- How was the value for the money paid in 2009
Overall, with the discounted C tix on LH405 and return, Sheraton FRA discount, and the cost of the charter (any class), I think the total sum I paid out for DO/1 was well worth the experience and the company of fellow FT'ers.
If I had to point to any downside, I have to say that the Airbus tour was a tad underwhelming but was certainly better than not being there at all. The hosting by CO, LH, and SK was always beyond my expectations and I do thank them for all they did for our group.
- How many days can you be away to participate in a DO
As an American white collar worker, I'm afforded only a meager stipend of paid time off. Therefor I would have to put it at 1 week, bracketing weekends inclusive (leave home, saturday and return home sunday)
- How much money will you be willing to spend
$4,000US would be my absolute upper limit and includes any fare needed to get to and from the DO start and end points. Beyond that amount, I could spend a week in one or two very, very nice places or go somewhere quite exotic and off the beaten path for a while and would be obliged to do so.
Constructive(?) Comments
I'll leave DO/1 where it is and think about DO/2.
Personally, I've never been to Asia before, so I've been thinking it would be nice to start, say, in SEA (Boeing) and take a UA flight to SFO (UA tour there), then strike out on one of CA, SQ, NH, or NZ to see their respective digs... however I think the big question with Asia is how do you maximize your time once you're over there? Would we longhaul it across the Pacific just to tour one airline and its hub city and then return? The place is so big and the *A carrier bases so geographically dispersed that our day-long jaunt around Europe was truly a milk run. I think something as cool as a charter would be not feasible as well. If anything there would have to be at least 2 days in each city just so that we can actually be there and not just be airside or jogging the tarmac the entire time.
So what to do... some have mentioned a mediterranean-centric itinerary perhaps on D-ABON again... cool but as others have mentioned these would be small carriers and we'd probably want to balance that with actual sightseeing outside the airport... which introduces additional hotels and expenses.
Hmmm.
/dale