Retirement = No more flying!

[Ikara]

After 44 years in the workforce, today is my first day of retirement. The last 33 years have involved interstate travel at least every two weeks. The first 9 I travelled courtesy of Her Majesty on the Grey Funnel line! The past 10 years I have been commuting from Adelaide to the east coast every week with a Perth trip every 3 months. Also had a period of travelling to Boston every two months for about 18 months.

I've lived through TAA, Australian and Qantas. I joined the TAA Flight Deck (I think that's what it was called) in 1983 just after it started up. I've been WP for the past 8 years and have Life Time Gold.

Now here's the funny thing. As you all know, a flight booking will disappear from "My Bookings" in your Qantas account within 24 hours of completeing the final leg - usually quicker. My final flight was BNE - ADL QF663 last Thursday afternoon but my (flown) booking is still showing in "My Bookings". I think the computer is so used to me having at least 6 bookings there, it doesn't know how to handle it.

It's been fun, but if I ever see the inside of an aircraft again it will be too soon. It's a young man's game - and I use the word "man's" in a unisex context before everyone tells me I'm sexist!

I'll keep reading Frequent Flyer as I still have to do the final, use all the points up, go around the world in style trip.

Best Regards
JB

 

[Keith009]

Enjoy retirement mate - sounds like it's a truly well-deserved one!

 

[Shano]

Ikara, best wishes for your retirement.

Time now to enjoy all of those things in life that frequent travel may have prevented in the past.

Hope to see your continued presence on AFF.

 

[Travel Guru]

Hi Ikara,

Congratulations on a good innings...enjoy retirement.

Incidently, if you don't want to see the inside of a plane again, i'm more than happy to assist in removing the burden of using those points for you!! :mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

TG

 

[Evan]

Now here's the funny thing. As you all know, a flight booking will disappear from "My Bookings" in your Qantas account within 24 hours of completeing the final leg - usually quicker. My final flight was BNE - ADL QF663 last Thursday afternoon but my (flown) booking is still showing in "My Bookings". I think the computer is so used to me having at least 6 bookings there, it doesn't know how to handle it.

I'll keep reading Frequent Flyer as I still have to do the final, use all the points up, go around the world in style trip.

Best Regards
JB

Congratulations ! and enjoy the more relaxed lifestyle. Look forward to hearing about your holiday trips.

Also my last booking from last week is still there and no points credited, i think they have some system issue.

E

 

[drron]

I hope you enjoy retirement just as much as I am.However my travel has taken off since retirement even to the extent of doing it for the part time jobs I now accept.Today I started work in Tassie flying DJ to MEL and then the little saab of Rex over the straight.I even enjoyed that.
All the best.

 

[Judge Dee]

After 44 years in the workforce, today is my first day of retirement. JB

Congratulations & have an enjoyable retirement. As someone who finished a 41-year working life almost 2 years ago, I've found the change to be more enjoyable than anticipated. There's rarely a dull moment - in fact, I don't know where the time goes each day

 

[Commuter]

Happy Retirement!!

 

[straitman]

Ikara,

Congratulations on the retirement.

I still have about 12 months to go so you can possibly see/feel the envy.

My situation is different in that I/we will travel in retirement and are planning some great trips, but in any case I won't have to 'drive the bus' again.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Congratulations on the retirement; 44 years of work; :shock: some of us are not even that old.

Going by your time frame I got almost 30 years of work still to do. :evil:

It would be interesting to hear/read your comments on how different flying is today compared to 40 years or 25 years ago.

And I think going by our survey last year you had the lowest QF number, somehow I don't think you will give up flying just yet, I think it gets in your system and its hard to get rid of it, and think of all the points and Platinum status you will have for a year or so longer.

 

[tuapekastar]

You must flown a helluva lot of miles Ikara. I think (hope) I'll do things in reverse. I've hardly ever flown for work, a reasonable amount of leisure flights and when I retire (I'd do it tomorrow if I had enough of that folding stuff) I hope to travel a lot more!

Enjoy your retirement!

 

[Flying Fox]

Yes congrats on your retirement.

Enjoy your points and premium leisure travel.

Perhaps QF should send you a gift for all the $$ you have sent their way

 

[coco50]

Congratulations on your retirement. I have been officially retired for five weeks after 39 years of teaching. I enjoyed that profession immensely, but it is good to move on and use time for other things. I have always loved travel and have spent considerable time in the last 12 months planning a RTW trip which will incorporate visits to my adult children who work in the US. The only downside to retirement is a drop in QFF status - I've dropped from WP to PS over the last 3 years. Good thing, Ikara that you are LTG. Have a great time.

 

[kpc]

After 44 years in the workforce, today is my first day of retirement.

Congratulations on your retirement!! I started full time work when I was 24, and if I continue working to age 65, I will have another 24 years to go, making it a total of 41 years in the workforce:shock:...not quite as long as you! The long service leave (nearly 6 months so far) is starting to build, however....will be great for RTWs at some point in my life!!

 

[DJ737]

Hi there

Congrats on your retirement.

Planning on having kids now ???

Cheers DJ737

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Congrats on the retirement!

What work were you in...if you don't mind me asking?

 

[littl_flier]

Congratulations Ikara. Hopefully we'll hear some stories like drron's where you use up all those points in style.

Happy retirement!

 

[QF WP]

Whilst you may have retired from a paid job, Ikara, I am sure that you'll be back on a plane to do some leisure travel, just make sure it's at the pointy end.

Fear not, my father tried retirement at age 64 (1994) and it lasted 13 weeks. He went back to work 4 days/week for 2 year, then dropped to 3 days/week for the next 2 years and has been 2 days/week ever since.

He sold his remaining shareholding in 2 businesses on 31 May aged 76 (after 57 years). He still has one business, working ~1.5 days/week. I don't ever see him retiring...

Now they can finally afford to travel Business Class .

 

[JohnK]

Congratulations Ikara and hope that you have a happy and enjoyable retirement....

 

[DownUnderFlyer]

Congratulations Ikara. But I think you have a few things mixed up in your mind.

When you have to fly for work, sure you sometimes don't want to see the inside of an AC. But now you have the time and the means to explore the world at your own pace, not something dictated by an employer.

And then traveling becomes enjoyable again and is not just getting you from A to B in a short time. I bet you will be in the air a lot quicker than you think.