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Star Mega Do 5
Details of the itinerary/schwag are still TBA, but participation has changed significantly:
Private Charter | Membership Information MegaDOs are operated by the Frequent Traveler Education Foundation (FTEF)—a nonprofit 501c3 organization. Here is information on how to become a member to fly on a MegaDO. MegaDOs are operated by the Frequent Traveler Education Foundation (FTEF)—a nonprofit 501c3 organization. As a private charter, you must be a member of the FTEF to participate. To be a member costs $10 a year and must be charged prior to your buying a MegaDO ticket. You can cancel the membership at any time, but you have to be a member at the time of purchasing the ticket and at the time of the charter. ETA: THIS MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS CHARTER TOUR (see post 2 for details) |
website and quirky booking engine now live: http://www.megado.com/
The program has been posted on MilePoint: Tuesday October 22nd arrival Toronto, no program (optional, you can of course some in in Wednesday) Registration open from 6-7PM at the host hotel (Ritz Carlton Toronto or Toronto Marriott Downtown) Wednesday October 23rd Breakfast at the host hotel, registration opens at 8AM 1000 Buses to Rimowa's factory. Tours and BBQ 1100 Buses from the airport to Rimowa's factory for people arriving Wednesday morning. Return back to the hotel at 4PM Welcome reception hosted by Marriott Thursday October 24th Breakfast 0930 Buses to YYZ for a day with Air Canada. Return to the hotel at 4-5PM Reception hosted at hotel by Air Canada Friday October 25th 0730 Buses to YYZ, charter departs at 0930. Arrival TUS at 1115AM. Buses to the AF base, return to TUS at 230, departure at 3PM, Arrival at SFO at 530PM Hangar party hosted by United Airlines from 6-830PM, buses to designated hotel downtown San Francisco. Event ends Friday night. The charter: This year it will be operated on an Air Canada A321, the first ever MegaDo on an Airbus.. http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/fleet/a321-200xm.html Prices will be ready on Monday May 13th Miles miles miles… and hotel points.. Same procedure as every year (2500 EQM for coach, 7500 EQM and 15K EQM for First, but we’re working on offering BOTH AC Aeroplan miles and United miles. Stay tuned to get all details confirmed. And of course our new partner Marriott Rewards will put on their charm to win the hearts of new customers and also thank their loyals Exciting news on the hotel campaign to follow soon Membership So what’s up with this membership stuff you’re offering you ask? Well, we’ve been working with the DOT closely to make the charter a private affair, meaning we’ll save a bunch on money that needs to be set aside and a boatload of paper work. The system is a win win for everyone and United has been on us to get this done for operational purposes. We’re still working with the DOT and are hoping to implement the memberships, but to be on the safe side, we are filing this as a public charter, so no 10 dollar membership will be necessary to buy a ticket on this MegaDo. So there you have it! SMD5 will go on sale May 20th at noon central US time Business $2799 Tommy Class Emergency Exit $1999 (middle seat blocked) Tommy Class $1799 (middle seat blocked) Coach $1199 Unfortunately, the prices this year are a little bit higher than usual. There are a few reasons for this: The flights are longer, the cost is 20% higher than last year, the taxes are also almost 30% higher than last year, costs for buses are up 150% and we don't have as many premium seats for sale, actually the lowest we've ever had. |
Originally Posted by kokonutz
(Post 20705389)
It appears that right now only those who received an email are eligible to sign up for FTEF membership. Apparently only a certain number of memberships are available at certain membership levels, so surely a membership offer to the public is forthcoming.
The premium memberships are an interesting thing and some may love them (obviously some did as they pretty much sold out) while others don't. But the overall concept of a membership club to do this is absolutely sound. |
Trust me we tried to get around the 'public' vs 'private' charter when CO demanded it for SMD2. CO asked for it due to some valid reasons, some of it being consumer protection.@:-):cool:
Also the DoT is pretty clear on the art what constitutes an organisation that can do private charters. Just dropping 10 bucks in a pot when you enter the door to sign up probably doesn't do it. But hey, they should be knowing what they are doing. :o |
Mr. Pickles speculates that there could bel MegaDO competitors relatively soon based on this new membership scheme.
