This Is Absolutely *THE* Most Flame Free And Friendly Forum On Flyertalk!
Mar 28, 2003, 5:49 pm
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,330
chobby100. Well you have come to the correct board for answers to important questions like those. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
Both Ansett and Qantas actually ran the "mystery flights". They were very popular for folks to kill a day. Or for tourists of course. It was a fixed fee - worth about $US50-60.
You were told what time to be at airport. When there you were told WHERE you would be going for the day - and NEVER before. From a place like BOS it would generally be a 90 minute-2 hour type flight. So you were talking Florida, New Orleans, Memphis, Minneapolis etc type places re distance away. As neither airline worked on a hub and spoke system, the choice really was random .... whatever they had light loads on that day.
So you typically went out at 8.30am or earlier to say New Orleans and returned on the latest flight that evening. Great way to see the country and the cost was right. And of course you got flyer miles on the whole deal. Now I think of the downturn in the USA industry, I wonder whether this might not be a deal one of the US majors might commence? It is PURE profit for them after all.
As to the question of Ozzie beer on the east coast, I bet there is plenty of it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
I DO know that when they had a little FT party for us in Washington DC last year, that host mdtony managed to have a slab of REAL Fosters long necks materialise. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
Both Ansett and Qantas actually ran the "mystery flights". They were very popular for folks to kill a day. Or for tourists of course. It was a fixed fee - worth about $US50-60.
You were told what time to be at airport. When there you were told WHERE you would be going for the day - and NEVER before. From a place like BOS it would generally be a 90 minute-2 hour type flight. So you were talking Florida, New Orleans, Memphis, Minneapolis etc type places re distance away. As neither airline worked on a hub and spoke system, the choice really was random .... whatever they had light loads on that day.
So you typically went out at 8.30am or earlier to say New Orleans and returned on the latest flight that evening. Great way to see the country and the cost was right. And of course you got flyer miles on the whole deal. Now I think of the downturn in the USA industry, I wonder whether this might not be a deal one of the US majors might commence? It is PURE profit for them after all.
As to the question of Ozzie beer on the east coast, I bet there is plenty of it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
I DO know that when they had a little FT party for us in Washington DC last year, that host mdtony managed to have a slab of REAL Fosters long necks materialise. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
Apr 26, 2003, 3:00 pm
#47
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Stockton, CA
Posts: 5
I like nice poeple.
I hope this is a good furom for
my first post ever.
Ain't never been on a arplane tho.
I hope this is a good furom for
my first post ever.
Ain't never been on a arplane tho.
May 5, 2003, 1:00 pm
#49
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Programs: QF Platinum One (LTG), UA Plat IHG Plat
Posts: 5,836
I thought, since the rest of the board is having trouble right now, that I'd add some comments on the Mystery Flights as discussed above.
I flew a number of them all on AN (but TN/QF also did them to match). In the heyday of the mystery flight (IIRC early 90's) they had both "Mystery Flights" (much as Ozstamps has described them above) and "Mystery Nights" where you could get accom as well and stay the night, coming back the next day.
Usually the process would be that you booked the MF between 14 and 3 days in advance (at least for AN) - indeed no seats were every released into "A" class (sometimes also B class) 14 days beforehand. The mystery flight tickets were all paper (as most tickets were back then) and your destination was coded as "ZZF" - I can only presume Yield Management would release a set number of seats into the A inventory for (eg: MEL-ZZF, SYD-ZZF, BNE-ZZF, etc) and then sorted out who got what 24 hours prior.
The only instruction was to call reservations 1400 the day prior. No earlier was allowed. The agent usually would say "You need to be at the airport around 6 and you'll be back around 7pm." Sometimes they'd be more precise and say "your flight leaves at 0605.." but that was then easy to look in the timetable and figure out that it would be good old AN60 to BNE (or whatever). Once I was actually told my destination (I'm not sure why) but usually it was always part of the game. They might say "take something warm" or "you'll get some sun" but more times than not they'd just say the times and that was it.
While you couldn't technically change these flights I did manage once to come back early on a MF. I wound up in BNE and I didn't really want to stay so when I got to BNE I asked if they could put me on an earlier flight back. The agent laughed and said "Don't you like us up here?" LOL but I got on a flight 3-4 hours earlier home nonetheless. Of course no change fees back in those days.
On the subject of fees. The MF's originally started out to be very cheap. Perhaps even under 100AUD but by the end of their day they were up to around the AUD160-180 mark. Certainly not economic to purchase when you could purchase a confirmed (cheap) seat to SYD/BNE for just as much without the uncertainty. I think this is the main reason they went away.
Usually from MEL or SYD (being the main hubs) you'd wind up at another hub. I usually wound up with SYD and BNE as choices from MEL. I did hear of one lucky camper who made it all the way to PER, and another who wound up in CNS soaking up the rays on the beach. However those would have been very rare. Usually you got the 0600 type first flight out and were returned some 12 or so hours later, so it made for a long day, but usually a fun one if you never quite knew where you'd end up.
