OZ Fest 2004
Apr 23, 2004 | 4:33 am
#196
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,351
Tarmac Tour info etc
thadocta - sorry we did not email you on the elite levels. Ours are over at left, so thought that being there might save some time.
<<<<<<< ------------------------
Joh and I are both United 1Ks and both KLM Platinums, which are both OW Emerald level AFAIK. A lot of posters list the same on their profile, so that may save some emails? I think you have our names too? Hope all reading do add your detail to thadocta list as it does sound like QF are very interested in it, which sounds fair.
Thanks for you and QF WP taking the time to co-ordinate our visit to the Qantas Club domestic - should be a very nice addition to the day. ^
I phoned Tarmac Tours today to pick their brains on timing, and lunch, only to hear "someone" had phoned to cancel our bus booking! Not sure who, but guy there I spoke to (Ian McManus) had taken the call and had just taken us off computer. Lucky I phoned, as they are now booked out until end May for Saturday tours.
We are back on their computer now. Phew. Someone else had also called them - a Bob Geaxxxxx for booking 15 pax on same day. No idea if either person was mwenenzi, but Joh and I knew nothing of all this. Please folks - can we keep all bookings (except QC visit) 100% in the hands of Joh or I or the "too many cooks" proverb might become true.
I passed on this thread to Ian at TT and I'll talk to the Manager there early week. At THIS point we do not have enough folks to guarantee us a bus just for FT, but of course I am working on that outcome.
Ian conducts the tour and he suggests the most logical way to do it is:
1. Meet him at Gate 43A at Terminal 2 at 10am Sat May 22. (Regional airline check in)
2. Do Tarmac Tour for 90 mins approx.
3. If we get our own bus he is happy to drop us off at It'l terminal for lunch where the The Esky Bar/Observation Deck is located land side. We'd arrive about midday.
So, we can either have our QC visit BEFORE 10am, and walk across the road to gate 43, or do it after lunch. (When bar is open.) This is best left for thadocta and QF WP to advise us on, as to logistics and plusses/minuses. We do not need tickets to front up at Gate 43A. Just pass thru a security check. How we stand for QC entry with no BP I do not know.
The reason for a 10am (not 11am) start Ian says is that there is much more "happening" on tarmac, as things get "quiet" he says in the 12.15pm-1pm zone. (Which may mean QC is not too busy I guess? ^)
I guess one big minus of morning visit is rounding up 15-20 folks who will not all know each other in a central point before heading for QC, and still be on time for there? An after lunch visit means all can transfer to domestic in one group, and have all met each other by that stage?
<<<<<<< ------------------------
Joh and I are both United 1Ks and both KLM Platinums, which are both OW Emerald level AFAIK. A lot of posters list the same on their profile, so that may save some emails? I think you have our names too? Hope all reading do add your detail to thadocta list as it does sound like QF are very interested in it, which sounds fair.
Thanks for you and QF WP taking the time to co-ordinate our visit to the Qantas Club domestic - should be a very nice addition to the day. ^
I phoned Tarmac Tours today to pick their brains on timing, and lunch, only to hear "someone" had phoned to cancel our bus booking! Not sure who, but guy there I spoke to (Ian McManus) had taken the call and had just taken us off computer. Lucky I phoned, as they are now booked out until end May for Saturday tours.
We are back on their computer now. Phew. Someone else had also called them - a Bob Geaxxxxx for booking 15 pax on same day. No idea if either person was mwenenzi, but Joh and I knew nothing of all this. Please folks - can we keep all bookings (except QC visit) 100% in the hands of Joh or I or the "too many cooks" proverb might become true.
I passed on this thread to Ian at TT and I'll talk to the Manager there early week. At THIS point we do not have enough folks to guarantee us a bus just for FT, but of course I am working on that outcome.
Ian conducts the tour and he suggests the most logical way to do it is:
1. Meet him at Gate 43A at Terminal 2 at 10am Sat May 22. (Regional airline check in)
2. Do Tarmac Tour for 90 mins approx.
3. If we get our own bus he is happy to drop us off at It'l terminal for lunch where the The Esky Bar/Observation Deck is located land side. We'd arrive about midday.
