PenName

Yeah, Scalawag - I know Northwest doesn't own any 300's -- I was abbreviating that it was in the Airbus 300-class of planes. The SEA / NRT / BKK routing is served specifically by A330-200's. And yes, Northwest seems to polarize fliers like no other airline seems to be able to do. As I said, the miles will put me very close to a First Class freebie on Cathay Pacific, and that's too good to pass up. Once I cash that in, I'll probably be moving my allegiances to Star Alliance and using Thai or Singapore to get to LOS. Even with all of that being said, if it was still the old Northwest

God, it seems so recent that the posts were appearing announcing the opening / new ownership of the bar under Adam. Where does it all go? In any event, major congratulations and well done. I look forward to tipping a few with you next month. Pen

You know, I'd snap this up if I could get to Pattaya four weeks early, but I've truly got to comment Mulphy for the insight that filling a room at a reduced cost is still more baht in the coffers than letting it sit idle at full cost. I've got to imagine that such thinking has got you labeled the outcast and shunned from those practicing a more LOS-centric, but just as with the reduced barfines announced for the reopening of New Living Dolls, I applaud the nod toward common sense economics. Pen

Yeah, Seattle departure for EVA Elite is running just over $1,000 for autumn (all in), but without the need to kick in 7,500 miles. It looks like I'm going to be on Northwest next month, though, as they sent me as discount coupon and if I go ahead and fly them, I'll be within spitting distance of a free first class flight on Cathay Pacific for my next trip over. From what I hear, while Northwest is always Northwest, the trek is a little more civilized on the newer Airbus 300's. God, let's hope so. Pen

If the information on flight searches is correct, EVA is planning to switch to 777's and Evergreen Elite for the SEA - TPE flights as well. I suspect the 747 that had been in service is being rotated out. In any event, it appears that the inferior upgrade of Elite (as opposed to Deluxe) is now going to be the order of the day from still yet another departure point. C'est la guerre. Pen

The Queen Vic would fall in the category as well, for those that can make themselves get some sleep with Soi 6 right outside the door. Pen

Out of Seattle, too. Tix must be purchased by 15 July for travel in September - October. Pen

I think we're in a period (and quite possibly a very protracted one) where it just takes almost endless vigilance to find and lock airfares that don't leave us cringing. If you've got one or two or three favorite airlines, check them frequently. That's how I happened upon the Eva sale out of Seattle where between 05 SEP and 31 OCT, you can fly Evergren Deluxe for what it would cost to fly Economy from S.F. or L.A. during that period. Where's the rhyme or reason in that? They've got routes that aren't moving for a given period (and thus lots of empty seats), so they mark them down without r

As a fellow 01 June birthday celebrant, I'd give anything to be there, but I'm not back in LOS until autumn. Come to think of it, what kind of piss poor planning was that? Happy Birthday, Whitespider, nonetheless. Here's to living a life in contradiction of, "Too late wise, too soon dead." Pen

112 days -- luckily I've had enough trips to know the countdown is a big part of the fun, Pen

While I'm a little bit loathe to mention it (since I don't enjoy crowded planes any more than the next person), my cursed sense of citizenship and fair play has driven me to inform that as I was doing my daily search of fares from Eva (as I know they tend to have these little "spot sales"), I found that they have dropped fares for fall travel if departing in the U.S. from Seattle with cattle class Economy at $836 round trip, inclusive of all fees and taxes or $1,036 for Deluxe, all-in. My dates are 19 SEP to 07 OCT, so there's even a return on a Sunday in that pricing. When I checked Deluxe

Thanks all for the great suggestions and input. It's good to see there's such a variety of choices for something with two bedrooms. I've gotten a reply from the Pinewood Residences on 2nd Road for 2,400bt (plus taxes), so that's one I've thrown into the mix as well. It will be the first time I've made the trip with a friend from this side of the world (as opposed to making new friends amongst members and others once there), and it's shaping up to be a good holiday all around. Any other two-bedroom suggestions are still very welcomed. Pen

For whatever it's worth... I've been emaling Dennis, first about one room and then about two rooms (as a buddy of mine has decided to come along on the trip), and not only have I gotten email responses, I've gotten them extremely quick. I've been sending to info@metro-apartments-pattaya.com, and, depending on the time of day in LOS, have been getting replies in some cases within the hour. It will be my first time to stay at Metro, but given the service and efficiency in the booking process (as well as the detailed reports here), I'm looking forward to it all the more. 109 days...