The last MF I did was in 2000 IIRC with a friend. Our flight was at 0605 (yes, BNE!) and i remember a terrible delay with the taxi not showing up when ordered etc and we rushed into the check-in area at around 0557. It was touch and go but they told us to "Run like mad to gate 1" and when we got there the crew had our boarding passes ready and we jumped on (only to be delayed 10 minutes on the ground!). We had a great day on the Gold Coast.
I miss the Mystery Flights. I wonder if they'll ever return....
------------------
RichardMEL, UA 1K
A Star Alliance Member.
I flew a number of them all on AN (but TN/QF also did them to match). In the heyday of the mystery flight (IIRC early 90's) they had both "Mystery Flights" (much as Ozstamps has described them above) and "Mystery Nights" where you could get accom as well and stay the night, coming back the next day.
Usually the process would be that you booked the MF between 14 and 3 days in advance (at least for AN) - indeed no seats were every released into "A" class (sometimes also B class) 14 days beforehand. The mystery flight tickets were all paper (as most tickets were back then) and your destination was coded as "ZZF" - I can only presume Yield Management would release a set number of seats into the A inventory for (eg: MEL-ZZF, SYD-ZZF, BNE-ZZF, etc) and then sorted out who got what 24 hours prior.
The only instruction was to call reservations 1400 the day prior. No earlier was allowed. The agent usually would say "You need to be at the airport around 6 and you'll be back around 7pm." Sometimes they'd be more precise and say "your flight leaves at 0605.." but that was then easy to look in the timetable and figure out that it would be good old AN60 to BNE (or whatever). Once I was actually told my destination (I'm not sure why) but usually it was always part of the game. They might say "take something warm" or "you'll get some sun" but more times than not they'd just say the times and that was it.
While you couldn't technically change these flights I did manage once to come back early on a MF. I wound up in BNE and I didn't really want to stay so when I got to BNE I asked if they could put me on an earlier flight back. The agent laughed and said "Don't you like us up here?" LOL but I got on a flight 3-4 hours earlier home nonetheless. Of course no change fees back in those days.
On the subject of fees. The MF's originally started out to be very cheap. Perhaps even under 100AUD but by the end of their day they were up to around the AUD160-180 mark. Certainly not economic to purchase when you could purchase a confirmed (cheap) seat to SYD/BNE for just as much without the uncertainty. I think this is the main reason they went away.
Usually from MEL or SYD (being the main hubs) you'd wind up at another hub. I usually wound up with SYD and BNE as choices from MEL. I did hear of one lucky camper who made it all the way to PER, and another who wound up in CNS soaking up the rays on the beach. However those would have been very rare. Usually you got the 0600 type first flight out and were returned some 12 or so hours later, so it made for a long day, but usually a fun one if you never quite knew where you'd end up.
The last MF I did was in 2000 IIRC with a friend. Our flight was at 0605 (yes, BNE!) and i remember a terrible delay with the taxi not showing up when ordered etc and we rushed into the check-in area at around 0557. It was touch and go but they told us to "Run like mad to gate 1" and when we got there the crew had our boarding passes ready and we jumped on (only to be delayed 10 minutes on the ground!). We had a great day on the Gold Coast.
I miss the Mystery Flights. I wonder if they'll ever return....
------------------
RichardMEL, UA 1K
A Star Alliance Member.
May 5, 2003, 6:26 pm
#50
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Salt Lake City, UT USA
Posts: 1
Hi all! Short time reader, First time Poster! = )
I think this is a great site. It took me reading an MSN article today to find the link to it.
Glad I did!
I think this is a great site. It took me reading an MSN article today to find the link to it.
Glad I did!
May 5, 2003, 9:47 pm
#51
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 26,543
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MX6:
Hi all! Short time reader, First time Poster! = )
I think this is a great site. It took me reading an MSN article today to find the link to it.
Glad I did!</font>
Hi all! Short time reader, First time Poster! = )
I think this is a great site. It took me reading an MSN article today to find the link to it.
Glad I did!</font>
May 13, 2003, 8:57 pm
#52
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Stockton, CA
Posts: 5
Thanks for welcoming me.
I do feel welcome.
This is a really nice board.
No bad stuff.
Hello everybody.
I do feel welcome.
This is a really nice board.
No bad stuff.
Hello everybody.
May 13, 2003, 10:38 pm
#53
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,748
ozstamps,
Is ADG going to make you resign as moderator, then delete your account and issue a press release? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif
(just playing!)
Is ADG going to make you resign as moderator, then delete your account and issue a press release? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif
(just playing!)
