SkiAdcock Trip Report - StarMegaDo - #1 DO in FT History!!
Nov 7, 2009, 10:17 am
#1
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SkiAdcock Trip Report - StarMegaDo - #1 DO in FT History!!
Greetings from MUC, where I've been invited to Mod Dinner & just arrived via train from FRA, after breakfast following a fun evening at Seiheim.
Wow - I'm still on a high from the StarMegaDo - THE BEST FT DO IN FT HISTORY!!!!! Almost at a loss to describe this 'once in a lifetime opportunity' promised by tommy777, oliver2002, & xyzzy - and boy did they come through!
I'll do a much detailed trip report when I get back to the states & also get my photos uploaded to my photo website. This is the first time I've been online since just before leaving CO for JFK. LOTS of photos, great experiences, way too late nights & early mornings (why oh why did I think that going to bed one night at 3:00am & getting up at 4:15am - ie, not even 1.5hours later - to head to the charter flight was a good idea??? & that was only one night- yawn, yawn & yawn). In fact it will take a while to catch up on sleep. Seeing so many great FTers, meeting new ones, experiencing it all...
Just WOW, WOW, WOW!!! Thanks to UA, CO, & LH, and thanks to 'the boys' for organizing so many wonderful things w/ so many creative, detailed & varied experiences.
Seiheim was also lots of fun last night, and as some of the folk who weren't staying headed for their shuttle, SS255 turned to me and said I feel like 'camp is ending, we all had such a great time'. And it's true - the camaraderie developed by everyone attending this do was just fabulous. It's going to be very difficult to return to the 'real world'; talk about withdrawal symptoms. I'm experiencing them already & I'm still over here.
I've been to some great Dos (or Dohs as some of our European hosts pronounced it
) by others who I thought had tons of details to organize & they did (the London MegaDos come to mind), but do have to say this one rates as "The #1".
It was also pretty funny last night over late night drinks when we were talking about the charter day & said now which day was that, since so much was done in so few days - and then we realized that it was literally only the day/evening before. LOL...
Personally I think tommy & the boys are nuts for doing another do next year - I'd give it a few years to take a break & think of how they're going to top this fab trip - but if they do, I'm there!!! BTW - in some of the somewhat enebriated discussion by other FTers at the Seiheim bar last night, someone came up w/ the 'Around the World in 47 hours Do" on Singapore & of course, see if we can charter an A380
Will update this soon with LOTS of photos & details. Stay tuned...off to a beer hall restaurant (oh great - more booze & not much sleep - but then again guess it's a way to end a fabulous Do!)
PS - I'm going to update this in sections - ie, UA, CO, LH, Charter Flight, etc. I'll also post the pics that way too.
Cheers.
Wow - I'm still on a high from the StarMegaDo - THE BEST FT DO IN FT HISTORY!!!!! Almost at a loss to describe this 'once in a lifetime opportunity' promised by tommy777, oliver2002, & xyzzy - and boy did they come through!
I'll do a much detailed trip report when I get back to the states & also get my photos uploaded to my photo website. This is the first time I've been online since just before leaving CO for JFK. LOTS of photos, great experiences, way too late nights & early mornings (why oh why did I think that going to bed one night at 3:00am & getting up at 4:15am - ie, not even 1.5hours later - to head to the charter flight was a good idea??? & that was only one night- yawn, yawn & yawn). In fact it will take a while to catch up on sleep. Seeing so many great FTers, meeting new ones, experiencing it all...
Just WOW, WOW, WOW!!! Thanks to UA, CO, & LH, and thanks to 'the boys' for organizing so many wonderful things w/ so many creative, detailed & varied experiences.
Seiheim was also lots of fun last night, and as some of the folk who weren't staying headed for their shuttle, SS255 turned to me and said I feel like 'camp is ending, we all had such a great time'. And it's true - the camaraderie developed by everyone attending this do was just fabulous. It's going to be very difficult to return to the 'real world'; talk about withdrawal symptoms. I'm experiencing them already & I'm still over here.
