can use in-flight WiFi for FREE and without any traffic limitation.

This’s a really nice perk for all top-tier members, especially after cutting down on luggage.

You can connect to WiFi using your SAS EuroBonus number or Last Name / Reservation Code combination.

Connecting to SAS in-flight WiFi for free

Connecting to SAS in-flight WiFi for free

All other passengers would have to pay 4,9 EUR / 49 SEK / 39 DKK / 49 NOK / 7 USD per WiFi key. 

Have you taken any SAS WiFi-equipped short-haul flights recently?

How was your internet experience and connection?

Quickie: Singapore Airlines First Class Lounge London Heathrow Airport

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Singapore Airlines First Class SilverKris Lounge

Is one out of two options available for StarAlliance first class passengers in London Heathrow Airport. The second first class lounge available in London Heathrow airport is United Global First Lounge, which I personally found to be much better.

There isn’t really much to review about Singaporean lounge, therefore let’s make it a Quickie!

Singapore Airlines First Class Lounge is located 10-15 minutes walk from the main airport area, and I managed to visit it during the breakfast hours, perhaps this’s why I was not impressed with it.

You can see the most of the lounge on the video, but I will quickly cover a few moments.

Singapore Airlines First Class SilverKris Lounge Champagne

There’s just one option, Laurent-Perrier La Cuvee Brut, which is not bad, but for me, it’s on a very sweet side due to high dosage.

The same champagne is served in United Global First Lounge, so in case you really don’t like it, choose another airport to departure from. I’m not joking!

 

Singapore Airlines First Class SilverKris Lounge and Food

I was in the lounge during the breakfast hours, which resulted in a limited Singaporean breakfast menu, rather than a full menu.

Singapore Airlines First Class SilverKris Lounge feels tiny and small. It has very small buffet area, with very limited food options. There’re dining tables available with the a-la-carte menu, but breakfast options I found to be quite sad.

 

I ordered Singaporean laksa, which was ridiculously fishy. Yes, it does list a lot of seafood ingredients on the menu, but it was just purely “fishy”. I had to skip that dish completely.

I have to give it to the Singapore Airlines First Class Lounge crew, who put an extra effort in fixing my friend’s vegetarian sandwich.

 

The service was good, but not perfect. We and other guests had to constantly ask for drinks refill. There’s a drastic difference between United First Class Lounge and Singaporean First Class Lounge in London Heathrow Airport. However, drinks and wine/champagne are also available for self-service.

On a cute side, some of the lounge tables are designed in line with Singapore Airlines First and Business class seats, which I think is quite cool.

There’s also relaxation area and in-lounge showers/restrooms.

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ANA First Class Suite (NH 212) London to Tokyo review

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Booking two seats in ANA First Class suites can be a challenge. Flight NH 212 is one out of only 3 daily flights from Europe to Japan, which is operated by ANA B777-300ER with First Class Suites installed.

It took me approximately 3 months to get these seats, as ANA usually releases just 1 First Class award seat on their long-haul flights.  Was it worth the trouble and time spent? Absolutely!

All Nippon Airways (ANA) NH 212 London to Tokyo First Class review

  • Flight: All Nippon Airways NH 212
  • London Heathrow (LHR) – Tokyo Haneda (HND)
  • Direct flight: duration 11h50m
  • First Class Suite
  • Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
  • Seats: 1D, 1G

ANA operates B777 with First Class Suites only on their flights between Tokyo to London/Frankfurt. It’s been next to impossible to find more than 1 award seat available on any of ANA European flights, especially from such a busy destination as London. However, by luck and checking the availability during 3 months, I managed to book one seat all the way back in August 2017, and second seat somewhere in the beginning of December, for departing on December 25th, 2017.

I had mixed expectations about the flight, awaiting the most to try Krug champagne, but was not very attracted to the cabin itself. Overall, my expectations were met.

If you have extra time before departure, it’s better spent in United Global First Lounge, rather than Singaporean First Class Lounge. Boarding First Class cabin was very fast, and I was welcomed by polite and smiley ANA flight attendants, who helped me to my seat, offered help with the carry-on and offered a drink (Krug :)).

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ANA First Class Suite Cabin and Seats

ANA First Class B777-300ER features 8 Suites in 1-2-1 configuration. I liked the design and colors of the cabin. The wooden design was looking clean and relaxing, while seats were big and comfortable, as it shall be in First Class cabins. Overhead bins provided enough storage for all passengers, especially given that the cabin was half empty.

