Meet a moderate Member :-) in Perth and Sydney (15-17 October 2011)

[anat0l]

Yes...please note the title carefully. I am not a moderator. I am a moderate member, i.e. the same level as pretty much everyone on this forum except for 5 people.

Now that the pun attempts are over... (and I did get your attention without using the 3-letter S word ) I'll be travelling over to Perth for a random jaunt to try and relieve my nerves from this thesis which I have to write furiously. I also hear that our AFF sandgroper contingent is getting bigger. So thought it'd be nice to see if anyone wants to meet up. Oh yeah, and help me burn this $100 Dining Certificate good for any restaurant at any Priority Club property.

It'll be a quick one - in the early morning of the 15th then out before midday the next day. At least, that is the plan at the moment. Trying to see what I'll concede for my one night stay in Perth (so far the chains are pretty dear on price; trying to decide whether to concede points will be an option).

The main ideas behind this quick getaway are:

• Try the new VA A330 J. Not a bad way to start my Platinum-ship off (and more seriously, VA flying in earnest, I hope).
• Meet some AFF PER members
• Get away for a bit! The 14th (Friday) just before this all starts is one of my Thesis Reviews (after rescheduling, finding more time, delays, notices of desired progress etc.). I'm hoping to pass it, and hoping this solitary flying getaway that I'll have for the rest of the year will be some motivation to work towards passing it. (And the good support from AFF as well).

Plan at the moment is:

• Fri 14 Oct
  • Fly BNE-SYD, last flight of the night of Friday 14/10.
  • Overnight in SYD (probably an airport hotel - God save me on the rates.... :-|)
• Sat 15 Oct
  • Fly SYD-PER, first A330* flight of the morning of Saturday 15/10 (leaves 0800h, * subject to equipment change ).
  • Relax in PER or perhaps do something - don't know. TBD (perhaps need some inspiration from Taezar - seems to be good at this finding something relaxing to do stuff).
  • Dinner at a Priority Club restaurant, hopefully with some accomplices from this forum. $100 will come off the bill straight away.
• Sun 16 Oct
  • Fly PER-SYD next morning (Sunday 16/10) departing ~1100h (another A330 flight).
  • Overnight in SYD (looking at Hilton; wish he had a Hilton-Mac or a Member for Stay card (damn... but $210 isn't stupidly bad for a non-sale room in Sydney))
  • Possibility to meet SYDneysiders on Sunday evening
• Mon 17 Oct
  • Possibility to meet SYDneysiders on Monday day / lunch. Times not pinned down yet (but due to airfare prices, likely that day will be free).
  • Return to BNE Monday 17/10. Deciding between redeeming a Reward or ponying up the cheapest fare of the day (currently $95 w/o c/c charges).

So thought I'd throw this out there if anyone wants to block out their diaries, etc. or has some ideas for accommodation, relaxing in PER ideas, etc.

Oh, and I will be going hand luggage only (unless I end up buying something big - doubt it). Yes, I know I have 69 kg wherever I go; I do not intend on pushing limits this time! Oh, and there is a possibility I may bring a souvenir or something to give away to a random member (haven't worked out what to give, or how to give it away, or where I will give it away. But I did put it on my list...)

So to the AFFers on the West Coast... would be great to meet up with you! SYDneysiders, might see you too.

 

[v8Statesman]

Sounds good. I'll meet in PER.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Big uni assignments due on the 17th and 19th/20th

Maybe another time!

 

[Alanslegal]

I could meet up for the Sydney dinner.

 

[markis10]

Perhaps you could have lunch with the President in Sydney or at least get a tour of the Kneecap in SYD or its backup in BNE?

 

[anat0l]

Perhaps you could have lunch with the President in Sydney or at least get a tour of the Kneecap in SYD or its backup in BNE?

I don't get it....a little help here?

 

[markis10]

I don't get it....a little help here?

Big plane with lots of red buttons labelled "for use in emergency only"!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Perhaps you could have lunch with the President in Sydney or at least get a tour of the Kneecap in SYD or its backup in BNE?

Didn't they shutdown all the mobile coverage in the SYD CBD last time there was one of those shindigs, APEC in SYD??? Didn't they make it a public holiday as well?

Can you tell Barack to reschedule as his presence is interfering with one of your status runs/AFF do's?

 

[StevePER]

I have no plans at this stage for October 15 so I'm a possible for PER.

 

[QF WP]

Overnight in SYD (looking at Hilton; wish he had a Hilton-Mac or a Member for Stay card (damn... but $210 isn't stupidly bad for a non-sale room in Sydney))

Look no further - I have a couple spare and one now has your name on it. Drop in sometime.

 

[JohnK]

Sadly I cannot make it.

I am returning from Thailand on 16 October and then flying back to BNE on morning of 17 October.

