CheshireTom

If you are out in the sticks simply fly EVA via AMS rather than LHR or use China Airlines Dynasty fares through Amsterdam. Other than that SAS and Thai both have premium economy fares through Scandanavia. Thai also operates its new A340-500 on the Milan (Linante) route and offers premium economy. If all else fails, there is always BA ......... Tom

BigC currently has a DVD player on offer for 2,590 Baht. As a previous poster said, just buy one and leave it with your favourite TG/hotel staff member when you go home. Big C - Electricals Tom

farman, Yes. From Wikpedia: Som tam (Thai/Isan ส้มตำ) is a spicy papaya salad originating in Laos and the Isan region of Thailand. Som (ส้ม) in Isan and Lao is sour, and tam (ตำ) means pounded. It is also sometimes written as som tum, som dtam or som dtum. Other names for the dish are papaya pok pok (from the sound produced when preparing the dish in a mortar), tam som or, in Lao and Isan, tam mak hung (ตำหมากหุ่ง, Lao ຕຳໝາກຮຸ່ງ) (mak hung is the Lao and Isan word for papaya). The main ingredient is grated, unripe papaya, seasoned and pounded to a softened state in a mortar. Chili, garlic, lime and fish sauce are also usually added, while beans and tomato are optional. There are many variations of the dish, some made with carrot instead of papaya. The dish combines the four main tastes of Lao/Thai cuisine: sweet papaya, sour lime, hot chilli and salty fish sauce. It is served at room temperature, traditionally with sticky rice. It is also sometimes served with pork rinds, raw water spinach, raw winged beans or raw cabbage. Very often it is paired with Gai yang (ไก่ย่าง in Thai), grilled chicken.. In Laos and Isan the dish is normally more spicy and sour, while the Central Thai version is milder. Som tam Lao usually features fermented crab (ปูดอง in thai), while som tam Thai is prepared with dried shrimp and bean. Som tam can also be prepared with other unripe fruits, notably mango, in which case it is known as tam ma-muang (ตำมะม่วง in thai), and cucumber, tam mak teng. Tom

farman, Mai pet means not spicy and prik is chillies. Unfortunately prik nit noi could lead to some misunderstandings .......... Tom

Som tam, papaya salad and papaya pok pok are just different names for the same dish.

samsonite, You need to read Thai's recent investors' reports and then direct your question to them but the answer is probably much the same as why they would offer non-stop flights to any European city. Tom

steve, And there is more than enough demand in the aircraft marketplace to support both companies for the foreseeable future. Whilst there is competition between producers it will be good news for the customer, i.e. us. I am looking forward to Thai getting their new 777-300s next year and make the decision to fly them non-stop to Manchester ........... but don't tell Samsonite! Tom

Samsonite, C'mon .... you know better than that. Aircraft orders for the period 2001-2004 (the stuff now being built) was: Year ........Boeing........Airbus 2001 ..........314 ...........418 2002 ..........250 ...........348 2003 ..........250 ...........331 2004 ..........277 ...........447 Total .........1091 .........1544 As I said, Airbus wiped the floor with Boeing. Why would I joke? Both Emirates and Thai manage to squeeze in 10 abreast on some of their 777s. As good a reason as any to avoid them. Cheshire ain't very big (probably about the size of a US Walmart) but it is home to Rolls Royce, Bentley and Airbus UK so we do know a bit about engineering round these parts. Tom

Samsonite, I think your reading too many of these airline forums with all the other wannabe airline execs. Boeing may well outrun Airbus in orders taken this year but the Airbus orderbook is full from its orders over the last five years when it has wiped the floor with Boeing on a regular basis. Our assembly lines are booked solid so I don't think we are going to worry too much at the moment about Boeing's orders for aircraft 5 and 6 years down the line. We're producing the things now. As for seatwidth ...... what a load of nonsense. The airlines, not the aircraft manufacturers, decide on which seats they will put in an aircraft ........ you've obviously not flown with Thai or Emirates 777s lately! Anyway, its not our European seats that are narrower but American arses that are generally wider when converted to centimetres. In the meantime, I'll stick to biz class in the A330s of Qatar Airways when flying to LOS and have a good chuckle to myself. Tom