The screen is reasonably-sized and entertainment system is working properly. During the sleeping time, the seat transforms into a full bed, ANA also provides nice, soft and comfortable bedding, in comparison to Asiana Airlines First Class Suites, where the pillow was just laughable.

The only negative thing about ANA First Class Suites is annoying privacy separator, which cannot be removed. If you’re traveling with someone, you have to constantly bend to be able to talk and see each other. Other airlines install separators which can be lifted up and down, but in ANA it’s impossible.

ANA First Class Dining and Drinking

Personally, my interest in flying ANA First Class was focused on trying Krug champagne and western menu, which features supposedly “one of the best steaks you can get in the skies”.

ANA Champagne

ANA First Class Krug Champagne

ANA First Class Krug Champagne

ANA First Class offers Krug Grande Cuvee and Louis Roederer Brut Millesime 2009 champagnes to First Class passenger. In my opinion, Louis Roederer is a better option for travelers who enjoy less sweet champagne, meanwhile, Krug is surely nothing to complain about.

Wine selection is also quite nice, and Sake and Shochu options are wider than in most of European bars and pubs! If they wouldn’t be that strong in alcohol, you can spend entire ANA flight just trying different Sake.

ANA Cuisine

When it comes to food, you have to be a seafood enthusiast to really appreciate ANA First Class Japanese cuisine. It wasn’t my case, as I had no idea about what are the 90% of the ingredients in Japanese dishes.

However, it didn’t stop me from asking for Oscietra black caviar, which is not officially advertised on the menu. And here’s a weird thing, ANA was carrying only 1 jar of black caviar for the entire first class cabin… My friend asked for it as well but was told I got the last portion. I find it extremely odd that one passenger gets black caviar, meanwhile another not. From my experience with Lufthansa, Asiana, and Thai Airways first class cabins, there is always enough black caviar for ALL the passengers, and even more, if someone doesn’t want it, but never a shortage.

For the main course, I decided to try ANA famous wagyu beef.  It was definitely a delicious cut of meat, especially with my previous experiences of getting steaks up in the air.

I’m also including “vegetarian Hindu” food served during the flight, which was pre-ordered by my friend. Overall, the friend was happy and satisfied with his vegetarian option, but I always find it of worse quality and presentation compared to standard menu meals.

Just before breakfast, I tried IPPUDO Daichi ramen (as I love ramen soups), which was very tasty and filling, making me pass on the breakfast itself, but there are photos of vegetarian breakfast instead.

ANA First Class Amenity Kit / Pajamas

ANA First Class Samsonite amenity kit

I LOVE collecting different airline’s amenity kits (well, if it’s not Lufthansa terribly designed one).

ANA is providing luggage-looking Samsonite cases, with The Ginza cosmetics and toothpaste/brush. For me, Lufthansa’s Amenity Kit features much better La Prairie cosmetics, but ANA is definitely not a bad option. It’s clearly miles ahead of the sad Thai Airways Amenity Kit.

ANA offers different “goodies” to First Class passengers, including standard socks, sleeping masks, earplugs, but also some truly fun ones, like beauty masks, refreshing towels and legs cooling pads (highly recommended for everyone to try, they are amazing!).

Pajamas were provided in different sizes. I found them to be a good quality and decent looking. When we were leaving the plane in Haneda airport, one of the flight attendants saw us packing our pajamas and offered us fresh and clean ones to take, and leave the used ones. This has never happened to us with any other airline.

ANA First Class Toilets

I was expecting ANA B777-300ER to be equipped with slightly bigger toilets. It was simply not big enough to comfortably change cloth in it. Restroom cosmetics are simpler than in Lufthansa but sufficient enough. Surely, which Japanese airline comes without a toilet, which has all those crazy washing/blowing options?

During the entire flight, toilets were clean and well maintained, nothing to complain about.

Overall:

I really liked my experience in ANA First Class Suite flying from London to Tokyo. Everything was close to being perfect, apart from the god damned seat separator. I would choose London over Frankfurt due to United First Class lounge, instead of waiting for the flight in Lufthansa Senator’s lounge.

ANA has very limited award seats availability, so if you manage to find a seat and it fits your travel plan, I wouldn’t wait and try to book it immediately.

Trip Report: First Class ANA and Asiana Airlines Europe-Asia

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Yet another amazing First Class experience came to an end, and there is much to remember and review!

This time I was lucky to get 2 seats on ANA First Class flight between London and Tokyo, which took me approximately 4 months to make it happen. Read more about ANA 2 seats reservation tricks here.

