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Post by chech on May 12, 2015 21:50:53 GMT
Yup...always up for a coffee.
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Post by chech on May 15, 2015 15:33:24 GMT
Hey Australians! Hide your catnip! I'm booked for October!
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Post by keitel on May 16, 2015 8:15:18 GMT
I am reliably informed that eastern Australia will be experiencing El NiƱo in October so will be dry. Enjoy
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Post by chech on May 16, 2015 12:49:22 GMT
Awesome! El Nino gives us great winters in eastern Canada...warmer and much dryer than the west coast.
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Post by Oz-T on May 19, 2015 3:37:41 GMT
This will be interesting..... Chech won't be aware just how many marsupials we have down here. ... even the cats have pouches.
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Post by chech on May 19, 2015 12:30:10 GMT
Yeah....I hope to observe the reproductive practices of Aussie Kats.
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Post by chech on Jun 28, 2015 22:28:34 GMT
Question for the Aussies who have flown Qantas....I might opt for the A380 flight from Dallas or LAX. My question is can you pick your seat when you book the flight? thx
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Post by bet on Jun 28, 2015 23:35:51 GMT
I believe you can when you book and after booking if you have your booking reference number you can pick your seat online thru manage my booking. I always do this myself although I'll never fly Qantas but I'm sure they will be no different. The A380 is pretty good so huge and quiet
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axl
New Member
Posts: 18
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Post by axl on Jun 29, 2015 3:31:35 GMT
Yes Chech Bet is correct you can pick your seat when flying with Qantas but they do charge a fee . We fly with Emirates and they don't charge you as soon as you get a booking number you can select your seat but with Qantas I don't know if you can do it immediately or if you have to wait till closer to your flight
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Post by plane2catch on Jun 29, 2015 4:38:43 GMT
When I flew Qantas, LAX to Melbourne I was able to pick my seat and was lucky enough to get a bulk head seat. I spent Christmas in Melbourne and saw Santa riding a motorcycle!! No snow so it seemed strange with the warm weather.
Anxious to read your trip review as I didn't visit Adelaide or take the Ghana train. Hope you get to see the march of the penguins outside of Melbourne. I've seen penguins before in South Africa but Australia has the best little marchers.
Chech it sounds like your going to have a great 50th! How much airtime are you spending in planes between St. John's and Melbourne ?? So you are going with Globus instead of Trafalgar. I think that is a great choice given you get to see Tasmania. That is my one regret of my trip and now I've lost my patience with any flight over 10 hours. Have a great trip and it sounds fun to be able to say you circled the globe! Very cool!!
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Post by chech on Jun 29, 2015 11:30:27 GMT
Cool...my research sees a fee to select . I am thinking of treating myself to Premium Economy for this one flight. I'm guessing seat selection for that would be free.
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Post by chech on Jun 29, 2015 11:34:44 GMT
When I flew Qantas, LAX to Melbourne I was able to pick my seat and was lucky enough to get a bulk head seat. I spent Christmas in Melbourne and saw Santa riding a motorcycle!! No snow so it seemed strange with the warm weather. What are your thoughts on LAX? I've had so many people say not to fly through there. Is it really that bad? Is it just a headache or is there a real issue that makes flying through there difficult? My choice of flights would have me spending the night in an airport hotel, so my experience wouldn't involve changing flights or terminals. I would leave Terminal 2 and come back to the Bradley terminal the next day....so I can add as much time as necessary to avoid long lines and that. With that in mind, should I go through LAX?
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Post by Oz-T on Jun 29, 2015 12:26:20 GMT
Generally, I've been able to preselect seats on Qantas, although this can vary on the sort of fare you're buying. The best option is to ask your travel agent about the exact situation.
LAX has been ok when I've been to or through there.
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Post by chech on Jun 29, 2015 15:54:12 GMT
Cool. I'll be booking it in a month. Too bad I can't watch the seat availability on Qantas. With Air Canada, I can input the date and place and it will show the seat availability. Lets me delay booking until the last moment.
