The_Fat_Controller

Just done a search on KELKOO (http://travel.kelkoo.co.uk) and both Ebookers and Opodo have this flight for £537 including taxes, for June 2004.

You are correct about Anchorage, but they DID get away with it. What about that other respected SE Asian carrier that used a runway under repair at Taipei, and didn't ? Not going to fly with them, are you ? All airlines have the occasional problem, and China are not the only airline that have pilots that drink ! I have my first flight with China Airlines next Tuesday, and can honestly say I am not worried at all. Any flight that is taking me to LOS for 4 weeks is going to be good !

Yahoo seems to have some sort of limit on the number of messages. I got a "pop-up" telling me my GF had to reply to a message before I could send more. After she had replied it was back to free messaging, but have not counted how many it is before the warning came up.

Most has been covered, and I apologise if this is duplicated info. If you are on a package, no need to reconfirm flights. Do not exchange ANY money in the UK, especially at the airports, wait until Bangkok Airport, the exchange booths there all have the same rate, and you get between 7 and 9 % better rates than in the UK. I usually bring Sterling TCs, even though having to take your passport with you to change them is a bit of a hassle. As has been said before, do not change in the hotel. If you bring cash, make sure the notes are in good condition, they do not seem to like tatty ones. As

Have stayed at the Areca on my last 3 visits (Nov 02 Feb and June 03), and the guest policy is pretty relaxed, especially when they get to know you. On one occasion I asked if they wanted to check my girl's ID.....their reply "up to you" ! And, if you can be bothered, breakfast is included for your new friend !

Go here http://www.airlinequality.com

Want to know seat pitch/width etc http://www.airlinequality.com BA economy is 31" !!!

Here are the spilt beans:- A copy of the BA offers as e-mailed to me, as BA executive club member, lowest possible tier, unlike "fishingtime" who probably runs BA and the world............. :-X I am pleased to advise you that any threat of further industrial action at London Heathrow has been removed and am therefore delighted to announce our summer sale. This weekend will see the launch of our latest British Airways World Offers with great value fares to worldwide destinations. *** Over 100 destinations worldwide *** Paris from GBP59 Palma from GBP99 New York from GBP179 Sa

Sleepwalker :- check your private messages ! Fishingtime :- BA films are changed monthly in Economy, and there are extra channels in other classes.

BA and Qantas. Both have seat pitch of 31" in economy, Qantas have newer cabins. Both have seat-back entertainment, Qantas have just upgraded all the 747-400 aircraft, and now include games. BA meals are OK, and they leave snacks in the galley, so help yourself to biscuits and chocolate all through the night. Qantas now give you a little doggie bag with water, a cookie and Polo mints for the middle of the flight. Overall, I have not had any problems, but after the cabin refurbishment, Qantas are just ahead. This was my latest experience in June 2003. For others, BA are having a sale

The Areca does not have in-room safes. As you may have heard they did have a problem about a year ago with a theft of a large amount of money from the deposit boxes at reception, but security has been improved since then. I have never had anything go missing from my room, and have not heard of any problems in that respect.

Don't know what you want to pay, but have you considered the Areca Lodge on Soi Diana. It's only 18 months old, no joiner charges, decent food, cheap mini bar. The staff are great and I have stayed there 3 times in the last year. http://www.arecalodge.com

Flew KLM from GLA-AMS-BKK last November. No problems at all, and the price was right. This was my first and only flight with KLM, asked nicely at the gate in AMS and got upgraded to World Business Class ! On the return journey, no upgrade, but the other cabin was perfectly acceptable for me, food was OK. Connections in AMS worked both ways, and my bags arrived at the same time as me. I would consider KLM again if the price was competitive, and the experience of Schipol airport is much better than Heathrow, especially the smoked eel sandwich and Heineken beer that I had as a snack between

I have made it through in just over 30 minutes. I am sure you know the tricks, but for those that don't.....a brisk walk to Immigration helps, make sure you have your "TM" form filled in correctly, and try not to get in a line with large groups, there is bound to be one or two who get sent back to have a second try at the form. Look out for the supervisor, and be guided by them as to which queue to join, I have been processed in a Thai Nationals line when it is getting busy, it always pays to look organised and respectful ! As for baggage, I have never gotten to the carousel before it has st

Thai must be having a hard time filling seats, there is an offer available to certain travel industry staff on this route for £189 + tax. You could find yourself surrounded by Travel Agents and Air Traffic Controllers ! Not me, though, I booked a BA/QANTAS flight a month ago.