Samsonite, Jeez, you have to go back to 1988 to find an aircraft accident. Methinks you have just a little bit of a chip on your shoulder about our fantastic European aircraft. Still, I can understand that considering that we went from zero to market leaders in 15 short years. Do yourself a favour and jump onto a non-stop flight from NYC or LAX to BKK to appreciate technology that is here now ........ not X years down the line. Anyway its nice to know that the A320 is so crap that AirAsia take delivery this month of the first of 100 of them to replace their Boeings and the Chinese have today placed an order for 150 ......... I guess they must know something we don't. The guys up at Broughton must be crying into their champagne! Tom

jimrobo, The ATOL number they use is that of Benz Travel and the ABTA number is that of Benz Travel's Wembley office. However, neither the ABTA nor ATOL sites has Flightseverywhere.co.uk listed as a trading name of Benz Travel and the website doesn't contain any terms and conditions relating to their bookings. You should have received your confirmation invoice and/or tickets by now so let us know how it turns out. Tom

And to think that you Boeing folks derided Airbus when THEY introduced "fly by wire"! How things change. As we say in Europe, "Vorsprung durch Technik". Is it true that the 787 is going to have a "Made in Japan" sticker on the arse end? Tom

Bill, You could always transfer them to me! Tom

Qatar Airways will increase their current 4 x weekly schedule to 5 x weekly during the first week of Feb. They will then adopt a daily service from mid-April 2006. With Emirates twice daily flights as well as daily flights from both Qatar and Etihad due to come online there seems to be an ever increasing number of options for guys in the north and hopefully cheap prices. Tom

Cliver, If you are happy with the evening flight then I would say it comes down to their frequent flyer programme. My own experience with Thai was that you had to book and then hope you could get an upgrade in the last couple of weeks before the flight whereas with EVA their reservation people were very helpful and would advise exactly what flights had availabilty and tie it in with your booking months in advance. Whatever one you choose, it makes sense to stick with them in the future. Tom

jimrobo, There's nowt dodgy about the flight except that Qatar doesn't fly from MAN on 28 Jan. :chogdee2

Val, The new aircraft are only going onto the Gatwick and Bangkok routes for now. Tom

Etihad from Gatwick has got to be the best, generally available, VFM deal at the moment for flights next year. Brand new aircraft on that and the Bangkok routes and state of the art individual entertainment. Available all over the place for around 380-440 quid incl. Only downside in no FF club. Tom

echster, It looks like the Chinese must run a major deficit with the Europeans as well. Seventy A320 to be ordered this week .......... good news for the guys at Broughton. Tom China to Order 70 Airbus

Lancashirelad, I have always found that it is the 3* places such as the Amaris, Asia, Rembrandt and so on that charge joiner fees. On Sukhumvit, the Landmark, Westin, JWM, Sheraton and Majestic Grande do not charge joiner fees. In fact, I've found that the more upmarket hotels treat your guests a lot better than some of the 3* places that seem to take great delight in making you feel as uncomfortable as possible when bringing in guests. Tom

BigD, Asoke Skytrain station is on the corner of Soi 19 between the Sheraton and Westin hotels. The only thing on that corner is some big, well-lit country bar. It is the subway station (Sukhumvit) that is on the corner of Soi 21 (Asoke). Even from there Soi Cowboy is barely distinguishable unless you know what you are looking for. Much easier for a newbie to jump in a cab and say "Cowboy!"..... 40-50 Baht from the corner of Suk Soi 3. Tom

I agree with Hub ........ Priceline is the way to go for value for money. For around 75 USD you'll end up with either the Westin/Sheraton (both within a 5-10 min walk from Cowboy) or the JWM on Soi 2..... all excellent 5* hotels that are guest friendly. Tom

jonny, It is directly opposite the Asia hotel so it is not a lot of hassle to get one of the baht buses that park outside the main entrance but you are looking at 60-100 Baht per trip for private hire into/from town. The hotel itself is great but I would probably only consider a two or three night stay as a change from being stuck in town or to chill out with a special TG. Tom

lemons, Try Cabbages and Condoms restaurant on Suk Soi 12 in BKK. The optional vasectomy in the clinic next door is included in the price of the meal. Tom

ranger, From HM Customs own website: Air passenger duty (APD) Budget 2004 announces that APD rates will be frozen for a third successive year. HMRC Budget 2004 The list that I linked to of airlines applying fuel surcharges only shows some airlines that operate to/from Singapore. It was never intended to be an exhaustive list of airlines that apply fuel surcharges. If you have any info on which airlines don't apply fuel surcharges then that would be useful info to share with the rest of the boardies. Tom