Skip to content

Recent Posts

  • 4 Reasons I’m Excited Alaska Airlines is Joining OneWorld
  • Next Card Up: The Citi Premier
  • I’m Taking My Parents to Europe
  • My 2020 Travel Plans
  • Finally Booked my Hotel for Paris

Most Used Categories

  • Credit Cards (17)
  • General (15)
  • American Express (9)
  • Trip Planning (9)
  • Chase (8)
  • What's in my Wallet (5)
  • American Airlines (5)
  • Alaska Airlines (5)
  • Citi (5)
  • Qatar Airways (4)
Skip to content
TravelBlerd

TravelBlerd

Subscribe
  • Home
  • 2019
  • February
  • 2
  • My Birthday Trip is Booked and I’m Headed to Zanzibar

My Birthday Trip is Booked and I’m Headed to Zanzibar

Travel BlerdFebruary 2, 2019February 2, 2019

Every year for the past 7 or 8 years, I’ve gotten into the habit of booking a trip for my birthday. The trips started small at first. The first trip I took was to Las Vegas. After that, the trips got more exotic. I managed to book trips to Panama, Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, Germany, Ecuador and Amsterdam in the time since.

Why Zanzibar?

Last year I couldn’t take a trip due to my job, so I wanted to make up for it this year. I wanted to go somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere. The mostly likely candidate was Australia. Since this is my birthday, I did not want to fly coach. At the bare minimum, I wanted to fly premium economy but would strongly preferred Business class. After taking a look at my options, Australia was not going to be feasible. I couldn’t find any bookable premium award space for the time period I was looking for.

Some friends I met up with in Amsterdam, raved about Zanzibar so I figured I would see if that’s an option. The cheapest business class flight was ~$3000 and involved connecting through mainland China. To me this didn’t seem like a viable option given the political climate. I next turned to trying to book a business class award on Ethiopian Airlines using United miles. I was able to get availability but the routing was crazy to say the least.

Maps generated by the Great Circle Mapper – copyright © Karl L. Swartz.

My routing would have involved going from Chicago to Vienna via Austrian Airlines then flying to Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines. From there I would fly to Kilimanjaro then finally to Zanzibar. The total time for transit would be in the neighborhood of 60 hours with an overnight in Addis Ababa. I was planning to be gone for only 7 days. If I took this option, I would spend 5 of the 7 days just transiting to Zanzibar.

AAdvantage To The Rescue

I almost gave up on Zanzibar until a friend suggested that I use my American miles to book the trip. I completely forgot that I could book a flight to Zanzibar on Qatar Airways. Even more exciting for me is I wouldn’t have to play phone tag with American Airlines to book the trip. American Airlines added the ability to book Qatar Airways flights online late last year.

I used the online search but wasn’t able to find availability to and from Zanzibar during the week of my birthday. I looked at a couple of weeks later and Jackpot! I found availability and was able to book the trip. Using AA miles, awards to Africa are priced 75k each way for a business class seat. Since the flight is booked on Qatar Airways, there aren’t any fuel taxes and very minimal taxes and fees.

The only downside of the booking is I’m not booked on a direct flight to and from Doha from Chicago. Going to Zanzibar, I first have to fly to Philadelphia then to Doha. On the return I fly from Doha to Boston then back to Chicago. It also means, I won’t be flying in the QSuite as the Philadelphia and Boston routes to Doha haven’t been updated yet. The service on Qatar airways is one of the best in the world and I always look forward to flying.

The QSuites are one of the best business class seats and one of my favorite airline experiences

Now that my flight is booked, I next have to figure out accommodations for my trip. Any suggestions?

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Post navigation

Previous: It’s Cold in Chicago
Next: O’Hare is the Busiest Airport in the Country and I’m not Sure How I Feel About That

Related Posts

I’m Taking My Parents to Europe

January 20, 2020January 25, 2020 Travel Blerd

My 2020 Travel Plans

January 5, 2020January 29, 2020 Travel Blerd

Finally Booked my Hotel for Paris

October 16, 2019January 29, 2020 Travel Blerd

Recent Posts

  • 4 Reasons I’m Excited Alaska Airlines is Joining OneWorld
  • Next Card Up: The Citi Premier
  • I’m Taking My Parents to Europe
  • My 2020 Travel Plans
  • Finally Booked my Hotel for Paris

Archives

travel_blerd

Today was the day…. #tesla #teslamodel3 #tesla Today was the day….