May 13, 2003, 10:49 pm
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,330
Industrial Patent. The most wonderful thing about being a self-appointed, totally unofficial and unpaid volunteer watchdog Moderator here is there is no official position to resign FROM. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
And The FT computer DID already delete my posts - some 6000 of them last week in the "Melt Down." I had over 14,000 and then ..... whoof ..... 6000 were gone. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
And a belated and warm welcome to MX6
and to Kathman. Kathman's has only TWO posts on Flyertalk in 3 weeks - and they are both in this most worthy of Forums! We are honoured. Please drop by again. No flames, no insults, no arguments here. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif
(Not much of anything else either to be honest.) http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif
Do you have any recipies to share, or macrame tips, or fast ways to tune a chevvy V8. Almost nothing is off-topic in the ANSETT forum? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
------------------
~ Glen ~
Come visit HERE the most ** FRIENDLY FORUM ** on FlyerTalk. No flame wars, no personal abuse, no substance abuse. Not much of anything really!
[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 05-13-2003).]
And The FT computer DID already delete my posts - some 6000 of them last week in the "Melt Down." I had over 14,000 and then ..... whoof ..... 6000 were gone. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
And a belated and warm welcome to MX6
and to Kathman. Kathman's has only TWO posts on Flyertalk in 3 weeks - and they are both in this most worthy of Forums! We are honoured. Please drop by again. No flames, no insults, no arguments here. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif
(Not much of anything else either to be honest.) http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif
Do you have any recipies to share, or macrame tips, or fast ways to tune a chevvy V8. Almost nothing is off-topic in the ANSETT forum? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
------------------
~ Glen ~
Come visit HERE the most ** FRIENDLY FORUM ** on FlyerTalk. No flame wars, no personal abuse, no substance abuse. Not much of anything really!
[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 05-13-2003).]
May 16, 2003, 10:43 am
#55
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: GLA
Posts: 613
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by obscure2k:
just dropped by to see if you have any more Actuary Jokes http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif</font>
just dropped by to see if you have any more Actuary Jokes http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif</font>
Because they both have a one in a million chance of becoming a human being!
May 16, 2003, 5:39 pm
#56
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Philippines
Programs: CebGo 5J, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Alaska 100K
Posts: 4,696
Whatever happened to Whyalla Airlines? Are they still flying or did they lose their operating license after one of their aircraft crashed into the gulf a few years back?
Did anything good come out of this unfortunate event? I seem to remember that the pilots were cooking the books about how many hours they were really flying.
Did anything good come out of this unfortunate event? I seem to remember that the pilots were cooking the books about how many hours they were really flying.
May 17, 2003, 3:42 am
#57
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: BNE, Australia...not too far from the nearest Qantas Pub err Club
Posts: 3,636
Some interesting reading here - The Whyalla Report -- Junk Science?.
"On May 31, 2000, a Piper PA31-350 Chieftain operated by Whyalla Airlines crashed in South Australia after suffering catastrophic in-flight failure of both engines, killing the pilot and seven passengers. A year and a half later, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) issued their 150-page investigation report and blamed the accident on buildup of "lead oxybromide deposits" caused by Whyalla's aggressive leaning procedures. AVweb's John Deakin has dissected the ATSB report, and concludes that while improper leaning procedures may have been involved, the ATSB analysis is seriously flawed and their lead-oxybromide theory is pure poppycock."
"On May 31, 2000, a Piper PA31-350 Chieftain operated by Whyalla Airlines crashed in South Australia after suffering catastrophic in-flight failure of both engines, killing the pilot and seven passengers. A year and a half later, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) issued their 150-page investigation report and blamed the accident on buildup of "lead oxybromide deposits" caused by Whyalla's aggressive leaning procedures. AVweb's John Deakin has dissected the ATSB report, and concludes that while improper leaning procedures may have been involved, the ATSB analysis is seriously flawed and their lead-oxybromide theory is pure poppycock."
May 17, 2003, 4:28 pm
#58
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Philippines
Programs: CebGo 5J, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Alaska 100K
Posts: 4,696
Thanks for the link Willyroo. I read the article and am still at a loss about why the Piper lost both engines and went down. I think it will remain a mystery.
Is Whyalla Airlines still flying?
Is Whyalla Airlines still flying?
May 18, 2003, 7:38 am
#59
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Brisbane (BNE), Australia, QF/VA Forums Meeting Organiser
Programs: VA Plat, QF Gold (97.4% LTG), QP Life, AA (66% LTG). HH Diamond. Amex Plat, Visa Plat
Posts: 6,519
No! Closed down after that. I flew them once WHY-ADL and it is probably my scariest moment in flying life. High winds and pouring rain on the last flight out at night. I was behind and to the right of the pilot. He turned around mid-flight and said "hope you're well strapped in, it's about to get rougher, but I've flown in this stuff before, so enjoy the ride". Was full white knuckle flying (bouncing up and down in the wind shifts and lots of rocking right to left). He was skillful...but scary nonetheless.
May 22, 2003, 11:03 pm
#60
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 26,543
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Bond Boy:
Why are actuaries like sperm........?
Because they both have a one in a million chance of becoming a human being!</font>
Why are actuaries like sperm........?
Because they both have a one in a million chance of becoming a human being!</font>