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Post by plane2catch on Jun 29, 2015 18:39:56 GMT
When I flew Qantas, LAX to Melbourne I was able to pick my seat and was lucky enough to get a bulk head seat. I spent Christmas in Melbourne and saw Santa riding a motorcycle!! No snow so it seemed strange with the warm weather. What are your thoughts on LAX? I've had so many people say not to fly through there. Is it really that bad? Is it just a headache or is there a real issue that makes flying through there difficult? My choice of flights would have me spending the night in an airport hotel, so my experience wouldn't involve changing flights or terminals. I would leave Terminal 2 and come back to the Bradley terminal the next day....so I can add as much time as necessary to avoid long lines and that. With that in mind, should I go through LAX? Lax is older than DFW. Seems like there would be more hotel shuttles from hotels near DFW. If your paying for the extra comfort seat on the long haul might as well take advantage of the longer flight. That being said I would go with a cheaper ticket if it was significantly less through LAX. Back in 2001 the A380 didn't exist so I had to make the jump from Dallas to LA and then beyond. I always think customs is quicker in Dallas but that wouldn't be a factor for you. At LAX I had to switch terminals which amounted to just pulling my luggage from the international terminal outside to the adjacent terminal after clearing customs. LAX just always feels a little more congested with higher traffic flow in a more condensed area. Flew out of LAX for years when lived in CA and just kind of got use to it. When I moved to Dallas I couldn't believe how much land was occupied by the airport. Enjoy your trip and as always looking forward to your tale.
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Post by chech on Jun 29, 2015 19:18:19 GMT
Cool. Think I'll consider flying out through Dallas and come back via LAX (from Fiji). This way, I get to set foot in Texas!
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Post by Oz-T on Jun 29, 2015 23:30:28 GMT
Hmmmm, just what we need..... ... a ten gallon cat...
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Post by chech on Jun 29, 2015 23:48:58 GMT
LOL! Well, after a couple hours of research, the best route for me is with Air Canada all the way. I'd have to return to Sydney from Fiji, but that's only a few hours and saves me over $1000. Still researching, but overall, taking Air Canada via Vancouver is more than $1500 cheaper. Texas will have to wait.
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Post by plane2catch on Jun 30, 2015 2:22:10 GMT
LOL! Well, after a couple hours of research, the best route for me is with Air Canada all the way. I'd have to return to Sydney from Fiji, but that's only a few hours and saves me over $1000. Still researching, but overall, taking Air Canada via Vancouver is more than $1500 cheaper. Texas will have to wait. Don't want to offend any native Texans but after living in that State for 20 years don't feel like you'd be missing much. Chech, would you be getting a room in Vancouver for a few hours or would you keep flying?
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Post by chech on Jun 30, 2015 11:33:00 GMT
I would overnight in Vancouver. I don't want to follow up a 8 hours of flying (14 hours of travelling) with 16 more hours of flying. A hotel is cheaper than Business Class. LOL I will also overnight in Sydney on my return from Fiji. Which reminds me...I'll have to make sure the Australian visa is multiple entry.
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Post by Oz-T on Jun 30, 2015 12:19:15 GMT
I'm surprised you would need a visa for a short tourism entry here, Chech. I didn't need a visa when I was in Canada and most of the major western countries exempt citizens from each other.
Have you discussed this with your TA?
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Post by chech on Jun 30, 2015 16:34:35 GMT
Yeah, it floored me to learn we need a visa. It's just an electronic one that is checked on arrival (feels more like a note to them to say "hey, I'm coming! No, I have no criminal record and don't want to live or work there.") I've already looked it up online. Seems everyone going into Australia needs one from the list I saw there. Not sure if it'll cost me anything yet. Gotta recheck it all tonight.
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Post by Oz-T on Jun 30, 2015 22:31:06 GMT
I can only assume that they target people who might be likely to smuggle wildlife in.... ... even if the efforts to conceal aren't particularly effective.
