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Introduction
Seattle to Frankfurt
Frankfurt Fun Times
Lufthansa First Class Terminal
Frankfurt to Newark
Newark to Seattle
Conclusion
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In 2010 I started planning my trip around the world in Business Class. Something that was on my bucket list. During that planning process I looked at alliances and who would serve best and who had the best price. At the time it was Star Alliance and I put all my points towards a new Aegean account. The main thing I was hoping for out of that trip was Star Alliance Gold (which I got easily), what I also ended up with was a whole stack of points. Since then I have credited all my United flights as well to that same account and it has finally come to the point to use some of those points (before all my Star Gold benefits finally disappear). But what would I use 75000 points on? Well since around that time I have always wanted to visit the Lufthansa First Class Terminal (FCT). I had read so many things about it, such good reviews, and of course there is the fact you are flying one of the best First Class’s out there. I even set it as a travel goal two years running (like that was going to happen!). Well it was time to make that a reality…. Finally!

But 75000 points would only really get me one way somewhere, how the hell was I going to get to Frankfurt (since you can only use the FCT on Departure from Frankfurt)? Well this is where a stroke of luck comes in. Last year I managed to win myself a nice prize from Condor Airlines. All I did was take the below picture of a Condor Aircraft and it netted me a $1000 airline prize. Hello One Way flight to Frankfurt!

From Anchorage Spotting

So now that I have a rough plan on getting to Frankfurt, now it was a matter of finding a way home. If I am going to be heading home to the USA on Lufthansa I really want to come on an aircraft that they fly that practically no one else does (apart from Air China but they don’t count) the 747-8i. I remember the amount of times I saw them fly into LAX so figured that would be the way to do it. Now to figure out when, because Lufthansa don’t release First class Award space till about 2 weeks prior to the travel date. This means that the whole trip would have to be really short notice. Well when I ended up finding out I had a new job, well I decided to take a little break, one that would allow me to scoot away to europe for a few days. I got Heidi’s permission and now it was go time, I was going to get a new aircraft, a new Airport and a dream experience…

From Seattle Spotting 2013

So within the 2 weeks of me going, I was able to start looking at the planning stages. I wanted to do this for as little money as possible. I had Club Carlson points that could get me a hotel for free (yayay) and that was easy because Frankfurt has 2 options. One at the Airport and one in the city. Getting to Frankfurt was easy. I just had to email Condor with what I wanted and it was booked, no hassle at all. So although I wanted to fly Business, I couldn’t. So the next best thing was Premium Economy. Condor flies direct from Seattle every few days but has connecting cities on the days they don’t. So that was going to be easy. The hardest thing was the Lufthansa space. I did a bit of a look into what routes are now operating for the 747-8i and LAX was gone 🙁 It was Chicago, Washington DC (Dulles) and Newark. Chicago would be the better option (since Newark is just a dump, Dulles is crap and I felt Chicago was the nicer of the 3). With the help of a friend, I was able to work out that Chicago was ok. But I had to leave it overnight didn’t I. Sadly that space via Chicago disappeared when I went to book. All I could get was Newark and the day after I wanted. Sadly I also wasn’t able to work my way into a 1 night stop in Chicago either, It was going to be a same day connection through Newark (3 hours should be plenty right?) and back to Seattle. So since I had to push it out a day, I pushed my departure out a day as well.

I left Condor to book after I had dealt with Lufthansa. I wanted to make sure that the whole booking went smoothly. It didn’t go as planned. The biggest hurdle I expected was a language barrier (I am dealing with a company in Greece after all). Spoon feeding the flights and times made it easier, and that went well for the first segment to Newark. It was coming home from there that was a problem. During the first attempt, I was told that it would have to be booked on a separate ticket because the onward flight is coded as business (even though United calls it Domestic First, they code it as business… bastards). That isn’t right, so I gave it 10 minutes and called again. Funnily enough I got the exact same person! Figuring she would tell me that I couldn’t do it again, this time she said I could do it, but it would be a “downgrade on that segment to business” but they wouldn’t charge any further miles. Well I guess that is what I am after so that is a win right? Figuring It was all going to turn out a mess, I waited for my eticket to turn up (which it did seconds after she said she had sent it) and it was correct on paper. I pulled the book references off the ticket and checked with the Airlines directly. Yep… correct! Aegean win! Lufthansa was set, so I emailed Condor and after some scanning and a few more confirmation of what I wanted, that ticket was booked.

