I had an idea that my boss wanted to get me HK to train a new distributor and attend the HK Dermatology conference.

It was on reasonably short notice that I booked a flight from BNE to HKG on QF.
Serendipity meant I had had a meal with the QF’s board resident AA plat challenge guru, Mr Dave "9 Star" Noble.
I am a QF FF but saw the advantage of becoming a plat with the AA program.

As it was I had to book a “B” class fare through the travel agent we use. This gives 1.5 Q points per mile flown.

My boss was also booked to go to HK but via SIN as he had a day meeting there. He also took a QF flight and was booked in B but as he is only a few SC shy of QF gold he did not go with the challenge.
I know I mystify him with wanting to book all sorts of weird routings and I hope he understands the benefit of doing this now.

I left my inner city home at 6:15 to catch the 8:10 from BNE to SYD on QF domestic then transfer to International to get on to QF 127.

I had prebooked my international seat as 46 a on the three class, but had wanted an exit row. Preferably with a window seat.
I had thought that I would have no problems with time as I only live, at worst, normally 20 mins from the airport.
I threw my bags and briefcases into the car, dropped the top as it was a gorgeous sunny morning turned onto the main road leading to the airport and promptly stopped. The traffic was not moving, and it was not moving as far as the eye could see.
I checked the traffic report on one of the radio stations which advised that a truck had overturned on the gateway motorway, the main North/south route through Brisbane and that traffic was banking up badly all over town.

I decide the best action was action. I spun the car around, thanked my personal deity for SatNav and proceeded to rat run through the suburbs. I got to the airport road and rang through to Qantas explaining my predicament. They advised me to get there as fast as I could as it was now only 40 mins from boarding the domestic and if I missed that I would miss my connecting to HKG.
I gave the car a fair squirt and pulled up to Qantas valet parking with 5 mins before the closure of the flight.
I literally threw my keys at the attendant and bolted to the front of the checkout line. I explained the problem to the supervisor who had me checked in record time and I hurried through security and arrived at the gate just as they called for boarding.
I went through check in and onto the flight. Sweating and again thanking my personal deity for SatNav, and decent check in attendants.

I took my seat and for the first time in a couple of hours, relaxed.
I grabbed a cup of coffee, not feeling like the full breakfast on offer.
The plane took off on time and I slipped on the NC headphones and fired up the Ipod.
Nothing like a good dose of Metallica to get one in the mood for an international flight.

I started reading my book and the vaguely heard the pilot announcing that we were be circling Sydney due to congestion.
What …again?

Don’t these planes have SatNav?????

We were only a few mins late though, giving me plenty of time to transfer on the bus over to the SYD international. I filled out my departure card on the way, hoping this may ease my transition through immigration. (That reminds me, got to get me an APEC card).

I joined the LONG queue and slowly wound my way around through the ropes.
I heard a vaguely familiar voice and saw standing behind me the actor Simon Baker and his wife Rebecca Rigg. Nice to see that no preference is given to celeb status…
By the time I got through this menagerie, I was only 20 mins off boarding QF127. I was hoping for some quality time in the Qantas Club first. I went to the club and asked at the reception desk if there was any chance I could move to an exit row…the gentleman looked at my BP and advised he would check. Please take a seat sir and we will let you know. I grabbed a quick expresso and waited.
Sure enough, 2 mins later I got the call and was handed 58A….exit row window. That’s tops!!!! Personal Deity, please add the Qantas Club to my thank you list.

Grabbed a couple bottles of wine from duty free, for a client I was to visit, knowing how expensive good Australian wine is in HK.

I took my place at the start of the boarding queue and we were called. I grabbed my seat, dropped out all the essentials for the flight (Ipod, book, water and ambien.) there was a short mechanical delay meaning we missed our slot, but we managed to get under way with only a small amount of time lost.
The flight itself only takes about 8 hours and goes by with a minimum of fuss. One of the FA’s gives me some dining advice and we discuss the relative merits of the different forms of Chinese cuisine. The plane lands, and although the plane is 80% full there is no push or shove for the door. I think this is due to everyone knowing the efficiency of the C & I personnel at HKG airport.
I pass through C & I with a smile and head through to HKG. I take the opportunity and grab a couple of thousand HK$ for taxi etc.
There is no queue for the taxis so I am able to get under way to my hotel with little or no fuss.
You may be wondering why I don’t catch the Airport express, being both cheaper as well as much faster than a taxi. Well the main reason is that I am carrying a medical device and I am very loathe to take this on public transport, especially if I am tired. This device is worth a substantial amount of money and I have heard from my UK colleagues that Easyjet have lost TWO in the last year alone. Never being recovered….I always take mine on as hand luggage and it does not stray more than couple of meters from me.