Hi Derek, Whilst the young lady adviser was in the telephone queue, we had a look at the booking conditions, and it was on the last page of those, came as as bit of a surprise to us both ! I declined it because of the potential single supplement, and also because I am planning on going straight to Pattaya, but it was certainly there. Regards, Martin.

Try Thomas Cook, online or at the shops. They have a special deal with BA/Qantas for £447.40. Book before the end of March 2003, includes 5 nights at the Bel Aire Princess, Bangkok, based on 2 travelling, so single supplement will apply. This price is the same from Glasgow as from Heathrow, so I have got my Shuttle flights for free. I declined the nights in Bangkok, and changed one Shuttle flight, and the final damage was £452.40. For me in Scotland, the next best AVAILABLE fare was with KLM via Amsterdam at £586.

I stayed at the Lotus Hotel Pang Suan Kaew, a large hotel at the back of the biggest shopping mall in CM. I found it and booked it through http://www.thailand-hotel.net I had a deluxe room, it was enormous, with a view towards the mountains, and only cost 1050 Baht a night including breakfast. It is about a 10 minute bus or tuk-tuk ride to the centre of town, and there was never a problem getting transport. Pay between 30-60 Baht depending on time of day and your negotiating skills. And finally, a Happy New Year to all the FLB boardies !

Having travelled through Amsterdam Schipol for the first time in October, I would have to disagree that it is confusing. However, allow yourself plenty of time to walk between gates (which are well signed), the times to be allowed are either on your ticket wallet, or just look at the signs on the wall. I flew with KLM from Glasgow, and would do so again if the price was right. As for the different airline safety issues, the Asian carriers in general seem to have more Cockpit Resource Management "issues" than Western airlines...it is all to do with seniority and "loss of face", and if someth

I stayed a week at the Lotus Hotel Pang Suan Kaew in November. It's a large hotel right next to an enormous shopping centre about 10 minutes from the centre. I booked online via http://www.thailand-hotel.net They also have the Imperial Mae Ping, but this was not available for my dates. The rate was 1050 Baht a night including breakfast for a Deluxe Room with a great mountain view (Doi Suthep Wing). This was about a 50 percent discount against booking directly with the hotel. I was a bit worried about paying up front via secure online server, but had links to my printable Hotel Voucher as

The only entertainment provided by the hotel is a TV, no video/vcd/dvd player, but the rooms seem to be well sound-proofed, so even if you have noisy entertainment that you have brought back yourself your neighbours are not likely to hear you ! Just put MTV on the TV and have fun.

Now back home in Scotland, enjoying wind, rain and 9c ! Have posted a review of the Areca in the Hotel Reviews section, and all being well will return there in February 03. I enjoyed a trouble free holiday there, and despite some comments by others in previous threads, would not hesitate in returning. I have also stayed at the Residence Garden, and prefer the Areca for location, breakfast (I get up in the mornings!) and although you get much more room at the RG, you cannot watch the TV from your bed.

Just back from CM, spent a week there from 4-11 Nov. Nice city, but really blighted by traffic pollution. Had unbroken sunshine all week, but no wind at all, both myself and the girlfriend ended up with coughs due to the air quality, which cleared up as soon as we got back to Pattaya and some sea breezes. If you go up into the mountains you will see the haze that hangs over the city, and believe me, it spoilt my time there. Traffic congestion is almost as bad as Bangkok, especially on a Sunday evening when Tha Pae Road is closed between the moat and Night Market. Worth a visit for about 4 d

Areca is guest friendly, ID card required. Constuction here does not seem to be that noisy, most of the building is up, and requires internal finishing, so until they start cutting wood with saws it should be OK ! Soi 13 still has some construction work in progress, but there is a lot going on all over Pattaya, so pick you spot carefully. Regards, Martin, sweltering in 33c heat !

I am at the Areca at the moment. 3 minutes walk to the second road entrance to Mikes Shopping Mall. Stayed there for a week 28 Oct-4 Nov at a rate of 1200 for poolview. Went to Chiang Mai for a week, came back Monday, and they had quoted the same rate, but gave me a discounted rate of 990 for a similar room, without asking ! What a bonus. Spoke to someone at the pool this morning, and he got a room on spec for 990 as well. The rooms are nice, the aircon efficient, pool clean, breakfast is included and pretty good. In my opinion the rooms are worth about 1800 a night maximum, and be aware