Bonjour Paris: Introduction and summary of posts
The last three or four weeks have been pretty gruelling on the work front, but is culminating rather well, with a very short business trip to Paris. I'm extending this trip by a few more days and taking family along as well, to make a quick vacation out of it.
This time, my plan is to post updates and reviews largely on a real-time basis, but not so real-time that I'm disowned by family! So, instead of posts written up at the conclusion of the trip, I'm hoping to write after each day or two. So here's the tentative plan.
This time, my plan is to post updates and reviews largely on a real-time basis, but not so real-time that I'm disowned by family! So, instead of posts written up at the conclusion of the trip, I'm hoping to write after each day or two. So here's the tentative plan.
Index of posts
Bonjour Paris: Introduction and summary of posts
Review: Chennai to Colombo on Sri Lankan A320 regional business class
Review: Chennai to Colombo on Sri Lankan A320 regional business class
Review: Le Meridien Etoile, Paris
Review: Sri Lankan's lounge at Paris CDG
Review: Paris to Colombo on Sri Lankan A330-200 international business class
Review: Paris to Colombo on Sri Lankan A330-200 international business class
Flights
I'll be flying Sri Lankan Airlines, who joined oneworld a couple of years ago. Flying UL to Europe may seem like a strange choice, but I did have my reasons.
Unless totally unavoidable or there are strong reasons otherwise, I prefer Chennai as my arrival point in India. That rules out Jet Airways and Air France (ex-BOM), and leaves me with Lufthansa an Etihad (both of whom I've flown with enough in the last couple of years). Emirates, Qatar Airways, Oman Air and Gulf Air didn't work for reasons of either price or schedule.
Sri Lankan is closing the CMB-CDG route effective end of October 2016, and I want to try out the airline before that happens. The aircraft scheduled to operate this route on my dates is the A330-200 in both directions, which means while there will be lie-flat beds, these will be in standard front-facing seats rather than the reverse herringbone on Sri Lankan's A330-300s.
UL's business class fares on the route are fantastic (despite being a late booking, and considerably lower than other airlines) which makes it a no-brainer.
Finally, I've never flown Sri Lankan before, and I thought it would be good to write about the airline on our blog here (and our co-author Vinay keeps raving about the service on UL, all the time!).
Unless totally unavoidable or there are strong reasons otherwise, I prefer Chennai as my arrival point in India. That rules out Jet Airways and Air France (ex-BOM), and leaves me with Lufthansa an Etihad (both of whom I've flown with enough in the last couple of years). Emirates, Qatar Airways, Oman Air and Gulf Air didn't work for reasons of either price or schedule.
Sri Lankan is closing the CMB-CDG route effective end of October 2016, and I want to try out the airline before that happens. The aircraft scheduled to operate this route on my dates is the A330-200 in both directions, which means while there will be lie-flat beds, these will be in standard front-facing seats rather than the reverse herringbone on Sri Lankan's A330-300s.
UL's business class fares on the route are fantastic (despite being a late booking, and considerably lower than other airlines) which makes it a no-brainer.
Finally, I've never flown Sri Lankan before, and I thought it would be good to write about the airline on our blog here (and our co-author Vinay keeps raving about the service on UL, all the time!).
Why am I staying at two different hotels?
Simple answer: Can there be one?
I was able to status match to Diamond status with Hyatt Gold Passport and Hilton HHonors programs, both of which would give me a room upgrade and complimentary breakfast. Both those benefits will help when traveling with family, and with the part-business nature of this trip, cost considerations also play a part. Finally, location matters too! So considering all those factors, I could get the Hyatt Regency for 4 out of the 5 nights I'll be in Paris.
For the last night, since I need to change hotels, I'm making it easy (particularly for family) by moving to the Le Meridien Etoile just round the corner from the Hyatt Regency.
That also gives me the ability to try out another hotel, at least for comparison.
I booked this for 12,000 points a night, which at current retail prices works out to about Rs 1.68 per Starpoint, well above our valuation of Rs 1.43 per Starpoint.
I look forward to updating you folks from a rather chilly Paris. Until next time, au revoir!
I was able to status match to Diamond status with Hyatt Gold Passport and Hilton HHonors programs, both of which would give me a room upgrade and complimentary breakfast. Both those benefits will help when traveling with family, and with the part-business nature of this trip, cost considerations also play a part. Finally, location matters too! So considering all those factors, I could get the Hyatt Regency for 4 out of the 5 nights I'll be in Paris.
For the last night, since I need to change hotels, I'm making it easy (particularly for family) by moving to the Le Meridien Etoile just round the corner from the Hyatt Regency.
That also gives me the ability to try out another hotel, at least for comparison.
I booked this for 12,000 points a night, which at current retail prices works out to about Rs 1.68 per Starpoint, well above our valuation of Rs 1.43 per Starpoint.
I look forward to updating you folks from a rather chilly Paris. Until next time, au revoir!
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