Fireman Sam

Yes the drinks are free on board. Regards Fireman Sam

Not to sure about this but it might work. Upstairs in the main terminal there is a outside viewing area located just along from the kids play area, not sure if you would be allowed to smoke out there as I suppose you are technically airside. It might be worth asking and would save going though security etc etc. Regards Fireman Sam

The Pornping has a pool, disco downstairs as well, reasonable location. Forget how much I paid a few years back, can be booked through Asia rooms I think. Regards Fireman Sam

Fly from Aberdeen to Birmingham and Manchester, then to LOS using Emirates. Price just now about £562.00 or so direct from their website. Emirates are better IMHO than KLM, never used Air France so can't comment on them. Hope of some help. Best Regards Fireman Sam

Hi DawsonUK, Thanks for that, checked my booking and the upgrade has been applied. Hopefully you should receive your cheque in the next day or so, I posted it on the 1st January. Best Regards Fireman Sam

Do a search of this forum, 2 pages of return hits. Regards Fireman Sam

Hi ScotchBroth, How are you getting home on the return leg, does EVA not arrive in Heathrow at about 19.15 only leaving you about 1 hour at most for your connection up to Aberdeen ? I also fly from Aberdeen, I use Emirates all the time now, but fly from Birmingham or Manchester. You can book Aberdeen -Birmingham for about £49.00 with either BMi Baby or FlyBe. Price with Emirates from Birmingham for end of January was £582. Manchester is looking like £562. for the end of March. I am a silver card holder with Emirates, will get my gold card in September next year as I do 5 trips per year to LOS. I think it is better to stick with one airline once you find one you like, finances permitting. Best Regards Fireman Sam

Hi DawsonUK, Are these miles still available if so I might be interested in purchasing your miles, if there is availability for upgrading on any legs of my journeys planned. I am booked to fly out to Thailand from Manchester on 26th January returning on 13th February, also going out on 22nd March returning 9th April probably from Birmingham. I have 56,000 miles in my account just now, not sure whether to keep saving for the free trip or go for the upgrade. Your pricing seems very fair. Are you in the UK at present ? Will send you a PM in the next day or two. Best Regards Fireman Sam

Emirates have introduced a new website, when I flew last week the online check-in wasn't working, no problem just check-in as normal at the airport. Hopefully its working ok now. You can chose your seat when you book your ticket or at any time afterwards, just click manage a booking and enter booking reference number. No problems for me so far. Regards Fireman Sam

As I stated before, I'm pretty sure before you can be deemed the Legal owner of the car you need to have at least a non-immigrant visa or better. This is not a new law. There may be other cases where this has not happened (TIT), but some tea money would have been paid along the way. Of course the garage will sell you the car no problem as long as they get the sale. Best Regards Fireman Sam

Check your Visa status, I'm sure you can only legally own a car if you have a non-immigrant visa of some sort. If you have the above then no problem, just trying to give you a heads up. Regards Fireman Sam

I'm sure some of my mates said that UK TV's don't work in Thailand, maybe worth checking it out with someone who knows for sure. I know the voltage is very similar and not a problem, I think the re-fresh rate or something like that was different something about 50-60 MHz for UK TV's. Again I'm not sure, just trying to give you a heads up before you carry it all the way over for nothing. Let us know if you find out for sure. Best Regards Fireman Sam Edit, Just for your information I recently purchased a 32 Samsung LCD TV in Nakhon Phanom for 24 thousand baht at local electrical shop.

Stayed there in 1986 (shithole then), don't think much has been spent on it since. But up to you. Regards Fireman Sam

Sorry safc slightly off topic, I also have just reached silver status with Emirates, does anybody know if I get to use the lounges in either Birmingham and Manchester and if so are they any good. These look like being my departure airports for the forseesable future. Regards Fireman Sam

Funny, both my Orange Contract and my Orange pay-as-you-go sims work fine all over Thailand. Orange contract sim shows up on TH True network, not on Thai Orange Network. Hope this helps. Regards Fireman Sam

Yes, There are left luggage offices on level two and behind check-in row P on level four depatures. Cost 100 baht per twenty four hours. DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING VALUABLE IN YOUR CASES, well documented about things going missing. Regards Fireman sam

Looks ok AZZEY68, how many bedrooms and where about up North, looks like it's in the sticks a bit. 1 Million 400 thousand baht approx @ 68.5 to the pound.

