Greetings from Melbourne

[Misha]

Hi Guys,

Misha here. I joined yesterday to get some help regarding an upgrade issue with Velocity - people here are pretty knowledgeable.

I am based in Melbourne, and travel a bit for work (not much). As I am originally from Sydney, I fly up at least once a month to see family. Also do quite a bit of international travel. I used to be an absolute loyal Thai Airways passenger (Royal Orchid Plus Silver member - isn't everyone?) though the last 12 months I have been trying to align myself with Velocity member airlines to build up enough points for a great trip from Aus - Europe - South America and back ... wish me luck

Looking forward to finding out lots of info on here

Cheers,

Misha

 

[JetLagged]

Hi Misha - welcome to AFF - glad you joined us, and hope you continue to benefit from being here.

I have a very good friend who used to be a very loyal and very regular Thai Airways flyer - but she gave up on them totally (and the team) when, even though she was a gold/platinum flyer award seats were just never available and her upgrade requests on Sydney to London longhauls were also consistently not available, despite booking ages ahead and ringing the booking office. Now using the points to trip around Europe as she is based in the UK and flying Qantas when she comes back to Sydney - she won't get on a BA flight.

 

[samh004]

My family was also very loyal to ROP at one stage. Dad and I were both Gold and loved the service in BKK, but eventually CX started matching the prices through BKK to Australia and beyond, so it was back to OneWorld.

 

[JohnK]

Welcome to AFF Misha!

 

[Misha]

thanks everyone

I do love the Thai service (I mean, could they have more attendants working a flight?) ... especially that midnight flight back to Oz from BKK - almost always empty so you have room to stretch out - but the problem is their destinations (quite limited) - and they aren't too great on the old rewards for their cheaper fares. I openly fly Economy most of the time - premium economy when I feel like it (longer legs too if it is not ridiculously priced). So I hate not getting points or SC when I fly - especially if I am paying 2, 3, 4 or 5 thousand dollars for a ticket.

As much as I whinge about DJ, they are good to Silver (and I guess Gold!) members - I got the upgrade to business this month MEL - LAX for being silver which was great - and due to all the domestic flying I do - it seems better to stick with velocity, as I can build up the points all in one programme. I wonder how many I will need for a decent RTW though... if someone has an idea - let me know - no doubt it will depress me! Still... it's something to work for - and we all need an "achieveable" goal... thank goodness Velocity points don't expire (yet).

Misha


Edit: Re; Cathay Pacific. I used to like them - but those slide down seats are the worst I have ever flown. I am not overly tall (180cms) but they are horrible and after a SYD-HKK-Rome-HKK-SYD flight, I vowed never again!

 

[hopes]

Welcome Misha - I too grace the 2nd most liveable city in the world. One would think we would only need an Arrivals terminal