Samsonite

Go to the airlines home site or site for the country from which you want to fly. Most of the airline web sites have a link at the top of the page for their other sites, e.g., on the Singapore Air site, top right hand corner of the page you will see a link that says, "Country/Region." Click on that and there you go.

More and More The Sabai Lodge looks to be, IMHO, the ultimate compromise of comfort, security (in room safes), quality, staff, price, and reasonable location.

Great pictures of the 747-400. I was surprised that China Air, when ordering these aircraft didn't buy the 747-400ER (extended range). They have the "Boeing Signature Interior" which is modeled after the 777 interior. From the Boeing web site at, http://www.boeing.com/news/frontiers/archi...ber/i_bitn.html Dated December 2004: "Boeing unveils China Airlines 747-400 in distinctive livery The newest Boeing 747-400 gleams in the sun after leaving the company's Everett, Wash., paint facility last month. Destined for delivery to Taiwan-based China Airlines, the 747-400 features

There are many things taken into consideration when making up the schedules, some of which cannot be known at the time they are printed. Tailwinds, headwinds, congestion at the airport (availability of a gate), etc., etc., etc. For example, if a plane is leaving late for, whatever reasons, and is parked at the gate your plane has been assigned to use upon arrival, your pilot might just slow down a little so the gate is free by they time you arrive. Once a plane I was on left 30 minutes late, but still managed to arrive 20 minutes early. Some call it the "fudge factor," and no, not that k

echster, Here is a little more on the Boeing 777-200LR and Qantas. It has a error or two, but pretty much along the lines of what you said on the subject. From today's Sydney Morning Herald" "Forget spending hours in Qantas's transit lounges. At last, non-stop flights between Sydney and London could be reality - but only if Boeing can persuade the national carrier to buy its newest plane. Boeing's latest aircraft, the 777-200 long range, flies in to Sydney today, and the aircraft manufacturer has a clear agenda. It must sell this jet to Qantas or risk surrendering to its nemesis

Just about. The first 747-100 entered commercial service with PanAm in January 1970, and the last of that series was delivered to Japan Airlines in Sept. 1986. The 747-200 entered service in June 1971, and 393 were built before the last one was delivered 1991. Many of the 747-200 passenger versions have been converted to freighters. The 747-300 entered service in March 1983 and the last one was delivered in Sept. 1990. 747-400, the current series, entered service in January 1989, the cargo version in 1993, the ER (extended range) version both passenger and cargo, in November 2002. They a

I once flew Singapore to NRT on a JAL 747-400D, D for domestic. It is a "special" version built for Japan Airlines with the understanding, according to Boeing, that it would NOT be flown outside of the Islands of Japan. It is a total cattle car that seats 568 in the smallest seats I've ever seen on an aircraft. It was one of, no it was, the worst travel experience of my life. I'm a BIG FAN of the 747-400, but not the "D". ;-)

Thx echster, that told me what I wanted to know, 17 1/2 hours. Depending on the layover time at LAX, plus the flight to LAX (one hour) the overall flight time will probably work out to be the same as flying SFO to BKK and making the connection in TPE, HKG, or NRT. Plus LAX is a pain in the ass to get around. Think I might skip this "adventure." I do however, like the schedule. Arriving in BKK at 07:00 has its appeal, provided you can check into your hotel that early. Of course, if you are going straight on to PYX, that is even better.

echster, Thank you for all the good information. Do you know the scheduled flight time between LAX and BKK? MIGHT be worth jumping on a shuttle to LA to catch this flight.

echster, I agree with you on the 777-200LR and the following chart at the Boeing web site, http://www.boeing.com/commercial/777family/777technical.html shows that Sydney to London is within its range of 9,420 nautical miles (10,840 miles). A friend of mine, "in the business," told me TG is broke and really cannot afford to be buying any new aircraft, Airbus or Boeing. True or not, I really don't know.

Great picture. Thanks.

It will probably be at least another year before we see the new A380 enter commercial service and the first few are scheduled to go to Singapore Air. In this case they are talking the A340-500 or 340-600, which can use conventional airport facilities. Maybe Boeing will get lucky and by the time Thai Air can make the purchase, they will choose the Boeing 777-200LR instead.

