AFF Gathering #17 in BNE on 18 - 20 October 2024

We're pleased to announce that the 2024 AFF annual gathering will be held in Brisbane, the sunny capital of Queensland!

The weekend of Friday 18 - Sunday 20 October 2024 has been chosen for the event. As per past years, there will be a welcome dinner on the Friday evening, optional activities on Saturday and a main dinner on Saturday evening. There may also be an optional activity on Sunday in the late morning.

All AFF members (and +1's, etc.) are welcome to attend. Most people usually fly in on Friday afternoon and leave on the Sunday afternoon/evening.

Your lead organisers for this year's event are @NM and @QF WP. Other Brisbane-based members are also welcome to volunteer to assist.

We'll update this thread over the coming months with more information about the planned activities, dinner venues and costs, which we expect to be similar to past gatherings. There will be a $5 registration fee per participant, plus the cost of any activities and/or meals that you choose to join.

For now, please feel free to let us know in this thread if you think you'll be able to make it! For those unfamiliar with the AFF terminology:

• "Platinum" means you're planning to attend and have booked flights/accommodation
• "Gold" means you're likely to attend but will need to confirm at a later time
• "Silver" means you're unlikely to attend at this stage.
• "Bronze" means you're unable to attend.

The AFF Leadership Team can provide support in terms of money collection and distribution, and editing this thread as needed. If something needs to be updated, please simply report the post with the update so anyone on the team can action it (starting a conversation only alerts one person).

We're looking forward to seeing you all in Brissie!

 

[CaptJCool]

A candidate for sure, but there may be a few others also vying for the title

To assuage everyone
I flew from Milan to get home
But that’s over a month ago so I’m figuring it doesn’t count … LMAO

 

[Sprucegoose]

Years ago, I had a CIO who thought that penultimate was the most bestest version of ultimate.
Many a speech he made where plaudits were given with the superlative penultimate!

Obviously not CEO material…..

 

[NM]

My overseas trip got canceled which means I’m staying home in BNE this weekend. Is there any room to join dinner tomorrow or is it fully booked?

It'll be good to see you! Any roomy for @boomy ?

While we would love to have you join us, unfortunately there is a venue capacity of 60 people and we currently have 60 people registered as attending. Its great that we have 60 people joining us, but sad that we have reached what we thought was going to be lofty, unachievable capacity limit .

Stay tuned and if anyone has a change of situation, QF WP or I will message you.

 

[NM]

To assuage everyone
I flew from Milan to get home
But that’s over a month ago so I’m figuring it doesn’t count … LMAO

Criteria is travel distance from leaving home to arriving at the event.

 

[NM]

@NM , right now ...

View attachment 412301

Nahh, not enough grey hair on that bloke.

Just hosted 8 friends here at home tonight. Should be an early night for us tonight ...

 

[Sprucegoose]

While we would love to have you join us, unfortunately there is a venue capacity of 60 people and we currently have 60 people registered as attending. Its great that we have 60 people joining us, but sad that we have reached what we thought was going to be lofty, unachievable capacity limit .

Stay tuned and if anyone has a change of situation, QF WP or I will message you.

Loiter outside the venue……pack some sandwiches

 

[RooFlyer]

@boomy if only @penegal was coming. Then you could take his place for at least an hour and a half of the event.

 

[CaptJCool]

Loiter outside the venue……pack some sandwiches

I’d be shocked if someone did “pull a sickie” or “missed their flight” freeing up space …

 

[NM]

My overseas trip got canceled which means I’m staying home in BNE this weekend. Is there any room to join dinner tomorrow or is it fully booked?

Check your Conversation/Direct Messages

 

[QF WP]

I checked with the guest for tomorrow night and he's raring to come. He may have met some of you at a previous FT function that he attended many years ago.

A little bit of his (mostly aviation) background to titillate those coming tomorrow night for dinner:

Spent almost 15 years with BA, then 8 years with QF in a multitude or sales and management roles in Victoria, Tasmania and then Qld. He then got a massive promotion to QF HQ in Mascot as Head of Global Sales, QF Freight. He left there and had a bit of a break before continuing in the aviation industry as GM Cargo for Swissport Aust & NZ. A year trying a new tack in Chamber of Commerce & Industry here in Qld had him yearning for the aviation industry again. His last role was a contract with Bonza until June 2024.

He'll be circulating at drinks and then he and I will be spending time at each of the tables around dinner.

 

[serfty]

I checked with the guest for tomorrow night and he's raring to come. He may have met some of you at a previous FT function that he attended many years ago.

A little bit of his (mostly aviation) background to titillate those coming tomorrow night for dinner:

Spent almost 15 years with BA, then 8 years with QF in a multitude or sales and management roles in Victoria, Tasmania and then Qld. He then got a massive promotion to QF HQ in Mascot as Head of Global Sales, QF Freight. He left there and had a bit of a break before continuing in the aviation industry as GM Cargo for Swissport Aust & NZ. A year trying a new tack in Chamber of Commerce & Industry here in Qld had him yearning for the aviation industry again. His last role was a contract with Bonza until June 2024.

He'll be circulating at drinks and then he and I will be spending time at each of the tables around dinner.

Is that Friday or Saturday night?

Us Mexicans are skewed time wise...

 

[Sprucegoose]

@boomy if only @penegal was coming. Then you could take his place for at least an hour and a half of the event.

I don't think he will be here.

He's terribly focused on planning a Melbourne dinner that seems to have gone the way of the dodo and local economy.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Watching closely ... may be opportunities to fly ahead.

Looking ok at this point Serfty

 

[QF WP]

@serfty, that’d be tonight now (Friday).

 

[DejaBrew]

QF512 delayed by an hour. Was hoping to make it into BNE and be a chance of joining the Friday lunch, but suspect that’s not going to happen as we don’t land till 11:40am (pending further delays).

 

[gwilli1]

Currently in the SYD VA lounge , VA931 on time at this stage. No UPG came through, but still in EconX . Leaving a wet Sydney morning.

 

[DejaBrew]

QF512 delayed by an hour. Was hoping to make it into BNE and be a chance of joining the Friday lunch, but suspect that’s not going to happen as we don’t land till 11:40am (pending further delays).

….and were delayed again. QF512 departure now delayed until 12:25pm

 

[RooFlyer]

QF512 delayed by an hour. Was hoping to make it into BNE and be a chance of joining the Friday lunch, but suspect that’s not going to happen as we don’t land till 11:40am (pending further delays).

QF1928 also delayed - notified last night. Friend Juddles is going to pick me up

 

[NM]

And we have an amazing guest speaker lined up for Saturday dinner. He will be talking about his many experiences in aviation, including some unique flying operations, one of which may redefine some people's definition of landing. A few of our attendees have worked with him throughout their own aviation careers and he comes very highly recommended.

 

[serfty]

Fly Ahead is in operation for my MEL to BNE flight. I might take the option.