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

 

[admin]

What a great weekend! Could finally let my hair down relax, enjoy the company, wine, food, and organised events. We really do have something special! Thank you @Bindibuys for the organisation and lift to and from the airport. Looking forward to seeing you all next time.

 

[Hvr]

Am staying in Newscastle tonight. Flying home tomorrow. Staying with family.

 

[serfty]

Repaired, but crew now out of hours.

 

[straitman]

Am staying in Newscastle tonight. Flying home tomorrow. Staying with family.

… and we are in Nelson Bay.

 

[Mattg]

Commiserations to the group that was supposed to be on QF1599 this afternoon. Those 717s sure are unreliable

Did Qantas provide accommodation for the evening?

 

[serfty]

Did Qantas provide accommodation for the evening?

Yes, but difficult to get to as the place is a ghost town for Taxi/Rideshare this Sunday evening.

Been awaiting transport for 2 hours now.

 

[justinbrett]

Yes, but difficult to get to as the place is a ghost town for Taxi/Rideshare this Sunday evening.

Been awaiting transport for 2 hours now.

Sadly welcome to NTL. Been in that position several times (though trying to get home).

If it helps there’s availability at the Mercure tonight which is walkable from the terminal.

 

[FishFood]

I arrived in Melbourne having being rebooked onto the JQ flight. Quite difficult to find someone to talk to but got sorted out with Mantra Tullamarine overnight

 

[serfty]

I arrived in Melbourne having being rebooked onto the JQ flight. Quite difficult to find someone to talk to but got sorted out with Mantra Tullamarine overnight

You must tell us where you were helped at MEL.

 

[serfty]

Finally got Taxi with two others going to Rydges 12:40am.

Rebooked same flight next day.

Original equipment to head to MEL as noonish QF1595, most remaing PAX rebooked on that.

Have $30 F&B credit.

 

[FishFood]

You must tell us where you were helped at MEL.

The terminal was basically shut so I could only see staff at baggage services. I originally spoke to baggage services who were sympathetic and radio'd the duty supervisor, I was told to go back up to the check in desks and found the duty supervisor there who was sorting out some other people affected by the cancellation.

 

[Hvr]

Whilst I was initially rebooked on QF1599 at 1645 this evening, when I woke up this morning I had several SMSs saying I was in the 1245 flight. I was able to select a seat and will try to get home then.

 

[Mattg]

A huge thank you once again to @Bindibuys for oganising such a wonderful event. I had a great time catching up with everyone and meeting a few new faces as well.

My Link Airways flight to CBR was a little late, but thankfully had no other issues and didn't get stuck overnight in NTL like a few of the folks heading back to MEL.

I've done a little write-up about the weekend here, for anyone interested:

Newcastle Gathering Marks the Return of AFF Events!

Over the weekend, around 40 AFF members travelled to Newcastle, NSW for the 15th annual weekend get-together. A long-standing Australian Frequent Flyer

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Bindibuys]

I have come home with the bag of lanyards..... think they belong to @serfty
Please PM me address to send them to.

 

[straitman]

I have come home with the bag of lanyards..... think they belong to @serfty
Please PM me address to send them to.

I brought them. Hang onto them until they are needed somewhere again.

 

[straitman]

Whilst I was initially rebooked on QF1599 at 1645 this evening, when I woke up this morning I had several SMSs saying I was in the 1245 flight. I was able to select a seat and will try to get home then.

I have just looked up our aircraft for VA1594 at 1440 this afternoon. I(t's just leaving SYD to MEL prior to heading to NTL and is currently 35 min late.

Update: It has just left MEL for NTL and is now 10 min late and the NTL weather is clearing.

 

[Sprucegoose]

During OLCI yesterday I was seated in 5B (E190) today thanks to the VIP Team now in 2A, I particularly like the fact there is no seat mate on these aircraft.

Mattg are you P1?

 

[Mattg]

Mattg are you P1?

I'm not, but @Matt_01 is

 

[Hvr]

Back at NTL AP for take 2. Crew and plane are so let's hope it all happens.

 

[serfty]

Whilst I was initially rebooked on QF1599 at 1645 this evening, when I woke up this morning I had several SMSs saying I was in the 1245 flight. I was able to select a seat and will try to get home then.

The 12:45pm flight is yesterdays 5:45pm aircraft that went u/s until it was 'fixed' approx. 10:30pm last night; too late for crew hours. It had initially been scheduled to operate 10:20am, but getting crew to accommodation so as to reset "hours" proved just as problematic as it was for PAX.

I was offered it as well, but was happy with the later flight as I needed to be on deck for work from this morning. My rescheduled flight is a 712 with the 12 J seats - these are being sold as economy. Score !