Have A Safe Trip!

[Guest thaiworthy]

I am trying to improve my status as a thread starter, which was brought to my attention in another thread. So here goes one of three subjects, one gay-Thailand related, one Thailand-only related and one gay-only related:

 

I've noticed many threads on this forum seem obsessed with the newest planes, problems with newest planes, business class comparisons among airlines, fare comparisons among airlines, best airports, worst airports, frequent flyer points and reward programs, etc. Is it because we are all foreigners just basically trying to get to or leave Thailand and need some particular edge to achieve style and savings? I don't travel much anymore, I like staying put, so that tells me many other forum members are still coming and going nearly much of their lives. Will it always be that way even after you retire? How many of you just enjoy traveling recreationally?

[Guest fountainhall]

As one of the "guilty" ones, I have adored travelling every since my first school trip to Switzerland as a 14-year old - and that involved 30 hours travel by train each way! With jobs that have all required me to travel, firstly within Europe and then after moving to Asia virtually worldwide, I had no choice. And I revelled in it! I also became an expert in the airline timetables. If the company wanted me to fly from Hong Kong to New York for meetings, it was easy to work out how to arrange a stop in Honolulu at no extra cost, or in Seattle so I could take what became a cheap holiday in Alaska, for example. Or in Bali en route from Tokyo to Sydney.

 

Once frequent flyer miles and hotel stays came into the equation more than 20 years ago, all sorts of new possibilities opened up.  As did the need to master the intricacies in each programme to gain maximum benefit. These benefits have to be 'spent' - and that means more travel!

 

Will it always be that way? Definitely not. I am already 'winding down' and the mileage banks are nearing empty. Besides, whilst I still love being in different places, the very act of getting from A to B is now such a hassle. I am thrilled that I was able to do so much, but will be quite happy with just a trip or two - or three -  a year in the future.

[Guest anonone]

I am a one of the guilty ones, and share a similar story with fountainhall.  I will also add that my love of travel and long airplane rides was the thing that introduced me to Thailand.  For that, I (and my BF) are forever grateful. 

 

I really enjoy experiencing different airlines, different plane types, and different airports.  For me, the actual travel to the destination is a key part of the fun. 

[TotallyOz]

I also admit I am obsessed with travel. I have been since I was a kid. I was the first one in my family to travel overseas. I went to Scotland and London at 16. I was poor and would not have been able to afford the trip on my own but it was a missionary campaign for my church. LOL Ever since, I have loved travel.

 

I am more obsessed with points than anything and trying to retain my status with a few hotel chains and one or two airlines. On a car trip across country last year, I would drive into the night in order to stay at one of my hotels I needed points at.

 

In March of this year, I go to Brazil for one full month. I am using my points for hotels and staying at really great 5 star hotels for free as I save my points and use them each year in Rio De Janiero and Sao Paulo and it saves me a great deal of money. In the end, I think my "point games" are totally worth it.

 

I don't live in Thailand so I see no need to get away from there but I do love being able to see places I have never seen before. I have been to over 30 countries and I hope to make it to 100 before I die. I am missing many countries in Africa and the Middle East and I hope to get to them one day.

 

I also don't see a problem with my obsession with points but perhaps that is because of my obsession.

[Guest timmberty]

flying is one of the most boring things one can do.

most forms of transport i enjoy, most forms of transport involve scenery.

flying involves sitting next to someone who will probably snore and fart a lot, and if you are lucky a small window to look at the white fluffy clouds.

[kokopelli]

I would agree that flying cattle class is an unpleasant experience however Business Class and First Class are most enjoyable.

[Guest thaiworthy]

I would agree that flying cattle class is an unpleasant experience however Business Class and First Class are most enjoyable.

 

Paying over 3-4x more than discounted tourist fares is never enjoyable.

[kokopelli]

Sitting in cattle class is never enjoyable unless you are a cow.

[Rogie]

Maybe the trick for those branded, herded and then coralled is to take some interest in the aircraft they're flying on - like the so-called guilty parties (see posts # 2,3 and 4). I haven't been interested much in that before but in future I shall scrutinise the laminated plastic document nestling in the pocket of the seat in front of me, the one that gives the layout of the aircraft, exits, means of escape, diagrams of oxygen masks and other essential tools for survival when the stack of Li ion batteries being transported by the 'toff' of middle eastern extraction in business class do a wobbly flying over Koh Phangan one full moon's eve. And anudder thing, not that I would wish to milk this topic, I love the way the stewardess comes along with the menu just as you are getting restless, rather in the way a child is pacified by a dummy crammed into its mouth. There always seems to be a beef dish on the menu in economy. No doubt the upper classes look down on that. Moo fool them.

[Guest]

Sitting in cattle class is never enjoyable unless you are a cow.

 

I disagree.  When taking a daytime flight, I quite enjoy the 1.5metres of leg room that come for free when occupying an emergency exit row. Particularly with the window seat.

 

On the overnight flights, I would very much prefer to have some kind of flat bed business class seat.  However, even with a good professional level income, spending an extra £1000 or so to go business isn't the best way to allocate my money. 

Investing for retirement comes first.

However, if I were smart enough or lucky enough to be earning about  £200,000 per year, I would consider business class.

[Guest anonone]

If you are willing to devote the time and effort, the frequent flier game can be very lucrative...no extra money (or very little extra) for being seated in business class...and free trips in first class more often then you might think....

[baobao]

Sitting in cattle class is never enjoyable unless you are a cow.

