Is anyone else commuting?

[serfty]

TC's/SC's before 1998 ??

For about 6 months (back in 1991 I think) I was commuting between BNE and DFW. It was 2 weeks there and 2 weeks home each month. Did wonders for helping me achieve QF LTG status as each trip was a DONE4 (non-optimised in order to get back home in the quickest possible time).

SC's:?: TC's :?: 1991 :?: LT Status :shock:

AFAIK, published rules indicate for LT status is awarded based on the total of Tier Credits and Status Credits earned on flights taken on or after September, 1st 1998.

I joined the QP/QFF in 1994 and none of the 200+ flights I took before 1/9/98 counted for my LT PS gained last month.

 

[NM]

Re: TC's/SC's before 1998 ??

SC's:?: TC's :?: 1991 :?: LT Status :shock:

AFAIK, published rules indicate for LT status is awarded based on the total of Tier Credits and Status Credits earned on flights taken on or after September, 1st 1998.

I joined the QP/QFF in 1994 and none of the 200+ flights I took before 1/9/98 counted for my LT PS gained last month.

Oops. Please forgive me. I am from Queensland and it well know that we are a decade behind the time up here . I will edit to read 2001!

 

[Groundfeeder]

Not quite a weekly commute but in my mining days I used to catch a Navajo from OOL to BNE (it was a French company that made me do it!!) 727 to TSV, PA30 charter to Georgetown followed by a 2 hour Landrover drive to our exploration camp.

Repeat this in reverse every 5 weeks and have 2 weeks off, then do it all again for 12 months. There was a 99% staff turnover every year - wonder why??

 

[ros_shaw]

I have just finished 10 months of communting between Melbourne and Perth for work.

Initially I flew fortnightly only spending every second weekend at home in Melbourne. I used to leave the office at lunchtime on Friday and be back in Melbourne late in the evening then fly back again on the Sunday night. The time zone change, especially in summer is a bit of a killer. I used to try to stay on Perth time all weekend by just staying up later than usual and sleeping in most mornings. Once or twice I took the early flight back to Perth on Monday morning but that is really tough on the system.

I started flying weekly in the last month of my contract but its pretty draining.

All my flights were booked as discount economy so even though I comfortably retained gold I would still need to fly a hell of a lot more to get platinum.

Ros

 

[jwak]

I did Mel-Syd twice a week for all of 2004-05. Used to check in and forget where I was going. "Where are you off to Mr..." "Melbourne", "You are already here". Got me to Platinum in 4 months though! Still got the 400,000 odd points, never have the time to use them.

 

[Commuter]

I'd definitely commute twice a week if someone else paid for my tickets. Unfortunately, with self-funding the commuting, it basically gets a little too expensive, so I only manage once a week.

 

[coco50]

I used to "commute" once a week from BNK - SYD during the first four months of the year. My employer always booked me Y class and even better, allowed me to fly to SYD the night before and accommodate me at what is now the Wynyard Travelodge. (convenient in terms of employer's location and access to and from the airport) With good connections and a 18:20 arrival into SYD, I could be checked in by 18:55 and sitting down to dinner in the Rocks somewhere by 19:30. Plenty of SCs and QFF points

 

[SeatBackForward]

I have just finished 10 months of communting between Melbourne and Perth for work.

Initially I flew fortnightly only spending every second weekend at home in Melbourne. I used to leave the office at lunchtime on Friday and be back in Melbourne late in the evening then fly back again on the Sunday night. The time zone change, especially in summer is a bit of a killer. I used to try to stay on Perth time all weekend by just staying up later than usual and sleeping in most mornings. Once or twice I took the early flight back to Perth on Monday morning but that is really tough on the system.

I started flying weekly in the last month of my contract but its pretty draining.

All my flights were booked as discount economy so even though I comfortably retained gold I would still need to fly a hell of a lot more to get platinum.

Ros

I'm based in Sydney, our work in Perth is done on a ten days on four days off fortnightly roster. So Tuesday morning fly to perth, work ten days and return the following thursday evening. Repeat.

Ditto on the discount tickets, its painful knowing a 4hr flight is getting so few SC's!

 

[oz_mark]

Ditto on the discount tickets, its painful knowing a 4hr flight is getting so few SC's!

Tell me about it

 

[millesm]

2 years ago I did MEL-BKK for 6 months, with the odd trip to Bombay, Hong Kong or Singapore.

3 weeks in BKK with 2 weeks at home (with a trip or 2 MEL-SYD). BA World Traveller Plus each time cos it looks like an economy ticket.

Missed PL by 40 SCs

Last year, MEL-SYD Monday to Friday from June through September.

Missed PL by 130 SCs

This year, no more MEL-BKK since BA and QF pulled out.... so when I start up with BKK trips next month, I will have to go MEL-SYD-BKK. Makes for a longer trip, but earns extra SCs and miles which is good.

