The_Fat_Controller

Emirates are changing their distance limits for all UK airports to 50 DRIVEN MILES from the 15th April 2020. All the details are here https://www.emirates.com/uk/english/experience/chauffeur-drive/

Best, China Airlines AMS-BKK, upgraded to First Class in the 747-400, excellent service. Worst, prior to 9-11, coming back from Washington DC to Heathrow on a very old and full United 747-200. I got the second jump-seat in the cockpit, the two pilots hardly spoke to the engineer under training and his mentor who were "clingons", very senior pilots who were not permitted to fly due to age but could re-train as engineers. The seat was awful, the headset for the radio was bakelite with aluminium bands and a twisted cotton cord. However, thanks to United Airlines' policy regarding

Once again my favourite hotel has some good promotions from April to October 2018. For the night owls, you can now book room-only so you aren't paying for a breakfast you never eat. If you are an ACE Club member, you pay even less. They will be closing the outside bar, terrace area and Cafe de Blanc for refurbishment from 1st June, timescale is 4-5 months. http://arecalodge.com/promotions.html

One evening flight a day. Another option via the Middle East for us in Scotland.

The engine mounts have nothing to do cabin comfort. All down to aerodynamics and efficiency. Having the most powerful engine fitted to a commercial aircraft on the 777-300ER any further outboard would make an engine-out experience very interesting !

@Severn, airborne incidents will be directed to either Prestwick or Stansted, depending on where they occur.

If Emirates apply the same 70 mile radius policy for their Chauffeur Drive services, then Business and First customers as far away as Oxford, Reading, Norwich and Canterbury will be included, quite a catchment area. https://www.distances-calculator.com/towns-within-a-radius-of.php?t=Stansted&c=Great%20britain

Southampton = 1723 m Takeoff Distance (777-200) 8,300 ft (2,530 m) (777-200ER) 11,600 ft (3,535 m) (777-200LR) 11,600 ft (3,535 m) (777F) 11,600 ft (3,535 m) (777-300) 11,200 ft (3,415 m) (777-300ER) 10,500 ft (3,200 m) Landing Distance (777-200) 5,600 ft (1,705 m) (777-300) 6,100 ft (1,860 m)

@Goldpanner, Southampton's runway is too short for a 777 !

I think you will find that Emirates are making shit loads of money flying from the UK to Dubai. The reason being, using aircraft that can fly for 15 hours on a route that takes less than 7 means they can pack the hold full of cargo which is very profitable. I fly from Glasgow and on all 3 trips this year Business has always been at least 80% occupied and on one occasion overbooked, with a volunteer (me) bumped into the Economy cabin, given 3 seats to myself and a free Business Class round trip ticket on the same route.

You'll never find an airport in STANSTEAD ! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanstead,_Suffolk

The cheap rooms at the Areca are very small compared to the other rooms that most will be familiar with, no balcony either. I think there are only 5 or 6 available. This is NOT a deal on any of the normal rooms seen on the website, these are new.

Which witch ?

Agree with the above posts, excellent sandwiches, attentive staff and good decor. Pricing is spot-on, a snack for under 100 Baht and a meal for under 200.

I stay 3 or 4 times a year, the WiFi on Floor 4 of the Areca building is currently awful, constant disconnections. Have spoken to them, but no resolution since when I arrived on Monday, problem is on both my smartphone and Windows laptop.

GF/BF/LB friendly and they can have breakfast too ! If you want to take more than one "friend" there is a charge.

There are 3 buildings and 2 pools. The oldest building is the Areca, where the small pool is between reception and the rooms. Next comes the Corona building. Then there is the large Blue Ocean pool and finally the newest building, the Evergreen. There have only ever been the 2 pools, the second one was not replaced but completely re-tiled and the surroundings have been remodelled a couple of times.

The security scan on arrival from Bangkok has been in place for a while now, I always use China Airlines with a connection to Glasgow. The individual gate security has now gone. Going East, the only security check for me is at Glasgow, nothing on arrival at Amsterdam

It's STANSTED !

If you like Bronx pizza, keep an eye out for a BOGOF offer on the 70 baht slices.

Bronx price for 2 slices is now 115 Baht

Pook Bar is a building site right now. Areca Lodge still my hotel of choice, hot and sunny here today.

cbrib, I spoke to Bob last night and it's business as usual regarding his outside catering. The bar menu is exactly the same as it was prior to the move across the road.

DTAC allow you to extend validity for a small payment, the maximum, 180 days, costs a reasonable 12 Baht. My wife registered my SIM and then I registered for an online account at the DTAC website and have managed to top up using my UK VISA credit card. Only did it to see if it would be accepted by VISA/Nationwide but the 50 Baht went through fine.

Thanks, I really like the "another spicy dish", Wing Bean Salad, so I hope the restaurant is still in business when I get back to Pattaya in November.,