It was a year ago this month that I took some Thai/American friends to the airport for their trip "home." They said they were flying AA, but when we got to the check-in counter it turned out they were actually on a "code share" flight with Japan Airlines.

According to the tech specifications on the Boeing web site, the 747-400 is slightly faster than the 777, flying at .855 of Mach at 35,000 feet vs .84 of Mach at the same altitude for the 777. Sounds small, but makes a difference on a long trip.

Is AA actually flying these routes or are they using a "code share" program with an Asian airline?

Anything is possible. I have always heard that the airlines pick the seats and the plane manufacturer installs them, BUT, I was just on Boeing's web site reading about their new 777-200LR "Worldliner" and they make a point about their seats being "more comfortable" than those used by Airbus. Of the two 777-200LRs that started flight testing this last March, one is being used for PR puproses and a section of the plane has been outfitted with "Airbus seats" so a direct comparison can be made by prospective buyers. I Found that interesting as I have always thought that Airbus somehow manages to

Where are you making the connection to China Air and what airline will you be using to get there? Terminal One a CKS/Taipei airport sucks. Worst airport I've seen in years. That is the bad news. The good news is, as of January of this year, flights from and to the U.S. arrive and depart at the new Terminal Two. Night and Day difference between the two terminals. Also, you use to have to walk clear across the old terminal, but China Air has gates near to a small "train" that connects the two terminals. So, it is a "relatively" short walk from the gate at Terminal 2 to the train and from t

FINALLY!!! Maybe now one can fly Singapore Air from SFO or LAX to Tokyo and then directly on to BKK without being routed through Singapore. From SIA's web site: Singapore Airlines To Launch Bangkok To Tokyo Service 27 June 2005 From September 2005, Singapore Airlines will launch a six-times weekly direct service between Bangkok and Tokyo. For customers travelling between Singapore and Tokyo, they now have the option to stopover in Bangkok before proceeding with their onward travel. SQ996 will depart Singapore at 2035hrs and arrive in Bangkok at 2200hrs for a one-hour sto

Where are you staying in BKK? At the end of Sukhumvit, Soi 11, on the West side of the street are two buidlings perpendicular to the street and facing each other with a parking lot in between. "The Bed" restaurant/bar is across the street. In front of the building on the north side of the parking lot are usually a few relatively new Volvos and a sign advertising taxi service to the airport, Pattaya, etc. 1,000 THB, one way. Excellent service. You can also arrange to have them pick up up and take you back to BKK or directly to the airport.

Echster, Thank you for the information!

Samaka, Are the safes at The Lek electronic or key operated? I found a web site were the description of the "safety box" made it sound, to me, like it is key operated. If that is the case, you might as well use the safety deposit box in the lobby.

Art Cafe. 285/3, Moo 5 Soi 16, Pattaya Naklua Road Pattaya, Chonburi 20150

Hey-Seuss, tough crowd. Feel like I walked into a bar full sour old men who never get off their bar stools.

Ah, a cynic in the crowd I see. My connection? NONE whatsoever! I thoroughly enjoyed the dinner and the atmosphere and thought the restaurant was worthy of some praise. Having once been a small business owner myself, I know the amount of HARD WORK it takes to be successful, especially for someone engaged in owning and operating a restaurant. Therefore, I'm always delighted to see someone in business who not only knows what they are doing, but are doing it well. If by lending some support I might, in some small way, help this business to succeed, then I am more than happy to do so.

Two weeks ago tonight I had an Excellent dinner at the Art Cafe here in Pattaya. The food and service were excellent as was the atmosphere. The owner, Jo Stetten and his wife are German, the Chef is French, and the food is French/Continental. They offer a thorough menu, a long list of daily specials, and a good selection of wines. The setting is a refreshing change from the usual "hustle and bustle" of Pattaya. The Dining Room is open on 2 sides giving you a "garden like" ambience. The music matches the setting, resulting in a very relaxing milieu. On display throughout the restaurant ar