2013 stoopidity: here, there, everywhere.. incl around the world (twice). .

[Stoopidsteve]

This year has seen the flying beanie go nowhere…yet. But now is the time to dust off the stripes. And my bemused wife has had time to add to the stoopidity by making additional stripey items….to be revealed later.

My QFF forward bookings currently include 5 itineraries with > 40 sectors and enough SC to get me over 2400 (mostly Y long haul but some US SC runs and a dom JASA), and over the LTS hurdle. I’ll post all into this thread to be updated over the next 7 months or so. Some of these have been booked using the wonders of cheap Brazilian fares, others via TA (routing and flight numbers supplied by me having learned way too much from AFF about how to spend way too much time in the air and in airports to get from A-B via M,N,O,P, and X,Y,Z).

The aim: either to accrue sufficient miles to send Mrs Stoopid on J 280K OW award (she did 140K OW in Jan from last years points haul), or to continue to accrue until enough to take all (incl 3 darling offspring) on Y 140K OW...

Mid May Trip: BNE-MEL-DXB-LHR, LHR-DXB-BNE
A few days in UK, leaving Sat 11. Booked via .br, IIRC less than $1400. Not quite the cheapest fares from that site that we've seen, but certainly efective use of tax-deductible $ for self-funded work trip. Wednesday 8 th morning comes, and of course I take advantage of the newly open T-80 availability of row 4. At this stage QF615 looks to be light loading. And check EF for seating on QF9 MEL-LHR and happy to see X next to my 33G upstairs Y seat. This will be first time upstairs on reconfig A380, first visit to MEL F lounge, first transit via DXB and first flight on EK metal (DXB-BNE), and first time guesting another AFF into lounge (into BNE dom, but if anyone's on QF 9 or any other flights I'm on and wants MEL F/ LHR Flounge, pm me). Other firsts to be disclosed later...

 

[robd]

Looking forward to see where "beanie" goes

 

[Paddy55]

Looking forward to your trip report.

I'd get more mileage from sending Mrs Paddy on a J 280K OW award than she and the Jnr Paddys on 140K OW Y Awards! Mrs Paddy doesn't do long haul Y these days :shock:

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Itinerary:
BNE-MEL-DXB-LHR (QF9 from Mel) Sat 11th May

LHR-DXB-BNE (QF2 LHR-DXB, QF8434 DXB-BNE) Wed 15th May

Saturday morning. Ouch. sore. Stiff. Note to self: next time you fly long haul, remember NOT to do a half marathon on treadmill the previous evening watching the Bunnies beat the Cowboys.

Scheduled on 10am flight to MEL, but get to ariport waaaaaaaaay to early, courtesy of friendly driver.


Seems busy at BNE dom. Priority security lane not policed, but seems like it's much shorter anyway. Through security and standing at lounge within 5 mins.

Text AFF member to be guested, but he's had change of plan. Ah well, time to spend in BNE business lounge.



On the way past, ask if there's earlier flight.

"Oh you're on a non-changeable flight, Stoopid. But I'll see what I can do".

Desk staff member also seemed surprised I can travel on two passports, wanting to check visa in my AU passport for UK. She was unaware that I have to use AU passport to leave, but can use UK to arrive in UK.

HORROR!!!! I have to forfeit my 4D on the 10 am QF 615 for 8C on the 9 am QF613...darn. I guess I'll just have to enjoy the extra time in MEL FLounge rather than BNE business dom lounge....I think I'll survive.

Have a quick snack, but choose to forgo Barista coffee for now.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Easy flight on QF 613, Peter Pugh at the controls. I swapped to 9F window as 8 AB occupied, the large lady from 8B takes opportunity to take newly vacated 8c. "John"CSM looks slightly confused, checking his manifest for WPs, to see someone obviously not Stoopid sitting in 8 C. Bob Carr and his wife were up front. and we were reminded that the front toilets were for business class.



Super sticky sweet "Raspberry scroll", a green tea requested. Had to be reminded about that after they'd serve all PAX.



Gentle flight to MEL, arriving at the gate at about 11.15, passing the A380 to later take me DXB-LHR.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Seemed like a walk even further than through LHR, but the gauntlet of shopping successfully negotiated, and into Flounge. The international terminal looks fairly empty, but I imagine it’s a bit chaotic when several plane-loads of pax are getting their DF alcohol. Only a few in Flounge when I get in there about 11.30.

Comments from Security, and Customs/Immigration and Flouge staff about how early I am. But happily offered without asking a spa treatment. Ah…hope those sore legs can get some attention. Just starting a headache (consequence of lack of sleep last night I reckon), so hit it hard with relevant pharmaceuticals hoping it doesn't develop into migraine.

Plenty of time for lunch:
Not so impressed with S&P calamari, a bit greasy.
The twice cooked pork belly on the other hand worked OK with the butternut pumpkin mash. Pav in a glass was all it’s been touted as. The pear/hazelnut millefeuille looks good too….maybe later.



Found an interesting book to read



Then time for massage.....legs feel sooooo much better now !

 

[Stoopidsteve]

And I did try the pear & hazelnut millefeuille...and always amuses me the many (usually incorrect) pronunciation attempts!



http://www.howdoyousaythatword.com/word/mille-feuille/

 

[Stoopidsteve]

We were delayed a little because the chiller units weren't working, so I went for a stroll, and noticed someone else wearing EXACTLY the same shade waistcoat as me. Who'd have thunk it? I mean, me, starting a fashion trend!

