BongoBill9999

Tom, Thanks for all that. I will wait and see but meantime fully agree that Qatar are hard to beat from MAN. It is my current favourite for price, timing and service (although DOH is the pits)! Plus the odd upgrade! One more trip (in Sept) and I have enough Qmiles for a freebie! Tks again Bill

A while ago I read that Thai were considering starting non stop flights from Manchester to BKK. I for one am always willing to get over the pain in on one 11 or 12 hour trip rather than take a break of whatever length half way there. Anyone know of any progress on this? Tom maybe? (I know you would have a vested interest in this!) Bill

Cheers Frank

Frank, Also sounds interesting to me. Going PTY again in couple of months so look forward to some room shots. Thanks in advance. BTW, you say TV is full sophon and FTA - WTF is FTA? Cheers Bill

Many thanks guys. Shame because it was convenient for me time wise. Oh well......... Bill

Heard a whisper that the Thai Air Minibus which runs (ran?) three times daily to Pattaya has been discontinued. At 300 Bt (if i remember correctly) it was a good deal. Can anyone confirm or deny please. Thanks Bill

Try looking here www.traveljungle.co.uk If you can skew your travel dates a little you can get a Qatar flight for about £471. It may get cheaper nearer to the date. They fly out Wed and Sun at 1020 and at 2100 on Mon and Thurs. Leave BKK 2035 on Tues/Sat and at 0750 on Mon/Thurs. Stop over is at Doha but not too long. Travel Jungle will search most sites (but not all). In the past I have got best price at Last Min, Airline Network and Opodo on different trips so it pays to shop around. A good airline and I have tried most of the others. Bill

I also go with the Flex Account from Nationwide....good value IMHO. Last trip had to use my Smile Debit Card a couple of times....the difference between my ordinary bank account and my Flex Account what with a Visa Charge and crap exchange rate was abot 5%. So my Smile (Co-Op) Bank shafted me for fifty quid on every thousand withdrawn compared with the Flex Account. ps. Don't get the impression I was changing a grand too often...but you get the drift. Bill

Fully agree with Ste and Cheshire Tom on Qatar. Flown several times now MAN to BKK. Times for me are good. Excellent in flight service, nothing too much trouble for the attendants. DOHA stop over is about right for a leg stretch. Upgraded twice MAN/DOH out of three times and now just got upgraded to Silver on their Privilege Club which means although economy I can check in at Biz Desk, use Biz Lounge and get extra 25kg luggage allowance. Can't be bad. Also it has always been the cheapest flight I could get. Go again 2 May for four weeks (£383 total) and should gave enough FF miles for a freebee or upgrade by Xmas. Get my vote every time and I have done all the others including KLMseveral times. Bill

Very much agree with Tom on Qatar from MAN. My fourth trip coming up on 31 Jan for £428 inc taxes. Have found them to be just as good as Emirates IMHO. Have shopped around on the net in the past and prices go up and down like a whores drawers so it pays to be flexible and quick off the mark. Generally book about three weeks in advance. May try and book at their Manchester office next time. Question for Tom: Qatar seem a bit tardy in crediting my Qmiles when I check in and I am missing several trips, especially return from BKK. Needless to say I no longer have the boarding card or booking refs for the flights concerned. Is it worth filling in the form on the Qmiles website with details of the flights (all within 6 months) with a covering grovelling letter!! My name should be on their computr somewhere, I would have thought. Thanks for any advice. Bill

According to this http://www.bangkokairport.org/demo/en/master1en.php the current opening date is 29 September 2005. But TIT!!!

Don't know about Sango Som, but never laughed so much since i looked at MangoSauce. Thanks Wombat! Bill

Unusually my timing is good for this bus but unsure if it still runs. The Thai Airways websit is as clear as mud! Grateful for any recent info on this Thanks Bill

Many thanks for all that, Tom Bill

Just booked with Qatar at e-bookers departing MAN Sep 15 for 3 weeks at £397.68 total! Think I just lucked in there. Itinerary states "enhanced" economy class - whatever that means. Anyone come across this before? Bill

Flying time LHR to BKK by Thai is given as 11hr 20min - may be a little less depending on the jetstream. Bill

Dayshift - Arriving BKK 3 Mar at 1555 from UK on Thai. Getting cab to PTY about 1630ish if you want to share. Bill