So, we can either have our QC visit BEFORE 10am, and walk across the road to gate 43, or do it after lunch. (When bar is open.
) This is best left for thadocta and QF WP to advise us on, as to logistics and plusses/minuses. We do not need tickets to front up at Gate 43A. Just pass thru a security check. How we stand for QC entry with no BP I do not know. The reason for a 10am (not 11am) start Ian says is that there is much more "happening" on tarmac, as things get "quiet" he says in the 12.15pm-1pm zone. (Which may mean QC is not too busy I guess? ^)
I guess one big minus of morning visit is rounding up 15-20 folks who will not all know each other in a central point before heading for QC, and still be on time for there? An after lunch visit means all can transfer to domestic in one group, and have all met each other by that stage?
Last edited by ozstamps; Apr 23, 2004 at 4:38 am
Apr 23, 2004 | 6:21 am
#197
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Brisbane (BNE), Australia, QF/VA Forums Meeting Organiser
Programs: VA Plat, QF LTG (18.7% LTP), QP Life, AA (66% LTG). HH Silver. Amex Plat, Visa Plat
Posts: 6,558
ozstamps, very fortunate you checked the bookings...perhaps there is some nefarious activity going on?? Maybe a lurker/troll who still has it out for you, me, thadocta?? - who with a little research tried to scuttle our TT. Perhaps better to be booked in a name that's not Flyertalk or a surname that somebody might know (lots know yours after all)...but I'm sure you and Joh have that angle covered....
As for the QC/QP time, I would plump for the later access (solely for the quieter part of the day of course, nothing to do with the bar access ). My outline of access to QP was in my post earlier today (on previous page, near the bottom). Where we have booked a meeting room, no problems so long as we have sufficient Guest Passes.
I await thadocta's reply to my previous post - I'm sure he'll read it later tonight....
As for the QC/QP time, I would plump for the later access (solely for the quieter part of the day of course, nothing to do with the bar access
). My outline of access to QP was in my post earlier today (on previous page, near the bottom). Where we have booked a meeting room, no problems so long as we have sufficient Guest Passes.I await thadocta's reply to my previous post - I'm sure he'll read it later tonight....
Apr 24, 2004 | 2:00 am
#198
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Programs: QF Platinum One (LTG), UA Plat IHG Plat
Posts: 5,836
Still keep me on maybe.. or at least put me on the list of people who are salivating to come. I am debating the issue with accounting (me) and personnel (me) but there's still a conflict with the scheduleing (me) and finance dept (me) so as you can see it's all rather complicated 
Sorry I can't be more specific at this stage (I understand the TT booking could rest on numbers - I don't want to promise something I can't deliver on).
Is there any idea on when we should have numbers finalised for TT to perhaps ensure a bus for the FT hoons only?
TT sounds great (and no, I didn't call!) as does the lunch and QP visit. I agree with Glen's comment that it's much easier to all transfer as a group, and attend QP as a group - seems if you have to meet at Gate 43A at 10am, that's a fair central point everyone can find and get to, and a natural meeting point rather than hanging out near the QP or something.
Sorry I can't be more specific at this stage (I understand the TT booking could rest on numbers - I don't want to promise something I can't deliver on).Is there any idea on when we should have numbers finalised for TT to perhaps ensure a bus for the FT hoons only?
TT sounds great (and no, I didn't call!) as does the lunch and QP visit. I agree with Glen's comment that it's much easier to all transfer as a group, and attend QP as a group - seems if you have to meet at Gate 43A at 10am, that's a fair central point everyone can find and get to, and a natural meeting point rather than hanging out near the QP or something.
Apr 24, 2004 | 9:44 pm
#199
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,351
Joh is working on some professional name tags which are usual at FT Dooos, so gate 43A seems like a nice quiet spot to group at 10am and hand those out etc, and get acquainted.
If it seems concurred QC and lunch AFTER the tour makes best sense, I guess we have 2 options based on what those above like the idea of best:
1. Have TT drop us back at domestic and we all make our way to QC at about 11.30m. THEN those who are signed up for lunch (nearly all are it seems) can take airport transport to It'l terminal as a group. Then we can all leave under our own steam from lunch as if suits.
