CheshireTom

scalawag, Since you are into definitions you need to read a bit further ........... You asked if anyone would like to "take odds" Idiom: take odds To accept a bet. You need to brush up on your English skills, mate. The A350 is being developed with "risk-sharing" partners ......... in line with the 787. What this means is that the joint developers can accept any amount of government cash (as the Japs, Italians etc are doing) and claim the main stakeholder isn't receiving a subsidy (as Boeing is doing). A little bit disingenious I admit but it does create a level playing field.

Dearie me ........... sceptic septics! Unlike the Silk Cut appellant, I would have taken great delight in actually posting some evidence and nice pics of me actually handing over the BMs cash. And, of course, MM would have had his hands on my cash anyway. The USD 2.5k (assuming the USD doesn't slide much more) was chosen since it would just about cover platinum sponsorship (100k Baht) with Jesters and I would have received a nice certificate.

scalawag, You offered the bet, I simply took it up. Tom

I'm well aware of the Airbus issues ......... now how are you going to lodge your cash?

scalawag, Stop avoiding the issue ..........let's see the colour of your money.......... ain't that how capitalism works? I've said I'll put up my USD 5k with MM next week; just let us all know how you are going to lodge your cash. I promise that not one cent of mine will come from EU taxpayers. In true socialist style, I promise to put all of my winnings into the Jesters' Care4Kids appeal. How about you?

Hub, The problem with the free trade question is that both the US and the EU have probably got legitimate cases to take forward to the WTO and the likely outcome is that both Boeing and Airbus would be found to have received unfair subsidies. The two options from there are that both the US and EU ignore the likely WTO rulings or they comply and the cost of aircraft soars or development stall. Got to admit that the Chinese and Japanese chicks were a cut above the Isaan lovelies ........

Emil, I've been working on the games since March but only managed to attend the beach volleyball ........ The Thais done well and were only eliminated in the semi-finals after an over-ruled call at match point. I watched the sepak takraw on the box and am still amazed athe co-ordination and agility ......... hopefully it will get into the Olympics next time round.

Yes, I'm a bit confused myself ............ sat here in the middle of the desert and the place is flooded! Will catch up with you in January. Tom Another couple for Hub .......

Fiend, The 380 and 787 threads are just an excuse for some bitter Yanks to have a go at Airbus ....... apparently because they think its unethical to spend taxpayers money on assisting employment that results in the production of a commercial aeroplane. Apparently, taxpayers money is meant to be squandered on military aircraft which can then be used to bomb other countries back to the stone age. Just a small difference in perception of what constitutes ethical. Tom Hub, I had problems getting you the pics posted from the volleyball ...........

Emil, Scalawag's offer quite clearly related to the 380 ......... The original question about the construction/assembly process related to the poster who questioned Airbus' practice of undertaking the construction of the major components in different countries, not merely different locations. The Airbus Beluga aircraft have been around for a while now to facilitate this and I understand Boeing are using similarl newly converted 747s for the trans Pacific/Atlantic movement of the said 787 components. When are you in town again? Tom

Hub, The first aircraft is currently due to be delivered to Singapore next year ......... when is irrelevant, only that it will be delivered at some point. I don't waste my breath on scalawag/samsonite any more but I'm quite happy to take his cash. I'm sure he will confirm how he wants to lodge his part of the bet. Scalawag, No problem losing bets as Hub can testify. Just let us know how/when you want to lodge your 5K since you forgot to mention that small detail in your post.

The wings and fuselage sections are being built in Japan/Italy before being transhipped to the US; something Boeing has not done before. Airbus actually pioneered the process. scalawag, I thought this thread was about the 787 but thanks for the offer. I'll take USD 5k at evens on the aircraft being finished and delivered. I can lodge my cash with MM next week. I'm sure we can arrange cash or paypal for you to lodge your cash.

Which is what I said, And the Airbus is only assembled in France. Same, same. The critical difference is that Airbus major components are built by Airbus, whilst the 787 is contracted out to "risk sharing" partners such as Kawasaki and Mitsubishi.