 #tesla #teslamodel3 #teslamotors
Lunch of Champions… #umamiburger #santamonica Lunch of Champions…

#umamiburger #santamonica
California…. California….
Instagram post 17892856946269580 Instagram post 17892856946269580
#ShotforSam @samueladamsbeer #ShotforSam @samueladamsbeer
It’s #starbucksredcup day which for me is the un It’s #starbucksredcup day which for me is the unofficial start of the holiday season. It really doesn’t feel that way when it’s going to 75 degrees in Chicago
.
.
.
#Starbucks #starbucksholiday #starbucksholidaycups #bringbackgingerbreadlatte
Even though it’s snowing, she’s always watchin Even though it’s snowing, she’s always watching .
.
.
#Chicago #lightfootmemes #lorilightfootmemes #snowday
Just started Spring cleaning and I already found t Just started Spring cleaning and I already found this gem
.
.
.
#blockbustervideo #80sbaby #80sbaby90skid #SpringCleaning
Good news is my #vinebox has arrived, bad news is Good news is my #vinebox has arrived, bad news is this won’t last until the weekend. Thanks @nicolebicolecole .
.
.
#wine #quarantinewine #quarantineandchill
This is the reason why I could actually buy essent This is the reason why I could actually buy essentials like milk, eggs and wings at #Aldi . More stores should implement this policy not just on toilet paper and water
.
.
.
#groceryshopping #aldilove #cornavirus #essentials
No milk, eggs or butter but at least I can get #Lu No milk, eggs or butter but at least I can get #Lunchables .
.
.
#peoplearecrazy #nomilk #hoarders
Heading home after a relaxing stay in Paris . . . Heading home after a relaxing stay in Paris
.
.
.
#TravelBlerd #Travel #Paris #Vacation #HeadingHome #lacompagnie #lacompagnieboutiqueairline #
Finally made it to the Eiffel Tower. Checked one t Finally made it to the Eiffel Tower. Checked one thing off my Paris Bucket list
.
.
.
#Travel #TravelBlerd #Paris #eiffeltower #travelbucketlist
Sunset in Paris . . . #Travel #Paris #TravelBlerd Sunset in Paris
.
.
.
#Travel #Paris #TravelBlerd #Sunset
Did I go to McDonald’s...Yes Did I ask for a Roy Did I go to McDonald’s...Yes
Did I ask for a Royals with cheese...Yes
Did I get a classic French eye roll from the Cashier...absolutely .
.
.
#Paris #royalewithcheese #Travel #TravelBlerd #pulpfictionmemes #cityoflights
Imagine if Chicago shutdown Michigan Ave like they Imagine if Chicago shutdown Michigan Ave like they shutdown the Les Champs Elysèe in Paris
.
.
.
#Paris #Travel #TravelBlerd #champselysees #emptystreets #touristythings #afternooninparis
Even though it’s a terrible day, I Checked one t Even though it’s a terrible day, I Checked one thing off my Paris todo list
.
.
.
#arcdetriomphe #paris #TravelBlerd #Travel #cityoflights #exploringparis🇫🇷 #raininginparis 
#niggasinparis🇫🇷
Home for the next 8 hours . . . #TravelBlerd #Trav Home for the next 8 hours
.
.
.
#TravelBlerd #Travel #LaCompagnie #BusinessClass #france🇫🇷 #NoMasCoach #FreeWifi
Some people pop bottles 🍾on their birthday, I r Some people pop bottles 🍾on their birthday, I refinanced my mortgage
.
.
.
#adultingishard #birthday #birthdaycelebration #beingresponsiblesucks
#HuelLife ...when this is what your weekly groceri #HuelLife ...when this is what your weekly groceries look like

#huel #healthyliving #aldi #aldihaul
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Copyright All Rights Reserved | Theme: BlockWP by Candid Themes.
 

Loading Comments...