Last thing to do was book the hotel and I booked the Hotel by the Airport (figuring I was probably going to be doing stuff with AirlineReporter, so wanted to be close). Sadly I found out a couple of days later that wasn’t to be. I kept that hotel as the airport hotel was cheaper than the city hotel. However Jokingly I was chatting away with my friend Clare (who I met in 2011 on my RTW trip in Kyoto) and said to her “You should come for the weekend” to which she said “Sure why not!.” Next thing I know I have cancelled the hotel at the Airport and changed to the City hotel. Sure it was 18000 points more, but I got breakfast daily and a premium room. So that wasn’t too bad. I booked the room for 2 (even though I was only going to be staying) so I can give Clare a freebie breakfast.

So as tomorrow approaches I need to pack, and put a few things together to make it all work. I can’t wait to get back on a plane (as a passenger at least) and enjoy myself. This trip has been a long time coming, so stay tuned for plenty of fun!

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So the United States Air Force flew into town today, but it wasn’t the usual C-17 or KC-135 that showed up. Nope they bought in 2 of the latest fighters they have. They flew in 2 Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors. So here are some shots of them arriving at Boeing Field.

From Seattle Spotting 2015
From Seattle Spotting 2015
From Seattle Spotting 2015
From Seattle Spotting 2015
From Seattle Spotting 2015
From Seattle Spotting 2015

They certainly arrived in style with the usual military arrival (a pass down the field and a split into the Pattern), however they continued to do two passes of the field with aborted landings each time. One of those passes for one of the aircraft was really low, wheels up and a nice tight pull up and split. If I had of used my camera for that, rather than just watching I would have that photo. The aircraft pulled off the runway, onto a taxiway, and taxiied straight into the Boeing Military Flight Center. That is where they will stay apart from the times on display at the Museum of Flight over the weekend. Sadly 🙁

Still… pretty awesome Thursday!

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As you know I just started working at a new job, one that I wasn’t all that happy about. I took this job to help pay the bills, it was purely and ends to some means. Well yesterday I handed in my resignation, the job has served it’s purpose.

I have to admit that I went into this job knowing that I probably wouldn’t be all that happy. Even though I was spending all day with aircraft, it was not going to be easy. Sometimes things just aren’t as good as they seem to be. Don’t get me wrong, I loved being at the airport but it just sucked. I toughed it out, the periods of boredom, the non stop pain & torture to the body, the 3am wake ups and the times when I never got to see Heidi because we just weren’t at home together.

Well that is all over. After almost 2 months of process, I have managed to secure myself a new job, one that I am better qualified for and one that seems almost suited to me directly. I won’t say much about it publicly for a while yet, but I will still be at the airport, just doing something different yet the same.

I can’t wait to get started on this new job. From the moment I saw the first information on it, ages ago, I knew I wanted in, just didn’t think it would be possible. Then I see a job ad with more information and it turns out I am better suited for it than anything else. Sure I moved over here to the USA to work for one company, I didn’t expect this journey over to change my life entirely. To find a passion that I never really had so strongly before, to find the one that I love and now to find a job that is almost like a dream come true.