I've been to some great Dos (or Dohs as some of our European hosts pronounced it
) by others who I thought had tons of details to organize & they did (the London MegaDos come to mind), but do have to say this one rates as "The #1".It was also pretty funny last night over late night drinks when we were talking about the charter day & said now which day was that, since so much was done in so few days - and then we realized that it was literally only the day/evening before. LOL...
Personally I think tommy & the boys are nuts for doing another do next year - I'd give it a few years to take a break & think of how they're going to top this fab trip - but if they do, I'm there!!! BTW - in some of the somewhat enebriated discussion by other FTers at the Seiheim bar last night, someone came up w/ the 'Around the World in 47 hours Do" on Singapore & of course, see if we can charter an A380
Will update this soon with LOTS of photos & details. Stay tuned...off to a beer hall restaurant (oh great - more booze & not much sleep - but then again guess it's a way to end a fabulous Do!)
PS - I'm going to update this in sections - ie, UA, CO, LH, Charter Flight, etc. I'll also post the pics that way too.
Cheers.
Last edited by SkiAdcock; Nov 10, 2009 at 9:45 am Reason: add the ps...
Nov 10, 2009, 9:17 am
#2
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StarMegaDo Program: All times are local times
November 3rd
0730 Meet at the T1 C concourse Red Carpet Club
1052 United flight 678 Chicago to Newark departs
1400 If start at EWR meet at the Elite area, Terminal C, Mid Level (domestic). CO will store your luggage. If you are arriving at EWR via a flight, please head landside and present at the same area before 1400
1407 Arrival at Newark for United flight 678, head to elite area, Termincal C, MidLevel (domestic). Your checked luggage will be picked up and stored.
2000 Latest check in for members flying on LH405 but are not participating at EWR
November 4th
1545 (changed to 1430) Meet at the Sheraton Frankfurt lobby for check in for the charter
1600 Pick up for the Lufthansa event and Star Alliance dinner
November 5th
0450 Check in for local Flyertalkers at the Sheraton Lobby. If you are checked in, please walk over to the terminal and go through security to the assigned gage, check the boards for flight DE9254 to Oslo
0520 Latest time to meet at the gate
0550 Flyertalk charter DE9254 Frankfurt to Oslo
0700 Check in with SAS, dedicated counter in the Business Class area
0730 Bus to the SAS hangar, check in closes
1140 Flyertalk charter DE9254 Oslo to Toulouse
1940 Flyertalk charter Toulouse to Frankfurt
November 6th
0900 Meet in the Sheraton Lobby
1700 Meet in the Sheraton Lobby for transport if you are participating at the Seeheim event
1900 Dinner starts at Seeheim
Of course the above doesn't detail all the wonderful happenings along the way, but gives the timeline for everything.
0730 Meet at the T1 C concourse Red Carpet Club
1052 United flight 678 Chicago to Newark departs
1400 If start at EWR meet at the Elite area, Terminal C, Mid Level (domestic). CO will store your luggage. If you are arriving at EWR via a flight, please head landside and present at the same area before 1400
1407 Arrival at Newark for United flight 678, head to elite area, Termincal C, MidLevel (domestic). Your checked luggage will be picked up and stored.
2000 Latest check in for members flying on LH405 but are not participating at EWR
November 4th
1545 (changed to 1430) Meet at the Sheraton Frankfurt lobby for check in for the charter
1600 Pick up for the Lufthansa event and Star Alliance dinner
November 5th
0450 Check in for local Flyertalkers at the Sheraton Lobby. If you are checked in, please walk over to the terminal and go through security to the assigned gage, check the boards for flight DE9254 to Oslo
0520 Latest time to meet at the gate
0550 Flyertalk charter DE9254 Frankfurt to Oslo
0700 Check in with SAS, dedicated counter in the Business Class area
0730 Bus to the SAS hangar, check in closes
1140 Flyertalk charter DE9254 Oslo to Toulouse
1940 Flyertalk charter Toulouse to Frankfurt
November 6th
0900 Meet in the Sheraton Lobby
1700 Meet in the Sheraton Lobby for transport if you are participating at the Seeheim event
1900 Dinner starts at Seeheim
Of course the above doesn't detail all the wonderful happenings along the way, but gives the timeline for everything.
