dragonman
Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2007
- Posts
- 519
A mini TR with some other observations, ramblings but no pix.
It became obvious to me a couple of months ago that I would fall about 200 points short of requalifying for WP. Then a trip to Perth for work (going SYD-CBR-MEL-PER) helped reduce the target. But I worry about being comped to WP again and I do enjoy the perks.
Being a keen tournament poker player I noticed that Auckland Casino has a friday night and then a saturday event. Kept reading about LAN and the one way fares AKL-SYD in J and the thought process moved up a notch. It was only after a cheap QF SYD-AKL fare was booked that the prices dropped on LAN for that leg too. Time to book a hotel - I like Hyatts and had just qualified for Plat with them. Search on the internet and the Hyatt in Auckland has rooms for $112NZ a night.
3 problems arise. The hotel has very mixed and many poor reviews - the consensus is that if you get a refurbished room its ok. The next problem is LAN at $300 in J its cheap to get home and again the reviews are mixed at best. Talk of a sandwich being thrown at you in J and poor seats/service abounds. Then there is the OMG time of departure 5:45 am. But then 80 SC's for $300 and 100 for $500 if you include the SYD-AKL red e-deal and the deal is done.
QF 43 SYDNEY - AUCKLAND (Economy)
Friday September 4 (11:15 am)
Operated by JetConnect for Qantas
Train to the airport arrives at 8:45. Check in very smooth at the F counter and get express departure card - given an inbound one but only when I ask. Off to the F lounge for breakfast (scrambled eggs with smoked tuna and potato cake). Discover that my macbook and ipod are no longer talking to each other. Ahh well I might just have to start reading the Sookie Stackhouse novels.
On boarding notice that there are only 6 J seats (so that op-up was never gonna happen). The flight seems to be 90% full but fortunately the seat next to me is vacant. In every flight I have been on recently this has been the case. I suspect that seats next to WP's are often blocked - or at least assigned last. I stay awake for lunch (its a choice of pumpkin gnocci or soy braised chicken) and the chicken is passable and I manage to snooze most of the rest of the way. Arriving at 4:00 I am a little short of time to make the tournament on time. Clear customs very quickly and street-side in no time at all.
Now I did a lot of research and asked on the NZ forum on FT for advice on getting to the CBD efficiently. The word from KiwiBigDave over there was a mob called President Limousines and Taxis. A fixed price of $60 and the driver Shah was waiting with a board and my name on it and off we go. Despite roadworks and Friday peak hour it all goes really well and check-in is in plenty of time to get to the airport.
At the hotel I get "congratulations Mr Dragonman on your Platinum status we have upgraded you to a new suite". The other advantage of Plat is free internet. Great room(s) lovely views and off to the casino we go.
One thing I notice on the 15 minute walk is the number of US chains the Kiwis have that we don't (Dunkin Donuts, Wendy's hamburgers and Denny's) spring into view. The perennial search for good US hashbrowns is solved at Denny's for brekkie he next morning.
The poker? well for those who know or care my AK ran into AA earlyish on Friday and then I finished just out of the money on Saturday.
So saturday night I decide to just stay awake until 4 am when Shah returns to deliver me to AKL. Check in is fine at LAN - nobody in the J line and through customs/security in 10 mins.
I had done the homework was pleasantly surprised that the QP opens at 4:30 am and that there is still even an F section. The self-serve bar was open and there was the usual brekkie stuff plus sausages and little quiches that were quite good. The flight was on time and I was ready to endure the flight home.
LA 81 AUCKLAND - SYDNEY (Business)
Sunday September 6 (5:45 am)
Lan Airlines A340
Well this was a huge surprise. Massive leg room pre-flight drinks (OJ water and champers), a lie-flat seat. This is proper J after all.
Menus are handed out and I chose a very passable omelette with fresh fruit. They call it the express breakfast. For the life of me i cannot remember the other choices. I did notice the wine list was pretty much all South American wines.
The AVOD worked and had a pretty good selection. It was turned on the instant the seatbelt sign went off. Tried to watch the movie with Russell crowe and Helen Mirren but sleep got the better of me and I slept pretty much all the way home. The J cabin was maybe half full.
Using the express card was on the street (and the 400 bus) within 30 minutes of touch down.
Would use LAN again in a heartbeat - great service and for $291 one way in J. The points and SC's might take a while to credit but the FF number was on the boarding pass so its prob all good.
So now I am going to fall about 40 points short but I have until NOV 30 to requalify - surely, maybe they will comp me the difference. Or maybe its a saturday in *class to MEL - time will tell.
Oh and one other thing I should share.I have a OW award ticket Dec-Jan and am booking hotel rooms in Vegas - never seen anything like it. Paris casino for $60 a night on Expedia in mid january.
