The Party In Paradise Dates Set!
 

Ok everybody...it's going to happen! Time to finally meet and party with all these crazy folks populating the boards here on FlyerTalk! After much discussion with several members of FlyerTalk, we have come up with dates for the 1st Un-Official FlyerTalk Get-Together In Hawaii!

NOVEMBER 4-7, 1999 Waikiki, Hawaii!

Our goal in setting the dates was to make it as available and affordable for as many members as possible. Many factors were taken into account and based on seasonal rates, day-of-week air availablity and discounts, as well as giving everyone PLENTY of time to request time off from employers, put in requests for upgrades/free tickets, and get permission from our families, etc...we felt these dates would work out the best. We apoligize in advance if these dates don't work out for you personally, but the logistics of trying to find a date that would satisfy everyone was just too overwhelming. Our solution was to give everyone a year's notice in hopes that the most members that wanted to, could arrange it to attend.

So, the dates are set and the following (subject to change, of course) is our initial planned itinerary:

Thursday, Nov. 4th - Arrivals
Friday, Nov. 5th - Open Day/Evening Get-Together
Saturday, Nov. 6th - Main Get-Together Day/Dinner
Sunday, Nov. 7th - Optional Group Thing

After that everyone is pretty much on their own...some may head off to other islands with fellow FlyerTalkers or family, some may stay in Waikiki, some may head home...it's up to you.

If you decide to join us, you will be making your own airline and hotel arrangements. We will be having a Web Site devoted to this event and we will have some recommendations on hotels and such when the site is up and running (within the month).

It looks to be lots of fun and we will have great things (Rudi has mentioned one prize already) to participate in!

So come for the weekend or add on days and make it part of your 1999 vacation plans!

I have received confirmations from Rudi, Catman, and TropicalFlyer (our island contact) and if you would like to be added to the list, just send an email with "Yes" or "Maybe" to: [email protected] and we will keep you posted on developments. You may also send me your suggestions for events, prizes, or any questions you may have.

This should be a blast and we hope that you can fit it into you plans for 1999!

I first thought that I will have a european-time-advantage booking my confirmed upgraded first-class seat on UA first and beat you all - but on dec-4th (earliest reservation-possibility with UA is, I think, 11 months before flying) I will just be starting to fly back from Aspen ...

I will very probably try to fit it into another around the world trip (or even in a combination of two such tickets as they are valid for 12 months, and you can change dates and routings, with the exception of the first transatlantic flight, for free till flight date) and book it still in dec-98 with StarAlliance - the Lufthansa people here in Zurich (no UA anymore here) "warned" me that those r-t-w-tickets will increase prices (but also include the new partners) in early 99 (may be already on jan-1st?).

For me it could be a direct trip or I'm tempted to make a trip to Asia or Australia
with Ansett/Air New Z joining Star Alliance.
I know I will be there... I may just make it
as part of an extended trip.

Now I have something to look forward to before what is advertised as the New Millenium! CATMAN

And I hope we can talk Randy into flying in and joining us! Randy?

wich hotel would we has this conventoin? meybe i will show up and surpize all of you!

roberto! Come on down! We'd love to have you! Now there's an incentive for everyone to come!

i love hawaii!!! i has been there many times as i love to golf. if I go to this trip I challlenge any of you to a game of gold i will even gives you a handicap!!!

Mine would be 36, Roberto...

anyone for tennis?

baobab,

Be careful! roberto might not come across as a sophisticated contributor here but he supposedly works for MasterGrip. Don't they make golfclubs and golf equipment?

Ahh Ha! roberto is a fake! That last posting proves it! Someone forgot that they were logged on as roberto and responded TO roberto...in perfect english! All right...who is it?

Alright, now I really want to know who roberto is ???
My best guess is MerryFlyer. Sorry for insulting you if I'm wrong, Merry

I love Hawaii! Those dates sound great, and they are before 2000. I dont know if all of you have been reading about this, but flying to other countries in the year 2000 could be very dangerous. There may be travel advisories to certain countries, due to their computers not up to snuff.

Megamiles: Roberto, c'est moi? I think not!

For one thing the posting was made way after my bed time. Another thing I don't play golf. And I don't know what MasterGrip is.

But I am not upset! I can understand the mistake Roberto is about as inept at using the keyboard as I, and loves the use of !!!!'s as I do!

I am however upset that BAOBAB did not rush to my defence. I will have words with Bab's later... Unless, unless... yes it all makes sence now.. unless Baobab's IS Roberto!!

It is funny has Baobab is always around when Roberto is 'chatting'.

The jury is still out on that one:-)
MF

Actually on second thought, Roberto isn't a European - definitely an American - the places he chose were smallish towns in suburban USA, and then to use Mastergrip as his 'company' - I'd vote for a American - but who?

When roberto made his first appearance and his similarity to nancy was pointed out - someone rushed to his defense on the grounds that www.mastergrip.com does actually exist - sounded dubious at best to me even then - I can't seem to find the posting - the person who made that statement would be my best guess.

Sounds like an opportunity for Catman to do some investigative jouralism to me?
MF

YEAAAAAHHH!!! Count us in!


Just a thought -- know we can't even look at making reservations yet but I know lots of us will be connecting through the West Coast (LAX or [dread] SFO) -- perhaps as the time gets closer we can coordinate flite itins and "take over" a first class cabin on some poor unsuspecting airline? Think that would be a great way to start the Party in Paradise -- a five hour indulgent (sp?) romp of FlyerTalk folk?

Also an open invitation to anyone flying in from overseas to spend a couple of days in beautiful Arizona as a layover before or after (for those of you not continuing on around the world)...

CATMAN -- looks like we get to bring out the aloha wear for a legitimate purpose, eh??!!

