Crackpot

I usually stay in the Golden Palace on Soi 1 Sukhumvit It aint the Ritz but is damned quiet, has a pool and is 5 mins walk from nana About 500 Baht a night

Kenny There is no debate. As I stated in my last post on this and the other thread, I dont communicate with someone so lacking in intelligence and comprehension that they have to call me a liar. Once someone has stooped to that level, it shows they have already lost their point, and any further communication is rather pointless. The next step is usually a reference to Hitler >. Its also worth noting the remark he made to Nightcrawler about his job :As a dustman, I'm not expecting you to have much in the way of brains. : That was not only totally unwarranted but very wrong. One of the crew of dustmen who work my home area has a BSc degree. His assumption in this, and his childish attempt to demean me by calling me a liar is rather sad and says more about his view of people and his personal ideas than anything further I could say. :-[ I have nothing to prove to anyone. My livelihood stands or falls on whether I can provide that which I say I can, but as being a Travel Professional has been my livelihood since the late 70's, I must be doing something right ??? It would be pretty pointless stating I could provide a fare on X or Y airline when it isnt that fare or isnt available. However. Its also worth pointing out that a fare and routing which is available today or even at, say 9.00AM, might not be available tomorrow, or at 9.30AM. Untill October I remain under contract and am restricted to advising/selling to a closed market. Thats why I dont mind passing on info on fares available from different companies. Come November, things will be different. As for the threats of violence from the other two? I abhor violence of any type, whether it be institutional violence exhibitted by what we refer to as 'Boxing' (take a look at some of the people who watch it) 'Thai Boxing' (equally as brainless IMHO) or simple street brawls. If two people dont like each other, put them in a dark room with a 12 bore. That will sort the problem out ;D (just my personal opinions, mind). Im of the 'make love not war, as many times as possible', camp. Cheers [smiley=cheers.gif]

Most Pattaya (and Bangkok) Hotel rooms are charged as Double rooms, so (most) dont charge fora joiner. However when you bring a third person into the equation, they are within their rights to charge you for the 3rd person. Some will, some wont (just like a 3rd girl ;D) You however are equally within your rights to check out and go elsewhere

The Dianna In on Pattaya 2 Rd Has some 2 bedroom units with a small lounge and big fridge in their 'new' wing. (though its over 10 years old) ! I think they were about 600Baht a room Worth a look ?

You really should look around more. The info below completely destroys your foolish statement, and there for your whole argument. This is a China Airlines Fare quoted at £493 for departure Ex-London though a similar fare is available from regional airports for departure from now untill 30 December. I havent checked availabililty Here are the fare rules for the flight Validty: 0-365 ID: MA078A Weekend Surcharge 0 CI FAR EAST YEARLY FARES Rule ID: 0302CI 0004 Prod Code: CI034 Self Booking: Permitted Book By: 30DEC03 Deposit Reqd: GBP 50 STAY: 0-365 Apex: None Age Ranges: Child: 2-11 Yrs Adult: 12 or over Infant Fare: 10% IATA Fare Unacc. Minors: Not Permitted Cancellation Charges: Before Ticket Issue Charge: 50 GBP After Ticket Issue Charge: 50 GBP Charges for Changes: OutBound Sector Charge: 25 GBP Inbound Sector, Before Initial Departure: 25 GBP InBound Sector Locally: No Charge Open Returns: Permitted, No Charge Open Jaws OK Same Contract, Half+Half O/B Open Jaws OK Same Contract, Half+Hal Double Open Jaws Permitted No TODs Permitted No PTAs Permitted StopOvers: 1 Free Only: AMS And 2 Free (1 Out/1 ret) Only: BKK Booking Classes: NOT Permitted to mix classes I posted this simply to disprove your statement. Its a common statement made by people who arent prepared to spend a little time searching for fares or who cant be bothered going to a specialist operator. If you want a ticket to Africa, go to an African specialist. If you want a ticket to Thailand go to a Far East or Thailand Specialist. I am simply going to ignore the personal abuse written in the rest of your post. However your inability to express your opinion without abuse is probably reflected in your inability to find a reasonable 1 Year return. Have a nice day !