Route: CPH-LHR-HND-CGK-BKK-ICN-FRA-CPH
Points used: 95 000 SAS EuroBonus / person
Departure: December 25
Return: January 8
Travel time: over 60h
Classes: 2 First (ANA and Asiana), 4 Business (ANA, Thai and SAS), 1 Economy (SAS)

Singapore Airlines First Class Lounge in London Heathrow Airport

Singapore Airlines First Class Lounge in Heathrow Airport is located in The Queen’s Terminal (satellite pier T2B), next door to the Business Class lounge. It can be easily found by following signs in the airport.

The service was nice and polite, decent a la carte menu for breakfast and lunch, a small buffet of ready dishes, and proper table service. The area is quite small with a very dated and sad looking decor.

During morning hours the lounge is not crowded, allowing visitors to relax, enjoy a glass of champagne and do some airplane spotting.

United Global First Class Lounge in London Heathrow Airport

United Global First Lounge in London Heathrow Airport is the second and last First Class Lounge options for all StarAlliance travellers. Located just a few minutes away from Singaporian Lounge, I found United Global First Lounge to offer much better and pleasant environment.

It also provides a la carte menu, wide selection of drinks and quite interesting “old school” decoration, which I personally found to be quite cool.

This would be my #1 recommendation for First Class passengers in London Heathrow Airport.

ANA First Class Suite (NH 212) London to Tokyo review

One of the hardest flights to book for 2 persons, which took me more than 3 months to actually book.

Amazing experience in ANA First Class Suites onboard of B777-300ER. Positive sides: great service, delicious Krug champagne and tasty food.

However, the cabin design is quite annoying if you’re traveling with a companion. Why? Read the full review and watch the video.

ANA First Class Lounge Tokyo Haneda Airport review

Freshly after arriving on ANA First Class Suites, ANA First Class Lounge in Haneda Airport provides a relaxing and fun experience after the trip.

The lounge is very spacious and comfy, polite and attentive service topped by one of my favorite champagnes Ayala, and a pleasant atmosphere.

It’s definitely a lounge to put on a “to-visit list”, but far away from Lufthansa First Class Lounges in Munich and Frankfurt.

ANA Business Class (NH 855) Tokyo to Jakarta review

This 9 hours flight from Tokyo to Jakarta is operated by Dreamliner B787, which I personally dislike.

However, ANA airlines has long-haul business class seat modification installed for this route. It’s definitely more comfortable than usual mid-ranged Dreamliner seats, as it’s offering fully flat beds.

As usual ANA has spot-on service, accompanied by a decent food and drinks menu.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Business Class (TG 436) Jakarta to Bangkok review

New Thai Airways Royal Silk Business Class cabin onboard Dreamliner B787.

A very, very pleasant surprise! Despite the business cabin not being the most advanced and private one, it looked very nice, felt fresh and was very comfortable.

As usual, Thai Airways provided very attentive, positive and smiling service, as well as tasty food and Veuve Cliquot champagne 🙂

Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa Panorama (Executive) Lounge review

I think TripAdvisor and endless booking webpages show relatively accurate picture of Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort at Karon Beach.

I just make a short review of the Panorama (Executive) Lounge, which can be accessed by Hilton Honors Diamond members or by booking Deluxe/Royal suite.

Overall, it works more like a bar than a lounge, but it’s a damn good bar by Thailand measurements, providing free drinks and a stunning sunset view :)!

Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Class / StarAlliance Gold Lounge in Bangkok Airport

Relatively new StarAlliance Gold / SilverKris Business Class Lounge in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.

It’s a bit tricky to find as there’re no clear signs, so it took me more than 15 minutes to find it.

Overall, I think it’s the best StarAlliance Business Class Lounge in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, and let me explain you why…

EVA Air Business Class / StarAlliance Gold Lounge in Bangkok Airport

The newest StarAlliance Gold Lounge by EVA Air in Bangkok Airport.

It looks very cool from outside, but inside it’s a complete disaster.

I cannot understand who could have possibly agreed on such interior design within a “Business Class” Lounge concept. The lounge looks more like a nightclub, strip club, cheap bar, than a business class lounge.

Ridiculous lightning, poisonous colours and labirynt walks, read more why I personally hated this lounge….

Air France / KLM / SkyTeam Business Class Lounge in Bangkok Airport review

The only SkyTeam Elite lounge in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, which serves Air France, KLM, SkyTeam and PriorityPass travelers.

