SQ Business Melbourne to Wellington: Worth It?

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SQ Business Melbourne to Wellington: Worth It?

SQ Business Melbourne Wellington Flight Review is part of the TPOL Down Under Trip Report.

I booked this flight in the literal sense at the 11th hour. Was 33k Lifemiles‎ worth it for a 3:35 flight? Let’s find out.SQ Business Melbourne Wellington Flight Review

a hallway with a couple of people walking
Fork in the road

a plane with a door open

Seating

SeatGuru said there were various versions of this 777 plane. Some with lie flat seating, but the default one was angle. I thought I could luck out and get lie flat like I did on Etihad from Cairo to Abu Dhabi. I did not.a row of seats in an airplanea seat on an airplane

Obviously, I’ll take angle flat over 737 recliner, but all angle flats need to be phased out. It’s like sleeping on the side of a mountain. Use your eagle talons to hold one to the chair, lest you slip onto the floor.a pillow on a chair a person's feet in front of a television

Food

I was exhausted and debated sleeping through the meal service like I did on Cathay Business to Sydney. I fought through that Blog Malpractice because I had worked so hard to get this flight. The least I could do is try the breakfast noodles. It was worth it. a bowl of fruit on a table a tray of food on a table a plate of food on a table

Sleep

Noodle review complete, it was time to sleep. I woke up to the flight attendant request that I change the angle from 160 to 90.

Worth It?

I was so tired I would’ve been able to sleep standing up in economy. I still think it was worth burning the points because the convenient flight schedule allowed me to make my connection to Blenheim. I would’ve preferred to spend 20k Avios on business, but that was not an option.

Overall

There’s SQ Business then there’s SQ business. This was the former.

Air New Zealand Flex: Fly When You Want for the Lowest Price

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Air New Zealand Flex: Fly When You Want for the Lowest Price

Air New Zealand Flex is part of the TPOL Down Under Trip Report.

After last minute success booking a flight to Wellington, I needed a flight to Blenheim, the Sauvignon Blanc capital of the world. The cheapest flight was $75 but had a long layover. The best flight was $118 with the shortest layover. I went to book the $75 flight and was given an option to pay $13 more for the right to change my flight time on the day of my flight.

Assuming the ‎better flight was not sold out, I don’t understand why someone would pay $118 for a flight that could cost $88. As it turned out, the flight was empty and I was able to fly to Blenheim earlier while saving money.

a propeller of an airplane above water
Prop bet that I could go earlier landed me in a prop plane

LifeMiles Great Customer Service: Seriously, True Story

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LifeMiles Great Customer Service: Seriously, True Story

LifeMiles Customer Service Review is part of the TPOL Down Under Trip Report.

If you’re booking a LifeMiles ticket, the sentiment is that if you can’t do it online, don’t bother calling in. After Hobart, I was trying to book a flight from Melbourne to Wellington. There were no Avios options and paying for a ticket was over $200 or it required stops. I wanted to see if Air New Zealand had availability so I checked LifeMiles. Surprisingly, the flight that was available was with Singapore Airlines. The flight originates from Singapore, connects in Melbourne, and terminates in Wellington. Peasant class wasn’t available but business was. Excited, I checked SeatGuru to see if this was a lie flat flight. Unfortunately, it was angle flat. Still, for 33k LifeMiles, flying direct, and being able to arrive early enough to make my connection to Blenheim, I was ready to book. Each time I tried, I received an error. I left it and tried hours later. I received the same error.

Since I really I wanted this flight, I called customer service. I was told that the website was under maintenance and that online bookings weren’t available for at least a week. I was asked to email a screenshot of the error, the flight I wanted, and my passport. I was told that they would escalate the booking because I was flying in less than 24 hours.

8 hours before my flight, I hadn’t received confirmation of the flight. I called again and was told they received my request and that someone would call me shortly. I figured there was no chance that this would work and started thinking about where I would spend the last three nights of my trip. It didn’t seem feasible for me to get to Blenheim without this flight.

