The totally off-topic thread

[Alanslegal]

Forgive me, but I'm trying to understand why you did this? You're lamenting not being able to earn 40 SCs and 4000 points, but you elected not to fly?

And how did you only lost $145 if you were flying SYD-MEL-HBA-SYD?

The ticket (4 flights) cost a total of $145. It was a quick day trip to HBA for no reason other than a cheap way to earn some points/sc but as I only had a few hours sleep I was lazy, plus when I woke up I made excuses not to go; told myself I had more important things on a Saturday like continue my car and house hunting; luckily because I think I did find a car & I need to call the dealer once they open to say Deal.

 

[anat0l]

Well, here I am in the SYD T3 QP after staying up overnight waiting for my TT flight.

• Arrived in AKL yesterday QF2728 WLG-AKL dep 1700 arr 1800.
• Stayed up all night without hotel, since it didn't seem worth it at all (too short).
• Took taxi to airport at 0245h from AKL city, arrived 0315h.
• Checked in 0330h; immigration opened an hour later; AKL I QP after that.
• Boarding at 0505h; got 1L and CC-CQA. Why such a big deal? CC-CQA has one row of former LAN First Class seating and...you guess it...it's row 1. So I got a F seat for a D price (albeit an old F seat - still, it was a lie flat seat - and J service, not F service). Very comfy sleep on the way over (better than the ordinary express breakfast), but too short a flight and hence not enough sleep.
• Got to SYD and was almost wrecked. Something else got wrecked too, my luggage Main short-length handle broken and the extendable pull-handle mechanism doesn't allow full retraction any more. Looks like I'm going to have to bark up LA for this one.
• Discounting the time I spent at arrivals duty free, went from gate to exit within 15 minutes. Even after my gaffe at immigration - I forgot to fill out the flip side of the incoming card.
• Managed to move my flight from the 1205h QF524 to 1005h QF516. I initially chose QF524 for allowing plenty of time, 763 a/c and lunch service, but I'm so buggered I couldn't be bothered.

To be elaborated in a TR coming soon* to a forum near you.

*soon meaning at a time which the Author deems convenient

 

[beardoc]

The ticket (4 flights) cost a total of $145. It was a quick day trip to HBA for no reason other than a cheap way to earn some points/sc but as I only had a few hours sleep I was lazy, plus when I woke up I made excuses not to go; told myself I had more important things on a Saturday like continue my car and house hunting; luckily because I think I did find a car & I need to call the dealer once they open to say Deal.

4 flights for $145 is exceptional - I need to look more closely at the sales when they come around!

 

[Saab34]

Anyone else got a ant problem at home??, they seemed to be calling my house home...from the shower to my bed!

Little buggers are everywhere, surely not the only one with this problem, yes??

 

[wallacej]

Anyone else got a ant problem at home??, they seemed to be calling my house home...from the shower to my bed!

Little buggers are everywhere, surely not the only one with this problem, yes??

YES - I have lost count of the number of cans of surface sprays I have gone through over the past few weeks!

 

[JohnK]

Got to SYD and was almost wrecked. Something else got wrecked too, my luggage Main short-length handle broken and the extendable pull-handle mechanism doesn't allow full retraction any more. Looks like I'm going to have to bark up LA for this one.

Happens to me too often. The extendable pull handle broke after last weeks Friday night BNE-SYD flight and I had to go to Flemington markets last Sunday and purchased more cheap luggage for $25. Interesting to see how long this one lasts.

How long does a $200 good quality, name brand, luggage last?

 

[anat0l]

Happens to me too often. The extendable pull handle broke after last weeks Friday night BNE-SYD flight and I had to go to Flemington markets last Sunday and purchased more cheap luggage for $25. Interesting to see how long this one lasts.

How long does a $200 good quality, name brand, luggage last?

Well, what I'm more miffed/concerned about now is...

• I should have claimed the damage as soon as I was at the airport - too late for that now it's one of these things that you don't know until it's happened to you. I was too tired and anxious to clear customs at SYD.
• According to LAN (and QF for a point of reference) they don't accept responsibility for broken handles or straps.
• Travel insurance says it can cover damaged baggage although the extent of the cover is poorly defined in the PDS. I'm using Columbus Direct.

