Airlines

Beyond excited! My first international flight in 18 months is next week! What would you like to read about?

a group of people in an airplane

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Can’t tell you how excited I am! I’m heading over to England next week, booked into a familiar American Airlines 777-200 business class, and I literally can’t wait to nestle in. I have my pre-covid tests booked, my covid tests in the UK booked, and fingers crossed everything goes to plan – I’ll be free of quarantine after day 5 via the UK’s test and release program.

My flight will feature AA’s Super Diamond 772 business class, which I’ve flown a couple of times: once to Tokyo ( review ) and also to Buenos Aires ( review ).

a stuffed bear on a bed
American Airlines 777-200 w/ B/E Aerospace Retrofit

Booking my flight with points

I have a decent cache of Alaska Miles and used them to book: 57.k miles and $19.

I could have used:

  • British Airways
  • Iberia
  • Cathay Pacific Asia miles
  • American Airlines

a screenshot of a computer

Note…this isn’t the flight I’m on, but rather showing how much it would cost.

What would you like to see in the review?

As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve flown this business class a couple of times in years prior, but I haven’t flown internationally since Covid began. I’m planning on documenting the process of finding Covid testing sites, the flight, quarantine process, test and release, etc.

Is there anything you’d like to know specifically?

  • I will be doing TikToks reviewing the flight
  • I’ll do my best to do a YouTube as well since I haven’t reviewed the

 

Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

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5 Comments

  • Roy F. June 25, 2021

    I’m not up to speed on the COVID-19 protocols for travel, so I am interested in all of this as well. How do you book testing overseas? Is it automatic or do you use Amex Platinum concierge to help book the testing overseas? Can’t wait for the upload of your trip!

  • CPR June 25, 2021

    I’m scheduled to fly to England on the flight you show above in August (biz with AA SWU) but I’m on the point of cancelling due to quarantine requirements – day 5 sounds ok-ish, but, actually, day 7 is the earliest you’ll be released from quarantine. Arrival day is day zero and the test on day 5 (6 days after landing) will take at least 24 hrs to come back on day 7+. You’re checked on every day by Track and Trace either by phone call or in-person visit and can’t leave your stated quarantine location even to buy food or exercise… Not my idea of an ideal week in England. Interested to know what you make of it.

    Why oh why can’t they get their act together and do testing only for those fully vaccinated.

  • Tom June 25, 2021

    I understand the excitement. While I visit family in Germany quite often (last was 6 months ago for Christmas), I get excited for every international trip. This Sunday I fly back to Munich on UA in their “new” Polaris seat. Thankfully for me, Germany requires I just show my vaccination card and I am free of all other testing, quarantine etc. Enjoy your trip! I definitely look forward to reading about it.

  • Christian June 25, 2021

    I’d like to hear about the COVID aspects of the trip: conditions for entry, flying comparison to normal times, do you get to pick your hotel, freedom of movement (if any) while under quarantine, circumstances to be released from quarantine, what happens if you test positive, etc. as well as general observations about traveling at this time. It may not be exciting stuff but these are the practical considerations that make people hesitant to travel. As one of those people I can say that if you can alleviate some concerns you’d be doing them a service.

  • Francis Visitacion June 25, 2021

    Please document the entry process and if possible transit process. Thanks!

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