US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[burmans]

Quotation

".... There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.


Attributed to Benjamin Disraeli by Mark Twain in "Chapters from My Autobiography — XX", North American Review No. DCXVIII (JULY 5, 1907) [1]. His attribution is unverified and the origin is uncertain: see Lies, damned lies, and statistics and Leonard H. Courtney. Other authors to whom the quote has been attributed, as reported in Respectfully Quoted: A Dictionary of Quotations (1989), include Henry Labouchère, Abram S. Hewitt, and Holloway H. Frost....."

as someone with a degree in stats have never much liked this saying (not that I actually work in the field), the reason being that statistics themselves don't actually lie, but are usually fairly limited in their context and application. It's those that use those statistics out of context (usually politicians) and without the appropriate understanding or desire to understand the relevance of the statistic to the situation they are applying that gets me annoyed. Though of course I must admit the gullibity of the press and public to accept this from the statistics spruker without appropriate questioning suggests we deserve politicians that lie.

 

[Alanslegal]

Cheers to everyone for the SQ v TG responses SQ may do well consistently on board (service/food) but I am actually swaying slightly towards TG, (even though we've had a not so good service once in F). The intra-Asia flights is TG 2h25m v SQ 3h55m but that extra 90mins on SQ might be a deal breaker esp if I am in a SQ recliner seat Lounge wise, been to both TG/SQ multiple times, but its pretty similar except the 30min head&shoulder massage TG offers. Anyway, decisions decisions! Will talk to the +1 and see what they think before proceeding.

 

[legroom]

as someone with a degree in stats have never much liked this saying (not that I actually work in the field), the reason being that statistics themselves don't actually lie, but are usually fairly limited in their context and application. It's those that use those statistics out of context (usually politicians) and without the appropriate understanding or desire to understand the relevance of the statistic to the situation they are applying that gets me annoyed. Though of course I must admit the gullibity of the press and public to accept this from the statistics spruker without appropriate questioning suggests we deserve politicians that lie.

It cannot be a proper thread unless it diverges from the title on occasions.

Context is everything I'd heartily agree.

100% better with a sample of one is different from say 45% better with a sample of thousands !

 

[ferni]

Anyone have any bookings visiting/transiting in BKK in the near future? Political issues seem to be escalating... we are transiting there on the 10th for a few hours, and 24hours there on the 16th.... I've booked the Novotel at the airport for that so can confine ourselves to airport if we have to, but i'd prefer to get out to the city....

 

[Flashback]

Brother in law had a transit through there last night without issue.

 

[NDiddy]

Anyone have any bookings visiting/transiting in BKK in the near future? Political issues seem to be escalating... we are transiting there on the 10th for a few hours, and 24hours there on the 16th.... I've booked the Novotel at the airport for that so can confine ourselves to airport if we have to, but i'd prefer to get out to the city....

I'll be transiting on the 13th of Jan for about 1.30 hours exactly when the protestors intend on shutting down Bangkok according to this article

Thai protesters threaten to "shut down" Bangkok

We're also transiting through BKK to HKT and then back to SYD later in Jan. Fingers crossed it blows over.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

the protesters aren't aiming for violence against foreigners (well, they haven't so far!) and the government will want to protect the airport (and the roads are set up to do this pretty effectively).

if I was transiting BKK I wouldn't have and concerns. Going into the city might be another issue (merely for the inconvenience of traffic due to any protests).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

apparently now is a good time to get through to USDM if anyone needs to make or change a booking. my sister just called and got straight through.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

1st World Query - TG J ex MEL or dom to SYD and then TG F ex SYD?

Of course ret journey would also require dom SYD-MEL but F is F right?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

1st World Query - TG J ex MEL or dom to SYD and then TG F ex SYD?

Of course ret journey would also require dom SYD-MEL but F is F right?

Yes. No question. TG F.

(noting slightly OT that the expression 'first world problem' is generally shunned by those from the third world as being highly insulting to their intelligence. They have the same daily decisions to make in their lives as we do in ours )

 

[burmans]

Of course ret journey would also require dom SYD-MEL but F is F right?

Last I heard this was still the case but no doubt someone has a conspiracy theory of devaluation.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

(noting slightly OT that the expression 'first world problem' is generally shunned by those from the third world

Fully understood - but I did not post 'first world problem' - I posted '1st World Query'.

 

[anat0l]

Last I heard this was still the case but no doubt someone has a conspiracy theory of devaluation.

All F is F, but some F are more F than others. :mrgreen:


(With apologies to Orwell)

 

[Beta4Me]

Fully understood - but I did not post 'first world problem' - I posted '1st World Query'.

You never hear much about the second world, do you...

 

[Cruiser Elite]

You never hear much about the second world, do you...

Not anymore - although they still hold a number of Olympic World Records!

 

[Flashback]

Word just in from my BIL is that he was rather impressed with the Air China product PEK-ARN - especially as he came off the TG A330 sloping J!

 

[Solid]

I did an Air China A330-300 ICN-PEK a couple of days ago in J and was impressed with both hard and soft product.

Better than sloping J class on TG for sure.

 

[diningdecadence]

USDM newbie question...

wanted to confirm SYD-BKK in F is 120k per person for a return? and you can't book 1 ways? but the advantage to lifemiles is that you can book a mixed class redemption? i'm ultimately wanting to go to india but looking at availability via awardtravelr isn't throwing much up

 

[Flashback]

USDM newbie question...

wanted to confirm SYD-BKK in F is 120k per person for a return? and you can't book 1 ways? but the advantage to lifemiles is that you can book a mixed class redemption? i'm ultimately wanting to go to india but looking at availability via awardtravelr isn't throwing much up

http://www.usairways.com/pv_obj_cac...8A75801A30000/filename/partnerawardtravel.pdf

Yes, 120k F return. I could think of better value for the points though by going elsewhere.... possibly you could get GUM in F (40k return) and wrangle in your BKK stop.

 

[NDiddy]

USDM newbie question...

wanted to confirm SYD-BKK in F is 120k per person for a return? and you can't book 1 ways? but the advantage to lifemiles is that you can book a mixed class redemption? i'm ultimately wanting to go to india but looking at availability via awardtravelr isn't throwing much up

What sort of dates are you looking at?