To my biggest surprise, it was the brightest and the best decorated lounge out of 4 lounges I’ve visited in Bangkok Airport. Very clean, with reasonable food and drinks selection, proper working and relaxing areas, combined with a nice view over the terminal.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Business Class (TG 658) Bangkok to Seoul review

Good, old and ugly Thai Airways Boeing 747 upper-deck Business Class cabin…

I’ve taken this flight previously in First Class cabin. Clearly, it was a nicer experience to fly First than Business, but with a new improvement of Veuve Clicquot champagne being served in Thai Royal Silk Business Class, I just cannot complain on it!

So we had Veuve, and then more Veuve, and some more Veuve and a bit more of fresh and refreshing Veuve… If you look for more details, please read the short review (better if you have a glass of Veuve Clicquot in your hands).

Asiana Airlines First Class Suites (OZ 541) Seoul to Frankfurt review

Asiana Airlines is one of the easiest award flights to book, and yet the most exciting flight to take.

I could list 100s of ANA, Lufthansa, Thai and Singaporean First Class issues, but with Asiana it’s just 2 – severe champagne/wine deficit and uncomfortable bedding. The rest of Asiana Airlines A380’s experience was amazing!

Simply the best food onboard (Bibimbap!!!), polite and fun service, comfortable cabin and… Did I mention amazing food and service?

After enjoying the exceptional service and culinary delights on Asiana Airlines, we can’t help but daydream about our next adventure. Australia, with its mesmerizing landscapes and pristine beaches, is calling our names louder than ever.While our flight on Asiana Airlines had a couple of minor hiccups like the champagne/wine shortage and bedding, it was an overall thrilling experience. The outstanding food, especially the mouthwatering Bibimbap, and the polite, fun, and attentive service left an indelible mark on our travel memories.

Now, as we contemplate our next journey, we can’t help but imagine how the beautiful beaches of Australia will enchant us. From the world-famous Bondi Beach in Sydney to the remote and untouched stretches of sand along the Western Australian coast especially Merimbula, Australia promises to be a beach lover’s paradise.The thought of sinking our toes into the warm, golden sands, listening to the soothing sounds of the waves, and enjoying the sunny Australian weather is incredibly enticing. Whether it’s snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef or simply relaxing on the pristine shores, Australia offers a beach experience like no other.We look forward to trading our cabin seats for beach loungers and experiencing the magic of Australia’s coastline, all while savoring the memories of our remarkable flight with Asiana Airlines

Kuala Lumpur airport lounges review: Plaza Premium, SilverKris and Royal Silk

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During my latest Crazy Trip of September, I had a chance to visit two StarAlliance Gold and one PriorityPass lounge in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL or KLIA).

My flight from Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo/Narita was departing at 7-00, so during check-in, I got an invitation to contracted lounge Plaza Premium, which is the only lounge working during the night.  Singapore Airlines SilverKris and Thai Airways Royal Silk lounges were both opening only at 6-00.

The amazing part is, all three lounges are within 1-minute walk from each other and next to smoking lounge! If you have a long stopover, you can do lounge hopping entire day ;)!

Plaza Premium Lounge in Kuala Lumpur

If you are travelling business class or have elite status with any of the following airlines, and your “native” alliance lounge is not working, you shall get the invitation ticket at the check-in counter.  I could also access Plaza Premium Lounge using PriorityPass that I got after receiving American Express Platinum card.

At 5-00, when I entered the lounge, it was quite empty and only a few passengers were napping there. Closer to 6-00, when most of the airlines start flying, the lounge became much busier.

There is a dedicated bar, which serves coffee and alcoholic drinks.

There is a price list for alcoholic drinks, but I was told to show my boarding pass and got it for free. Not sure who is required to pay, my guess would be PriorityPass users.

The food options were limited to the salad bar, some chicken sausages, fried noodles and omelette.  Next to the food station are fridges with soft drinks. There was also a separated “bread” station with bread, pastries and butter/jams.  A bit later there were sushi rolls available.

Each seat has several power outlets, which is usually one of the biggest deficits in many lounges. WI-FI was working good, but I would expect worse performance during busy hours.

Jumping ahead, I think Plaza Premium is one of the best lounge options at Kuala Lumpur Airport among the ones in the review.  It has the widest food selection and bigger sitting area, Surely, before it gets completely packed during busy hours due to many partners being served.

Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge at KLIA

The second lounge I visited at Kuala Lumpur Airport was Singapore Airlines SilverKris. To be frank, I always prefer SilverKris lounge in Asia, if there is one available, to any other StarAlliance lounge. Clearly, the lounge can be accessed by anyone flying Singapore Airlines business class or StarAlliance Gold members. SilverKris lounge opened precisely at 6-00 and is located 1-minute walk from Plaza Premium lounge.

There were some premade salads stored in the fridge, four options of warm dishes, some bread and pastry, alcohol bar and soft drinks.

SilverKris lounge had a fridge with a few bottles of white wine and red wine available next to heavy alcohol, which is my main food in lounges 😉

The lounge is the smallest one in the review, mostly providing high tables and just a few rows of chairs, but once again, no issue with power outlets or WI-FI connection.

Thai Airways Royal Silk lounge In Kuala Lumpur

The last lounge I managed to visit very quickly was Thai Airways Royal Silk lounge, which is located right opposite Plaza Premium. It’s a bit more spacious than SilverKris, seem to have more comfortable chairs, tables in front of you, rather than on a side,  and decent working area.

The food selection was exactly the same as in KrisFlyer lounge, so there is not much to discuss here. The beverage selection is the same minus any sort of wines.

Thai Airways lounge was completely empty, while KrisFlyer was already getting busy at the time of my visit.

Bottom line

If you travel with StarAlliance Gold and want to have a glass of wine, head directly to Singaporean KrisFlyer lounge. If you don’t care about it and want nicer sitting area, the choice is Royal Silk lounge. Food is equal in both lounges, but Thai seems to be a bit quieter.

If you can access Plaza Premium lounge – there you find a wider food selection, but it can get very crowded and noisy.

Overall, Kuala Lumpur KLIA airport is a heaven for lounge hoppers!

Pontus in the Air – Arlanda American Express lounge review

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Pontus in the Air – is a lounge dedicated specifically to American Express Platinum and Centurion cardholders.

The lounge is located in Terminal 5 of Arlanda Airport in Stockholm. Terminal 5 is mostly used for international departures outside of EU. The lounge is a part of Pontus in the Air restaurant but separated from the main area for privacy. To access the lounge you need to present a valid American Express Platinum or Centurion card to the lounge staff. It doesn’t have to be issued in Sweden, but mine was :).

Entrance to the lounge

The lounge looks quite tiny and at most have 10-12 tables. The service is provided by waiters, and I found it to be the downside in comparison to self-service SAS lounges. I had 40 minutes before the next flight and had to wait 20 minutes for a glass of wine and food. When I finally got it, I had to rush it and run to the gate.

Pontus in the Air lounge

There is a fixed menu for all customers, which consists of three main courses.

Swedish people LOVE the shrimp sandwich from Pontus, but I decided to try a salmon salad, complimented with a glass of white wine. To be honest, I didn’t have high hopes for the food, but the salad was delicious.

In case you are vegetarian, you can ask staff for a special meal outside of the menu.

Apparently, when the lounge just opened, there was a welcoming champagne served. But not anymore :(. However, wine, beers, and soft drinks are still included.

There’s selection of bread, desserts, and fruits available. As I don’t eat desserts that much, I haven’t tried them.

Overall, I enjoyed my very short stay in Pontus in the Air lounge. It’s a nice perk for American Express Platinum/Centurion cardholders, especially if they are traveling via Arlanda airport a lot.

It’s a good alternative to SAS and contracted lounges in Arlanda, especially if you’re hungry.

The service is nice and polite, but a bit slow, so I would not plan to visit the lounge if you have less than 30-40 minutes before the flight.

I hope that Amex will expand their Platinum and Centurion lounges to more airports, and especially open something in my beloved Kastrup airport in Copenhagen.

Royal Jordanian business class review Athens to Amman

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In July, I had to fly from Athens to Amman on Friday, and it’s the only day when Aegean Airlines is not operating flights to Jordan. The only option was to take Royal Jordanian airlines, which is a oneworld member. It was a good reason to status match with Airberlin topbonus, so I could get priority checkin, baggage and lounge access.

Royal Jordanian Crown business class review

  • Flight: Royal Jordanian RJ 132
  • Athens Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH) – Amman Queen Alia International Airport (AMM)
  • Direct flight: duration 02h10m
  • Economy class -> Business class with bid upgrade
  • Aircraft: Embraer 175
  • Seat: 1A

I booked a flight with Royal Jordanian airlines in economy class, but used Go Crown bid upgrade service. Go Crown bid upgrade was available in My Booking section of RJ.com website. The lowest amount to bid was 100, my upgrade bid was only 110. Two days before departure I received email with congratulations on upgrade.