An extra little thing that this change has allowed me to do is head off overseas for a couple of days. I have always wanted to fly Lufthansa First Class, but only from Frankfurt. I want to visit the Lufthansa First Class Terminal and now I can. I had set it as a goal for 2014, and things happened (Hi Wifey!) that made that goal a little bit harder to get. I think I also set it for 2013 too. Well, wait no more, because that is now happening! In around 11 days time, I will be setting foot inside that famous terminal and enjoying it so very much. I also get to catch up with a friend while in Frankfurt (for that one little day) and now I can have that little break I have wanted so badly.

Life is never a certain thing and change happens all the time. Let’s see where this new adventure takes me!

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It is that time of the year again. As the sun breaks over the Horizon on the east coast of Australia, we look back and think about those who have given their lives in service of our country. ANZAC day is a special day for many, especially my mothers side of the family. My american friends may not really understand what ANZAC Day is, but think of it as similar to Memorial Day.

My mothers’s side of the family has a history of service with the army in World War 2. My Grandfather (my mothers father) served in the Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) as a Machine Gunner in the 2/2nd MG Btln. He served in that same unit with a few of his brothers, all of them came home safe and sound. So as the Veterans of WW2 start to pass away, it is definitely time to remember them.

Although I wish I could be home with the family, in Sydney to march with the rest of the family, I can’t. On this historic day on the 100th Anniversary of the landings in the Gallipoli, we look back and think of those who have given their lives and paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Tomorrow morning before Dawn, American time, I will be out in the park near Lake Union, paying my respects in the traditional fashion. Though I don’t think there will be any Two Up, sadly.

At the Going Down of the sun, and in the morning. We Will remember them.

Lest We Forget.

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It sure has been an interesting week. Last week was a walk in the park. Got to fuck around with planes all day up at Coupeville (what a blast) and spent the weekend with my lovely wife.

Now though it is back to the real world and back to work. Now that my training is complete I am the FNG at work. What does that mean? I am the F’ing New Guy. The butt of all jokes and the one stuck with all the shit. Could be worse though, I might not be working at all.

Right now I am doing ok, my body only hates me a little & I haven’t done anything too stupid. Although I did screw up in training I have been on the job 2 hours & so far so good.

The good thing about clearing training on a Thursday is that I work my Friday night shift & I have a normal weekend. Score!

Just so you all know, I still won’t be saying who u work for or what I do, it’s just for safety sake. That and I don’t want to lose my job.

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I have been so slack the last week (well kind of) and have not updated. I wanted to make this post earlier but it has taken me a number of days to work through it. On Wednesday there was forecast of good weather and I wasn’t working. A Friend of mine was also free and we decided to head up to Whidbey Island. Why? Well because the US Navy was sending some of their jet’s for Field Carrier Landing practice. What is that? Well to put it simply the jets from the local Naval Air Station head to a small local runway (called an Operational Landing Field or OLF for short) at Coupeville and spend time doing touch and go’s practicing for when they head out to sea and have to land on a carrier. They practice pattern work and approaches etc.

So my friend and I headed out there and had a blast, albeit leaving early in the morning

From Seattle Life 2015

This is what OLF Coupeville looks like:

From Seattle Life 2015
From Seattle Life 2015

Doesn’t look like much right? Correct! Pretty much it is just a runway right beside the road and there isn’t even a real fence. Just a line of concrete blocks the whole way around. It means you can have a great time getting photos. We went out there expecting maybe 1 or 2 jets to do 5 or so circuits total and that was it. The Navy had released they were doing Mid Morning to Mid Afternoon. Thinking that there might be time for a lunch break in the middle we got there early and just waited. What we got though was a whole different event.

The Navy brought out the jets around 1030ish and they stuck around till about 2pm. A total of 6 different aircraft did approximately 50 touch and go’s and to be honest, it was a BLAST! I took around 1700 photos and a few videos and had some fun in the process as well:

From Seattle Life 2015
From Seattle Life 2015

If you don’t know what a touch and go looks like, it is this (PS volume UP if you like jet noise)

A few of my favorite photos (If you want to see the whole set click the link below):

From OLF Coupeville Avgeek Porn
From OLF Coupeville Avgeek Porn
From OLF Coupeville Avgeek Porn
From OLF Coupeville Avgeek Porn
From OLF Coupeville Avgeek Porn
From OLF Coupeville Avgeek Porn

I had a blast on Wednesday, took 1700 photos, got sun burnt, didn’t eat, barely drank, probably lost some of my hearing, but damn was it FUN!