Be careful with stuffing your hand luggage with China Airlines. On an earlier trip this year they weighed my hand luggage, granted I only travel with hand luggage. It weighed in @ 10 Kilo (7 kilo is the allowance) they made me check it into the hold. I took out my i-pod, travel documents and jumper for return to UK, then managed to get a free bag through in duty free to place the items in. I am a Gold card frequent flyer with China, it really pissed me off. Then the next breath she offers me a free upgrade to business class, a well TIT i suppose. Regards Fireman Sam

Hi Guys, I'm just off the phone to skywards in Manchester reference direct transfering of miles between accounts, as i was hoping to do the same with my sister as she has a load of emirates miles which she will not be using again. They informed me that you cannot transfer miles direct betwen accounts, but she could book a reward on my behalf, once i gave her my booking reference number etc etc, same thing in the end i suppose. Good thread and very worthwhile, cheaper than booking upgrades direct.

Thanks for the replys. Cheshire Tom, do they use the same aircraft with the same configuration from their other UK depature points, i am flying from Aberdeen so no real hassle leaving from any UK airport except Glasgow ironically enough (three hour train journey involved). Although i prefer to give Heathrow a miss if possible. Chivas i only have 30,000 miles (enough for one way upgrade from Amsterdam) left in my China Airlines account so would be no use to yourself on EVA or Eithad. I think China allow transfers of mileage but unsure of the rules. I have just heard good reports about Emirates but will find out for myself in June, although a long time since i did the stop over in the middle east.

Hi boardies, I normally fly with China Airlines via Amsterdam. I fly 5-6 times per calendar year and i'm a gold card member with them. Due to the price slowly creeping up, decreasing service levels and more miles being required to obtain a free upgrade, i am thinking of changing my allegiance to Emirates. I have booked with Emirates for my June/July trip via Manchester £494.00. Just wondered what board members thought of their service levels, ease of free upgrades or free tickets etc, etc. Yes i have joined Skywards already. Is the Manchester 14.05 flight always busy, i expect the Dubai to Bangkok sector to be full most of the time. Regards Fireman Sam

