AFF Gathering #9 at CNS on 16 - 18 October

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Apr 1, 2009
Posts
19,098
Qantas
LT Gold
Oneworld
Sapphire
Following the conclusion of several polls, it has been decided that the 9th Annual AFF Gathering will be held in Cairns on the weekend of the 16th to 18th October, 2015. Over the coming weeks, an itinerary will be put together that shall hopefully entice and excite you to make your way to the Tropics in October and meet up with fellow aviation and frequent flyer enthusiasts. Your primary organiser will be straitman, who has previously helped to organise Oz Fext #6 in KENS, but any helpers are appreciated.

Should you have questions, suggestions or just general chit chat about the event, the thread is now open! Hope to see you all there!

Organisers:
straitman (PM)
penegal (PM)
samh004 (PM)
JessicaTam (PM)

Schedule

Attendee List

Flights + Accommodation
 
Last edited:
Schedule

The Programme:

Friday


Welcome drinks at Six Degrees Bar in the foyer of the Hilton from 5pm until 6.30pm.

6.30pm onwards dinner and a continuation of the drinks at Mondo Cafe Bar and Grill, which is downstairs on the water's edge. The Mondo Menu.

The cafe is downstairs from the Cairns Hilton. There is a cash bar for food and drinks for both the upstairs and downstairs venues, or you can put them on your room tab for some extra HH points.

Turn up at your leisure.

Saturday

Skyrail to Kuranda and then return via Kuranda Railway

This area is a showcase of Far North Queensland (FNQ). The cable car ride up the mountain has two stops to be able to really experience the area. Explore the township and enjoy lunch at one of the many eateries in Kuranda before taking the train back down the mountain. The cost is $105, and includes bus transfer from and to the Hilton and the DoubleTree hotels. The bus will get you back into Cairns in time to relax and prepare for dinner.

The bus will collect people from the Hilton at 9.35am and from the DoubleTree at 9.40am sharp! This will give at least two hours to see the sights of Kuranda. On the way back we will catch the 2pm train down the mountain to Freshwater station where we will get on the bus back to the hotels.

AFF #9 Dinner

Dinner is a set menu at the DoubleTree by Hilton. A 7pm start will see you enjoy a complimentary drink on arrival, followed by dinner from the menu below. The cost is $60 per person, and DT will have a cash bar for drinks.

IMPORTANT: In order to keep the price down and to avoid the dreaded 'alternate drop' you must place your order at least 4 days beforehand (so by COB Tuesday 13th October at the very latest). If you do not pre-order, you will get-what-you-are-given and no correspondence will be entered into. We can of course make allowances for dietary requirements, but you will need to advise us at least a week beforehand, to ensure that you can be catered for.

This is the menu.

The details of the guest speaker (or speakers! Shhh;)) will be posted shortly.

Guest Speakers.

For the dinner this year we will have two guest speakers. One will talk on Aviation and the other about (Hilton) Hotels.

The Aviation speaker (Ian Kerr) completed RAAF pilots course with straitman and has flown as an instructor at RAAF Central Flying School and later the 767 with Australian Airlines. Ian has flown the 767 with jb747.

The Hotel speaker (John Lucas) is the General Manager of the Hilton and Hilton Doubletree Cairns.

Sunday

Boat trip to Green Island.

A trip to FNQ is not complete without a trip out to the Reef - Great Barrier Reef, that is. There are three trips out and back, so options are there for those who have early flights (or want a sleep in). The cost is from $88 and can be booked online here. The trip is about 45 minutes each way.

The times out are: 8.30am, 10.30am and 1pm
And back to Cairns: 12.00, 2.30 and 4.30pm

There are no fixed plans for dinner on Sunday night, but as Cairns has many fine eateries there are plenty of places to choose from.



Payment

Please refer to the spreadsheet to check that your travel details are correct. At the top of the spreadsheet are the bank account details for depositing funds. (For the observant of you, you will notice it is the same account that we used for AFF #7). Payment needs to be made one week prior to the event. I.e. by the 10th October.

Please deposit:
$60 for dinner only,
$105 for the Saturday day trip only
or $165 for both the dinner and the day trip.

Ensure your AFF username is used in the 'remitter' or reference field.

Booking for the Green Island cruise on the Sunday is to be made directly with the operator.



The price for the dinner and Saturday day trip have been rounded up to the nearest $5 to allow us to cater for any incidentals.

Any excess funds will be donated to Queensland Rescue.

