AFF Gathers: In Melbourne!! [1-3 August 2008]

[Mal]

I don't care how you get to Melbourne, you need to look at this option for the return, think of the extra points. It was pricing at $212.00

Hmmm. Flounge for a while. Maybe worth the extra few $ and SC's!

 

[Keith009]

I apologise for the lack of response about the DJ Premium Economy group deals. I have initially been told that the deal is dependent on the level of interest. However only about 3 people (according to my list Mal, oz_mark (who is tempted to reposition somewhere to take up the offer), Skoogle) have indicated that they are actually interested in the offer thus far and hence I have not gone back to DJ to get further info.

Now if people are STILL interested, please please let me know and upon adequate expressions of interest (not less than 10) I will contact DJ to work something out.

I will be finalising the itinerary in the next few weeks (unfortunately I'm tied down in Gippsland over the next 2 days), it's only really Saturday arvo lunch that we're hammering it out now. And I'd then send out a questionnaire so we know who's coming to what.

 

[Mal]

Now if people are STILL interested, please please let me know and upon adequate expressions of interest (not less than 10) I will contact DJ to work something out.

Tis cool. I'm just keen to lock in my airfares soon, now that they seem to be rising 3-4% / month at the moment as fuel prices are still very uncertain. The current round of sales are probably the last ones to cover the Aug time period as well. Seriously considering the QF73 Intl on Sunday.

PE would be great, but I'm not sure the 10+ support exists for it unfortunately. Plus, they are running their maybe 'free upgrade' deal for premium Velocity members which might deter some of the DJ regulars.

(I notice that DJ have now loaded up some sale fares BNE-MEL/MEL-BNE on those dates. Price is now around $268 return for the itin I quoted above at $348)

 

[Will]

Hmmm. Flounge for a while. Maybe worth the extra few $ and SC's!

Is there anyone else flying up to SYD on QF73 that could guest me into FLounge? I could do with a night in Sydney and a MR, and that could be the ideal opportunity to see the new lounge.

 

[Evan]

I will either fly back from SIN at 31st or 1st and plan to be flying F (If i can finally get it ticketed tonight).

ie.
SIN-MEL on QF10 at 31st July (19:45-04:45)
or
SIN-MEL on QF10 at 1st August (19:45-04:45)

So if anybody is also heading from SIN let me know and i will guest somebody in.

So this means i may only join you guys Saturday night. We will see anyway what happens.

E

 

[Mal]

The Holiday Inn 3 day sale (4-6 July) mentioned in another thread:
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...and-reviews/holiday-inn-3-day-sale-13697.html

seems to fit perfectly into the date of the gathering. So may be worth keeping an eye on that thread if you havn't booked anything yet and want to stay at the Holiday Inn on Flinders. Prices from $99, so no idea at this stage what the (prepaid) sale rate will be, or if it will earn points with PC.

Still havn't booked my flights yet. Probably this weekend some time...

 

[oz_mark]

Holiday Inn on Flinders is now $285 "Best Flexible Rate" - with the extremely borked suggestion that:

"Canceling your reservation before 6:00 PM (local hotel time) on Wednesday, 2 July, 2008 will result in no charge. Canceling your reservation after 6:00 PM (local hotel time) on 2 July, 2008, or failing to arrive will result in forfeiture of your deposit."

No idea what the 'deposit' is, but presume it is the full amount of the stay.

Advance Purchase rate is currently $257 / night, with no refund rights. Entertainment Card is a bit cheaper, with the same cancellation condition as above.

Rydges is a touch cheaper than before (average of $193.50 per night on the PriorityGuest rate), but have introduced a 1.5% Visa/MC surcharge and 3.5% Amex/Diners/JCB surcharge.

Hilton on the Park $280/night Fully Flex, or $244 pre-paid (Less of course any other discounts you have). Crowne Plaza is still over $300 / night.

Notwithstanding the possibility of HI Flinders being on the $99 pernight list, current prices are:

Advance Purchase $203
Best Flexible $225
Weekend Special $239

Rydges is still at $193.50 +

Hilton on the Park is $330 fully flex, $297 advance purchase.

 

[Mal]

Ok, my tickets are booked.

In true FrequentFlyer style, the direct option was not an option. My itinerary looks like:

BNE-SYD-CBR-MEL-SYD-BNE. Total $441, 50sc, 5000 FF points.

Arriving Melbourne 13:40 on Friday, leaving Melbourne 11:30(QF73) on Sunday.

 

[serfty]

... Now if people are STILL interested, please please let me know and upon adequate expressions of interest (not less than 10) I will contact DJ to work something out. ...

Been away a bit lately cool and missed this - count me in ....

