Hiya from London!

I’ve launched into one final whirlwind journey to wrap up my travels in 2022, which is able to take me throughout Europe and South East Asia for a mixture of catching up with associates, attending some enterprise conferences, and reviewing some brand-new Aeroplan redemption prospects which have been lately launched.

On this article, I’ll stroll you thru the thought course of behind reserving my flights for this end-of-year journey, and the actual Aeroplan candy spot that I’ll be benefiting from – not as soon as, however twice. 

The Flights

To complete up what has been a really busy journey yr, I’ll be making an attempt out a handful of merchandise that I haven’t had the chance to fly earlier than.

On the outbound journey, I flew from Newark to London in United Polaris 767 enterprise class. This could be my first time flying long-haul enterprise class with the airline, and I used to be curious to see if the onboard product matched the excessive customary the United Polaris lounges have set.

I’m at present spending a couple of days within the UK on a weekend stopover, touching base with associates and revisiting my previous stomping grounds at College Faculty London.

When it comes time to depart, I’ll make my approach from London Gatwick to Singapore through Hanoi with Bamboo Airways 787 enterprise class.

The Vietnam-based airline is one in all Aeroplan’s latest companions, and their 1-2-1 product certainly seems to be fairly enticing – much like Air Canada’s 787 enterprise class, however hopefully with extra scrumptious Vietnamese delicacies served onboard. 

My outbound flights priced out at 92,500 Aeroplan factors –  which incorporates the 5,000 factors required for a stopover in London.

This “Asia 3” candy spot represents one of the vital enticing worth factors throughout the Aeroplan reward chart as an entire, as you possibly can fly as much as 11,000 miles in distance between North America and the Pacific zone. 

After spending a while in South East Asia, I’ll make my approach again to North America by flying with Aeroplan’s latest companion airline: Emirates.

I’ve loved many flights in Emirates First Class over time, however this time I received’t be capable to have a bathe within the sky, as I’ll be flying in enterprise class.

On my flight from Bangkok to Dubai, I’ll make a triumphant return to the Airbus A380 to see how Emirates enterprise class compares to the ostentatious First Class – and naturally, take a sip of Champagne from the onboard bar. 

After a layover within the Emirates enterprise class lounge, I’ll proceed again to Seattle on Emirates 777 enterprise class, earlier than making the final hop again to Vancouver.

My return flights value a complete of 87,500 Aeroplan factors, as soon as once more clocking in underneath 11,000 miles in distance and falling properly within the “Asia 3” candy spot on the Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart. 

In each circumstances, I modified an present placeholder reserving I’d made in the course of the Amex 25% again promotion from earlier this yr. This successfully reduces the price of my flights to 65,625 and 69,375 Aeroplan factors, respectively, which is a paltry sum to pay for 4 long-haul enterprise class flights.

The Lodge

Opposite to my current journeys to Japan and the Center East, the place I launched into a mad sprint to overview as many luxurious resorts as potential, my lodgings on this keep might be barely extra modest.I’ll be staying with associates a good bit alongside the way in which, taking a break from the “suite life” in the intervening time. 

Nevertheless, I couldn’t assist however ebook a couple of nights on the Andaz London Liverpool Road, in a late bid to re-qualify for Hyatt Globalist standing, for 20,000 World of Hyatt factors per evening. 

That is the unique Andaz property that opened again in 2007, and I’ve heard many nice issues about it from fellow travellers over time. 

Since I’ve lengthy since re-quailfied for Marriott Titanium standing and I get Hilton Diamond standing by way of my Hilton Honors American Categorical Aspire Card, Hyatt Globalist could be the final (and essentially the most labour-intensive) lodge top-tier standing to safe for 2023. 

I’ve completely loved my stays at Hyatt resorts since attaining Globalist standing, and this yr, I’ve deemed it to be price a bit of additional effort to keep up by way of one other cycle. 

Conclusion

After a lot quieter journey years in 2020 and 2021, I’m fairly happy with the quantity of journey I’ve squeezed into this yr, however couldn’t resist the chance to take to the skies another time earlier than the time runs out on 2022.

Whereas my flights on United, Bamboo Airways, and Emirates received’t fairly cope with among the most luxurious First Class merchandise that I’ve flown this yr, I’m nonetheless very intrigued to see what Aeroplan’s latest airline partnerships convey to the desk.

Look out for the opinions and movies to come back on Prince of Journey as we head in the direction of the brand new yr.