This event complies with the AFF Guidelines for collecting monies
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Attendees

Platinum - 44
straitman
Sue Oz
serfty
samh004
chicka
jojen +1
Bindibuys +1
Lowjhg
boomy
JessicaTam
dfcatch
Doug_Westcott
kpc +1
penegal
kevrosmith
gwilli1
CaviAck
SMJ +1
blackcat20
TomVexille
tuapekastar
CMA222
Fifa +1
froggerADL
slc767338
Jacques Vert +1
wooley
QF WP
Aeolus
mickeyc747
Major +1
Awesom Andy
fernpittman
Bundy Bear
Polarmolar
Limewood +1
Gold - 2
Buzzard
oz_mark
Silver - 1
Alanslegal
Bronze - 12
Hvr
JohnK
PeteJ
Mr_Orange
Groundfeeder
Virgin Bart +1
Goodonya
Steady
stark
wijomas
crankychick
 
Last edited:
Flights + Accommodation

Flights

Arriving
Thursday 15th October
UsernameFlight #DEP AirportLoungeArrivalGuest/s
jojenQF926SYD1510
straitmanQF424MELJ lounge11552
QF926SYDJ lounge15202
Sue OzQF424MELJ lounge11552
QF926SYDJ lounge15202
Jacques VertQF784BNE1630
FifaQF784BNE16304
BindibuysVA1429SYDVA lounge2045-2
kevrosmithVA1429SYDVA lounge2045
serftyVA797BNEVA lounge2220

Friday 16th October
UsernameFlight #DEP AirportLoungeArrivalGuest/s
samh004QF798BNEJ lounge09251
chickaQF798BNEJ lounge09250
blackcat20QF702MELQP1145
TomVexilleQF702MELQP1145
LowjhgQF702MELJ lounge1145
Doug_WestcottQF702MELJ lounge1145
boomyQF782BNEJ lounge1155
MajorVA785BNEVA lounge1600
JessicaTamQF428MELJ lounge12552
QF926SYDJ lounge16102
froggerADLQF926SYD1610
Awesom AndyQF926SYDJ lounge1610
gwilli1VA1421SYD T2VA lounge16251
tuapekastarQF784BNEQP1630
CMA222QF784BNE1630
Bundy BearQF784BNEQP1630
Virgin BartJQ950MEL1750
kpcVA1429SYDVA lounge2055
kevrosmithVA1429SYDVA lounge2055
SMJQF786BNEJ lounge21250
QF WPQF786BNEJ lounge21252


Saturday 17th October
UsernameFlight #DEP AirportLoungeArrivalGuest/s
slc767338QF784BNEQP1630


Departing
Sunday 18th October
UsernameFlight #DEP AirportLoungeDepartureGuest/s
wooleyQF649CNSQP1255
jojenQF925CNSQP1315
slc767338QF925CNSQP1315
LowjhgQF703CNSQP1330
blackcat20CNS1600
TomVexilleCNS1600
serftyVA786CNSVA lounge1635
BindibuysVA1424CNSVA lounge1655-2
gwilli1VA1424CNSVA lounge16551
samh004QF655CNSQP17102
chickaQF655CNSQP17101
QF WPQF655CNSQP17101
SMJQF655CNSQP17103
boomyQF655CNSQP1710
Awesom AndyQF655CNSQP1710
Bundy BearVA790CNSVA lounge1955


Monday 19th October
UsernameFlight #DEP AirportLoungeDepartureGuest/s
kevrosmithVA1408CNSQP0615
CMA222QF709CNSQP1010
JessicaTamQF709CNSQP10102
QF623BNEJ lounge14002
straitmanQF709CNSQP10102
QF623BNEJ lounge14002
Sue OzQF709CNSQP10102
QF623BNEJ lounge14002
Doug_WestcottQF703CNSQP1330
froggerADLQF923CNSQP1430
MajorVA786CNSVA lounge16350
kpcVA1424CNSVA lounge1655


Tuesday 20th October
UsernameFlight #DEP AirportLoungeDepartureGuest/s
tuapekastarQF649CNSQP1255


Wednesday 21st October
UsernameFlight #DEP AirportLoungeDepartureGuest/s
FifaQF927CNSQP1720


Thursday 22nd October
UsernameFlight #DEP AirportLoungeDepartureGuest/s
Jacques VertQF649CNSQP12550



Accommodation
Doubletree
Thursday - serfty, Bindibuys +1, Fifa +1, straitman, Sue Oz
Friday - Bindibuys +1, tuapekastar, gwilli1, Major, blackcat20, TomVexille, QF WP
Saturday - serfty, JessicaTam, Bindibuys +1, tuapekastar, gwilli1, Major, Fifa +1, blackcat20, TomVexille, QF WP
Sunday - tuapekastar, Major
Monday - tuapekastar, Fifa +1

