QF Tweet & Eat (MEL) [13th April 2013]

[markis10]

Qantas pick the winners, and I am sure they appreciate as many as possible entering.

 

[Brettmcg]

I was there yesterday mate and I'm Gold on QFF. I just think it would be good if those who have attended all of them to date step back and let other's have a chance at the opportunity.

It's a (known) risk when they open these things up to the general public (or the AFF public for that matter) that people will try and try again to nab an invitation even if they may have attended before. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

I was there yesterday mate and I'm Gold on QFF. I just think it would be good if those who have attended all of them to date step back and let other's have a chance at the opportunity.

When you say "all of them", do you actually mean "both of them" (ie the two Twitter events), or literally *all* of them (two AFF Rockpool lunches, A380 tour, Spice Temple lunch, and the Dubai trip)? I don't think anybody here has been to all of them, as the entry criteria are different for each event, in a way that literally makes it impossible for any one of us to enter everything.

FWIW, while I was lucky enough to receive an invite to the A380 tour last year, I have missed out on the two AFF Rockpool lunches in the past (I submitted questions for both, but was not selected) - so I wasn't going to decline my first invitation to a Neil Perry lunch! We're not getting preferential treatment - I had to click on the link and complete my details like most of the other attendees, which makes it fair on everybody. I thoroughly enjoy the QF events, so I'll certainly put my hand up when something else comes along.

I also enter most of their website and FB QF competitions (usually the prize is a free trip somewhere - and no, I haven't won one of those lol), so if you take those into account also, I don't think I'm being too selfish by attending 2 QF events, and paying for my own flights to get there (esp. when a flexi saver was the 'cheapest' outbound flight).

If QF (or Red Roo) do request that previous tweeters not register for future Twitter events, then I'm happy to abide by that - however, if there is no such restriction, then everybody (whether having attended a past event or not) has an even chance of being selected for any future event.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the event as much as the rest of us

 

[anat0l]

So, did anyone here make a new friend with an attendee who is not an AFFer (or Qantas staff)?

I'll put my hand up and guiltily admit that I should've gone around to talk to a few people. I was surrounded by all but one AFFer on our table (I was a corner seater); med student studying on the Gold Coast, probably should've exchanged business cards...

 

[drewbles]

So, did anyone here make a new friend with an attendee who is not an AFFer (or Qantas staff)?

I'll put my hand up and guiltily admit that I should've gone around to talk to a few people. I was surrounded by all but one AFFer on our table (I was a corner seater); med student studying on the Gold Coast, probably should've exchanged business cards...

Was wondering who he was! I just assumed he was on here, but apparently not

 

[anat0l]

Was wondering who he was! I just assumed he was on here, but apparently not

Well I assumed he was not, but I could be dead wrong, too. :-|

 

[Mal]

These events Qantas puts on are really quite special.

To those who have attended one or both events, it might be time to step back and let others attend. The numbers are so limited and sought after, well beyond the AFF bubble. If it's the same handful of people attending each time, Qantas is less likely to do more of these because, well, they want to get something out of it too.

Social events and meet-ups are awesome but maybe for the next one in Queensland let some new blood go and just organise some AFF drinks some place else.

Hmm, your logic is a bit flawed. Its a public comp, open to all twitter fans. Now some of the most loyal fans also post here. Thus, the chance of a person being in both circles is high.

If qf wants to implement a rule about previous winners... its their call. However under the rules it was fair that those who went attended.

 

[blackcat20]

These events Qantas puts on are really quite special.

To those who have attended one or both events, it might be time to step back and let others attend. The numbers are so limited and sought after, well beyond the AFF bubble. If it's the same handful of people attending each time, Qantas is less likely to do more of these because, well, they want to get something out of it too.

i kind of agree ( and no, not sour grapes, I couldn't attend anyway, though I would have loved to). It would be nice if people who have been to both tweet events (not the AFF specific events) gave the rest of us a chance to experience QFs hospitality.

If qf wants to implement a rule about previous winners... its their call. However under the rules it was fair that those who went attended.

