The totally off-topic thread

[samh004]

Had an interesting experience this morning, collected my boarding passes for the days flying, all 4 of them and had my first flights seat moved from row 2 to 17. Wasn't impressed, but trim made the most sense. Asked at the lounge to be moved and was given row 8.

Sit down to have my breakfast and coffee and get a phone call from the gate agent, there's only 3 on my flight (74-seat Q400) and they want to leave early. Inhaled my food and drink and rushed to the gate (new gate lounge at 5/6 is really convenient), and was moved back to row 15.

Got a special safety briefing, and the service was very good, as you'd expect!

The next flight in only had 9 onboard (also a 74-seat Q400). How do they make money on this route?

Flew to MOV.


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[QF WP]

My understanding is that the MOV/EMD/etc flights are busiest on the first flight in and the last flight out and will depend on when the (largest employers of the region) mines roster dictate are the start of shifts (week on, etc - starts are generally mid-week). So, one-on-one service this morning then samh004 . With only 3 pax on board, I would think trim factors are of a lesser concern - but may depend on what cargo they are carrying? Is there a lesser net cost of the airline sending the flights and gaining some revenue (and not upsetting booked pax and cargo clients when cancelling); versus the cost and dowtime of staff (at both airports), pilots and FA's (same for the two legs)...

 

[Mal]

Had an interesting experience this morning, collected my boarding passes for the days flying, all 4 of them and had my first flights seat moved from row 2 to 17. Wasn't impressed, but trim made the most sense. Asked at the lounge to be moved and was given row 8.

Sit down to have my breakfast and coffee and get a phone call from the gate agent, there's only 3 on my flight (74-seat Q400) and they want to leave early. Inhaled my food and drink and rushed to the gate (new gate lounge at 5/6 is really convenient), and was moved back to row 15.

Got a special safety briefing, and the service was very good, as you'd expect!

The next flight in only had 9 onboard (also a 74-seat Q400). How do they make money on this route?

Flew to MOV.


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Saw a q400 this morning that had a Very impressive takeoff angle and speed. Wonder if that was your plane (circa 6.30 this morning?)

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

 

[samh004]

My understanding is that the MOV/EMD/etc flights are busiest on the first flight in and the last flight out and will depend on when the (largest employers of the region) mines roster dictate are the start of shifts (week on, etc - starts are generally mid-week). So, one-on-one service this morning then samh004 . With only 3 pax on board, I would think trim factors are of a lesser concern - but may depend on what cargo they are carrying? Is there a lesser net cost of the airline sending the flights and gaining some revenue (and not upsetting booked pax and cargo clients when cancelling); versus the cost and dowtime of staff (at both airports), pilots and FA's (same for the two legs)...

One pax was shifting on so had his hi-vis on, the other was in thongs so assumed he wasn't starting immediately. But the FA's were a little surprised. I was previously booked on an even earlier service that had been cancelled, so was surprised we weren't all on the same service, especially as there weren't that many departing from MOV either... however, the second flight was a charter I assume, as it had a 'C' after the flight number and the displays in the airport listed it as being operated by Qantas, not QantasLink, so perhaps they couldn't combine them.

Saw a q400 this morning that had a Very impressive takeoff angle and speed. Wonder if that was your plane (circa 6.30 this morning?)

Likely to be the next flight out, which carried 9, if it was heading to MOV. According to the BALUS website, that was the next MOV flight, leaving at spot on 6:30.

We were out before 6. Wonder if my Q400 was a sight to behold lifting off...


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[Bundy Bear]

One step closer to returning to the UK. Handed in notice today at work, will be unemployed as of the end of this month. Haven't booked flights but that will happen soon once I negotiate my actual end date.

Had a big lol though, in my resignation letter, I actually copied phrases from various emails sent by upper management over the last few months and pasted them together, adjusting them slightly to fit the situation. All of those "feel good" phrases that they send out came in very handy. A little bit of a "It's not you, it's me" break-up Had a few colleagues proof read my letter and they laughed at how well it worked out. Slightly out of character for my usual writing, but contained all of the right buzz words.

Wonder if they'll realise I copied their phrases
PS, I'll be planning some quiet drinks one night in late Sept / early Oct. Stay tuned.

Better organise that drinks night on a evening that suits you.

My brother quit a job years ago and just used google to find the right words.

Had an interesting experience this morning, collected my boarding passes for the days flying, all 4 of them and had my first flights seat moved from row 2 to 17. Wasn't impressed, but trim made the most sense. Asked at the lounge to be moved and was given row 8.

Flew to MOV.


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I flew ADL-OLP and was shifted from row 2 to row 15.

I guess you can take better cabin photos from Row 15.

