The Trip Report Do
 

Some of you might remember the Dubai Do, the Singapore Do, OzFest or any other FT get together. I was heavily involved in the Dubai Do when I was a Mod on the EK forum. We had a blast. We got to visit the behind the scenes EK operation from catering, to flight training (got to jump out of the top story of an A380 onto the exit slide) and a gaggle of FT'ers destroyed the buffet at the First Class lounge!

In an effort to continue the tradition of FT get togethers, I'd like to see if there is interest in arranging the very first "Trip Report Do". I am open to location - and am open to different types of formats. For example if we had it in London we could arrange something BA related, if it was in Dubai, something EK related. Or we can skip airlines altogether and simply get together and eat, drink and be merry.

Lets use this thread to throw around idea, suggestions, format and potential dates.

Definitely interested, can you imagine the variety of trip reports that would ensue? ;)

The ‘where’, although a factor, is not such a big deal as the ‘when’ for me, I tend to be booking 6-8 months ahead so the dance card is pretty full.

One of the ideas that has been germinating in my twisted mind for next year is a grand tour of airport behind the scenes tours. There’s a plethora of airports in Europe that either offer public tours or have historically offered tours to interested groups. Perhaps one or more of these may be of interest.

My other nascent plans would frighten everyone :D

Good initiative, mr. eightblack! I would definitely be interested, location and timing permitting.

If it's within Europe, I'm fairly sure I could swing it, with at least a month or two notice.

Outside Europe, very unlikely.

I think it makes sense for the Do to be held in Europe and perhaps we kick off in London and then head somewhere for the night. Lets start discussing a couple of options.

Bangkok! We can celebrate the return of BA with their utterly useless 3x weekly LGW route :D

Kidding - Europe should work :tu:

I'd join for drinks/dinner in London if the date works, anything else will be a stretch (as SFO777, I have a limited supply of hall passes).

My vote would go to Japan, Thailand or somewhere obscure like Uzbekistan, Nepal or Sri Lanka.

I have been a long time lurker and would attend a DO if it were in the right place for us.

Having said that we live in Bargara these days - which is a seaside village just east of Bundaberg in Central Queensland, Australia. Our local airport is BDB, served by Qantas Link and Link Airways.

In September 2024 we are travelling to IST then onto Bodrum, followed by a sea cruise from IST to BCN then driving in Europe till just after Christmas (Innsbruck) when we go GVA to DUB - then in early Jan DUB LON - by ferry and train.

Jan 9 2025 we board the Queen Anne - for her maiden World Voyage, we get back to SOU in April when we do a back to back to Scandanavia. Then we spend a few days in London , fly to CAI for a 10 day Egypt tour, then we hope to do Petra and AMM TLV then a cruise from Trieste to ROM - followed by some time in Italy , Scotland and Wales . A river cruise from Basel to AMS which in-corpoates AMS pride.

Our adventure then takes us from AMS to MAN to IAH - so we can drive to MIA and the Keys up to BOS and across to LAX and then SEA.

An Alaskan cruise, then Canada by train, and eastern Canada by car, HAV for a a few days then 2 months in PVR.

Columbia Equador (galapagos) LIM Manchu Picchu and Lake Titicaca, Easter Island - SCL - an expedition cruise to the Southern Ice Shelf ending in Buenos Aires.

eventually to SAO when we head to JNB and working out way home via Kenya Zanzibar, Muscat, UAE and maybe some Indian Ocean islands

If our travels meet up - with a DO we will be all in

adampenrith That will make one heck of a trip report!

Count me in. Great to see you at lunch today eightblack and thanks for telling me about the planned DO.
As for location, the further from Denver the better for me. :D

I guess everybody wants to visit all lounges at LHR after reading JapesUK TRs :). I vote for a different city (Amsterdam, Prague, Lisbon,... depending of the season)

Do those places have lounges? ;)

Different cities…. GRX for the tapas, PRG for the beer, MUC for the leberkase, OPO for the port, AMS for the… err, maybe not! :D

HKG has a fleet of OW lounges, including a multitude with CX.

​​DOH would be the other option, but that is all that comes to mind.