The totally off-topic thread

[NM]

Haven't checked Accor for HKG yet, think that the HIx Causeway Bay at $135 per night will be hard to beat.

Especially you add in the free breakfast (reasonable for the price ) and locations (right near Time Square and handy to MRT) it not too bad. Rooms are ok, but a little old and not huge.

Crown Plaza is much newer with very nice rooms. Its just a little further away from MRT and Time Square but only by a block or two. But its generally dearer and no free breakfast unless purchasing Club Floor rooms (club breakfast is in the Restaurant, not the club lounge).

 

[markis10]

Where have the Circle pacific fare estimates gone on the OW site?Also cant find them searching QF or CX.

They get updates on the 1st of the month, no notes yet on a possible fare change just one about the removal of JAL express.

 

[serfty]

They get updates on the 1st of the month, no notes yet on a possible fare change just one about the removal of JAL express.

I think oneworld are removing the base fares for the oneworld products from their site.

Reports on FT are this is due to legislation of various countries around the globe requiring accurate/inclusive pricing - being base fares they were not inclusive.

 

[awilcockson]

Re: eightblack's at it again

Mini TR on FT: On The Road. SIN-MNL...Part 1 - FlyerTalk Forums

Oh dear, I've just read a few of his TR's, I am crying with laughter, my ribs hurt from trying to keep from laughing out loud.

 

[whereishome]

Anyone on AFF a financial system genius brain?

Getting an advance payment of some money against my eventual warranty payout from my moving company (who lost all my belongings in the Brisbane floods).

Timeline is this so far:

Internal company cutoff yesterday, batch generated today - when can I expect monies in my account do you think?

I'm assuming today they generate it, put it through and it gets processed overnight by the clearance centre...

Thoughts?

 

[thewinchester]

Anyone on AFF a financial system genius brain?

Getting an advance payment of some money against my eventual warranty payout from my moving company (who lost all my belongings in the Brisbane floods).

Timeline is this so far:

Internal company cutoff yesterday, batch generated today - when can I expect monies in my account do you think?

I'm assuming today they generate it, put it through and it gets processed overnight by the clearance centre...

Thoughts?

Depends on how big they are. If they're a big beast of a company, then all the data will be formatted and checked before being passed to their bank. If filed tonight before the bank's processing cut off, you can expect it to arrive in your a/c sometime after 1500 AEST tomorrow.

If they process through other means, which requires checking, you could be looking at the day after.

 

[whereishome]

Depends on how big they are. If they're a big beast of a company, then all the data will be formatted and checked before being passed to their bank. If filed tonight before the bank's processing cut off, you can expect it to arrive in your a/c sometime after 1500 AEST tomorrow.

If they process through other means, which requires checking, you could be looking at the day after.

Well they are a big part of another big company, but I'm still not sure. I just want to buy my Easter holidays tickets!

 

[drron]

And if like Jetstar -this time next year.

 

[beardoc]

There is also the USING points calculator which is much more comprehensive:
e.g.

This is absolute gold - exactly what I needed for my next YUPP run! Thank you!

 

[Bundy Bear]

Multi-cities normally can't be booked using a voucher online, which sucks. You need to call QF or get assistance and cop the fee. With a $500 voucher I'd be more tempted to commit it to an international ticket.

Marathon man are we? Great stuff! (Seriously - this is admirable to see)

I thought you did a business case analysis and were not interested in going for WP again after this qualifying period is over.

$500 is a lot for a voucher. You will have to spend money to use it one day; it's not to be treated as the extra trip you need (i.e. just to burn the voucher) to take but rather a part redemption against flights you wanted to take.

I ended up booking MEL-BNE-SYD-BNE-CBR.

The MEL-BNE ticket is changeable, am planning to spend 2 nights in Victoria, as long as a few things fall into place, but I am booking SYD-MEL on JQ35.

Another run on JQ35 but interesting the flight now leaves at 3:00pm better make sure I am not late for the flight, or I might get my name called over the Sydney Airport International PA.

BNE-SYD-BNE is to compete in the City to Surf in August.

BNE-CBR is for AFF5 in Canberra in October, I haven't stayed in Canberra long enough to actually take a look around the place.