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Post by chech on Jul 1, 2015 0:54:35 GMT
I already have that part figured out. They'll never notice. Oh, the Australian visa will cost me $20 AUD.
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Post by Oz-T on Jul 1, 2015 1:39:34 GMT
Yes, but the cost to quarantine and fumigate the stowaway cat will be $1,020....
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Post by tassiedevil on Jul 1, 2015 5:02:13 GMT
I'm surprised you would need a visa for a short tourism entry here, Chech. I didn't need a visa when I was in Canada and most of the major western countries exempt citizens from each other. Have you discussed this with your TA? I could be wrong but I'm sure everyone visiting Australia, who doesn't have an Australian passport, needs a visa no matter which country they are from.
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Post by Oz-T on Jul 1, 2015 5:16:34 GMT
Probably right, Tassie; but there was a stage where visa requirements were being waived (or at least considered) between major western destinations (e.g. USA, Canada, NZ, UK, EU, Australia, etc.). Perhaps we were too worried about a massive immigration of Canadian cats?
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Post by kiwigrandma on Jul 1, 2015 7:22:59 GMT
Us New Zealanders don't need a visa to visit Australia. We need the credit card one with a big limit but not the other one.
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Post by chech on Jul 24, 2015 19:44:52 GMT
Hey Australians...time to plan my optionals. I'll make one post for each city. Any info/suggestions/other recommendations are appreciated. Sydney - a day and a half of free time (the first three would be for the 1/2 day free...and last two are options for the full free day): 1. Majestic Harbour Lunch Cruise Approximate value: $66 AUD per person (2 hrs) Cruise around Sydney Harbour aboard a luxury catamaran and enjoy a sumptuous seafood buffet lunch. Sit back and relax and take in Sydney Harbour in its entirety while you enjoy the incredible views from an alternate angle. 2. Sydney Aquarium & Wildlife World Combo Approximate value: $52 AUD per person (3 hrs) Embark on an amazing underwater journey as you walk through Australia's unique aquatic environments. Get up close to Aussie animals in the heart of Sydney, including koalas, kangaroos and one of the world's largest crocs. 3. Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb Approximate value: $262 AUD per person (3 1/2 hours) This one is a no-brainer. I may do it on my pre-day. 4. Aussie Farm Life Approximate value: $159 AUD per person (6 1/2 hours) Experience life in the outback for a day! Enjoy an authentic Aussie adventure, taste traditional tucker and see a sheep mustering and shearing demonstration. Try your hand at shearing, whip cracking and boomerang throwing and indulge in an Aussie BBQ. 5. Blue Mountains Deluxe Tour Approximate value: $208 AUD per person (10 hours) Your off the beaten track Blue Mountains experience starts with a visit to Featherdale Wildlife Park (before other tourists arrive) where you can meet all the native Australian animals and feed a kangaroo. Continue on to Blue Mountains National Park and enjoy the stunning views of the remote region. Breath the fresh air during a leisurely 30 minute round trip walk to Wentworth Falls and gaze at the spectacular views over Jamison Valley. Visit Eaglehawk Lookout, a remote lookout point away from the crowds for views of the famous Three Sisters. Dine on a two course lunch at the friendly Blackheath Golf Club, then spend the afternoon visiting a unique selection of lookouts including the famous Govetts Leap. Toast to all the beauty with a glass of sparkling wine at Mt. Wilson, and top off the day at the delightful Mt. Tomah Botanic Gardens for sweeping views of Sydney before returning to your hotel. thx
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Post by keitel on Jul 26, 2015 4:11:41 GMT
I hope you get the opportunity to do "the walk" from the Opera House through the Botanic Gardens to Lady Macquaries Chair. It is the Sydney classic walk along the harbour foreshore. The other must do is the Bondi Beach to Bronte Beach walk around the cliffs. Don't worry there are concrete paths all the way and if you can do the Habour Bridge walk you can do this easy. Cheers enjoy
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