On May 30, 4:43*pm, Joseph Coulter > wrote:
> On Sat, 30 May 2009 16:34:01 -0400, Joseph Coulter >
> wrote:
>
> >On Tue, 26 May 2009 11:58:55 -0700 (PDT), DaleW >
> >wrote:
>
> >>Miller was in Australia *for 11 days. Let's see:
> >>$5K for business class tickets (can often get for much less, but let's
> >>assume Wines of Australia didn't bargain hunt)
> >>Another $5K for hotels - that's over $400/night for 12 nights. Nice
> >Dale 5K for rt Australia business is a fantastic deal. going in Winter
> >Jfk to Mel would run 6K on Brititsh and about the same on Tahitit Nui
> >from LAX. *Summer fares to Australia run more to the tune of 8-9K for
> >business. *Your friendly Aussie Specialist Travel Agent.
>
> OKit *looks like September is a bonus month! $4500 for LAX to MEL but
> would this have been a trip for one? surely our intrepid reporter has
> a "secretary" *girl friend or wife or sig other whose presence would
> be required. *OK *OK that isn't really the issue is it, truth is any,
> well many, *of us would fly coach and forgo the houseboat if someone
> were to foot the bill.
>
> Now of course the question is after suffering through this trip could
> one be critical?

I just based my estimate off looking at backpage of NYT Travel,
Liberty was showing business to Sydney for $4800. I figured Wines of
Australia could do at least that well!

I saw that in either the Argentina or Chile trip that he was ferried
in private jet, that could help explain the cost of Aussie trip if
they also did that.

The other amazing thing was learning that he fairly routinely tastes
200+ wines in a day, for official review. Whoa, heard of palate
fatigue?

The claims that there is "no bias" while being royally treated just
shows an incredible lack of understanding of human psychology (and
Miller's doctorate is in....you guessed it). Similarly, not realizing
there is at least subconscious bias when tasting wines from your "best
friend."