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

[Mal]

Flying Out : MEL-SYD QF418 9:00-10:20: Sun (stupid Qantas, sorry Mal, I couldn't hang around in Melbourne for 2 hours as I really need to be in Sydney)

Tis cool. If I'm up early enough and heading off to the airport I'll see if I can sneak you into the J lounge (assuming it's open!)

 

[Keith009]

Thanks so much mate. Have linked this post to the group.

I'll volunteer for the small role of collating the fly-in-fly-out schedule...and the hotels too, why not (next will be the events signon....). QF009, feel free to link this post. Well, at least until it becomes un-updatable (probably will just repost).

Flights Listing

Friday (01/08/2008)

• 1140-1325 QF652 ADL-MEL
  • Flashware PER (i/b QF590 d. 0620 PER a. 1035 ADL)
• 1235-1340 QF851 CBR-MEL
  • Mal BNE

Saturday (02/08/2008)

• 0615-0745 DJ802 SYD-MEL
  • Alanslegal SYD
• 0920-1050 QF420 MEL-SYD
  • serfty MEL
• 1515-1645 JQ35 SYD-MEL
  • anat0l BNE (i/b JQ18 d. 0855 BNE a. 1030 SYD)
  • Bundy Bear BNE (i/b JQ18 d. 0855 BNE a. 1030 SYD)
  • serfty MEL

Sunday (03/08/2008)

• 0900-1020 QF418 MEL-SYD
  • Bundy Bear BNE
• 0930-1050 QF420 MEL-SYD
  • Alanslegal SYD
• 1130-1250 QF428 MEL-SYD
  • Mal BNE
• 1610-1715 QF826 MEL-CBR
  • anat0l BNE (o/b QF962 d. 1835 CBR a. 2010 BNE)
• 1840-2045 QF481 MEL-PER
  • Flashware PER

Hotel Listing

• Hilton on the Park
  • anat0l BNE
  • Flashware PER
  • serfty MEL
• Holiday Inn on Flinders
  • Mal BNE
  • straitman MEL
• Melbourne Unilodge
  • Alanslegal SYD

 

[Evan]

I will be picking up somebody from the airport on Saturday afternoon... JQ flight from CNS (14:55 i think) so if anybody wants a guest in somewhere around that time just let me know.

Also i fly in friday morning on QF10 and some really early hour of the morning :shock: like 4:45am or something stupid.

E

 

[Alanslegal]

Where is that hotel located :?:

Hotel Unilodge on Flinders, which iirc is on the corner of Swanston street & directly opposite Flinders St Station.

 

[Mal]

Looking through the Qantas Hotel's site, I can't find any availability on Saturday night. Looks like the CBD is just about booked out!

Weather forecast for the various days (courtesy of BOM)
Friday Showers. Windy. Min 10 Max 14
Saturday Few showers. Windy. Min 8 Max 13
Sunday Shower or two. Min 7 Max 14


Also, for those people who are Rydges PriorityGuest members, your card should give you a 10% discount off the Eureka Skydeck entry.

Eureka Skydeck 88 (Eureka Tower)
Eureka Tower

The Eureka Skydeck 88 offers spectacular panoramic views of Melbourne City. This observation deck also provides educational activities and fascinating facts for the whole family. Located alongside the Yarra River, the Skydeck 88 is a whole new way of looking at Melbourne and the world, it is the only observation deck in the world that can thrill you with 'The Edge' - a glass cube which projects 3 metres out from the building offering unforgettable panorama views over Melbourne.


10% off entry fees*
Address Riverside Quay, Southbank, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Phone (03) 9693 8888
Internet Eureka Skydeck 88
Opening Hours 10am-10pm, 7 days a week
Closed see website for details
* Discount does not cover 'The Edge' experience.

See http://search.smartvisitrewards.com/rydgespriorityguest/downloads/rydges_vic_generic.pdf

 

[anat0l]

Looking through the Qantas Hotel's site, I can't find any availability on Saturday night. Looks like the CBD is just about booked out!

You're not wrong. I used ReadyRooms to check the CBD's surrounding suburbs and there is little availability for Friday, even worse for Saturday! Not to mention prices are a bit big.

What was going on this weekend again? (Besides the AFF Forum )

If anyone wants a list of the hotels I found, post back to this thread. Alternatively, wotif.com is probably the one to turn to now. But it seems all the ex-MEL attendees have worked something out by now.

