Meet A Moderator Perth TR

[QF WP]

Following on from the series of Meet A Moderator threads I've done over the years, I thought I should probably put together a Trip Report. This will be updated during the trip.

I'm a bit rusty, but here goes:

Driving out to the airport from work, it was hissing down and very thankful that it stopped whilst I was parking the car in the Long Term car parking.

Got a bit of a shock when I walked in to the Terminal, with the new check-in area. Wasn't like that a couple of weeks ago . Checked in at the Gold/Plat area (now strangely the right hand of check-in) and Helena happily gave me my boarding pass (4J).

This was the first time in probably a year that I had checked in luggage. Asked her if she knew whether ozbeachbabe was on duty, she offered to check for me but I didn't want to take her away from checking in my fellow pax.

Got through Security with a minimum of fuss and dodged the people who mill around not knowing where to go, raced up the escalator and walked into the Qantas Club. Linda was at Reception and upon noticing my Business BP, allowed me into the hallowed Business Lounge. Wow, it was full though. Checked AFF and walked out when they called the flight. When I got to Gate 24, the surprising thing was that it was open for boarding? Boarded the 767-336 and found my seat.

QF497 BNE/PER
FA - Donna Gallagher, Gabi

Pre-lunch starter: Smoked Chicken with Ranch Dressing

(Sorry, I forgot to take a photo)

Dinner: Thai styled green curry pork with rice and greens

Desert: cheese and fruit plate washed down with a Gramps desert wine

Was bumpy again coming down into Perth, in fact we had seat belts on from about Karratha due to turbulence.

Enjoyed getting off the plane and into the Terminal, which I notice has been extended since I was last here. My bag was 5th on the belt, so I was gone before the sniffer dog could check me out.

Now in the taxi, off to my favourite Perth hotel (Hilton), before going out to the AFF Meet.

Sent from my iPhone using AFF Mobile

 

[anat0l]

Checked in at the Gold/Plat area (now strangely the right hand of check-in) and Helena happily gave me my boarding pass (4J).

So you didn't decide to chance on the NGCI poles, OLCI or the injectors?

Why they put the Premium Desk furthest away from security and valet parking beats me.

This was the first time in probably a year that I had checked in luggage.

Oh the humanity! Just kidding....

Dinner: Thai styled green curry pork with rice and greens

...

Desert: cheese and fruit plate washed down with a Gramps desert wine

...

I must admit those two looked delicious. Did you get a choice of another dinner? Don't tell me it was a salad...

Was bumpy again coming down into Perth, in fact we had seat belts on from about Karratha due to turbulence.

Since when does a BNE/PER flight take a path which edges near Karratha? I thought it'd be more orthodox to take a routing more Southwards, skirting Esperance / Kalgoorlie or thereabouts?

Enjoyed getting off the plane and into the Terminal, which I notice has been extended since I was last here. My bag was 5th on the belt, so I was gone before the sniffer dog could check me out.

OMG PER actually delivers a bag within the priority zone. What is this world coming to. Shock horror...hopefully you still didn't have to wait 20 minutes for that bag to arrive.


Nice TR so far Lindsay Wilson - you haven't lost it, albeit your valuable time to write this TR comes at the expense of your traditional liberal sprinklings of your great sense of humour.

 

[QF WP]

So you didn't decide to chance on the NGCI poles, OLCI or the injectors?

no, people were swarming around them like bees to a honey pot, whilst the Traditional check-in queue was empty.

Why they put the Premium Desk furthest away from security and valet parking beats me.

+1, makes no sense at all

I must admit those two looked delicious. Did you get a choice of another dinner? Don't tell me it was a salad...

It was a Salmon salad

Since when does a BNE/PER flight take a path which edges near Karratha? I thought it'd be more orthodox to take a routing more Southwards, skirting Esperance / Kalgoorlie or thereabouts?

Pretty sure that's what both the captain and First Officer said in their announcements, as the cloud band was very wide and full.

OMG PER actually delivers a bag within the priority zone. What is this world coming to. Shock horror...hopefully you still didn't have to wait 20 minutes for that bag to arrive.

Very impressed

Nice TR so far Lindsay Wilson - you haven't lost it, albeit your valuable time to write this TR comes at the expense of your traditional liberal sprinklings of your great sense of humour.

I try my best


Sent from my iPhone using AFF Mobile

 

[QF WP]

For my first night, my hotel was Hilton, as it was directly opposite my first appointment for the day (and where most of my clients are) in London House and the property is my first choice In Perth.