It became obvious to me a couple of months ago that I would fall about 200 points short of requalifying for WP. Then a trip to Perth for work (going SYD-CBR-MEL-PER) helped reduce the target. But I worry about being comped to WP again and I do enjoy the perks.
Being a keen tournament poker player I noticed that Auckland Casino has a friday night and then a saturday event. Kept reading about LAN and the one way fares AKL-SYD in J and the thought process moved up a notch. It was only after a cheap QF SYD-AKL fare was booked that the prices dropped on LAN for that leg too. Time to book a hotel - I like Hyatts and had just qualified for Plat with them. Search on the internet and the Hyatt in Auckland has rooms for $112NZ a night.
3 problems arise. The hotel has very mixed and many poor reviews - the consensus is that if you get a refurbished room its ok. The next problem is LAN at $300 in J its cheap to get home and again the reviews are mixed at best. Talk of a sandwich being thrown at you in J and poor seats/service abounds. Then there is the OMG time of departure 5:45 am. But then 80 SC's for $300 and 100 for $500 if you include the SYD-AKL red e-deal and the deal is done.
QF 43 SYDNEY - AUCKLAND (Economy)
Friday September 4 (11:15 am)
Operated by JetConnect for Qantas
Train to the airport arrives at 8:45. Check in very smooth at the F counter and get express departure card - given an inbound one but only when I ask. Off to the F lounge for breakfast (scrambled eggs with smoked tuna and potato cake). Discover that my macbook and ipod are no longer talking to each other. Ahh well I might just have to start reading the Sookie Stackhouse novels.
On boarding notice that there are only 6 J seats (so that op-up was never gonna happen). The flight seems to be 90% full but fortunately the seat next to me is vacant. In every flight I have been on recently this has been the case. I suspect that seats next to WP's are often blocked - or at least assigned last. I stay awake for lunch (its a choice of pumpkin gnocci or soy braised chicken) and the chicken is passable and I manage to snooze most of the rest of the way. Arriving at 4:00 I am a little short of time to make the tournament on time. Clear customs very quickly and street-side in no time at all.
Now I did a lot of research and asked on the NZ forum on FT for advice on getting to the CBD efficiently. The word from KiwiBigDave over there was a mob called President Limousines and Taxis. A fixed price of $60 and the driver Shah was waiting with a board and my name on it and off we go. Despite roadworks and Friday peak hour it all goes really well and check-in is in plenty of time to get to the airport.
At the hotel I get "congratulations Mr Dragonman on your Platinum status we have upgraded you to a new suite". The other advantage of Plat is free internet. Great room(s) lovely views and off to the casino we go.
One thing I notice on the 15 minute walk is the number of US chains the Kiwis have that we don't (Dunkin Donuts, Wendy's hamburgers and Denny's) spring into view. The perennial search for good US hashbrowns is solved at Denny's for brekkie he next morning.
The poker? well for those who know or care my AK ran into AA earlyish on Friday and then I finished just out of the money on Saturday.
So saturday night I decide to just stay awake until 4 am when Shah returns to deliver me to AKL. Check in is fine at LAN - nobody in the J line and through customs/security in 10 mins.
I had done the homework was pleasantly surprised that the QP opens at 4:30 am and that there is still even an F section. The self-serve bar was open and there was the usual brekkie stuff plus sausages and little quiches that were quite good. The flight was on time and I was ready to endure the flight home.
LA 81 AUCKLAND - SYDNEY (Business)
Sunday September 6 (5:45 am)
Lan Airlines A340
Well this was a huge surprise. Massive leg room pre-flight drinks (OJ water and champers), a lie-flat seat. This is proper J after all.
Menus are handed out and I chose a very passable omelette with fresh fruit. They call it the express breakfast. For the life of me i cannot remember the other choices. I did notice the wine list was pretty much all South American wines.
The AVOD worked and had a pretty good selection. It was turned on the instant the seatbelt sign went off. Tried to watch the movie with Russell crowe and Helen Mirren but sleep got the better of me and I slept pretty much all the way home. The J cabin was maybe half full.
Using the express card was on the street (and the 400 bus) within 30 minutes of touch down.
Would use LAN again in a heartbeat - great service and for $291 one way in J. The points and SC's might take a while to credit but the FF number was on the boarding pass so its prob all good.
So now I am going to fall about 40 points short but I have until NOV 30 to requalify - surely, maybe they will comp me the difference. Or maybe its a saturday in *class to MEL - time will tell.
Oh and one other thing I should share.I have a OW award ticket Dec-Jan and am booking hotel rooms in Vegas - never seen anything like it. Paris casino for $60 a night on Expedia in mid january.
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