CheshireTom

I'm sure many people, including the owner, have said it's 1 hr a day free internet for guests. Perhaps that's just in the cafe. I'm surprised the owner doesn't advertise it more (nor anyone else for that matter) .......... it would be a major plus for anyone to have free, high-speed, unlimited internet access via LAN included in their room. Certainly a bigger seller than non-slip bathroom tiles.

We'll have to stop agreeing on points ........... It seems like a bit of a kick in the balls if you are in the least bit concerned about providing for your family ....... Don't know what tactics the company is employing though ...... perhaps they held some stuff back from their offer so that they could be seen to be making concessions later.

Perhaps you can let us know the download speeds you get in the rooms when you're next in town. It would be good info for any boardie who has internet access near the top of his list of priorities. I must say that it is commendable that the owner of the skytop has installed a lan system in the rooms. I'm surprised though that he doesn't advertise it ............... not many guesthouses in Pattaya can boast in-room LAN connections. Does the hotel offer a weekly/monthly unlimited access package for guests? Their advertised rate of 1 baht/min is a bit expensive if you are there for more than a few days and are spending a fair amount of time online.

When I done a review of the Sky-Top a couple of months back, I asked about the internet connection because a couple of guys had said on this forum that it had wi-fi installed but I couldn't see any evidence of any routers in place. When I questioned the owner's partner she pointed me towards a standard telephone connection located next to the bed. It certainly wasn't a LAN connection and there was no LAN cable provided or available. I was also led to understand that it was a 512 kb connection shared between the guesthouse rooms and the internet cafe downstairs. Neither the internet cafe or guesthouse sections of the skytop website make any mention of internet facilities, LAN or wi-fi, being available in the rooms. This is what I wrote at the time ............................ In-room internet access (7) I saw no evidence whatsoever of wi-fi cabling or routers at SkyTop. When I asked about connecting to the internet from the room I was advised to connect my laptop to the redundant telephone socket next to the bed. However, there is an internet café within the premises that offers one hour’s free net access to guests. Seaside has wi-fi routers cabled in to the 1st and 3rd floors. I was able to obtain a good signal/connection on the 3rd floor but the manager advised that the signal is not so strong on the 2nd floor. The wi-fi at Seaside is free to guests. Score (7) – Skytop 3, Seaside 6 Perhaps BigD could update us on exactly what connections and speeds are available when he visits in 11 days time.

Scally, Casting aside the A v B arguments for a bit ......... I read something that suggested that they were wanting to impose a condition that the employees pension rights died with them i.e. there was no spouse/partners pension payable after the death of the employee. Is that correct, or was I reading a fairly brief version of what was on the table?

I'm sure I read that Boeing wouldn't particularly mind a strike becaue it would get the off the hook re some late delivery payments. Can't remember the nitty gritty but I'm sure Stooge #1 could do a cut and paste to fill us in.

The difference in price on Qatar for the cheapest comparable tickets (LON v MAN) is 25 quid (490 v 515) ......... so bugger all savings and a whole lot of hassle to go via London. Apart from anything else, 492 quid isn't the all-up price you're paying if you have to factor in the costs of GLA-LON return, is it?

Qatar has decent connections from MAN 3 days a week .. W-F-Su outbound and Tu-Th-Sa return. There are still the one-stop options offered by Emirates, Etihad, China, Swiss, Singapore etc etc before I would consider going anywhere near Heathrow or Gatwick.

They're probably wondering what a mile is, never mind a class 1 pipe.

Do you have a link to the article? BA's site still shows both Thai and Bangkok Airways as having interline agreements with BA. BA Interline Agreements

I agree it's not worth staying at but worth a visit to the restaurant for the views. Markland Hotel & Sky Restaurant

More likely the fact that they can actually deliver the things ........... Boeing faces penalty Company late with delivery of refueling tankers for Italy BLOOMBERG NEWS Italy will penalize The Boeing Co. for being three years late in delivering the first of four aerial refueling tankers. The company is negotiating with the Italian government over the penalty's size and composition, Cliff Hall, director of Boeing's international tanker programs, said Tuesday. Boeing paid a fine to Japan last year for being one year late on delivering the first of four tankers to that nation's air force. Performance on prior contracts is a factor in the U.S. military's contest between Boeing and Northrop Grumman Corp. for a $35 billion aerial refueling tanker contract. The Pentagon hopes to award a contract by late December. Boeing's record on the Japanese and Italian tanker programs is "totally relevant" to its bid for the U.S. program, Scott Hamilton, an aviation consultant with Seattle-based Leeham Co., said. "This goes directly to 'past performance.' You don't pay penalties for good performance." Boeing's December 2002 contract with Italy promised the first tanker by November 2005. Delivery now is set for November, three years late, with the second slated for delivery in December, or 21 months late. Boeing expects the third and fourth planes to be delivered at least 16 months and 12 months late, respectively.

The change of date for the return is FOC providing the new date is within the original ticket's validity AND there are seats available in the same or cheaper booking class (H,I, K, M, W, V or whatever).

Dave, I met Supaporn and Chris at the airport in Samui a while back and explained the reason I chose not to stay at the Sabai Inn lately was that I considered that the recent price hikes were excessive, especially in high season. There are lots of good alternatives around at the prices they are now quoting.

Scally, Has the 767 ever won a contract in direct competition against the 330? Ever wondered why?

Unless it's attached to the latest mobile phone it will probably end up in the bottom of a drawer ............. or, more likely, Cash Converters.

The Air Force wants the first aircraft next year so I think Boeing would still be sharpening their pencils as far as the 777 is concerned. They're still struggling to put the 767 in the hands of the Italians.

Jacko, I booked a 78k Baht ticket online today through Blue and White Travel in BKK for travel to MAN on Tuesday evening. I was a bit dubious but have cross-checked the booking on www.checkmytrip.com and the booking is confirmed in the airlines system. I arrive in MAN on Wednesday morning and fly back on Friday morning. It makes for an expensive couple of days.

Due to the much higher proportion of fuel costs in the ticket price nowadays the benefits of booking economy tickets in BKK as opposed to UK has taken a bit of a hit. However, Biz Class tickets can still represent a bargain ............... e.g. Qatar Airways can still be had for 78,000 Baht incl for BKK-MAN-BKK whereas booking in the UK (MAN-BKK-MAN) is circa 1,700 UKP. Taking into account the mileage accumulation (I am a Gold Card holder and stick to the one airline) brings the real price of the flight booking ex BKK down to around 950 quid.

There was a thread on them recently. agoda.com The worst thing for me is their policy of adding tax and service onto the price after you have ran the availability.

Monty, Thanks for that info; there are some good rates in there. I had stayed at the Adelphi a couple of times when it first opened and it was great value and in a great location but their prices had increased quite significantly on the booking sites that I use.

Not far off. I have and it is 26'3" long by 13'0" wide at its widest points. The actual floor area is slightly less than 30 sq m.

You'll have no problems identifying the 5 CEOs that you claim have gone then, will you? As for factories being sold .... that allows the governments to subsidise the firms that buy the factories to undertake "research"" ......... Filton in UK will receive lots of government money for composite wing research which means that Boeing can't bleat about Airbus receiving subsidies. As you said, simply brilliant.