Value? At those prices, there is zero value. Make no mistake, I'd love to fly around the world for a few days indulging my hobby. For that kind of money, I can have a grand vacation with my wife at a 4* property in a 4* city anywhere in the world I please. I can fly4free and stay4free.

And Toronto??

The cost:
Tommy Class Emergency Exit 1999 (middle seat blocked)
Tommy Class 1799 (middle seat blocked)
Coach 1199

Lots of people drinking the coolaid or smoking the ganga. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GjmJHS8aYg

dh

Well presumably some see value in the business and Tommy Class seats as those are sold out.

And apparently they are going to lower the price of the economy seats.

And I do see value in getting a pile of airline miles and top Marriott status for 14 or so months.

The problem, imho, is that visiting a luggage factory seems like a total bore. And if I want to look at an airplane graveyard, I can do that on my own. YYZ, TUS, SFO...been there/done that. An A321 (vs. the 787 last time)...meh.

So there is not much that seems 'once in a lifetime' about this one. Maybe that's the issue?

Now, the false-starter Brazil MegaDo with a waterfall flyby...I'd have been on that sucker in a heartbeat. ^

In any case, I am very interested to see what the guys come up with on the 3rd...although I wonder if they have considered that a LOT of their potential customers will be on vacation/traveling next week...?

So I see today that the megado prices got reduced... And they are refunding the difference for those already paid...

My question - I thought this was a nonprofit, break even event - how then is this possible??

Well, they changed the charter plane. That likely affected the price point. Also possible that additional sponsors were brought on board.

Correct. Air Canada was charging 35% more for their 321 than UA charged for their 787 last year. So changing back to a UA 737 results in a significant cost savings that is being passed on.

Don't you have inside information on this?

dh

What did you think the charter flight was on, JetBlue?

Has changing the charter from AC ------> UA, will this affect the generosity of the events organized by AC in Toronto ?

No, not at all. AC is running their entire fleet at 100% right now and doesn't have a single aircraft to spare right now due to the 787 delays. So when the quoted the trip, it was at a price that they felt made it worth their while to juggle the schedule. They understood the price was high and they understood the impact that was having on the event. SMD5 moving just means they can put the 321 on the transcon it was scheduled for.

They are still throwing an amazing event at YYZ and a great party that night (as any SMD3 flyer can attest to).

Edit: Also, AC has confirmed that flyer that choose to post the miles to AP will get any Elite bonus they are entitle to as well.

Good to see the overhead reduced. And new victims, er, volunteers on board.

$999 seems like a far better price point. Still not low enough to get the likes of me on a charter and a luggage factory tour.

But a far better price point.

Good luck to the organizers and their new volunteers on the re-launched event!

RE-relaunch today!

Coach: $999
Economy Plus: $1299
Tommy Class (middle seat blocked): $1799 (was sold out, but equipment change opens up 4 seats)
Tommy Class Emergency Exit (middle seat blocked): $1999 (was sold out, but equipment change opens two seats)
First Class: $2799 (already sold out)

$300 to go from E- to E+, eh?

I read that UNITED charges an average of around $39 per leg for E+ on domestic flights, and around $100 on international legs....

But wait! There's more! Participants get the opportunity to buy a Rimowa bag in advance of the event....although I haven't seen the price posted anywhere.

2pm EST if anyone is interested in snatching up the premium seats...

At 16:20 MDT...

Couple TC seats left. About 20 Economy seats left. First, TC exit and E+ sold out.

Rimowa bag will sell for $500 (essentially the same price as a non-SMD branded bag), with $200 of that going to charity.

Well that's progress! ^

But I must be counting wrong, as I see 28 economy seats available. Of course, as in real life, seat maps may not reflect load!

Do you know if the purchaser gets the tax credit for the $200?

If transaction occurs in Canada, will USA citizens and other non Canadians get the charitable deduction?

Actually, you're correct. I'd counted 22, but I was on my iPhone at the time and missed a couple rows. Opps.

The transaction will occur in the States, as the payment will be made to FTEF, who will then make a mass order with Rimowa. I'm not a US tax expert, but you would likely be eligible to claim the $200 deduction. Generally, it would be handled as a $500 donation for which $300 in goods was received.