CheshireTom

Another good reason to use a CC for booking flights. Let your CC issuer do the chasing to get a refund. (Trailfinders don't have any CC charges ...... any others?)

you may want to ask yourself why it is so cheap ......... big difference between china airlines and air china.

Up to 1% of the published 1st class fare per kilo.

Standard 330/340 biz class set-up. A couple of points ....... the baby basinets are in the front row and you get disturbed a lot by folks using the toilets and crew going to and from the galley. In my experience, if you don't want to be disturbed, you're better off in the 3rd or 4th row back.

Thai's 747s on both the FRA and LHR routes have all been refurbished in 1st and biz class over the last 18 months. Economy got new seat covers. The cheapest way to fly Thai biz class from UK is to book the Swiss codeshare via Zurich on Thai's A340-600 - the same would apply to getting a half decent version of Thai economy class. Thai will also start receiving its new 777 ER soon so some of the secondary routes should see the end of the crappier 747s and MD11s.

Air Asia is a budget airline ......... it does not have "connecting" flights. Miss your flight, your fault.

The age limits for "unaccompanied minors" varies by airline. Thai, for example, is up to the child's 12th birthday (and they must pay full adult fares!!). Check with the airline ...... you would need to complete their own documentation in any case.

You're about 10 years out ............... Mind you, we managed to demolish the place a damn sight quicker than the mob you've got in there at the moment!

Thanks for the link. Tried dates over Xmas 20/21 Dec - 8/9 Jan. Under 400 quid all in using oasis to HKG and then Emirates for the HKG-BKK legs. A bargain for the guys on a budget. That said, Phuket Airways also seemed like a bargain at the time.

Quite simply, the airport won't get certified unless the systems are tested. ICAO doesn't certify the airport but it does lay down the standards required for certification by the national authority. To suggest that "a bit more testing would be fine" seems to imply that the testing currently being undertaken to meet the required standards is inadequate. The timing of the opening means that folk on all sides of the political landscape will be trying to make capital out of the project and, no doubt, there will be teething difficulties. Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to test all systems for the number of flights expected in just one 24 hour period so, to a certain extent, those guys travelling in Oct/Nov,myself included, will be guinea pigs but the end result will be well worth it. I think you have to read carefully what people are saying about the new airport. It will open on 28th Sep ......... OK. What they haven't said is that DM will close on 28 Sep. It is entirely feasible that the new airport could "open" for limited operations on 28 Sep with a phased migration thereafter. A case of wait and see .........

The same doom and gloom predictions were made about the skytrain and subway systems. Incompetent Thais etc etc etc. Both have proven to be much better than anything that we can offer in UK and I've no doubt the new airport will be pretty much the same. Anyone got any idea when LHR T5 or Wembley Stadium will open?

If I recall correctly the rooms at the Sabai Lodge have a push-type, locking mechanism on the door handles inside the room and a separate security bar/chain. Are you even sure you managed to close the door as both simple security measures seem to have been beyond you.

Feileacan, I've never used e-bookers but have spoken with them a couple of times when I was trying to get deals they were advertising. Their callcentre is in India and is probably ok until things start to go wrong ............... which they do for all of us eventually. I much prefer to book face-to-face (or at least know who I'm dealing with) with someone who is looking after my interests. With the larger call centres you are just a phone call to be converted to a one-time sale and after that their service standards decline rapidly. Just my personal choice with what I feel comfortable with. Tom

Unfortunately, on Emirates, your seat is also restricted on their 777s. They manage to squeeze in 10 seats per row as opposed to most other airlines 9. Their IFE is good though ....... if you are able to move your arns to operate it.

I lived about 2 miles from Hartford on the Northwich side of Winsford ......... I'm currently flogging my property there and am holed up in Qatar for the next few months at least. I'll probably go to China from here for a couple of years and then eventually settle down out that way although my preference is for Malaysia rather than LOS. The great thing about your mate Shaun was that he was able to "tune in" to what you were after rather than the dozy bird who seemed to replace him who would be pulling flights on the likes of Alitalia and Egyptair.

kolobos, I lived the other side of the M6 but worked at the airport so it was handy for me just to drive the back roads via Knutsford and come into the airport from Handforth or Wilmslow. I think Shaun may have been the same guy who was on the long haul Asia desk before he moved up (or into the back office). I used EVA at that time and he was great for getting seating plans etc for the flights and sorting out upgrades.

Travelbag in Knutsford used to be my preferred agent. Fucked them off the day they got taken over by e-bookers.

bigmofo, Life is good at the moment ......... making some decent cash out here and LOS is only 6 hours away so I'm raking in the mileage as well. The price was for 15/11-7/12 and the conditions were for a max stay of 1 month. I think a 3 month ticket is 1,300 quid plus. Travelmood is doing a companion fare around the 1,245 quid mark so they may be worth giving a call. http://www.travelmood.com/site/hotoffers/f..._asiaJclass.asp

Exactly ......... why would anyone pay a US/Euro ex-pat package if they can get an Indian to do precisely the same job just as well for half the price? Singapore/HKG etc offer great ex-pat packages but only if you have a unique skill that can't be sourced more cheaply.

bigmofo, Thanks for the link .......... it's much appreciated and a great improvement on the previous efforts where you had to churn through each day to find availability. As an aside ....... 1,174 quid for biz class on Qatar from Manchester is an absolute steal .....

There's no such thing as a transit lounge in Doha. Doha originating passengers and through passengers all share the exact same facilities.

Doha isn't on a par with Dubai although the new terminal will be and a bit more. If you are after cigs/booze pefume then the duty free is as good as any, if not better (around 8 quid for 200 cigs). The extension to the existing terminal has been completed in the last week or so and is a huge improvement on the previous set-up. The new gates (10-15) are an open-plan style rather then separate lounges as was the case previously. The dedicated first/biz class terminal will also open shortly and free up even more space for economy pax. farman, With the number of trips you are doing you really should settle on one carrier and get yourself a decent status in their FF programme. If you had done so previously, you would be looking forward to biz class lounge access on the stopovers and not worrying about the hardships of not getting a drink during the stopover.

The extension to the current terminal at Doha (increased the number of gates by 50%) is now finished and open for business. Went through last night and it makes a huge difference to the place.