The start of something new

[medhead]

My first trip report to mark the start of a new lifestyle of me. Or in fact the end of the first week of a new lifestyle. I have fallen victim to the challenge of a new job, in Sydney, and the family wants to stay in Adelaide. So from now on I'll be joining the weekly interstate communters, ADL-SYD on Monday to Friday. Besides the challenge of my new role, they also pay rather well. But my travel is self funded and it all works out about equal.

This brings me to the trip report. My first return virgin experience, with my first virgin flight being a one way. Being self funded I when DJ for this first week because it was about $200 cheaper than QF. I also had to go over on Sunday as no flight would get me to the induction by 8:15 Monday morning.

Sunday 17 January 2010, 12:00 pm DJ 419 ADL-SYD

Online checked in ~ 24 hours before hand and managed to move from row 20 odd to 12D on the 737-700. It was a family affair to the airport on the Sunday. It really was a bit of a mad house in the DJ side of the airport. 20 minutes queues at the food vendors, combined with missing the entry to short term car park (normal i'm in a taxi or long term car park) meant no coffee and plane watching with the kids .

Boarding was called by row from the rear, I get to the gate and beep beep beep, DJ OP-UP, moved to row 9D. It was a bit of an op-down really as row 12 was exit row, but I rather get off the plane sooner.

Uneventful flight, i paid $6 for snacks and caught up on media watch on iphone. Landed on time straight to the train an off to the Travel Lodge Sydney.

Travel Lodge Sydney - this place met all my criteria - cheap! An afternoon stroll around oxford st/darlinghurst area revelled that it was an easy walk to work. Really a basic hotel, but it was clean and friendly, and I'm on a compressed work week with 10 hour days. So up early, go to work, then back to hotel to crash out. But I did enjoy some oxford street cafes for breakfast. Until Thursday when I was off at 5 pm to walk to mueseum station and the train to the airport.

Thursday 21 January 2010 17:00 DJ 438 SYD-ADL

An interesting experience on this one, OLCI just would not work. Even the check in kiosk was struggling to find my booking. So ended up checking in just over an hour before the flight, Seq # 99 and was offered 24 B. Checking available seats only middle seat where left. But one of them was 6B, if i'm in the middle it is going to be at the front. Even with the check in hassles it was only an hour from leaving my office to sitting down at the Taphouse bar with a beer, helped by being carry on only. It was then that I attempted to write this TR, but the telstra wireless (free with iphone) was playing. No doubt I was too close to the window and at the edge of the range.

Food court take away for this flight, red rooster chicken roll. But it ended up cold because the arriving aircraft from the gold coast was late and we ended up leaving about 20 minutes late. It also took an extra long period of time to turn off the selt belt light. There were a few clouds, maybe they thought there'd be some turbulence. Overall I ended up spending about $30 on food and bevies. So still ahead over the QF option.

On seeing my DJ status post on Tuesday I was considering the possibilities of status and the lounge access, with my weekly flights. However, it is back to QF and the QP next week.

I also suffered withdrawals without private internet for the week. Telstra iphone data is too expensive so it might be time to get a cheap 3G stick. any suggestions are welcome.

sorry no photos, unless someone wishes to see my office, but bear in mind they took out a compactus to give me an office.

 

[Keith009]

I am v happy with my prepaid mobile internet service from 3. Compared Optus, 3, Virgin and 3 came out ahead on value especially if paying on a monthly basis. I didn't look at Vodafone after the other half had a shoddy experience with them.

 

[iqis60]

I've had a bit of a look around at wireless 3G and have to agree that 3 appears to be the cheapest. Having said that, Telstra's network does kick cough, but it is a big premium in price.
There is a way you can get cheaper data on Telstra, but it rely's on you already having a 3G modem. If you enable a new prepaid device on telstra, at the moment they give you 1Gig of free data in the first month.
Now heres the rub, you can go by a Telstra 3G prepaid starter pack for $2 from places like target and **** smith, ring a number to get it enabled as a 3G data sim and you get the 1Gig first month bonus. So 1Gig for $2 on the Telstra network and Telstra becomes affordable .
However, it would be very annoying to have to start a new pre-paid card every month, so 3 is probably the better option, especially if you are in the city and will always get reception.

 

[Wannabee]

Telstra have released some new datapacks for business users which would be great on your iPhone with tethering!

1GB for $19 and 3 GB for $29
Telstra Business

Need to be on a business plan and have an ABN although there have been reports on Whirpool of people getting this added onto a consumer plan.

Also, Bigpond have just increased their limit and reduced their prices on wireless broadband with the same prices and limits as above (although uncapped) and a free device if you sign up for 24 months.
Wireless Broadband - Plans and Offers - Telstra BigPond

Although I think Telstra have cough customer service, they do have the best coverage which is important to me travelling out in the sticks but as you are in capital cities it opens the door to other providors.

 

[Maca44]

I am v happy with my prepaid mobile internet service from 3.

I also have 3 and very happy. After the cost of the modem (about $100) it cost me $15 per month for 1500mb which is more than enough for me when I need portable access to the web, however, there are several other plans with higher Mb's.

 

[Keith009]

I also have 3 and very happy. After the cost of the modem (about $100) it cost me $15 per month for 1500mb which is more than enough for me when I need portable access to the web, however, there are several other plans with higher Mb's.

I paid $79 for my modem, but $29/month for 2GB, which can be varied according to projected internet use for various months of course.