Nov 10, 2009, 9:24 am
#3
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StarMegaDo: United
The StarMegaDo officially started on Tuesday, November 3rd, at ORD RCC, but a number of us were coming in the night before to position ourselves for the early morning start.
I had already used my ‘add-on’ flight from ORD-EWR as part of the overall StarMegaDo, so checked into flying to ORD from GRR. I can fly to LAX from GRR for $250, but to go GRR-ORD for a 20minute wheels up/wheels down, all the airlines wanted $300
Yeah, that wasn’t happening. Checked into Amtrak, which was only $35r.t. but since there’s only one train/day Holland-Chicago, decided to travel the old-fashioned way – by car. It’s 2.5hours from Holland, MI, to O’Hare area.
Trip down was uneventful, and I arrived to the meeting place, Giordano’s Pizza, about an hour after everyone else, having gotten a late start. It was a fun, if short evening, due to the early wake-up call. Everyone indulged in both the deep dish as well as normal pizza. Some American Airline maintenance workers were at the next table, and I chatted w/ them for a few minutes as we were all leaving, telling them about the upcoming trip. Them, you actually want to see airport hangers (confused). LOL – yes we do.
Most people were staying at O’Hare hotel properties, but I was trying to find something that wouldn’t cost me a fortune in parking + hotel costs. Ended up staying at the Glenview Fairfield Inn 20minutes away at AAA rate of $71 & book-ended the trip, staying there on the return at a rate of $47. They let me keep my car there for free, so even w/ the cab the next morning at $30 it was cheaper than the airport park-n-fly & I was getting a ride from SweetWillie on the return after another FT Do w/ fellow FTers at an ORD-area Mexican restaurant. And it allowed me to get some bonus points from Marriott due to their MegaBonus promotion. I didn't sleep very well, not due to the hotel but due to the excitement & not wanting to oversleep, so started the trip w/ not much sleep - something that was going to continue throughout the entire week. BTW - I would definitely recommend this property if someone is a Marriott person & needs a 'mattress run'.
Got to the airport at 6:30am after a quick cab ride; the cab driver quizzed me about rental car costs because he was planning a trip to Florida & renting a car vs driving. I had already checked-in online so thought it would be easy-peasy. Headed towards TSA & the agent there made me stop & put my normal-sized (not even overpacked!) roll-aboard in the container to measure for size. I argued w/ her a bit as it was a regular one, but she insisted. What really had me steaming was that she was letting businessmen w/ larger roll-aboards than me go through. Talk about a double-standard. And then when I put it in & it fit easily, she said I had to put it in the other way too.
But that small exception aside, TSA went smoothly & I was off to the RCC.
I entered at 6:45am & said I’m here for the FT event, and the agent cheerfully directed me to the part of the RCC that had been closed off just for us. There were other FTers there already. Decided to use a drink chit around 7am for a screwdriver, only to be told they don’t serve booze until 8:30am. What?! Blashphemy
So I headed back to our area & settled for a oj & a croissant. UA had put out United Music CDs, ps luggage tags, and the United Age of Flight book as give-aways for us. Some of us already had the AOF book from meeting w/ Captain Denny, so tommy777 suggested that we take one anyone & ‘pay it forward’ by giving it to another FTer in Europe that might not have it. So we did, but crikey that book is heavy!
Captain Denny was in attendance; it was his day off but he came into meet w/ all of us, signed books, chatted, went on the tour with us. Our Captain for the flight, Captain Hale, came in to talk with us. They also had put a token in one of the books & the person who had that book got to do the pre-flight stuff w/ the captain. Alas, I had picked up one of the books that was still shrinkwrapped.
