mike carey

Is the Canadian border open?

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We don't know whether COVID-19 is seasonal, but we'll get a better idea of that over the next few months from what happens in the southern winter. I suspect that even if the virus itself isn't affected by the season, the fact that we are at closer quarters in winter will cause something of an increase. There is also the issue of how the disease runs with a simultaneous seasonal infection, like the common cold or seasonal influenza.

The two Australian airlines have extended all status tiers by 12 months, and Hilton have as well. Hilton have also extended the expiry date of points balances. I guess I need to find my yellow vaccination book.

I'm not expecting to make any trips till summer either, and that's considerably further off for me than it is for @VictorPowers. He's already told me to get my tongue back in my mouth, but I'm not sure if I have to do that from now to summer as well.

Woolworths is one of our two big supermarket chains. [MEDIA=twitter]1244923425308594176[/MEDIA]

I went to the post office today, they had separate entry and exit doors with the queue (only two of us) outside (1.5m lines on the pavement) rather than inside the office. They let one person in at a time.

I've recently turned my mind to this very question, and my initial thoughts were that I would do just that. Part of it is because a unit reunion is now planned for November in NOLA, but in part because I have a substantial airline credit to use by December 2021. But I'm a long way from booking anything that isn't cancellable or fully refundable.

For those who have a subscription to the NYT or have some of their free allowance of articles left (noting that the allowance is about to reset), here's a link to the article. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/24/magazine/i-think-sex-for-pay-is-wrong-should-i-stay-with-a-partner-who-disagrees.html

If [i assume] United has closed its lounges, they may have made, or be considering what to do about paid lounge memberships. If they are still open, and you can't use them because you're not travelling, then you're probably out of luck, as you suggest. Qantas has closed its lounges network wide since 23 March, and they are 'considering options' for lounge members (they have already extended elite status, and therefore lounge memberships derived from that, by 12 months). It may be worth calling United and asking to pause your membership so you can resume it once the situation changes. You may find that they have already thought about people in your situation.

I was in the same position as @MscleLovr, but different route and different flexibility and class of ticket (and we have chatted about our respective experiences), and my flight was cancelled much later than his was. I don't pretend to understand the complexities of pricing for fully flexible fares, but it seems with QF some of the fine print varies depending on the price of said 'flexible' fare. I had more time to read into the fine print of the cancellation rules as I was still waiting, more in hope than expectation, to see if the trip might still have been possible. As I read it, they allow full credit even of restricted fares if you take a voucher, but apply the cancellation fee that was in the original ticket if you want your money back. I was prepared to accept that, but I'm sure there are many others, not just him, who would, or could not. As it happens, QF changed their policy after @MscleLovr cancelled his ticket and extended the validity of the vouchers to 31 Dec 21. That may have helped him, but if the post corona QF doesn't offer F he could have ended up with a voucher worth more than the cost of any flight he could take with them.

Yup, and photo no 7 looks like Sydney. The quarantine is now in a government controlled facility (usually a hotel), so there's no avoiding it.

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Here's one that won't fly again, at least not in its current incarnation. QF28, operated by B747-438 VH-QEE, landed in Sydney today from Santiago. This marks the end of an era as Qantas concludes 48 years of operation of the B747. The almost complete cessation of international flight operations has meant that the airline brought forward the retirement of the type.

I read that and thought, wait, don't you mean 7 Jan 2021? Then realised it says 1 Jul. That's not far away, so you may not have a chance to fly before then. I'm luckier, my PSP trip credit is good until 31 Dec 21. I make no comment on your post directed to me, lol. I'll just have to wait!

Hell, I haven't read Twelfth Night since I was in second form.

Maybe in some case, but I suspect you have that the wrong way around. I suspect mostly people don't use condoms because they take PrEP.

In Canberra, a relatively small, but not insignificant proportion of restaurants and cafés have switched to takeaway and delivery since the prohibition of sit down eating came in this week. Some are making a social contribution with their pricing to some customers. The ACT [Australian Capital Territory] government has eased the liquor licensing laws so that restaurants that are licensed can supply takeaway wines with the meals they sell, whereas previously they were not permitted to sell off licence alcohol. From what I've read, people buying meals are prepared to pay for their bottle of wine from the restaurant rather than buy a cheaper one at a bottle shop.

Sense when would anyone be their own grammer (sic) Nazi?

TL;DR, don't praise his blog, it'll only encourage him. Joking, I look forward to @Benjamin_Nicholas' all-too-infrequent blog posts. They are so evocative and well written, I feel like I am there. (Well, apart from the feeling of his ... No need for that level of detail.)

A footnote to my cancelled ticket. Qantas has extended the validity of all vouchers for cancelled tickets in the current situation from 12 months after the original ticket purchase to 31 Dec 21. So I have the cash for my ticket for next year's gathering there, and don't have to use it by February, although I expect it will be more expensive by then. That assumes that we'll be flying again by then, of course, and that they haven't gone broke.

I haven't been out and seen a service station for about a week and then it was in a rural area and in Canberra. Canberra is often more expensive than even rural towns. I mainly notice the price of diesel. I've seen reports that regular or E10 is getting close to $1/litre in some places, but not widely, usually in the $1.30 range. Diesel I've seen for $1.30 too. (AUD1 = about USD0.60 atm and we have a federal excise of AUD0.423/litre on both petrol and diesel, and 10% GST on the total price, including the excise part. In Australia the price on the sign at the service station by law has to be the total price, so the taxes are included in the pump price.)

@Rod Hagen, ain't nobody gonna tell me the CNN subeditor didn't know exactly what they were doing with that headline. I wouldn't say the story is boring though, except in comparison with the easy inference drawn from the headline. It offers a useful commentary on the way the current situation affects the way people do things. It reminds me of the accidental (staged?) photos of newsreaders wearing a suit jacket, shirt and tie ... and boxers.

This is a nice thing to have happen to you. [MEDIA=twitter]1243084390285979648[/MEDIA]

Benjamin! Be nice.