Flights

I said I was going to ignore this blog until after Borneo but I bought my flights and as always, I made it as complicated as possible.  I will forget the details by February.  I can hear you all in back, so yes, there is no such thing as too much detail, since you are asking!  

Plus, I am still at work at 6:15 pm  BC Hydro is having a peak savers event between 4-7.  I had a meeting until 6.  If I don't go home and turn on lights etc. before 7, I will save $3 on my next month's bill!  

Here are the things I was trying to juggle with this flight.  When I first looked for my dates, it was simple enough.  I wanted to use up my Air Canada 'wallet' with the money from my cancelled Europe flights.  And I saw that a good chunk of the flights were with Turkish Air.  I had learned from my friend Rob's crazy around-the-world trip, that if you book with Turkish Air, you can do a free layover in Istanbul.  And as you will all remember from post #1, I am starting my Stan tour a few days later than I had anticipated.  So, why not use those days to eat Turkish food and see Turkish sites.  No reason at all is why not.  

Ya, I'm going here!  

So, dates, cost, use up air Canada money, lay over in Istanbul.  Plus, I saw that business class is pretty cheap!  So, toss that in too.  And, I have $2000 worth of travel money with my credit card for a flight to Asia.  That's a lot of balls to juggle.  

If I want to use my credit card money, I have to book with the Royal Bank travel agency.  I called them.  The only way to book it myself is if they can't find my path in their system.  Shockingly, they could not.   Still trying to use up that AC Wallet money, I said I would book it through Air Canada.  

I called Air Canada.  They could find my crazy plan but it was way more expensive to book it with them. Any 'wallet' money I could use up would be lost on the higher price, and then some. 

 I had been on the phone and various websites for hours by this point, so I took a break for a couple of days.  I had an appointment cancellation right before lunch so that gave me some extra time to wait around on hold today.  So, I found the flight with Turkish Airlines, figured out dates, moved it forward a bit (Sept 11) added in a three day lay over in Istanbul.  Called Royal Bank back and updated the booking airline (from AC to TK) and the dates.  All good.  

Then I booked my flights.  Noticing that business class, once I used my free credit card money, would only be a little more than an extra $1000, I went all in and booked Business Class!!!  I know, I know, I am currently not turning on lights to save $3 but I am tossing around $1200 on a comfy seat.  But it is a 12 hour flight!  And, god bless her, Chris left me a bit of money when she died so that I could afford to travel.  I assume she meant travel in comfort.  She used to love to hear about my trip planning and my international adventures so I like to think she would enjoy stories from Business Class.  

I am already regretting that I am going here on my way
to the 'Stans. I am going to have to use all of my 
Val voice 'don't buy that, you'll have to carry it' mental resources! 

Also, I can't verify this yet, but Rob tells me that Turkish Air provides free hotel for Istanbul layovers for Business class passengers.  So far, evidence seems to indicate this is true?  I think it is too early to actually book a hotel.  My lunch break was limited so I haven't checked with them yet.  

To do:   Get Royal Bank to give me some sweet free travel money.  Talk to Turkish Air about some sweet free accommodations!   Figure out how to use up that Air Canada wallet (not as sweet but I'm not going to kick it out of bed for eating crackers) before Aug 2025.  

By the way, Joe is not coming to any of the 'Stans with me.  He had decided to come with me to Borneo.  I better find a picture to break up this giant block of text.  It's almost 6:45 so time to go home and turn on some lights! 

Oh, while looking for online photos,  I found this review of Turkish Air business class:  

What We Love

• The inflight food and beverage presentation with the highest quality ingredients and chef-driven touches thanks to a partnership with Do & Co catering
• An unbelievable lounge experience in Istanbul that is regularly lauded as the best Business Class lounge in the world
• A route network that spans the globe and takes you to many destinations that no other airline can

This picture cannot be accurate!  

Seriously!  

Oh, I am just setting myself up for disappointment. It can't be as good as they say...