Samsonite

Yeah, they are currently kings of the single aisle market. Won't last much longer. As you pointed out it was a Machinist Strike, something Boeing couldn't control, versus Airbus' purposeful misrepresentations. The ultimate difference between the companies is Boeing is Engineer driven, Airbus is Sales/Marketing driven. Very common in Sales driven organizations for the "mouth to write a check the body can't cash."

Have to Say, Mr. Airbus, that I resent being the target of your hyperbole. The prediction was mine, based on what I had been reading in the press, AND had both firms been counting apples instead of apples and oranges, I would have been correct. In my mind if the ink wasn't dry on the contract by midnight December 31, 2005, then it was NOT a 2005 order. Watch for those same orders to be counted again for their 2006 total. There is an old saying, what goes around, comes around," and Airbus is about to get theirs. Cheers, old boy.

Well, no. At one time there was Lockheed and McDonell/Douglas. As I said a few message back, many in the industry believe it was Airbus' practice of selling below cost, something they could do with the financial backing of 4 governments, that made Lockheed decide to stop commerical passenger aircraft production and drove Douglas to merger with Boeing. There was period when Boeing was resting on their laurels, granted, plus the period where Lockheed pulled out of the business and Douglas' fortunes were failing. That has all passed now and Airbus is going to have to do more than just cut prices to get the business. Such things as building an airplane on time and that performs as advertised, something they haven't been able to do recently. Doesn't look like the A380 is going to be any different than the A340 in terms of performance sold vs reality. As I have said before, something like 60-70% of the air freight is carried in the belly of passenger aircraft and the money is in hauling cargo, not passengers. One reason the A320 and its derivatives sell well is they can carry more cargo than the 737. BTW, the 5,000th 737 is being built, as we speak, and there are over another 1,000 Firm orders, and more rolling in all the time. I'm sure Boeing is working on a replacement of the 737, and as they have the experience and technology in place as a result of the 787 and Sonic Cruiser programs, they will probably deliver it before Airbus can replace the A320. 787 orders skyrocketed after Airbus showed their plans for the A350. After the A380 rolled out 747 orders almost doubled. Airbus is going to hard pressed to compete over the next several years.

How about the other side of the story? http://heraldnet.com/stories/06/01/18/100bus_airbus001.cfm http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/01/17/business/airbus.php http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/256050_air18.html http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/sto...p-4931357c.html

Apples and Oranges. Of course Boeing gets government defense contracts. It is the biggest defense contractor in The States. As to Airbus and their business ethics, or lack thereof, there are many in the aviation business who feel it was Airbus and their cut throat (below cost) pricing that drove Lockheed out of the commercial airline business and weaken Douglas (McDonell-Douglas) to the point they mergered with Boeing. No matter which way you want to color it, the only time Boeing received government money for the development of a commercial passenger aircraft was under the SST program back in the '60s. Airbus, OTOH, has received what from the European Government Consortium? 3 or 4 Billion Euros as seed money for the A380, and just in the last few months another 3 1/2 Billon Euros to "help" with development of the A350? Bon Chance, mon ami.

Yes. Keep an eye on these magic numbers for the month of December and see if the don't get counted again for the year 2006.

Realty? Airbus pulled 377 orders out of the hat in the last month of the year AND, waited until the middle of January to make this announcement??!! Does anyone else think this is little odd? If the orders weren't completed and signed by 31 December are they really 2005 orders? The whole matter in which Airbus has gone about this smells similiar to the methods they use to fund and sell aircraft. More importantly, look how the numbers break down. The vast majority of Airbus orders were for the 320 and its derivatives. They booked only 172 orders and commitments (87 firm orders) for the A350 in 2005, 28 short of its publicly-stated target of 200. The B787? 235 firm orders in 2005 alone. Orders of the A380? 20 firm orders. The B747? 43 firm orders. There is such a huge gap in the Airbus product line, by the time they close it, if they close it, it will be too late. The A340, 15, 2005 orders, can't compete with the B777, 154 firm 2005 orders. and while Airbus in talking "improving" the 340, in "realty" it will be discontinued. Wait and watch. Both manufactureres had record sales in 2005, but it may be the last for Airbus for several years. As I've said before, the next few years are going to be very interesting.

I've decided that hotel selection is as personal and subjective a choice as what each person sees as "beautiful." With that in mind I think Soi 11 is a perfect location, unless, of course, you like being in the middle of the noise and action and close to NEP and the Nana Hotel parking lot. It is all a matter of personal preference.

Try here: http://www.presidentsolitaire.com/hotels/p...ire/default.asp Don't believe the rack rate. They have a few "packages." Use to be a great deal, I thought the best "bang for the buck" in a hotel I had ever seen, BUT in the last 14-16 months they have almost double their rates.

Thanks for the link. Looks like rates have gone up, but a great location!

How many flights of stairs are there? I enjoyed Bazzap's photos of the place and view and have put it on my list of "possibles." The back entrance? Is it surround by bars or beer bars on that street? Many Thanks.