Wouldnt be a bad idea to limit it to new attendees. It's not like they don't know where to find you lot if they want to!

 

[djfuzz]

Was wondering who he was! I just assumed he was on here, but apparently not

Well I assumed he was not, but I could be dead wrong, too. :-|

I also thought he was one of us?

I sat next to the rep from the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, who was very nice and very skilled in silver service (to the untrained eye!).

 

[Princess Fiona]

These events Qantas puts on are really quite special.

To those who have attended one or both events, it might be time to step back and let others attend. The numbers are so limited and sought after, well beyond the AFF bubble. If it's the same handful of people attending each time, Qantas is less likely to do more of these because, well, they want to get something out of it too.

Social events and meet-ups are awesome but maybe for the next one in Queensland let some new blood go and just organise some AFF drinks some place else.

I hope we can agree to disagree on this one.
Yes the QF events are really special, and yes they are limited and sought after.
I think if QF do not want the same participants ( AFF, non-AFF or otherwise) then they should stipulate that.
I don't think that QF are less likely to hold future twitter events if they have some of the same attendees.

Off the top of my head I can think of only a few AFF'ers who attended both Twitter events (myself included of course) and for the record some of the participants (including some AFF members) were invited by QF and did not attend as a result of winning on Twitter.
I cannot see the advantage to QF of holding a social media event/ comp and list a Myer Sale style exclusion list of ineligible entrants.
YMMV

 

[ChrisFlyer]

I suppose we'll all have to agree to disagree. In saying that, I don't recall the same comments being made about those who attended both of the Rockpool lunches (which also included free return flights, and also overnight accom for those from the west coast)... Sorry if I am taking this more personally than it was intended, but as there were only a handful at this event who also attended the A380 tour, your comments are obviously aimed at me (and Fiona, Ronald, Travel Guru, and DeKa)...

To repeat, both Twitter events were open to all members of the public who had both Twitter and QFF accounts. Everyone (both AFF and non-AFF) had an equal chance of entry. For those who have not yet had an invitation (and who wish to attend in the future), I encourage you to keep your eye on the QF Twitter account, and when the next opportunity comes along, be as quick as you can - which is what we all had to do.

In the same light, I have never received an op-up on QF (nor do I expect one). However, for those that have, will you be asking QF to add 'NSFU' (not suitable for upgrade) into your profile, so that someone else may experience their premium cabin hospitality in the future instead? Didn't think so...

At the end of the day, Qantas sought 21 loyal Twitter users, and accepted the first 21 that applied. I genuinely hope that QF got as much out of the event as we did - my Twitter channel was nothing but #QantasTweetUp for the entire day, and most others were the same.

As always, I play by the rules of the competition. If QF would like to meet an entirely new group of people at their next event, then I will certainly respect that, and would understand their reasoning from a marketing point of view. However, if QF would be happy to see my face again, then I'll certainly be happy to attend, and to do what I can for them on Twitter - so that they again receive something back in return.

I haven't even mentioned the JT 707 flight, Les Miserables Australian premiere party, F1 tickets, the Lesley Grant coughtails, the NP gala dinner next week, or the hospitality events at the London Olympics, which I wasn't invited to (I don't expect to be invited to every single QF event, nor do I receive such invitations). The target guests of each event vary greatly - from hardcore AFF users, to heavy Twitter users, to food bloggers, to aviation journalists, to CL & WP1 members. There are plenty of invitations to QF's many events to go around IMO. If you're dying to do an A380 tour, then it can't hurt to ask them about it. They run a reasonable number throughout the year, with the Twitter group attending just one of those.

Anyway, I'm going to leave it there before this topic becomes a long argument.

To finish off, I had a fantastic time at the event, and remain grateful to have been invited back. Neil was incredibly friendly and was a pleasure to meet (as were all of the QF staff that I spoke to, particularly those that I dined with). And of course, every AFFer that I spoke to was very welcoming. I remember thinking "these are my kind of people, they 'get' me" (compared to others who thought I was crazy to go to Melbourne for lunch)! As such, I'm not going to let the negativity of a couple of users get me down, and wish *every* AFFer (including those that have made personal comments) the very best of luck at winning a place at whatever QF may decide to do next.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

I hope we can agree to disagree on this one.
Yes the QF events are really special, and yes they are limited and sought after.
I think if QF do not want the same participants ( AFF, non-AFF or otherwise) then they should stipulate that.
I don't think that QF are less likely to hold future twitter events if they have some of the same attendees.

