Dougie

gavo, I fly out from Glasgow on 30 May on Emirates. It too is costing £453, that is, believe me, £16 CHEAPER than China Airlines. The timings are better than CI, as they avoid that long wait at AMS, particularly on the way back when you are feeling pissed off anyway. Perhaps I will see you in FLB while we are there. BTW...if you don't already have a hotel booked, Flipper Lodge are doing a deal of stay 15 nights, pay 10 nights. I have been quoted 629 baht per night for 28 days. Dougie

Come on guys, what is all this "Adult Movie" crap. Why watch that when you can be part of it by simply walking down soi 6? If adult movies are your thing then a few beers in King Kong Bar and your system would go into overload. Dougie

Tom, Thanks for clearing up how these stormtroopers in the Fourth Reich got there. I had always thought they were parachuted in from Junkers Ju-89 "Tante Ju's", you know , these corrugated iron tri-motor things. Dougie

Guys, Crackpot was warning you about using a Boeing 747-200. Have a look at the ThaiJet site and the Sunline site. Sure both are in German and sure both seem to offer low fares, but look at the aircraft in the pictures....... It is a Boeing 757-200. Ok if you enjoy plenty of take-off and landing cycles and have time to spare............but surely spending your time in Thailand is more important. Dougie

SHIT! I must change that Total cost.....It should read £453.20 I reckon the error must fall into the "Creative Accounting" category. Now let me go and apply a size 11 to a beancounter's arse! Dougie

At last Scots have a good option for travel, avoiding those long layovers at AMS waiting for China Airlines or KLM connections. I have just booked on Emirates ex-GLA for 30 May through Airline Network. They are offering Emirates at £418 + £35.20 tax. = £435.20. This is cheaper than anyone seems to be offering China Airlines, and the in flight service is a damned sight better.. In addition to the cost benefit the timings are great. Depart GLA at 14:00, have a 2:45 layover at DXB (get all your Duty Free), and arrive BKK at 12:12. Return is as good too: Depart BKK 03:15 (a full day is LOS),

KLM flight KL877 and the return KL878 always use a Boeing 747-400 Combi. Economy class is bloody awful with what appears to be 31 inch seat pitch (perhaps it is 32"), definitely not enough for my limbs. Incidentally Gazelle Travel have just quoted me for end of April ex-Glasgow China Airlines £469 incl tax Emirates £489 incl tax KLM £535 incl tax Dougie

Just been reading that Emirates forecast 150,000 passengers a year on the route, with about 50%+ using DXB as a change point for onward journeys. They are also keeping an open mind about two flights a day from GLA and also the possibility of adding another flight each day out of MAN. For we Scots the timings are excellent, (see Cheshire Tom's posting) as the KLM/China Airlines connection via AMS means getting to Glasgow Airport in time for the first sparrow fart. (even LHR or MAN connections can hit the same problem). So, here's to a good night's sleep and a decent breakfast before setting

Thanks Tom, Prices and timings are excellent, looks like EK will be my choice next time around. Dougie

Martin, You are frae Troon, I'm frae Prestwick, so we share the same routings etc. I always use Airline Network, phone them for China Airlines, I've always found them to have the best prices GLA/AMS/BKK and the service they give is excellent. Call them at 0870 241 0033 with your enquiry. The normal deal is KLMuk to AMS, CI for AMS/BKK with about 2 hours to change at BKK outbound. PS for all West of Scotland pilgrims travelling to LOS, a new service will be available early 2004 when Emirates start a Glasgow to Dubai service. As yet I have not got a start date, schedule, fares etc., but DXB

I use a Royal Bank of Scotland card for the Thai ATM's. The Cirrus system is compatible with all ATM showing the sign. You can draw up to 20000 Baht per day against your ATM card. I have used my card at Bangkok Bank, Thai Farmers Bank, Krung Thai Bank and Thai Military Bank, all without any problems. [smiley=nod.gif] Dougie

Hmmmm, Sunday 21st July, I'll be home before then. Just as well perhaps, because 5:30 a.m. is too early in the morning to get a taxi from the Flipper Lodge to Beach Road to watch them ;D Dougie

Tangent, Take it as you find it, go easy though, remember she is a work colleague, and your work relationship could be compromised all too easily by a wrong move. Make her feel important, as losing face would be the worst thing that could happen to her. If there is no future in it then it might be best to play it so she realises this and initiates the "cooling off" process. This way she will not lose face. Of course, you might prefer the cultured approach advocated by Utah-Saint ::) Dougie

Hey Valentino, Now you're putting ideas into my head. I enjoy travelling around "off the tourist track" and exploring on my own. (Borneo was great fun) Travel guides are for those of a nervous disposition. Now to investigate this even further, it does look interesting, even if my mates in the pub at home think I'm mad. (they think a package to Benidorm is adventurous) Dougie

Best deal i ever got was on the now defunct Highland Express. I heard 2 stewardesses talking in the pub on a Thursday night, saying that because the Saturday was 4 July HE were doing Prestwick - Newark for £149 return. I was due to stop for vacation on Friday so I booked on Friday, flew Saturday. Now the real good deal kicks in, they charged my credit card twice, FU number 1, > I called and created hell, so they credited me twice (now I have flown free! ;D) Being honest I told them, so they credit me again ::) Now they have paid me to fly with them A couple of months or so later the c