AFF Gathering #15 in NTL on 21 – 23 October 2022

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Newcastle has been chosen as the AFF Annual Gathering destination for 2022 (postponed from 2021), occurring over the weekend of the 21st to 23rd October. The average temperature range for October is 14.1ºC – 22.1ºC. The average rainfall is 72.5mm with 11 rainy days. It is NSW's second most populated area and Australia's seventh most populous, representing 1.95% of Australia.

The weekend is likely to take in a wine tour, owing to the proximity of the Hunter Valley. Please make it known if you are interested in attending a wine tour when indicating your interest for the weekend, as this will help organisers make a good start on venues that can cater to our group size.

The lead organiser this year is a member that has turned up to many previous events, @Bindibuys.

Members that have offered help include: @support @Bindibuys @Princess Fiona

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Activities​

Friday 21st October​

The dinner venue is The Landing Bar and Kitchen, located next to the Rydges on the water front. We will have the outdoor marquee all to ourselves, with the sides down for privacy. Menus are available online, and the exact kickoff time will be advised closer to the weekend.

Saturday 22nd October​

During the day will be a wine tour for those who have indicated interest/are booked for the tour and another tour – possibly dolphins – for those not attending the wine tour.

The dinner venue is The Cricketers Arms. There is a cash bar. The special guest is a local Newcastle breakfast DJ.

Sunday 23rd October​

A tour of the city will follow on the last day, ending at Fighter World, located conveniently next to the airport.

Click HERE to Register!!​

Tentative Attendees​

This list simply indicates an interest in attending the event and additionally, the wine tour. Members are in order of response to the thread and are not ranked from silver to platinum (least likely to most likely to attend).

Username	Arrival Details	Accommodation	Wine Tour	Fighter World	Departure Details
Bindibuys	Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	Limousine
Bindibuys +1	Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	Limousine
Hvr	21/10 QF1596	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	23/10 QF1599
drron	21/10 Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	No	23/10 Limousine
mrs.dr.ron	21/10 Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	No	No	23/10 Limousine
Doug_Westcott	21/10 VA1591	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	24/10 VA1592
serfty	20/10 QF1598	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	23/10 QF1599
zig	Friday only	Local	No	No
kpc	Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	No	No	Limousine
kpc +1	Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	No	No	Limousine
Mattg	21/10 VA1593	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	23/10 FC208
samh004	21/10 QF2421	Novotel	Yes	Yes	23/10 QF1946
FishFood	21/10 QF1948	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	23/10 QF1599
Fifa	21/10 Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	Limousine
Fifa +1	21/10 Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	Limousine
straitman	21/10 VA1593	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	24/10 VA1594
Sue Oz	21/10 VA1593	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	24/10 VA1594
straitman +1	Sat Dinner Only	N/A	No	No	TBA Limousine
kangarooflyer88	21/10 Train	Ibis Budget	Yes	Yes	23/10 QF
Eija	21/10 QF1596	TBA	No	Yes	23/10 QF1599
QFWP	22/10 VA1102	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	23/10 VA1109
Bundy Bear	21/10 VA932 then Train	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	23/10 JQ455
Matt_01	21/10 QF1948	TBA	Yes	Interested	23/10 QF1949
Jacques Vert	21/10 Train	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	No	23/10 Train
Gem56	21/10 Train	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	No	23/10 Train
Sprucegoose	21/10 VA1593	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	24/10 VA1594
Exceladdict	Friday only
Aeolus	Friday TBA	Holiday Inn Express	No	No	Sunday TBA
sharpinjr	Limousine	Local	No	Yes	Limousine
sharpinjr + 1	Limousine	Local	No	Yes	Limousine
admin	21 Oct VA1593	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	No	23 Oct VA1594
Princess Fiona	Limousine	Local	No	No	Limousine
CMA222			Yes	No
CMA222 +1			Yes	No
CaptJCool			Yes	Yes
CBR_Flyer	Friday		No	Yes

 

[support]

Saturday Dinner​

 

[CaptJCool]

The old Company office
On the walk to dinner

the food

the company

 

[support]

Prizes​

The main prize on the night was decided with a game of heads or tails/true or false where our wonderful MC @Congewai challenged the attendees to some questions at the start of the night. The first question started with the statement, Ryanair flies the most routes of any airline in the world: true or false?

As the numbers finally whittled down to 1, it emerged Clifford, finally able to partake in a competition – as he is no longer the owner of AFF – was the winner. The prize, 20k Qantas points donated by Point Hacks!

