Hi and Red Roo please help me!!!!

[cmon0005]

Well done everybody, great to see all the generosity flowing! I wish the family all the best.. And yes this is what makes AFF great and is why I contribute regularly, will do so for many years to come..

 

[somebol]

Just caught up with this thread.
Very sad story indeed, made me realise how lucky we are and certainly put things in perspective.

Amazing effort by the whole AFF community. Proud to be an AFFer

Put me down for 20k qff points

 

[QF WP]

Before we'd got the Newsletter this morning, Red Roo and I had a chat about this thread and what can be done for the Fitzgibbins. Watch this space...

 

[Salar]

Just caught up with this thread. Fantastic job by all. I'm happy to join Acquire & donate points if it works out. Hoping some of the travel stresses are relieved so the family can make the most of their precious time.

 

[kevrosmith]

Seeing Qantas Loyalty already allow points to be donated to Charities (https://store.qantas.com/Catalogue.a2?ProductCategoryId=10858) it'd be great to see them allow members to donate (transfer) points in this circumstance.

 

[Red Roo]

As QF WP mentioned, I’m keen to assist the Fitzgibbins as much as possible regardless of their choice of carrier.

While I appreciate your sentiment in wanting to donate Qantas/Aquire Points, this may not be the most effective way to assist the family as there are many variables involved, including some very personal decisions that can only be made by Scott.

I’ve since been in discussion with senior management who share my empathy and support my extended discretionary assistance. The offer of ongoing assistance remains open to the Fitzgibbins, and while I’m not in a position to provide updates, I’ll continue to monitor this thread.

 

[QF WP]

kevrosmith, this was one of our discussion points this morning. The biggest issue is the QFF T&C's which firmly state the required relationship for person-to-person transfers and obviously we aren't all related to the Fitzgibbins . Alternatively, setting up a Charity for the Fitzgibbins would involve a lot of work and expense. The factor which is unclear is time. There is no simple answer so we are exploring some options...

 

[kevrosmith]

In the meantime, people can continue to make personal contributions to the Fitzgibbins family through here: https://www.mycause.com.au/page/84618/loveforthefitzgibbins

 

[bPeteb]

I'm lucky pretty much no-one else is here in the office today (G20 stay away policy) because I just had quite the blab here at my desk. What a fantastic community this is.

I want to add another personal vote of thanks to Leesa who helped us out on Monday. Leesa was monitoring the fb messages and was on the phone to me in HK within seconds of me giving her the hotel's number. She's a gem, the kind of person that makes me proud to support Qantas.

I hope all is going as well as it can be for the Fitzgibbons. We went backwards and forwards to Christchurch eight times over seven months between June and March to help, and then lay to rest, both of my partner's parents (one with aggressive lymphoma), so I know how hard it is going to be for the Fitzgibbons.

Love and look after your families. They are very precious. And with that, another blab is coming on.

Pete

 

[Danger]

May I suggest those who are impressed drop Qantas a quick line, either on email or Facebook, to let them know. I'm all for complaining when it's appropriate; similarly, credit where credit's due.

I'll be doing so. Qantas has really lived up to their slogan.

 

[Quickstatus]

I was involved in a school's fundraising for a African charitable organisation, the girls thought it would be a good idea to sew some blankets to give to the charity there.

I quickly realised that though the sentiment is laudable, the practicality of sending blankets or any other goods so AFrica would be logistically very difficult and the financial costs make it unattractive. Additionally sending goods will mean that intermediaries whether corrupt or not will mean tickets will be clipped so that very little actually makes it to the intended recipient especially in Africa.

Similarly people have said to me why don't we donate all the left over medicines to overseas hospitals. Again laudable sentiments but someone needs to sort out the medicines, throw out the expired ones , repackage, and organise shipment.

In the end it is actually cheaper, easier to donate MONEY or TIME

Donating points may not be the most effective way of donating goodwill.

In my opinion the best way to donate goodwill is donating time or money.

 

[Ric]

Yes and no.
If Red Roo can swing it, any points donated that are enough for Scott and the kids to redeem a one way classic reward ticket back say, either from YVR or YYZ or LAX or DFW etc, than there's one less headache for Scott to worry about. Also bearing in mind that one way fares are generally are more expensive, sometimes more than a discounted return ticket. Points can be held until such time that Scott deem that it is time for them to return back and then with further help from Red Roo, to acquire the classic reward tickets.
Money donated can be used for flights from wherever they are to the appropriate airport to connect to the redeemed flights. Any left over money can used for a trust fund (or something like that) for the kids.

