2015 Gallipoli Ballot - 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landings

[Rick93]

Arrh well then, my experience has been a bit different to that ...

At an RSL Sub Branch I was a Member of, the Senior Vice President was charged with the authority to issue rum at 04:00 hrs. - BEFORE each Dawn Service on the 25th. April.

I wasn't sure if it was because he was the SVP, or ex Navy Bossun.

Anyway, I guess it won't be happenning at Gallipoli next year in the pre-dawn of the 25th. April. ( unless .... )

 

[medhead]

Unless....smuggled in past the security prison style. I'm not that wedded to the idea.


Pre-dawn issue of rum. Sounds more traditional.

 

[Rick93]

... but, the movie 'Midnight Express' is still fresh in my mind !!

 

[Flying mermaid]

... but, the movie 'Midnight Express' is still fresh in my mind !!

The hotel amaroo is staying in (which we stayed in previously) was the Midnight Express prison. Some of the pillars still have prisoner graffiti on them!

 

[Rick93]

That would be a 'strange' feeling - to be there and touch something like that ( from such a harrowing movie ! ) ...

Anyway, I've got all my requirements in. Updated my 'profile' with our air / land arrangements to Gallipoli.

Lodged my EOI with QANTAS for upgrades to Business ( paid for Flex Economy ). Never submitted this before ...

Thought it was 'instant' ? No, got to wait to see if "successful". Certainly hope so ... all those hours onboard, with J class food / drinks etc.

 

[Flying mermaid]

That would be a 'strange' feeling - to be there and touch something like that ( from such a harrowing movie ! ) ...

Anyway, I've got all my requirements in. Updated my 'profile' with our air / land arrangements to Gallipoli.

Lodged my EOI with QANTAS for upgrades to Business ( paid for Flex Economy ). Never submitted this before ...

Thought it was 'instant' ? No, got to wait to see if "successful". Certainly hope so ... all those hours onboard, with J class food / drinks etc.

Welcome to the international upgrade lottery for domestic if an award flight exists and you put in for an upgrade you will get it straight away. Internationally it is ordered by status, so a P1 gets before platinum before gold etc. do you have status with Qantas? I have only asked for upgrades twice - once for Master FM from Y to J or Y+ which was unsuccessful (he was silver and it was on the USA route) and once for MR FM and I from J to F both ways on the USA route. Unsuccessful going to the states but got it coming back - probably about 12 hours before the flight. You can use the free version of expert flyer a few weeks before your flight to see how full it is and it gives you some idea of your chances. Good luck - hope you get it.

Yes it was a bit weird staying in the ex fort - very peaceful and beautiful now but ghosts seemed to lurk there

 

[medhead]

The hotel amaroo is staying in (which we stayed in previously) was the Midnight Express prison. Some of the pillars still have prisoner graffiti on them!

I'm too lazy to read back. What's the hotel?

 

[Flying mermaid]

I'm too lazy to read back. What's the hotel?

Four seasons at Sultanahmet - it is a beautiful conversion with the building left as original as possible (within the constraints of turning it into a comfortable hotel). The original exercise yard is now a peaceful internal courtyard with flowers and fountains and a restaurant.

 

[medhead]

Ta. I was hoping to stay at some brand/chain hotels and that sounds great. But mum has been talked into hotels in the old city by a travel agent who lived (apparently) in Istanbul for 10 years.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Ta. I was hoping to stay at some brand/chain hotels and that sounds great. But mum has been talked into hotels in the old city by a travel agent who lived (apparently) in Istanbul for 10 years.

Sultanahmet is the old city so definitely the place to be - all the things you want to see are there - Topkapi, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, cisterns, Mosaics etc. grand bazaar a little more of a walk but worth it. Beware carpet sellers - we came back with 3 rugs and I didn't even like Turkish carpets before I went there

 

[Rick93]

That doesn't sound encouraging ...

The upgrade "Lottery" ...

Gee, I was thinking it was almost a certainty, given you pay double the price for 'Flex' over 'Sale'.

 

[Flying mermaid]

That doesn't sound encouraging ...

The upgrade "Lottery" ...

Gee, I was thinking it was almost a certainty, given you pay double the price for 'Flex' over 'Sale'.

Definitely not that easy, but plenty of people are successful. Just depends on whether higher status people have requested or not and how full the flights are etc. I am not an expert on it, as given my luck (or lack thereof), I prefer to pay for the class I want to travel in internationally and use my points for domestic classic awards and upgrades. However don't get pessimistic - there is a thread on upgrade success in the Qantas forum and many people have been lucky.

 

[Rick93]

Thanks. I'll check out the other threads ...

 

[Rick93]

Got my email today ...

"You have completed all mandatory questions .... tickets will be printed / posted in January to March 2015".

Just hanging out now for my Business upgrades !!

 

[Flying mermaid]

great

I received this e-mail and went and checked my position -but don't seemed to have moved from 26,000+

GALLIPOLI 2015 BALLOT WAIT LIST REMINDER
We are writing to remind you of what you need to do if you receive an offer from the Gallipoli 2015 ballot wait list.
Using your Customer ID number, you should find out where you are ranked on the wait list, so you can start planning if you are near the top of the list. The next round of wait list offers will be announced within the next fortnight.
If you receive an offer of attendance passes, you will be notified by email and/or letter, which will provide details of the offer, how to accept the offer, and the offer expiry time and date.
You will have 14 calendar days (including the date of notification of offer) to accept the offer and complete all mandatory travel questions in your ballot account for both yourself and your accompanying pass holder.
To secure both attendance passes, you must have confirmed your travel arrangements by the cut-off, for both yourself and your accompanying person. You do not need to provide passport details by the cut-off to secure your pass allocation. You will need to provide all passport details by the end of December 2014 as tickets will be printed in January 2015 for February/March distribution. Your name and passport number will be printed on your ticket.
If you decline the offer, or it expires without being accepted, you will be removed from the wait list and can no longer participate in the ballot process to attend the Anzac Day commemorations at Gallipoli in 2015. The wait list will remain operational until 31 March 2015.
If you are on the wait list and need to update your email address or contact details, please contact Ticketek on 1300 364 002 or email [email protected].
Yours sincerely
The Gallipoli Ballot Team

 

[amaroo]

Just hanging out now for my Business upgrades !!

Best of luck!

great

I received this e-mail and went and checked my position -but don't seemed to have moved from 26,000+

The wife received the same..... same result.

 

[Pushka]

I think they need to stop sending out emails unless they are successful.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I think they need to stop sending out emails unless they are successful.

Well people can't complain they are not being kept informed! Realistically though it's hard to imagine anyone above say 10,000 having any chance!

 

[Pushka]

Well people can't complain they are not being kept informed! Realistically though it's hard to imagine anyone above say 10,000 having any chance!

I think anyone more than 1000 isn't going anywhere.

I guess I'm tired of being informed how unsuccessful I've been.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I think anyone more than 1000 isn't going anywhere.

I guess I'm tired of being informed how unsuccessful I've been.

It will be interesting to see. I've assumed that with each iteration the refusal rate will increase as people evaluate the cost and complexity of last minute bookings but maybe not.