Ignore it Nightcrawler Life's too short 8)

Hi ff29 Sorry I cant even acces the US Viewdata screens from the UK !! Glad to see you got sorted though !

To help some people out and if Pete approved I was thinking of having a sort of "Auction" of a UK-BKK-UK Air ticket. I would start it at the Agent 'Buy-In price and people could offer what they wanted to pay over and above that. Possibly a different Airline each month if it worked ? I have'nt worked the details out but it might work. What do you think ? ???

You really are a strange argumentative thing arent you? Like I said elsewhere I find it pointless and counter productive to hold an online argument especially with someone who now wishes to call me a liar.

No, I said it before, I only continued due to your misquoting me. A BB is NOT the place for an online row. If you want one Ill give you the full 2/6d row in the FL bar when I get there in October. BTW the 2/6d row is valid for 3 months. If you want an open row that will be 5/-

Wobbly When China Airlines first kicked off their service, they just couldnt get traffic rights to fly direct to and from the UK. They wanted Heathrow, and were offered Gatwick which they turned down. They chose to make Schipol their main European hub which has worked very well for them allowing connecting flights from most regional UK and EU airports. Though Valentino will probably disagree ;D

Valentino RJ fare is valid 3 months and some dates 7 days min 6 months max. GA Valid 3 months but many tickets valid 1 year CI Valid 3 Months. KU valid 9 Months These are only a sample that I could be bothered to check. I could find more but whats the point ?

Like I said. I'm not going to get involved in an on-line argument.

My comments were not so much relating on how bad Thai was but on the fact that an airline flying with half empty planes and a full complement of waitresses (such as Malaysia will always give better service than one such as Thai where the flights are pretty much full most of the time. Thai have been victims of their own success and are now starting to suffer. I just hope that with the purchase of the new fleet things will get better. Malaysia threw an awfull lot of money at their service and the purchase of new planes. Sometime back Thai did the same thing with 747-400's and were top of the league. Now their planes are getting a bit long in the tooth they are buying new ones. But with their planes consistently flying with 80+ seat occupancy they are going to take a hammerring compared to one who is flying at around 40% As for food. I think the problem is out of most carriers hands as it is prepared locally by contractors so if you had crap food outbound you have to blame the food people in London and etc etc in Bangkok. For consistently good food I've always found Gulfair to be one of the best. Personally I would rather not have seatback TV's in economy as the leg room is restricted by the control boxes under the seat. I think the last Film I watched all the way through was Topgun on GulfAir. Im always fast asleep. I have to disagree with the cheap flights too. Though there will always be those who can afford Business class or the upgraded Economy, its the bog standard flights that will always sell, because UK blokes want to save their money. Thats why cheapies such as Turkish and Aeroflot will always have punters because there are always bargain basement hunters. When someone like Thai offers a Nonstop flight at £412 they will fill them as has been shown because no matter what, a non stop flight will always be the better bet. As for Northern departures I see your point but my point was that it really is a little pointless flying on SIA or MS as one will have to fly way south first before changing planes and then flying north, in the process losing about adays travelling time. Theres no problems with an Amsterdam or Paris change because you may only lose a few hours rather than a day. When China first started their service from Amsterdam if you got the days right they would give you a free overnight in ahotel and you piss it up in the city all night. They soon stpped that though But hey, isnt that what freedom of choice is all about ??

What about the Charming ? I havent seen any more recent reports on this place and I'd like to run some groups into there next years. Ive been told its OK Any other comments ??

