AFF on Air Discussion thread

[daft009]

For anyone else that wants to learn more about the disaster that has been the BER airport project, here's a link to that podcast: ‎How To F#€k Up An Airport on Apple Podcasts

upto ep3... OMG so interesting!
what a colossal stuff up

 

[AFF Editor]

Matt, as a podcast lover, I was wondering if you could regularly include details of podcasts that you have enjoyed as part of the AFF podcasts? Thanks.

I've talked about this on the latest episode, which was released this morning: Podcast Episode 26: Status Runs

Hi Matt, these podcasts are just great. I look forward to each episode being posted every fortnight.
i have a question regarding Leon’s comments on the Air Chathams podcast about the Amex card. He said if used effectively the $450 travel allowance could be worth up to $700, I am after ideas about how this might be achieved if Leon or anyone else would like to share their ideas.
Many thanks in advance.
Larkey

Leon kindly agreed to answer this for you! You can hear his response in Episode 26 (see the link above).

 

[Townsend]

Thanks Matt. I really enjoyed that episode and will check out ‘layovers’.

 

[daft009]

For anyone else that wants to learn more about the disaster that has been the BER airport project, here's a link to that podcast: ‎How To F#€k Up An Airport on Apple Podcasts

I found some nice pictures here, just over a year old now, BER-Airport: Photo Trip Report of Berlin's unfinished Airport - The Mileonaire | Travelling the World, Mile by Mile

 

[V Singh]

Was thinking 2nd Sydney Airport saga would make interesting serial but BER takes the cake

 

[Revenge]

Hi Matt

Just finished catching up on the December 14 episode, great episode to cap off the year, I've really loved the podcast and hope you continue going from strength to strength in 2020. Speaking of great podcasts, I completely agree with your recommendation of Layovers, that was my favourite aviation podcast before you started this one (and I'm proud to have had some shout outs a few times from Paul and Alex on air!!)

My wife was listening with me to the interview in your last podcast about status runs. She doesn't quite appreciate the concept of a status run as much of some of us addicted frequent flyers, but she did raise a good point about travelling responsibly with regard to the environment. Sometimes travel is necessary, sometimes a holiday is a great treat, but sometimes a status run can feel quite frivolous. We wondered whether you might like to cover in a future episode what the best methods are of travelling responsibly, offsetting carbon emissions and any other strategies you and other expert flyers take to reduce the impact of your travel on the environment. (Especially in light of the recent conditions in Australia)

Thanks and keep up the great work!

Dan

 

[AFF Editor]

Hi Matt

Just finished catching up on the December 14 episode, great episode to cap off the year, I've really loved the podcast and hope you continue going from strength to strength in 2020. Speaking of great podcasts, I completely agree with your recommendation of Layovers, that was my favourite aviation podcast before you started this one (and I'm proud to have had some shout outs a few times from Paul and Alex on air!!)

My wife was listening with me to the interview in your last podcast about status runs. She doesn't quite appreciate the concept of a status run as much of some of us addicted frequent flyers, but she did raise a good point about travelling responsibly with regard to the environment. Sometimes travel is necessary, sometimes a holiday is a great treat, but sometimes a status run can feel quite frivolous. We wondered whether you might like to cover in a future episode what the best methods are of travelling responsibly, offsetting carbon emissions and any other strategies you and other expert flyers take to reduce the impact of your travel on the environment. (Especially in light of the recent conditions in Australia)

Thanks and keep up the great work!

Dan

Thanks as always for the kind words!

Your wife raises a very valid point, which I have discussed briefly on the latest episode released today - Podcast Episode 27: Indian Pacific & Other Epic Train Journeys

 

[mel-world]

Thanks as always for the kind words!

Your wife raises a very valid point, which I have discussed briefly on the latest episode released today - Podcast Episode 27: Indian Pacific & Other Epic Train Journeys

I was very pleased to hear your response on the latest episode I listened to today. I agree with the wife of member 'Revenge' in that I found the episode discussing Mileage or Status Runs rather difficult to reconcile with the current bushfire situation. I realise that there are differing opinions on this subject as demonstrated by another current Thread. I will continue to fly as necessary for business and pleasure but not for the sole purpose of improving my status or achieving sufficient miles for another year of status.

Just my opinion.

 

[Townsend]

As usual a very interesting podcas. I always thought rhat the Indian Pacific trip seemed expensive but this made sound like good value. Thanks

 

[klm597]

Oh jeez I was showing my age referring to rural NSW train services as 'CountryLink' rather than 'Regional TrainLink' or whatever they are called these days in that interview.

Thanks for the well edited podcast Matt!