A number of UA management was there to mingle w/ us, and Graham Atkinson spoke for a short while. Also, some of the FTers zoomed in on the management who was there to ask questions. Then they split us up into 2 groups for the tour. They stored our luggage in one of the RCC conference rooms. You know how you look for your luggage by looking for the FT yellow tags? Well, try a room full of luggage w/ FT yellow tags
We were going to the flight tower (not FAA; UA where they’re in charge of the alleys/planes), captains & flight attendants areas, and then also into flight ops. It was really interesting. We went downstairs & there are long corridors w/ hundreds of garment bags, roll-aboards, and jep cases, not to mention captains and flight attendants wandering around. I think we were told there were 1,000 pilots based out of ORD. We went up lots & lots of stairs to the flight tower, where one of the managers explained how it all worked. There are normally 3-4 of them up there, each responsible for different areas/alleys/gates, and besides working w/ the planes they have to coordinate with each other, etc. Went into more details, but I don’t recall it all.
Then down we went through the pilot area and got to see some of them briefing for their Shanghai flight, then over to the flight attendant area, and then we went into the cafeteria/United shop for a few minutes. I bought a long-sleeved United t-shirt and a United cap. Then we crossed the hall to a conference room next to flight ops, and the manager there explained all the various areas of flight ops as well as the ORD modernization plan. Then we toured the flight ops section. We were allowed to take pictures throughout but in there & other areas we had to keep somewhat quiet because – oh yeah – they were doing their real job LOL…
We then headed down to the gate. We were there early. UA had upgraded the plane from a CR7 to a A320. First had checked in full, and there were 17 people on the waitlist for upgrade – all FTers! Because we were there early, they escorted those who wanted to see the cockpit, have their pic taken in it, down in 3s – including Freddie Jr during my turn. Then we all started boarding, and the good times continued. There were 44 FTers on UA678. I think the few that were not FTers were wondering what the heck was going on.
I was in 8D & chatting w/ others when tommy777 came in & said you’re in my seat. Me, confused – no I’ve got this. He said no you’ve got 2C, which was his seat. I got an op-up! ^ He & Randy had decided, even though UA had put them in first, to go coach. Violist also gave lili his seat. The Captain said he would have Channel 9 on, and would periodically do updates for the FTers through the flight, including taking them through the flight plan. He also had made copies of the flight plan & autographed each one, and I handed them out to the FTers.
The Wall Street Journal journalist was sitting behind me, so we chatted about flying, etc. He interviewed a # of FTers throughout the entire megado, as well as did video. Really nice guy. The FAs announced that the Buy-on-Board in Economy was free for this flight, which in addition to take-off & landing, also got applause! It was a short but fun-filled flight. F had a cheese tray I think (geesh, it’s only been a week; guess the meal was memorable LOL). I about fell out of my seat when they offered lili her choice of 2 types of vodka for her bloody mary & one of them was Belvedere! Was that special catering for us? I would have had the Belvedere vs the wine, which was no great shakes.
We landed & the Captain wished us all a great onward trip. Upon disembarking, we were instructed to head over to Continental for the meeting point. Sbm12, Randy & I think someone else picked up the checked luggage & brought it there.
I had already used my ‘add-on’ flight from ORD-EWR as part of the overall StarMegaDo, so checked into flying to ORD from GRR. I can fly to LAX from GRR for $250, but to go GRR-ORD for a 20minute wheels up/wheels down, all the airlines wanted $300
Yeah, that wasn’t happening. Checked into Amtrak, which was only $35r.t. but since there’s only one train/day Holland-Chicago, decided to travel the old-fashioned way – by car. It’s 2.5hours from Holland, MI, to O’Hare area. Trip down was uneventful, and I arrived to the meeting place, Giordano’s Pizza, about an hour after everyone else, having gotten a late start. It was a fun, if short evening, due to the early wake-up call. Everyone indulged in both the deep dish as well as normal pizza. Some American Airline maintenance workers were at the next table, and I chatted w/ them for a few minutes as we were all leaving, telling them about the upcoming trip. Them, you actually want to see airport hangers (confused). LOL – yes we do.