2. Reverse of 1. - i.e. TT drops us at It'l terminal a little before noon (tad early for lunch?) and AFTER that we go to QC as one group.
Downside to #2 at first glance is that folks never all wish to leave lunch at the one time, and #2 does not really give an accurate time to QC to book for our alleged "meeting room" booking whereas #1 allows us to be very precise.
Anyway, appreciate input from others and of course especially from thadocta and QF WP who are the Qantas Club (QC) maestros here.
If it seems concurred QC and lunch AFTER the tour makes best sense, I guess we have 2 options based on what those above like the idea of best:
1. Have TT drop us back at domestic and we all make our way to QC at about 11.30m. THEN those who are signed up for lunch (nearly all are it seems) can take airport transport to It'l terminal as a group. Then we can all leave under our own steam from lunch as if suits.
2. Reverse of 1. - i.e. TT drops us at It'l terminal a little before noon (tad early for lunch?) and AFTER that we go to QC as one group.
Downside to #2 at first glance is that folks never all wish to leave lunch at the one time, and #2 does not really give an accurate time to QC to book for our alleged "meeting room" booking whereas #1 allows us to be very precise.
Anyway, appreciate input from others and of course especially from thadocta and QF WP who are the Qantas Club (QC) maestros here.
Apr 25, 2004 | 1:10 am
#200
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,351
Here's a suggestion some may care to think on. Staying at city Hotel for a night or 2
Here is a suggestion some may care to think on. Staying at a city Hotel for a night or two - even if you live in SYD.
On Friday we have a Harbour dinner cruise. Saturday the TT and QC and lunch. And Saturday night dinner in the City somewhere, probably Darling Harbour area, but no venue set yet. Not everyone is doing all these, but many are.
Not sure of other hotels overseas folks are using but I do know KathyWdrf is at the Four Points by Sheraton, Darling Harbour.
A great place. I know Corbetti used to literally LIVE there! Joh and I have stayed there and it is super central to Chinatown and Darling Harbour. Shareholder I know is a heavyweight Starwood junkie and I'll check where he is booked. The Four Points might well become 'party central'. ^
No, it is not near as grand as the Sheraton on the Park, or even the Westin, but it is a pretty decent place, and most important it is superb "value" compared to either, and reports on it are all good:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...uth_Wales.html
http://www.asiahotels.com/traveltale...Sheraton_Hotel
The best news is it is incredibly INEXPENSIVE ... if you have Starwood points. And everyone reading this thread has or can easily get SPG points, as you can simply move Qantas miles across! (And have a ton of time to do this.)
You can book this hotel for only 3000 SPG points a night. Which is absolute peanuts to anyone. (Or $US30 and 1600 points on the 'points and cash' deal) This is, and has been for years THE best "points" deal Hotel in downtown Sydney IMHO. Their website has as the lowest rate for that weekend - $A240 a room.
Better still you can opt for a Deluxe Harbourside room for 4,000 points, a Maritime Junior Suite suite for 4,500 and a large 2 room Cockle Bay Suite for 6,000. (You MUST make sure they give you the special "weekend" award rates - weekdays are much higher) I just went and booked Friday and Saturday nights in a Cockle Bay Suite, which has a big balcony overlooking Darling Harbour, so we have plenty of room for a few drinkies on Saturday afternoon if anyone is up for it. We'll pack the bubbly in bulk.
They also have a great deal for buffet breakfast for 2 at 1500 points.
And better still again is that parking right across the road at Kings Parking on Weekend runs about $16 for 24 hours IIRC, which for the CBD is an absolute steal. (But do this yourself - if you book via Hotel - you still need to self-park, and get chit from Concierge which is a major hassle getting back to car park. The "Special" hotel rate is $29 (or 1500 SPG points) for 24 hours!)
So we plan to drive to city, check-in Friday early afternoon, park across road, and then have several drinks. Then catch dinner cruise, and crash at Hotel and not worry about being breathalysed on way home. Drive our car to airport Sat am for TT, and drive back after lunch for some more drinks. Get to dinner a short stroll away after that and crash again Sat evening. If still alive Sunday, do Sunday Hunter Valley tour, and than use Sheraton Gold late "4pm" checkout guarantee to actually depart around 6pm which never seems to bother Sheratons.
