(This is part of a summer trip report traveling to Europe on Emirates First Class using 100K Alaska miles and costing $41).

It’s been so long since I’ve written and I’ve missed it. My summer was super busy, and I’ve had an even busier start to my school year! But I’m back in the swing of things now, so here come my blog posts about my summer trip to Dubai, Europe, and Russia using miles and points!

We started our trip by flying to NYC and spending two nights. We used our annual Hyatt free nights to stay at the Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson and this was our view!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One perk of the Hyatt credit card is a free night at any category 1-4 hotel and this hotel fit the bill, being just one stop on the Path train and you’re at the World Trade Center. We didn’t have lots of time there, but I did go up in the new One World Observatory; they have an absolutely wonderful presentation before you get to the top and 360 degree views! Here’s a view outside our hotel of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And some views from the top…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hyatt even included free breakfasts, so after paying zero dollars for two nights in NYC, we were off to JFK and our flight to Dubai.

 

How did I get those 100K miles to fly on Emirates anyway? Since we have two small businesses, my husband and I both got the personal and business Alaska Air Visa credit cards from Bank of America, which accrued 25,000 miles each. (This offer is available right now, if interested). And the best use of Alaska miles, in my opinion, is to redeem for flights on Emirates. There seems to be lots of availability and it’s easy to book your trip using Alaska miles. And another plus with Emirates, is that you can have a stopover in Dubai, so our trip for 100K miles continued on to Paris after  two days in Dubai.

Here’s some photos of the lounge at JFK for first and business class passengers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And we are SO excited to be boarding our A380…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here it is…I’d seen lots of pictures, but there’s nothing quite like the real thing! All the food and snacks you see are refilled immediately! I brought Lindt chocolates for the crew and they were so appreciative. The four of them bent over backwards to wait on us!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And if you want to write any letters from the air, you of course have your own stationary set! This doesn’t even include the amenity kits, pajamas, shoes, and bag. You need the bag to carry all the stuff you received off the plane!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The beds lie flat and the doors shut, so you can really sleep.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had opened this little kit and Anis, my FA said, “Oh here let me get you another one.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bathroom is HUGE by airplane standards and has TWO attendants who clean it every time it’s used.

Here’s the shower…everyone needs to take a shower at 40,000 feet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You only get five minutes of hot water, but there’s a timer so you can keep track! (Sorry for the poor image quality, I was probably shaking with excitement)!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are real towels to dry your hands, no paper towels allowed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you get bored in your seat, you can walk through the business class and visit the lounge! By the way, the picture behind me is the Burj Al Arab, my next blog post.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A flight show of our flight…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had the wonderful Arabic Mezze for supper…hummus is one of my favorite foods!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our flight was over 14 hours long and we did NOT want it to end!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up, Burj Al Arab in Dubai….