The totally off-topic thread

[flyingfan]

2. I wish I didn't work so hard. "I will take the rest of the week off work.

Many of us have heard the adage "Live each day as if it were your last" but that's a problematic extreme - if it really were my last day, for a start I would definitely not go to work. And we can't stay away from work indefinitely can we?

The premise of the regrets does sound touching but I haven't read the book. I did read an article about it probably when it was first published. And the next time I heard about these regrets was when they appeared in the case of Gareth Williams.

 

[JohnK]

I knew there was a reason I was waiting on a sheep station for you lot for so long!

The reason you waited so long at the bus station was that you got there too early!

If you had been at the Hyatt, Novotel or Crowne Plaza you would have known the rescheduled arrival time!

 

[serfty]

...

If you had been at the Hyatt, Novotel or Crowne Plaza you would have known the rescheduled arrival time!

Which one of the times was that - Oh Yeah - the last one - 'bout 5 minutes 'ere the bus actually fronted ...

 

[Must...Fly!]

British Airways just gave me a nice surprise. Booked LHR-FCO for 139GBP each in economy for two, and an upgrade offer to Club Europe came up just after booking for 79GBP!

Whilst I maintain that club europe is a joke, this is
a) at least on a 767
b) a decent length flight, time to enjoy the food/experience
c) first thing in the morning (i.e., LHR delays)
d) As above, gain priority check-in and security screening, which from my experience at T5 in February will be most beneficial
e) Galleries lounge access

Good deal. Whilst dangerously on topic...can someone just confirm for me that I should receive business class points/SCs if I put my QF number in there?

If so it means i trip over to the lofty heights of silver on the first leg of FRA-xLHR-SIN, means some more points there too

 

[Flashback]

British Airways just gave me a nice surprise. Booked LHR-FCO for 139GBP each in economy for two, and an upgrade offer to Club Europe came up just after booking for 79GBP!

Whilst I maintain that club europe is a joke, this is
a) at least on a 767
b) a decent length flight, time to enjoy the food/experience
c) first thing in the morning (i.e., LHR delays)
d) As above, gain priority check-in and security screening, which from my experience at T5 in February will be most beneficial
e) Galleries lounge access

Good deal. Whilst dangerously on topic...can someone just confirm for me that I should receive business class points/SCs if I put my QF number in there?

If so it means i trip over to the lofty heights of silver on the first leg of FRA-xLHR-SIN, means some more points there too

How did it come up? Did you view in MMB? I have a LHR-ARN and CPH-LHR coming up, wonder if there's an offer sitting there for me....

 

[Must...Fly!]

How did it come up? Did you view in MMB? I have a LHR-ARN and CPH-LHR coming up, wonder if there's an offer sitting there for me....

Yes, in MMB.

There were only two upgrade seats left as well (or so BA told me) so it was meant to be, I guess!

 

[Flashback]

Yes, in MMB.

There were only two upgrade seats left as well (or so BA told me) so it was meant to be, I guess!

Bummer. Nothing for me.

 

[anat0l]

...can someone just confirm for me that I should receive business class points/SCs if I put my QF number in there?

If so it means i trip over to the lofty heights of silver on the first leg of FRA-xLHR-SIN, means some more points there too

Not sure I can confirm that one.

Upgrades normally give you the class which you booked, but I have no idea how these particular BA upgrades work (whether it rebooks you into a "true earn" Business fare class, or just an upgrade inventory).

You can only try, though - it's not as if you are not going to put your QF number on there!

Perhaps one way to find out whether you will get J earn is to check the booking class code with BA (either online, over the phone or at the check-in desk).



Whilst LHR-FCO will certainly be more comfortable in J rather than Y, it's a shame it's in the morning. Well, first thing in the morning is the full English; after 10am-ish is the extended breakfast (cold cuts plate). But, Galleries access (if you normally don't have it) is a plus (and you can get a full English there and more).

 

[hummel]

I have a LHR-FCO booking in July on BA. No upgrades offers for me

 

[Bundy Bear]

I have received the upgrade offer from BA twice, one was LGW-AMS and I think the offer was 50GBP and then another time it was 100GBP on a LHR-AMS sector.

I was buying sub 100 GBP tickets and crediting the flights to Qantas so I wasn't buying the expensive type so the offer has come up for me from time to time.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Thanks for your help and comments everyone!

