To be completely honest, I'm not 110% sure what's happening in the above pic (and, sorry Ellen, I don't think there's a Qantas Media Award for photography in the post).
But chief executives and other brass from the Star Alliance (which includes Air New Zealand, United, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines) converged on Queenstown today, and from the looks of things are BBQ'ing tonight.
READ ALSO: Outsider likely to gain codeshare agreement as Star Alliance leaders meet in Queenstown
Left-to-right (in case you've been in a coma for the past five years): All Black captain Richie McCaw; prime minister John Key, and Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe (just out of shot: the mysterious umbrella guys).
I'm assuming Phil Goff's doing the salad.
Anyhow, given the quality of the BBQ chefs, it looks like things are on a more convivial footing than the aftermath of 9/11, when an ailing United hinted that other Star Alliance members should help bail it out.
The aprons seem a nice touch. Funny-ironic for those in the know, and saving embarrassment for global airline leaders not up with their New Zilund rugby players or politicians.
Speaking of United, this is my Star Alliance tip: I always put all my air miles on my United card, since the US airline has the most generous scheme, even though I'm inevitably flying on with another Star Alliance member (Air New Zealand). Then I cash in the United Air Miles with Air New Zealand.
This tip may or may not still be current. I don't get out of the office much these days.
Apropos of nothing
Creative director at large Vaughan Davis has written a free e-book on social networking which, on first scan, looks worth its salt. Check it out here.
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
Key, Fyfe, McCaw meet Star Alliance brass
11195