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

 

[Bindibuys]

Sitting here at NTL waiting for my flight to BNE, thought I would grab a couple of photos for those that will be waiting for their flights on 23 Oct.
1. No lounge
2. Food - red rooster, valley & vine, and coffee/cake + a bar & typical newsagent/last minute gift shop.

 

[serfty]

Or, buy 10,800 IHG points (including the 80% bonus points, i.e. you pay for 6,000 points) for USD81, or approx. AUD117. Then, book two nights for 10,000 IHG points + AUD225.92. Total cost is $343, which is more than the cost of just buying 30,000 points but still a $77 saving.

I was surprised the 80% promo was still going today.

I have a 3 night booking at $190 per night that would earn 5k points.

Having 20k points already, I purchased 25k for USD170 and have now booked for at worst 9k points and AU$85 per night.

 

[JessicaTam]

Sitting here at NTL waiting for my flight to BNE, thought I would grab a couple of photos for those that will be waiting for their flights on 23 Oct.
1. No lounge
2. Food - red rooster, valley & vine, and coffee/cake + a bar & typical newsagent/last minute gift shop.
View attachment 288520View attachment 288521View attachment 288522View attachment 288523

The lounge is visible in photo #2. It is on the left next to the blue chair. Actually it is the blue chair.

 

[straitman]

The lounge is visible in photo #2. It is on the left next to the blue chair. Actually it is the blue chair.

It could get crowded quickly.

 

[NM]

It could get crowded quickly.

Will test it out with a crowd of 2 when Mrs NM and I pop down in a few weeks time. I hope she is happy sitting in my knee, because the other way around may not have a positive outcome.

 

[JessicaTam]

Will test it out with a crowd of 2 when Mrs NM and I pop down in a few weeks time. I hope she is happy sitting in my knee, because the other way around may not have a positive outcome.

They have actually renovated the lounge. It used to be the bin in the corner.

 

[NM]

They have actually renovated the lounge. It used to be the bin in the corner.

As in "Where's you bin?" ... "I ain't bin nowhere, I's bin in da lounge waitin' for me flight"

 

[exceladdict]

When Mrs Excel and I visited in may, this was our favourite "lounge"



Though, today, this seat and the one next to it were covered in crumbs so were not much good for sitting. Clearly someone with CL access got there before me. I slunk off to the area near the virgin gate, which was quite was desolate around midday.

 

[CaptJCool]

It’s a 3 hour train ride to the nearest lounge - in Syd Knee

 

[CaptJCool]

It’s a 3 hour train ride to the nearest lounge - in Syd Knee

Quiz question @Bindibuys

is there a rough indicative timing of when Sunday events will end ?

I’m likely to fly onto Melbourne afterwards and wanting to know when I ought book

thanks
capt

 

[serfty]

Quiz question @Bindibuys

is there a rough indicative timing of when Sunday events will end ?

I’m likely to fly onto Melbourne afterwards and wanting to know when I ought book

thanks
capt

Many attendees are on the 4:45pm QF1599, they will have time to catch that after the tour.

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

 

[Bindibuys]

Expecting the bus to get to the airport between 3:15 - 3:30pm (all depends on how fast boarding happens after Fighter World)
BUT, if you have an earlier flight, we will have a car there to take you to the airport earlier.

Post automatically merged: Aug 27, 2022

Apologies for the delays, Princess Fiona wanted to check out a different location for our Saturday night dinner, just waiting on that info, then prices etc can all be loaded on here.

 

[CaptJCool]

Many attendees are on the 4:45pm QF1599, they will have time catch that after the tour.

Yep that’s the one!

Expecting the bus to get to the airport between 3:15 - 3:30pm (all depends on how fast boarding happens after Fighter World)

thanks !
that fits in nicely with the QF1599

 

[support]

Apologies for the delays, Princess Fiona wanted to check out a different location for our Saturday night dinner, just waiting on that info, then prices etc can all be loaded on here.

Indeed, booking form will be up soon.

 

[Prince of Persia]

Hope it's not too late for me and +1 to join in

Username	Arrival Details	Acco	Wine Tour?	Fighter World	Departure Details
hkdastur	Thur 20/10 VA1593 MEL-NTL Arr 14:00 hrs	HIX	Probable	Yes	Mon 24/10 VA1594 NTL-MEL Dep 14:40 hrs

Look forward to meeting up

HIX booked 4 nights on points - 14K * 4 nights. Flights - yet to book - debating between points and cash Choice fares for the status credits

 

[Bindibuys]

@hkdastur, added to my list.

 

[Prince of Persia]

@hkdastur, added to my list.

Thanks - do look forward to meeting up - my first trip to Newcastle

 

[admin]

I've just booked my flights & accommodation!
Arrive: 21 Oct VA1593
Depart: 23 Oct VA1594
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express Newcastle

 

[support]

Attention​

The booking form to register for activities for AFF #15 in Newcastle is now available. As you select activities you will be told the cost for them, and once the form is submitted you will receive your selections in an email, as well as bank details to transfer the pre-payments where necessary.

For any questions regarding more detail, please tag @Bindibuys who is the lead organiser.

Click HERE To Register​

 

[exceladdict]

I've just booked my flights & accommodation!
Arrive: 21 Oct VA1593
Depart: 23 Oct VA1594
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express Newcastle

Hope to see you in the flesh to say thank you in light of last week's news!