BongoBill9999

Interesting one this. Many years ago I was travelling on an RAF VC10 (nice aircraft in its day) from Dulles to UK. At about 2am when most of us were dozing there was an almighty bang and a second later the engines died to idle. You can imagine what most of us thought! Apparently we had hit a thermal block where the jetstream meets 'normal' air and there is a large temperature difference. The pilot had throttled back to lose height but we weren't to know that. Got the old ticker going that's for sure! Not sure being in the jet stream will help you get to Mach 1. We are talkin

Samsonite, Why do I get the impression you work for Bill Boeing?

Following snitched from The Times for today regarding the LR trip:- Only two airlines, Pakistan International and Eva Air, have so far bought the B777, ordering five between them. It is not yet known whether they will copy Singapore Airlines and install a special cupboard on board in which to carry a corpse, in case anyone dies during the flight. !!!!! Learn something new everyday!

Not much profit just carrying 32 pax.....they will have sore backsides after 23 hours though!!

Terranova, I agree big problem not being able to go non stop from MAN to BKK, hence the update from Tom. Although obviously I will use my airmiles with Qatar, if and when Thai put on a non stop service from MAN to BKK then it is no contest (given a reasonable price), I will go non stop with Thai. Bill

Agree entirely Tom. Also, when you consider that to use the Biz Lounge at MAN will cost you £15 if you book from the street, and use that figure as a base for the other Biz Lounges then you can effectively knock another £60 from the fare! Not to be sniffed at. Bill

The square root of fuck all. It is all subjective - one day good one day bad....depends mostly on the crew. Not quite true but you get the drift Bill

Thanks for that Tom. Any news on the Thai non stop from MAN? Bill BTW, during recent trip watched Toxin on TV "opening" the new airport. - what a freakin charade!!! A hundred identical red suitcases going round the carousel so it must all be working!!!

Johnson, Just returned to MAN from BKK with Qatar - my fifth trip with Qatar (next is a freebie). You will enjoy the flight although a couple of tips (without wishing to teach you to suck eggs for a second). QR seem to have gone downhill recently but still excellent value for the money. 1. The drinks trolley trip after take off seems to have stopped, but just press the button and you will be served ok. No problem with booze. Depending on which version of the A330 you get, in flight entertainment is good. Food is generally ok but don't expect a pork chop and don't ask for a bacon sar

And thanks to Oz for a great series played by great sportsmen!! I know you will be back with a vengeance in 18 months! But, in the meantime.....

Fly to LOS just over two weeks. Anyone care to update on the water situation, especially at the hotels. Thanks Bill

Looks like I had the reserve crew when I flew Quaint Arse for the one and only time. When I asked for a second drink I was almost given a card with a recommendation for AA!! Apart from that, good, solid, reliable...nothing more to add. Bill

Click your name at the log-in Click "edit my profile" Change your country from Ireland to England That should be it Bill

No, BA ground to a halt because of the actions of the baggage handlers who took unofficial action - not for the first time. Certainly the catering company appears to have fucked up but that alone would not have stopped the airline totally, particularly on short haul routes. The British worker once again committing industrial suicide.

Udon Thani is near Phuket?

Sailfast, Also check NokAir - depending on what times you want might fit. 2900bt return. NokAir Bill

Good news depending on what planes they use and pricing. It will be interesting to see how it will affect the gulf carriers such as Qatar, Emirates et al. Bill

Not only enjoyed it, totally agree with it. BA is overpriced and full of itself for no good reason. Bill

In order to ensure that Qatar MAN-BKK price for September reduces by something like £50 in the next 24 hours I have just booked and paid for my ticket! Sod's law will now kick in.

Mofo, Southall have also come down today, and Airline Network is also quoting a similar price. The dates I am looking at are 21 Sep - 11 Oct. If I return just a week later I pay much more. One thing is for sure and that prices go up and down like the proverbial whores drawers as they release seats and they are sold. As you say, it just pays to shop around and I've yet to find any logic in the pricing system (although I expect Tom will assure us that there is!). Bill

Pattayaman MAN to BKK with Qatar now down to £446 as at 5pm today (UK time). Includes taxes! This for dates mentioned by me above (Sept). Might drop more...yer pays yer money and yer takes yer chance! Bill

Tom, Agree staying in BKK for a day or so is a good option. Getting a bit long in the tooth here so tend to stick with the Wed flight and spend half a day in the rack before attacking the bars. Bill nb the Swiss codeshare - will look into that when I've had my freebie!

Pattayaman, You can get MAN to BKK in Sept for £466 at Opodo I am planning to fly Sept 21 and return 11 Oct on those prices. Southall travel quotes £476 for the same flights but Opodo is the cheapest I have found. Prices above include taxes but an extra couple of quide for postage of tickets and about another tenner if you want to use a credit card. If you want to save another £20 take the evening flight at 2100 which leaves MAN on Monday and Thursday. The bummer is you arrive about 2000 at BKK so by the time you get to Pattaya you might be a bit cream crackered!

Can't speak for Gulf but have travelled with Qatar (from Manchester) many times now. Good service and a good price. They have a good young fleet of aircraft and they try hard to make their mark. Only downside is that the current airport at Doha is pretty much the pits but you aint there for long. They also have a very good airmiles scheme which is well worth joining. Can't add more on the seat pitch - never bothered me but then I'm a bit stumpy! Always pays to shop around for prices...agree Southall Travel is good but I have often gotten good price from Opodo and last year from e-boo

Thanks Tom. Watching carefully before I book for Sept. Looking around Southall Travel appears to be a shade below most others although I've not checked Travelmood recently. Southall are currently doing MAN-BKK in Sept for £474 inc taxes. Bill