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!

 

[AIRwin]

The list of stations reads like Bowen Hills would be closed but the map looks like it'd be operational. What's the local intel around this, please?

Bowen Hills will be open, but trains will not continue north of Bowen Hills.

In fact the red (Ferny Grove) line will still be running but all others will terminate (with rail replacement buses outside the station)

 

[QF WP]

An "AFF gathering for Dummies" first timer question: any dress code for the Saturday dinner? Or any of the events?

No dress code but aviation related clothes will make you fit in perfectly

 

[AIRwin]

No dress code but aviation related clothes will make you fit in perfectly

Oh I'll wear my Boeing T-shirt then

 

[Captain Halliday]

No dress code but aviation related clothes will make you fit in perfectly

You wearing your cap with the propellor on top?

 

[CaptJCool]

You wearing your cap with the propellor on top?

 

[serfty]

No dress code but aviation related clothes will make you fit in perfectly

Qantas PJ's?

 

[NM]

Qantas PJ's?
View attachment 410239

Yep, that would meet the dress code for the event But the guy on the right should wear some trousers too.

 

[NM]

So it reads that the track closures are from Saturday AM, so anybody arriving on Friday are fine.

On Saturday, termination of any trains heading north on any of those lines will be at Bowen Hills, from which buses will run to drop people at the stations/places nominated.

This is why we have 50C fares at the moment - the upgrade to the CrossCity Rail network is causing issues (but thankfully only on weekends)

There have been quite a few line closures during weekdays too. Quite a few days during the school holidays, and last week when I went into the Valley on Thursday there were regular announcements along the way to remind passengers that the Shorncliffe line would be closed from 7:45pm until last train of the day with buses operating services.

Speaking with our event transport provider this week, he noted that the rail line closures and bus substitutions have been a blessing for his business recently, as Qld Rail needs to contract lots of vehicles and drivers to cover the closures.

 

[AIRwin]

Speaking with our event transport provider this week, he noted that the rail line closures and bus substitutions have been a blessing for his business recently, as Qld Rail needs to contract lots of vehicles and drivers to cover the closures.

And I've been getting free rides on the rail replacement buses

 

[dsdavidc]

Platinum to attend with 2 people (myself + wife).
I'll attend the 2 Dinners only (Friday night + Saturday night).

 

[Matt_01]

No dress code but aviation related clothes will make you fit in perfectly

Does this count. Handed out when the Dreamliner was introduced on the 'dog and pony show' around Australia. From memory the staff ones did not have platinum one on the back as I seem to recall an individual asking Mrs&MissM and myself if we were we willing to swap our caps with his.

 

[QF WP]

Platinum to attend with 2 people (myself + wife).
I'll attend the 2 Dinners only (Friday night + Saturday night).

If you’re both attending but you’re the only one attending the dinners, what is Mrs dsdsvisc attending?

 

[dsdavidc]

If you’re both attending but you’re the only one attending the dinners, what is Mrs dsdsvisc attending?

Hi WP

There are 2 of us attending (David & Sue) the 2 Dinners (Friday night + Saturday night).
What is required to confirm?

 

[NM]

Does this count. Handed out when the Dreamliner was introduced on the 'dog and pony show' around Australia. From memory the staff ones did not have platinum one on the back as I seem to recall an individual asking Mrs&MissM and myself if we were we willing to swap our caps with his.

View attachment 410385View attachment 410386

Yep, that counts ... but per a previous post of mine, I recommend trousers as well

 

[NM]

Hi WP

There are 2 of us attending (David & Sue) the 2 Dinners (Friday night + Saturday night).
What is required to confirm?

Hi David. I have sent you a personalised event cost summary for two people attending Saturday night dinner, along with payment instructions. Friday night dinner has no pre-payment requirement but we do need to confirm numbers with the venue and you are now on the list!

Welcome aboard!

 

[kileskus]

Platinum.
Arriving Friday 1935 QF550. Staying at the Hilton. Leaving Sunday 1645 VA966

 

[ozcolin]

This post is reserved for the attendees list.