I checked in online and had only carry-on with me, so I didn’t have any counter check-in experience.

Royal Jordanian lounge in Athens

Athens airport is a StarAlliance hub, so there was no oneworld lounge. But as I was flying Royal Jordanian Crown business class and had Airberlin topbonus gold status, I was able to enter one of the contracted lounges in international A-zone of Athens airport.

The lounge was quite good. Definitely not comparable to Aegean or Lufthansa StarAlliance gold lounges, but it served the purpose. You can read separate review of the lounge here.

Royal Jordanian business class flight

Royal Jordanian flight 132 is operated on Embraer 175 with 1-2 seat configuration. I chose seat 1A so I can seat alone. Business class cabin was half empty, while economy class was almost completely full. The cabin looks a bit dated, seats were worn out and slightly dirty. There was already pillow on the seat and I asked for an additional blanket.

Food and drinks

Shortly after taking off, I was approached by a very polite and nice flight attendant. She asked me what would I like to drink, but as there was no food/drinks menu I had to ask “what do you have?”. She asked again what do I want, and we had to play this game two more times, just for the fun of it.

To my surprise, Royal Jordanian was providing alcoholic beverages, including champagne. I asked for a glass of champagne. I got a strong feeling that the crew didn’t know how to deal with such request. First the flight attendant asked a male colleague to help her find it, another 10 minutes they could not open it, next 5 minutes they were looking for a glass.

When I finally got server the glass, I was wondering what brand is it, if it is even champagne or just sparkling wine. The flight attendant went back and returned with a small bottle of Tattinger champagne. I couldn’t be happier :).

Royal Jordanian is also offering selection of Jordanian wines in business class. I have tried Jordanian wine in Amman and it’s quite drinkable and enjoyable. They have only 3 different producers, but they taste more or less the same.

Every passenger in business class cabin was offered a cup of traditional Jordanian coffee with cardamom. Can’t say I’d drink it ever again, but was a fun experience.

There was no food selection, so everyone got served the same plate of Arabic meze (eggplant, cheese pie, filled tomato and falafel), salad with dressing and bread/pita. I liked the food a lot, apart from the cheese pie. The dow became soggy after heating up.

After lunch, the flight offered me a refill of champagne, which I couldn’t deny. And glass by glass I finished entire bottle of Tattinger.

Inflight entertainment

None, apart from Royal Jordanian magazine. But it’s not a big issue, given the flight duration of 2 hours only.

Overall

I was very pleased with my Royal Jordanian business class experience. I had much lower expectations, but a bottle of champagne definitely raises it up. The crew was nice and polite, food was very tasty and the seat is much better than most of European airlines have in business class. We arrived on time to Amman Queen Alia International Airport and quickly left the aircraft.

The only negative moment was dirty and worn out cabin conditions, but I personally prefer old Embraer 175 over new Boeing 737.

Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa Jordan review

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Dead Sea in Jordan is a really unique place, with only 7 hotels in Sweimeh area, I was waiting for Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa to be opened for 3 years. Even thought the hotel was ready for several years, it only got opened in March 2017.

Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa Jordan review

It was my third time by the Dead Sea, but two previous times I stayed in Crowne Plaza Jordan Dead Sea Resort & Spa. Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa was a complete disappointment in comparison to Crowne Plaza. Even though the hotel is officially opened, there are constructions ongoing and nothing just seem to be working smoothly. Wherever you look, there are baby issues left and right.

Location

Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa is located in Sweimeh area, approximately one hour cab drive from Amman Queen Alia International Airport. Getting a cab from the airport is quite easy, and there is a fixed price of $55 one way. The hotel is located on Dead Sea shore, next to Samarah Shopping Mall and Water Park… Yes, a freaking water park in the middle of a desert. It will annoy you with some yelling and screaming for two hours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. But the rest of the time its quite silent… It’ s a desert at the end of a day.

Hotel and area

Important to note! Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa, same as all other hotels around, has a security check at the entrance. You are not allowed to bring any beverages, food or shisha (hookah). Not even duty-free alcohol. I had to argue with the guard to pass my two bottles of Veuve Clicquot champagne. Just insist hard and say you have manager’s permission. The guard will give up.

Hilton has 5 buildings: main, two sea-view building and 2 buildings behind sea-view ones. I would highly recommend booking the sea-view rooms. Otherwise the scenery is just depressing. Desert behind you, building in front of you, nothing else.