 

[missafternoondelight]

Hmm, how did I miss this thread?
I'm in, just for a change
We're getting a nice little exchange program going between east and west AFFers =D

In terms of relaxing activities, depends what you like to do for fun. If you haven't been before, Kings Park is really nice for a walk around and beautiful views, and easy to get to from city hotels for free (it's within the free transit zone).
Or taking the ferry across the river to South Perth is quite pretty, too.
A stroll across the bridge to Northbridge can be entertaining.. the Art Gallery is small but has some reasonable exhibitions - Princely Treasures is on when you're over - a collection of European royal decorative art.
The Art Gallery of Western Australia Website

Right across the way from the Art Gallery is the Museum. I love a stroll through the permanent animal collection.. some weird displays of taxidermy, including a bison and anteater.. plus a beautiful collection of native australian butterflies.. suspended in flight for ever more. Kind of macabre, but interesting. From there, it's a pleasant stroll to one of the many Chinese restaurants in Northbridge, for a yum cha brunch. Yeeum!

Anyway, let us know where / when to meet you.

 

[anat0l]

Just by way of update....

Sat 15th in Perth

• v8Statesman
• StevePER (possibly)
• missafternoondelight

Sun 16th in Sydney

• Alanslegal

Mon 17th in Sydney

• (no one yet)

Now: can anyone make a recommendation between two hotels in Perth? Looking to burn for a room for 1 night at either the Crowne Plaza (15k + USD 60, located on Terrace Street) or 1 night at the IC Burswood (20k + USD 60, located at the Burswood casino). Main points would be connectivity to public transport and a nice soft bed to get some rest. At first I thought the Crowne Plaza was a no-brainer, but if the IC is somewhat nicer I don't mind putting in an extra 5k points for it. Oh, and I am not an Ambassador. Or, is the choice a much of muchness?

 

[Must...Fly!]

If you want to be in the city or in a moderately convenient location I suggest you forget the IC and hit up the CP instead.

However if you just want a bed and will only come and go once...perhaps the IC for an extra 5k might be worth considering. To tell the truth while the CP is in the city area it still isn't that close (I suppose one could use the HI in BNE as a similar example but without the nearby train).

I suppose it comes down to where you will eat perhaps. Getting from the city to burswood v/v will be difficult in a taxi or with PT (big queues or non-existent). Although then again if an AFF member drops you back it won't matter!

Given the flight times I'd lean IC. Into the city on Saturday afternoon, back that night, eat/drink, bed close by, then to the airport Sunday morning without too much hassle.

 

[anat0l]

Thanks for the advice Must...Fly! I was about to book the IC on your advice...but then $189 Best Flexi Rates for the Crowne Plaza have just popped up. Back to the decision board.....

 

[V1213]

Seems like I've missed this thread too.

Pencil me in for dinner on the 15th as well - it's always great to meet other AFFers when they come way out west.

I'd definitely lean towards CP from the public transport side of things - not only is it close to way more services but it's also within the Free Transit Zone so all of those services are free, as long as you don't take them out of the central area. That said, if you're happy to do a 10/15 minute walk you have a pretty good level of service to the Victoria Park Transfer Station or can take the train from Burswood Station if you stay at the IC.

 

[anat0l]

I settled with the Crowne Plaza. Hope I still have a spare PP 25% voucher lying around at work, for if I do the net rate of $144 for the night was definitely too hard to pass up. Even at 10% off using my PP card alone, great rate and flexible as well (what is it with last minute flexible rates being loaded on the cheap?)

Found my SmartRider card, too. Had it since SmartRider was introduced (post-pilot), though it's only got $10 on it, so suspect it's not going to get me very far (save for the FTZ).

 

[oz_mark]

Found my SmartRider card, too. Had it since SmartRider was introduced (post-pilot), though it's only got $10 on it, so suspect it's not going to get me very far (save for the FTZ).

Compared to say Melbourne, Perth Public transport is pretty cheap, and $10 will get you to and from a great many places around Perth,

 

[jukebox333]

*SNIP*
Found my SmartRider card, too. Had it since SmartRider was introduced (post-pilot), though it's only got $10 on it, so suspect it's not going to get me very far (save for the FTZ).

Good news - It's the weekend! You'll get a Family Rider all-day all-zone ticket for a group of seven on the trains for $9.30!

 

[V1213]

Good news - It's the weekend! You'll get a Family Rider all-day all-zone ticket for a group of seven on the trains for $9.30!

Or at least in the OP's situation this translates to a standard all day ticket for travel over the entire network. If you have $10 on your card it will stop charging you when you reach this price so you should be fine. If you think you're going to run low a spare $10 note in your wallet can be loaded by the driver of any fare-paying bus service.