"Oz Fest #9" – Canberra Australia - Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-27, 2012
#91
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Oz
Programs: QF LTG, Velocity FF Red, HH Diamond, PC Platinum Ambassador, UA Nothing
Posts: 1,914
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]
See: AFF Gathering #5 [CBR Oct 7-9]
#92
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Sydney
Programs: QF Plat, VA Gold, HH Diam, PC Plat, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,079
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]
See: AFF Gathering #5 [CBR Oct 7-9]
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^
#93
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,030
#94
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Brisbane AU, Planet X
Programs: QC Life, QFF Gold, VA Gold, HH nothing,IHG Gold
Posts: 1,603
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^
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^
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.
#95
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
Programs: UA "Lifetime" Gold, AS MVPG100K, OW Emerald, HH Lifetime Diamond, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 9,483
#96
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Perth, WA, Australia
Programs: QF Gold, VA Plat, IHG Plat Amb, LCAH Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,844
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,551
#99
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Sydney
Programs: QF Plat, VA Gold, HH Diam, PC Plat, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,079
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!@:-)
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!@:-)
#101
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SYD, BNE and BKK
Programs: QF Platinum (OW Emerald), PC Platinum, HH Gold
Posts: 1,029
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.
#102
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,986
The rates are unlikly to get much cheaper given the Super Rugby game Saturday evening (Brumbies v. Reds).
#103
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SYD, BNE and BKK
Programs: QF Platinum (OW Emerald), PC Platinum, HH Gold
Posts: 1,029
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.
#104
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
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™.
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