Thanks to all of you who have put the time in to select dates, etc. Job well done!

Merry - megamiles made the accusatory posting at 9.40 MST, which is 11.40 in Boston - I was tucked up in bed! How could you think that I would leave you out on a limb like that?

Arguments against you being Roberto are:
your personality - being strong, shines through everything you say, & I think you'd have trouble disguising that (baoBAD was your best attempt...)
'roberto' has a working knowledge of Spanish, & despite the fact that you are a polyglot, I haven't noticed any evidence of a Spanish side to you...
'roberto's real identity is someone who knows where the letters on the keyboard are, & has an applied knowledge of English spelling (as opposed to your own theoretical one)

(I hope I haven't hurt your feelings. As an amateur lawyer, I am doing my best to defend you.)

Mastergrip is a real company (I looked at its website), which makes golf clubs & equipment. A handicap of 36 is the worst possible one I could have.... but I think roberto's alter ego would beat me anyway!

However, as the accidental posting shows, roberto is a fake... and my money is on Jaws, who lives in Houston, knows a fair amount of Spanish, and has a sly sense of humour.... now we just need to take that post & other samples to a good forensic psychologist!

PS - On topic: I think the party is a great idea!

I think we'll probably be there. This is one of those we can afford on points

Of course, Sally doesn't yet know that this thread exists.

Bab's: Su correcto. Cómo sabría español?

You are too kind to call me a Polyglot, which is of course from the Greek poluglottus, meaning many-tongued. I have been told I have many faces before, but never many tongues.

---

I think the idea of us all having a get-together is fantastic.

There is one small point which has been overlooked however.

November the 5th. It's Guy Faulks Night. Bonfire Night. Whatever you want to call it.

Can I have a fire on the beach with fireworks and sparklers and things. Please. Please. Please.
MF

I'm actually disappointed to see that roberto is a fake. I was starting to like the guy....

My vote is for Catman!!!

November 4-7, 1999 sounds good to me. My wife and I were planning to go to Lanai in December so maybe I'll move the date to November. She rolls her eyes over my mileage addiction and doesn't care for Oahu so I will probably just show up for one day or evening so I can earn extra miles for an Aloha interisland flight.

Merry Flyer:

you're in luck. nov5,99 falls on a friday. hilton hawaiian village hotel has fireworks every friday over waikiki after sunset. we can all hang out down there drinking mai tais and watch the show.

what exactly does guy faulks night represent?

I like Hilton Hawaiian Village.

The Hilton Hawiian Village is a great idea for Friday and Guy Faulks night! I was just there last month and it was nice...sitting around the pool, watching the (Free!) show and fireworks! And Merry Flyer...pyrotechnics and other acts of arson are a permitted and encouraged activity of the Party in Paradise. I'm sure we'll all pitch in to post your bail. I sense that this could develop into quite a weekend!

MC - Guy Fawkes & his conspirators tried to blow up the British Houses of Parliament. History isn't my strong suit (I wasn't alive at the time), but if you want any more details I'm sure Merry will fill you in.

I am not-quite-related (there's a 'step' in there) to one of the original conspirators, but my half-aunt celebrates November 5th with gusto, as she is a direct descendant...

Merry - I will join you for the bonfire, & at least (unlike Texas) there will be fireworks.

You should see HNL on Chinese New Year -- firecrackers/fireworks everywhere.

I'm in for the bonfire -- I know a couple of places where they are "allowed" --

Maybe after the HHV bash???

A suggestion: maybe someone should put together a weekly/bi-weekly rundown of how the "unofficial" schedule/party rundown of
this trip to Paradise is going so everyone
has a better idea how it's coming together.

I think this should be 30-percent set schedule, 70-percent kick back and have a lot of fun.

OMNI response: Mileage addict: if I ever wrote like Roberto and nancy my 10th grade English Teacher Mr. Mustillo would bring me in front of the class and make an example of me. And how could I write for NYC T-V news with poor spelling and grammar like that??? Sorry, I'm not emmett or nancy or roberto. (even though they claim they are from N.J, the greatest state in the world You-ALL!)

I have Christmas gifts to buy and cats to comb and love and places to be to investigate
the mystery of emmett_Nancy_roberto. Sorry
folks. CATMAN

OK, OK! I can't stand this roberto/nancy/etc. doubt, suspicion and accusations any more!

I'm not roberto; I'm not nancy; I'm not even emmet_s...but I HAVE TO CONFESS...

**I** shot JR!

Hey! roberto changed his profile again!

Catman, we will have a posted "schedule" of activities on the Event Web Page in about a month. I think we are leaning on having only a couple of RSVP events and the rest of the time everyone can do what they want. We will have options culled from the many suggestions we are getting so that folks can join in if they want to. I encourage anyone with ideas to email [email protected] and we will add your suggestions to the list.

PremEx... thanks for keeping us up to date on the schedule. But I agree... It's Hawaii and who lives by schedules there? (I guess our
good buddy onefreeman and his wife can explain to us the Hawaii perspective on life!)

And lets keep the board focused on the trip and not the E-N-R debate. I will try to do so on my part. CATMAN

I will be there as well. I need a break anyway. Unfortunately I have to wait about a month until the various on-line reservation services will let me make a reservation.

Kaner, and all who have responded so far...Great! If the early feedback is any indication, we're gonna have quite party!

The antipenultimate party sounds like a jovial trip to paradisio. Hacienda de los Hilton is superbly equipped to accomodate the
exculpatory crania of this pseudo-logical virtual circuitry.

Welcome to flyertalk, arturo...

We will have fun deciding who is behind you. Could it be Merry Flyer, armed with a dictionary?

Or perhaps roberto got a dictionary....