Most people were staying at O’Hare hotel properties, but I was trying to find something that wouldn’t cost me a fortune in parking + hotel costs. Ended up staying at the Glenview Fairfield Inn 20minutes away at AAA rate of $71 & book-ended the trip, staying there on the return at a rate of $47. They let me keep my car there for free, so even w/ the cab the next morning at $30 it was cheaper than the airport park-n-fly & I was getting a ride from SweetWillie on the return after another FT Do w/ fellow FTers at an ORD-area Mexican restaurant. And it allowed me to get some bonus points from Marriott due to their MegaBonus promotion. I didn't sleep very well, not due to the hotel but due to the excitement & not wanting to oversleep, so started the trip w/ not much sleep - something that was going to continue throughout the entire week. BTW - I would definitely recommend this property if someone is a Marriott person & needs a 'mattress run'.
Got to the airport at 6:30am after a quick cab ride; the cab driver quizzed me about rental car costs because he was planning a trip to Florida & renting a car vs driving. I had already checked-in online so thought it would be easy-peasy. Headed towards TSA & the agent there made me stop & put my normal-sized (not even overpacked!) roll-aboard in the container to measure for size. I argued w/ her a bit as it was a regular one, but she insisted. What really had me steaming was that she was letting businessmen w/ larger roll-aboards than me go through. Talk about a double-standard. And then when I put it in & it fit easily, she said I had to put it in the other way too.
But that small exception aside, TSA went smoothly & I was off to the RCC. I entered at 6:45am & said I’m here for the FT event, and the agent cheerfully directed me to the part of the RCC that had been closed off just for us. There were other FTers there already. Decided to use a drink chit around 7am for a screwdriver, only to be told they don’t serve booze until 8:30am. What?! Blashphemy
So I headed back to our area & settled for a oj & a croissant. UA had put out United Music CDs, ps luggage tags, and the United Age of Flight book as give-aways for us. Some of us already had the AOF book from meeting w/ Captain Denny, so tommy777 suggested that we take one anyone & ‘pay it forward’ by giving it to another FTer in Europe that might not have it. So we did, but crikey that book is heavy! Captain Denny was in attendance; it was his day off but he came into meet w/ all of us, signed books, chatted, went on the tour with us. Our Captain for the flight, Captain Hale, came in to talk with us. They also had put a token in one of the books & the person who had that book got to do the pre-flight stuff w/ the captain. Alas, I had picked up one of the books that was still shrinkwrapped.
A number of UA management was there to mingle w/ us, and Graham Atkinson spoke for a short while. Also, some of the FTers zoomed in on the management who was there to ask questions. Then they split us up into 2 groups for the tour. They stored our luggage in one of the RCC conference rooms. You know how you look for your luggage by looking for the FT yellow tags? Well, try a room full of luggage w/ FT yellow tags
We were going to the flight tower (not FAA; UA where they’re in charge of the alleys/planes), captains & flight attendants areas, and then also into flight ops. It was really interesting. We went downstairs & there are long corridors w/ hundreds of garment bags, roll-aboards, and jep cases, not to mention captains and flight attendants wandering around. I think we were told there were 1,000 pilots based out of ORD. We went up lots & lots of stairs to the flight tower, where one of the managers explained how it all worked. There are normally 3-4 of them up there, each responsible for different areas/alleys/gates, and besides working w/ the planes they have to coordinate with each other, etc. Went into more details, but I don’t recall it all.