In The States, at least at the airport I fly out of, the airline check-in counter also acts as "Passport Control." You present your passport and they scan it. I assume, but could be wrong, the information goes straight to the U.S. Immigration/Customs database. Once the ticket agent sees whatever it is that pops up on her screen, they then print out your boarding pass. You go through security before you get to your gate, where after they compare your passport to your boarding pass, you damn near have to undress to get through the metal detector. It has gotten so bad I put my shoes in one tray and take off my coat, belt, cell phone and money clip (without the cash) and put them in another tray. Once at the gate the airline is more concerned you have the proper boarding pass than with looking at your passport.

Tom, Thank you for that clarification. Makes sense to me. I haven't been lucky enough to fly on one of China Air's new 747-400s, but did, earlier this year, fly on one of their older -400s that had been refurbished with the new interior. Comfortable. New electronics. Very positive experience. Thanks, again.

Here you go: info@arecalodge.com

Thanks for pointing that out. Guess I'm not devious enough nor larcenous enough to have thought of that angle. Thanks for the "education."

I've flown EVA 3 or 4 times and each time, leaving both SFO and BKK, they weighed the carry-ons. Usually they have signs posted before you get to the ticket counter advising you of the weight limit. On other airlines I have to agree with Eneukman, some people's carry-on luggage should be in the baggage ccompartment. On the last trip a couple got onboard with so much luggage I wondered how they ever got past the ticket counter. Each of them had a rolling carry-on with another bag of equal size stacked on top of it and another bag over each shoulder. They were stopped inside the door of the aircraft and were required to put most of what they were carrying into the cargo hole.

No, they do the same thing at SFO, at least the times I've flown EVA. EVA is part of the Evergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Ltd. EVA Air often, at least out of SFO, flies Boeing 747-XXX Combi-s. This plane may look like the passenger version of the 747, but has a large cargo door on the left side and toward the rear of the fuselage. The rear passenger compartment bulkhead (wall) can be moved forward or rearward as necessary to accommodate whatever number of passengers or amount of cargo that will be on any given flight. Since weight and placement of the same is very important on an aircraft I would imagine EVA is trying achieve the best balance possible between passengers, their luggage, the cargo, and fuel weight and consumption. This is the only reason I can think of as to why they would be so strict on limiting the amount of carry-on weight. As the majority of air freight, something like 60-70%, is carried everyday in the cargo hole of passenger airliners and EVA Air is a primarily a freight company, they may also do this with their regular passenger aircraft to maximize the amount of cargo they can load on any given flight. Afterall, the money is in hauling freight, not passengers.

Does anyone know if the Inn of the Golden Crab has put up a web site? Thanks.

The Majestic Grand to Soi Cowboy is at least a mile long walk. The Swiss Grottino is closer to Soi Cowboy, and the rooms are more than adequate, but it is not 4 Star material. If you want high quality and a place that is about 1/2 between Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy, try The President Solitaire at the end of Soi 11. I think it is a "perfect location" (very subjective choice) but many think it is a bit off the beaten path. However, if you know the area, or your taxicab driver knows the area (that is, the back streets), it is a 35-40 Baht cab fare to either Nana Plaza or Soi Cowboy. I prefer to walk, but most Thai girls do NOT. http://www.presidentsolitaire.com/hotels/p...ire/default.asp

You might do a search on this site for U.S. Visa requirements. Depending on her social/economic background it can be very difficult to get your average "Issan Cutie" into the U.S. even for a short visit.

You can easily get by in Pattaya for 6,000 THB a day including your room. Depends on many things. If you are "jai dee mak mak" which is Thai for "there is a sucker born every minute," Enjoy. Oh, BTW, "jai dee mak mak" means you have a good or big heart.

If you did a search here on this web site you would find a least one if not more threads on this topic. BTW, while each person's system reacts differently to the same drugs, IMHO Cialis, is FAR superior to Viagra.

For good service and honest prices try, TOP Pharmacy 115/22 Moo 10 Pratumnuk Rd. (Second Rd. becomes Pratumnuk Rd. after it crosses South Pattaya Rd.) Opposite V.C. Hotel. Not associated with TOPS Market.

Two weeks ago a friend took a "tour" of the hotel. He said it has recently been remodeled, he was very impressed, and hoped to be able to get a reservation there for his next trip. Someone, in recent months did a review of the hotel and included a few pictures. You might do a search. It is suppose to be VERY girlfriend friendly. One caveat, picking a hotel seems to be a very personal, i.e., subjective selection process so keeping that in mind, the friend mentioned above, loves the Nana Hotel in BKK. I think the place, The Nana, is a pit and they couldn't pay me to stay there. Each to his own.

Did you hear about Santa's sexual harassment trial? Santa is on the witness stand and the plaintiff's attorney points at him and says, "Did you not, in public, in front of her children, look directly at my client and say, "Ho........."