Infinity Pool is split between two levels. It has a separation between family/kids and adults areas. The adults part has a pool bar, which can get really crowded during weekends. The bar is quite tiny and I don’t understand why it was not made much bigger, as everyone is trying to escape burning sun and enjoy a drink there.

Considering the resort’s emphasis on guest comfort, investing in larger facilities, perhaps with innovative solutions like screen pool enclosures, could significantly enhance the overall experience, ensuring both space and shade for the guests to enjoy their time by the pool.

Furthermore, such innovative solutions align with the growing trend in luxury resorts, where guests seek not just the basic amenities but also a premium and exclusive experience. By embracing modern technologies like pool enclosures, the resort would not only cater to the current needs of its guests but also future-proof its offerings, ensuring a delightful stay for travelers seeking both luxury and tranquility. This thoughtful investment could set the Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa apart, making it a destination of choice for discerning travelers looking for a seamless blend of comfort, aesthetics, and innovation.

In the pursuit of enhancing guest satisfaction, the Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa could further elevate its amenities by integrating comprehensive pool services into its offerings. By prioritizing regular maintenance and cleanliness, the resort demonstrates its commitment to providing a premium experience for its guests. Weekly Pool Cleaning in Julington Creek not only ensures the aesthetic appeal of the pool but also upholds standards of hygiene and safety, aligning perfectly with the resort’s dedication to guest comfort and satisfaction. This strategic approach not only enhances the overall ambiance of the resort but also contributes to its reputation as a premier destination for luxury and relaxation.

Ensuring pristine water quality, impeccable cleanliness, and optimal functionality of pool equipment are paramount in providing a superior guest experience. Collaborating with experts in Pool Care in Scottsdale, AZ, for comprehensive maintenance solutions could guarantee that the resort’s pools remain in impeccable condition year-round. By entrusting the care of its pools to professionals specializing in Pool Care, the resort can uphold its commitment to excellence in hospitality. Guests will appreciate the attention to detail and the peace of mind knowing that their relaxation oasis is meticulously maintained, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the rejuvenating ambiance of the resort’s pool facilities. Such dedication to quality service and guest satisfaction will undoubtedly reinforce the Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa’s reputation as a premier destination for luxury and tranquility.

Beach Bar is located downstairs near the beach. You can order drinks and snacks to your tanning bed/cabana as well.

There are two restaurants, traditional Arabic called 1312 and Italian Bacchus, plus a rooftop bar. The Arabic restaurant is a must to visit. Read the review of Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa 1312 restaurant.

The beach is 5 minutes walk from the main area. There is supposed to be an elevator working, but it was not working my entire 16 days stay. Walking uphills from the beach to the building under 50C heat is quite tough. Especially after you’ve done Dead Sea procedures, such as swimming and mud.

Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa rooms

One of my biggest disappointments was the room. The hotel has been opened for half a year, but gives very cheap feelings, rooms look like they have been used for decades.

The most annoying part – bathroom and toilet are separated by a corridor. It is just ridiculous, you have to run between toilet and bathroom in the morning. Shower’s cover is completely useless, so each time after you take a shower, you will have a swamp in the entire bathroom. There is also not enough lighting in the bathroom, so you cannot see properly.

My favorite part! Glass wall between bathroom and living room. Good luck getting some privacy!

Beds were comfortable, but very short. Being 183cm tall, I was always sleeping with my feet hanging from the bed. There is also a tiny working table with glass top, so using computer mouse becomes a challenge.

Here’s complete menu and prices of room service provided.

Both Hilton and Crowne Plaza hotels have the same issue, hotels are equipped with massive balconies, but not a single cloth ganger. Get ready to have constantly wet swimwear.

I had a never ending “water quest”. It’s about 50C outside and you’re not allowed to bring anything from outside stores. Hilton only provides one bottle of water a day. Ridiculous, especially if it is two persons in the room. Given my Hilton Honors status, at the very least I was entitled to 2 bottles. It was my daily routine to run to the reception, ask for more water and find out the next day – it’s all forgotten.

Service

Memory loss is a common attribute of anyone working in customer service in Jordan. Especially in Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa. They smile at you, make a note, assure it will be fixed and… Nada. Nothing happens the day after. Four times I talked to the receptionist, his manager, Hilton Honors manager and hotel director regarding water issue and nothing helped.

If there is an option of dealing with American director or Russian receptionist or Philippino waiter – go for it.