Only 1200 SCs to PL this year... think I'll miss out yet again unless I get sent to UK or USA, which would be a business class trip.

 

[HardieBoys]

Weekly commute for work to the North Coast of NSW for three years, fortnightly commute for four years prior to that. Now also doing a 2 monthly commute to see partner who has relocated to HK.

Finally bought myself a pair of Bose noise-cancelling headphones, as I figured that I flew enough to warrant the cost.

 

[Yada Yada]

Finally bought myself a pair of Bose noise-cancelling headphones, as I figured that I flew enough to warrant the cost.

Are you happy with them? I've been considering a pair for myself.

 

[Commuter]

How bulky are those Bose ones? I don't want to add much to the carry on bags, but I am interested too.

 

[HardieBoys]

I've been very happy with the Bose headphones, however, I would make a few comments. Firstly, they're expensive, even if you buy them in HK or claim the GST back from them. Secondly, they're designed specifically for use in environments with a certain level of ambient noise, and not designed for use in quiet environments. Thirdly, they're reportedly fragile, so I've had to take care and not trash them.

That said, they're great to listen to movies and to music. What I've found is that the noise reduction allows better appreciation of classical music and more subtle music. On a 744 they were great, with pretty drastic noise reduction. On a twin prop, there is still a residual level of noise, but much, much less than usual. On removing them, you notice your eardrum muscle tense. Also used them at the gym, which was great.

Overall, very pleased. They are bulky, admittedly. They come in a carry case which is larger than a thick paperback, but I guess you don't need to use the carry case if you prefer. What sold me was going to a Bose store with my iPod and plugging them in. I was immediately sold.

 

[Commuter]

Thanks for the info, HardieBoy. That sounds pretty good to me (except the 'fragile' bit and 'bulky' bit - but I have to live with some bits that may not be 100% to my liking!).

 

[NM]

Thanks for the info, HardieBoy. That sounds pretty good to me (except the 'fragile' bit and 'bulky' bit - but I have to live with some bits that may not be 100% to my liking!).

I prefer the in-ear noise isolation earphones over the over-the-ear active noise cancelling headphones like the Bose. The Bose are as good as it gets with active noise cancelling technology, but the technology really only works for removing the ambient low-frequency constant noise - good for air conditioning, engine noise etc, but does very little for dynamic full-spectrum sounds like a crying baby.

The in-ear sound isolation types such as Shure E3, E4 or Etymotics range will provide in excess of 20dB of full-spectrum noise reduction when using correctly fitting sleeves. They also have the advantage of being very small, compact and light. My E3s came with a carry case that is bout 3 inches in diameter and about 1 inch deep. They also cost about half as much as the Bose QC2/QC3.

The original Shure E1 had a well known problem with the cord being a little light and could fair after extended use if not treated carefully. This was fixed with the E2 and E3 models. I have not used the new E4 model. The E2s are aimed at consumer i-pod type users. The E3/E4 is aimed as the entry professional level and used quite often for live musicians as in-ear monitors (we have 7 sets available for that purpose and the musicians love them and they make my job as foldback engineer much easier). The E5s are wonderful and actually include a 2-way driver, but they are very expensive for in-ear devices - but still cheaper than Bose QC2/QC3.

 

[serfty]

I use a set of CRE/\TIVE noise cancelling 'phones; they are lightweight and quite rugged; even if they came with no english instructions. They work really well.

Costing $60, I purchased 'em from the Qantas inflight duty free catalogue. (I normally don't buy from this; I must have had an HP or two too many ... )

 

[HardieBoys]

NM, Thanks for posting some information about the in-ear headphones. I did consider them, but was a little put off by the cost, and hadn't heard (no pun intended) any feedback about them. They seem ideal for use in noisy areas, like the gym, where something robust is called for.

 

[NM]

NM, Thanks for posting some information about the in-ear headphones. I did consider them, but was a little put off by the cost, and hadn't heard (no pun intended) any feedback about them. They seem ideal for use in noisy areas, like the gym, where something robust is called for.

Indeed they are well suited to places like a gym. The day I received my E3s in the post, I was testing them using a CD at fairly low volume when my son came up to me, tapped me on the shoulder, and asked if I was going to answer the phone of just leave it ringing. The phone was sitting about 2 feet from me and ringing away. I had not even heard it ringing.

Note that some people find in-ear devices to be uncomfortable and they are not for everyone. Personally I like them and find the sound quality to be exceptional and the noise isolation to be far superior to any over-the-ear devices. And I can lie on my side on a Skybed and still wear them comfortably, which cannot be done with the QF or Bose NC headphones.

 

[Commuter]

NM, thanks for the info on the 'in ear' type of device. Does it fit like ear phones or go 'deeper in'? I can tolerate ear phones but not ear-plug types - but I'd be very interested if they are ear phone types.