Samsonite

You can buy region/code free DVD players that will play anything from anywhere. Why bother with anything else.

EVA Air is primarily a shipping, as in freight, company and the Boeing 747s I've personally seen EVA use have all been Combi-s. The 747-400 Combi with cargo of 10,422 cu.ft., seats 266 in the standard 3 class configuration (vs. 410 without the cargo). The Boeing 777-300ER seats 365 in the standard 3 class configuration and still can carry 7080 cu.ft. of cargo. Sounds like more seats will be available on EVA.

China Air, the national airline of Taiwan, and EVA Air, also from Taiwan, are two different airlines. China Air should not be confused with Air China from mainland China.

Look here: http://www.pattayatalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=22428 and here: http://www.pattayatalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=21684 and here: http://www.pattayatalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=21517

Bullfeathers. Smoke and mirrors. Boeing has never gone to the U.S. Government and said, "We need XX Billion Dollars to design and build a new commercial airliner."

Funny! You haven't been reading the newspapers for the last month have you?

Yes, Boeing started minor assembly of a section of the 787 two weeks ago and the major assemby and first flight will be in 2007 with the first delivery in 2008.

Instead of coming out fighting with a good offense Airbus offered not much more than a promise. A new plane with a wider body in 3 versions. No specifics. Just a promise. And contruction won't even be approved until October.....let me look at my calendar...Gee this is July....right??? Throw in their reputation for not being able to deliver on time or to meet specs and this is really going to be exciting. By the time they get into actual production the Boeing 787 will be airborne and delivered to the first customers. It will, for whatever reasons, be 6 years before you see this plane in the sky and that leaves a product gap so wide that a fleet of A380s could fly through it and you know Boeing isn't going to let This opportunity fly by. That brings up a question. WHY? Why, with computer aided design and computer aided machinery, does it take so long to build a new airliner? The original 747 went from paper to roll out (plane rolled out of the hanger for people to see) in 16 or 18 months.

There are two web sites: http://www.queenvictoria-inn.com/ and http://www.queenvicpattaya.com/ at either one click on "rooms" and scroll down the page and you will find the room rates.

Do you ever wonder if a little money changes hands on these "awards"? If Singapore Air isn't in the top 5, if not number 1, there is something seriously wrong with the process.

It is 6 months with some airlines.

The new wing of The Golden Crab on Soi 13, has both.

Sorry, what I meant is he would board with the tourist class passengers at Heathrow and board with the business class passengers at AMS.

I was just re-reading your message. At Heathrow you check in with economy/tourist class passengers. At AMS you check in with Business Class passengers.

The MD-11 is in big demand as a cargo plane. If they want to sell them there shouldn't be a problem. I did see the Thai Air DC-10/MD-11s parked at BKK just a couple of weeks ago. Don't know how many they own, but there was more than one parked way down toward the north end of the field. They were also a few Lockheed L-1011s parked down that way, but I'm not sure of the airline livery. The Boeing Converted Freigher program converts older Boeing passenger jets into cargo planes and you are starting to now see a plane designated the Boeing 747-400BCF. Many more will follow. Cathay Pacific has taken delivery of one, the first I believe, and has 5 more on order to be converted, not including the 6 brand new 747-400ERF-s (Extended Range Freigher) they ordered last week. The Boeing 777, being a newer plane has a "better" interior, IMHO, than the older 747-400s, but, again, it depends on the airline as to what "toys" they have installed. Some airlines are refubishing their older 747-400s with new 777 "style" interiors with all the latest toys. China Air, Taiwan, has taken delivery of 4 or 5 brand new 747-400s in the last year or two and all but one were the passenger model. With the A380's latest troubles there is talk that the airlines are asking Boeing to make the new 747-8 passenger version as long as the Freigher version so it can seat about 500 in a "normal" 3 class configuration. I imagine we will hear an announcement along these lines in 3 or 4 weeks. Here is something of interest, IMHO, about the re-newed interest in the Boeing 747-400: "Boeing has sold 132 747-400s and 747-8s since the beginning of 2000--the timeframe in which the A380 (edit in: 154 Firm orders to date) has been offered in the marketplace--including last week's Cathay Pacific order for six 747-400ERFs (ATWOnline, June 23). While the A380 had its industrial launch in 2001, Airbus was gathering MOUs and LOIs through 2000 from Emirates, ILFC and Air France before Singapore Airlines and Qantas committed to the aircraft in late 2000. The order rate for the 747 has picked up in the past 17 months, with 63 orders booked for 10 customers against 20 for the A380. Airbus customers include UPS (10), Kingfisher Airlines (5) and China Southern Airlines (5). While most of the 747 orders have been for the freighter models, a surprising 30 have been passenger versions, including three VIP transports. Boeing has logged 1,439 orders for the 747 family not including the 747-400BCF program." Source: http://www.atwonline.com/news/other.html?i...e=6%2F26%2F2006

Not sure what you mean by "Deluxe" but the "Deluxe Sea View" rooms are regular rooms with a view of Pattaya Bay. While I like Soi 13, I don't think the Sandy Spring is worth the money compared with other hotels in Pattaya. It is plain and lacks some of the basic amenities other hotels provide at the same or lower cost.

