I am pretty sure Düsseldorf will change us http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

gaucho100k Gisela and I are booked on LH 5517 ZRH-DUS 20:00-21:30

that same day, in the morning, Gisela will just come back from JFK (via FRA) on LH 401 JFK-FRA (leaving on nov-9) and then LH 3684 FRA-ZRH 06:40-07:35.

Is United reading this thread? Have a look at the ad on page 143 of this month's Hemispheres http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Cheers

Mizu

Wow... this is getting rolling !! Im gonna try to get myself booked into the Hilton. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

By coincidence, OAG Frequent Flyer mag has a couple of articles on Dusseldorf in their online issue this month at:
http://frequentflyer.oag.com/features/tbhome.asp

I didn't see this posted previously. Please forgive me if I missed it.

See what this impending gathering has done to your town Bernie? They'll be building a Disney World there next. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Hmm, I doubt that. You have to show me the place in the Rhineland where 50 people will have any effect on beer inventories...



[This message has been edited by curt (edited 10-17-2000).]

I confirm Rudi's flight information for me and would like to add my departure data:

UA3527D 12NOV DUSEWR 0955 1235 - operated by LH

Ive changed my mind and will forget the Hilton, going with Bernie's pick at the Steigenberger ParkHotel.

See you all there.

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Gaucho100K


[This message has been edited by Gaucho100K (edited 10-18-2000).]

Bernie & others:

This got complicated since I have to be in Hartford on Sunday for a conference on Monday, but I was finally able to book the trip as LGA-ORD-DUS-ORD-BDL for ~$446 !! Only down-side is that I land at 2358 on Sunday, but I'll survive. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Aside from the eagerly expected Altbier, the new UA status qualification levels made the 10K flight miles at this price very hard to pass up.

So..... show me now as confirmed, and note that I arrive on UA 952 from ORD on Fri 10 Nov at 1205 (suspect there are several other FT'ers on this one) and I leave on UA 953 to ORD on Sun 12 Nov at 1525.

I'm booked into the Marriott Courtyard at DM146 for an "executive suite" (I know it won't really be a "suite", but for only DM10 more than the "deluxe room" even the free bottled water and newpaper probably make the upgrade worth it.)


[This message has been edited by RichG (edited 10-24-2000).]

So, Im wondering how many of us have confirmed... also, as a newbie to a FT gathering, how and when do we first meet?

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Gaucho100K


[This message has been edited by Gaucho100K (edited 10-24-2000).]

bernie (head), mizu and I will have a pre-Altbier-testing meeting on the weekend of nov-4/5 and hoepfully just afterwards be able to give detailled infos on this board.

As a rule (may be same kind of a rule that QL uses in his trip-reports about desserts ...), when most participants of a FlyerTalk-meeting have actually to fly before a meeting, they meet at the airport to start with (and to end with).

You didn't get your ALTBIER FEST 2K hat yet? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Good question, as people arrive over a few days, to all manner of different Hotels, and depart with the same staggered timing. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

It looks like by Saturday evening pretty well everyone will be in DUS? Maybe even a central meeting point Saturday afternoon will be suitable? Bernie's mention of late Breakfast Sunday sounds great timing for those still in town, especially to try the local "Speckpfannenkuchen."

Bernie, Rudi and Mizu et al will I'm sure have it all planned with that wonderful European efficiency, now a final visitor number looks pretty much set!


------------------
~ Glen ~

Who else is staying at the Steigenberger ??


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Gaucho100K

I took a quiet minute in the office to string together an online-database, based on the data provided by Bernie in the recent mailing with some additions received thereafter (note: might not reflect 100% the current status, but comes close). I will add editing capabilities tomorrow and should be finished by Friday. If you click on the column header, you can sort the table according to your criteria - so you can figure who arrives on the same day as you do, or stays in the same property. The (very basic, no-frills) page can be found here:
http://www.workflow-research.de/flye...ticipants.php3

Enjoy

Mizu

I will most likely have to cancel my trip to DUS http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif The reason is that I will be in YVR the weekend after. Dont count me out just yet.

So are we going to do an informal get together for adult beverages and dinner on Friday night also? If not would everyone like to set a time and place for either dinner and drinks or just drinks on Friday night also? I am so looking forward to this trip!!!!!!!!!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Beer and Brat it just doesn't get any better than that.


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Cheers Scott

I definetely want to have a Martinsgans dinner during my stay.... anybody else ??



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Gaucho100K

Nice neat table MIZU, thanks. Are the local hosts going to fine a few of the attendees a round of drinks if they do not cough up with their times and details in the next 24 hours? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

The Goose is on the loose. Or Pate doesn't count. I'm kind of looking forward to Nov 10...

