Chance to dine at Rockpool Bar and Grill with Lesley Grant

[Princess Fiona]

I've just been reading up on the last event in October 2011 so I can be prepared. Sounds like a great event. Also good to pre-empt some faces. And what to wear! That You-tube is fascinating. No women interviewed?:?:

They didn't put all the interviews on YouTube but everyone present was interviewed I believe.

 

[awilcockson]

They didn't put all the interviews on YouTube but everyone present was interviewed I believe.

It was actually optional. From recollection, some of us should perhaps have chosen to opt out

 

[anat0l]

It was actually optional. From recollection, some of us should perhaps have chosen to opt out

I could live without infamy.

I assume those who did participate as such had to sign releases, etc.. Normal media communications stuff. In fact, we all may have to do so anyway since even if we are captured in snaps of the event...


Like Pushka, I'm curious as to the running of the day. I realise flights are organised, but will I have to front up for taxis / trains? Would be nice if we could sample the new Qantas Chauffeur service

 

[awilcockson]

Like Pushka, I'm curious as to the running of the day. I realise flights are organised, but will I have to front up for taxis / trains? Would be nice if we could sample the new Qantas Chauffeur service

Without wanting to pre-empt this year's event, or assume that it will be the same as last year ...

Last year we had to organise our own way to/from our home airport, but we were picked up and dropped off in SYD and flights and accommodation was catered for.

This was the car that picked trippin_the_rift and myself up in SYD

A8 Long-wheelbase > Audi Australia

 

[Pushka]

Without wanting to pre-empt this year's event, or assume that it will be the same as last year ...

Last year we had to organise our own way to/from our home airport, but we were picked up and dropped off in SYD and flights and accommodation was catered for.

This was the car that picked trippin_the_rift and myself up in SYD

A8 Long-wheelbase > Audi Australia

Nice. isnt it a little tragic you have a video of the car?

Anna (is Anna male or female?) and I are both coming from Adelaide so I assume we will be on the same flight for ease of logistics.

 

[anat0l]

Without wanting to pre-empt this year's event, or assume that it will be the same as last year ...

Last year we had to organise our own way to/from our home airport, but we were picked up and dropped off in SYD and flights and accommodation was catered for.

Sounds likely what I'd envisioned. Though I'm not sure about the accommodation - if that means I fly out Monday night / afternoon, spend a night in Sydney, cool! I thought they might force the day trip thing on us, though being from the Sunshine state without DST, having to buffer an extra 1 hour for a morning start ain't fun.

To be honest, maybe I'm feeling psyched because this is the first time in a long time that I'm travelling not on my own coin

 

[Pushka]

Sounds likely what I'd envisioned. Though I'm not sure about the accommodation - if that means I fly out Monday night / afternoon, spend a night in Sydney, cool! I thought they might force the day trip thing on us, though being from the Sunshine state without DST, having to buffer an extra 1 hour for a morning start ain't fun.

To be honest, maybe I'm feeling psyched because this is the first time in a long time that I'm travelling not on my own coin

Yes, i feel the same about the nice complimentary flight. About the stopover, wasn't last time the period when the Unions were doing their best attempt to cause havoc? On the other hand, I would totally enjoy a night in Sydney to cause my own little havoc!

 

[love_the_life]

On the other hand, I would totally enjoy a night in Sydney to cause my own little havoc!

Now now Pushka - I don't think wreaking havoc is in your make-up! Sounds like it will be a great experience though, lucky thing.

 

[penegal]

Congratulations to those of you who were successful

I am very jealous, and look forward to reading & hearing the stories.

 

[Pushka]

Now now Pushka - I don't think wreaking havoc is in your make-up! Sounds like it will be a great experience though, lucky thing.

Sprung by someone who knows me, the only person who so far knows me on this forum. I can dream.
Balcony?

 

[love_the_life]

Stop tempting me.....I didn't tell you I snore; daughter refuses to share with me now.
I want to hear all about your lunch and your dynamite questions (well they must have been good 'cos you won).

 

[phyllisbird]

Thanks for the opportunity, I'll try again next time!

 

[Pushka]

Stop tempting me.....I didn't tell you I snore; daughter refuses to share with me now.
I want to hear all about your lunch and your dynamite questions (well they must have been good 'cos you won).

Live from the 2013 world cruise - on QM2 - Cruise Critic Message Board Forums

Tell me you don't want to!