Thirty minutes later, I received a call from a Miami phone number. It was the LifeMiles representative requesting my credit card number. Minutes later, I received confirmation of my flight on SQ from MEL to WLG. Now it was time to book WLG to BHE!

LifeMiles is generally known for lousy customer service. On this occasion, it was clutch.

a plane with a door open
SQ to NZ, interesting

Melbourne Airport Lounge Review: SQ vs. Centurion

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Melbourne Airport Lounge Review: SQ vs. Centurion

Melbourne Airport Lounge Review is part of the TPOL Down Under Trip Report.

You have two lounges side by side: Amex and SQ Business, which one do you go to? If you’re conducting the official Melbourne airport lounge review, the answer is both. melbourne airport lounge review a lobby with a sign on the wall a sign on a wall

I started with SQ and Hungry Jack’s. I’m not sure what the SQ first class lounge looks like but the business one is tame. The highlights are the dim sum and the noodles. a burger in a boxa machine with a container of condiments on topa glass case with several cans of beer a buffet with different food items a basket of dumplings in a frying pan a bowl of noodles with vegetables a plate of food on a tableThat covers the food. As far as the seating, it was adequate.a reception desk in a building a room with chairs and a counter a row of chairs in a room

Do you keep track of how many Centurion Lounges you’ve visited? The more you go the more overrated they become (see Keep Vs. Cancel: Amex Platinum Charles Schwab). I only like LGA and LAS. MEL is nothing special. Breakfast was typical English blandness. I’ll take dim sum over beans any day. The space was the same size as SQ. The one benefit of Amex over SQ was Stella on draft. And alcohol was available early in the am. All other lounges/jurisdictions take note (see Qantas Club Sydney: But for Baristas…and AA Flagship Lounge JFK: Fine Dining at Its Finest).

a lobby with a sign and a wall a room with a couch and tables a room with a counter and tables a bar with a bowl of popcorn on it a couch in a room a display of a flight information a food buffet in a restaurant a shelf with bottles and glasses on it a cutting board with food on it a glass of beer on a table Melbourne Airport Lounge Review

Overall

As far as the Melbourne airport lounge review is concerned, I declare it a draw. Nothing to see here. Time to go to New Zealand.

Make Corfu Greek Again! How Tourism Ruined an Island

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Make Corfu Greek Again! How Tourism Ruined an Island

How Tourism Ruined an Island is part of the #NoCollusion, No Albania for TPOL where I break my 100 country count mark. See the World Map for where I’ve been.

I once wrote how Boracy was closed because tourists had literally destroyed the island. The same can be said for parts of Corfu, Greece, which has been overrun with tourists and has become a disgusting haven for drunkards. After an up and down time on the Albania Riviera, I made the mistake of adjusting my travel plans, something that rarely should be done (see My Best Advice: Stick to the Plan!), and I headed to the party city of Kavos. The last time I was in Corfu was when I was fifteen. Either things have gone terribly downhill, or I am – as I often quote – getting too old for this shit.

a row of telephone booths
Last time I was here, people used payphones.

Getting There

It only costs 22 euros to get to Corfu via ferry. The ride takes 30 minutes to an hour depending on which boat you choose. a boat on the water

Arrival

The ferry takes you to Corfu Town which is nowhere near Kavos. I was told that I would have to go to the bus station. Little did I know that it is a mile away, uphill, in the heat. The alternative is to pay for a ripoff taxi at the port. a building with signs and cars parked outside a building with cars parked in front of it

Bus Ride 

The bus ride is 1 hour. Stock up on beer for the journey. a bus parked in a garage a plastic bag with cans and bottles

Hotels 

No surprise that there weren’t points hotels. I was supposed to stay at one hotel that I reserved on booking.com. I was told it was sold out and was put in another hotel (litigation pending, visit Bachuwa Law if this has happened to you). From the outside it looked fine. Form the inside it was similar to the Bollanos in Albania. a swimming pool with a building and a deck chair

