Trip report for Freddie Jr's recent run with anat0l at the SYD F Lounge is complete!
 

You can find the trip report here. Includes pictures of Freddie Jr and the QF F Lounge in SYD T1.

I'm expecting to see Freddie on his repeat ride on the 9th annual Brooklyn Reality Tour.

Date: June 13, 2009 Saturday
Place: Brooklyn, of course. ;)

Info in the link below.

You're invited.

dh

A short report.

Freddie Jr accompanied us (Sue Oz and myself) from MEL-SYD on QF462. I'm not sure if Freddie Jr was intimidated by the old ex BA 767 or was just really tired after his J run with the boys earlier in the day but he insisted in staying in his case above 23 J/K for the journey.

That night he chaperoned us in Rm 626 at the SYD airport HI. In the morning Freddie Jr slept in so we missed breakfast at the hotel but had some at the QF J lounge at SYD. From there it was off to AKL on LA800 sitting in 3D/H. We arrived on time and caught the bus to the Hotel Grand Chancellor AKL airport. Freddie Jr agreed with us that the hotel (Rm 220) was just adequate but comfortable. We didn't risk eating there so went down the road to a really great Chinese/Indian restaurant and had a really good & cheap feed.

In the morning we all skipped the meal at the hotel and headed for the Qantas domestic lounge for a safe though not too spectacular breakfast. From there we boarded QF2791 from AKL-ZQN. Though it was still summer there was plenty of snow on the mountains and had a pleasant and on time journey.
A hire car at Queenstown took is to Wanaka (home of the famous Warbirds Airshow) http://www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com/ and then to Lake Hawea http://www.lakehawea.co.nz/ for a few days much needed rest. Freddie Jr, Sue Oz and I all enjoyed doing not much for a few days before we reversed the trip. ie car to ZQN, QF2792 to AKL, LA801 to SYD and then QF429 to MEL.

Freddie and I then drove home for one night at our new house and then headed off again via QF608 to BNE for the handover to serfty.

Freddie Jr was weighed at AKL airport and got a frown from the immigration lady so we quickly scurried off to the QF lounge and left her to pick on some other poor soul.

Freddie Jr seemed to enjoy the trip as much as we did so all in all very successful. The only part of the trip that was not much fun was when we took Freddie Jr to visit our daughter who has just been through the Gippsland Fires. http://www.gippslandfires.com/

After his Ateroan sourjourn Freddie was handed over to myself at the Annual OZ FT AGM. He was not able to make the skoogle pickup.

He then flew BNE to MEL and Freddie Jr is now ensconced in Patterson Lakes.

His planned routing is now MEL-SYD-[A388]-LAX and LAX-SFO-LAX, all on Friday March 6th. I will be pleased to hand over in LAX or SFO on this day.

Might have been mentioned, but what class of service on SYD-LAX A380-800?

I believe it is whY in 80K (he's gonna road(air?)test the seat for me) :cool:

... actually 66A ... need to be nearer the front for US immigration.

(No F Jr., but 80A on the retur; my express pass will see me bypass most of the Oz immigration queues ...)

Can handover in ATL early on 8th as well ...

I've updated post #484 above.

And the flight map is also back up to date.

Thank you, itsalongwaydown and serfty!

Still no takers for a hand-over in the States?

Have you any pictures of Freddie Jr on his travels?

Love the flight map. Too bad you can't "zoom" in on areas to get the local/national scaled map (except for the US).

Notice that QF is #4 on the list of carriers for Freddie Jr. Probably his AU adventures, including my SC run, "artificially" inflated this figure. :p Well, at least we're beating Air New Zealand. :D

There are pictures of Freddie around the world all over this thread - it takes a while to go through it all, but if you've got some spare time on your hands, there are many interesting things to discover.

I agree that it's a pity you can't zoom in on the flight map, but I've switched the "local" map to Australia so you can get a closer look at your own flights. I'll switch it back to the US in a couple of days.

EDIT: Looks like that switch also shifted the map perspective a little - interesting.

I'll be happy to bring him from Fort Lauderdale after the Freddies to DUB via CLT, PHL, LHR.

There will be plenty of opportunities to pass him on from there - there seems to be an endless supply of MRers passing this way right now.

I guess I was addressing more Itsalongwaydown whether he had any photos of Freddie Jr to add to the thread. :cool:

Thanks for that. :)

Anyone? :confused:

What time in LA? I might be run over to LAX long enough to pick him up and hold him, but I'm not traveling 'til April (to Vegas), so if Freddie Jr actually wants to go somewhere other than in my office, maybe someone else can get him.

Cheers.

I'm travelling this week and won't be passing through LAX until Saturday evening. I'm also not going to be in FLL in time for The Freddies, so I don't think I'd be of much use as a courier. :(

Friday ~11:30am - 1:30pm and 8:30pm ...

Also, Monday ~7pm.

Well I can pick him up at LAX on your morning run, but as mentioned since I don't have any travel for a while Freddie Jr will be sitting in my office for a long time. Unless a LAX area FTer who will be traveling to some FT Do wants to swing by my place and pick him up. Sertfy, PM me & we'll sort out details unless someone else mentions they can get him when you're in town.

