The totally off-topic thread

[samh004]

I enjoy Googles April fools day jokes - when they happen in the US.

Ahh yes, something to look forward to.

 

[drron]

Aw shucks i was going to report on the RACV going belly up and selling off the Royal Pines resort to a property developer-got too busy this morning though Sam.

 

[oz_mark]

I enjoy Googles April fools day jokes - when they happen in the US.

You didn't like this mornings April Fools day joke involving Google?

 

[samh004]

Aw shucks i was going to report on the RACV going belly up and selling off the Royal Pines resort to a property developer-got too busy this morning though Sam.

Wouldn’t worry me hate the place!

 

[Mal]

I've spent a lot of time over the last few months learning train routing rules (for ticketing) in the UK and how to find the best tickets, routes, stopovers, loopholes etc etc.

I thought airline routing rules were complex... but the UK train rules really take the cake!

(PS - And no, I don't have anything better to do )

 

[samh004]

I've spent a lot of time over the last few months learning train routing rules (for ticketing) in the UK and how to find the best tickets, routes, stopovers, loopholes etc etc.

I thought airline routing rules were complex... but the UK train rules really take the cake!

(PS - And no, I don't have anything better to do )

Can you join a frequent travelling program?

 

[Mal]

Can you join a frequent travelling program?

Virgin Trains sort-of have one:

First Class Traveller - Virgin Trains Loyalty Club | Virgin Trains

Costs a lot to get membership though:

To qualify for a year's Traveller membership, you need to send us original tickets (sorry, but we can't accept photocopies) that show:

* You've made 8 First Class return journeys or the equivalent (i.e. 8 return tickets, 16 single tickets or a combination such as 6 returns and 4 singles)
* All your journeys have been made on a Virgin Trains route
* Your journeys have been made within a consecutive 3-month period of your application

The qualifying ticket types are:

* First Anytime (Return tickets must be worth £70 or more and single tickets £35 or more)
* Virgin Business (Tickets must be worth £165 or more)
* Advance First (Tickets must be worth £55 or more)
* First Class season tickets (3-month season tickets worth £3,010 or more and annual season tickets worth £6,900 or more)

 

[Flashback]

Virgin Trains sort-of have one:

First Class Traveller - Virgin Trains Loyalty Club | Virgin Trains

Costs a lot to get membership though:

And from what I've seen on my recent train trips, train station 'lounges' are not really worth going into.

 

[Mal]

And from what I've seen on my recent train trips, train station 'lounges' are not really worth going into.

Yeah, that's what I've heard (Haven't been in any - even though some offer a "Pay at the door" policy of about 5 pounds space permitting.

The benefits of the Virgin Club is the free alcoholic drinks and First Class upgrades on weekends. Then again, with the policy of "BYO Booze and drink what you want" on trains, and the cheapness of alcohol in the UK I doubt there's anything special about their free drinks.

 

[samh004]

It’s a shame Virgin doesn’t give their “air” frequent flyers access to their train lounges, I’d have thought that’d be something the Virgin brand would aim for.

 

[Flashback]

Yeah, that's what I've heard (Haven't been in any - even though some offer a "Pay at the door" policy of about 5 pounds space permitting.

The benefits of the Virgin Club is the free alcoholic drinks and First Class upgrades on weekends. Then again, with the policy of "BYO Booze and drink what you want" on trains, and the cheapness of alcohol in the UK I doubt there's anything special about their free drinks.

One of the few that offer free alcoholic drinks in their lounge then.. my experience with Eurostar was that they did not.

 

[anat0l]

And from what I've seen on my recent train trips, train station 'lounges' are not really worth going into.

Yeah, that's what I've heard

The benefits of the Virgin Club is the free alcoholic drinks and First Class upgrades on weekends. Then again, with the policy of "BYO Booze and drink what you want" on trains, and the cheapness of alcohol in the UK I doubt there's anything special about their free drinks.

One of the few that offer free alcoholic drinks in their lounge then.. my experience with Eurostar was that they did not.

I think it has to be said that if we were frequent train patrons rather than frequent flyers, we may not know any better that the lounges aren't anything special. You get used to what you experience after the first time.

At one point (a few years ago), I didn't go to Qantas Clubs a lot, so every time I did I valued it a lot. Now I go pretty often, there's not much to be said about it. We end up saying the same thing to everyone, too. And our judgement is further jaded when we go to new places.

Train travel seems to be still stuck in some romantic time where years ago not only was it very cheap to ride by train, but it was fairly luxurious.

It’s a shame Virgin doesn’t give their “air” frequent flyers access to their train lounges, I’d have thought that’d be something the Virgin brand would aim for.

AFAICT there aren't a lot of links between Virgin brands and benefits. I think Virgin mobile and Virgin Blue have some sort of reciprocal benefits (like buying Virgin mobile stuff gives you Velocity points or free DJ flights or something...apart from branded credit cards). I mean, until recently, Flying Club and Velocity didn't talk to each other.

 

[Bundy Bear]

At one point (a few years ago), I didn't go to Qantas Clubs a lot, so every time I did I valued it a lot. Now I go pretty often, there's not much to be said about it. We end up saying the same thing to everyone, too. And our judgment is further jaded when we go to new places.

I don't know about you but for me the buzz of an airline lounge has not yet worn off, and I don't think it will ever wear off. :idea:

 

[Mal]

One of the few that offer free alcoholic drinks in their lounge then.. my experience with Eurostar was that they did not.

The lounge doesn't, but if you train enough you get free alcoholic drinks. The qualification requirements are pretty steep for what you get though!

 

[QF WP]

You mean till be both fly in J to Auckland then ROAD TRIP!

A pity that I only get to take Flashware to the Brekky Creek for a steak and beer off the wood. We'll miss you karens, but I'm sure Flashie can ring you

 

[Flashback]

A pity that I only get to take Flashware to the Brekky Creek for a steak and beer off the wood. We'll miss you karens, but I'm sure Flashie can ring you

I'm confused..... would I go into the toilet and use the phone there, to ring her in the main part of the room?

 

[Hvr]

Well no flying in the immediate future but at least it can still seem like it. The joys of insomnia mean I can watch the early (5.00am) news on WIN and it welcomes viewers to the 'Inflight news'.

 

[Mal]

Well no flying in the immediate future but at least it can still seem like it. The joys of insomnia mean I can watch the early (5.00am) news on WIN and it welcomes viewers to the 'Inflight news'.

Hello viewers. And welcome back from your high last night. Buckle up and enjoy this bumpy ride of supposed news!

Still it does surprise me they don't edit that sort of stuff out.

 

[Hvr]

Hello viewers. And welcome back from your high last night. Buckle up and enjoy this bumpy ride of supposed news!

Still it does surprise me they don't edit that sort of stuff out.

Actually what did surprise me was the story about the blown tyres on the A380. Hopefully QF won't stop pax from viewing the tail camera for landings and take offs. It did provide some useful footage for the news shows with sparks where the tyre shredded.

 

[MissBurrill]

A pity that I only get to take Flashware to the Brekky Creek for a steak and beer off the wood. We'll miss you karens, but I'm sure Flashie can ring you

I'm confused..... would I go into the toilet and use the phone there, to ring her in the main part of the room?

Well I'm lost. Maybe I'm not awake yet......