They must be having a laugh surely. AIRLINE OF THE YEAR 2006 - RESULTS Regional Results British Airways has been announced as the 2006 Airline of the Year in the World Airline Awards. In second place is Qantas .... with the 2005 winner, Cathay Pacific, ranked in 3rd position for 2006. BRITISH AIRWAYS Commercial Director, Martin George, said ... "We are delighted to have won the prestigious accolade of airline of the year. The World Airline Awards are judged by the people whose opinions we value the most - our customers. We thank them for their continued support of British Airways. The award demonstrates yet again that British Airways is offering the service our customers expect and considered among the best performing and popular airlines in the world. We will continue to invest in our people and products to offer the excellent service our customers have come to expect". THE WORLD'S TOP AIRLINES - 2006 AIRLINE OF THE YEAR 2006 Rank Airline 2005 1 British Airways 5th 2 Qantas Airways 2nd 3 Cathay Pacific 1st 4 Thai Airways 7th 5 Emirates 3rd 6 Qatar Airways 8th 7 Singapore Airlines 4th 8 A N A 10th 9 Malaysia Airlines 6th 10 China Airlines 16th © Skytrax Research Commenting on the World Airline Awards, Edward Plaisted (CEO, Skytrax) said ......"the World Airline Survey is recognised across the globe as the leading independent monitor of passenger opinions - the survey process offering the only truly worldwide project, with open and uninfluenced results. The final total of 13.61 million eligible, completed survey interviews was beyond our expectations, and we extend a very big thank you to all those customers who participated." "Our congratulations go to the 2006 Airline of the Year winner, British Airways. In contrast to several previous year surveys, we found that the level of nominations for British Airways by their premium passengers was proportionately much higher than that of other airlines in the Top 10 rankings - clearly they are doing something right in that particular market. An airline undergoing considerable changes and cutting product levels to compete across Europe with the low-cost airline competition, a key element to emerge in the passenger voting for British Airways was that it performs well in terms of general product and service consistency." Contrasting with the higher support for British Airways from their premium customers, the final rankings for Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways and Emirates were much more influenced by nominations from their Economy class customers. "Qantas takes the 2nd place Silver Award, repeating their 2004/5 performance, and demonstrating that they are well-established amongst the top quality airlines in the world. A strong performer in other 2006 Category Awards, we will be watching with interest to see if they can push themselves into the top position next year!" added Plaisted. The 2005 winner, Cathay Pacific, was ranked in 3rd position for the 2006 World Airline Awards, with Thai Airways in 4th place, and Emirates in 5th. Thai Airways enjoyed further success in the Awards, being named as Worlds Best Cabin Staff for 2006. Continuing its upward rise in the Award rankings, Qatar Airways takes 6th position (up from 8th in 2005), ahead of Singapore Airlines (SIA) in 7th - SIA being a previous Airline of the Year winner in 2004. Qatar Airways strong performance extended to winning the Awards for Best Airline Middle East, together with achieving 2nd place worldwide in the Best Cabin Staff category. Japan's ANA is another airline that improved on its previous-year ranking, moving into 8th place for 2006 (from 10th last year). A regular top 10 performer, Malaysia Airlines ranks 9th this year, slipping slightly from 6th position in 2005. The final Top 10 place goes to Taiwan's China Airlines, making a jump of 6 places from their 2005 ranking. "We are already in planning for the 2006/7 World Airline Survey" said Plaisted, "and expect even wider coverage as more language options are offered up for online completion. This past year, we were able to provide English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese versions to our Business Research Group members, and clearly it is going to be beneficial to extend that across many more customers for the upcoming survey." "The range of results published in the 2006 Awards are more extensive than ever before, and I hope you will take a few minutes to explore around the different categories. Like so many things in life, what is good for one is not for another .... what you like, I may not - but what I hope is properly represented across the World Airline Awards is the opinion of the majority" added Plaisted. London - 12th June 2006 Any further enquiries should be directed to: Mr Peter Miller Marketing Director SKYTRAX RESEARCH E-mail: miller@airlinequality.com Some people with very short memories, strikes cancellations etc etc. Would not fly with them if free.

Hi, I flew out on December 5th back on 23rd paid for an economy class ticket (£550.00) via Gazelle, but upgraded to Dynasty both ways using 60,000 miles. Received full mileage distance in my account. Then flew out 31st January back February 18th paid economy class ticket (£569.00) via Gazelle. Received free upgrade on return leg. Mileage in account reads 31-01-2007 3422 miles Class N, 18-02-2007 4562 miles Class Q. Confused, I sure am. I'm back out on Wednesday 28th March back on 18th April, will see what mileage I receive for this trip. Still thinking of changing for my June trip.

I'm a gold card frequent flyer with China Airlines, flying Aberdeen-Amsterdam-Bangkok at least 5 times a year. The price they are now charging for their version of a business class service is not worth it now IMHO. It is no way a full on business class service comparable to some of the other airlines. When it was £790- £890 maybe. Also you now only get 80% of actual mileage flown when you book a cheap ticket via Gazelle or others. I'm out on Wednesday 28th March with China for three weeks, i think i will be changing airlines to Emirates to see if they are as good as some people say. Okay is not as direct as China but will give it a try. I managed to get a free upgrade at BKK on flight home in February, it was offered i did not ask.

DYNASTY INN GRANDE Great new hotel in good location (located on small soi running between soi 4 and 6) walking distance to Nana Plaza, Gullivers and Nana skytrain stop. I stayed when just opened (June 2006) and paid 1800 baht promotional rate, I think the rate is now 2200 or thereabouts. Breakfast is extra, but plenty of choice nearby if you don't want to eat in hotel. Now my hotel of choice when staying in Bangkok.