CheshireTom

Just a couple of snippets from Etihad for those guys considering their cheap fares later in the year. They have received the first of their new aircraft which will go onto the Gatwick and Bangkok routes and allow them to start MAN sometime in Mar/Apr (no firm timings yet). They have signed up with Connexion to install wirelesss internet and live TV (BBC News24, Eurosport etc) on their aircraft in the near future. Obviously, this will be ongoing but the fleets tend to be completed quite quickly. They will be introducing a loyalty scheme for regular travellers. Apparently, it will be more than just a FF programme according to the press releases. All in all, good news for the guys looking to save a few quid on their airfares. Tom

Samsonite, C'mon ....... you're sounding very bitter again. Nobody is attacking Boeing so why attack Airbus and deride its products and business practices. There is a huge difference between subsidies (Boeing) and loans (Airbus) ....... one has to be repaid! The reason Airbus sells cheaper aircraft is because it has a cheaper production process and a much more vibrant and flexible workforce. Oh, and of course nowadays ...... huge economies of scale that Boeing can't match.! Tom

pattayaman, Go to their special offers and play around with the dates and you should be able to pull something to suit you. http://www.cathaypacific.com/uk/offers/onl...-134357,00.html If that's proving to be a pain, give Travelmood a call (their Leeds office tends to be particularly good for some reason) and refer to their Hot Deals. http://www.flynow.com/site/hotoffers/fligh...efault_asia.asp Tom

C'mon guys! A simple "Well done Airbus" wouldn't be so difficult, would it? And I thought you blokes liked a winner! I'm sure that you'll let us know at the end of 2006 how things are going. In the meantime, Airbus will just bask in the knowledge that it is still the world's number one as voted by the procurement divisions of the world's airlines even allowing for the "we'll let you steal all your employees pension funds as long as you buy Boeing" nonsense that's part and parcel of Chap 11. In the meantime just watch out for the announcement of their Virgin all-composite, supersonic, VTOL super-jumbo which will whisk you from your local Tesco's car-park non-stop to BKK in a shade under three hours.

vegasdave, There's me thinking that Boeing parts are built all over the place nowadays .... you know, places like Japan. No need to knock Airbus and nobody suggets that Boeing is second-rate............ just that Airbus sells more aeroplanes, that's all. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you sounded just a little bit bitter. Tom

Ah well, just as the Boeing bully boys predicted a couple of weeks ago ...... not! The Prediction Samsonite said: Boeing has made their mistakes in recent years. They lost their will to be innovative, they were content to rest on their laurels, and their attitude was to ignore the competition. For this they paid dearly. However, things are on the turn around and by the end of the year, in just a few weeks, Boeing will have out sold Airbus for 2005. Wednesday of this week there should be a major announcement both is size and importance. The Reality Airbus Comes From Behind to Beat Boeing in Orders for 5th Year Jan. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Airbus SAS, the world's largest commercial planemaker, beat Boeing Co. in orders in 2005 for the fifth year in a row, coming from behind with a surge of new business in December to finish a record year for the industry. Airbus, based in Toulouse, France, won net orders for 1,055 planes compared with 1,002 for Chicago-based Boeing and delivered 378 planes, 30 percent more than Boeing's 290, Airbus Chief Executive Gustav Humbert said at a briefing before a press conference today in Paris. Earnings rose to a record, with operating profit above a target of 10 percent of sales, he said. http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1...axp0&refer=home Good news for the guys in Toulouse, Hamburg and Chester methinks! Tom

ranger, You should be aware that in the rear centre section of Thai's 747s (Zone E - rows 56-71 incl) the seat pitch is 32 and 33 inches rather than the 34 inches found throughout the rest of economy. http://www.thaiairways.com/Travel_Destinat...aps/B7443_l.htm Tom

cenctm/Hub, C'mon guys ..... the response had as much chance of being penned by some old-lady in some olde tea shop in Honiton, Devon as it did Sailfast. We know you guys like to claim credit for things but there is a limit. you know! Tom

Gerald, Long time since I seen you on the board. How's life treating you and the family? Tom

doolish, Lots of USAF guys left over in Udon from the airbase in the seventies. I don't have a link to hand but I am sure there are some well-established ex-pat clubs up there. A quick google search should turn them up. Tom

rascall, Assuming you've been issued with a standard (blue/pink) IATA ticket, you will find the class sandwiched between the flight number and date of travel. For Thai promotional fares it is likely to be V or W. Tom

fastphil, Check the second post in this thread.

marleyboy, I understood that it is only V and W classes that attract the restricted mileage. Tom

