AFF Gathers: In Melbourne!! [1-3 August 2008]

[JohnK]

Don't suppose there's a round of golf anywhere on the agenda?

Somewhere cheap like Brighton or Sandringham could be a possibility for an early Sunday morning game but I think it may be too much to schedule golf, brunch with the AFF crowd, the AFL game and a flight back to SYD/BNE all in the one day.

If the qualifying for the knockout at Bardwell Valley was not scheduled that Saturday morning I could have come down to MEL on Friday night. Oh well can't have everything....

 

[munitalP]

OK.... I am a member of Sanctuary Lakes Golf Resort (read my post on the exit rows thread and you will understand that I am a bit embarassed to be saying this) -

I can get a booking for Sunday - if I know numbers ASAP for early enough that you will still make it to the footy if you wanted. The key here is I need to know numbers as soon as possible.

This is a Greg Norman course and challenging (personally I find it demoralising as I'm an ordinary golfer) and one of the top courses in Victoria - The Australian Open (?) is played here annually.

Next door to the course - 500m from the club house is Quest Apartments with beautifully appointed serviced aparments - I frequently book customers and staff into here.

It's not too far to cab in and out of the city for main events - most likely not the choice of accomodation if you are wanting to be in and out of your room however, if a round of golf is in order, this is the place!

Let me know who wants to play and if you want a cart or to walk

Mr!

http://www.sanctuarylakes.com.au

 

[QF WP]

Damn, that's a very interesting offer munitalP...if I wasn't trying to tie up a work trip with this weekend and having to travel with my clubs, luggage and work gear, I'd definitely be wanting to try a course like that (also being an avid golfer that doesn't play enough).

 

[falconea]

Any plans yet for the cruise? Mr Falconea and I might be interested in attending.

Audrey (who doesn't have time to read AFF and well as FT!)

 

[dot]

Any plans yet for the cruise? Mr Falconea and I might be interested in attending.

Audrey (who doesn't have time to read AFF and well as FT!)

Audrey - welcome to AFF! yes, I have made a booking for the cruise - I was waiting for a confirmation before posting the details here (I have left a message and sent them an email) - oh well.

The cruise will be for lunch (12:30 departure) on the Florence, it has a $8 cover charge, then food and drinks as per the menu. It will be their normal A La Carte menu which is available on their web site - not the biggest menu in the world, but hopefully you will see something that tickles your fancy.

Once I get confirmation from the resturant/boat, I will start asking for numbers.

 

[Keith009]

Oh yeah, and please indicate if you're attending the event but NOT coming for Sat evening dinner.

And welcome to AFF Audrey.

 

[serfty]

OK.... I am a member of Sanctuary Lakes Golf Resort ...

I can get a booking for Sunday - if I know numbers ASAP for early enough that you will still make it to the footy if you wanted. The key here is I need to know numbers as soon as possible. ...

Let me know who wants to play and if you want a cart or to walk ...

A great offer, one which I have found very hard to resist.

However, I will need to decline - it's bad enough with SWMBO when I disturb the matrimonial home at OMG o'clock to play Sunday morning golf on a normal weekend, let alone wake her up in the Hilton to head off for a bit of golf. :shock:

 

[serfty]

I'll try to remember to have a look on Friday ... although I tend to arrive into the terminal, see the bus and become very single minded ...

Ok, there are about 100 of these located near the SkyBus stops.

There are four sizes and cost betwixt $6 and $12 per 24 hours depending upon size. Can be paid with $1, $2, $5, $10 & $20 coins/notes.

 

[Flashback]

Ok, there are about 100 of these located near the SkyBus stops.

There are four sizes and cost betwixt $6 and $12 per 24 hours depending upon size. Can be paid with $1, $2, $5, $10 & $20 coins/notes.

Great work, Detective serfty. Thanks for the info :mrgreen:

 

[tuapekastar]

If I'm not too late, please include me for the footy serfty. Thanks.

 

[Kendall Roy]

OK.... I am a member of Sanctuary Lakes Golf Resort (read my post on the exit rows thread and you will understand that I am a bit embarassed to be saying this) -

Very nice - looks like a course that only good players tee off on which rules me out

 

[Bundy Bear]

Somewhere cheap like Brighton or Sandringham could be a possibility for an early Sunday morning game but I think it may be too much to schedule golf, brunch with the AFF crowd, the AFL game and a flight back to SYD/BNE all in the one day.

If the qualifying for the knockout at Bardwell Valley was not scheduled that Saturday morning I could have come down to MEL on Friday night. Oh well can't have everything....

Sounds like you will be heading back to Brisbane Sunday afternoon.

Now what about JQ35 at 15:15pm Saturday afternoon after the game of golf. It actually got cheaper; now $79.00, and Qantas didn't skittle it in the schedule shake up.

QF73 is still operating on the Sunday morning, interestingly QF187 has gone so now only one International flight on the Sunday morning. If I got to go through the hassle of international then F lounge would be worth it.

 

[JohnK]

If I'm not too late, please include me for the footy serfty. Thanks.

Where was everybody when we had the offer of a corporate box?

Sounds like you will be heading back to Brisbane Sunday afternoon.

That would be the right assumption.

Now what about JQ35 at 15:15pm Saturday afternoon after the game of golf. It actually got cheaper; now $79.00, and Qantas didn't skittle it in the schedule shake up.

