I’ve got more to catch up on, total exhaustion, dead battery on the iPhone and a sudden change of plans (mine) cause a brief delay.

So, come back in hours and I’ll have news on using the cabin service lights as a musical instrument (ding, ding anyone), lederhosen, raffles in the sky, how Miles&More became Meals&More and describing my first time I’ve ever had to show my passport and get it stamped to get into a party — oh, we were such jetsetters!

There is little doubt that the excitement of this day has many FlyerTalkers up before this type of wake-up call. You could feel it in the conversation at last nights dinner and no doubt there will be some tired, but happy faces come boarding time. Yours truly wants to make that flight so will join them.

If you like to see some fantastic pictures of the events (there’s more camera’s in this crowd than for a Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue photo shoot) taken form some of those in attendance, click on over to here:

More Photos

See you later with more words from this quite unique member Do of FlyerTalkers.

OK, off the plane and to the hotel and for most, a most precious commodity — a shower and maybe, just maybe a few minutes of sleep. Though as we know, sleep is whatever is leftover from lurking or posting on FlyerTalk.

So we meet in the lobby and off we go toward the infamous Flight Attendant Training with the Moderators. There’s nothing more humorous than the flight to “Colorado Springs” and having two moderators point different directions to where the “aft” emergency exits are. Seems like remedial from what I saw. The simulation center for this training was an A320 and we have to admit, was fairly realistic including the part where the trolley actually nicked my leg and ran over a shoe. So, word to the wise, FlyerTalk “Trolley Dollies” may be better suited for CRJs where they can hand deliver the cans of Coke or snacks rather than risk maiming the passengers. But who knows, there a whole bunch of members that will learn the results of this exhaustive training to be a “flight attendant in 3 hours.”

Well, with grand service from Lufthansa, the biz class crowd seemed to mellow out and let the coach class carry on the grand tradition of a trans-Atlantic party. As you know at these FlyerTalk Do’s … it’s the last man or woman standing that claims the title, so we’ll see. Kidding aside, lovely flight and trust me, we never got tired of hearing the overhead announce the word “FlyerTalk.” Sounds as good at 37,000 feet as it looks online.

So, off everyone went to the Sheraton for some quick R&R — some needing it more than others. But, what noble FlyerTalker doesn’t avail themselves to all the benefits of privilege so en masse a number of them (yours truly included) made use of the Welcome Lounge. Of course us Americans had to use all the ice and while teased with the pretzels for breakfast, decided to wait on more scrambled eggs.

But we all needed showers and that trumped everything else. Nice ides Lufthansa and let 91 members of FlyerTalk let you know one word … Bravo!

So, we’re checking in ay the Sheraton and after getting my room assignment, the front desk person gasps and leans low over her computer. Seems she was completing the check-in procedure and came across my SPG point balance. Exceeding 1.2 million points, she grabbed my room key back and said she would like to upgrade me to as suite. Given I was wanting to just go take a shower, the suite was passed along to the next FlyerTalker in line, marty, and I’m pretty sure he was still saying something about party in his “new” room while i was likely already headed to a quick nap. Tip: If ever at a Do, always, as in ALWAYS, stand behind me in any check-in line. Play it forward … the FlyerTalk way.