And right now as I type (and for past 2 hours), if you try and log into Sheraton.com to book an award room you get told site is down for maintenance and they'll give you 500 miles for the "inconvenience". I simply phoned them in BNE on 1-800-07-3535, mentioned this, and they processed it with a smile. That is a room night for 2500 points effectively if you are fast.
On Friday we have a Harbour dinner cruise. Saturday the TT and QC and lunch. And Saturday night dinner in the City somewhere, probably Darling Harbour area, but no venue set yet. Not everyone is doing all these, but many are.
Not sure of other hotels overseas folks are using but I do know KathyWdrf is at the Four Points by Sheraton, Darling Harbour.
A great place. I know Corbetti used to literally LIVE there! Joh and I have stayed there and it is super central to Chinatown and Darling Harbour. Shareholder I know is a heavyweight Starwood junkie and I'll check where he is booked. The Four Points might well become 'party central'. ^
No, it is not near as grand as the Sheraton on the Park, or even the Westin, but it is a pretty decent place, and most important it is superb "value" compared to either, and reports on it are all good:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...uth_Wales.html
http://www.asiahotels.com/traveltale...Sheraton_Hotel
The best news is it is incredibly INEXPENSIVE ... if you have Starwood points. And everyone reading this thread has or can easily get SPG points, as you can simply move Qantas miles across! (And have a ton of time to do this.)
You can book this hotel for only 3000 SPG points a night. Which is absolute peanuts to anyone. (Or $US30 and 1600 points on the 'points and cash' deal) This is, and has been for years THE best "points" deal Hotel in downtown Sydney IMHO. Their website has as the lowest rate for that weekend - $A240 a room.
Better still you can opt for a Deluxe Harbourside room for 4,000 points, a Maritime Junior Suite suite for 4,500 and a large 2 room Cockle Bay Suite for 6,000. (You MUST make sure they give you the special "weekend" award rates - weekdays are much higher) I just went and booked Friday and Saturday nights in a Cockle Bay Suite, which has a big balcony overlooking Darling Harbour, so we have plenty of room for a few drinkies on Saturday afternoon if anyone is up for it. We'll pack the bubbly in bulk.
They also have a great deal for buffet breakfast for 2 at 1500 points.
And better still again is that parking right across the road at Kings Parking on Weekend runs about $16 for 24 hours IIRC, which for the CBD is an absolute steal. (But do this yourself - if you book via Hotel - you still need to self-park, and get chit from Concierge which is a major hassle getting back to car park. The "Special" hotel rate is $29 (or 1500 SPG points) for 24 hours!)
So we plan to drive to city, check-in Friday early afternoon, park across road, and then have several drinks. Then catch dinner cruise, and crash at Hotel and not worry about being breathalysed on way home. Drive our car to airport Sat am for TT, and drive back after lunch for some more drinks. Get to dinner a short stroll away after that and crash again Sat evening. If still alive Sunday, do Sunday Hunter Valley tour, and than use Sheraton Gold late "4pm" checkout guarantee to actually depart around 6pm which never seems to bother Sheratons.
And right now as I type (and for past 2 hours), if you try and log into Sheraton.com to book an award room you get told site is down for maintenance and they'll give you 500 miles for the "inconvenience". I simply phoned them in BNE on 1-800-07-3535, mentioned this, and they processed it with a smile. That is a room night for 2500 points effectively if you are fast.
Last edited by ozstamps; Apr 25, 2004 at 1:41 am
Apr 25, 2004 | 7:45 pm
#202
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Honours Gold, KLM Gold
Posts: 574
Update OZFEST 2004, 26/4/04, 12pm local time
HERE'S THE UPDATE I PROMISED, please check if I've got you listed correctly AND/OR update.... THANKS!!!
