Finally the Drrons are off on a Real OS Trip

drron

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2002
Posts
34,174
We tried and did have a Norfolk Island trip in November 2020.
Then it really was like a trip to a foreign country in WA April 2021. The policeman at first wanted to turn me back at the border but his mate let me through. A few years ago an identical occurrence at LAX.

But now we are really dipping our toes in the water with 2 weeks in Singapore and Bangkok. When we first booked it was a mess with pre deparure testing required in both plus other hoops to jump through. I had a bit of a fright as we had booked to fly out on May 4th and I didn't realise Monday May 2nd was a public holiday and most everything would be closed. We needed a pretest no more than 48 hours before departure which is 9am on the 4th.

Flights are all SQ J paid with points. i had well over a million after the great Velocity transfer early in 2020 and then the Amex get gold transfer last year. We also had been able to delay a luxury escape package from early 2020 to now. At the start 2 days in the IC Singapore. Next 6 days in the SGS Bangkok. Coming back to Singapore our 3 nights in the Fairmont and 2 in the Voco to try it out.

Fortunately every thing fell into place on Friday last week. Both Singapore and Thailand announced the end to testing on the one day. No problems downloading the Singapore app but have to wait until we get there to activate it.

But today it was fun getting the Thai pass. I had all the documents and they were already downloaded to my computer. However when I went to upload the Vaccination certificate it wasn't in my downloads though going out and looking up downloads on my computer they were both there. On second try it came up they had to be jpg images. so took a photo of both. Mine uploaded straight away but with mrsdrron's they said the image was too large even though hers has less letters on it than mine. Also if you put your 3 doses in you have to upload your certificate 3 times even though the 3 doses are on the one certificate.

But on submitting got a green tick but have to await the registered email with the real approval.

Now really looking forward to the trip. Unfortunately it will also mean an increase in weight. C'est la vie.
 
So the adventure begins. It has been a stressful time. Not just the paperwork and bureaucracy but some other problems. Family illness, skylight sprang a leak and my MYOB files disappeared.
Fortunately yesterday the skylight was finally replaced as a fine afternoon and I found some old MYOB files.

Early to bed with alarm set. As usual awoke before the alarm. Off to the airport at 0500. Naturally awake well before the alarm. It has been though to have this short trip as we have forgotten most of those things that were second nature previously. I guess that when we get to Singapore we will realise what we have forgotten.

A fair bit of traffic on the Bruce. Constant from Caboolture and very slow from just north of the Anzac Avenue exit. A better run on the Gateway. And the sun made an entrance.
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Arrived at the airport 20 minutes before check-in opened. That next.
 
So the adventure begins. It has been a stressful time. Not just the paperwork and bureaucracy but some other problems. Family illness, skylight sprang a leak and my MYOB files disappeared.
Fortunately yesterday the skylight was finally replaced as a fine afternoon and I found some old MYOB files.

Early to bed with alarm set. As usual awoke before the alarm. Off to the airport at 0500. Naturally awake well before the alarm. It has been though to have this short trip as we have forgotten most of those things that were second nature previously. I guess that when we get to Singapore we will realise what we have forgotten.

A fair bit of traffic on the Bruce. Constant from Caboolture and very slow from just north of the Anzac Avenue exit. A better run on the Gateway. And the sun made an entrance.
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View attachment 275773

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View attachment 275771

Arrived at the airport 20 minutes before check-in opened. That next.
Note to self. Put current MYOB file on external drive.

Have a wonderful trip guys.
 
Don't you just love the people who talk loudly on their phone in the lounge, big noting himself, I have called him Mr Important, hope he is not sitting near us !

When he finishes the call, lean over with a pen in hand and ask him to repeat a few bits, as you couldn't catch them. I did this once in a lounge ... MIA I think ... when the guy was talking about a takeover. The look I got was priceless.
 
A*** got her coffee.. you were telling us about check in.. and then….nuthin..

Did they miss the bus?
Did they forget International roaming with data ?
Did the airline put them in Y and leave their bags in Brisvegas ?
Are they locked up somewhere ?
What has happened ?
All will be revealed dear reader.. sometime.. eventually.. perhaps...
 