Date In: 27 April
Date out: 28 April
Property: Hilton Parmelia Perth
Hilton Honors: Gold
Room booked: Twin Hilton Guestroom
Cost: $299 (less 20% HPC discount)
Requested: eStandby Upgrade to Queen, extra $19
Received: Upgraded to King Suite (Room 321), hand made chocolates and bottle of red wine, handwriten card from Front Desk Manager. No water?
Total cost: $262.07
Bedroom:

Bathroom:

Lounge Room:

Sent from my iPhone using AFF Mobile

 

[QF WP]

After an afternoon of successful meetings on St Georges Terrace, I got a taxi from the Hilton (where I had stored my bag) to the Crowne Plaza.

There are two reasons for my departure from Hilton:

1. The exorbitant cost of the nights accom at the Hilton when I was booking, and
2. The reasonable cost of the Easter Package deal at the Crowne Plaza and the twofold need for nights through my Priority Club account (getting enough points to move back to Platinum before my trip to Europe in a month, as well as towards my Crack the Case Promo).

Date In: 28 April
Date out: 29 April
Property: Crowne Plaza Perth
Priority Club: Gold
Room booked: Standard Room
Cost: $241.57 (including fees)
Received: Room as booked, 2 Cadbury Deluxe Bunnies, signed letter from Reception Supervisor and 2 complimentary cold beers in the fridge (see photo)

Bathroom:

Bedroom:

View from my room to the Swan River:

Time to put my feet up with a beer and dinner before my 7.30pm appointment tonight.

Dinner was absolutely awesome (but quick), as I ran out of time to eat a full meal in the restaurant, so the Restaurant Manager organised a quick entree:

Sent from my iPhone using AFF Mobile

 

[QF WP]

After an uneventful taxi ride from Subiaco following my last appointment, I checked in at the Gold/Plat area and Leah organised my boarding pass (35J).

When it came to checking in my luggage using the new bag tag system, she advised me that her position wasn't processing them and she needed to do it the old fashioned way (wrap around tag with the purple Business Tag). She advised that she had reported it to Management but nothing had been fixed as yet.

I quite enjoy the Perth terminal and proceeded left to Security. I rang my wife to let her know that I had checked in and would be taking off in just under an hour and spike to my kids. Was great to hear that both my son and daughter were missing me and I expressed hope that I would get my two chocolate Easter Bunnies home without breaking. Made my way to the escalator up to the Qantas Club and saw the redesigned and expanded QC for the first time - I was very impressed as I walked its length.

Having little time now before boarding, I quickly grabbed a plate of food from the buffet, knowing that my meal in Y wouldn't be as good as my flight over. I checked my emails on my iPhone and forwarded one to my wife on our upcoming European trip. Before long, my flight was boarding at Gate 13 and we were called.

Boarded the 767-338 and found my seat. I had agonised over whether to stick with my overwing exit row, or take 24B - once I found I wasn't to have a pax in 35K I was happy with my choice as I could spread out over both seats. I had also noticed (not unexpectedly) that the first section of economy was full and 24B had a hard bulkhead in front, which would have meant having trouble finding overhead locker space for my FF bag and laptop.

QF594 PER/BNE
FA - Orla
Dinner: White wine & rosemary braised lamb with rissoni

washed down with an Airlie (Yarra Valley) 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot.

I was a bit disappointed with the lamb (perhaps I should have taken the Chicken Masala option), however the redeeming feature was the rissoni. Ended up getting a second bottle of the Red, followed later in the flight by some cups of tea - considering I was driving when I landed in BNE, I thought a much needed boost.

Finally, they came around with an ice cream bar, one so frozen I needed the jaws of life to bite through. Still, nice to finish on a sweet note.

We landed bang on time and then I had to wait...and wait while the first section disembarked and finally it was my turn. Was good to be home and looking forward to doing it again in 3 weeks


Sent from my iPhone using AFF Mobile

 

[thewinchester]

Date In: 27 April
Date out: 28 April
Property: Hilton Parmelia Perth
Hilton Honors: Gold
Room booked: Twin Hilton Guestroom
Cost: $299 (less 20% HPC discount)
Requested: eStandby Upgrade to Queen, extra $19
Received: Upgraded to King Suite (Room 321), hand made chocolates and bottle of red wine, handwriten card from Front Desk Manager. No water?

LW: Is it just me, or was the decor at this property look horribly dated? To say those photos made it look rather uninspired might be understating it a bit IMHO.

 

[QF WP]

thewinchester, yes the room had an olde worlde charm about it, I don't mind the furniture and decor, but they should definitely do something about the lighting. Poorly placed and low wattage which also don't seem to be eco-friendly. Perhaps it is also the "covers" that also diffuse the light poorly.

The CP, by comparison, was much better as the pictures show. Alas, I'll take the Hilton over the CP, given I have to merely walk across the road to London House, or up the road to BankWest Tower to see my clients. That and the 20% discount and room upgrades as a Gold, puts the Hilton firmly in my must stay category for at least 1 night of any stay there.