========================================
EVENTS:
BM = Blue Mountains: 21/5, 0800-1700+-
SHS = Sydney Harbour Sail 21/5, 1100-1600+-
DC = Dinner Cruise 21/5, 1930-2200+-
TT = Tarmac Tour 22/5, 1000-1200+-
Lu = Lunch Brighton-le-Sands 22/5, 1230-1500+-
Di = Dinner CBD/Central 22/5, 1930-2200+-
Br = Harbour Bridge Climb 22/5, midday or twilight
Jt = Harbour Jet Tour 22/5, various times pm
Cr = Harbour Highlights Cruise 22/5, various times pm
HVT = Hunter Valley Wine Tour 23/5, 0900-1800+-
DEFINITE:
Shareholder DC TT Lu Di HVT
Joh SHS DC TT Lu Di HVT
Ozstamps BM DC TT Lu Di HVT
MrStarAlliance BM TT Lu Di Br23 Cr22
Mwenenzi DC TT Lu Di Br22/23
Chrisreid DC Di HVT Br22
OzTraveller TT Lu
OnePassLover BM
KiwiFlyer TT Lu Di
franjelley TT Lu
thadocta TT Lu Cr
kpc TT Lu
yyzprincess DC Di
David Noble DC TT Di HVT
KathyWdrf BM DC TT Lu Di HVT
corbetti TT Lu HVT
Ferrari DC Di
Any-Travel-Is-Good + 1? Di HVT? Jt Cr
QF WP + 1? DC TT Lu Di?
tmeyer TT Lu Di
connex2me DC TT Lu Di HVT
DEFINITE MAYBES:
dOOt + 1, knows around 25/26 April
prspad
Spiff
Kurwah, knows 26 April
Cathaana TT Lu
MAYBE:
SkiAdcock
RichardMel, knows around 22/4 TT Lu
Tinkybelle
Denoit
og TT Lu?
=========================================
ONLY ONE PERSON HASN'T RESPONDED AS YET (If anyone 'talks' to the person below, please ask him to respond to my email OR POST ON THE THREAD):
kawoh
ARE ANY OF THE DEFINITE MAYBES OR MAYBES NOW IN A POSITION TO CONFIRM???
==========================================
It's getting time to go into 'finals' - watch this space!
========================================
EVENTS:
BM = Blue Mountains: 21/5, 0800-1700+-
SHS = Sydney Harbour Sail 21/5, 1100-1600+-
DC = Dinner Cruise 21/5, 1930-2200+-
TT = Tarmac Tour 22/5, 1000-1200+-
Lu = Lunch Brighton-le-Sands 22/5, 1230-1500+-
Di = Dinner CBD/Central 22/5, 1930-2200+-
Br = Harbour Bridge Climb 22/5, midday or twilight
Jt = Harbour Jet Tour 22/5, various times pm
Cr = Harbour Highlights Cruise 22/5, various times pm
HVT = Hunter Valley Wine Tour 23/5, 0900-1800+-
DEFINITE:
Shareholder DC TT Lu Di HVT
Joh SHS DC TT Lu Di HVT
Ozstamps BM DC TT Lu Di HVT
MrStarAlliance BM TT Lu Di Br23 Cr22
Mwenenzi DC TT Lu Di Br22/23
Chrisreid DC Di HVT Br22
OzTraveller TT Lu
OnePassLover BM
KiwiFlyer TT Lu Di
franjelley TT Lu
thadocta TT Lu Cr
kpc TT Lu
yyzprincess DC Di
David Noble DC TT Di HVT
KathyWdrf BM DC TT Lu Di HVT
corbetti TT Lu HVT
Ferrari DC Di
Any-Travel-Is-Good + 1? Di HVT? Jt Cr
QF WP + 1? DC TT Lu Di?
tmeyer TT Lu Di
connex2me DC TT Lu Di HVT
DEFINITE MAYBES:
dOOt + 1, knows around 25/26 April
prspad
Spiff
Kurwah, knows 26 April
Cathaana TT Lu
MAYBE:
SkiAdcock
RichardMel, knows around 22/4 TT Lu
Tinkybelle
Denoit
og TT Lu?