EVA takes delivery of its 3rd Boeing 777-300ER. http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2006/q2/060623a_pr.html

SOMETHING TO OFFEND EVERYONE: What do you call two Mexicans playing basketball? Juan on Juan What is a Yankee? The same as a quickie, but a guy can do it alone. What is the difference between a Harley and a Hoover ? The position of the dirt bag Why is divorce so expensive? Because it's worth it. What do you see when the Pillsbury Dough Boy bends over? Doughnuts? Why is air a lot like sex? Because it's no big deal unless you're not getting any What do you call a smart blonde? A golden retriever. What do attorneys use for birth control? Their personalities. What's the difference between a girlfriend and wife? 45 lbs What's the difference between a boyfriend and husband? 45 minutes What's the fastest way to a man's heart? Through his chest with a sharp knife. Why do men want to marry virgins? They can't stand criticism. What's the difference between a new husband and a new dog? After a year, the dog is still excited to see you What makes men chase women they have no intention of marrying? The same urge that makes dogs chase cars they have no intention of driving. Why don't bunnies make noise when they have sex? Because they have cotton balls What's the difference between a porcupine and BMW? A porcupine has the pricks on the outside. What did the blonde say when she found out she was pregnant? "Are you sure it's mine?" Why does Mike Tyson cry during sex? Mace will do that to you. Why did OJ Simpson want to move to Arkansas ? Everyone has the same DNA. Why do men find it difficult to make eye contact? Breasts don't have eyes. Did you hear about the dyslexic Rabbi? He walks around saying "Yo." Why do drivers' education classes in Redneck schools use the car only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays? Because on Tuesday and Thursday, the Sex Ed class uses it. Where does an Irish family go on vacation? A different bar. Did you hear about the Chinese couple that had a retarded baby? They named him "Sum Ting Wong What would you call it when an Italian has one arm shorter than the other? A speech impediment. What does it mean when the flag at the Post Office is flying at half-mast? They're hiring. What's the difference between a southern zoo and a northern zoo? A southern zoo has a description of the animal on the front of the cage along with... "a recipe". How do you get a sweet little 80-year-old lady to say the F word? Get another sweet little 80-year-old lady to yell *BINGO*! Why is there no Disneyland in China ? No one's tall enough to go on the good rides AND....LAST BUT NOT LEAST What's the difference between a northern fairytale and a southern fairytale? A northern fairytale begins "Once upon a time..." A southern fairytale begins "Y'all ain't gonna believe this shit..."

As much as I dislike the management at the President Solitaire, I have to disagree. I think the beds there are the best I've seen anywhere.

If you are holding a Business Class boarding pass you can board with the business class passengers. If you have a China Air Gold Card (or higher) you can board with the business class and first class passengers regardless of where you are sitting in the aircraft.

In BKK, Gulati Fashions, right on the corner of Sukhumvit Road and Soi 3. The view from the shop is diagonally across the street to the 7/11 and Gas Station in front of the Nana Hotel. Very popular with the diplomatic community in Bangkok. Jesse and Sam, Father and Son, run the shop. http://gulatifashions.com/ http://www.cityphotoguide.com/node/238 Jesse's brother (who also goes by the name of Jesse-??) has a shop across Sukhumvit Road, between The Landmark and The Majestic Hotels, and has made suits for several U.S. Presidents. Jesse and Victor, Father and Son, run the shop. http://www.dress-for-success.com/welcome.htm

The Inn of the Golden Crab. Soi 13. Best in room safe I've seen anywhere in Thailand, but unfortunately not the biggest.

Yes!

First flight of the Boeing 747-100 was Feb. 9, 1969, and it went into commercial service with Pan Am in January 1970, so you can say 36 or 37 years depending on which way you want to count it. The current generation, the 747-400 entered service in February 1989, but the latest version of the -400, the 747-400ER went into service in November of 2002. Many airlines have been refurbishing their older 747-400s with new interiors similar to the B-777 and the airlines are still taking delivery of new 747-400s. A new generation, the Boeing 747-8, should enter service in September 2009.