Sean's Blog Downunder…

Once again we find ourselves hoping that flying with Qantas will be an uneventful experience where one simply purchases a ticket and expects to get on a plane, on time and reach ones destination without incident. Why we do this I have no idea because it’s NOT possible.

Our holiday started with a nice limo ride to the Airport with ample time and all in good spirits. Then standing in the check-in queue there was a strange silence and it became a lot darker. No power? What now one asks? Well the PA system still works as you hear the pre-recorded message that carry on luggage is still not allowed to have “knives, matches …blah blah blah”. Then the message “To all those passengers in the Qantas domestic terminal we regret to inform you that there has been a power failure…..” Really? Like we never noticed.

15 minutes later and one can just imagine the chaos. No check in, no security, no boarding and “NO BACKUP GENERATOR” how spastic and archaic that they do not have a backup power option.

The PA kicks in again, sorry but a power line had been “cut” and no estimated time for repair, but please be patient. BTW this was ONLY the Qantas domestic terminal. Good old little “Virgin Blue” still plodding along nicely….on time as always.

Eventually 30 minutes later they start doing some check in. Still no power but we at least we get a boarding pass to Sydney however we have to take our bags personally to an area where in their wisdom the have placed A4 pieces of paper stuck to the wall with the flight numbers on and place your bag in the correct line. Ha ha very interesting.

The PA springs to life again, must be a big battery operated megaphone as it’s the only thing working “Dear Passengers we regret to inform all passengers that all baggage will not be making the flights due to conveyor belt problems, however Qantas will be handing out forms at your destination and the will personally deliver your baggage to the address specified on the form. Ha ha ha.

We are bound for a connecting flight to Saigon in Vietnam. Does one honestly believe Qantas are going to personally deliver my bags to me. I don’t think so.

Actual flight time delay – 45 minutes. Will we make our connection? But the bags will not….. Go Qantas.

Well I had the privilege of getting an invite to the pre-opening function of the Apple store in Sydney last evening. To be honest it was pretty boring as I had been in a number of Apple stores around the world already, but the beer was free and the snacks were tasty. It is a very impressive store and for people that have never been on one this one is very big covering three floors and a lot of glass and space. It will be humming with Apple enthusiasts all the time I think.

Yes there were already a line of about 10 geeks waiting for the official opening which takes place Thursday 19 at 5pm AEST (24 hours later). Why someone would want to wait for more that 24 hours outside a store I have no idea. Life is far to short. I walked passed the store at 10am this morning and now the line is much longer and all the way up around the corner in King street. mmmmm maybe I do not know something?

A great store, however the only disappointment was that we did not receive a “Goody” bag. Very sad when you consider how much the store cost. I think a free 3G iphone would have hit the mark and made a couple of people happy, even though I don’t think I would have traded my BlackBerry

I just went into an Apple store in Portland to purchase a external power adapter for my iPod. Well I must say they have a new look and a new service policy. It is nice that they offer a complimentary service to all those users in the world who have no idea how to use a computer and so they spend hours doing walk through sessions in the store. However because of their new model they no longer have ANY CASH REGISTERS in the store so you have to be helped by a happy Apple sales representative who unfortunately are all engaged teaching the new users about Mac 101 ……

25 minutes later eventually one becomes available to assist me. He agrees with me that the system sucks… Well what can I say, you can no longer just walk in to an Apple sore and pick something off the shelve and pay for it. What are you guys thinking. Bring back the Register!!! …. at least one.