Beginning the Journey

Beginning the Journey

Recently, I embarked on an exciting trip to Bangkok via Paris at the end of 2025. I admit I've been a bit slow in updating my travel experiences, but I hope to share quite a bit by the end of this month. This journey wasn't just about flying; it included hotel stays and, of course, some airport lounges too.

Why This Trip?

The main reason for this trip was to experience unique offerings from various airlines and hotels without being away from home for too long. My biggest motivation was my eagerness to try SWISS's new business class seat on their A350, ensuring I didn't miss out on the latest products available on transatlantic flights.

When I noticed availability on a flight from Europe to the U.S., I remembered that by using my Air Canada Aeroplan points, I could also depart from Asia without spending too many points. So, why not try a different airline for the journey between Asia and Europe? Since I was heading to Asia, I wanted to seize the opportunity to experience new products I hadn't tried before.

Flight Itinerary

On this trip, I flew a total of over 20,000 miles, divided into six legs. First, I took a Porter flight from Fort Lauderdale to Montreal. I booked the ticket using 10,000 Alaska Atmos Rewards points plus a $5.60 fee.

Next, after spending a night in Montreal, I flew Air France from Montreal to Paris on a Boeing 787-9, using 60,000 Flying Blue points along with $266.47 in taxes and fees.

After a few nights in Paris, the flight I was most excited about was the Aircalin journey from Paris to Bangkok. I booked this flight using 105,500 Flying Blue points and $474.40 in fees.

For my return, I booked the entire journey on one ticket thanks to the convenience of Air Canada Aeroplan. I flew Thai Airways from Bangkok to Milan, then connected to Zurich, and finally to Boston. This leg was booked using 87,500 Aeroplan points and $138.02 in fees.

Lounge Reviews

During my trip, I had the chance to experience several interesting airport lounges:

• Air France Lounge in Montreal
• Primeclass Lounge in Paris
• EVA Air Lounge in Bangkok
• Turkish Airlines Lounge in Bangkok
• Lufthansa Lounge in Milan

Hotels I Stayed At

When reviewing travel experiences, I typically don’t stay many nights in hotels. However, this time I spent one night in Montreal, two nights in Paris, and one night in Bangkok, allowing me to experience four different hotels.

In Montreal, I chose to stay at the Four Seasons, which is quite renowned. I utilized credits from my Amex Platinum card, making the price very reasonable.

In Paris, I stayed at two hotels. The first night was at SAX Paris, a new Hilton property with beautiful design, although it wasn't really my style. On the second night, I stayed at Hotel du Louvre, which had many suites that were great for upgrades.

Finally, in Bangkok, I opted for the Ritz-Carlton, thanks to credit points from Amex, making the club room rate quite reasonable.

Final Thoughts

You’ll find it fascinating to experience four different hotels on this trip. There were certainly places I liked more than others. This journey wrapped up with many enjoyable experiences, and I’m very satisfied, hoping for more trips in the future!