=========================================
ONLY ONE PERSON HASN'T RESPONDED AS YET (If anyone 'talks' to the person below, please ask him to respond to my email OR POST ON THE THREAD):kawoh
ARE ANY OF THE DEFINITE MAYBES OR MAYBES NOW IN A POSITION TO CONFIRM???
==========================================
It's getting time to go into 'finals' - watch this space!
Last edited by Joh; Apr 26, 2004 at 6:23 pm
Apr 25, 2004 | 7:58 pm
#203
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,190
Like others, I will be at the FourPoints Friday and Saturday night, but doing a bit of a hotel "bedrun" for the balance of my nights in Sydney, picking up InterContinental nights at various HIs and the CP next door in Darlington Harbour. As Oz notes, the FourPoints is a real bargain, though I was not able to get the $s and points offer, just a regular points redemption. [Might upgrade to the junior harbour view suite if the Sheraton Winnipeg comes through with some Service Promise points for a major screw-up last month.]
Apr 28, 2004 | 6:38 am
#206
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: AA EXP/mm, Travelholics Anonymous
Posts: 2,962
I'm at least a definite maybe.
Did Cairns and New Zealand so far. In Sydney now, Darwin on Saturday, then Gold Coast a while. Might do Rarotonga/Fiji on a United award if I can before coming back to Sydney. It's easy to see me staying here long enough for the get together, I really love this place. I'm going to buy a OneWorld RTW so my departure date is flexible.
My status is AA platinum, recently demoted from EXP. I'm skeptical we can get into the Qantas lounge without some firm arrangement in advance. My status means little to them without a flight that day, and they could deny a big group trying to use old club passes. Still, I'm willing to try if people understand the risk of being denied -- it is a great lounge and worth visiting.
I'm interested in the dinner Cruise, tarmac tour, and would seriously consider the lunch and dinner...
My suggestions for the lunch and central dinner is to aim for a place with good value. Flyertalk consists of people on different budgets, and some hesitate or feel bad about ponying up for expensive meals. If it costs $39 for lunch, it should be an amazing quality feast eh? Skip the uppity pricey hotel restaurants, choosing instead a place with great reasonably priced food and big round tables. Visualize a place where loose legged alcoholics, obsessive egomaniacs, and grimy backpackers can all very happily coexist. That's flyertalk, and we really love it!
Did Cairns and New Zealand so far. In Sydney now, Darwin on Saturday, then Gold Coast a while. Might do Rarotonga/Fiji on a United award if I can before coming back to Sydney. It's easy to see me staying here long enough for the get together, I really love this place. I'm going to buy a OneWorld RTW so my departure date is flexible.
My status is AA platinum, recently demoted from EXP. I'm skeptical we can get into the Qantas lounge without some firm arrangement in advance. My status means little to them without a flight that day, and they could deny a big group trying to use old club passes. Still, I'm willing to try if people understand the risk of being denied -- it is a great lounge and worth visiting.
I'm interested in the dinner Cruise, tarmac tour, and would seriously consider the lunch and dinner...
My suggestions for the lunch and central dinner is to aim for a place with good value. Flyertalk consists of people on different budgets, and some hesitate or feel bad about ponying up for expensive meals. If it costs $39 for lunch, it should be an amazing quality feast eh? Skip the uppity pricey hotel restaurants, choosing instead a place with great reasonably priced food and big round tables. Visualize a place where loose legged alcoholics, obsessive egomaniacs, and grimy backpackers can all very happily coexist. That's flyertalk, and we really love it!
Apr 28, 2004 | 9:20 am
#207
In Memoriam
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Katoomba (Blue Mountains)
Programs: Mucci
Posts: 8,083
Oh good, another Qantas WP (as opposed to another QF WP, one is QUITE enough, thank you). That will enable us to get another person in for free.
The reason why I want everyone to email me is that it makes sorting out the names and statuses a lot easier. I could always go through and see the individual posts as to who wants to attend, and then deduce your status, and then compile them on a list.
My thoughts are that if you want to attend, a quick email to [email protected] with your real name and airline FF level will take all of about 20 seconds to do. I have the emails sorted into a seperate folder in Outlook, making it nice and easy to collate it all.
