OneStep4Ward

UK credit card tips for anyone who wants to fly business class for freeeeeeee (like me!)

ROUTE: Moscow-Doha-Bangkok (including tips of fast immigration in Thailand, and UK credit card tips!)

EXPERIENCE:
Leg 1…
The lounge in SVO airport in Moscow was really great. It had so many food options, a games room, Playstations, all of that kind of stuff. And the food in a country like Russia where the food can be awful was actually great. Only problem was it was just wine and beers free, everything else was chargeable.
When I boarded then, it was supposed to be the Q Suites on the 777s and I boarded in and it was 222 configuration. Gutted, but because of the last minute switch, that meant there was no one beside me. So at least I had the privacy there. The food was great and the drinks as always were great. The staff were commiserating with me with the situation about the plane switch.

Doha lounge…
Then I got to Doha airport, as we all know, it's amazing. The Al Maraj lounge is brilliant. I also thought even better, but my next leg was business, not first, so I was in the Al Maraj. And if you know, there's actually two lounges for business class passengers there. The one near the jungle area has quiet rooms that you can sleep in. And this is a massive tip, actually. The bed is semi-comfortable to sleep, kind of curved. I can't sleep like that, I don't know about you guys, but you can have unlimited blankets. So I got like six blankets and made it into a makeshift mattress on the floor and slept sound for six hours or so, then woke up, went to the gym and then hammered about 10 champagnes before my next flight to Bangkok. Not sorry!

Leg 2…
When I was trying to find cheap redemptions to come back from Russia to Thailand, (as always) I actively chose to have a 10-hour layover in Doha Lounge because I know it's got a gym and you can sleep and enjoy all the lounges. It was great. And then also I chose this one because it's the A380 on the way back. So although the seat is the standard kind of old Qatar business class, the A380 gives you that banging bar. And I had just been working on an expedition in Siberia to the coldest place on Earth, which was amazing, but I wanted to celebrate in style and comfort after suffering in Siberia in winter. So sitting drinking espresso martinis and old fashions in the A380 bar was amazing. And then, remember folks, for people who don't know, if you're flying business and land in Thailand, you get priority immigration in Bangkok. When I come off the plane, when I'm flying business with Qatar, I see everyone joining the normal queue, but you can go through the queue for Thai people on the priority immigration is there.

HOW I AFFORD IT
I’m a travel blogger (IG at @ Onestep4ward) so I fly up to 100 flights per year! I have a UK address (thanks mum!) so I rack of credit card points. One benefit of Brexit is that FINALLY the UK is catching up with the US for these bonuses, long way to go though.
Last year I flew biz 37 times (out of 83 flights), spent 336,000 miles, and $15,599USD.

UK Credit cards:
If you have a UK address and want a basic run-down of how I do it, just DM me and I’ll give you a simple step by step (including my referral link to the biggest bonuses so we both get extra miles!).

Over and out 🫡

Building a villa in Thailand to sell….

Officially started my real estate developer journey. No idea what I’m doing, and dont have the funds to finish the project by completion date yet. But we’ll give it a crack in the meantime.

2 years ago I said I’d try to build a pool
villa to sell, and /9 here we are. Due to finish around February 2026, by which point I hope to have enough funds to finish it. Or expect it on the market at a very cheap price 😂

The plan is 5 bedrooms, gym, pool, sauna etc. About 500m from my current house. Fingers crossed. Constantly freaking out about it, but freaking out more thinking about private school for Aidan. So let’s get to work 💪🏻

I just ran a group trip to the COLDEST INHABITED PLACE ON EARTH!

And it was hands down one of the best trips of my life. Amazing group, and amazing destination. Oymyakon, Siberia in winter. Right up there with Timbuktu, but honestly maybe better.

We met in Yakutsk, and from there we did a 2 day drive to deep Siberia, and met the Keeper of the Cold. Driving along the ‘Road of Bones’, named so due to the deaths involved whilst building it when stuck in the Gulags.

Reindeer herders, pure vodka, epic conversations, and temperatures colder than -50 degrees. Unreal. I’m 99% sure I’m going to do this again next year, it’s so so so beautiful out here.

Now, off to Moscow for a bit of luxury. Hard earned after this week!

Sahara to Siberia. My group trip in Libya is now done.

I hate social media BUT discovering my people, and that there are other weirdos who love adventuring in every corner of our globe makes it all worthwhile. Brilliant week road tripping across a country most people never see. Thanks everyone!

Now I’m off on a bucket list quest - to Oymyakon. Siberia in winter; coldest inhabited place on earth. And 14 others are weird enough to join me. Vodka is non negotiable 🥶

If you think this looks fun, my other group trips this year are:

Papua New Guinea in May
Russia and europes highest mountain in August
Turkmenistan in October
Mauritania in November

Come join and terrify your mum.