I wasnt going to continue this thread but I dont like being misquoted. :Yeah, you're in the 'industry'.... :I won't bother to tell you what 'industry' I'm in. No, I said I was 'in the trade' not industry. why do you misquote me? So tell me what 'Industry' are you in? :Are you going to say all those reviews were written by :their own staff ? No I didnt say that at all. read what was written It doesn't matter to me anyway. I don't travel THAI economy because it's 'bog standard'. Yet you will travel Malaysia, losing, in effect practically one whole day! strange ? That doesn't mean that I would discourage anyone else from travelling with them. I wasnt trying to discourage anyone, I was simply reporting what I had found, and pointing out the pitfalls of believing Airline 'Surveys' which can be very easily manipulated Though, of course, you have a vested interest. Now that is downright stupid. I have a vested interest in selling Air Tickets and Holidays. ANY air tickets. My main vested Interest is to my clients, NOT an airline. They trust me to give them the best deal on the best Airline, which is what I try to do. As with any consumer based enterprise, people ask your advice based on experience, and that is what I try to pass on. When I obtain my own ATOL I will continue to pass on that knowledge. Thats what being in business is all about. In conclusion: The vast majority of single blokes travelling to Thailand just want the cheapest seat on a decent airline and just want to get there as fast as possible and enjoy themselves for the longest period of time in the LOS. The Fares on SIA and MS to Bangkok are too high because one has to fly to KL or Singapore, change flight then up to Bangkok. Its a case of flying South to go North !. Also as I mentioned you are going to effectively lose one whole day in the process. A day which could be spent in a Bar or in bed ;D Loosen up. Life's too short.

Johnyb Id love to hear a report about it when you return please ?

Unfortunately nothing you have said is fact. You have had the wool pulled over your eyes and have been dazzled by what you have read. The 'Survey' that you quote is seriously flawed and practically everyone in the SE Asia and Airline trade knows it. Unfortunately you arent in the trade and believe everything you read. Its quite simple really, and heres how its done. Firstly and most importantly, its the actual airline that does it own surveys !!!!!!!! Now I'm sure Malaysia wouldnt be tempted to errrrrr 'enhance' the surverys that they themselves administer, with a powerfull airline like, say, SIA on one side, and an equally powerfull airline like, say Thai on the other? Nooooooo of course not. ::) Also, any Airline running half empty aircraft most of the time with a full complement of waitresses fearfull of their jobs and fawning over the well spread out passengers is going to get High Ratings, especially if, just after they have been well fed and watered they are given a 'survey' form to fill in ???? It seems you lack the logic to see that and how those surveys can be manipulated. In Politics its called 'spin' I'm in the trade, and have been for years. I judge an Airline by continuous consistency of service. Not silly surveys which even the simplest of people can manipulate. You like Malaysia Airlines, fine. Just dont make them out to be something they are not. Seatback TV's arent the be all and end all of an Airline ;D End of thread. from my part anyway. If you wish to continue your rant, dont let me stop you. Life's too short BTW I'm off to KL for the weekend next weekend, guess who I'm flying on ? Malaysia :o :o :o. (its a freebee)

Well I could spend hours and hundreds of lines disagreeing with you and quoting from hundreds of Thai customers but I still dont think it would change your opinion, and you (unless you are a travel professional) arent going to change mine either) so I'm not even going to get into an online argument with you. I too have travelled on all 3 airlines in the past year Long Haul and my opinion differs from yours. BTW Thai offer cheap seats at approximately the same time every year and have done so for over 20 years or so. So you continue flying Malaysia to Thailand, being buggered about changing flights and Ill fly Thai and be in the bar drinking whilst your still in the air

No Valentino Im not wrong. In General fares ex BKK are higher than fares ex-UK you might find the odd one cheaper but in generalthey are cheaper ex UK. Its also worht pointing out that some fares ex-BKK are not even available for UK passport Holders. Did you know that ? you might see some stonking prices but ttry to book it as I did last year to be told "Thai Passport Holder and resident sir" You want a cheap fare Departure around 19 Dec ? Royal Jordanian between £381 and £430 Garuda £417 Chinal Airlines £431. (I just booked this for a friend) AND countless others around the £500 mark Happy now ?