 

[Bundy Bear]

Have also booked QF73; thanks Mal, but will most likely be staying a day in Sydney due to Sydney Boat Show.

 

[futaris]

I won't be attending, but I have a PointsBreak booking at HI on Flinders for 2nd August, that I'm looking to cancel, since we won't make it.

I can probably change the name of the booking to someone else (i.e. add them as a guest name), if they're interested, but I doubt that I can change the ownership of the booking.

PM if you're interested, and we can arrange something.

I also have another Point Breaks HI on Flinders booking on 30th August, that I'm going to cancel...

 

[straitman]

I won't be attending, but I have a PointsBreak booking at HI on Flinders for 2nd August, that I'm looking to cancel, since we won't make it.

I can probably change the name of the booking to someone else (i.e. add them as a guest name), if they're interested, but I doubt that I can change the ownership of the booking.

PM if you're interested, and we can arrange something.

I also have another Point Breaks HI on Flinders booking on 30th August, that I'm going to cancel...

futaris,

You could just duck down for an hour or so :!: :shock:

 

[futaris]

Whilst we did that for the OzFest Do (#6), that was because we'd already booked the Jetstar trip from HBA back to BNE.

Shame we couldn't make it for the boat trip due to airline schedules...

NB, Someone has already PMed about the Point Breaks room at HI...

 

[straitman]

Whilst we did that for the OzFest Do (#6), that was because we'd already booked the Jetstar trip from HBA back to BNE.

Shame we couldn't make it for the boat trip due to airline schedules...

NB, Someone has already PMed about the Point Breaks room at HI...

Good, hate to see the deal get wasted.

 

[anat0l]

At the moment, things are slightly in limbo, which is of course not good since the Gathering is in less than 30 days away. (Translate: I currently have nothing planned at all - no flights, no hotels....)

Currently: QF PS, 430 SC, anniversary Feb.

My thoughts were to fly down to MEL via BNE-SYD on JQ *C, then SYD-MEL somehow else. (BNE-SYD-MEL all on *C is possible but only on Saturday, which knocks out pretty much all of the Sat events for me - not a good idea). Looks like there could be a contingent (enough WPs?) on QF73 going to SYD, then SYD to BNE. If there's a possibility for MEL FLounge, I wouldn't mind tagging along (and be ever most grateful to my inviting WP ).

But this is all still in a toss-up. Problem is I'm currently flat broke after my NZ trip (well, not completely literally, but for all intents and purposes) - I get paid tomorrow :-| cold comfort since the sales end tonight (esp. for the non-SC-run sectors). I have a reserve of about 60K points, I guess I could use an award (a Classic Award to be precise ), if I can find the seats....promo SMBNE20Y is on which = 6000 pts only per BNE-SYD or SYD-MEL sector flown in X (still 16Kpts in D).

EDIT: Just realised I've shot myself in the foot again.....I could have used BPAY. Do'h!!!

 

[futaris]

Holiday Inn $99 Winter Escape covers this Do's dates, but there isn't much availability.

Note, the above link is for Priority Privilege Members. Everyone else gets access tomorrow.

 

[QF WP]

QF009, I am now a doubtful starter for the inaugural AFF meet . Looks like I have a trip to PER & BME the preceeding week and may be taking a week's holiday with Mrs LW and mini-LW commencing that weekend, instead of coming down to MEL.

Also got an invite to my accountants' Golf Day on Friday 1st and that's hard to turn down :shock:.

 

[anat0l]

Slightly OT:

I've used seatcounter.com to check availability on QF73 on Sunday Aug 3.

It shows the whole craft as "free" (i.e. all classes are 9).

Just strikes me as odd because surely someone has booked that by now? Especially just after the sale that has ended?

Moreover, even though I put QF QF into the search box, X or U classes aren't shown (which makes it harder to judge whether upgrades are possible). Although, I tried a dummy Classic Award booking and currently shows availability for both classes.

The fare buckets appear to be a bit more expensive than a "real" domestic MEL-SYD.

Can anyone comment on this? Am I reading/entering the wrong thing, or is it a case of really "no one has booked yet"?

 

[anat0l]

QF009, I've changed plans. I'll be coming down on Saturday, so I'll be only in time for the Dinner with the Industry. I've been taking a lot of leave lately; don't think it'd be a great idea to keep pushing it. (I think it looks funny enough that I'm flying at least once a month this year.)

I hope this hasn't fouled up any preparations re: the other events.

I'm also jumping on the QF73 bandwagon. Hope more OWEs and QF WPs will want to jump on, too. Just praying that perhaps there just might be another domestic sale soon, otherwise I might just award ticket my way back...

 

[oz_mark]

Hyatt has some 25% off promotions. Grand Hyatt Melbourne was avaliable for $210 a night.

Hyatt Special Offers