September Trip back to the E.U. via Rome & Paris

This is another time of the year to fly back home (3rd time this year). September is a great month to

Add caption

travel because there are fewer people. The weather is also cooler and still fine, particularly in the Mediterranean region.

Once again, I chose to fly QATAR AIRWAYS, which is still on the top list for its service, comfort, and convenience. Being a frequent flyer, they provide extra luggage allowance, priority check-in, and seat choice as well as lounge access everywhere.

I am looking forward to being on board the quiet and spacious A380-800 on the BKK-DOH, and DOH-BKK routes, as well as flying again on the newer A350-900 between CDG and DOH.
SEPT.04 - Now at Suvarnabhumi Airport, enjoying the THAI Airways lounge before boarding the first flight to Hamad International Airport, Doha.

The Bangkok to Rome route.

At Suvarnabhumi Airport

Inside the Airport THAI Lounge

* 1st flight: from Bangkok [BKK] to Doha [DOH] aboard an A380-800.
Once again, the flight was delayed at departure from BKK. There must be something special for this type of aircraft because it is always leaving after schedule. The transit at Hamad Intl. Airport [HIA] was shorter. The flight lasted 6h35.

QR flight route from BKK to DOH

SEPT.05 - A full day starting with a flight from Doha to Rome, a morning in the Eternal City, a flight from Rome to Marseilles, a drive back to Arles with my sister, a visit to my Mum, and finally an evening at my home.

*2nd flight from Doha [DOH] to Rome-Fiumicino [FCO] aboard a B777-300R.

Breakfast on board before landing at Fiumicino Airport

On board the B773ER

I was upgraded to business class for this sector. This time, the flight left on time and arrived on schedule. I slept most of the time. The flight lasted 6h.

*Long transit in Rome from 6:30AM till 3:30PM. 
I left my luggage at the airport after checking my suitcase at the ALITALIA counter. Then I took the Leonardo Express to Termini in order to spend my time between Piazza di Populo & Piazza Spagna. 

*3rd and last flight from Rome [FCO] to Marseilles [MRS] with ALITALIA aboard an A320. This flight only lasted 1h05. 

                                         Flying past Elba Island between Italy & Corsica

Marseilles-Provence Airport feels like a small provincial airport. Very little air traffic, mostly mid-range flight routes, and facilities that can only accommodate a fewer number of passengers. How can this be possible for the second largest city in France (1M inhabitants)? Absolutely no long-range flights to Asia (only the Middle East). It took exactly 25 minutes for the luggage to be delivered with no consideration to the priority labels! Lyon and Nice are true international airports, where the major airlines are represented. Marseilles only favors low-cost airlines like Ryanair, Vueling or Volotea! As a frequent traveler, due to all the poor connections, I think I will avoid getting there as much as possible and choose Lyon instead. What a shame!

In ARLES, Provence from September 06 until September 21.

SEPT.21 - Departure for PARIS by TGV from Avignon to Parris-Lyon.

SEPT.21-25 - In PARIS.

SEPT.25  - Time to go back to Thailand after spending a few fruitful days in Paris. Now, at the ICARE lounge at CDG 1, waiting to board the flight to Doha, Qatar.

      Map of the distance between Paris-CDG & Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi

*QATAR AIRWAYS [QR] flight aboard a state-of-the-art A350-900 covered the distance from CDG to DOH in 5h40.

SEPT.26 - It was again a short transit at Hamad International Airport at night time. From one end of the airport to the other, I took the indoor transit train to spend some time at the business lounge and it was soon time to board the next flight to BKK.

*The QATAR AIRWAYS flight was almost empty in business class. The A380-800 covered the distance from DOH to BKK in 6h15 landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport at sunset.

- End of this trip -