I did some more google digging and found that if you log in to BA.com MMB and click on "More flight information" for your flight, it will tell you the booking class!

 

[anat0l]

Thanks for your help and comments everyone!

I did some more google digging and found that if you log in to BA.com MMB and click on "More flight information" for your flight, it will tell you the booking class!

...

Very nice - so looks like you should be getting Business level points and SCs. (Though, just in case, be prepared for the tete-a-tete that may arise if someone - BA or QF or both - disagrees.)

 

[serfty]

Thanks for your help and comments everyone!

I did some more google digging and found that if you log in to BA.com MMB and click on "More flight information" for your flight, it will tell you the booking class!

View attachment 7633

Nice -FWIW the same info can also be obtained using your Amadeus PNR on these pages:

www.qantas.com/yourbooking and

https://eitr.amadeusasia.com/index.aspx

(The latter often provides some quite detailed data.)

 

[anat0l]

Just was reading the Wikipedia article about Autobahns. Here are some of the select rules of driving on the Autobahn (uncited, but still interesting):

The German autobahn network is patrolled by unmarked police cars and motorcycles equipped with video cameras; this allows the enforcement of laws (such as tailgating). Notable laws include the following.

• The right lane should be used when it is free and the left lane is generally intended only for overtaking, unless traffic is too dense to justify driving only on the right lane; drivers using far left lane for prolonged periods of time when all other lanes are free could be fined by the Autobahnpolizei ("Autobahn (or highway) police").
• Forcing slow drivers on the left-hand lane to change lane (even if they are occupying it illegally), for example by flashing or tailgating, could be considered coercion and is best avoided.
• Overtaking on the right (undertaking) is strictly forbidden, except when stuck in traffic jams. Up to a speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) it is permitted to pass cars on the right side if the speed difference is not greater than 20 km/h (12 mph) or the vehicle on the left lane stands still. This is not referred to as overtaking, but driving past. Even if the car overtaken is illegally occupying the left-hand lane, it is not an acceptable excuse; in such cases the police will routinely stop and fine both drivers. However, exceptions are and have sometimes been made.
• In the case of a traffic jam, drivers have to form an emergency lane to guarantee that emergency services can reach the scene of an accident ahead without being hindered. This lane has to be formed between the left lane and the lane next to the left lane.
• It is unlawful to stop for any reason on the autobahn, except for emergencies and when unavoidable, like traffic jams or being involved in an accident. This includes stopping on emergency lanes. Running out of fuel is considered an avoidable occurrence, as by law there are petrol stations directly on the autobahn approximately every 50–55 km (30–35 mi). Drivers may face fines and a driving licence removal for up to 6 months should it come to a stop that was deemed unnecessary by the police. In some cases (if there is direct danger to life and limb or property e.g. cars and highway infrastructure) it may also be considered a crime and the driver could receive a prison sentence (up to 5 years).
• There is a general duty to rescue in Germany. If there is an accident, a driver is obliged to stop and help, whenever and to the degree to which it is possible. (First aid training is mandatory in order to obtain a driver's licence in German). Doctors, even if they are not Germans or living in Germany, are obliged to stop and help, unless an ambulance is already on the scene.
• Fines for tailgating were increased in May 2006. At speeds over 100 km/h (62 mph), keeping less than 30 percent of the recommended safety distance (which should be about 100 metres, and longer at higher speeds) now results in a suspension of the offender's driver's license for up to three months. As such, overtaking on the right side or on the emergency lane can't be fined as hard as tailgating. Foreign drivers may be fined on the spot, their foreign licenses confiscated (although not as frequent as German licences) and rental car agreements may be immediately cancelled (the renter also loses all insurance and has to come up with all liabilities).
• Due to legal regulations it is legal to flash headlights in order to indicate the intention of overtaking, but a proper distance to the vehicle in front must be maintained. Driving at insufficient distances and constantly or repeatedly flashing headlights are also considered to be coercion and the driver can get fined. In severe cases, this might be regarded as a crime and the driver may be arrested and face a court trial where they can be sentenced to up to three years in prison.
• The tires must be approved for the vehicle's top speed; winter tires (mud + snow) for lower speeds (i.e. cheaper than high-speed tires) are allowed, the driver has to have a sticker in the vehicle reminding of the maximum speed.
• During the winter months winter tires are compulsory. M+S tires (mud and snow or all-season) are acceptable. Non-compliance would lead to legal consequences in the event of an accident and will result in problems with insurance coverage. During the winter months, or whenever winter conditions are present, rental companies in Germany are required to equip their rental cars with winter tires specifically designed for each vehicle (although the cost of that can be transferred to the renter, on a daily rate).

