From sunny Melbourne..do about 100K Km pa, mostly international, mostly QF (with whom I am Silver).

ffhound..be careful about referring to the 'pacific peso'..you'll offend the Filipinos, whose peso is actually *rising* wrt the $A!!!

Ozflier..QF's program isn't really getting more competitive at all; don't shift on that account!

Hi,

From Melbourne, currently based in Israel till around August, then NY here I come for about a year.

Used to be AN GR, but I hit 60000 and decided to switch my loyalties to UA MP.

goodo

Rhodesia > Far North Queensland > Ohio, USA.

Mostly bounce between CNS, SIN & IND/CVG on UA. Been a 1K with MP for 7 years which means so much less now than when I first became a 1K.

OK, this is totally off topic...but a friend and I just returned from two weeks in Sydney and surrounding areas.

What a BEAUTIFUL country, first off. Second, our experience with Australian people has left us speechless. Wonderful people with such a great outlook on life.

Can't wait to go back!

Yep! Checking in from London, UK on a work contract.

Adelaide via Whyalla!!

PATHETIC Pacific Peso is the more accurate term, having returned from a week in NYC. About the least expensive bottle of wine on the room service menu at the Waldorf Astroria came to well over $A100. US$35, plus $US 3.50 per person flat room delivery fee, plus tax at 10% or whatever, plus "service fee/gratuity" of 15%, and the room service guy still had his hand out. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif



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~ Glen ~

You can buy a decent (Australian) wine in a bottle shop in the US for about US$8. That's about A$16 for a bottle that would probably be about $10 here anyhow. If you choose to pay 525% more because you want to order room service in a very expensive hotel, that's hardly the A$'s fault.

Kremmen I totally agree. But it is called being hospitable and sociable to the 4 FlyerTalk guests in your suite at that moment in time I think, instead of vanishing for 30-45 minutes in mid town looking for a discount grog shop to save some bucks. This is why ***** Hotels exist! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

My hazy recollection clearing the debris next morning was 5 bottles of wine and a LOT of scotch were enjoyed by those present. I will not name names, to protect the innocent, (other than to say Doc was there, who was quite sober and can verify all this!) but one passed out on a bed, and another soon after collapsed face first outside Carnegie Deli in a pool of blood from a grazed/cracked head/face. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif

And I do not know when the last time you looked for Australian wine in mid-town Manhattan was, but there are precious few true discount outlets - $US8 seems to be Napa Valley no-name Zinfandel type choice pretty much. And then the window prices I saw ran way up into 4 figures for vintage French!

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~ Glen ~



[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 03-30-2001).]

Brisbane, and if you ever been there you may have seen the Bundaberg Rum sign on Airport Drive. Fly about 1 every 6 months.


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Indecision is the key to Flexibility

From Kilmore>MEL>ITH>SYD>BTJ>JKT>SYD& gt;KCH> to?
Active in UA, QF, AN & MH programs, in that order, plus HH. Each have their merits.
Enjoy most the random acts of kindness amongst flyertalkers, and positive suggestions. [The opposite diminishes us all, as do individuals who thump their own chests. But Australians are quite good at taking the micky out of the pompous.]
Thanks for the strand, and may humour and humility abound.
Think those are the traits of a Koala.
Cheers
K


[This message has been edited by Koala (edited 03-30-2001).]

Wasn't it a Koala that p!ssed on the Prime Minister on TV? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

My word - I had no idea that there were so many Aussies, not living in Earl's Court, London.

Maybe, while you are all here, someone might be able to help me understand what Qantas are up to. Apparently the mileage earning and burning opportunties are miles better if you regsiter with QA as resident in Australia, than if you register as living abroad.

If anyone has any details, please let me know so that I can pass it on to the ever-growing aussie population of Earls Court.

Skips .. welcome to your debut post. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

One of the BEST and most informative threads on FT in months is unfolding right now on the QF board, with no less than the QF FF Manager answering queries about the new system .. get over there and say hi and ask your questions!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum39/HTML/000184.html


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~ Glen ~

Stamps - this time you read me absolutely correctly -- & not only on the PM!
Cheers
Koala

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif ... The only thing I ever looked for in Manhattan was a watch. Finding that the model I wanted was triple to quadruple the price that it was available by mail order, though I did manage to beat them down to only about double, I ordered it by mail.

If I were planning to be in Manhattan and want anything even remotely expensive, I'd take it with me, esp. given the current state of the A$.