Day Drinking 

I thought there would be pool parties here. Here’s what I found:

a group of people in a pool

Gyros 

When I made the mistake of going to Corfu, it was predicated on my second favorite food in the world, the gyros (TPOL readers should know my favorite food by now). Corfu was supposed to have the meats (for sandwiches) but unlike Athens (see Illiad & Odyssey: Quest for Best Athenian Gyros), it failed to deliver. I tried my luck with a few places but was disappointed. Don’t let these beautiful pictures fool you. a meat on a skewer a food on a paper towel a hand holding a pita with vegetables and meat a sandwich with french fries and meat a pita bread with french fries and ketchup on top

Parties

Kavos sucks for nightlife. It may have been the spot decades ago, but it has gone downhill. After wandering the streets for an hour, I went back to my crappy hotel and called it a night/failed experiment.

a group of people standing in a room with blue lights a building with colorful lights at night

Overall

Kavos sucks. Like Boracay, the government should kick out the tourists and shut this tired scene down. After one night, I was back on the bus, back on the ferry, and back in Albania – the place I shouldn’t have left.

a man standing next to a woman
The only awesome thing I saw in Corfu was this outfit.

Make Corfu Greek Again!

 

 

 

Trademark Infringement? Hungry Jack’s vs. Burger King

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Trademark Infringement? Hungry Jack’s vs. Burger King

Hungry Jack’s Burger King Trademark Infringement is part of the TPOL Down Under Trip Report.

a sign on a wall
Where’s the True Home of the Whopper?

My fascination with Hungry Jack’s began w‎hen I visited Sydney in 2013 (see The $77,000 Trip Heard Round the World). I couldn’t understand how this fast food place was not in violation of Burger King’s trademark. Then I read the history of Hungry Jack’s and learned that it was Burger King that was in the wrong.a restaurant booth with a sign

Here’s a quick history of Hungry Jack’s in Australia. In 1971, when Burger King sought to expand to Australia, it offered Jack Cowin a master franchise agreement‎. At that time, a local business owned the trademark of Burger King. As such, Cowin used his name to start BK Australia known as Hungry Jack’s. From the colors to the slogan ‘Home of the Whopper’ ‎to the Whopper sandwich, everything was Burger King besides the name.

In 1996, the Burger King trademark in Australia lapsed. At that time, Burger King tried to claim that Cowin was in breach of his licensee agreement. Burger King began opening stores with the Burger King name. In 2001, Cowin filed a breach of client claim against Burger King. The Australian court ruled in favor of Cowin and awarded Hungry Jack’s 46.9 million AUD. ‎Since then, all Burger King’s are now owned by Hungry Jack’s and are branded as such.

Besides legal intrigue, the q‎uestion is whether Jack’s Whopper tastes as good as the King’s. There was only one way to find out. I ordered a Whopper and brought it into the SQ Melbourne Lounge for a proper taste test.

Packaging 

I prefer my paper wrapping over this McDonald’s Big Mac outfit.a burger in a box

Taste

a hamburger in a box

The recipe may be exactly the same, but the psychology of it coming from Hungry Jack’s versus Burger King made me question if it tasted as good. Add in that it was cold and I can say that BK is better.

Overall

Burger King was shady with how it tried to infiltrate the Australian market. However, there is only one Home of the Whopper and it isn’t Jack’s house.

a menus on a restaurant
Sorry Jack

Extra! Extra! Read more about Hungry Jack’s on Wiki, TPOL’s source for this article.

Santa Quaranta Beach Bar Albania: The Place for Horny Matches?

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Santa Quaranta Beach Bar Albania: The Place for Horny Matches?

Santa Quaranta Beach Bar is part of the #NoCollusion, No Albania for TPOL where I break my 100 country count mark. See the World Map for where I’ve been.

I was going write a review about Santa Quaranta Beach Bar which is located in Sarnada, Albania. I Googled the resort to get the address. Here’s what I found when I went to the homepage:

a close-up of a white background

Now I know this place is decent for day drinking but I can’t confirm the rest of the offerings.