Pretty strict rules in some cases - interesting are that first aid training is required to obtain a licence in Germany, international licences can be confiscated by the police and even something like tailgating can result in suspension of licence.

Got me thinking: could we ever have "autobahns" in Australia? Or are we too undisciplined to deserve such roads?


Also, the international licence thing reminded me of an FT thread where an American received a speeding fine whilst in Australia, but decided not to pay the fine (I think he got notice of the fine once he returned home, so he couldn't pay it in Australia). He was asking FT whether he should bother paying it.

 

[Flashback]

Also, the international licence thing reminded me of an FT thread where an American received a speeding fine whilst in Australia, but decided not to pay the fine (I think he got notice of the fine once he returned home, so he couldn't pay it in Australia). He was asking FT whether he should bother paying it.

That's a good question actually and one I was thinking of while I was driving in AU last week on my UK license.

 

[hummel]

Thanks for your help and comments everyone!

I did some more google digging and found that if you log in to BA.com MMB and click on "More flight information" for your flight, it will tell you the booking class!

View attachment 7633

I am taking the same flight on the Sunday!! I'll have to check if there are any surprises for me... I highly doubt it!

No surprises here it seems.

[TABLE="class: full, width: 968"]
[TR="class: tr_first"]
[TD]Sun 15 Jul 12[/TD]
[TD]07:05[/TD]
[TD]London(Heathrow)[/TD]
[TD]10:35[/TD]
[TD]Rome(Fiumicino)[/TD]
[TD]British Airways flightBA552

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Still need to work out how to do FCO-ZRH. Train of Fly? LX wanted $400+ euro one way.. or $200 Euro return

 

[Must...Fly!]

We'll be on the Eurostar under the chunnel when you are flying to FCO! haha!!

I had the same problem getting from FCO-MUC...so we are taking the overnight train, glad I found it - something different! 330EUR for two people in a deluxe sleeper cabin with breakfast - suits fine

serfty - that amadeus asia link gives me an error when i put in a PNR and select a passenger - will try tomorrow. QF MMB does also say I fare bucket though

 

[anat0l]

Anyone else recently got called by a marketing research company doing a phone survey on behalf of Qantas?


One of the questions was how many return flights I did in such-and-such a period. This annoys me because a return flight is a A to B to A, but I don't often fly just A to B to A (we all know this ). So it's a pain to count it as so.

Another two questions I was asked were, "Which airline frequent flyer programs do you belong to (other than Qantas and Virgin Frequent Flyer)," and, "Which airlines (other than Qantas) have you flown internationally in the past 2 years". Needless to say... :mrgreen:

 

[thewinchester]

Well, about time I stuck my head back in here and said hi! Have you missed me?

Life has got in the way of a good story, so a bit of an update. Firstly, I'm finally employed again after 14mths of being a jobseeker (a horrible expierence I must tell you). Sadly, not in the job I want, but it pays the bills and keeps a roof over ones' head.

I'm now working for a fruit-related global consumer technology company, in a short-term project as a Support Consultant - and that's as much as I can say on that due to a pretty strict NDA in force. It's nowhere near the role I wanted, puts me back into an industry I'd not really prefer to be in and at a salary which undervalues my skills and cramps my style, but beggers can't be choosers as they say in the classics.

Getting going in this job, tying off some loose end's for a friends business, and of course dealing with my own health problems has pretty much consumed every minute of the day I can spare for the last eight weeks (hence not organising an April drinks night, something to line up with the RAAF Open Day or making any progress on Christmas in July). I'd love to be doing more non-work stuff, but I've only got two arms and limited hours in the day.

Have appreciated the personal messages and support from the members around these parts, and I hope a word from one of them may help score my dream role which an Aussie aviation company has just put out to advertisment this week - which I must get around to applying for very quickly.

Will be in and out of AFF whenever I can, have perused the list of nearly 500 unread theads since my last visit and absorbed/contributed whatever I can. Don't know if or when I'll be back in the air, but it can't be much longer as the QP keeps calling like an unavoidable siren's song. Happy travels.

 

[drron]

Welcome back.I hope you can get back in the air very soon.