Then down we went through the pilot area and got to see some of them briefing for their Shanghai flight, then over to the flight attendant area, and then we went into the cafeteria/United shop for a few minutes. I bought a long-sleeved United t-shirt and a United cap. Then we crossed the hall to a conference room next to flight ops, and the manager there explained all the various areas of flight ops as well as the ORD modernization plan. Then we toured the flight ops section. We were allowed to take pictures throughout but in there & other areas we had to keep somewhat quiet because – oh yeah – they were doing their real job LOL…
We then headed down to the gate. We were there early. UA had upgraded the plane from a CR7 to a A320. First had checked in full, and there were 17 people on the waitlist for upgrade – all FTers! Because we were there early, they escorted those who wanted to see the cockpit, have their pic taken in it, down in 3s – including Freddie Jr during my turn. Then we all started boarding, and the good times continued. There were 44 FTers on UA678. I think the few that were not FTers were wondering what the heck was going on.
I was in 8D & chatting w/ others when tommy777 came in & said you’re in my seat. Me, confused – no I’ve got this. He said no you’ve got 2C, which was his seat. I got an op-up! ^ He & Randy had decided, even though UA had put them in first, to go coach. Violist also gave lili his seat. The Captain said he would have Channel 9 on, and would periodically do updates for the FTers through the flight, including taking them through the flight plan. He also had made copies of the flight plan & autographed each one, and I handed them out to the FTers.
The Wall Street Journal journalist was sitting behind me, so we chatted about flying, etc. He interviewed a # of FTers throughout the entire megado, as well as did video. Really nice guy. The FAs announced that the Buy-on-Board in Economy was free for this flight, which in addition to take-off & landing, also got applause! It was a short but fun-filled flight. F had a cheese tray I think (geesh, it’s only been a week; guess the meal was memorable LOL). I about fell out of my seat when they offered lili her choice of 2 types of vodka for her bloody mary & one of them was Belvedere! Was that special catering for us? I would have had the Belvedere vs the wine, which was no great shakes.
We landed & the Captain wished us all a great onward trip. Upon disembarking, we were instructed to head over to Continental for the meeting point. Sbm12, Randy & I think someone else picked up the checked luggage & brought it there.
Last edited by SkiAdcock; Nov 10, 2009 at 9:49 am
Nov 10, 2009, 2:11 pm
#5
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Photos updated so far w/ Pizza Night Pre-Do, UA event, UA flight ORD-EWR...
http://public.fotki.com/SkiAdcock/fl...do/starmegado/
Cheers.
http://public.fotki.com/SkiAdcock/fl...do/starmegado/
Cheers.
Nov 10, 2009, 7:37 pm
#6
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Photos - I have photos - lots & lots of photos!
http://public.fotki.com/SkiAdcock/fl...do/starmegado/
As always, click on a pic to go full size & forward through to see in detail; otherwise, thumbnail. Enjoy. It was fun to re-live the StarMegaDo. I'm still in depression mode/coming down. I want to be at the StarMegaDo still! Wah....
I haven't had time to do captions for the photos - thought it was more important to get them uploaded. And I still have to write the trip report for the rest of the trip.
But enjoy...Cheers.
As always, click on a pic to go full size & forward through to see in detail; otherwise, thumbnail. Enjoy. It was fun to re-live the StarMegaDo. I'm still in depression mode/coming down. I want to be at the StarMegaDo still! Wah....
I haven't had time to do captions for the photos - thought it was more important to get them uploaded. And I still have to write the trip report for the rest of the trip.
But enjoy...Cheers.
Nov 16, 2009, 3:55 pm
#8
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It WAS a great time - and I'm so, so sorry I haven't posted the rest of the trip report. I've been - gasp - doing work - and have come down w/ my first cold since moving to the Midwest from the beach in LA 
I promise, promise to do the rest of the trip report soon! Cheers.
I promise, promise to do the rest of the trip report soon! Cheers.
Nov 17, 2009, 3:53 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Pasadena,Ca.,US.
Programs: AA, Delta, United, SPG plat, Hyatt dia
Posts: 7,140
Welllll color me green with envy!
Sharon thank you so much for this trip report.It really sounds wonderful.You had some great flyertalkers along with you on this do.
Looking forward to the rest of your report ^
Looking forward to the rest of your report ^