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We tried and did have a Norfolk Island trip in November 2020.
Then it really was like a trip to a foreign country in WA April 2021. The policeman at first wanted to turn me back at the border but his mate let me through. A few years ago an identical occurrence at LAX.

But now we are really dipping our toes in the water with 2 weeks in Singapore and Bangkok. When we first booked it was a mess with pre deparure testing required in both plus other hoops to jump through. I had a bit of a fright as we had booked to fly out on May 4th and I didn't realise Monday May 2nd was a public holiday and most everything would be closed. We needed a pretest no more than 48 hours before departure which is 9am on the 4th.

Flights are all SQ J paid with points. i had well over a million after the great Velocity transfer early in 2020 and then the Amex get gold transfer last year. We also had been able to delay a luxury escape package from early 2020 to now. At the start 2 days in the IC Singapore. Next 6 days in the SGS Bangkok. Coming back to Singapore our 3 nights in the Fairmont and 2 in the Voco to try it out.

Fortunately every thing fell into place on Friday last week. Both Singapore and Thailand announced the end to testing on the one day. No problems downloading the Singapore app but have to wait until we get there to activate it.

But today it was fun getting the Thai pass. I had all the documents and they were already downloaded to my computer. However when I went to upload the Vaccination certificate it wasn't in my downloads though going out and looking up downloads on my computer they were both there. On second try it came up they had to be jpg images. so took a photo of both. Mine uploaded straight away but with mrsdrron's they said the image was too large even though hers has less letters on it than mine. Also if you put your 3 doses in you have to upload your certificate 3 times even though the 3 doses are on the one certificate.

But on submitting got a green tick but have to await the registered email with the real approval.

Now really looking forward to the trip. Unfortunately it will also mean an increase in weight. C'est la vie.
Buon viaggio!
 
Don't need to upgrade. I retired at the end of February. This will be the last financial year I need to use MYOB.

But back to the TR. Although there were quite a few lined up we were the first J pax. Got a friendly agent and soon our BPs in hand and off to the lounge. We had our Singapore paper work all printed so very little time required.

For this trip we have pared back the luggage so only 1 small checked bag plus our 2 carryons. The couple behind us had 4 large and 3 small checked bags.

Check in when we arrived and 15 minutes later.
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No one in front of us at security but Mrsdrron's bag was given the third degree. One of her toiletries was a 100 gram tube. Took a while for them to decide it was legal. So we weren't the first to the lounge. That next.
 
Going through security something in my roll on bag caused me to be pulled to one side for a full check, but the girl doing it was new and it took her at least 5 minutes and re scanning the bag twice, before it was a tube of tea tree cream 100gm so allowed by the website but the scanner .... anyway finally I am on my way to the passport check 🙂
 
First time in the BNE Silverkris lounge. Quite nice with a good breakfast spread. 20220504_065957.jpg
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I had just 1 piece of bacon, 1sausage, 1 egg and 2 tomatoes. Tomato juice was my beverage.

1 woman and 1man were rather loud on their phones and thought you should take your mask off when on the phone. Mask wearing was limited. 4 out 24 only.

We left 10 minutes before boarding was to commence. A little confusing at the gate as several possibilities as to where the business line should be. No problems as our check in agent came to supervise and came over to us and said drron let's get you on board. A few noses out of joint.

Noted that all the airside restaurants were closed.
 
The amenities kits (pouch ones) are pretty ordinary also. Didn’t even hand them out just now on LHR-SIN. See if I get one now SIN-SYD…
 
At 11am lunch is served. Quite nice. As has been mentioned a few times no printed meal or drinks menu. I only found where it was after the meal had finished and by then the lunch menu had disappeared and only the snack menu. Surely it is time to go back to real menus.

The appetiser of smoked salmon served to everyone.
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Mrsdrron had the beef cheeks. Tender and tasty. She loved it.
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I had the Kung Pao chicken. Nice but the beef cheeks were definitely the pick
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I finished off with an OK cheese plate.
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