 

[QF WP]

Yes and no.
If Red Roo can swing it, any points donated that are enough for Scott and the kids to redeem a one way classic reward ticket back say, either from YVR or YYZ or LAX or DFW etc, than there's one less headache for Scott to worry about. Also bearing in mind that one way fares are generally are more expensive, sometimes more than a discounted return ticket. Points can be held until such time that Scott deem that it is time for them to return back and then with further help from Red Roo, to acquire the classic reward tickets.

As explained upthread, point donations aren't going to work. Whilst they went over on one way fares, there is the opportunity to now purchase return fares, ex-Canada so they should be cheaper, giving them the opportunity to return to Canada to visit Jennifer's family within a year. An option, but one only Scott can decide.

Money donated can be used for flights from wherever they are to the appropriate airport to connect to the redeemed flights. Any left over money can used for a trust fund (or something like that) for the kids.

That appears to be the best option at present. The current total is over $21K, well over the $15K target

 

[OATEK]

In the meantime, people can continue to make personal contributions to the Fitzgibbins family through here: https://www.mycause.com.au/page/84618/loveforthefitzgibbins

It's not possible to respond to every worthy cause because sadly there are just so many, but this one has struck a chord with the AFF community many of whom have already made a practical contribution.

<SNIP>
That appears to be the best option at present. The current total is over $21K, well over the $15K target

And the total is now over $24K, and I would like to endorse QFWP's comment that this seems the best opportunity to support the family in the short to medium term.

 

[CaptJCool]

Awe-inspiring! this is humanity at its finest!
[FONT=&quot]As a parent, I am fortunate my kids have their parents for many years, and they have each been blessed with QF trips to USA (Disneyland and Walt Disney World). I'm not in the Armed Forces – I do appreciate though postings to Afghanistan and Iraq make the home town partner / spouse a sole parent for the duration, which is a pretty tough gig at the best of times. To be able to contribute to supporting this family head to Canada so the precious time in the coming days can be shared with all of the loved ones is what makes the community outstanding. Great response people! PS total heading onto $25k... [/FONT]

 

[shellthom]

This is so incredibly sad and heart warming at the same time. I did read it after the newsletter but sobbed too much to comment.
Best of luck to the family and thank you to all involved for their time, effort and support for this family.
They have a good friend to point them to this community and I am sure some good Karma is coming for those who helped so selflessly.

 

[Bomi18]

Scott left a message on my Facebook wall that said UA helped them out the whole way with personal escorts through security, customs and access to lounges at each stop. He said it made their trip sooooo much easier and he wanted to thank everyone for their help.

Thanks again everyone!

In regards to QFF points, id be interested to see how many points have been pledged so far, by my count, over 110 000.

Rules can always be waived at the discretion of those that have the power and whilst money is king, not everyone has lots of money to give but QFF from spending money, flying personally or with work, so I wouldn't rule points out totally.

Cheers again,

Troy

 

[Pushka]

Maybe we need to adopt this family then. Aren't we all related by three degrees of separation or something?

 

[dajop]

In regards to QFF points, id be interested to see how many points have been pledged so far, by my count, over 110 000.

Rules can always be waived at the discretion of those that have the power and whilst money is king, not everyone has lots of money to give but QFF from spending money, flying personally or with work, so I wouldn't rule points out totally.

It's great to see the community getting behind Scott and his family.

To be pragmatic though, points are difficult to use at the best of times, and with 5 (I wish we would could hope for a miracle and say 6) it becomes very difficult to find suitable/enough availability, and even then there is potentially lots of cash in terms of fuel surcharges. And that's without the T&C issue that needs to be resolved first. One alternative for those pledging points could be to convert them into pseudo-cash, in terms of gift vouchers that could be used at Woolworths, Big W or Caltex - or even Qantas - and donate the gift vouchers instead.

 

[Mumfreqflyer]

I've just found this thread

I would also like to help with 10,000 points as well. Even if the points can be used for a one-way upgrade for each of them. I'm sure the trip home will be heartbreaking for them so at least if we can all get enough points for a J seat for them to give them some room to be by themselves rather than in Y on top of each other

I'm sure an exception could be made by Qantas in this circumstance......