 

[markis10]

If you enable a new prepaid device on telstra, at the moment they give you 1Gig of free data in the first month.
Now heres the rub, you can go by a Telstra 3G prepaid starter pack for $2 from places like target and **** smith, ring a number to get it enabled as a 3G data sim and you get the 1Gig first month bonus. So 1Gig for $2 on the Telstra network and Telstra becomes affordable .
However, it would be very annoying to have to start a new pre-paid card every month, so 3 is probably the better option, especially if you are in the city and will always get reception.

Telstra 1Gb offer ended Dec 31! 3 are good vlaue but keep in mind its pretty much capital city only, they have a 12Gb 12 month plan for $149 and a modem is $79, or you can get 2Gb for $29 each month, if you recharge before month end the unused data accumulates.

 

[docjames]

Nice write-up. Yep, pics of converted compactus would be good (hope they dont close you in there!)

What's the new role entail?

 

[medhead]

Thanks for all the advice of 3G. I was looking at virgin mobile, 10GB prepaid for 12 months and $89 for the modem. But will check out 3.

Picture of the office, pretty plain

View attachment 493

But I do have a comfy chair for vistors.

View attachment 494

What does the role entail? I'm not sure how to answer that without giving things away. In a cyptic way, my role is responsible for safety of people, promoting awareness and ensuring compliance in relation to a specfic risk factor that occurs at my new workplace.

I work in a highly specilised field and have a lot of experience in this field in one of the main operational areas. This position is in another of the main operational areas.

 

[docjames]

Thanks for (sort-of) explaining.

Chair looks comfy.

 

[ejb]

...
What does the role entail? I'm not sure how to answer that without giving things away. In a cyptic way, my role is responsible for safety of people, promoting awareness and ensuring compliance in relation to a specfic risk factor that occurs at my new workplace.

I work in a highly specilised field and have a lot of experience in this field in one of the main operational areas. This position is in another of the main operational areas.

With that answer you must work for the NSW Govt. You gave a concise well written response that did not answer the question and hurt the readers head

Well ducked:!:

ejb

 

[markis10]

Has NSW had another change of Premier?

 

[anat0l]

I take it your QF-centric travel is policy for your new workplace?

Is it flexible fares or BFOD? And will it come out of your pocket or not?

I guess with DJ you could have charged reasonable expenses for lounge access (or get onto corporate program) and BOB food/drink to your company expense department, albeit they may not like that idea and the need for you to fill out forms (and chase claims). For some of us on this forum who fly DJ a lot for business, is this kind of process typical?

Nice mini-TR. Your office is pretty basic and looks a bit like a cell or a fish bowl, especially the size of the room with cream walls. Considering that a compactus had to give up the room for your sake, that seems to say a lot already. I think you could do with a picture on the wall or a pot plant or something. Dare I say I'm not exactly a fan of a room with no windows.

 

[iqis60]

Telstra 1Gb offer ended Dec 31! 3 are good vlaue but keep in mind its pretty much capital city only, they have a 12Gb 12 month plan for $149 and a modem is $79, or you can get 2Gb for $29 each month, if you recharge before month end the unused data accumulates.

That's what I thought, but I looked through the different links and they still mentioned 1Gig free with new devices enabled, so I gave it a go about four days ago and they told me I got a free gig whilst enabling it. It took about a day to come through, but the Gig turned up. So it's still game on.
But yes, 3 are the best deal for price.

 

[medhead]

Ok sorry for the non-answer. I'm moving from public service to "industry", so I've had a bit of practice at non-answers. I do radiation safety, the new job will be using my skills for a large organistaion that has multiple uses of radiation.

All the travel will be self funded and I'm not quite high enough on the food chain to justify them flying me in, especially being on the payroll. So the QF centric travel is because I'm paid QP and PS. I wish to use that "status" and also increase my LTSC. But I do have a firm limit to the personal budget and DJ will get in the mix every so often. A personal BFOD policy, but valuing QF extras at about $30-50 each way.

I must admit I have a bit of work to do on the office. They have offered me an original oil painting. But I think (hope) that the office is temporary, they have a new 15 storey building on the site that is just about finished being built. That should open up some better options.

Having seen my ex-compatus room office, I'm just glad I wasn't put in the room that the files got sent to.

 

[RB]

Not sure if is of any use but be aware that Travelodge is part of ubid for rooms dot com dot au

 

[medhead]

Time for a second week postscript on my flight with QF. I'm only mentioning this because it was rather strange.

QF 730 ADL-SYD 6:00 am 25 Jan 2010
OLCI and got an exit row 12D. I then had to front the bag drop counter to allow them to asess my eligibility for an exit. That was a slight delay as the airport was full of people with bike boxes (day after tour down under finished) and a quite few of them seemed to be statused or QP. Anyway, I got moved to 4C. A great surprise until I boarded to find a lesser POS, so not big enough to overhang, but big enough that they were visiabily uncomfortable when holding themself out of my way, in 4B with daughter in 4A. but then rows 5 to 9 A, B. and C were all empty!

I ended up moving back to 5C, but it was strange because they had no idea where the tray table was and the lesser POS tried to lift the armrests after I moved back to 5. Clearly they were not flyers and I just ahve to ask why them and me were all put in row 4 with 5 empty rows behind. The POS would have been much more comfortable in those rows, but I didn't mention that for fear of offending, and I was more comfortable. Anyway overall a strange situation.

Thanks for the tips on wireless broadband, I went with virginmobile, $89 pre-paid pack, because I read a review that said it was quicker than 3. It'll end up costing a bit more but speed is good.

Also thanks for the tips of hotel booking websites. I've actually arranged a deal with one place, which is rather good. I just have to get through my formula 1 kings cross experience next week.It is a bit sad as I like the travellodge, but the new place has free wireless in some rooms, a pool and gym, and is a lot closer to work.