The totally off-topic thread

[straitman]

Work has been relatively quiet lately, and that has allowed me 2 things.

• Self-development
• Monitor AFF so much, that when I click 'New Posts' it often comes back saying 0 :shock:

Anyway, a trend that I have noticed is that Monday generally seems to be quiet and Friday things definitely pickup; especially so when you look at Monday morning vs Friday morning. The posting rate on a Friday morning is much higher.

I guess by then people are 'sick and tired' of work and looking forward to the weekend ... and try to waste time on AFF rather than work, as they would on a Monday morning

I have about 192 spare 'new posts' if you need a few :!:

 

[JohnK]

QF2300/2301 and 2307/2308 seems to be the "milk run" being BNE-GLT-ROK-MKY-TSV-CNS and return, as far as I can work out. I can't see the timetables directly though, so I might be wrong.

Pity it's the one flight number all the way, or it would be a very nice status credit earner!

Wrong. I booked CNS-TSV-MKY-ROK-(GLT)-BNE, admittedly on separate bookings as they do not meet the minimum connection time, and banked 40SCs for ~$260.

I think total time spent on the milk run is ~5 hours, taking into account transits, and I would not do it again in a hurry as it is very tiring as there is still 5 takeoffs and landings and if you are like me then you will also board and disembark 5 times.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Milk run

It's not cheap, but I'm doing it anyway for kicks (gotta do it once ). Moreover, I'm not sure how it will credit: technically it should be the mileage from BNE-CNS and 15 SC, but I've seen some "same flight number but with stopover" flights being credited curiously (in my favour, that is)....

From personal experience you will receive 30SCs if you booked it as BNE-GLT, GLT-TSV and TSV-CNS.

 

[wallacej]

Just letting you all know I am still here... I chnaged my email address to a live.com.au address and have not been getting my updates, coupled with being busy so haven't been on lately...

Took my first Crash 8 to TMW yesterday (and back today) Interesting experience.

I can suggest that if you have to take a Dash 8, and like to see what is ahead of you, don't sit anywhere behind row 9.

I like to see what is ahead (as much as one can through a side window), and found that behind row 9, the engines are in the way (when on the ground the vision is VERY limited to the ground directly beneath, and the engine cowlings).

Otherwise, not too bad, much quieter than I expected I got the pretty pink one on the return journey this afternoon.

 

[anat0l]

Just letting you all know I am still here... I chnaged my email address to a live.com.au address and have not been getting my updates, coupled with being busy so haven't been on lately...

Took my first Crash 8 to TMW yesterday (and back today) Interesting experience.

I can suggest that if you have to take a Dash 8, and like to see what is ahead of you, don't sit anywhere behind row 9.

I like to see what is ahead (as much as one can through a side window), and found that behind row 9, the engines are in the way (when on the ground the vision is VERY limited to the ground directly beneath, and the engine cowlings).

Otherwise, not too bad, much quieter than I expected I got the pretty pink one on the return journey this afternoon.

I quite like Dash 8 flights. Mainly because it's a nice refreshing change to jet services, and Dash 8s (particularly the Q400 series) are just big enough so as not to be confining and slightly uncomfortable, unlike other smaller aircraft, e.g. Metroliner 23, Saab, etc.

I also find QantasLink Dash 8 in-flight service much warmer than that on the mainline. The food has since gone back to the stock standard offering across the entire QF domestic network, but the crew I've found (in most cases) are friendly; possibly the only crew who could be better is the QNZ Jetconnect crew.

A lot of people do not like Dash 8s because:

• Noisier than jet aircraft - supposedly.
• Flies lower than jet aircraft - a nightmare sometimes for those with a heights complex.
• If you happen to sit down the back, all you might see is a propeller.
• Lower weight allowance (both checked in and on-board).
• Slightly smaller seat - not too much, but difference is subtle enough.
• You can really feel the aircraft move in a Dash 8 compared to a jet - even slight tilts or bumps are magnified compared to a jet. Interesting results in the cases of high cross winds or turbulence. Again, some people love this, some have a complex with it.

 

[JohnK]

Now the AUD is buying 66 UScents - will it go up or down in the next 4-6 weeks?

It is going to go over 70 US cents in the next couple of months so I can book some cheaper accommodation for my August/September RTW trip.

And second question;- What's the most amount of $$$ that you have personally paid for one night in a hotel?

Expensive hotel rooms are a waste of money. I am not sure if I have ever spent over AUD200 a night for a hotel. I think AUD190 has been the most I have paid at one of the Hiltons in Australia.

 

[anat0l]

Odd random observation:

If you buy SYD-LAX return in J on VA, you'll get Velocity Gold straight away.

You could also do it with one leg in J, the other in Y+, then just need to top it up a little more. If you were Velocity Gold, you could requalify similarly by doing a return in Y+ (then a bit more on top of that). Or, with Velocity Gold or Silver, you could get/requalify for Gold by doing one leg in J and one leg in Y (Y Flexi, that is).

You couldn't do that on QF.

Still, all considered, with a bit of savvy web searching, you could get QF WP once for about 55 - 75% of the price of a return J ticket on VA SYD-LAX, even if you purchase VA Business Deal fares. Or, pay up a few more thousand dollars and get a DONE4.

Just thought I'd mention that. Seems like Velocity could be the fastest elite qualification in the world.

 

[Flashback]

Odd random observation:

If you buy SYD-LAX return in J on VA, you'll get Velocity Gold straight away.

You could also do it with one leg in J, the other in Y+, then just need to top it up a little more. If you were Velocity Gold, you could requalify similarly by doing a return in Y+ (then a bit more on top of that). Or, with Velocity Gold or Silver, you could get/requalify for Gold by doing one leg in J and one leg in Y (Y Flexi, that is).

You couldn't do that on QF.

Still, all considered, with a bit of savvy web searching, you could get QF WP once for about 55 - 75% of the price of a return J ticket on VA SYD-LAX, even if you purchase VA Business Deal fares. Or, pay up a few more thousand dollars and get a DONE4.

Just thought I'd mention that. Seems like Velocity could be the fastest elite qualification in the world.

But do the benefits of 'elite' with VA occupy that same level as other FFP's?

 

[anat0l]

But do the benefits of 'elite' with VA occupy that same level as other FFP's?

Probably not, unless you flew DJ or VA all the time, or Velocity expanded their benefits, e.g. to VS, VX as a minimum.

Still, you don't see the odd FFP that you could qualify for elite within only one return flight (albeit expensively).

 

[JohnK]

Has anyone installed Internet Explorer 8? Is it worth installing or one to avoid?

 

[Flashback]

I've got it sitting on my desktop waiting to be installed... does that count? :mrgreen:

 

[serfty]

Hey, wot's wrong with IE6, that FireFox doesn't make redundant!

 

[beardoc]

Has anyone installed Internet Explorer 8? Is it worth installing or one to avoid?

I've downloaded and installed it - not for any particular reason (I use Firefox and Opera, in the main). It was relatively uneventful. It adds a few new features, but none of them "must get".

If you're using IE as your main browser, sure, get it. If you aren't, then you'll eventually get it as a Windows Update anyway in a few months.

 

[oz_mark]

Just been reading about the Brisconnections shenanigans. Good to see someone has irritated Macquarie

 

[beardoc]

Probably not, unless you flew DJ or VA all the time, or Velocity expanded their benefits, e.g. to VS, VX as a minimum.

Still, you don't see the odd FFP that you could qualify for elite within only one return flight (albeit expensively).

Now if DJ was a member of *A, then that would be VERY good to know!

 

[JohnK]

Re: Another installment of random questions for the IPOT* initiative

51. A list of the ten most visited cities in the US (in alphabetical order):
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, San Francisco, Washington DC
Rank them in order of priority of visiting, starting with the city you want to visit first.
52. If you had to live somewhere else in Australia apart from your current city/town of residence, where would that be?
53. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay/Singaporean
Rank these cuisines in order from your most favoured to least favoured.
54. In your opinion, what is the most useful benefit from having status with an airline FFP?
55. Describe the longest transit journey you have ever undertaken which was not a flight (e.g. train trip, bus ride, cruise, etc.)
56. By what means do you normally travel to get to work/uni? And normally, how long would it take (from out of the door to in your office/campus)?
57. Name up to three full cost (not low cost), non-defunct carriers which you will never consider flying either in the near future or ever. (For a bonus point, give reasons.)
58. Where in the world have never been to before that you would like to go to next?
59. Money and necessary health reasons aside, would you ever consider going into outer space? Why/Why not?
60. What is your favourite oneworld, QP or QP-associated Lounge outside Australia?

51. Don't quite understand the question but I have only ever visited New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC
52. I would prefer to stay in Sydney but if I had to hypothetically pick another city it may as well be Young
53. Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Malay/Singaporean, Japanese, Korean
54. Priority check-in, preferential seating, additional baggage allowances, lounge access
55. Piraeus-Sydney 39 days on the Patris liner
56. Walk/Train. Assuming no delays ~25 minutes
57. Only 3? Garuda, Gulf, Turkish (The reasons part safety and part in flight service)
58. Niagara Falls. Going there in August 2009
59. Why not? I would love to experience inter stellar travel
60. SIN Skyview Lounge

 

[anat0l]

SE Asia and MH (and PR?)

I'm thinking of flying MH C from MNL-KUL-SIN after coming back from my Europe trip in November, with a stopover in KUL in mind.

1. Any opinions on MH C? There's not much talk on FT about this, although someone did post up that PR C > MH C (and this was fairly recent). Only thing is the PR C would need to be paid in cash (but fairly cheap for a C fare - much cheaper than MH C in cash) and would be direct to SIN (no PR service MNL-KUL). OTOH with MH, MNL-KUL-SIN in C requires 33k Enrich points, which I could do by converting Amex points up to 23k Enrich points, then purchasing 10k Enrich points (with Enrich Express) for RM1040, which isn't too bad value. (Or a combination in between).
2. Anyone have any opinions of the PR Mabuhay lounge in MNL, or the Golden Lounges in MNL or KUL?
3. How long could you see some of the main sights in KUL? 1 full day?
4. How long could you see some of the main sights in SIN? I've already been to the zoo and bird park, so not too interested in those. I know there is the free 2 hour tour from SIN Changi. Could skip Sentosa if it makes it a bit easier....

I realise the first two questions might not be best answered at all here, but the last two perhaps there might be more collective experience....

 

[Mal]

Re: SE Asia and MH (and PR?)

• How long could you see some of the main sights in KUL? 1 full day?
• How long could you see some of the main sights in SIN? I've already been to the zoo and bird park, so not too interested in those. I know there is the free 2 hour tour from SIN Changi. Could skip Sentosa if it makes it a bit easier....

SIN - 2 days should be enough. Although I go there regularly, I more go for the great food and general atmosphere. I could count the number of genuine tourist attractions on one or two hands - and Sentosa is a hole that you should only visit once or not at all. As you've already been to the Zoo and Bird Park, that should reduce the time there. The Night Zoo is ok (but touristy) - perhaps something to do once.

KUL - Again, the number of genuine tourist attractions can be counted on one or two hands. The food is nice (but imho not as nice as Singapore). Taxis can move you between the attractions. 1-2 days.

Both places are very heavy on shopping and upmarket malls if that's your thing.

 

[Keith009]

If flying MH, you'd be able to use MH's brand new Regional J lounge at KUL, and it looks fantastic:
[KUL main terminal] MH J regional (Rimbun) - SQTalk

Can't find any regional MH J TRs, but here's one of PR on SIN-MNL:
PR J (international): my first (and likely last) time - SQTalk

IIRC the equipment would be similar on MH MNL-KUL as they use narrowbodies for a lot of their SE Asian flights. KUL-SIN has a mix of 737s and 332s but I doubt you'd even have time to blink on that sector!

It depends on whether you really want to stop in KUL I suppose, as you do have to take into account costs like accomodation, food, local transportation etc if you do.

 

[Alanslegal]

Re: SE Asia and MH (and PR?)

1. Any opinions on MH C? There's not much talk on FT about this, although someone did post up that PR C > MH C (and this was fairly recent). Only thing is the PR C would need to be paid in cash (but fairly cheap for a C fare - much cheaper than MH C in cash) and would be direct to SIN (no PR service MNL-KUL). OTOH with MH, MNL-KUL-SIN in C requires 33k Enrich points, which I could do by converting Amex points up to 23k Enrich points, then purchasing 10k Enrich points (with Enrich Express) for RM1040, which isn't too bad value. (Or a combination in between).
2. Anyone have any opinions of the PR Mabuhay lounge in MNL, or the Golden Lounges in MNL or KUL?
3. How long could you see some of the main sights in KUL? 1 full day?
4. How long could you see some of the main sights in SIN? I've already been to the zoo and bird park, so not too interested in those. I know there is the free 2 hour tour from SIN Changi. Could skip Sentosa if it makes it a bit easier....

1. Can't answer but MH first row of Y was really comfy. My short legs couldn't extend to the bulkhead wall
2. I'll be in the PR Mabuhay lounge in May so unless you want to wait for me to report back then?
3. KUL in a day? Yes easily done! Take a photo in front of Merdeka Square enroute to the Bukit Bintang area for some shopping, visit Petronas Towers, then to Bangsar for lunch and back to the airport.
4. SIN in a day? Yes easily done. Train from airport straight to the City, wonder Orchard Road for a little bit, then off to the Quay's (Clarke, Boat), side trip to Chinatown, another train to Little India and back the airport. DO NOT get distracted by the good looking women (or guys) along the way and you can easily do SIN in 24hours