 

[beardoc]

I know the OT thread often features discussions of beers, but are there any of us out there that don't drink alcohol?

 

[anat0l]

I know the OT thread often features discussions of beers, but are there any of us out there that don't drink alcohol?

Well, I don't exactly drink like a fish, but I do drink (alcohol, that is).

Sometimes I wean myself off it for a while (e.g. when travelling in WHY where often there isn't a decent drop or ale to be had), but then I always have a dilemma as to what I would have otherwise that is non-alcoholic.

My favourite tends to be sparkling water with lemon, although that requires both ingredients (and sometimes both are not available, or rather sparkling water is not available). Still water, of course, is the ubiquitous base option.

Everything else seems to get a little bit unpleasant after a while due to sugar content. Fruit juices, soft drinks and the like. (Can't speak much, since alcoholic drinks get a little bit unpleasant after a while due to alcohol content!).

For those who don't drink alcohol, what do you adopt as your standard drink, i.e. either by yourself, or socially, or for a "special occasion"? I suppose Coke (and its competitor variants) is in high demand here...

Do you consider mixed non-alcoholic drinks?

 

[beardoc]

And just because I think it needs mentioning here - mileage runs might be passe now that the Amex Centurion includes CX Diamond/OneWorld Emerald status:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....centurion-2011-benefits-27783.html#post420648

 

[whereishome]

Transfer arrived last night. Tickets to Japan purchased. Nifty pricing - JQ* return for $1600 barely. And I will requal for silver.

And as a bonus I will probably be able to avoid any accidental pregnancies thanks to free irradiation.

 

[Flashback]

Well, I don't exactly drink like a fish, but I do drink (alcohol, that is).

Sometimes I wean myself off it for a while (e.g. when travelling in WHY where often there isn't a decent drop or ale to be had), but then I always have a dilemma as to what I would have otherwise that is non-alcoholic.

My favourite tends to be sparkling water with lemon, although that requires both ingredients (and sometimes both are not available, or rather sparkling water is not available). Still water, of course, is the ubiquitous base option.

Everything else seems to get a little bit unpleasant after a while due to sugar content. Fruit juices, soft drinks and the like. (Can't speak much, since alcoholic drinks get a little bit unpleasant after a while due to alcohol content!).

For those who don't drink alcohol, what do you adopt as your standard drink, i.e. either by yourself, or socially, or for a "special occasion"? I suppose Coke (and its competitor variants) is in high demand here...

Do you consider mixed non-alcoholic drinks?

My drink of choice these days is a sparkling water, similar to you, with or without lemon/lime/ginger.

 

[beardoc]

Everything else seems to get a little bit unpleasant after a while due to sugar content. Fruit juices, soft drinks and the like. (Can't speak much, since alcoholic drinks get a little bit unpleasant after a while due to alcohol content!).

For those who don't drink alcohol, what do you adopt as your standard drink, i.e. either by yourself, or socially, or for a "special occasion"? I suppose Coke (and its competitor variants) is in high demand here...

If you want a non-caffeinated, non-sugary, non alcoholic drink that isn't water, you're out of luck in the QP or business lounges. I just wish that the QPs would stock cans of Sprite Zero or something similar.

 

[drmikki]

I know the OT thread often features discussions of beers, but are there any of us out there that don't drink alcohol?

I don't drink at all, bar the rare social obligation such as a miniscule sip of champagne toasting a wedding. Not Mormon or Muslim, just can't stand the taste. As nlagalle will attest, this makes me a very cheap date everywhere EXCEPT the Australian Grand Prix!

 

[Mal]

As nlagalle will attest, this makes me a very cheap date everywhere EXCEPT the Australian Grand Prix!

At $22/glass for MUMM champagne there ... you just have to go "WTF!"?!

 

[Mal]

I outed myself tonight (not in *that* way - some people here will understand what I actually mean).

Be kind and respect my privacy. I do prefer to be anonymous here (as much as possible), and try to keep work/social/AFF lives all separate.

 

[drmikki]

I outed myself tonight.

Too many glasses of $22 champagne?