I kind of tend to agree. If a 'real' charter company with overhead and resources in place looked at the market for what amounts to $3000-$5000 (membership fee plus megado fee) seats on a charter flight...well....how hard would it be for a company like that to create a charter catering to points and miles hoarders? (that is a sincere rather than a rhetorical question...I honestly don't know the answer) |
Originally Posted by kokonutz
(Post 20706564)
If a 'real' charter company with overhead and resources in place looked at the market for what amounts to $3000-$5000 (membership fee plus megado fee) seats on a charter flight...well....how hard would it be for a company like that to create a charter catering to points and miles hoarders? (that is a sincere rather than a rhetorical question...I honestly don't know the answer)
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Originally Posted by sbm12
(Post 20706867)
Getting a plane, picking a few airports and flying between them is pretty easy. Getting the other companies involved is rather more difficult. It sin't like United, American or Lufthansa is offering up tours of their operations to 150+ people on a daily basis and the MegaDo crew just picked a slot. Ditto for some of the FF-related benefits which have come from the events. Buying the points - especially EQPs - outright from the airlines isn't simply a matter of calling up the main number and giving them a CC number for the deal.
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There is a market for commercial operators out there, some have operated such tours before, the most well known was Kuoni who arranged for a charter flight by WK & LX from ZRH to TLS and giving participants some briefing on aircraft design and construction and small tours of the plant with active pilots who explained everything in detail. All for aprox 700 CHF.
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I guess I have been informed that future MegaDos will operate under these regs:
http://law.justia.com/cfr/title14/14...0.1.1.10.0.1.5 If so, does that mean the Star Mega Do 5 wont take place for at least 6 months? Also, is there truly a reason to join the FTEF other than merely to travel on a charter flight (from the solicitation, that seems to be the only reason to join FTEF)?: (d) “Bona fide members” are members of an organization who: Have not joined the organization merely to travel on a charter flight; and who have been members of the chartering organization for a minimum of six months prior to the date of commencement of the affected flight; provided, that the “six month” rule does not apply to: (1) Employees of a single commercial establishment, industrial plant, or government agency, or (2) Students and employees of a single school. Also, doesn't this regulation preclude selling seats for different prices as well as comping seats to the press, etc: (e) The charter price due the direct air carrier shall be prorated equally among all the charter passengers, except that children under 12 may be offered discounted or free transportation. This is truly a bureaucratic nightmare, it seems. Good old Uncle Sam, making things as difficult as possible. :rolleyes: |
Originally Posted by kokonutz
(Post 20717357)
I guess I have been informed that future MegaDos will operate under these regs:
http://law.justia.com/cfr/title14/14...0.1.1.10.0.1.5 If so, does that mean the Star Mega Do 5 wont take place for at least 6 months? Also, is there truly a reason to join the FTEF other than merely to travel on a charter flight (from the solicitation, that seems to be the only reason to join FTEF)?: (d) “Bona fide members” are members of an organization who: Have not joined the organization merely to travel on a charter flight; and who have been members of the chartering organization for a minimum of six months prior to the date of commencement of the affected flight; provided, that the “six month” rule does not apply to: (1) Employees of a single commercial establishment, industrial plant, or government agency, or (2) Students and employees of a single school. Also, doesn't this regulation preclude selling seats for different prices as well as comping seats to the press, etc: (e) The charter price due the direct air carrier shall be prorated equally among all the charter passengers, except that children under 12 may be offered discounted or free transportation. This is truly a bureaucratic nightmare, it seems. Good old Uncle Sam, making things as difficult as possible. :rolleyes: I wonder if being a "member" also puts you at financial risk if there is a claim by another passenger of the charter? Many things to sort out. Happily it is not my problem. :p |
Originally Posted by mrpickles
(Post 20731152)
Not only will they have the government watching every move, but pissed off FlyerTalkers who are ready to blow the whistle, just because they can. I am glad that I am just an outside observer.
I wonder if being a "member" also puts you at financial risk if there is a claim by another passenger of the charter? Many things to sort out. Happily it is not my problem. :p |
Originally Posted by kokonutz
(Post 20731380)
Which FlyerTalkers are pissed off and why?
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(some) details posted in post #2.
Looks like this one will still be a public rather than a private charter. Guess those pesky regs got in the way on the timing after all. :( While I think the USAF base tour is cool, the tour of the luggage factory seems...well...boring. YYZ-TUS in the AM seems like a Bloody Mary blast! :D All in all it looks like a good time...but still not quite interesting enough to earn my $$$. So who is going to try to buy tickets? |
i am slightly considering it, being BUF based, YYZ is a stone throw away, and as easy a start as i could hope for. though we will see the cost, always the X factor
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Originally Posted by freeloader
(Post 20744391)
i am slightly considering it, being BUF based, YYZ is a stone throw away, and as easy a start as i could hope for. though we will see the cost, always the X factor
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