So far, I have the following (Qantas WP's excluded, since they get in anyway):
Shareholder AeroPlan SuperElite (StarGold)
cathaana Lufthansa Senator (StarGold)
KathyWdrf United 100K Premier (StarGold)
thadocta Qantas Gold (oneworld sapphire)
Kiwi Flyer Air NZ Gold Elite, Lufthansa Senator (BOTH StarGold)
ozstamps
Joh
franjelly United 100K Premier (StarGold)
MrStarAlliance United 100K Premier (any guesses as to which program he is affiliated with?
Plus one other whose email I have lost - MailWasher is showing that I haven't accidentally bounced or deleted it, so it should be in Outlook - but it isn't, and it isn't in the deleted folder either. I don't know what happened to it, I think it was from Martin?
Anyway, with three WP's attending, that will account for six into the QP - I am pretty sure I can talk my way in as an SG. So that just leaves us with three people to get in at the moment.
Hoping to hear from some others, but as I said, EMAIL is preferred, as it makes it a stack easier to collate responses.
Dave
The reason why I want everyone to email me is that it makes sorting out the names and statuses a lot easier. I could always go through and see the individual posts as to who wants to attend, and then deduce your status, and then compile them on a list.
My thoughts are that if you want to attend, a quick email to [email protected] with your real name and airline FF level will take all of about 20 seconds to do. I have the emails sorted into a seperate folder in Outlook, making it nice and easy to collate it all.
So far, I have the following (Qantas WP's excluded, since they get in anyway):
Shareholder AeroPlan SuperElite (StarGold)
cathaana Lufthansa Senator (StarGold)
KathyWdrf United 100K Premier (StarGold)
thadocta Qantas Gold (oneworld sapphire)
Kiwi Flyer Air NZ Gold Elite, Lufthansa Senator (BOTH StarGold)
ozstamps
Joh
franjelly United 100K Premier (StarGold)
MrStarAlliance United 100K Premier (any guesses as to which program he is affiliated with?
Plus one other whose email I have lost - MailWasher is showing that I haven't accidentally bounced or deleted it, so it should be in Outlook - but it isn't, and it isn't in the deleted folder either. I don't know what happened to it, I think it was from Martin?
Anyway, with three WP's attending, that will account for six into the QP - I am pretty sure I can talk my way in as an SG. So that just leaves us with three people to get in at the moment.
Hoping to hear from some others, but as I said, EMAIL is preferred, as it makes it a stack easier to collate responses.
Dave
Last edited by thadocta; Apr 30, 2004 at 2:24 pm Reason: to add somee new attendees whose responses I missed
Apr 28, 2004 | 11:25 pm
#208
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,351
Originally Posted by benoit
My suggestions for the lunch and central dinner is to aim for a place with good value. Flyertalk consists of people on different budgets, and some hesitate or feel bad about ponying up for expensive meals. If it costs $39 for lunch, it should be an amazing quality feast eh? Skip the uppity pricey hotel restaurants, choosing instead a place with great reasonably priced food and big round tables.
I've attended everything from breakfasts running $10 a head, to a 1,000 Euro $A1,700) small private lunch last month in the Alsace for Rudi's birthday.
(Hey it was 4 hours!) The lunch menu (and wine labels!) is now scanned here:http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=316124
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Lunch Saturday
Joh suggested that we have a fairly light lunch after the Tarmac tour. We will hopefully have been to the QC beforehand, and possibly partaken of a few nibblies, and most are joining the group for the 3 course Dinner Cruise that evening.
So yesterday we drove out to the Airport and checked a number of options for lunch, including the airport hotels. By far the best option was the Observatory Bar at the It'l terminal. I had never been there before, and for those who also have not, please let me outline it.
This is a bar reached via a long staircase or an elevator from the basic restaurant. We went and had a beer up there and the view of th airport is stunning. You are overlooking the end of a runway and watch planes lining up, turning around and getting takeoff clearance, and can see takeoff clearly. The city skyline view is also excellent. You are also looking right at a Qantas maintenance hangar with all sorts of neat stuff going on there etc. The bar is partly open to the outside so you really get the noise and "feel" of being right in the middle of an airport. ^^
They do NOT ordinarily serve meals up there. However we found the manager and she agreed to do it, given the nature of our group, and booked us in. And will reserve us THE best viewing space as well, right by the elevator doors. We had lunch there and the food was fine.