OLF Coupeville Avgeek Porn

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Last year Heidi & I headed up to the tulips with a couple of my friends and we had a great day out and about. Since we didn’t end up going to LA for the weekend (both of us are feeling like crap) we decided to head up to the Tulips instead. We also decided to grab another rental for the day as well (and ended up with a fully loaded, brand new 2015 Tahoe). It was a fantastic day with lots of pretty sights, yummy food (I introduced Heidi to Snow Goose Produce and their massive icecreams). I even got to experience Cabelas for the first time. But this is what you really want to see… pictures!

From Seattle Life 2015

Heidi & Moby, the White 2015 Tahoe (with 440 miles on it!)

From Seattle Life 2015

Ugh Selfie Sticks!

From Seattle Life 2015

Heidi in the mud

From Seattle Life 2015

Me & Heidi

From Seattle Life 2015

The Droids in the Tulips

Time for some more professional looking Tulip photos

From Seattle Life 2015
From Seattle Life 2015
From Seattle Life 2015
From Seattle Life 2015
From Seattle Life 2015

This photo is for shits & giggles:

From Seattle Life 2015

There is tulips in the background. I love Snow Goose produce for their ice cream. That my friends is a single!

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Well, I have been busy all week training (and adjusting to getting up at 4am in the morning, and that is better than what i will have soon trust me) so here are some more plane pictures!

From Seattle Spotting 2015

United’s Star Alliance Livery on a 737-800

From Seattle Spotting 2015

Hainan 787

From Seattle Spotting 2015

The one and only Alaska Air Cargo 737-400 Freighter

From Seattle Spotting 2015

A Compass Airlines Embraer E175

From Seattle Spotting 2015

Jetblue’s Red Sox Livery on an A320

From Seattle Spotting 2015

Delta’s Skyteam Livery on a 737-800

From Seattle Spotting 2015

The first day of Regular Scheduled Lufthansa 747-400 Service to Seattle 😀

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Ugh it is to early in the morning to be thinking without a caffeine drip… so here is some planes

From Seattle Spotting 2015

The Boeing 757 EcoDemonstrator (the thing on its back is a camera)

From Seattle Spotting 2015

A P-3C Orion doing laps at BFI

From Seattle Spotting 2015

An Alaska 737-900ER after a Charter flight heading for the Museum of Flight ramp

From Seattle Spotting 2015

Transavia 737-800

From Seattle Spotting 2015

China United Airlines 737-800

More later in the week!

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Today is my last day as an unemployed bum, and I am going to enjoy it. Starting tomorrow afternoon I go back to work (albeit just a few hours for orientation) and then on Monday it is into the thick of it with a full on training program.

I am still not going to say who I am working for but the job is going to help pay bills, which is the main thing. I am still out there looking for other jobs as well as this is not something I want to do long term,i don’t think my body would handle it to well. The training I have been doing in the gym has helped to some extent, but I doubt it will be enough.

While it has been nice waking up at 0730 every morning and slowly rolling out of bed, it has been getting to me a lot this week. I feel lazy and useless at times, and that just isn’t something I want to deal with. So I continue to sit & wait for Friday to roll around.

Days like today help though as the weather is nice & I can get out and get photos when I can (although Boeing isn’t playing ball this morning as I have waited almost two hours for this flight to depart).  It helps me feel like I have stuff to do, but when I have a job to go to i feel like I am contributing more to the relationship.

So for now u enjoy the sunshine & the planes doing touch & go’s at Renton Airport. Life can’t be all that bad right?