Well, as luck would have it, Randy had a few extra tickets for the BoardingArea bloggers, so I’m confirmed on the inaugural New York to Paris OpenSkies flight on June 19, returning June 22.
I’ve already made an award reservation at two different Hilton hotels, the first night at the Hilton Paris and the second night at the Hilton Orly (since OpenSkies flies out of Orly and not CDG). I’m monitoring availability very closely since I’d ideally like to be in the city both nights. Hilton’s “no blackout dates” for awards policy really is a bit of a farce, since it applies only to the most basic room. Not that I didn’t know that, but there’s plenty of availability at the Hilton hotels in the city for both nights, but the rooms are all slightly better than the basic room, which I’m betting they have very few of just for this reason. You can bet I’ll be monitoring availability every five minutes, though.
Suffice it to say I’m totally thrilled! Life takes some amazing turns. I figured I would be at home the weekend after next, but instead I’ll be in Paris for two nights and get to experience a brand new airline on the inaugural flight no less!
Since there will be many FlyerTalkers on the flight, you can expect some fun stuff going on in Paris and on the flight. The funniest thing of all is that this morning I was talking about a trip back to Paris (I’ve only been once years ago), and then this happens. WOW!
You can of course expect a full report of their product when I get back.
In the meantime, good luck to those that entered the drawing!
I see that Hilton Orly and CDG are both available for 60,000 on your dates 20-22nd June.
There is nobody more deserving of this than you. I was so pleased to read on FT that you had secured a seat.
I'll start searching the Hilton website from now on. :)
Might as well beg. If anyone happens to be monitoring Hilton award inventory for June 20-22, and finds availability at either of the other two Hilton hotels in the city (not just the Paris Hilton.... heh, how dirty!) for one of the nights, please let me know either by commenting here or emailing me at [email protected]. All three look decent, and I'd really like to get another stay credit out of it without having to stay outside the city.
Oh, I definitely sent an e-mail. Hoping, as well, that it is random, and I have some slim, slim chance of weekend in Paris.
Very jealous of you, by the way. :-)
Congratulations lucky - I look forward to a report on the party in the skies. What a time for me to have my passport away getting some visas.
Many thanks David, that must have just become available since I checked earlier and they weren't available individually either. I now booked the Hilton Paris for both nights, although ideally I'm hoping one of the other Hilton hotels in the cities opens up for one night so I can get an extra stay credit.
This is definitely better than the Hilton Orly though!
I made a mistake earlier. I entered July instead of June, I think. But I think I have a solution, if Hilton Paris is acceptable.
Try making 2 diff reservations, one for June 20-21, then another for June 21-22 at the Hilton Paris. "Different" rooms (Twin, then Queen) appear to be available, which is why it isn't available from June 20-22.
For June 20-22? I don't see availability for that period at any hotel in the city, but just the two airport ones for 60K total. What am I missing? I would be eternally grateful if they were available...
I don't understand the comment about Hilton availability. All 3 Paris hotels show available rooms for 2 nights, 80K points total. Is there some Saver option that you're referring to?
Gray, Randy doesn't really make the terms and conditions clear, since he can ultimately give them away however he wishes. Assuming it is random, I'm sure that only people registered prior to the date of the announcement will be eligible. That being said, I'm not convinced that it's random, but instead Randy might be choosing people from the "pool" (I would guess if that were the case, people that have continuously contributed to FT would...
Gray, Randy doesn't really make the terms and conditions clear, since he can ultimately give them away however he wishes. Assuming it is random, I'm sure that only people registered prior to the date of the announcement will be eligible. That being said, I'm not convinced that it's random, but instead Randy might be choosing people from the "pool" (I would guess if that were the case, people that have continuously contributed to FT would get the seats). I wouldn't be worried too much about members that registered just now winning.
So did you send in an email?:)
Hmm, what's to stop people from making an inordinate number of handles on FT and registering for the contest and inordinate number of times? A royal pain to create all the e-mail addresses, I know, but, I'm not sure if any condition or "fine print" legally prevents such occurrences.
Congrats lucky, you deserve the freebie with all you give to FT! I'm hoping I am one of the lucky 19. Maybe I'd better make a hotel reservation just in case. :)
Thanks! The airline is OpenSkies, and they're a part of BA. You can check out their site for more information here:
https://www.flyopenskies.com/os/home
Congratulations and have a great flight!
Unfortunately I'm already traveling and I can't change the trip, so I'm going to miss out on the fun. But it should be something!
Congrats, on the trip. What airline is it? You'll also be in Paris for the Euro 2008, so with any luck I would recommend a night to watch some footy, hopefully France playing.
Good Luck with the Hotel
Monty