I have prebooked the leMeridian Cyberport hotel on HK Island and although it is a little out of the way, the reports I have make it seem like an ideal business hotel.
My rate varies each night starting at HK$1900 dropping to HK$1100 by the last of my four nights. (My only complaint about this place is that most Taxi drivers, especially those who work on the Kowloon side do not know how to find it, I have to give directions and this can be an interesting exercise sometimes, my Cantonese/Mandarin is nonexistent and I don’t expect the drivers to speak my language)
My taxi pulls up and my door is opened by the concierge.
A relatively quick check in to room 715 and I am taken up to my room. I have NO status with LeMeridian (or Starwood) so I am not concerned when I only get the room I booked for….No upgrades like the Hiltons et al, seem to give me.
The room itself is very new and the most modern I have yet stayed in. A king sized bed, Rain shower, 42” Fujitsu plasma screen, broadband internet, easy to operate bedside controls alarm etc and a one touch phone system which means I do not have to find which number to call for room service makes this a great business hotel. The blinds are electrically operated to separate the bathrooms glass walls from the main living area. I am not traveling with my wife, so no need to drop them for privacy. This gives the bathroom a very open feeling.

I grab a quick shower, check the time and then head straight out to get some dinner.
I head for a noodle place recommended to me by the QF FA and am stuffing my face full of some brilliant food in no time.
* To be continued.

The Derm conference I attended was very interesting, with Dermatologists from around Asia attending. Not much variation in the trade display with the latest laser products available.

My boss joined me from Singapore a day after I arrived and we spent some time over the next 3 nights after work wandering through both Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, getting a real taste of the best that HK has to offer. I really enjoyed the dining in some of the locals favourite spots thanks to advice from our distributor.
Our last day at the conference was Sunday and we were very tired by this point.
The last thing I had to do was to purchase the two things I had been told that Hong Kong would have cheaper than Australia. A Motorola V3 razr phone for a mate, and a set of Shure E3c in ear head phones for me. Both came out at under half it would cost me at home. I love Hong Kong.

We had a Qantas flight leaving HK direct back to Sydney leaving that night at 10:00pm so we headed to the airport in a taxi at 6pm. Traffic wasn’t bad and I really love the drive. Best road to an airport in the world bar none.
We checked into the Qantas Business class counter and asked for the exit row again if possible. We were told an outright and very definite NO. Plenty of QF Plats ahead of us apparently. Oh well. Worth a try.
We headed up to the QF/BA lounge which was right above the gate we were to depart from. I was keen on going to the CX lounge but we were both tired and couldn’t really be bothered to walk to/from the gate.

We checked in at the club and again very politely asked if we could try for an exit row. Again, we were told no.
After ˝ hour we decided to wander over and grab a burger from one of the sports bars.
With only 30 mins to boarding, we headed back to the QF club and one of the attendants called me over and gave me two new boarding passes!!!
Brilliant. 58 B & C.

Big exit row, windows and lots of leg room.
Can’t ask for more than that.
I slipped the attendant some of our celebrated, patented, super expensive plastic ball point pens.

We went straight down to board and got the essentials out for the overnight run back to Sydney. We had to go to work as soon as we landed so it was essential we got a least a couple of hours sleep.

The flight took off on time and I grabbed a bottle of water to wash down a Stilnox (Ambien).
The flight was very full but everyone seemed keen to sleep. The cabin was very quiet.
There were no dramas at all during the night and I got about 3-4 hours sleep. Not great but better than nothing.
We landed in Sydney about 8:30 am and grabbed our gear. I had already rung through to the hotel asking if we could have an early check in. They had advised that they would do what they could.
We arrived at the Kirketon Hotel in Darlinghurst after only 15 mins in the taxi. This is my first stay here as I would normally stay at the Hilton Sydney. We had our reps all flying in from around the country for our first meeting for the year, and I wanted to keep the budget under control. The Kirketon had a rate of $139 each for two nights which is quite reasonable by Sydney standards. It is one of the “hippest” hotels in the world according to Conde Naste, but this also means that the rooms are small and there is no lift to the second floor.
My boss suggested we try for a couple of hours sleep, then meet up for lunch.
Great idea.

Not 30 mins into my nap, a jackhammer started up and that was the end of that.

My boss texted me and said we should head to our corp. office meeting room to try and get some work done and we would try for sleep later.

Although this was not my favourite idea, there was no way I could get any sleep. At least they were good enough to let us into the rooms early so I cannot complain too much.

We finished our meeting on Wednesday afternoon, and headed back to Sydney airport for the final part of out trip.
Check in at Syd was easy and we hung around the gate not bothering to go to the Qantas club.

We boarded on time, but after a small wait, we were told there was a “mechanical” delay.
I closed my eyes and had a very quick power nap. I didn’t wake up until we were starting our takeoff roll.

We got back to Brisbane about 8pm local time and my wife was waiting for me.
I fell into the car and was very grateful that I didn’t have to wait in line with my boss for a taxi.

When I got home I checked the AA website and the first of my flights from Bne to Syd to Hkg had posted.
Halfway to AA Plat.
Not two days later, the return trip posted and there it was.
Platinum.
From one trip.
Big thanks to the QF board’s resident Candy Thief challenge expert, Mr. Dave Noble. ^ ^ ^ ^
I think under the circumstances that I shall grant Dave an honorary Knighthood.
Sir Dave it is.

I was home for all of two days then it was off to Mackay in North Queensland for three days. I am now home again for three days then off to Melbourne for an overnighter, back to Brisbane for two days then heading to Singapore via Sydney for 48 hours in WT+ on BA. Further reports to come.

Honkers? Is that where the Honkies live?

I think I may have been that the nearest thing to a Honkie in Hong Kong..