And now for the serious review:

After one night in Hamare at a questionable resort, I took a taxi to Saranda, a prominent beach town in the Albanian Riviera. In search of a comparable party similar to F Marine , I went to Santa Quaranta Beach Bar. I attempted to rent a beach chair but was told they were all sold out. I found it hard to believe because there were quite a few unoccupied. Like F Marine, I didn’t receive great service and was convinced that outsiders aren’t given VIP treatment.a sign on a stone wall

a beach with umbrellas and people on the water
Party area

Relegated to sitting in a chair far away from the party, I had one beer and called it a day.

a person holding a beer bottle on a beach
Where I sat
a body of water with buildings and trees
A world away from the fun

a clear water with rocks in it

The Albanian Riviera could be a good party, but next time I’ll go with a local. Perhaps then I could find the horny matches.

TPOL’s TIP: The hotel is located at Butrinti Street, 9701 Sarande.

TPOL’s Fun Fact: The former owner of the hotel, known as ‘The Balkans Escobar’, turned himself in for drug trafficking.

Would You Fly Blade?

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Would You Fly Blade?

Today is the last day I’m in New York. When I arrived last Sunday, I downloaded the Blade app and contemplated taking a helicopter to JFK because getting to and from NY airports is the worst thing about coming here. Somehow ‘capital of the world’ doesn’t have a Maglev-esque bullet train from any of the three airports.

For the decent price of $195 those that hate being stuck in traffic or stuck in the subway, can ‘get in the choppa’ and arrive at the airport in no time.

Tragically and some would say predictability, one of Blade’s helicopters crashed. No passengers were on board and nobody was seriously hurt. Still, the dramatic footage of the crash made me think twice, if not three times, about booking a flight.

Historically, helicopters in NY for sight-seeing do not have a great track record. There’s a famous photo of a pilot giving the finger before his helicopter ended up in the Hudson. Couple this with a tech company, Blade, running the operation and the questions of safety go viral.

Personally, I am skipping the helicopter this time around. If a proven safety record can be established and if the price goes down to $100 (which the CEO says is possible in the near future), I would certainly reconsider.

What say you?

Stay Certificates: Saving Thousands in NY

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Stay Certificates: Saving Thousands in NY

Who likes annual fees? After this week, I can say that I do, especially when it comes from my Bonvoy cards. I’ve been in NYC all week as my alter ego, Bachuwa Law, is here on assignment. Due to laziness and convenience, I chose not to stay in Long Island City, the cheapest option for visitors coming to NYC. The problem with convenience is that hotels are outrageously expensive.

For example, the Four Points Midtown was going for $835. The St. Regis was $3500. There’s no rhyme or reason for this pricing. To kick off the trip, I paid $97 for the Maxwell. The next day I used a stay certificate to avoid the $400 room rate. The day after that I used another certificate to avoid the $500 rate. Out of certificates, I burned 35k points versus another $500 fee. My last night, I found a Courtyard in Midtown for $150 and decided to save my points.

Without stay certificates, I would be cash poor or points broke. I will remember this next time my Keep vs. Cancel comes up for this group of cards.

Note: Hyatt’s stay certificate is only for category 1-4 hotels which are not available in Manhattan.

Destination Fee Scam: At Least Tell Me the ‘Benefits’

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Destination Fee Scam: At Least Tell Me the ‘Benefits’

Just when I thought I was done complaining about the Maxwell NYC, I have another one. I received my folio and found a charge for $25, cutely identified as a destination fee for the night I used a stay certificate. I have read about these fees but have yet to be victim of one.

I asked the front desk what the charge was for and if Titaniums were exempt from it. I was told that everyone, no matter if you are a no status newbie or an elite god, will be charged the fee. I was not charged the destination fee for the first night when I paid $97 (the room rate went up to $600 per night the next day).

The destination fee has daily benefits including $30 at the bar or $30 in dry cleaning. Had I known about these benefits, I would have charged the drinks to my room instead of using my card. Instead, I have a bar charge and a destination fee charge totaling $55. Obviously, my next step is to complain.

Destination fees are a scam, but it’s even worse when the ‘benefits’ are not disclosed.

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