Is JQ35 departing from Sydney? I will be flying to Sydney from Brisbane on the Friday night and then off to Melbourne Saturday afternoon and back to Brisbane Sunday night.

I know you want to sample the First Class Lounge in Sydney. Can someone with first class lounge access please guest Bevan into the Sydney first class lounge otherwise I would have to fly Jetstar and then my integrity goes out the door. What if I booked the JQ flight, went to the lounge, and then failed to board? But then I would have to make my way over to domestic to get to Melbourne in time for dinner.

QF73 is still operating on the Sunday morning, interestingly QF187 has gone so now only one International flight on the Sunday morning. If I got to go through the hassle of international then F lounge would be worth it.

Is there anyway you can organise a visit to the Sydney first class lounge that did not involve a JQ flight. I would consider a SC run or mileage run to help you out.

I will be in the Sydney first class lounge Mon 16 June on my way to Singapore. Are you available? It is a shame that the guest to the first class lounge has to be on the same flight.

What do I do? Life is so tough....

 

[Fluid-Flyer]

What do I do?

A Star Class status run of course! But remember, no meal on - domestic segment international A330 flights, just a chockie & coffee!

 

[JohnK]

A Star Class status run of course!

When is the next ice age?

If any QF Platinums from Sydney are travelling down to Melbourne for the AFF gathering and they are departing on Saturday could you please consider flying JQ and guest Bundy Bear into the first class lounge.

Seriously Bevan I do not want to fly JQ but if you really want to visit the SYD first class lounge give me some alternative dates for QF73/74 and I am happy to do a status run with you just like the one with kpc and Mal last June.

 

[munitalP]

When is the next ice age?

If any QF Platinums from Sydney are travelling down to Melbourne for the AFF gathering and they are departing on Saturday could you please consider flying JQ and guest Bundy Bear into the first class lounge.

Seriously Bevan I do not want to fly JQ but if you really want to visit the SYD first class lounge give me some alternative dates for QF73/74 and I am happy to do a status run with you just like the one with kpc and Mal last June.

Im in the same boat, I do SYD/MEL very frequently and will travel DEATH STAR so Bevan can get a taste of the FLounge... I just need warning and the guarantee no one tells my BOSS I flew DEATH STAR or he will expect it more frequently


Mr!

 

[anat0l]

I'm not quite in complete understanding as to why some of us here choose not to fly JQ, even in *Class.

Apart from the hidden stigma of going with the LCC darkside (which includes DJ and Tiger), is there some sort of hidden reputation going on here?

(I don't want to be pretentious saying this, I'm just quite curious!)


P.S. QF009 and littl_flier, good luck for your exams! (And anyone else who is a uni undergrad.......)

 

[JohnK]

I'm not quite in complete understanding as to why some of us here choose not to fly JQ, even in *Class.

Some of the reasons include customer service or lack thereof, reliability, image.

I am not too impressed that QF as the sneaky parent has moved many routes to JQ and not giving the customer much choice. On occassions I have researched international airfares and JQ is more expensive than other legacy carriers on that route. In my opinion JQ *Class as a product is overpriced but for now returns good SCs.

 

[anat0l]

Some of the reasons include customer service or lack thereof, reliability, image.

I am not too impressed that QF as the sneaky parent has moved many routes to JQ and not giving the customer much choice. On occassions I have researched international airfares and JQ is more expensive than other legacy carriers on that route. In my opinion JQ *Class as a product is overpriced but for now returns good SCs.

Meh. Fair enough.

I always maintain that a LCC is a LCC - service can't be quite expected beyond the contractual obligations (and perhaps the FAs and ground staff not making it a living hell to fly). Then again, there are the exceptions (a full cost that has **** service, or a LCC that goes beyond the call....hmmm... did JQ drug a whole lot of people last year for the Skytrax awards??? :shock:)

I can clearly understand why many people here would be annoyed with JQ, and the QF Group for that matter in substituting some routes with JQ. Frankly, I'm surprised at some of the substitutions, as I would have thought that these routes would have been cash cows for QF (Japan notwithstanding). JQ really only has 2.5 options (i.e. sometimes 2 and sometimes 3): Saver/Light (which is no bonuses at all, hopefully cheaper than Red e-Deal), Flex (which is full Y but still small seat, no meal and ~ same if not more expensive than Flexi Saver/Fully Flexible) and StarClass (only on 333 routes - at least it is J and I think fairly competitive with QF J. The service might not match QF J - perhaps more like Premium Economy - but I don't have enough real J experience to draw a decent conclusion here.)

I'm not endorsing JQ - if I had a choice (based on sector), I'd fly QF for status and points (because no way am I coughing up a Flex fare). The only exceptions would either be circumstantial, QF doing a major gouging exercise on the sector I want to fly, or *Class run (BNE-SYD, SYD-MEL, MEL-SYD) for status.

Hmmmm....status run for the MEL AFF Gather...probably only possible if I leave on the Saturday (which misses out quite a bit, but......)

 

[serfty]

This is getting a little OT:

... In my opinion JQ *Class as a product is overpriced but for now returns good SCs.

Especially betwixt SYD and MEL or BNE for $280; netting 40 SC's and 1125 QFF points.