My opinion is both personal and professional. I recommend to my customers that which I find personally acceptable. I travel to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore Indonesia, Japan and Australia around 5 or 6 times per year on business and for pleasure and have done for the last 20-odd years. I have family in Thailand, Australia and Japan. My statements were made from actual experience of using the Airlines rather than hear-say or people travelling exclusively in Business Class Ive watched Malaysian come up from being an airline that no one would travel on, to as it is now, 'supposedly' one of the worlds best airlines. I however, disagree with that statement. You have your opinion I have mine, people can make up their own minds. My original statement was made in response to Valentinos statement: "I don't think THAI tickets are worth much more. Their Economy cabin is 'bog standard'. Talk about, 'no frills'. Of course, it's all academic and just my opinion. " Thai tickets ARE worth more due to : It being the cheapest non-stop flight from UK-BKK at the time, compared to anything else available. SIA and Thai were consistently top of the league for many years. It is consistency that means more to me than an Airline zipping up the league charts, by throwing big bucks at new aircraft, staff and livery. I have consistently received good service and standards on both Thai and SIA. I'm sorry but I simply cannot say the same for Malaysian, though I admit, at times it has been OK and on par with other airlines. The other point worth mentioning is that if planes are going out and back half loaded then the probablility of getting better service and of things not going wrong due to underuse is higher than an Airline who's planes are consistently running at 75% occupancy. Its also worth looking at passengers-per-mile carried. Thai consistently carried more passengers than Malaysian. That in itself says a lot, and could also be the reason for some people possibly finding the standard not as high as it maybe should be at times. Any airline that has big bucks thrown at it to buy new planes, staff and livery is going to look good, but as I said, its consistency to me that matters. The problem with any Airline review is that it is mainly subjective but I judge an Ailine by both their current standard and standards shown in the past, and on that alone I am much more likely to get better service on Thai than Malaysian The comment about Malaysian sacking the staff that didnt perform was told to me last year bya Malaysian employee at the World Travel Market in London. Take it or leave it. As for BA? Firstly I just dont like the attitude of their staff, management and their business ethics. I was totally aghast at their antics against Virgin years ago, and their present intransigence over Concord. Their waitresses also have a habit of making the customer feel inferior. I can clearly remember a flight from LHR to CDG. I was in the last row of Business class and a chap behind me had the temerity to ask a waitress for a newspaper. She scowled down at him and said, in a voice loud enough for the whole plane to hear "THEY are for business class customers only". Secondly I simply cant see the point of paying £625 for a flight on BA, when a flight of similar duration and equall or possibly better service can be had for £475. I also suspect that next year BA are going to be in VERY deep doodoo. Watch this space. In conclusion. If I had to fly to say, Australia, my choice would be Thai as they have consistently shown (to me) good service, punctuality, courtesy and more importantly, when needing to change schedules or routing, adaptability. You however, have found differently, which I accept and I would be happy to hear your comments based on your experience. Convert me

Turbo. The Visa bit is rubbish, unless your stay is for over 30 days, even then it doesnt cost 80 quid The cheap Thai flight is restrictive, thats why its cheap ! For me its cool, as I dont live that far from LHR and can travel midweek. If you want some fun on your China Airlines flight, when they come with the drinks tray, ask for either a Bloody Mary, or a straight Tomatoe juice with Worcestershire sauce, then sit back and watch the fun. Last time I tried it we had the whole crew and half the plane in fits of laughter as firstly they couldnt pronounce Worcestershire and secondly they couldnt find any !! What a giggle

Well Valentino. The reason there arent always a lot of long term open tickets ex UK is that flights are busier ex UK than ex-BKK. However there are far more cheap deals available ex-UK than ex-BKK. Also many airlines have stopped the 1 year open and even 6 month open due to the wild fluctuation in departure numbers. So, whilst it might be possible to do it cheaper that way, the hassle involved really isnt worth the money saved.

orientaltaffy The Thai offer is on specific flights only, mainly midweek Try ringing Ebookers, dont try to book online though as it will take years to find the flights Call Jordan at Ebookers on 02076932218