Cathay Pacific will commence a 3 x weekly service from MAN at the end of March. Flights will have a refuelling stop in Moscow both ways and will be operated by A340-300 aircraft in a 2-4-2 configuration in economy. Days of operation will be Mo-Th-Su outbound and Su-We-Fr on the return. The 2-4-2 configuration on this aircraft should be particularly welcome by the guys who have been stuck for 12 hours next to the window in a row of 3 on the 747 and 777s. Fares (to Bangkok) are currently from 369 quid plus tax (around 100-120 quid depending if you opt for a stopover) online at Cathay's website .... I'm not sure at the moment what is on offer at the main agents. To me it seems a good deal to travel on what is generally acknowledged as the world's best airline. It's almost worth it just for the bonus of being able to visit Mr Sam at Burlington Arcade in HKG. Tom

Etihad will completely replace its fleet on the LGW and BKK routes over the next 3 months in favour of brand new 777-300ER aircraft (the aircraft deliveries are around 3 months late due to the recent strike at Boeing). Travel between now and easter on these routes will be a bit hit-and-miss as to what aircraft you will actually fly on. Thereafter it will be all new aircraft throughout the complete LGW-AUH-BKK routes. The aircraft currently operating the LGW and BKK routes will be redeployed to MAN, amongst others. Good news all round I think.

Alan, The site is called Worth 1000. There is some good stuff in there ..... particularly the Engrish galleries. You might appreciate the new Scottish-designed causeway to Koh Chang though. Tom

Phillip, Although I generally book sooner rather than later, I am holding back booking my trip in June for a couple of reasons. Firstly, to see what effect Etihad's start-up and Qatar's increased frequencly from MAN will have on fares and secondly, what effect the World Cup will have on fares. Tom

Both Thai and BA/Qantas are generally available from the reputable agents for between 445 and 450 quid up until easter week. For travel after easter the price drops to 424 quid for Thai through to the summer high season. For indirect flights both Gulf and Etihad are retailing at 395-405 quid and Qatar about 20 quid more than that. All prices incl taxes etc. It's worth using Pricerunner to identify which agent has the cheapest fare on your preferred travel dates. Tom

Samsonite, China Airlines effectively operates their aircraft ex AMS in a 3 class configuration, ostensibly, economy, Dynasty and first. However, their fares for Dynasty (business) class are pitched in direct competition to EVA's Evergreen Deluxe product on the same route. I was trying to establish if you pay the business class fare are you in fact allocated the first class cabin/product. It would seem to make sense and is what happens on Thai's Scandanavian flights I believe (the normal economy, business and first products are sold as economy, economy deluxe and business class respectively). I hope that makes more sense. If you manage to strike lucky and end up on one of CI's new signature 747s then the deal must be hard to beat. Tom

Fatboyfat, One of the problems with flying with EVA from MAN is that Elite class attracts business class passenger duty as well as quite substantial fuel surcharges. On top of that you also have the passenger handling charges from both MAN and LHR to cough up. If you are flying from the sticks I would say that China Airlines Dynasty Class is a far superior and better value-for-money, directly comparable product than EVA Elite at the moment, IMHO....... plus Schipol is a revelation compared to the terminal transfer nonsense at LHR. On the subject of China Airlines ex AMS, does anyone know if there is a comparable Dynasty class fare that upgrades you to the First Class Cabin on their 747s? Tom

tyfon, Obviously the guys in the US, when speaking about FF miles (mainly with US airlines), are talking about something that is very different to what we get offered in the UK. For UK guys the key is in how often you travel and to what extent the benefits are tiered to the advantage of guys holding premium membership in one of the FF programmes. As an example, someone who flies economy UK-BKK once or twice a year is probably better off flying with Etihad who provide consistently low fares as compared to their direct competitors but have no FF programme. However, if you fly three or four times a year in Business Class than you are significantly better off flying with Qatar because of the benefits associated with its FF programme silver/gold card membership even although the flights, on the face of it, may appear to be slightly more expensive. Anything that can save you a few quid or make for a more enjoyable journey without any effort on your part has got to be worth it IMHO. Tom

fd2084, Your passport is checked by the airline in the departure area before boarding the flight so there is no reason to queue at "check-in" desks. Tom

monkeyman, The answer is .....ish! What you need to do, preferably through a decent agent such as WestEast, Ours or Trailfinders, is call EVA reservations beforehand and check the availability of seats in Elite and also those in PL which are in a booking class that allows upgrades from Elite. Armed with this info, you get onto the agent and book your seat in Elite and advise them that you will be upgrading using your airmiles. Your agent will then give you your EVA booking reference and you then get back onto EVA reservations, quote the booking reference and they will do the rest with the agent. It seems a bit long-winded but it is to ensure that the seat you end up with (PL) is not the same seat that the agent will be invoiced for (Elite). Clear as mud? Tom

It shouldn't make the slightest bit of difference in economy since all that is happening is new seat covers and new carpets. The refit in F and C class isn't retro style.

Assuming that you are flying from Barcelona or Madrid I would opt for LH via Munich. Easier to transit than Frankfurt, newer planes on the MUC-BKK route and shorter overall travelling time. I would avoid LHR like the plague unless you are a FF with Iberia/BA and are after the airmiles. Tom