[meloz]

I have cancelled award bookings in the past, and it dawned on me the other day that it might be a good idea to post the flights prior to cancellation, so that with some coordination others on the board may be able to take advantage of the new availability.

I have a Z award booked SYD-BKK return for the last week in March. I also have a U award SYD-MNL 2nd week of March. Both trips 7-8 days. At this stage I am 90% sure I will cancel the BKK trip but will hold off till the last moment unless someone shows interest. If my workload is heavy around that time I will go diving at one of the locations and as the Philippines provides better dives than Thailand (in my opinion) I am swaying towards canning BKK.

Just a thought, let's see if this could become a new advantage.

Meloz

Let me know if you are interested and I will send specifics.

[Dave Noble]

Better diving than Sydney though? i doubt it imo,

If you cancel the booking there is no guarantee that it will return to award inventory

Dave

[meloz]

Well that argument could go on for many beers. I kinda like the idea of spending 5-10 minutes returning to shore after every dive and gassing off at ones leisure. I'm jack of getting up at sparrows for 2 average dives and spending most of the day on a boat. Much more pleasant to have a snack, check your email, have a nap etc. between bubbles and get in 3-4. But I agree there are some nice dives in this country. It just seems more fun when combining it with a nice location. Last trip to Puerto Galera I had to check my pulse every hour I was so relaxed. I actually found the diving there to be of good quality.

In regard to the awards Dave you are probably correct, however nothing lost for those punters willing to try.

Meloz

[Dave Noble]

Originally Posted by meloz

Well that argument could go on for many beers. I kinda like the idea of spending 5-10 minutes returning to shore after every dive and gassing off at ones leisure. I'm jack of getting up at sparrows for 2 average dives and spending most of the day on a boat.

Interesting.... When I go diving, I typically have a 5-10 minute boat ride returnin to shore...sometimes it's 25 minutes though. I haven't come across any tedious spend all day on a boat diving in Sydney; just zoom out for 6 minutes, get down to 48m or so and have a run round a wreck...after surfacing another 6 mins back to shore

Gotta admit, 3-4 dives a day doesn't appeal to me, 1 is normally my limit :)

No reason not to try to get the award, just I wouldn't be expecting to find it go back to award inventory

Dave

[meloz]

Dave

No, I was comparing Thailand to the Philippines.

When you are on a diving holiday, I figure you may as well maximise your bottom time. Hence get in as many dives as you can.

Not related to water temp, but chill factor rates highly for me also. If you miss the first dive in the Phiippines you just catch the next one 2 hrs later. Beats the hell out of panicking at 6am in Thailand (except for maybe Koh Tao) or OZ for that matter trying to make the boat.

PG works for me. Balcony on the beach with AC and cable for $16USD a night, $15USD a dive, lovely people that speak good English. Good food. Blah, Blah, Blah. Some great nitrox dives available.

Any hoo, let me know if anyone wants to put this awards theory to the test.

Meloz

I forgot to mention a stubby of beer costs about $0:55 AUD in the Philippines compared to $0:70 in Thailand.

[tinkybelle]

The cancel a Z or U award and it turns up in the inventory trick.
doesnt work.

I just cancelled a J on 2 different flights on 2 may 06 to book later flights.(couldnt get the same flight at the time and it didnt matter anyway as it s 25 may 05

they never ever re surfaced :cry:
so

[acampbel]

Diving - did 2 weeks wreck diving in the Solomon Islands a few years back (Guadalcanal). Most of it off a boat where the standard day was :-

Wake up to full breakfast and look out on the new location.
Shrug into gear and fall off boat into warm water.
20-10 minute wreck dive at 40-70 metres, followed by lotsa deco.
Shrug out of gear at surface, have a quick shower and lie in hammock waiting for lunch.
After lunch much the same for the second dive.
Back on deck for pre-dinner drinks and compare deco times on computer.

BLISS!

Anyway, from previous comments it seems that not all Award seats are made available when someone changes/cancels a booking. This would seriously impact my plan to have a swap-meet for award holders.

For example ... I have 2 seats on LHR-SIN-SYD with a 3-day stopover in late April. What I want to do is re-route via HKK but there is bugger-all availability HKK to SYD at that time. It would be nice to be able to do a horse trade with someone who wants to do the opposite.

Alternatively is there any chance I can plead with Qantas to swap me over? I will be buying a couple of kids fares to match so maybe they will indulge me?? Or maybe not ???


Cheers,

AC

[meloz]

Oh well, so much for that idea.