Hilton
Thursday - jojen +1
Friday - serfty, jojen +1, Doug_Westcott, kpc +1, froggerADL, boomy, Fifa +1, straitman, Sue Oz, CMA222, Bundy Bear, JessicaTam
Saturday - jojen +1, Doug_Westcott, kpc +1, froggerADL, boomy, straitman, Sue Oz, CMA222, Bundy Bear
Sunday - Doug_Westcott, kpc +1, froggerADL, Fifa +1, straitman, Sue Oz, CMA222, JessicaTam
Monday -
Tuesday - Fifa +1

Novotel
Friday - Awesom Andy, samh004, chicka
Saturday - Awesom Andy, samh004, chicka

Pullman Reef Hotel Casino
Friday - SMJ +1
Saturday - SMJ +1

Shangri-La
Friday - Lowjhg
Saturday - Lowjhg

Tradewinds
Tuesday - wooley
Wednesday - wooley
Thursday - wooley
Friday - wooley
Saturday - wooley
 
Last edited:
Just booked my return before all the award J seats disappear :p
(from date selection thread)

I wonder if anyone was front running it and booked it a day or 2 ago too. :p

Doesn't quite concern me though. Most likely flying in from SIN so I have a choice of 3 transit points - all of which earns the same SCs/points and depart/arrive within an hour of one another. Now, the guess/gamble as to which A330(s) from SIN will have the new config that day...

I'm guessing quite a few would be staying at the Hilton?
 
I did not vote for this w/e so will need to try and juggle a few things around to see if I can attend! Here's Bill's activities from Ozfest 6 (which I did not attend) as a guide.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/11374981-post380.html
Looks like a Monday departure is necesssary, if a similar timetable is followed, to fit most activities in:idea:
 
Booked flights ... arriving late Thu night and departing VA on Sunday 4:30pm.

Accom @ Doubletree Thu & Sat, @Hilton Fri.
 
I'm guessing quite a few would be staying at the Hilton?

I just need to look at what's available for a good price :p

Is there any Starwood up there, if so I can be my dad for the weekend (SPG Plat)!

I did not vote for this w/e so will need to try and juggle a few things around to see if I can attend! Here's Bill's activities from Ozfest 6 (which I did not attend) as a guide.
FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - "Oz Fest #6" - Cairns Queensland - Memorial Day Weekend, May 22-24, 2009
Looks like a Monday departure is necesssary, if a similar timetable is followed, to fit most activities in:idea:

Hope you can make it.

I've booked my departure Sunday evening as I have uni the next day!
 
Sadly this weekend doesn't work for me :( because I'm off to New York on 21 Oct. Have a great time one and all.
 
(from date selection thread)

I wonder if anyone was front running it and booked it a day or 2 ago too. :p

I suspect ¨Platinum shadows¨will be hard pressed to shield people on these dates :)
 
If you qualify, checkout the government rate for both Hilton and Double Tree...you may get a pleasant surprise:)
 
If you qualify, checkout the government rate for both Hilton and Double Tree...you may get a pleasant surprise:)

As a student I technically get paid by the government... but I'm guessing I don't qualify :p

Shame about lack of Starwood. Thinking about the Ibis (considering my budget).
 
Flights and accommodation booked.

As we are returning from a trip to Yangon and KUL on 14th Oct and staying in Sydney that night, we will fly to Cairns on 15th on QF 926, returning on 18th on QF 925.

Staying at the Hilton. Have booked the "early saver" rate, and although not as good as the Govt rate is still better than pre pay or seniors !!!

Looking forward to this event.

jojen & jojen+1
 
I inquired with my friend who works for one of the local major tour operators and I have the contact details for the Sales Manager who may be able to help with a group booking for transport and activities. Would anyone in particular like that info? I can PM the details.
 
I inquired with my friend who works for one of the local major tour operators and I have the contact details for the Sales Manager who may be able to help with a group booking for transport and activities. Would anyone in particular like that info? I can PM the details.
I suggest you PM straitman ...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Put me down as Gold . I will sort through flights / accom over the next month or so.
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

Flights booked.

Putting hand up for VA lounge guest for myself & husband on the Thursday evening (15th) at Sydney and from Cairns on the Sunday afternoon, if anyone can guest the 2 of us.

SYD - VA 1429 6:40pm Thurs 15th
CNS - VA 1424 4:55pm Sunday 18th.
 
I'll confirm myself for this one. Hotel booked at the Shangri-la for the entire of 2 nights.

Flights are
16 Oct QF702 MEL CNS Dep 0920 Arr 1145
18 Oct QF703 CNS MEL Dep 1230 Arr 1650
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top