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"Oz Fest #9" – Canberra Australia - Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-27, 2012

"Oz Fest #9" – Canberra Australia - Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-27, 2012

Old Oct 9, 2011, 5:27 pm
  #91  
 
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The Australian Frequent Flyer (AFF) 'mob' are having a trial run in Canberra this weekend so that should give us a little direction which way to go next year. Most of the regulars are there except for someone who accidentally booked a trip to Fiji during the same period.

See: AFF Gathering #5 [CBR Oct 7-9]
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Old Oct 9, 2011, 6:15 pm
  #92  
kpc
 
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Originally Posted by Itsalongwaydown
The Australian Frequent Flyer (AFF) 'mob' are having a trial run in Canberra this weekend so that should give us a little direction which way to go next year. Most of the regulars are there except for someone who accidentally booked a trip to Fiji during the same period.

See: AFF Gathering #5 [CBR Oct 7-9]
In brief, to give you all an idea what we did:

Fri night: Group dinner

Sat: Pick up from hotels (2) by minibus (driven by Hvr a local Canberrian) to visit:

1) Mount Ainslie lookout:
http://www.visitcanberra.com.au/Thin...inslie+Lookout
2) Australian War Memorial
http://www.awm.gov.au/
3) Informal group lunch
4) National Portrait Gallery
http://www.portrait.gov.au/site/index.php
5) Old Parliament House
http://moadoph.gov.au/
or
National Gallery
http://nga.gov.au/Home/Default.cfm
6) Group dinner

Sun:
Pick up from hotels (2) by minibus (driven by Hvr a local Canberrian) to visit:

1) Canberra Space Centre at Tidbinbilla
http://www.cdscc.nasa.gov/
2) Royal Australian Mint
http://www.ramint.gov.au/
3) Informal lunch
4) Floriade (not on at Ozfest)
http://www.floriadeaustralia.com/
5) Tranfer to Cbr airport by 330pm where we "inspected" the Qantas club and J lounge as well as the Virgin lounge to enjoy free drinks prior to our departure^
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Old Oct 10, 2011, 11:30 am
  #93  
 
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Originally Posted by kpc
5) Tranfer to Cbr airport by 330pm where we "inspected" the Qantas club and J lounge as well as the Virgin lounge to enjoy free drinks prior to our departure^
So how did the inspection go? Enquiring minds want to know!
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Old Oct 10, 2011, 4:14 pm
  #94  
 
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Originally Posted by restlessinRNO

Originally Posted by kpc
In brief, to give you all an idea what we did:

Fri night: Group dinner

Sat: Pick up from hotels (2) by minibus (driven by Hvr a local Canberrian) to visit:

1) Mount Ainslie lookout:
http://www.visitcanberra.com.au/Thin...inslie+Lookout
2) Australian War Memorial
http://www.awm.gov.au/
3) Informal group lunch Dickson Asian Noodle House
http://yourrestaurants.com.au/guide/..._noodle_house/
4) National Portrait Gallery
http://www.portrait.gov.au/site/index.php
5) Old Parliament House
http://moadoph.gov.au/
or
National Gallery
http://nga.gov.au/Home/Default.cfm
6) Group dinner

Sun:
Pick up from hotels (2) by minibus (driven by Hvr a local Canberrian) to visit:

1) Canberra Space Centre at Tidbinbilla
http://www.cdscc.nasa.gov/
2) Royal Australian Mint
http://www.ramint.gov.au/
3) Informal lunch
4) Floriade (not on at Ozfest)
http://www.floriadeaustralia.com/
5) Tranfer to Cbr airport by 330pm where we "inspected" the Qantas club and J lounge as well as the Virgin lounge to enjoy free drinks prior to our departure^
So how did the inspection go? Enquiring minds want to know!
For anyone who has been to either of the Qantas First lounges then you will be disappointed by the lack of food and wine, but if you are comparing it to an RCC then you will be pleasantly surprised.

I thought I would add a link into our lunch on the Saturday at Dickson Asian Noodle House the place was pretty good for lunch.
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Old Oct 10, 2011, 5:05 pm
  #95  
 
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Originally Posted by Bundy Bear
...but if you are comparing it to an RCC then you will be pleasantly surprised...
One of the benefits of RCC membership is that life is full of such pleasant surprises.
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Old Oct 10, 2011, 7:51 pm
  #96  
 
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Originally Posted by kpc
In brief, to give you all an idea what we did:
I think you missed the bit where some of us were dealing with cancelled flights
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Old Oct 10, 2011, 7:56 pm
  #97  
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Originally Posted by Fredd
One of the benefits of RCC membership is that life is full of such pleasant surprises.
Like these?

