CheshireTom

The 767's are ex Lauda Air aircraft but are all less than 4 years old. They have been refurbished recently in Austrian's new colourscheme and have PTV in economy. The seating is in a 2-3-2 configuration and seems reasonably spacious but I would have thought that there would be many better options on better aircraft for 460 quid - both Lufthansa and Swiss operate brand new A340s on similar BKK routes for similar money.

I also use khrong-fa and have never had any problems with them. Normally I get them from my Bangkok hotel to and from Pattaya but when I have used them from the airport, normally after a side-trip, they have been waiting for me, ready to go. I normally phone them when I arrive in Bangkok just to make sure everything is OK. Tom

pattayahappy, You will get all you need here: Pattaya IT Plaza Software was running at around 100 Baht per CD. I bought Office XP Pro and Photoshop 7 and both are working OK. Tom

Winston Churchill, I can understand why some guys go for the RG but for me the negatives were: Bed and bedroom too small - I actually found it more comfortable sleeping on the sofa. The bed and window next to the lobby wall - you could hear everybody's footsteps and every door banging Too many FLB girls and hotel staff nosing into your business The distance from anything - not only the nightlife. I prefer Soi 2/3/4 where I have pretty much everything on my doorstep. Getting into town was no great hassle but it was a pain getting back, particularly if you didn't end up in

If you don't want any guest hassle the Woodlands is probably one of the last places you would want to stay. The room sizes don't come anywhere near those in RG either. I have stayed at both and neither would be anywhere near the top of my list of places to stay in the future. Tom

I recently had a chat with a pilot who currently flies several of the Boeing models and I asked what he thought about the 7E7. He told me that he wouldn't consider taking a ride on the new aircraft until one had crashed and the "bugs" were sorted out. I asked him if he was joking and he assured me he was not. He also stated that he felt much safer flying any Airbus made airliner. His feeling is that the Boeing planes were rather soft and unresponsive and that the quality of the parts currently going into the Boeing are not on a par with those of Airbus planes. Tom

Gerald, From what I remember it is the SAS London Lounge. Tom

doolish, Both Qatar and Emirates do a 1 yr ticket from MAN for around 550 quid incl tax. No penalties for changing the return after the date of outward travel as long as it's within the validity period of the ticket. Tom

Turbo, I hate to say it, but it was entirely predictable as was Thai's current bargain fares ................ "I would be inclined to forget about booking Phuket Air's bargain flights until such time as you can be sure they will make it through the tourist downturn." Tsunami effect on flights ...... I can't see you gettting a lot of sympathy from Easyjet. Personally, I would elect to reject the alternative dates, demand a full refund of all monies paid (you would be within your rights to do so) and book elsewhere on a more reliable carrier. Tom

They only own SabaiDee.

Yes. How long is a piece of string. Didn't see much renovation over the last few months.

David, A suite at the Landmark (incl taxes) can be had for GBP 48 per night (USD 91) through Premier Holidays Asia in UK. Book online and take advantage of the Value Plus specials. My stay at the JWM during the first week in March cost GBP 40 plus taxes (USD 75); incl taxes it was GBP 49.95 (USD 94). Premier Asia - The Landmark I wish BigD would give us the e-mail addy for the GM at the Conrad though - USD 55 sounds a bargain. I think that if you offered Keith Hardie, the GM at the Westin, USD 58 for a room he'd give you a map to the Nana! Tom

jimmybb, Thanks for that. I have had the same outcomes on Priceline lately - hoping for either the Westin or Sheraton and always ending up with the Marriot. Nice hotel (great views of the Nana pool and car park!), but just falls short of what the Westin and Sheraton are all about. I think that for future trips, if the JWM was still popping up on Priceleine, that I would opt for one of the better rooms at the Landmark (suite) for the same Baht as a standard at JWM through Priceline. Tom

Where is/was the old Westin? What is it called now?

Recent Times article: AIRLINES will have to spend millions of pounds compensating passengers for flight delays and cancellations under a European regulation coming into force next month. From February 17, passengers will be able to demand compensation of up to €600 (£416) if a flight of more than 3,500km (1,800 miles) is cancelled or overbooked. Cancelled flights of up to 1,500km will mean £173 compensation and up to £277 for flights up to 3,500km. Passengers will also be entitled to free meals, drinks and two free phone calls during long delays. The airline will have to pro

daveuk, I've sent you a PM. Tom

Dave, I arrive in BKK on Fri evening (4 Mar) and am staying 2 nights in BKK at the JW Marriot before heading down to Pattaya on the 6th (Sun) and will stay there for two weeks before heading back to BKK. I have two mates from MAN arriving on the 7th and they want to stay at the Sabai Inn but I want to get a suite somewhere. The compromise is that we will book the Inn on the proviso that we will move to the Sabai Resort if it is up and running by then (and the prices are OK). If you want to hook up at the Sabai Inn, just ask for Tom (Room 201). Tom

Same, same. I get paid for doing it. That said, I wouldn't have a clue what a pint of Boddies costs in Manchester.

National Express Airports run a direct bus service between Stansted and Heathrow (the old Flightline 797 route). The journey takes approx 90 mins. Details at the National Express website: National Express Airports - Stansted Tom

ff33er, The hotel opposite the Embassy is the Holiday Mansion Hotel and rates are from 1,400 Baht or thereabouts. I don't know if they have a website but a search on google will bring up a host of online booking agencies. Get the skytrain to Ploenchit and walk round the corner from there - taxis have to go round the houses if you are coming from Sukhumvit or the expressway. Regards, Tom

makavelli, Your only real alternative from MAN is with Qatar as both Malaysian and Singapore are more expensive than the price you have quoted. However, Qatar does not have a return on 12 Aug, only 11 or 13th. If those dates fit in it might be worth giving them a call (0161-435-6058) and letting them know the price you have been quoted with Emirates - I suspect that they would at least try to match it. A couple of things to keep in mind with Emirates: 1. The morning departure from MAN (and the connecting flight DXB-BKK) is on a high-density (charter) configuration 777 i.e. th

Subsidies, preferred suppliers, tax breaks ........ it all amounts to the same thing. Seriously though, the 380 and 7e7 are two totally different markets. If any comparisons are to be made they should be 747 v a380 and 7e7 v a340/350. Since Thai has already gone for the a340 and only Continental, of the major US carriers, has gone for the 7e7 it doesn't seem likely that the 7e7 is going to change anybody's LOS travel plans....... and certainly not any time soon. By the time the 7e7 and a350 are flying Pattaya will probably be overrun with Chinese package tourists, young, tattooed Euro

Dave, Now I always book with Qatar direct. I normally travel in biz class and the prices are typically 10-15% cheaper than those prices quoted by the main agents. The savings effectively pay my hotel costs in Pattaya. The other advantage is that where a flight appears full, they will request the main office in Doha to release a seat which has, in both cases I have been waitlisted, happened within 24 hours. Due to their schedule they are probably not the first choice for a "once a year" traveller (more flexibility with Emirates, Singapore and Malaysian) but their frequent fly

Eric. Qatar do not sell first class on flights QR610/611 and QR612/613 on the DOH-BKK-DOH legs. Sometimes you can strike lucky and get an aircraft with a three class configuration which allows some lucky folk to enjoy seats normally allocated to the next higher class but I wouldn't depend on it. You would also have to consider that boarding/leaving the aircraft is via aircraft steps at remote stands rather than an airbridge - this will be rectified when the new terminal opens but that is another 3-4 years down the line. Tom

pat, Thai has flights and availability at 380 quid incl tax for the dates you want. Book through Airline Network. Airline Network Telephone 0870 700 0543 Tom