Off the top of my head I can think of only a few AFF'ers who attended both Twitter events (myself included of course) and for the record some of the participants (including some AFF members) were invited by QF and did not attend as a result of winning on Twitter.
I cannot see the advantage to QF of holding a social media event/ comp and list a Myer Sale style exclusion list of ineligible entrants.
YMMV

Shame I can't 'like' your post twice Fiona - well said

 

[nlagalle]

well it was great to meet some old and new faces there yesterday. Certainly was a fab event! I agree 100% about Neil, he is so passionate about the food, the lounge experience and food onboard.

We missed Neil on our table but had a great conversation with Samantha about the crew training that is happening, and how the changes internally were starting to help QFi.. A few of us mentioned our distaste of the Orange cancer taking over routes too.

The did briefly mention the LA lounge, and if what we were told was correct, it will blow the SIN lounge out of the water. also the HKG lounge work will be starting soon too.

 

[anat0l]

I agree 100% about Neil, he is so passionate about the food, the lounge experience and food onboard.

It's interesting how meeting someone can really re-frame your whole perception of that person (whether it be from bad to good, or good to better, or vv. as the case may be - not this time!).

Only thing I did wrong was probably not get a photo with him. Always feel guilty asking him for one all the time! I got a photo of him (not the greatest one), and once again shook his hand (though he may have given me one of those looks, "Do I know you? OK... crazy fan... moving on now...").

The did briefly mention the LA lounge, and if what we were told was correct, it will blow the SIN lounge out of the water. also the HKG lounge work will be starting soon too.

To be honest, even the SIN lounge as it stands will blow the current offering in LAX out of the water, by a long shot. Let alone if they are trying to top that effort (don't know how they'll do it, but let's wait and see).

 

[ChrisFlyer]

So, did anyone here make a new friend with an attendee who is not an AFFer (or Qantas staff)?

I'll put my hand up and guiltily admit that I should've gone around to talk to a few people. I was surrounded by all but one AFFer on our table (I was a corner seater); med student studying on the Gold Coast, probably should've exchanged business cards...

Was he wearing a white shirt? If so, you'll find that he is a member on here (I'll let him identify himself though)

Anyway, to answer your question, I had a nice chat with David Flynn from AusBT (we'd interacted a little on FB, but had never met). I don't believe that he is on AFF, so I hope that counts!

 

[Pollywaffle]

All these post-event entries and nothing about the food? C'mon people, tell us about the "eat" part.

 

[Princess Fiona]

All these post-event entries and nothing about the food? C'mon people, tell us about the "eat" part.

It was superb

 

[coolumbla]

and heres me stuck at YVR with no lounge access despite an F ticket on alaskan air

seems i need to be a board room member at the same time!

JEALOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

C

 

[ChrisFlyer]

This is the crispy pork belly slider - was fantastic! I have a couple of other photos on my computer - will post when I get home today



And coolumbia - there's always the Plaza Premium Lounge, but you may have departed already! I like the PPL in the USA departures wing of YVR - great view of the immigration waterfall, and there are small gaps in the glass, which allows you to hear it trickling down when it's quiet

 

[nlagalle]

These events Qantas puts on are really quite special.

To those who have attended one or both events, it might be time to step back and let others attend. The numbers are so limited and sought after, well beyond the AFF bubble. If it's the same handful of people attending each time, Qantas is less likely to do more of these because, well, they want to get something out of it too.

Social events and meet-ups are awesome but maybe for the next one in Queensland let some new blood go and just organise some AFF drinks some place else.

sorry but i will disagree with you here.. first in best dressed. If i am available for the next one i will put my hand up again.. simple. I don't expect anyone to not put their hand up because they have been to one before. Well done to them if they can type that fast!