"According to legend, St. Martin was a knight in Roman times who charitably cut his cloak into two with his sword and shared it with a beggar who was about to freeze to death. This memorable event is celebrated to this day in November, mainly in Southern and Western Germany. St. Martinstag is the 11th of November. The celebrations involve little kids walking around town at dusk on November 10th,carrying home-made lanterns. The lanterns used to be made from hollowed out beets with a face carved in, similar to what Americans do to pumpkins around Halloween. The kids parade through town singing traditional songs, sometimes accompanied by a St. Martin on a horse. In some regions the kids also go gripschen (grabbing) by singing songs in front of houses, and being rewarded with candies, apples and nuts.

After the parade, kids traditionally get a Weckmann and a cup of hot chocolate, while the adults devour a Martinsgans (goose). The Weckmann is a sweet breadroll, 25-30 cm long, in the shape of a man with raisins for the eyes and often a white clay pipe in his mouth.


[This message has been edited by transpac (edited 10-25-2000).]

I'm on a meeting the entire week getting back friday night. Got a lot of emails giving the latest info on arrival date/time/airline, hotel etc. Will give you the update saturday night / sunday morning. IMHO we should meet friday afternoon for a drink and stroll through town and have dinner (Martinsgans) friday night. It will be quite difficult cause we are running very late for that.

CU

I finally got into booking the Nikko for myself (227 DEM weekend rate), Steigenberger is apparently booked on Friday night and the Hilton website didn't have any availability either.
I've updated the web-page to include a column with contact information (thanks to transpac's comment). The suggestion is to publish mobile numbers, if people want to coordinate using SMS of calling their buddies directly.

[This message has been edited by Mizu (edited 10-26-2000).]

Bernie, thanks to you & the rest of the DUS FT committee for all your efforts. I agree Friday is a little tight, I wonder if we can make the dinner Saturday night ??


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Gaucho100K

Nice job on the guest list, Mizu. Well done!

Most certainly would want to do a goose dinner either Friday or Saturday, Gaucho. Count me in whichever it turns out to be.

Jean and I would be keen for the Martinsgans (goose) dinner for Saturday or Sunday night if Bernie/Mizu/Rudi are trying to assess numbers.

Great idea to list cell phones/mobiles - ours forwarded direct to MIZU/Bernie for the very useful contact table.

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~ Glen ~

Sunday Goose sounds wunderbar (sorry out of umlats on this keyboard http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif )

Freefaller12k

You Americans. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif Everyone knows it is Gôösè¡ http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Fellow FTers....I would love the chance to meet all of you in Dus, but I am doing the BAHT RUN instead. Please think of my 100 segments in 10 days as you people enjoy DUs. Looks like a great getogether. I'll for sure make the next gathering..I promise!

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MRKEY

most of you are flying UA.

anyone flying AA on an inexpensive fare from JFK? i need to decide between london for a mileage run, and your fun FT meeting...

Two weeks to go and my tickets just arrived from the travel agent in this morning's post. Just a thought, but since we are going to DUS in part to taste the beer, it might be interesting if we each brought a couple of bottles of a local microbrew's Oktoberfest style lager for an impromptu tasting. Any takers?

Also, as I will be staying through to Monday, Sunday evening would also work for me vis a vis the goose dinner.

Great idea about the microbrew sharing. Unfortunately, the Octoberfests from around here are few and not really that great, IMO. (BTW, thanks for the tip - I'd always thought Octoberfest was an ale.) I was thinking of bringing some examples of one of Portland's truly world-class ales: Bridgeport's IPA.

Earlier in the DUS planning there was also talk of a wine tasting. I think Mizu and I batted around that idea. I'm still willing to schlep a few bottles of Oregon pinot, and I think auh20 offered to contribute a Califnoria Cabernet or Zinfandel. Thots?

I'm still in for that. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I could contribute something from the Niagara region if that's the case. We have both Pinots and a hybrid of the Pinot, the Marechel Foch. Or some Reislings and Gewerztraminers for a change of colour.

I had mentioned looking for a few good German wines after DUS (Mittelrhein or Ahr regions), but I just went to Napa and Sonoma and have plenty of good grape to share! Count me (us) in too...

And how much of this will be left over after 10 hours over the Atlantic with koko & loco? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Yes please! I remember having a wonderful evening with an Inniskillin (sp?) Pinot from that region while being in Toronto two years ago...

Sorry I'll be in London working.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

But, maybe we can make the July Portland Beer Fest.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by CaliforniasCentralCoast (edited 10-27-2000).]

Australia makes one or two rather mediocre wines. I'll drag a couple of barely drinkable bottles if we do this. After the 17,000 mile trip across via SYD-ADL-MEL-LAX-SEA-LAX-ORD-DUS each bottle will nearly qualify as United Premier with the new "downgraded" requirement to 21,000 in 2000! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif Does booze get flyer points? Should I ask United for a couple books of upgrade certs for each bottle clocking up over 10,000 miles? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 10-27-2000).]

Australia now produces some of the most outstanding wines of this world. Have a look at http://www.martel.ch and you find some rareties from oz that are even difficult to find in Australian shops.

Oooh, good point ... I'll have to sort that one out.