Weather forecast for the various days (courtesy of BOM)
Friday Showers. Windy. Min 10 Max 14
Saturday Few showers. Windy. Min 8 Max 13
Sunday Shower or two. Min 7 Max 14

Great. Just when you thought Brisbane's weather was as cold as a witch's teat, it's the same in Melbourne, only....OK I better stop right now before this turns into a big Freudian slip, but it might be raining - let's pray not.

 

[JohnK]

Looking through the Qantas Hotel's site, I can't find any availability on Saturday night. Looks like the CBD is just about booked out!

Is there anything else happening this weekend in Melbourne?

 

[Flashback]

The Hilton should provide me with an umbrella should I venture outside my room, right? :shock:

 

[anat0l]

The Hilton should provide me with an umbrella should I venture outside my room, right? :shock:

I got one when I stayed in Hilton Auckland, I'd assume that if they know Melbourne's weather patterns they would be wise to do the same!

And even wiser considering the room type I booked....

 

[serfty]

The Essendon v Richmond AFL game is a pretty big one - indigenous celebration etc.

 

[straitman]

The Melbourne forecast for the weekend. .... COLD & WET YUCK :!:

Melbourne Forecast
Issued at 4:05 pm EST on Tuesday 29 July 2008

Warning Summary
Nil

Forecast for Tuesday evening
Fine. Partly cloudy. Light winds.

Precis: Fine.

Forecast for Wednesday
Partly cloudy with a brief shower or two. Moderate northerly wind.

Precis: Mostly fine.
City: Min 7 Max 14

UV Alert: Nil , UV Index predicted to reach 2 [Low]

Thursday Few showers later. Min 8 Max 15
Friday Showers. Windy. Min 10 Max 14
Saturday Few showers. Windy. Min 8 Max 13
Sunday Shower or two. Min 7 Max 14
Monday Shower or two. Min 8 Max 13
Tuesday Shower or two. Min 8 Max 14

The next routine forecast will be issued at 10:50 pm EST Tuesday.

Melbourne Forecast

 

[straitman]

The Essendon v Richmond AFL game is a pretty big one - indigenous celebration etc.

Go the 'Tigers'

 

[JohnK]

The Essendon v Richmond AFL game is a pretty big one - indigenous celebration etc.

Would a local match put that much strain on accommodation?

 

[serfty]

Can do ...

 

[Flashback]

*considers wearing his Eagles jacket*

Which begs another question, can umbrellas be taken onboard planes? Or do they have to be checked in? (I imagine checked in, because you could "poke someone's eye out" with it? Gee, and you couldn't do that with a spoon? )

 

[anat0l]

*considers wearing his Eagles jacket*

Which begs another question, can umbrellas be taken onboard planes? Or do they have to be checked in? (I imagine checked in, because you could "poke someone's eye out" with it? Gee, and you couldn't do that with a spoon? )

AFAIK umbrellas can be taken on board. It may, however, be subject to the size of the umbrella. (I normally carry a small one about a foot long.)

At the screening point, they will inspect it separately of your bag (i.e. take it off you and open it up, check it, make sure it's not one of those KGB dealies, etc. etc. ad nauseum).

 

[Flashback]

AFAIK umbrellas can be taken on board. It may, however, be subject to the size of the umbrella. (I normally carry a small one about a foot long.)

At the screening point, they will inspect it separately of your bag (i.e. take it off you and open it up, check it, make sure it's not one of those KGB dealies, etc. etc. ad nauseum).

Ah, yes. Didn't even think of those small ones... guess I could take one of those, instead of my golf umbrella.

I actually have one of the small ones in my laptop backpack, which went through security screening OK @ NRT without any questions (stayed in my bag).

 

[anat0l]

I actually have one of the small ones in my laptop backpack, which went through security screening OK @ NRT without any questions (stayed in my bag).

I think it's an Australian thing to screen umbrellas separately. (Perhaps also a LOTFAP thing and/or a EU thing and/or a UK thing - don't know.)

When I travelled in NZ recently I asked if we had to remove umbrellas for separate screening. The security staff gave me a very puzzled look before saying 'no'; I had to explain to them where the unusual procedure had come from.

 

[serfty]

Long umbrellas can conceal weapons! (So I have been told at screening) That why they sometime get physically checked!

 

[Flashback]

I think it's an Australian thing to screen umbrellas separately. (Perhaps also a LOTFAP thing and/or a EU thing and/or a UK thing - don't know.)

When I travelled in NZ recently I asked if we had to remove umbrellas for separate screening. The security staff gave me a very puzzled look before saying 'no'; I had to explain to them where the unusual procedure had come from.

Have submitted a question to QF, will let you know of the outcome in regards to size of umbrella.