 

[Stoopidsteve]

So when boarding was called, lift down from Flounge bypassed the big scrum, then enter the up-ramp with J and W passengers.
I know there's still interest from some in the small Y cabin upstairs on A380 since new config, so here's some more pics from a couple angles I've not seen posted yet:

 

[Stoopidsteve]

I was in 33G with 33EF vacant. I'd chosen 33 rather than 32G (which had been available).
Advantages of 33:
armrest between 33FG raises (solid in 32, but raisable armrest between 32EF)
VOD available from boarding to deplaning
An unanticipated advantage, the under-seat net for feet I actually quite like and had forgotten.

I am looking forward to direct comparison with 32K on way back.


On to the flight:
Capt Tony Shannon, FO Andrew Marshall, CSM Helen Carlisle, in economy Phil Abdullah taking us on VH-OQG.

Push back 1550, took off 1608.

I had bit of a snooze, so not sure if CSM came round to welcome WPs. Watched "Flight" while first meal arrived. Didn't have all of it after Flounge excesses, but the hake in a cheesy sauce was OK. The carrot and broccoli were, as usual for inflight, tasteless, textureless mush.



Asked for green tea, but it didn't arrive until I was snoozin late after meal had been cleared. And it was chamomile. Couldn't be bothered arguing, so put it on 33F table and went to sleep. And woke later with wet leg where I'd spilled cold tea. oops. good job I'd changed into old F pyjamas I had with me.

After movie finished (and before tea arrived), another inflight first for me: zopiclone. 7.5mg. For those interested, it's same class of drug as zolpidem (stillnox), From my own investigations and discussions with those learned (and should have a funny line on the e to make it learnEd) in the arcane mysteries of pharmaceutical sciences, many of the paradoxical sleep effects of stillnox are the result of either being awoken before the drug effects have worn off, or from drinking alcohol with the drug. Latter not a problem, and the former can be circumvented by ensuring sufficient sleep ie a 14hr leg <+MEL-DXB is long enough! I had wanted GP to provide script for zaleplon with very short half-life, but it's not available in Australia.

The drug resulted in 7-8 hours sleep. Now THAT's a first for me, and arrived in DBX not feeling terrible. I awoke a couple hours out of DBX.

more food offered, again veg were mush. Lamb moussaka was not great. Edible, but not great. ANd green tea arrived with meal

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Arrived DXB at 2358, and at gate 0004. Fairly rapid deplane, then a bit more of a scrum to re-clear security, back up the escalator (not well signed) and entry to the EK Flounge. Actually calling it a lounge is a misnomer. It's F floor. entire floor. Dashed through and found a dining area, where nice spread of breads, olive dip and olives preceded a nicely done steak sandwich, with a pleasant kiwi cooler mocktail.

View attachment 15613View attachment 15614

Dash back to the gate, or rather the lift. Lift straight down to entry to aerobridge, and boarding pass checked in the lounge before you enter the lifts, so effectively the gate is IN the lounge.

Not enough time to explore any of the airport, but may have more to report on return

 

[Stoopidsteve]

So back onto VH-OQG with Bruce Simpson in charge, Gail Little CSM, and Ros Burton CSM in economy. Apparently the 80 odd Y seat vacant for MEL now filled as QF1 was cancelled due to a shattered windscreen. Despite this, 33 EF still remained empty. First for me with CSM saying we had 436PAX aboard plus 22 crew.
Got a CSM greeting this time, but the wording has changed from what's been previously reported. Now its "if there's anything you need let us know" rather than "Can we get you anything?". He did say he'd be back after breakfast. But wasn't. Not that I'd wanted anything.

I watched a light, amusing movie "Goddess", during which light snack offered (some kind of plastic-wrapped wrap). Declined after yummy steak sandwich.

Slept a couple more hours before watching some TopGear and usual Y b/f, tasteless egg, funny flavour mushrooms, and indeterminate sausage, but the choc croissant (another one for the amusing pronunciation list) is always edible.

http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=croissant

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Now, when you have your own headphones, and like me you like to cocoon yourself in blankets but conversely like to get up a few times on a flight, do you ever find yourself losing, getting tangled in, or otherwise having trouble with the headphone cord? If so, you need what I have ie a handy wife who likes the crafts, and has a sense of humour, who will happily spend several hours crocheting red and white stripes to encase your wires....

EDIT: Wife says KNITTED not crocheted. Obviously. Used 4ply sock yarn. Of course. Yes dear.



And there you go. Never lose your leads again.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Final comments for this leg:

Arrived LHR 0535, at gate 0541. Rapid deplane, HLO, no queues for immigration and I was standing kerbside awaiting Avis bus at 0602.

Beautiful bright sunny but chilly May morning, arrive my digs outskirts of Oxford by 0745....

 

[Inver]

Great TR can't wait to read more. Out of curiosity I had to look up how to pronounce mille feuille

 

[LadyC]

Love your TR! Out of interest, what is the ratio of confused versus amused bystanders when you set up for your beanie shot?

 

[oz74]

Love the TR also want to read more. Great pictures to.

 

[horseman]

Loving the pics

 

[Fifa]

I'm glad you're back with another trip report.
Always a good read...

 

[casanovawa]

Hmm, have you considered cutting a few eye holes in that beanie or would that unravel the whole thing??? Suppose you would look like some guy out of was it the Fat Albert comics???

But yes, imagine you must be the recipiant of one or two odd looks that your prepared to wear for the nom de travel...

Nice report as well...