United Arab Emirates (UAE)

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Back in February I found there was pretty good availability on Etihad’s A-380 first class apartment from Abu Dhabi to New York. Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said about the trip over to the UAE. I booked the return flight as soon as I found availability on a weekend I thought would work, and would worry about getting there later. I originally booked Virgin Atlantic “Upper Class” flights from New York to Dubai for just 70,000 Delta Skymiles, but I had to adjust my plans by a day and there was no Virgin Atlantic Upper Class availability. I also got my good friend Thad to join me on the trip, so I had to find both of us flights over to the UAE, which I did successfully for less than $600 in First or business class the entire way!

Getting to the UAE

My itinerary to the UAE is as follows: MIA-JFK on American Airlines (hopefully my upgrade will clear today or tomorrow). Then JFK to LHR on a British Airways 747 in First Class (My first time on a double decker plane!).

British Airways First Class via airliners.net

Our flight from LHR to DXB is also in British Airways First class on a 747, so I will have a couple data points to compare the service and food when I review British Airways First Class after the trip. Returning from the UAE I will go from Abu Dhabi to New York in Eithad’s First Class Apartment. And then fly from New York to Tampa in Delta domestic First.

Thad’s itinerary to get to UAE is from Dallas to JFK in Delta domestic first, we will meet up in JFK at the Delta Lounge in Terminal 4, which I will have access to thanks to my American Express Platinum for Business card. Then Thad takes a flight from JFK-LHR in Delta One, Delta’s international business class product. In London we will meet up at the British Airways Concorde Room, the first class lounge in Heathrow’s Terminal 5. From there we will be on the same flight in British Airways First class to Dubai! Coming home Thad will be in Alitalia’s Business class from Abu Dhabi to Rome and on to New York

Alitalia Business Class via thedesignair.net

. From New York he will return to Dallas in Delta’s Domestic First Class. You can look forward to reading Thad’s reviews of Delta One and Alitalia Business Class after our trip!

Staying in the UAE

While in the UAE we will be spending 2 nights in Dubai and 2 nights in Abu Dhabi. In Dubai we will be staying at the Grosvenor House Dubai, on of Starwood’s Luxury Collection Hotels. In Abu Dhabi we will be staying at the St. Regis Al Saadiyat Island Resort. I will review both hotels and have plenty of pictures for you to see of the whole trip!

Grosvenor House Dubai

I am really excited about this trip and look forward to sharing it with you! Remember I booked roundtrip business and first class tickets for less than $600 each using miles from my travels and points from credit card bonuses, so you can do it too! Until you book your trip you can see the world with us!

Do you have any upcoming trips you are excited about? Let me know about them in the comments!