The difference is very simple. On a 777 you are stuck in a 3-3-3 configuration (that is you have two people to climb over evertime you want to get out if you are in a window seat and you have two people climbing over you if you are in an aisle seat ..... Emirates is worse with a 3-4-3 configuration, as is the 747). On the A330/340 they are set out in a 2-4-2 configuration which is a lot less hassle for everybody involved. That doesn't bode well for the 787 which is actually being built mainly in Japan with other major components coming from Italy, Australia and the UK to name a few. It is only being assembled in the US.

Thai's prices last January were in direct response to EVA increasing capacity on the London route when they went daily with their 777s the previous Sep/Oct. Prices have remained flat since due largely to the mid-east airlines, in particular Etihad, offering competitive products at bargain prices and providing the northern based guys with a decent alternative to flying via Heathrow. That situation isn't likely to change too much in the foreseeable future unless Thai starts up its often promised Manchester route with the new 777s it is currently receiving.

United are using the CIP lounge. A waste of time and effort finding it IMHO. Very small, no internet, no toilets, not very much of anything. It is only temporary though ..... the new CIP business and first class lounges should open sometime next year.

Not intended as a flame but the OP asked if ALL flights had moved to the new airport, not just those of whatever carrier he is travelling with. He might be doing something as simple as contemplating a side trip with Air Asia or Bangkok Airways or just trying to guage how busy the place is likely to be.

fatboyfat, Deep (ruskiehat) has flown with them ........ maybe worth sending him a PM. I've not flown with Etihad but the pods on the 777s in all the photos I've seen seem to be in a 2-4-2 configuration, albeit staggered, rather than the 1-2-1 they claimed when the 777s were introduced. Thats pretty tight widthways no matter how well designed they are.

The superior and standard room are identical except the standard rooms have a shower as opposed to a bathtub.

The actual cost of the flight is 364 quid ........... on a charter aircraft (crap seat pitch and pay for food and drink) and you still have to get to pattaya. It would be worth considering if your final destination was Phuket since the travelling time is less than anything else available from MAN.

whitespider, It depends how the agent wants to advertise the flight. The problem arises when it comes down to accounting since the real taxes, rather than fuel supplements etc, have to be split out from the ticket price. In this case East West are advertising the price without tax, fuel surcharges etc but when they invoice it should only be the tax element that is separated i.e. the fuel surcharge should be included in the flight price or at least sub-totalled. It's not really a big deal unless you cancel ...... the tax element cannot be deducted in any cancellation charges even if the agent implies otherwise. The screenshot was for Tue/Tue flights with EVA and are frequently the headline price that agents advertise.

I used to stay at the Sabai Inn for around 60-90 nights per year since it first opened in Sep '99. I was paying 700 Baht for a standard room (w/o ABF) up until last Xmas when they asked for 1,000 Baht which I declined. I've stayed in the suite for 4 nights when I was having a couple of parties. It's on the top floor and is basically just two adjoining rooms; one is laid out identical to the superior rooms the other is laid out as a lounge. It cost me 2,300 baht per night but there are much better appointed suites in the area for similar/less than this. Unfortunately, for me, the hotel has become a victim of its own success and, as a previous poster pointed out, the yobbish behaviour of some of the guests it now attracts seems to be the norm rather than the exception. One of the downsides of making recommendations on the net nowadays (same, same as trying to get a dental appointment with Dr Aree That said, the hotel is spotless and offers great value for money (outside of the peak season) as well as having a great location for a whole load of activities both during the day and the evening. One final point ......... always book with the hotel direct. If things aren't to your liking you always have the option to check-out and move on. Not the case if you book through an agent.

The booking dates aren't long gone and can still be had through most major agents. EVA's tax and other add-ons is 109 quid in economy and not the 50 quid you suggest.

HILLY, Sorry to hear about your experience. The older 747s now operate between BKK and places like Stockholm/Copenhagen and the "first class" seats are sold as biz class (biz class is sold as premium economy). I would have been seriously pissed off if I had paid a first class fare for what is effectively biz class facilities on the LHR route.

Thai doesn't have a lounge at Heathrow. They use the star alliance one belonging to SAS/Air Canada.