My questions - they were just issues that had come to mind as the Qantas product evolves, morphs, changes etc. It has hit Adelaide in quite a big way, and with so much of our business being based interstate, the FF programme and related issues are pretty important for us.

 

[thewinchester]

The criteria for eligibility didn't mention that previous attendees would be excluded so if Qantas considered that the questions posed would create the best conversations on the day then previous attendees would be selected.

Correct. And I think anyone taking a second crack would, without it being actually mentioned, might have a higher bar to hit than first timers.

And regardless of first time to attend one of these, or had the pleasure previously, it's a tough crowd with just as tough discussion. It was a group which would pick up on the slightest misstep or technicality and probe to check and make sure it was what was intended.

I think it was Febs and myself who ended up getting down to thefiner points of exactly which variant of the A330 who's cabin layout he was poo-pooing. I can chalk that up to my own cough retentiveness, plus the fact I quite like the A330-3 in its Domestic configuration.

The questions requested were those intended to spark discussion. I'll bet that any repeat winners weren't submitting the same questions as they did last year - that's an easy way to be knocked out of the game at the first hurdle.

Lord no. Actually just checked the questions I came up with last year, and they were quite different indeed.

I did notice that... I'd love to know what the questions that each person asked to get 2 invites...

I note Princess Fiona said she'd be happy to post hers post event, and I'd be more than happy to share mine then as well.

They didn't put all the interviews on YouTube but everyone present was interviewed I believe.

That sounds about right. And here for an encore is the video that came out post event:

[video=youtube;W-cDtL_b5LE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-cDtL_b5LE[/video]

I still have that pink business shirt. Wondering if I should wear it again...

Thanks for the opportunity, I'll try again next time!

Seriously, make sure you do try. The last time they did this was a blast for everyone involved, and I highly expect it'll be the same or higher levels of fun but serious discussion this time around.

 

[djfuzz]

In anticipation, I've been reviewing the thread from the last of these events and, though I wasn't there, I wonder if the repeat attendees might be interested in discussing how much follow through there has been on some of the issues raised?

I'm just going off the top of my head (as searching through that 63 page thread again is going to drive me to the asylum early), but as far as I can recall, these were some of the things that were brought up:

• P1 - Was the primary subject of the event, but is pretty much what it is. Doesn't seem like there's much to review other than how the newly-minted P1s have enjoyed their new perks.
• NPPP - This seemed to have had some almost immediate results.
• Priority Boarding - Obviously has gone through a rocky introduction, and isn't offered or enforced everywhere. Worth revisiting?
• ATA - Without harping on back to that old chestnut, it seems like the suggestion of a limited number of ATA passes was received in good faith in order to ensure that 'legitimate' benefits were not lost entirely. Is it fair to say that not much has happened on this front? What about lounge access when using certain QF Group carriers?
• Feedback process - Haven't used it recently myself; has it improved?
• Loyalty Bonus - In place of the coughulative system, has any other customised reward cropped up to reward loyalty over a longer timeframe and lower spends (but a vastly bigger slice of the FF membership)?
• Assistance Fees - It seems the suggestion was received that assistance fees for asks that could not be achieved self-serve online should be reduced or eliminated. Again, fair to say that not much has changed there either?
• Bag tags - This one seems a bit moot, but it appears the similarity of WP and PS tags was raised. Apparently new WP tags are darker (I wouldn't know as I've been falling and haven't received any new tags) - but the question over the effectiveness of status for baggage priority seems to remain.

None of my questions this year covered any of the above, so I'd be curious to see how these may have been addressed - even if just to gauge how much of an impact what's said at the coming event could contribute to improving the program.

In any case, look forward to seeing you all there - it's ex MEL for me.

 

[oz_mark]

I know who one of them is

That would be me

 

[Pushka]

I have received information about flights - arriving into Sydney at 10.25 am. Departing 5.25pm. Anyone else yet? I've just given work the good news and am missing a management meeting. Shame. .

 

[v8Statesman]

I have received information about flights - arriving into Sydney at 10.25 am. Departing 5.25pm. Anyone else yet? I've just given work the good news and am missing a management meeting. Shame. .

Yes fly in Monday night. Leave Tuesday night.

 

[Pushka]

Yes fly in Monday night. Leave Tuesday night.

From Perth?

 

[v8Statesman]

From Perth?

Yes. Complimentary accommodation too.