 

[Bundy Bear]

The ticket (4 flights) cost a total of $145. It was a quick day trip to HBA for no reason other than a cheap way to earn some points/sc

$145.00 for 40 SCs means that Plat can be brought for $5,075.00 plus credit card fees or you could save them and use Bpay, 35 round trips to Hobart from Sydney doesn't sound that appealing. :shock:

I did notice that BNE-MEL-ADL return was available and for 28 round trips that adds up to for $6,664 to reach Qantas Platinum.

I don't really have $5000 spare at the moment; buying a house takes away the spare money and needing 35 spare days could also be a bit of a problem.

 

[Alanslegal]

$145.00 for 40 SCs means that Plat can be brought for $5,075.00 plus credit card fees or you could save them and use Bpay, 35 round trips to Hobart from Sydney doesn't sound that appealing. :shock:

Well if we extend this calculation, its also 140,000 points earnt as well so assuming we use 1c per point, that's $1,400 nominal value. So its only $3675 for QF PLT status.

Yes I was very silly to book and not fly - oh well, lesson learnt.


PS. GO FEDERER in tonight's mens tennis final, 1 set all atm.....

 

[nlagalle]

PS. GO FEDERER in tonight's mens tennis final, 1 set all atm.....

I'm working down here (have been for 2 weeks).. I'm praying it isn't another Friday night marathon, i don't envy packing everything up at 2am!!!!

 

[docjames]

I'm working down here (have been for 2 weeks).. I'm praying it isn't another Friday night marathon, i don't envy packing everything up at 2am!!!!

Doing what?

Go Rafa!!

 

[beardoc]

Well if we extend this calculation, its also 140,000 points earnt as well so assuming we use 1c per point, that's $1,400 nominal value. So its only $3675 for QF PLT status.

Yes I was very silly to book and not fly - oh well, lesson learnt.

Actually, if we extend that idea further, 140,000 points is essentially a RTW 5 stop 35000 mile OneWorld Award (if you ignore the 2500 processing fee), which would have a nominal value higher than $1400!

 

[nlagalle]

Doing what?

I work for a major media group.

I've set up the systems we are using here including transmitting directly from our stills cameras back to our office set up underneath Rod Laver Arena. Sending wirelessly from the cameras is pretty tricky, but we have 6 photographers on court and so have they have sent back nearly 1GB of images which have been edited and sent back to our office.

 

[straitman]

From memory temperature drops roughly 2 degrees for every 1000ft. Mind you the tarmac would have been roasting...

I flew this morning from MMB (finishing a check flight) and it was around 28 degrees on the ground, however the runway was still that hot that when i flew over it on finals the lift the plane got was incredible... Took a bit to get used to it!

The standard lapse rate is 2deg per 1000ft but reality is often different. The tarmac was surely roasting but the aircraft performs at the roasting temperature. (poorly)

 

[Alanslegal]

Poor Federer, looks like it will be tough to beat Nadal from here. Stuck on 13 grand slams and to match Sampras' 14 seems further with each grand slam.

I will feel sorry for the loser in this game, earning 1/2 of what Serena Willaims won last night yet playing 10x the quality, and working 100x as hard.

 

[straitman]

PS. GO FEDERER in tonight's mens tennis final, 1 set all atm.....

Doing what?

Go Rafa!!

A great match at the moment.

 

[Mal]

Well, what I'm more miffed/concerned about now is...

All pretty standard unfortunately. Still try and lodge a claim with LAN though (to get it refused in writing) as your insurance may want to see it has been refused. Also take photos of the damage etc as soon as possible.

 

[nlagalle]

The standard lapse rate is 2deg per 1000ft but reality is often different. The tarmac was surely roasting but the aircraft performs at the roasting temperature. (poorly)

Yeah, can vary, especially in conditions we had this week. The lift it got as soon as I flew over the runway was huge! was hard to put the aircraft down as it kept floating....

 

[nlagalle]

Poor Federer, looks like it will be tough to beat Nadal from here. Stuck on 13 grand slams and to match Sampras' 14 seems further with each grand slam.

I will feel sorry for the loser in this game, earning 1/2 of what Serena Willaims won last night yet playing 10x the quality, and working 100x as hard.

I wouldn't count him out just yet..

The prize money is the same for both Men's and women.. But the women only play the best of three....

 

[straitman]

Two sets all with the Fed appearing to have a slight edge.

Rafa appears to be tiring (a little) :!: