The totally off-topic thread

[tuapekastar]

Congrats Flashware!

 

[anat0l]

Re: Really, this is a totally ***off-topic*** thread

Yep! It's baaaaack! Stay tuned....need to answer my own first....

Just when you thought there couldn't be more questions..... here are more!

You know the deal: you can answer all, some or none....

71. The top ten busiest non-US airports by passenger traffic in 2008 are (world ranking in brackets):
LHR (London Heathrow, #3); HND (Tokyo Haneda, #4); CDG (Paris Charles de Gaulle, #5); PEK (Beijing Capital, #8); FRA (Frankfurt am Main, #9); MAD (Madrid Barajas, #11); HKG (Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok, #12); AMS (Amsterdam Schiphol, #14); BKK (Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, #18); SIN (Singapore Changi, #19)
Of all of these, which ones have you been to before?
72. Brace position when you can't reach the seat in front: are you actually able to put your head on your knees whilst seated and with your feet flat on the floor?
73. "This life jacket is the type with a single waist strap that clips together and tightens as shown...."
Notwithstanding that I'm unsure of how many types there are...how many "types" of aircraft life jackets have you encountered whilst flying as a passenger? (i.e. first hand, not from someone else's account, or from watching a video, etc.)
74. Apart from your home airport(s), which (a) international airport and (b) domestic airport have you frequented the most?
75. How do you pack your clothes (e.g. do you roll, fold, etc.)?
76. Do you iron your clothes (a) all before your flight (i.e. at home), (b) before and after your flight (i.e. at destination), (c) only after your flight, or (d) not at all?
77. QF AU domestic 737-800 or 737-400: which one do you prefer?
78. Describe the last time you flew a commerical flight using an aircraft which was not manufactured by Airbus or Boeing. (Exception: you may consider MD aircraft, i.e. McDonnell-Douglas, even though Boeing owns them now.)
79. Describe the longest non-stop flight (international or domestic) you have flown with a narrowbody aircraft (e.g. Boeing 737, Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Airbus A321...)
80. Of all the airlines you have not flown before, which one would you like to fly next?

71. HKG, SIN. Hope to add a few more to that later this year (BKK, LHR and FRA just to start...)
72. Nope, not quite.
73. There's the type that has a single clip strap (QF), then I think MH has one which has two clip hooks to the straps (could be wrong here), and BA has the one where there are no clips - you need to tie the straps in a bow twice (for good measure). I can't remember the lifejackets on LA or NZ.
74. According to my FlightMemory page, most frequented international airport is AKL and domestic airport is SYD. Now that I think about it, that question has an ambiguity of which I did not see before.
75. Fold properly if ironed, simple fold if not ironed. Sometimes if I use my clothes as a "padding" they will be rolled (or things will be rolled in them). Dirty clothes are put in a bag and the bag is simply stuffed in.
76. (b), although to be brutally honest, most of the time it ends up being (c) and even sometimes (d)
77. Hard to tell - 734 is great for rows 4, 5 or 6, whereas 738 is only good for row 4. OTOH if travelling J, definitely 738 (734 J is too pedestrian to be worth anything unless you scored it as an op-up).
78. Last would have to be a CBR-SYD shuttle flight on a Dash 8 Q400 (manufactured by de Havilland (now Bombardier), of course).
79. On the top of my head that would be BNE-PER on a 738 (have flown it both ways on the said aircraft; PER-BNE red-eye on a 738 = double killer! ). I've also flown HNL-SFO as a munchkin but can't remember if the aircraft was a single or twin aisle; having said that I think it was a QF aircraft (transit stop in HNL) so it must have been a twin aisle. Other close contenders are LAS-MCO (again as a munchkin, but pretty sure that was a narrowbody) and KUL-TPE (MH 734).
80. Virgin Atlantic, although to be a bit more liberal (since VS is already on my radar), I'd like to fly EK or LH some time (just to see what all the fuss is about).

 

[anat0l]

The off-topic odd-topics questions you know and love

You know how it goes: answer any of the questions, or all of them if you want.

81. An assorted list of unusual flight situations: (a) Take off aborted/retried, (b) Landing retried, (c) Deplaned after boarding and before pushback, (d) Jet plane (i.e. not a turboprop) did a "180" (i.e. a half-circle) rather than being pushed back from parked position, (e) Hotelled (arranged by the airline) due to flight cancellation (or excessive delay), (f) "Upgraded" after boarding (i.e. already on the aircraft, not at the gate), (g) Taken off in icy conditions, (h) Spent over 1 hr on board and aircraft before it finally took off
Of all of these, have any happened to you previously, and if so, describe the last time?
82. Describe the last flight you took which was on a now-defunct airline. (For those whose answer involves AN and believes this question is insensitive, please do not answer and accept my apologies).
83. Describe the most expensive trip you have been on before that you personally paid for (including cost of flights, accommodation and spending money. This is personal travel, so do not count travel paid for by the company purse, or if you won a trip as part of a prize, don't count the values of the prize components). Bonus points if you can estimate how much you spent in all.
84. (Check all that apply) I have travelled QF domestic J by (a) paying (personally, not a company) in cash, (b) upgrading using points, (c) operational upgrade or bump, (d) using a Classic award, (e) using an Any Seat award, (f) on someone else's account (e.g. company paid).
85. Describe the last time you had to change or cancel a ticket (does not have to be QF).
86. Name at least one major global event (apart from your birth) that happened in the year that you were born.
87. Describe the first credit card you ever obtained.
88. Describe your current mobile phone.
89. Describe the last time you travelled to Europe where your first point of entry into Europe was not an airport in London (i.e. not one of LHR, LGW, STN, LTN or LCY)? (Note that the Middle East (except Turkey) does not count as Europe)
90. Is there a route (domestic or international ex-AU) that you believe requires (a) more services (i.e. frequency), and/or (b) more competition (i.e. more airlines flying it)? If so, which one(s)? (Note: this is a specific route between two airports, not a generic thing, e.g. between two countries)

 

[serfty]

Re: The off-topic odd-topics questions you know and love

81

• Yes (DH3 MEL-CBR)
• No
• Yes (BNE-SYD, ground crew struck fuselarge with catering truck)
• Yes, HBA/LST/PPP/ADL ...
• ex MEL, Choice of Return cab fares or Hotel - took cab fares and rebooked nexet week
• Yup, Sitting in front row WHY aisle seat with VLCOS beside me. Was forced to lean leaning well into aisle when CSM noticed ...
• Nup
• CNS, 2 hour wait while they endeavoured to open cargo door to remove inbound freight. Why they boarded us before than I'll never know ...

82

None​

83

DONE4 ex CMB, ~AUD8100​

84

• Yes
• yes
• yes
• yes
• no
• yes

85

Cancelled J award ticket trans-tasman - BUTI​

86

United States launches Explorer I (first US satellite)​

87

Myer-Card:shock:​

88

K800i​

89

Never!​

90

MEL/KUL​

 

[notzac]

Re: Really, this is a totally ***off-topic*** thread

Yep! It's baaaaack!

...

71. - LHR, FRA, AMS, BKK, SIN. I've never had the .. pleasure of connecting at LHR, though I'll be doing so later this year. Hopefully everything works out OK! FRA is pretty good now that it seems they've finished destroying the place, AMS is a wonderful airport, BKK is miserable and SIN I don't really like because I got told 'no' at the duty free shop.
72. - "..or lean as far forward as you can". Too tall for that to work properly I guess!
73. - Thankfully, none.
74. - Tough call. Probably LAX for int'l, MEL for domestic.
75. - Fold. I've never got the hang of the rolled clothing thing.
76. - At the destination. If I have to get to a meeting directly after a flight, I'd probably pre-iron and take a suit bag (though fortunately I've been able to arrange flights such that that doesn't usually happen).
77. - 738, every time. Purely psychological (especially in light of my answer to 78), but the 738s are newer and hopefully less prone to catastrophic failure.
78. - The MAAdDog-80! Nice and quiet if seated in First, pity the product is otherwise rubbish..
79. - No idea. Probably my MEL-CHC flight on a Deathstar scarebus coming up at the end of the week.
80. - Tough one. Still haven't flown BA, CX I've only flown once (at around 6 months of age), RJ sounds interesting, so does VA, also NZ. Of all those, probably VA (though J only pls!)

 

[wijomas]

Re: The off-topic odd-topics questions you know and love

81.

a) No
b) Yes (CDG )
c) Yes, can't remember where, but due to explosives scare
d) Not sure, never took much notice
e) Yes - in NCE
f) Yes - "upgraded" to F on AKL-SYD on LAN
g) Yes - NPE-AKL
h) Yes - LAX-AKL
​

82. Although technically not defunct, WLG-AKL on Jetconnect Domestic

83. No idea, well over $20k I guess....

84.

a) Yes
b) Yes
c) No
d) Yes
e) No
f) Yes
​

85. Cancel AKL-LAX-MEX and MEX-HAV due to health issues.

86. Kegworth Air Disaster occured on my birthday.

87. Westpac Titanium Mastercard was the first one I obtained personally, prior to that had an ASB Visa attached to my mum's account.

88. iPhone 3G

89. CDG last year some time....

90. No-one lives in Australia, why do they need any planes?

You know how it goes: answer any of the questions, or all of them if you want.

81. An assorted list of unusual flight situations: (a) Take off aborted/retried, (b) Landing retried, (c) Deplaned after boarding and before pushback, (d) Jet plane (i.e. not a turboprop) did a "360" rather than being pushed back from parked position, (e) Hotelled (arranged by the airline) due to flight cancellation (or excessive delay), (f) "Upgraded" after boarding (i.e. already on the aircraft, not at the gate), (g) Taken off in icy conditions, (h) Spent over 1 hr on board and aircraft before it finally took off
Of all of these, have any happened to you previously, and if so, describe the last time?
82. Describe the last flight you took which was on a now-defunct airline. (For those whose answer involves AN and believes this question is insensitive, please do not answer and accept my apologies).
83. Describe the most expensive trip you have been on before that you personally paid for (including cost of flights, accommodation and spending money. This is personal travel, so do not count travel paid for by the company purse, or if you won a trip as part of a prize, don't count the values of the prize components). Bonus points if you can estimate how much you spent in all.
84. (Check all that apply) I have travelled QF domestic J by (a) paying (personally, not a company) in cash, (b) upgrading using points, (c) operational upgrade or bump, (d) using a Classic award, (e) using an Any Seat award, (f) on someone else's account (e.g. company paid).
85. Describe the last time you had to change or cancel a ticket (does not have to be QF).
86. Name at least one major global event (apart from your birth) that happened in the year that you were born.
87. Describe the first credit card you ever obtained.
88. Describe your current mobile phone.
89. Describe the last time you travelled to Europe where your first point of entry into Europe was not an airport in London (i.e. not one of LHR, LGW, STN, LTN or LCY)? (Note that the Middle East (except Turkey) does not count as Europe)
90. Is there a route (domestic or international ex-AU) that you believe requires (a) more services (i.e. frequency), and/or (b) more competition (i.e. more airlines flying it)? If so, which one(s)? (Note: this is a specific route between two airports, not a generic thing, e.g. between two countries)

 

[oz_mark]

Re: The off-topic odd-topics questions you know and love

81
a) No
b) No
c) Yes several times
d) Did a 180 (360 does not seem useful!) in Yangon
e) Yes, in Bangkok
f) Closest to happening is moved on TG to first class for take off , then back to my Y seat at cruise .
g) Yes, in Montreal (after de-icing the plane)
h) Yes, several times

82
AN (not really insensitive)

83
My head will explode working it out!

84
a) Yes (well a JQ *class domestic component)
b) Yes (actually using UC, not much else they were good for)
c) Yes
d) No
e) No
f) I wish

85
Had to return to PER early from a work trip. TA made the changes.

86
Olympic Games

87
Chase AMP Visa card (which morphed into a Global Rewards card after Westpac bought that business)

88
Black with a screen and buttons on it

89
Never happened

90
Doesn't affect me now, but PER-DRW used to be a pain.

 

[wijomas]

Re: Really, this is a totally ***off-topic*** thread

Just when you thought there couldn't be more questions..... here are more!

You know the deal: you can answer all, some or none....

71. The top ten busiest non-US airports by passenger traffic in 2008 are (world ranking in brackets):
LHR (London Heathrow, #3); HND (Tokyo Haneda, #4); CDG (Paris Charles de Gaulle, #5); PEK (Beijing Capital, #8); FRA (Frankfurt am Main, #9); MAD (Madrid Barajas, #11); HKG (Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok, #12); AMS (Amsterdam Schiphol, #14); BKK (Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, #18); SIN (Singapore Changi, #19)
Of all of these, which ones have you been to before?
72. Brace position when you can't reach the seat in front: are you actually able to put your head on your knees whilst seated and with your feet flat on the floor?
73. "This life jacket is the type with a single waist strap that clips together and tightens as shown...."
Notwithstanding that I'm unsure of how many types there are...how many "types" of aircraft life jackets have you encountered whilst flying as a passenger? (i.e. first hand, not from someone else's account, or from watching a video, etc.)
74. Apart from your home airport(s), which (a) international airport and (b) domestic airport have you frequented the most?
75. How do you pack your clothes (e.g. do you roll, fold, etc.)?
76. Do you iron your clothes (a) all before your flight (i.e. at home), (b) before and after your flight (i.e. at destination), (c) only after your flight, or (d) not at all?
77. QF AU domestic 737-800 or 737-400: which one do you prefer?
78. Describe the last time you flew a commerical flight using an aircraft which was not manufactured by Airbus or Boeing. (Exception: you may consider MD aircraft, i.e. McDonnell-Douglas, even though Boeing owns them now.)
79. Describe the longest non-stop flight (international or domestic) you have flown with a narrowbody aircraft (e.g. Boeing 737, Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Airbus A321...)
80. Of all the airlines you have not flown before, which one would you like to fly next?

71. LHR, CDG, FRA, AMS, HKG, SIN, BKK.

72. Nope, way too inflexible for that

73. Never paid any attention - oops!

74. (A) MEL and (B) NPE. MEL is intl for me!

75. Fold, or if in a hurry, thrown into a pile!

76. A, sometimes D.

77. Not sure... haven't done much QF domestic really!

78. MD's weren't *manufactured* by Boeing anyway Last time was DFW-LAX last Nov.

79. Can't remember... not too far though, maybe CNS-SYD

80. VK

 

[notzac]

81. - no to all. I've come close to (h) before, flying BNE-MEL - thankfully, an occasion when I'd points upgraded myself!
82. - It was most probably an AN flight MEL-BNE, though it could also have been a SR flight ZRH-FRA .. memory very hazy, and this was certainly well before I started paying attention to details when flying.
83. - My trip to the US at the end of last year is probably the most expensive to date. All up, I flew MEL-LAX,SFO-LAX-SEA-SFO-LAX-DFW-LGA-DFW-LAX-MEL (none of it in Y, thank goodness!) and flights+car+accommodation+spending would have come in around the $9000 mark. Awesome holiday - white christmas in SEA, first ever trip to NYC!
84. - no to all except (b). Would I pay for domestic J with my own money? Very unlikely.
85. - flights from question 83, SFO-LAX-SEA-SFO-LAX. Decided to change my travel arrangements to be in SEA for christmas, was thankfully booked in full F so zero problems doing so. Confused the heck out of the AAgent, she couldn't understand why on earth anyone would want to fly SFO-SEA connecting in LAX.
86. - Pacman was released. I'd call that a pretty major global event..
87. - A MyCard Mastercard, long since departed from my wallet (and good riddance - it didn't give me FF points!)
88. - Apple iPhone "2G". Bought from an unsuspecting Carphone Warehouse store in London (yes, *of course* I'm going to sign up to one of your plans when I get home) after my last phone died on me.
89. - Hasn't happened yet!
90. - MEX-HAV. Mexicana is pretty expensive on this route, and I can't convince the Cubana website to quote me anything.

 

[docjames]

81. An assorted list of unusual flight situations:
(a) Take off aborted/retried, Nope
(b) Landing retried, BA MEL-SYD after divert to MEL and day at a/port in MEL - divert there due to fog at SYD. Not a great trip that one 1987
(c) Deplaned after boarding and before pushback, Nope
(d) Jet plane (i.e. not a turboprop) did a "180" (i.e. a half-circle) rather than being pushed back from parked position, Plenty of times
(e) Hotelled (arranged by the airline) due to flight cancellation (or excessive delay), Yep, last time SYD after HRE-SYD flight late leaving 1999; Self hotelled after hurricane stopped flight CUN-HAV 2008
(f) "Upgraded" after boarding (i.e. already on the aircraft, not at the gate), nope
(g) Taken off in icy conditions, DEN 1991 on way to DFW. Was pretty dicey coming in too.
(h) Spent over 1 hr on board and aircraft before it finally took off Only like a million times (ok, exageration, but heaps), most recent CUN.

82. Describe the last flight you took which was on a now-defunct airline. Plenty on AN, also Compass I MEL-ADL.

83. Describe the most expensive trip you have been on before that you personally paid for (including cost of flights, accommodation and spending money. This is personal travel, so do not count travel paid for by the company purse, or if you won a trip as part of a prize, don't count the values of the prize components). Bonus points if you can estimate how much you spent in all. Honeymoon to MEX.

84. (Check all that apply) I have travelled QF domestic J by
(b) upgrading using points, (c) operational upgrade or bump, (d) using a Classic award,

85. Describe the last time you had to change or cancel a ticket (does not have to be QF). Nightmare Cubana CUN-HAV 2008. Damn Hurricane Ike. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever fly Cubana.

86. Name at least one major global event (apart from your birth) that happened in the year that you were born. That would give my age away now wouldnt it.

87. Describe the first credit card you ever obtained. CBA Visa Fee-free with rewards student card

88. Describe your current mobile phone. Lousy Motorola. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever get a motorola.

89. Describe the last time you travelled to Europe where your first point of entry into Europe was not an airport in London (i.e. not one of LHR, LGW, STN, LTN or LCY)? (Note that the Middle East (except Turkey) does not count as Europe) Frankfurt on way to MUC 1991 and again 1993. It was -16C when we walked across the tarmac in MUC. Brrrrr.

90. Is there a route (domestic or international ex-AU) that you believe requires (a) more services (i.e. frequency), and/or (b) more competition (i.e. more airlines flying it)? If so, which one(s)? Until VA I would have said BNE/SYD/MEL to LAX. Now, everywhere is relatively cheap thanks to GFC! BNE-PER is still pretty pricey.

 

[Hvr]

• An assorted list of unusual flight situations:
  (a) Take off aborted/retried, not yet
  (b) Landing retried, CBR-SYD in J, another plane was on the runway and we had to go around, Aug 2007.
  (c) Deplaned after boarding and before pushback, Not yet
  (d) Jet plane (i.e. not a turboprop) did a "360" rather than being pushed back from parked position, Not yet
  (e) Hotelled (arranged by the airline) due to flight cancellation (or excessive delay), Not yet
  (f) "Upgraded" after boarding (i.e. already on the aircraft, not at the gate), CBR-MEL on the aisle seat. Pax in middle seat started to get aggressive and FA moved me to J about 20 minutes into flight. Pax was severely spoken to and I gave statement of support re FA to CSM.
  (g) Taken off in icy conditions, Not yet
  (h) Spent over 1 hr on board and aircraft before it finally took off Not yet
  Of all of these, have any happened to you previously, and if so, describe the last time?
  82. Describe the last flight you took which was on a now-defunct airline. Ansett Airlines HBA-MEL (For those whose answer involves AN and believes this question is insensitive, please do not answer and accept my apologies).
  83. Describe the most expensive trip you have been on before that you personally paid for (including cost of flights, accommodation and spending money. This is personal travel, so do not count travel paid for by the company purse, or if you won a trip as part of a prize, don't count the values of the prize components). Bonus points if you can estimate how much you spent in all. About AUS $7,000, read all about it here.
  84. (Check all that apply) I have travelled QF domestic J by (a) paying (personally, not a company) in cash, Yes (b) upgrading using points, no (c) operational upgrade or bump, no (d) using a Classic award, no (e) using an Any Seat award, no (f) on someone else's account (e.g. company paid). No
  85. Describe the last time you had to change or cancel a ticket (does not have to be QF). Was an Air Asia Flight Chiang Mai to BKK, booked the wrong time. Spent about an hour on the phone on hold before I got an operator. Explained what I did and wanted and they changed it fairly quickly.
  
  
  86. Name at least one major global event (apart from your birth) that happened in the year that you were born. Soccer world cup
  
  87. Describe the first credit card you ever obtained. Mastercard, wanted to get a Bankcard and the bank said to get the MC.
  
  88. Describe your current mobile phone. Nokia, little and black.
  
  89. Describe the last time you travelled to Europe where your first point of entry into Europe was not an airport in London (i.e. not one of LHR, LGW, STN, LTN or LCY)? (Note that the Middle East (except Turkey) does not count as Europe) Not yet been to Europe.
  90. Is there a route (domestic or international ex-AU) that you believe requires (a) more services (i.e. frequency), and/or (b) more competition (i.e. more airlines flying it)? If so, which one(s)? (Note: this is a specific route between two airports, not a generic thing, e.g. between two countries, CBR - Christchurch

 

[straitman]

WooHoo,

I've just managed to get my unread thread count down to 200 :!:

:mrgreen:

 

[oz_mark]

WooHoo,

I've just managed to get my unread thread count down to 200 :!:

:mrgreen:

That's what the 'Mark Forums Read' link is for :mrgreen:

 

[straitman]

That's what the 'Mark Forums Read' link is for :mrgreen:

That's cheating :!:

 

[JohnK]

I had a break from AFF on the weekend and my unread post count approached 180! It is not easy to reduce it unless following the instructions above provided by oz_mark.

 

[straitman]

I had a break from AFF on the weekend and my unread post count approached 180! It is not easy to reduce it unless following the instructions above provided by oz_mark.

I was away last week and it was just over 300 when I got back. :shock:

 

[oz_mark]

I had a break from AFF on the weekend and my unread post count approached 180! It is not easy to reduce it unless following the instructions above provided by oz_mark.

Indeed, have a couple of days away from here, and you are confronted with multitudes of unread messages!

 

[Nigelinoz]

I hope this is off topic enough.
GPS-guided wreckers flatten wrong house ? The Register

A Georgia man is none too happy that his memory-filled family home, lovingly hand built "brick by brick" by Pop, is now a scene of rubble-strewn desolation after a demolition firm used a GPS to identify its victim and moved in for the kill.
Al Byrd of Sandy Springs got a bit of a shock earlier this month when someone called to let him know the Carroll County house was no more. Byrd had lived there with his nine brothers and sisters, and the house still contained precious heirlooms including "mom’s dining room set … her hutch* with her dishes in there"These Little House on the Prarie touches meant nothing to the Marietta wrecking outfit, apparently acting on the instructions of another unnamed Texas company, who flattened the buildingThe carnage was witnessed by Byrd's cousin, who captured video images of "a bulldozer in the yard of the house with dumpsters loaded with rubble". Byrd confronted the destroyers, who said they had "paperwork".

 

[anat0l]

I hope this is off topic enough.
GPS-guided wreckers flatten wrong house ? The Register

Off-topic enough, but starting to overdose on the stupidity.

Although it makes you wonder whether anyone could just ring up and order any property to destroyed...

Let the litigation game begin...

 

[Alanslegal]

Just wanted to give a big thumbs up to the Swissotel Hotels Best Rate Guarantee where they will promise to be the best rate online otherwise they will better your best rate by 50%*

Just made a series of reservations for Swissotel Sydney for $85 per night inclusive of buffet breakfast in their lounge. Now that's what I call a good deal for a 5* hotel smack in the middle of Sydney.

* for the 1st night only, so its great for 1 night stays.