Hey, All - Heading over to LOS in March / April, and it looks as though I've talked a comrade into making the trip (his first - ha!). We're kicking back and forth between each getting a room or having a two-bedroom suite with a common living area. Just wondered if anyone had two-room suite recommendations they could pass along. Something reasonably located would be great and price is a secondary considerayion; although, there's no interest in throwing stupid money around at the Marriott, Hard Rock, etc. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. 108 days... Pen

Hmmmmm... Well, according to the China Air website and an independent travel site, they have started using the A340 for the Seattle - Taipei leg, or at least they will be in March for the dates on which I'm booking the trip. Change of equipment assignment, I guess. Anyway, this trip will be economy class as the price is just too good to pass up -- it's even gone down from when I first found it yesterday, if you can imagine. Yesterday ot was $897 round trip and tonight when I'm checking, it's down to $854 (yes, I'll be snatching that one up, thank you) Anonsailor was kind enough t

Looks like China Airlines has some fairly decent pricing for March / April 2007 for SEA / BKK, so I'm thinking of giving them a try. Not having had their pleasure before, I was wondering about seat selection on their A340 (for the longer leg of the trip, anyway). Is there a date they open the seats to selection (as in "x" number of days prior to departure), or does it have to be done via phone, or is it one big dice roll hoping you get a seat resembling the preference you entered on the website when you purchased? Also, any recommended seats on the A340? Thanks for the input. Counting

Would generally have to second the comment / recommendation on The Roof Garden Inn. It is a tad out of the way (a stone's throw from The Residence Garden), but the room's were fairly nice, decent enough size and yes, it had a walk-in shower (no tub) that easily accomodated two -- probably could have held three or four. When I stayed there, their rates were very reasonable and they arranged a professional, punctual pickup at the airport for a midnight arrival.

I seem to remember the charge being 100b a day or some such, with longer term rates available as well.

Yes, I've had good luck with the locking cables as well. The one for my computer ran about $35US and as was mentioned, it enables the computer to be secured to some large, heavy and or stationary to ensure it's still in the same place you left it. I too have never had a problem, even before I started bringing the cable. For a long time, I was on the fence about bringing mine or not -- mostly for the issue of having to lug it through airports, taxis, etc., but since I've begun using VoIP phone service, it's worth the hassles of getting it there and back to be able to make calls I may need

The A-Train subway has always run from Penn Station out to Jamaica Queens with a stop at JFK where a fairly regular shuttle bus picks up for circling between terminals. I believe this was the run that got the advertising promo "Take the train to the plane" -- at least it was the track that had all those handbills up the last time I took it out to JFK. Pen

I believe there are some decent reviews of the long haul Thai nonstops and even a few cabin photos on airlinequality.com Pen

Samonsite - Thanks a ton for the update. Any firsthand experience of it and reviews with regard to spped and reliability? Pen

I seem to recall reading on these hallowed pages that the Queen Vic was adding WiFi or some other manner of Internet to all their rooms. I was wondering if anyone had any update on if this has occured or is scheduled to in the near future. Pen

Maybe -- just maybe -- this will encourage some of the other carriers out of Chicago to match or approximate the fares. Then again, they are making you buy the damn tickets by Sunday. Pen

A most welcome and frustrating CARE package of pix -- thanks from the falang-land masses. Pen