Later in the night after a wonderful talk by the guest speaker, and local celebrity – (Breakfast with) Todd Sergeant of 2NUR – about starting in radio and learning to fly and the similarities between the two (I hope that was what it was about!), we were able to do a lucky door prize for the remaining prizes.

The next prize was a Frequent Flyer Solutions ‘Business Class’ membership, donated by Frequent Flyer Solutions/Australian Frequent Flyer. This membership allows the attendee to access 12-months of training, along with access to webinars. This was won in a raffle by @Bundy Bear.

Finally, the last prize on the night was a bottle of Peter Drayton Cabernet Franc picked up on the wine tour Saturday morning/afternoon. The Cabernet Franc was not tasted by the group, but I separately requested a taste and enjoyed it so much that I bought the bottle for the prize. Again, a raffle found the winner, @CMA222 +1.

At the end of the night AFF Moderator @serfty provided a long table of airline goodies available for free to anyone who was interested. Lots of interesting amenity kits, PJ’s and even a small suitcase.

 

[Anna]

Lucky (insert name) who won prizes

 

[support]

Lucky (insert name) who won prizes

After a late night not taking notes, I needed to confirm. Now edited.

 

[MARTINE]

It looks like it was a wonderful weekend. I need to plan to attend one in future (if you’ll have me)!

 

[AIRwin]

It looks like it was a wonderful weekend. I need to plan to attend one in future (if you’ll have me)!

Where is the next gathering?

 

[Captain Halliday]

Where is the next gathering?

Brisbane!! in less than three weeks

BNE dinner Wed 9 Nov 2022 @ 1800

Been a while since a BNE catch up so I'm proposing dinner/drinks before the Christmas party season really kicks off. Venue: Full Moon Hotel, Sandgate Date: Wednesday 9 November, 2022 Time: 1800AEST Wednesday has been selected because it's Schnitz Night. Details here. Regular menu also...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Sorry, couldn’t resist the chance for a cheeky plug!

 

[support]

Where is the next gathering?

Normally discussions take place when members get home after the weekend and after photos are shared.

Way back in 2020/2021 following Canberra the shortlist was for Newcastle and Launceston. Seeing as Newcastle won, there’s potentially the chance that Launceston could be a good idea for 2023, and at probably a later time to take into account the weather, perhaps early December? We’d need a local to volunteer their time.

Before everyone jumps up and suggests a capital city, we’ve visited Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra twice. Then Perth, Darwin, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Cairns, Hobart and now Newcastle once.

Longreach had a Do in 2016.

Over the years New Zealand has been suggested a few times, but you need to consider getting to the events and getting home. If it was going to happen, you’d need a long weekend.

But anyway, that’s the story. Presumably discussions will happen in the next few weeks.

 

[AIRwin]

Thanks @support !

For those flying VA this afternoon:

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Sorry I wasn't able to attend the Fighter World reception as I slept in today. Presently at NTL awaiting to board QF 2424 (can guest 1 into the QF Club )

-RooFlyer88

 

[Bundy Bear]

Good tour of Fort Scratchley from 95 year old Norm



Now having lunch at Fighter World.

 

[CaptJCool]

Thanks @support !

For those flying VA this afternoon:
View attachment 304829

It’s even worse. Both JQ flights to OOL & BRI (1740) Delayed

 

[CaptJCool]

@Matt_01

 

[Hvr]

Am now at NTL AP after another great AFF get together. Thanks to the organisers and fellow attendees for a great time.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Arrived in CFS on the train about 10 minutes late.

Just for anyone heading north: Trains are cancelled north of Grafton due to flood damage to the tracks. AFAIK the Pacific Highway is still open. Things are pretty wet.

 

[Fifa]

A huge thanks to @Bindibuys for a terrific weekend! Your organisational skills are superb and your +1 was a fantastic support person.

Last night’s guest speaker provided lots of laughs, the quiz & raffle were fun and @straitman and his ex-Airforce mate gave us a fascinating insight into the aircraft at Fighter World.

Lastly, thank you to all the AFFers and their +1s who attended - it was so good to catch up again and share our combined knowledge.

 

[Hvr]

Oh dear, still on runway. QF1599, can't disembark, no ground staff.

 

[serfty]

Disembarked, engineer coming up from MEL on QF1598, 8:40pm.

@FishFood missing MEL-PER connection.

 

[Matt_01]

@Matt_01 View attachment 304842

Our call signs are Maverick and Goose