Back to school trips to Paris and the United States

Just back from Thailand, I’m already back on the road with 3 trips combined in a short time: two meetings in Paris and a nice personal trip to Chicago and New York.

Flights and transportation

As for transatlantic flights, I had initially booked on TAP to secure my Star Gold status in 2022… Nevertheless, my May’s disastrous experience in terms of services during my previous trip to Boston will lead me to change to a Oneworld airline, in my quest for the Gold Guest List status with BA.

Despite an excellent *hard product*, the service is really too bad on TAP transatlantic flights

I will find a First class ticket on the British airline at a reasonable rate and I will make the switch, shifting my TAP flight to a more distant horizon.

Even dated, the *First Class* seat on the British Airways A380 is excellent

As for domestic flights, same thing: I will switch from United to American Airlines, postponing my United ticket at no cost to I don’t know when.

American Airlines will be my airline of choice for domestic flights

But before my transatlantic trip, I will have to add a trip to Paris both before and after this trip, before on Air France for scheduling reasons, and after on British Airways.

Air France will impose itself on me for my pre-flight to London from Paris

Hotels

As for hotels, my switch from Marriott to IHG for the end of the year will involve booking into a mix of Kimpton and Intercontinental.

Great view from my suite at the Hotel Monaco in Chicago

In Chicago as in New York, I will change hotels every night and in Paris, I will stay at the Intercontinental on Avenue Marceau.

A gloomy weather but an incredible view from my corner room at the Intercontinental Times Square

Activities

Beyond my professional activities, I will add to this trip some visits like the Willis Tower in Chicago, the famous Architecture Cruise and, in New York, the new Wanderbilt Tower Observatory.

Beautiful view from the Willis Tower in Chicago

Itinerary

Finally, here is the itinerary followed:

#	Type	Review
1	Diary	Back to school trips to Paris and the United States
2	Lounge	Club Aspire Lounge, London Heathrow T3
3	Flight	Air France Business, London Heathrow – Paris Charles-de-Gaulle
4	Hotel	Intercontinental Paris Champs-Elysées
5	Lounge	Air France Business Lounge, Paris Charles-de-Gaulle 2E-K
6	Flight	Air France Business, Paris Charles-de-Gaulle – London Heathrow
7	Lounge	British Airways Concorde Room, London Heathrow T5
8	Flight	British Airways First, London Heathrow – Chicago O’Hare, Airbus A380-800
9	Hotel	Kimpton Grey Chicago
10	Hotel	Kimpton Monaco Chicago
11	Hotel	Intercontinental Chicago
12	Lounge	American Airlines Flagship Lounge, Chicago O’Hare T3
13	Flight	American Airlines Domestic First, Chicago O’Hare – Charlotte, Boeing 737-800
14	Lounge	American Airlines Admirals Club, Charlotte Concourse C
15	Flight	American Airlines Domestic First, Charlotte – New-York La Guardia, Boeing 737-800
16	Hotel	Kimpton Muse, New-York
17	Hotel	Intercontinental New-York Times Square
18	Lounge	British Airways Concorde Room, New-York JFK T7
19	Flight	British Airways First Suite, New-York JFK – London Heathrow, Boeing 777-300ER