CheshireTom

Good one, jack.

Wrong site, Fruitcase. You want Accountants Anonymous, mate.

No, the 787 reached its current, projected break even point. They won't reach the actual break even point until they build, fly and deliver the aircraft ....... the same rules of economics that applied to the A380 apply equally to the 787. As it is, the aircraft didn't, as you grandly predicted, fly anywhere in 2007 and it remains to be seen whether or not it will actually enter commercial service in 2008. Boeings equivelant of the A380 is the 747-8i .......... and how many have been sold? The A350, the fastest selling commercial aircraft will most certainly match the 787 in time. Anyway, in a few weeks we'll know which of the two companies delivered the most aircraft and sold the most aircraft in 2007. I seem to remember you claiming something about Boeing kicking Euro butt ..........

Not at all ............... even if I choose not to set foot in Pattaya during the peak season.

The Baht has been strengthening against the Pound for a couple of weeks now i.e. you're getting less Baht for your Pound than you were throughout most of the year. (66.84 for TCs at the booths today).

Joe, I don't think I've seen any reputable poll in the last 10 years that placed any US airline (except for the regional low-cost airlines) in the world's top 10 ....... either from a passenger's or agent's point of view. That would seem to indicate that there are a certain number of shortcomings across the board as far as US carriers are concerned.

How many rooms does the Rockhouse have?

British Airways doesn't fly direct from MAN to BKK or, apart from New York, to any other long haul destination.

I think you'll find the increase was 1 February 2007 ........................... The rates are on the HMCR website ................. HMCR - APD From the BBC's website ................... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6258327.stm Q&A: Air passenger tax rise Air Passenger Duty (APD) doubled on 1 February. Some passengers are having to pay extra despite buying their tickets previously. Some airlines have said passengers cannot fly unless they have paid the extra cost in advance while others are meeting the charges themselves. Others are letting people pay on arrival at the airport. Has it caused chaos at UK airports? There have been no reports of the change causing delays around the UK. BBC correspondents at several main airports have reported some irritation among passengers, but no major problems. Easyjet, which emailed customers and publicised the changes on its website, said the "vast majority of passengers" with tickets had now paid the difference. Staff from the airline and Virgin were collecting the additional money in the check-in queues. Why has this come about? Chancellor Gordon Brown announced in his pre-budget statement on 6 December that duty on passengers flying out of British airports after 1 February 2007 was to double. Most airlines raised their flight fares once his announcement was made. But the duty also applies to those who booked beforehand and this has been dealt with in various ways by the airlines. The chancellor's critics say it was unusually short notice for an increase in duty and that the announcement has caused confusion. How much is the new Air Passenger Duty? The duty has risen to: Economy class flights in Europe, internal UK flights - £10 Business and first class flights in Europe - £20 Economy class long-haul flights - £40 Business and first class long-haul flights - £80

Airport Passenger Duty from UK airports is currently 40 quid for long-haul economy passengers. What is this "new dreaded increase in airport tax"?

Just noticed a flight MAN-BKK-MAN with Emirates on ebay. Seems as if it could be a genuine bargain compared to some of the nonsense that you sometimes see advertised ........ MAN-BKK-MAN on EK EMIRATES FLIGHT FOR 1 PERSON MANCHESTER TO BANGKOK VIA DUBAI & BANGKOK TO MANCHESTER VIA DUBAI FLIGHT TIMES ARE: Outbound leg: Depart - Manchester 2000 - 02/01/2008 Arrive - Dubai 0650 - 03/01/2008 Depart - Dubai 0940 - 03/01/2008 Arrive - Bangkok - 1840 - 03/01/2008 Return leg: Depart - Bangkok 0255 - 16/02/2008 Arrive - Dubai 0625 - 16/02/2008 Depart - Dubai 0755 - 16/02/2008 Arrive - Manchester 1130 - 16/02/2008 The cost of the name change is £64 The cost to change either leg of the journey is £32 So, for example, you could change the name and both dates at a cost of £128 and have a holiday whenever you want. The winner of the auction will have to pay for any changes themselves or alternatively let me know what changes are required and I will call the airline and make the adjustments - this would involve the prices to change be added to the final sale figure. Any questions drop me a line. References can be given before payment to allow the winner to call Emirates before payment for the auction is made for peace of mind. Happy bidding!

Well done! Joe would be proud to have picked up on that one.

Hub, I'm sure there is a pedestrian crossing just up from Tim"s on 2nd Rd ............

Unfortunately, I know the square root of nothing about brontosauri except that they didn't populate sandy habitats. Take a C for effort though. BTW ......... It's "If this was" not "If this were". You are 100% correct, Emil. It makes it a piece of cake for the moto-sai guys to circumnavigate any hold-ups at the junction of Thappraya/Pratamnak Roads.

So, in spite of all your long-winded answer, what you are saying is that you have never stayed at the RG (or anywhere else on Thappraya) and are only surmising what you would imagine what it is like to catch a cab from the place or visit the store/laundry opposite. Nothing wrong with that per se but when someone else who has actually stayed there mentions it as a significant issue then I might pay atention. Until then ......... my own experience of staying on Thappraya is that it is of no practical significance.

Jack, And the last time you actually stayed on Thappraya Rd, was? Or had to cross the road in front of the RG to the store or laundry directly opposite? Anyone who has actually stayed there will tell you it is a non-issue unless you happen to be Stevie Wonder. BTW the road adjoining Thappraya is Pratamnak.

The lounge at Doha was recently voted as the best in the business. It is not a lounge but a completely separate terminal with its own Duty Free etc. I just made the trip to go back for the Italy game except that I picked up a hire car at MAN rather than flying to EDI.

Jack, You crack me up. On one hand you claim the SkyTop is in great location on 2nd Road and then criticise the RG because ........ " it got so noisy and dirty with the dirt coming in from the road. And you can't even cross the street to get a taxi hardly sometimes, the traffic is so bad." Anybody who is familiar with the locations of both places might just notice a bit of a contradiction somewhere.

Alan, You should consider Qatar through MAN. Around 20-30,000 Baht cheaper than Emirates and they have an partnership agreement with BMI. Because the flights alternate between day and evening flights you can book to arrive in MAN at around 6 a.m. and depart in the evening at 8:30 p.m. which makes getting to/from Edinburgh a piece of cake.

Unfortunately, for the majority of the population the only way to travel with EVA is as a connecting flight. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Zurich and Singapore are all better options for them than Heathrow.

Jack, It was no criticism of the Germans in Naklua. I have stayed there many times over the last 20-odd years (my ex was the Guest Relations Manager at the original Wong Amat hotel) and I can speak fairly decent German so it was never an issue for me. It just helps though to be able to tell your jagerschnitzel from your Jagermeister.

LOL. You've been watching too many Rocky films.

It's my ball ......... and .......

Jack, Who cares if you're in Vietnam.

February is fine Jack. I'll let you know if your presence is required.