CheshireTom

It's called xenophobic protectionism. "Todd Tiahrt, a Republican congressman from Kansas, said it was “outrageous to even consider outsourcing thousands of jobs to a foreign company” when the unemployment rate was close to 10 per cent. “We need an American tanker built by an American company with American workers,” said Mr Tiahrt."

Your licence is located on the system according to your passport or ID card number - hence the advice to take along your old passport. Some guys have reported only getting a 1 year license if the 5 year license has expired, others not. I think its one of those situations where the interpretation depends on the LTD, member of staff, day of the week etc. I'm not sure if subsequent 5 year licenses run from the expiry date of your previous license, or for 5 years from the date of your next birthday. I would imagine the former but wouldn't swear on it. Pretty much the same as your vehicle registration book.

At my local LTD that's certainly the case for 1 year to 5 year applications where the applicant must have held a valid license for at least 1 year. But it's not the case for 5 year licenses which run for 5 years from the date of your next birthday. What does become an issue is if you have renewed your passport during the lifetime of your driving licence. You need to take your old passport along.

You don't need an IDP, your Thai licence will do fine on its own. From the DirectGov website ...

Yes, but he couldn't drink champagne at the same time.

Agreed. Try and negotiate an upgrade/free breakfast or whatever otherwise it's like a girl trying to renegotiate her rate when she's got your cock in her gob - because the circumstances have changed.

You may want to check alternatives such as HKT-KUL-SGN. Sometimes it's worth it to go through the KL hub rather than BKK.

Or both.

This year's Skytrax Passenger Rankings have been released. As usual, the list is dominated by US and Euro airlines .... Hats off to AirAsia for topping the low-cost category. They have their detractors, but for me and millions of others they have completely opened up affordable travel opportunities in the region. The final top 10 ranking in the awards were: Best Airline 1. Asiana Airlines 2. Singapore Airlines 3. Qatar Airways 4. Cathay Pacific 5. Air New Zealand 6. Etihad Airways 7. Qantas Airways 8. Emirates 9. Thai Airways 10. Malaysia Airlines Other awards announced included: Best Low-Cost Airline Worldwide AirAsia Most Improved Airline Garuda Indonesia Best Cabin Staff Singapore Airlines Best Inflight Entertainment Emirates Best Airport Services Thai Airways Best Economy Class Malaysia Airlines Best Premium Economy Class Qantas Best Business Class Qatar Airways Best First Class Etihad Airways Best Airline: Transatlantic Virgin Atlantic Best Airline: Transpacific Cathay Pacific Best Airline: Australia/Pacific Air New Zealand Best Airline: Europe Lufthansa Best Airline: India/Central Asia Kingfisher Airlines Best Airline: Middle East Qatar Airways Best Airline: North America Air Canada Best Airline: South East Asia Singapore Airlines Best Airline Lounge - Business Class Virgin Atlantic Best Airline Lounge - First Class Thai Airways Best Airline Seat - Business Class Singapore Airlines Best Airline Seat - Economy Class Kingfisher Airlines Best Airline Seat - First Class Etihad Airways Best Airline Seat - Premium Economy Class Qantas Airways Best Low-Cost Airline Australia/Pacific Virgin Blue Best Onboard Catering - Business Class Qatar Airways Best Onboard Catering - Economy Class Turkish Airlines Best Onboard Catering - First Class Etihad Airways

You can get a refund of the tax element - not the surcharges though. That effectively means the Airline Passenger Duty from UK and the Airport Departure tax from Thailand (as well as any additional taxes levied for transit in India). Refunds are usually, but not always, subject to an administration charge which makes the whole process pointless. The exact prices will be laid out in the detailed pricing of your ticket. If you had booked with one of the middle eastern airlines you could have changed your trip to Manila or KL and done a couple of weeks in Angeles. It's worth noting that life continues as normal in the south of Thailand which, in many cases, is a lot cheaper than Pattaya or Bangkok.

LOL. She's not even Thai.

Which 4/5* hotels in Pattaya did that work for and what sort of prices did you get?

You'll have to find somewhere with a HD satellite set-up to get the coverage from True, otherwise you'll be watching the Thai coverage on Channels 3/7.

Mick, You may want to look at what's available in Malaysia - various course providers around e.g. EBS Net

I'm well aware of that. When they are certified and deliveries begin, give me a shout.

Do you think that anyone seriously believes it won't?

Give us a shout when they deliver the first one and I'll say well done to them all.

Scally, You were making the same sort of predictions two years ago FFS.

When was the last time you visited AD Condominium?

No. You are saying/suggesting that the listed condo's are "quality" based on your visit to Jack's place. Of the two condos listed, one isn't even part of the same complex. How can you suggest it is "quality"? From Jack's link .... "The following listings are for the owners of condos at Wngamat Residence who want to buy or sell their condos here or who are renting and selling condos elsewhere. "

Honorary is just fine for the Brits.

Shag his missus while he's out golfing.

He did the same as this on Thai Visa. He started off by giving accounts of how he built his bike and made his clothes etc and then extended it to lectures from the pulpit type stuff. Eventually threw his teddy in the corner ..... "This city is full of rentable ladies and grumpy old men who feed on these girls, and BUY their friendship, false love, and other such unmentionable services ,thats VERY SAD. [i have never paid for it in my life, and never intend to i am proud to say] There also appears to be many grumpy old men lurking in the shadows of this forum, ready to sink their clicking dentures into any new topic, and tear it apart, especially if it is written by a young royal rebel with a cause, such as me. These grumpy old men are the sort of characters that i would not bother speaking to on the 'outside', so therefore see no more reason waisting money on them in the internet shops. So i have decided to temporarily abandon the forum for a while and concentrate on the better 'outside' audience. Pattayas rude grumpy old men can and WILL reply to this and it will result in yet another thread closure of the rare behind the scenes look at Pattayas first and only celebrity ,and the most photographed expat in the history of Thailand, in the 'Glitterman speaks' series, exclusive only to THaivisa.com I wont be reading any replies to this so i wont have your grump old heads executed.....this time. But know this next time you shall be hung, drawn and quartered and your heads be stuck upon a spike on top of the entrance to London Bridge for all to see and the ravens to eat. The royal Glitterman hath spoken. glitterman."

Thanks for the confirmation.

Ryanair seats 189 pax (the maximum currently allowed) on its 737-800s already.