Cheers.

A couple of FT Evangelists have been in touch by PM. Thanx.

Still, if you can assist please pst here/PM.

Cheers ...

Ok, I've got FreddieJr. If there are any LA-based FTers or others who are routing through LAX & going on to Dos, please post or PM me and we'll make arrangements for a hand-off.

Cheers.

Sharon,

Thankyou very much for collecting Freddy Jr.

I'm sure there's some west bound FTers who can help. :D

Cheers ...

I will be in SEA, LAS, and NRT in the coming days and then headed back to IAH and OKC if you have a way to transport?

I was just looking at Freddie Jrs FM and I would add 3 airports to his FM if I was able to pick him up!

Bye Freddie Jr: I am sure we will catch up again some time. :)

From the http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/qanta...eb-2009-a.html we were privileged to have Freddie Jr in attendance.

We managed to organize a picture with Freddie Jr.

Freddie Jr is always up for a drink, he was first inline when the bar opened at 12:00pm.

While being escorted by me, Freddy Jr travelled BNE to MEL, MEL to SYD then SYD-LAX on the A388 QPA after having a look at Lunch at the SYD Qantas First Lounge.

Plus1 is picking up Freddie Jr. from Skiadcock. We will pass him off at IAH so he can do some MRs before the Freddies next month. He will also make it to a few DOs and be the first in line for drinks.

so please check if he still has that nice red and blue bag ... ;) he had one when I last saw him :D

Certainly had a red and blue 'backpack' style bag when I last saw him (although a strap may have been missing).

The bag had "Reims" on it - ;)

then its even better that baglady get's this backpack in her hands. ... she can discuss this with some quality manager :o

Ah! What has Freddie been up to? :D

I will definitely have a look tonight and see what quality issue he has with his traveling case!

I hope Freddy JR will make it to St. Malo in september - he's never missed a FlyerTalk Tour de France DO ... :)

Freddie Jr. is at LAX relaxing in the Pclub. He'll be flying in F to IAH where he won't be having Cheese soup, but a good flight nonetheless. I am planning to take Freddie Jr. to DFW and back to IAH this week but if other FTers have more exotic ideas, let me know. I would like Freddie Jr. to join us in St. Malo in Sept. so if he could make his way to one of us going there, please get him in our hands. We leave late Aug ex IAH.

Shouldn't Freddie be not eating Weinerschnitzel in Nurnberg first?

And not drinking at the Freddies in Florida?

Just a thought.

Late photos
 

Some late photos of Freddie from Japan can be found in my (currently incomplete, as of this post going up) FT Gallery. Here are some snaps of note:

The "pose" shot: Freddie Jr in his carry case
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery..._SYD.sized.jpg

BNE QP enjoying a glass of sparkling white after a mad dash to make the check-in cut-off time....only to have the flight delayed for 1 hour :(
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...E_QP.sized.jpg

Jetstar Airways Star Class seat
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...JQ19.sized.jpg

http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...JQ19.sized.jpg

In OOL transit lounge. No Freddie Jr, that's not a real koala....
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery..._OOL.sized.jpg

Himeji castle.
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...meji.sized.jpg

Enjoying ekiben on the nozomi-shinkansen from Himeji to Kyoto.
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...yoto.sized.jpg

Todaiji (temple), Nara, home of one of the biggest statues of Buddha in the world.
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...Nara.sized.jpg

Ukimido, Nara, which is said to appear to float on the water.
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...Nara.sized.jpg

The five-storied pagoda, Nara.
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...Nara.sized.jpg

The picturesque sweets at the Hilton Osaka Executive Lounge afternoon tea spread.
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...saka.sized.jpg

The Floating Garden Observatory, Umeda, Osaka.
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...saka.sized.jpg

Freddie Jr tries sake.
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...saka.sized.jpg

Breakfast whilst checking Australian Frequent Flyer (AFF).
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...saka.sized.jpg

Riding the HEP5 Ferris Wheel (Umeda, Osaka).
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...saka.sized.jpg

One from my trip to NZ that followed. This photo was taken at WLG airport, overlooking ZK-FRE, specially painted with Air New Zealand Holidays livery.
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery..._WLG.sized.jpg

Freddie JR @ CO PC LAX - Sent by Plus1
 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3648/...b713b53769.jpg

Currently he is flying LAX-IAH
Special Thanks to Plus1 for the ride ^

Freddie, Jr. has a tip jar? That's just wrong.

Cool suitcase though. Looks like something that might be won in a a rail station contest. In a neutral county. One with tall mountains.

I think the golden elephant dung in a tank is a giveaway - is it South Africa? :D

Have we establish who'll be carrying Freddy Jr to FLL, yet?

I don't think it has been established. He is taking a quick trip with me to DFW on Thursday and then Scott6067 is taking him to NRT Sat a.m. The next handover will probably be NRT or IAH.

Freddie's got a new bag
 

As Freddie's bag is showing a bit of wear and tear, I've swapped out his bag for a new one (same bag, just bright, clean and new). Freddie needs to ride in style!

thanks ^ will he get a different one after St. Malo ;)