Sam had suggested I go flying with him today but work and lack of motivation meant I didn't bother booking a flight, but I did donate some blood today.

Every time I donate blood I reply to this Flyertalk thread.

I am not sure who else donates blood semi regularly, there was some travel question about Sydney between July 12 to July 26, no idea what that was about, they weren't too worried about that fact that I had traveled to the UK and Germany in the last 3 months.

 

[anat0l]

A few posts upthread there was a bit of ego massaging for those who live in Sydney.

Well..... Britain is still in love with Sydney Australia | News.com.au

Thankfully it's only the Pommies' opinion.

 

[TonyHancock]

MrsH just re-qualified WP with QF in 45 days. :shock: on top of that she received her companion, courtesy of moi, WP pack from DJ today.

I'm currently hiding, crying, and banging my head against the wall. It will take another month from me to re-qualify WP with QF, and DJ is still assessing me!

 

[yo yo ma]

Gold! Especially the Dunkin Donut boxes... even the police officer had a laugh.

Man with $137 traffic ticket pays with 137 origami pigs in two Dunkin' Donut boxes | Mail Online

 

[JohnK]

I know some people are annoyed with these posts but you don't have to read them.

For anyone that is interested today has been my first day going to OOL to return to SYD. Can you believe that my flight is delayed? Only slightly delayed but delayed just the same. I think delays follow me everywhere I go.

I am not sure how a flight arriving at 19:45 is going to be ready to take off at 20:10 (5 minutes late) is worth seeing. Apparently it is a full flight and I have 1F!

 

[Mwenenzi]

I know some people are annoyed with these posts but you don't have to read them.

For anyone that is interested today has been my first day going to OOL to return to SYD. Can you believe that my flight is delayed? Only slightly delayed but delayed just the same. I think delays follow me everywhere I go.

Do not you delayed every Friday night
For months I have wondered why you do not a personal thread "JohnK delayed on Friday night" just for these :idea:
Perhaps a friendly MOD a split off your Friday night posts :!:

 

[medhead]

I do believe we need to get you along for JQ35 sometime.


Sent from the Throne

 

[samh004]

Meanwhile my 4 flights today were all on time, other than the last one where BNE traffic put us in a holding pattern for 25 minutes. To be expected though.


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[JohnK]

Do not you delayed every Friday night

It has actually been quite good for a while and tonight was only minor delay.

For months I have wondered why you do not a personal thread "JohnK delayed on Friday night" just for these :idea:
Perhaps a friendly MOD a split off your Friday night posts :!:

Nah. I would get depressed then. Better off hidden in this thread.

 

[whatmeworry]

The Maribyrnong council has risen my parents rates by another 25% this year! So this means their rates have roughly doubled in the last 3~4 years! According to this council the value of their house has also risen in the last year despite the housing market being in a depressed state!

 

[medhead]

My rates in Roxby Downs doubled over a similar time period. The reason given for the increases every year was to provide a return for the municipal [shareholders] (I can't remember the word used but it basically meant shareholders). Sorry but as a land owner in the municipal area aren't I one of the "[shareholders]"?

Anyway very glad to have sold up, especially following the most recent news.


Sent from the Throne

 

[markis10]

The Maribyrnong council has risen my parents rates by another 25% this year! So this means their rates have roughly doubled in the last 3~4 years! According to this council the value of their house has also risen in the last year despite the housing market being in a depressed state!

Dont they value rates on unimproved land values, making the house irrelevant?

 

[JohnK]

The Maribyrnong council has risen my parents rates by another 25% this year! So this means their rates have roughly doubled in the last 3~4 years! According to this council the value of their house has also risen in the last year despite the housing market being in a depressed state!

The only thing that is keeping people in a depressed state are the obscene salaries. Close to $500,000/pa for the CEO if not more.

Get rid of this unwanted layer and bring rates down not increase them.

 

[whatmeworry]

The Maribyrnong council uses a combination of "site value" and "capital improved value" I think "Net Annual Value" (How much you can rent it for). It is a convoluted valuation process. I want my parents to appeal but they can't be bothered!

The improved capital improved value keeps going up but the site value remains roughly the same? Sounds counter-intuitive!

No council valuer has ever inspected their home but they keep increasing the value.
http://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.aspx?Page_Id=681

 

[oz_mark]

Dont they value rates on unimproved land values, making the house irrelevant?

Mostly in Victoria it seems to be the Capital Improved Value that is used (the market price of the property).

(In WA it seems more based on Gross Rental Values, which has shot up in the last year or two!)

 

[Flashback]

Really impressed with the quality I'm getting from Loading... ; let's just hope the tenner I paid gives me more than 1 game to watch! Come on Eagles!