Updated 7 October @ 9pm

Attendees

#	Username	Arrival date/time	Flight #	Accommodation	Fri Dinner	Exp A	Exp B	Sat Dinner	Departure date/time	Flight #
	1Fs
	Ade	18/10, 10.40pm	QF1264			A+Sim		Sat	20/10, 5.15pm	QF545
	admin		VA327	Brisbane Marriott Hotel	Fri		B	Sat		VA322
	admin +1		VA327	Brisbane Marriott Hotel	Fri		B	Sat		VA322
	admin +2		VA327	Brisbane Marriott Hotel	Fri		B	Sat		VA322
	AIRwin				Fri			Sat
	Bindibuys	18/10, 11.10am	QF1964	The Sebel Brisbane	Fri		B	Sat	20/10, 6.50pm	QF1967
	Congewai	18/10, 11.10am	QF1964	The Sebel Brisbane	Fri	A+Sim		Sat	20/10, 6.50pm	QF1967
	Bjet	18/10	VA1209	Ibis styles Brisbane	Fri	A		Sat	20/10, 5pm	VA1224
	bPeteb			Brisbane local	Fri			Sat
	Bundy Bear			Brisbane local	Fri	A+Sim		Sat
	Captain Halliday			Brisbane local	Fri			Sat
	craven morehead	15/10, 1:25pm	QF2405	The Sebel Brisbane	Fri			Sat	21/10, 3:10pm	QF1796
	Mrs cravan morehead	15/10, 1:25pm	QF2405	The Sebel Brisbane	Fri			Sat	21/10, 3:10pm	QF1796
	Dantas	18/10, 5.50pm	QF626	Four Seasons	Fri	A+Sim		Sat	20/10, 11:10am	QF1255
	DejaBrew	18/10, 10.35am	QF512	The Sebel Brisbane	Fri	A+Sim		Sat	20/10, 5.15pm	QF545
	Doug_Westcott	17/10, 1.20pm	QF616	Mantra Midtown Brisbane	Fri		B	Sat	21/10, 12.40pm	QF1257
	dxwell			Brisbane Local				Sat
	dsdavidc			Brisbane local	Fri			Sat
	dsdavidc+1			Brisbane Local	Fri			Sat
	FishFood			Holiday Inn Express	Fri	A+Sim		Sat
	Gladstone Tim			Brisbane local	Fri		B
	goldcoasteagle			Brisbane local	Fri			Sat
	gwilli1	18/10, 10.30am	VA931	The Sebel Brisbane	Fri		B	Sat	20/10, 4.00pm	VA962
	Hvr	18/10, 1.20pm	QF616	Holiday Inn Express	Fri	A+Sim		Sat	20/10, 4.15pm	QF633
	jumpjam	17/10	VA1213	Hotel Indigo	Fri	A+Sim		Sat	20/10
	JoshWP			The Sebel brisbane	Fri		B	Sat
	jxv	17/10, 1.30pm	QF616	iStay River City Brisbane	Fri	A		Sat	22/10, 2.15pm	QF629
	jxv +1	17/10, 1.30pm	QF616	iStay River City Brisbane	Fri	A		Sat	22/10, 2.15pm	QF629
	Katie			Brisbane Local	Fri			Sat
	kileskus	18/10, 7:35pm	QF550	Hilton		A		Sat	20/10, 4:45pm	VA966
	Matt_01	18/10, 2:05pm	QF1930	The Sebel Brisbane	Fri	A+Sim		Sat	20/10, 4:35pm	QF1937
	Mattg	18/10, 10.40am	QF1904	The Sebel Brisbane	Fri		B	Sat	22/10, 11.25am	QF1905
	MJW Kangaroo							Sat
	MJW Kangaroo +1							Sat
	Mr_Orange			Brisbane local	Fri
	NM	18/10, 5pm	NM Bus	Indigo - Brisbane local	Fri		B	Sat	20/10, 3pm	NM Bus
	NM +1	18/10, 5pm	NM Bus	Indigo - Brisbane local	Fri		B	Sat	20/10, 3pm	NM Bus
	patrickw	18/10, 6.35am	QF500	Four Points	Fri	A+Sim		Sat	22/10	QF597
	Patrizia	18/10, 3:30pm	QF528		Fri			Sat	20/10, 6:45pm	QF555
	PrezRegan	18/10, 5.55pm	QF1875	The Sebel Brisbane	Fri		B	Sat	20/10, 9.05am	QF1874
	QF WP			Brisbane local	Fri	A		Sat
	QF WP +1			Brisbane local	Fri		B	Sat
	QPProletarian			Brisbane local / CBD
	Ron Calls				Fri			Sat
	RooFlyer	18/10, 12.10pm	QF 1928	The Sebel Brisbane	Fri	A		Sat	21/10, 1.05pm	VA950
	Scash	18/10		Oaks on Charlotte St	Fri			Sat	21/10
	Scash +1	18/10		Oaks on Charlotte St	Fri			Sat	21/10
	Scenicbumblebee			Sofitel (Brisbane local)
	serfty	18/10 2:25pm	QF618	Ibis Styles	Fri	A		Sat	21/10 2:15pm	QF629
	Somebol		QF520	The Sebel Brisbane	Fir	A+Sim		Sat		VA1224
	sprucegoose	18/10, 10.45am	QF1254	The Sebel Brisbane	Fri	A+Sim		Sat	23/10, 5.10pm	QF1261
	straitman	18/10, 5.25pm	QF126	The Sebel Brisbane	Fri	A		Sat	21/10, 09.55am	VA322
	Sue Oz	18/10, 5.25pm	QF126	The Sebel Brisbane	Fri		B	Sat	21/10, 09.55am	VA322
	tdimdad	17/10	VA973	Family	Fri			Sat	20/10	VA978
	travellingann	17/10, 7:00pm	QF1867		Fri			Sat
	WilsonM	18/10, 11.10am	QF1964	The Sebel Brisbane	Fri		B	Sat	20/10, 6.10am	QF505

Platinum.
Arriving Friday 1935 QF550. Staying at the Hilton. Leaving Sunday 1645 VA966

Post automatically merged: Today at 7:18 AM

Hi there,
I’m Platinum.
My flight details are:
Friday 18/10 QF546 8:00pm
Mantra on Queen
Sunday 20/10 VA924 8:05am

Unfortunately due to other commitments I’m only available for events on the Saturday, please advise what is still available.
Thanks

 

[NM]

Post automatically merged: Today at 7:18 AM

Hi there,
I’m Platinum.
My flight details are:
Friday 18/10 QF546 8:00pm
Mantra on Queen
Sunday 20/10 VA924 8:05am

Unfortunately due to other commitments I’m only available for events on the Saturday, please advise what is still available.
Thanks

Hi @ozcolin,

Saturday Experience B is available during the day (Ocean View Estates Winery "Behind the Scenes Tour" with tasting and grazing plate plus visit to Montville (see Post #2 for details). Saturday dinner is also available. Let me know which (or both) and I will send you through a personalised cost summary with payment instructions via an AFF Conversation message.