Joh is typing a more detailed list of food and booze - but bottom line we think we can offer a flat price of a choice from a bunch of main meals, and and a wide range of wines and champagne or beer or soft drinks for $A32-$33 a head - plus a tip for them going out of their way for us - we will call this $A35 a head including drinks and tip. This deal will cover say 3 beers, or several wines or champagnes or soft drinks per person - and the bar "float" we have costed in will cover all this easily. If we booze on and exceed that we are on a "user pays" system.
Now for an International Airport this is pretty darn amazing deal IMHO for a meal and all drinks. Joh and I got whacked virtually $A35 for 2 beers in Honolulu airport recently. ($US11 a glass + tax).
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Saturday evening dinner
As to Saturday evening dinner, well it needs to be central - around Darling Harbour, and for a Saturday night this will not be an easy thing to do terribly low cost of course. I am putting out a SOS for those with SYD Entertainment books, as we may well be able to bring cost down a lot via using that option. Please let me know if anyone has even the June 2004 expiring ones. There is a half price parking coupon in there too for Darling Harbour for anyone local who will be driving in.
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Friday Evening Cruise Dinner
Again the "SOS" for Ent. books will bring this down from the usual $100 a person to $A75. For the evening cruise, entertainment, dancing (coff)and a 3 course meal on the Captain Cook glam boat. (Drinks extra) This has the extra advantage of being able to be boarded from Darling Harbour, right outside the Four Points hotel where many are staying. Joh is working on typing up the menu choices.
They do have a cheaper option for a $A69 cruise with 2 course dinner AND wine for but that departs 5.30pm. This is a 90 min cruise and we get 10% off that if 15 book which looks vaguely possible. 5.30pm is bad timing for us though - and most others I guess, hence the lower price. We like the idea of the later cruise to be honest.
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Cost to transfer from Qantas Club to the It'l terminal is $4 by train and $3 by bus. We asked bus company if a deal might be made and they said for a cash payment on the day they'd likely "work out something" - my guess is $2 a head would do it. After lunch at It'l folks can make their own way home when it suits them. A cab downtown is about $A20 IIRC, and if 4 share it is a cheap option.
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We got from supervisor at DownTown Duty Free a bunch of $10 off on $100 spend and $20 off on $200 spend coupons. We will hand these out on the OzFest weekend. They CAN be combined... i.e. on a $600 digital camera it gives you $60 off etc. Any overseas visitor who needs these for ARRIVAL Duty Free purchase let me know and I'll mail it. (Oz is one of the few countries that allows DF purchases upon arrival - limited in range to booze, cigs, and cosmetics though.
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Last edited by ozstamps; May 10, 2004 at 2:34 am Reason: Updating cost of transfer between airport terminals.
Apr 29, 2004 | 9:36 pm
#210
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: AA EXP/mm, Travelholics Anonymous
Posts: 2,962
Just got an award ticket to Rarotonga from Brisbane, returning to Sydney May 21. That puts me on the definite list!
I will do the dinner cruise, tarmac tour, and following lunch. Sounds like ozstamps did good research on the lunch, thanks. Am considering the dinner that night, and the other cruise and wine tour. Oh yeah, I'll attempt to get into Qantas lounge with everyone else, I'm AA platinum. Hope I can do all this without emails -- I'll check this thread for updates. I think all I need is good directions to board the dinner cruise and I'm set.
Kiwi Flyer: I'll be in Auckland night of 13th/day of 14th if you'd like to meet.
I will do the dinner cruise, tarmac tour, and following lunch. Sounds like ozstamps did good research on the lunch, thanks. Am considering the dinner that night, and the other cruise and wine tour. Oh yeah, I'll attempt to get into Qantas lounge with everyone else, I'm AA platinum. Hope I can do all this without emails -- I'll check this thread for updates. I think all I need is good directions to board the dinner cruise and I'm set.
Kiwi Flyer: I'll be in Auckland night of 13th/day of 14th if you'd like to meet.