Breakfast

Breakfast in Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa was a bummer in comparison to Crowne Plaza. There was a basic selection of traditional Arabic dishes, surely hummus, veggies and tons of white bread and pastries. The selection was roughly a half of what Crowne Plaza offers for breakfast.

The biggest addition to the breakfast were flies. Endless amount of them. Daily, you could enjoy a fly on cheese, meat, pastry or omelet. Once again, nobody just cared. In Crowne Plaza they had fly traps, which were well maintained and changed regularly. In Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa, see the service part…

The only place I cannot complaint was Arabic restaurant 1312. The price is a little bit high compared to the nearby shopping mall, but the food was delicious. Check the full review here.

Beach area

Good portion of Dead Sea visitors come here for its health benefits. The sea water and mud have positive affects on skin, joints and muscles. Dead Sea shore is very stony and salty, which makes it very unpleasant to walk on it, entering and leaving the sea. Here Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa has done a good job by importing tons of sand. It looks very nice and makes a stay by the beach much more enjoyable. Hopefully, Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa will refresh sand often, so it doesn’t get washed out.

Cabanas were much more comfortable than tanning beds. My biggest issue with tanning beds were their curved shape. It does look very nice and cute, but laying on them is very uncomfortable. The curved shape is just killing your back, if you lay on it for an hour.

Unfortunately, fancy looking pontoon located in the sea is already half broken. One side had broken handles. It was covered in “mud graffiti” and was never cleaned up. Not the smartest idea was to choose metal handles, they were burning hot during the day and impossible to use. It’s much easier to enter the sea from the beach part.

As mentioned previously, the elevator was not working. So walking back to the room was a very sweaty experience.

Overall

I cannot say that I really enjoyed my Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa experience. The hotel doesn’t look or feel fresh. The biggest disappointment was completely useless personnel, who just couldn’t solve any issue. Given the price of Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa, I’d recommend to look at Crowne Plaza or Kempinsky hotels located nearby.

I’ve covered most of the issues with Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa in this review, but also filled in a complaint to Hilton. First, I received 30 000 Hilton Honors points as a compensation. I wrote second letter, including photos of all the issues and got another 10 000 Hilton Honors points. It’s roughly a compensation for 1 night out of 16 spent in Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa.

Austrian airlines and Eurowings operated by Air Berlin-Aftermatch

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I previously wrote about very confusing flight reservation with flight codes OS (belonging to Austrian Airlines), but operated by Air Berlin for both Austrian Airlines and Eurowings.

Now the flight is in the past and here is how it works out in reality.

Austrian airlines and Eurowings operated by Air Berlin

Flights:

OS8868 – Madrid-Vienna on flight
Operated by: Air Berlin for Eurowings

OS307 – Vienna-Copenhagen on flight number
Operated by: Air Berlin for Austrian Airlines.

Air Berlin for Eurowings flight

It is flying from Terminal 1 Madrid Barajas airport. I did not notice any mentioning of OS flight, rather it was only marked as EW flight. With Star Alliance Gold you do not get any benefits. No Fast Track, no lounge access, no priority boarding.

And no points, however check-in girl was insisting to take our EuroBonus numbers and assuring we will get some points for the first leg. Nope, nothing. Simply treat any  Star Alliance flight operated by Eurowings as just taking EasyJet.

My overall impressing of the flight can be named with just one word…LEFTOVERS.

Airplane in Eurowings livery, Air Berlin crew, partually NIKI and partually Lufthansa trays and kitchenware. It really felt like the flight was just assembled from whatever was left from 4 different airlines.

It is quite sad feeling, but heads up to the crew, they were quite polite, smiling and professional.

Austrian airlines operated by Air Berlin

To my surprise, even aircraft’s livery had “operated by Air Berlin” on it. I was thinking it was just a temprorary thing, given Air Berlin condition. Apparently, it is much deeper cooperation.

The flight has proper OS number, airplane and everything else is Austrian with small addition of “operated by Air Berlin”.

The crew, including the captain, are from Air Berlin and in Air Berlin uniform.

Austrian operated by Air Berlin flight gives full Star Alliance benefits, including lounge access, priority boarding and miles (wobbling 150 EuroBonus miles in economy class). There is also tradition onboard service, including sweat or sour snack (crackers or peanuts), water, coffee/tea and even wine.

I was able to check-in my luggage all the from Madrid to Copenhagen, but as the first flight was Eurowing, I did not get the priority tag. And my friend’s luggage didn’t arrive at all, but got delivered the day after.