Dizzy with excitement
 

Talk about a big month.....I recently bought a house, two days ago got engaged, and now I just booked an award trip on BA0002. Anyone outside of FT would think I was crazy to even consider the above events on the same level.....so I had to share with you guys.

Big trip is JFK-LHR Oct 3 16D

Coming back no availability on the big bird so have to 'slum' it in BA F (2K). I think it's great as I get to sample BA F (and hence the LHR Concorde Room) and Concord. To say I am over the moon is an understatement. Once in a lifetime opportunity http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif.

Thanks to all on FT for the wealth of info an enabling me to know of this opp, track availability and plan it.

alect - have a brilliant time, like you a took advice from other posters on this board and recently did my first trip on the bird. Concorde was fun though the people on my flight were pretty ghastly; BA F coming back was great... Other than minor quibble about saying they had no Krug, when in fact they did... Enjoy!

Alect, congratulations!! Have enjoyed your regular posting since we both joined, so from one who did pretty much the same thing as you very recently (sold property, moved into another, got married 2 weeks ago but had to slum it in WT+ to LHR on honeymoon). Having flown Concorde 12 months ago, agree that it will be a life experience you won't forget (up their with marriage!)

Well done and congratulations. The Concorde "experience" will be something to remember. I made the mistake of not buying the souvenir paperweight on board (too stingy) and had to made do with the safety card, coaster, writing kit and a few photos. I am now trying to buy one from BA via their on-line shopping cattle dog. The only hiccup has been that I was double charged on my AMEX card for the paperweight. A real issue given the cost (GBP70). AMEX reversed the second charge - it remains to be seen how BA copes with it (and whether I receive 2 paperweights).

Have a great day on the flight - and arrive nice ane early in the lounge. It's kind of exciting to see the aircraft towed up to the gate - right infront of the lounge and in full view. It's so small with the 744s in the background!

Now grashopper, you must complete the circle by joining the mile-high club aboard the Concorde.

Newly 'ringed' fiance was none too impressed Shillard....alas she is not coming along (but was duly excited for me on Concord sans mile-high-club). She is meeting me in MEL to meet the friends and family over there.....

Do I feel an International QC FT Meeting coming up??? Maybe with spouses?? Alect, gives us some flight details so we can organise it.

Would love it.....I have been scouting for some FTers to meet up with.

My itinerary is quite hectic over the next month or so, but here goes (solo unless otherwise noted):

LAX-JFK Sep 27
JFK-LHR Oct 3 (BA2)
LHR-JFK Oct 5
JFK-LHR Oct 5
LHR-DXB Oct 6
DXB-LHR Oct 7
LHR-RIX Oct 7
RIX-LHR Oct 12
LHR-NRT Oct 12
NRT-HKG Oct 13
HKG-MEL Oct 13
MEL-SYD Oct 23 (with fiance)
SYD-CNS Oct 28 (with fiance)
CNS-MEL Nov 1 (with fiance)
MEL-LAX Nov 9 (with fiance)

Long transits in LHR (Oct 6) HKG (Oct 13).

Did you do this through QF? I called today and was told flat out that they no longer do Concorde awards. Was the rep. misinformed? Thx.

alect - WHEN did you make the booking?

I just had published a story in my industry about Concorde and getting seats using QF miles, so I do hope a few still exist out there:

http://www.glenstephens.com/snoctober03.html

And as for the 'mile high club'. As anyone who has actually flown will know, ONE person is a tight fit in those tiny loos. TWO would be a physical impossibility IMO. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I do believe that these are our "window of opportunities" to set up FT meetings. Given the number of us who either live in those cities, frequently travel on work or with Rugby World Cup on at roughly the same time, we can arrange it..after all, ask Dave Noble, I met him in London last week (although pity I missed people like Globaliser, Mikealee and others).

As I have organised 4 FT meetings so far, allow me to organise on yuor behalf. Where and exactly when can be sorted out closer to the date.

All done through QF.

Originally I called a couple of weeks ago after seeing some posters on FT saying they got award seats. I was told QF had cut off these awards. After I asked for a supervisor and said I knew people who had got then that day, the CSR came back and said that what was now happening was that although Z availbility was 0, if any availbility showed up (ie R) a request to BA could be made to release the seats for awards and BA would do it. But since no availbility was available for my dates I couldn't do this.

Then called Sunday (LAX time) and QF US said they knew nothing of it (even supervisor) and I should call back on weekday as they only had skeleton staff on weekends.

This morning (Mon Sep 15 LAX time) I called US QF - I checked Galileo and BA2 on Oct 3 was showing R avaialbility. I said I wanted a Concord award booking and that a special request had to be made to BA to release the R inventory to Z awards. After some time on hold the CSR came back and said no special requets was needed - she could do it right there and then. So she did - voila Concord one way, BA F return - 125000 miles/points and US$101 in taxes. NB no changes to award after ticket issue.

Checking Galileo right now Oct 3 still shows R9 A9. So you could follow the above process and get an awards seat for that date and segment. Also showing availability are Oct 10 (R9 BA2 and BA4), Oct 16 (R1) all eastbound, for westbound I couldn't see any availablity and then Galileo went down.

Make sure you ask for a supervisor as normal CSRs don't know about this stuff for some reason.

Probably. A tactic to try is just to book it as a F award on BA 1 etc.

As for a meeting, anyone in QC SYD T1 on late arvo 23 Oct? Not sure if we can squeeze in a visit to T3 QC first then get over to T1?

alect - that is pretty impressive getting a Concorde award seat on September 15 when the plane stops flying about a month later!

Well at least my article is accurate - there ARE seats possible still if folks are patient, flexible - and as you have shown - know more about the system than most QF staffers. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif