How to Read World Maps 101 + Flagship First Dining + Qantas First Lounge
After the last time we visited New Zealand, we had such an incredible time, we knew we had to go back. We did some planning and while the holy grail of LAX to Oceania awards flights were predictably booked solid, we managed to find some flights through Hong Kong.
New Zealand 2.0 Trip Report
- How to Read World Maps 101 + Flagship First Dining + Qantas First Lounge
- American Airlines AA193 777-300ER LAX-HKG First Class Review and Ritz Carlton Hong Kong Trip Report
- Routeburn Track Review
- Cathay Pacific CX198 A350-900 AKL-HKG and CX880 777-300ER HKG-LAX (and Lounge!)
Now for a little sadly revealing knowledge that I was unaware of as I booked these flights... Hong Kong and New Zealand are not in fact, right next to each other. I know it's hard to believe. But not only is Hong Kong farther away Zealand, it is also almost the same distance again to get to New Zealand. So yeah, not optimal, but hey. Cathay!
For this trip, I booked first class on AA from LAX to HKG, used cash dollars to book the flights to New Zealand and back in premium economy on Cathay, and then from HKG to LAX in business on Cathay.
Flying in First on AA out of LAX meant I had two things going for me:
- I got to use the amazing Flagship First facility at LAX (RIP and may you re-open soon)
- I also got to use the Qantas First lounge in TBIT
So I did both and YES I had dinner in both.
At the Qantas lounge, I went for the full experience with the Morrocan spiced carrot soup, salt and pepper squid, and their classic beef burger. And then two desserts because YOLO.
Unfortunately I planned this poorly and I was pretty stuffed for dinner at the Flagship lounge, but I had the chipotle BBQ chicken arepas. The loss of the Flagship dining facility at LAX hits hard, it's one of the few things that American Airlines had going that kept them in the running with the other international airlines.
In the next post I'll cover the flights to HKG and the gorgeous Ritz Carlton Hong Kong!