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...pet-clubs.html

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Old Oct 17, 2011, 4:11 am
  #98  
 
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Please put me down as a maybe. Too far out to know where I will be located at the time.

Also hotel rates are a little on the ridiculous side.
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Old Oct 17, 2011, 4:56 am
  #99  
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Originally Posted by kpc
In light of the above information, I have followed serfty's lead and also booked a (refundable) PC rewards stay at the CP for the Fri and Sat night of Ozfest^

I would urge Ozfest 9 attendees to lock in a (refundable) rate ASAP in case accommodation in Canberra dries up that weekend, and prices head north rapidly!@:-)
Originally Posted by JohnK

Also hotel rates are a little on the ridiculous side.
The CP Canberra can be had for 25K pts per night (cancellable), and if you don't have enough PC pts, you can "buy" 25K PC pts for USD150@:-) [about AUD145 at today's exchange rate which is not too bad / night considering the paid rates are in excess of AUD200 per night]
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Old Oct 17, 2011, 5:11 am
  #100  
 
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Originally Posted by JohnK
Also hotel rates are a little on the ridiculous side.
Friday being a little more ridiculous than Saturday!
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Old Oct 17, 2011, 7:06 am
  #101  
 
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Originally Posted by kpc
The CP Canberra can be had for 25K pts per night (cancellable), and if you don't have enough PC pts, you can "buy" 25K PC pts for USD150@:-) [about AUD145 at today's exchange rate which is not too bad / night considering the paid rates are in excess of AUD200 per night]
I have the PC points but I do not think 50,000 PC points for 2 nights is good value or good use of PC points.

I won't know for a while if I can attend and by then hotel rates will be more ridiculous, or not available at all, than they are now.

Having just come back from Thailand one gets really spoiled when apart from the 2 Hilton stays I paid ~$35 a night for 11 night for huge room(s) in Pattaya and Hua Hin which included gorgeous buffet (all you can eat) breakfast for 2 people.
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Old Oct 17, 2011, 4:54 pm
  #102  
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The rates are unlikly to get much cheaper given the Super Rugby game Saturday evening (Brumbies v. Reds).
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Old Oct 21, 2011, 8:27 pm
  #103  
 
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Yes need to keep that in mind although I am not convinced that Super Rugby is going to affect accommodation that much considering the average crowds to the Super 14 rugby was just over 13,000 per match in Canberra.
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Old Oct 21, 2011, 10:00 pm
  #104  
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Originally Posted by serfty

Currently Virgin Australia have a status match programme going - it finishes in a little over 48 hours as I post. If you have status in another airline program you may be able to do a status match.
Virgin Australia Gold and Platinum status provide any-time lounge access to their lounges (SYD, MEL, ADL, PER, CBR).

It also provides operating carrier lounge access before NZ, SQ, EY and DL flights.

Wait, there's more.

Also there is Complimentary Elite membership, Europcar Privilege Program or Hertz #1 Club and IHG Priority Club® Rewards or Hilton HHonors™.
Reports are that Virgin are STILL doing this match.

Anyone, anywhere, that has not taken this up is missing a gem of a one-time chance IMHO .. we just emailed in a photo of our 1K cards, and that was that.

The wildcat union disruptions Qantas is experiencing lately now means this is THE smartest marketing move Virgin could ever have pulled, hence the extension, IMHO.

Any businessman who has a *MUST ATTEND* meeting next week or next month will not be booking QF right now.

Seems like you do not need to be an oz resident to get matched either. @:-)

Margo and I are both Virgin Platinum now with 69ks free baggage domestic, and even more overseas. Free lounge access here for us and several guests etc, whether flying Virgin or not, and much more. Free upgrades, seating choice in advance etc.

Importantly it also gives you Hilton DIAMOND membership or Crowne Plaza top or high tier, so we took one of each, as we will be staying Crown Plaza in Canberra for ozfest.

Seems dead easy to re-qualify too. We are booking Malaysian to Shanghai for Xmas, (stayng Hilton of course!) that gives us Gold as re-qualify instantly on that 1 flight (400 SC each) as far as I can see. And a range of domestic flights in the next year will tip Plat pretty easily.

Virgin also has a double SC promo running right now.

So in our case giving us one-time status has already created 2 x genuine Plats for the following year - smart move Virgin.

Our 1K for next year is already locked in, so this fits in nicely.

Glen
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Old Oct 27, 2011, 6:39 pm
  #105  
 
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Even though gold is better than platinum these days, i'll go for the platinum list.
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