I would definitely be interested in a quick look or comparison into the various carbon offsetting schemes that some of the relevant Aussie airlines offer. In the past I've usually purchased the offset direct from the airline when offered, but I am contemplating using The Gold Standard in the future for airlines that do not offer it.

 

[Revenge]

Thanks Matt, really comprehensive response in the last episode. Thank you! I made my wife listen to the whole episode with me so she could hear the shout out. Now we want to go on the Indian Pacific! Thanks for the inspiration, the feedback and the mention.

 

[daft009]

how about this for a luxury train trip.. Train Suite Shiki-shima | JR-EAST

The shiki-shima in Japan.
heard about it in the latest james may japan show on amazon prime video.
well worth a watch if you have prime!

 

[Chief Wiggum]

Thanks Matt for another great episode of the podcast. I listened to the latest about great train journeys on Monday just gone, on my flight from Vladivostok to Tokyo, at the end of my three week Trans Siberian Railway (in Winter) trip across Russia. Couldn't believe the topic of this ep of an Aviation podcast when it downloaded to my phone... as if I was being pranked Amazing trip for anyone thinking of doing it.

Have added the Ghan, Indian Pacific and TraNZAlpine trips to my southern hemisphere train-trip-list. Also planning some Sino-exploration on the amazing new HSR network across China. Have been the length-and-breadth of Japan & South Korea on HSR and it's a gloriously civilised way to get around. Thing about being based in Australia.... is we all have to take planes to get to most of these trains... so AFF Podcast and site is the enabler for these great rail journeys

 

[Cocitus23]

Just listened to my first AFF podcast - on Buffalo Airways. Congratulations - very professionally done. I was especially interested because during the period 2000 - 2003 I was a regular passenger on Buffalo, from Yellowknife to the Diavik diamond mine, then under construction.
There is a very quirky link between Buffalo and Qantas. At the rear of one of their DC3 cabins there is a board giving the history of the aircraft. Believe it or not, a previous owner was Qantas.

Cocitus23

 

[cqtiger]

FYI Matt Gladstone is pronounced “gladsden” not “glad stone”

 

[Melburnian1]

The 7 March episode re coronavirus was an excellent summary, but one thing that wasn't quite emphasised (even though the broadcast discussed 'how things change') was that the greatest fear of Australian-domiciled travellers is that the Australian Government may declare those who recently visited an even greater number of foreign countries to have to self-isolate for 14 days upon their return to the island continent.

The podcast also omitted any discussion as to how the Australian Government has begun to give out the message that (if it becomes necessary) it won't hesitate to use what might be called 'strong arm' methods to compel those disobeying instructions to accede and obey. I don't quite know how they'll do it: harder in a democracy than in an authoritarian regime.

But otherwise, the podcast was high quality and gave us a good idea about the pros and cons of overseas travel, though anyone who reads/views Oz media will already know most if not all of these points as so much has already been written numerous times.

 

[AshM]

Hi Matt, love the podcast - especially how you go into bat for regular consumers and FFs. Keep up the great work!

Two quick questions - perhaps for the next podcast episode.

1. I know you’ve covered the suddenly excellent availability/value of paid seats due to coronavirus. Is there also good availability of FF award seats now?

2. Since Virgin was losing money before the coronavirus even hit, should FFs with Velocity points be concerned about Virgin’s ongoing solvency and the potential for those points to disappear?

Apologies if these Qs have been comprehensively answered elsewhere.

Thanks!

Ash

 

[Obi-run Kenobi]

Finally started listening to this podcast today. Nailed 2 eps and am looking forward to the future instalments. Anything to feed the travel/points demon inside me.

Thanks for the great podcast!

 

[AFF Editor]

Well it looks like, at least for the next few episodes, we'll be reminiscing about the good old days when we could travel overseas.

Hi Matt, love the podcast - especially how you go into bat for regular consumers and FFs. Keep up the great work!

Two quick questions - perhaps for the next podcast episode.

1. I know you’ve covered the suddenly excellent availability/value of paid seats due to coronavirus. Is there also good availability of FF award seats now?

2. Since Virgin was losing money before the coronavirus even hit, should FFs with Velocity points be concerned about Virgin’s ongoing solvency and the potential for those points to disappear?

Apologies if these Qs have been comprehensively answered elsewhere.

Thanks!

Ash

Good questions. I'll talk about this in the next episode, which goes out on Saturday.

 

[AshM]

Good questions. I'll talk about this in the next episode, which goes out on Saturday.

Thanks Matt. Looking forward to it.

One other question came to mind: To what extent can airlines take advantage of the current grounding of most of their fleets to undertake heavy maintenance that would otherwise/usually take useful planes out of service?