 

It's not bad at all if you're short enough to have sufficient leg room and aren't too wide to fit the seats, or are OK to be in tight quarters. On a longer flight I'd suggest asking your doctor about something to help you sleep. I'm not happy sitting anywhere for 12 hours, myself... I sleep.

 

I'm also with z909... that extra for the upgrade to business or first class just isn't worth it to me. I do enjoy the slightly larger areas provided by Economy Deluxe or similar class seats that some airlines offer.  $100 additional per trip leg for seems worthwhile.

[Guest timmberty]

i can understand why someone with an endless pot of money would fly first class.

but for the average punter there is very little point to it.

id ask those that do fly first class, do you also spend your time in the v.i.p. area of any club you go too ?

and if not why not ? your extra cash can get the best of everything, so why not use it?

[kokopelli]

Did I give the impression I have an endless pot of money? Fact is I don't have a pot to piss in!  However over many years I have been able to accumulate frequent flyer miles either by flying; buying bonus miles per flight; and buying miles on sale @60% bonus; selecting a credit card that gives miles; etc, in order to accrue enough for a Business Class flight. If on a Business Class flight you are also entitled to use of their Lounge and of course preferential treatment at security and boarding. Also can bring up to 90kg of luggage which is a nice perk for those staying a long time and wish to stockpile supplies.  Regrettably that is all coming to an end.  But flying Business Class is an enjoyable experience compared to Economy.  I sometimes fly in Premium  Economy which is just sligthly better than Economy and not enjoyable but tolerable on the shorter flight from BKK to Tokyo.  Don't knock it if you haven't tried it. 

[Guest thaiworthy]

Did I give the impression I have an endless pot of money? Fact is I don't have a pot to piss in!

 

Actually, the impression I got was that you had an endless supply of pot.

 

What Koko says is true. One time I received a charge card offer from American Express for their gold card that came with 50,000 FF miles. I applied, made one purchase, grabbed the miles and flew to Thailand almost for free. (I needed 60,000 but only had 10,000). Those were the days! Then when it came time to pay the annual fee, I cancelled the card. So it's possible for certain, but while Koko spends his miles for a better class, I can travel to Thailand twice in economy for the same number of miles.

 

I love being a cow in cattle class when I can save that many points or dollars. And it ain't a MOOt point.

[Guest fountainhall]

If you are willing to devote the time and effort, the frequent flier game can be very lucrative...no extra money (or very little extra) for being seated in business class...and free trips in first class more often then you might think....

 

My experience is that this is now becoming much more difficult, unless you are based in North America. Here in Asia, the joining bonus for an airline-linked credit card, for example, is a fraction of what US card holders would get. And the minimum fare permitting upgrades keeps on rising. On Cathay Pacific, you now have to lash out almost US$3,000 for an upgradeable economy fare from BKK to JFK - plus a higher number of miles to 'purchase' that upgrade. Four years ago a round-trip upgradeable economy fare was just $1,300.

 

Also watch the cost of using that credit card. I used to use my Hong Kong based cards here. This was great because I got double points away from base. Even though there was a 1% surcharge, using those points for air tickets was still worth it. Since 2008, the surcharge is now 2% - and the value of the points is no longer worth it.

 

Another way of playing the mileage game is the creative use of complaints! That may sound strange, but I have got a lot of miles out of airlines who either caused me to miss a connection or did not deliver what they promised - or in one case downright lied to me to get me to take a flight. In that last case, I wrote four letters over 6 months and got nowhere (airline staff are trained in delaying tactics, reckoning that 99.999% of complainants just give up eventually).

 

I then wrote them a registered letter informing them if I did not get a refund by "close of business" (lovely legal term!) that Friday, I would instruct my solicitor to take legal action against them. That prompted a fax, an email and a letter offering me 50,000 miles! I took it. Just recently, I complained to a European airline about a long delay which had caused me to miss a connection and lash out a lot of extra cash for a new ticket. Frankly, it wasn't the airline's fault, but they credited me with 10,000 miles! (And I hope my travel insurance may cover much of the actual cost    )

 

In these cases, you almost certainly have to be in the airline's loyalty club, but only at the basic level.

[Guest thaiworthy]

I posted this story a few years back on another board, but it's worth repeating:

 

I used to rack up a lot of frequent flier miles in my job and decided a few times to splurge on a business class seat on (then) Northwest Airlines. I had done that once before and was really looking forward to it again. I had a nice window seat and lots of room and that made it easy to catch some shuteye. The lady in the seat next to me had different ideas. All of a sudden, I felt this sharp jab in my side that woke me up. I looked around, but didn't notice anything. I went back to sleep. A bit later, it happened again, a very sharp pain in that same area. At first I thought it was a muscle cramp, and then I caught a mean look from a wiry old woman sitting next to me. I ignored it, and went back to sleep. When it happened again, I turned sharply around and caught her hitting me in the same place with her fist. I asked, "What are you doing?!" She said, "If I can't sleep, then you shouldn't either!" I had been snoring, it seems. I thought about it and reasoned that if I relocated, that might solve the situation, but there were no more seats and we then exchanged some harsh words.

This was assault. I could have brought it to the attention of a flight attendant, but I didn't. I just ignored her for the rest of the trip and stayed awake. I did not want my trip to Thailand to start with an incident and no matter how satisfied I might be to bring charges against her, I thought it best to just proceed as if nothing happened. I do not like confrontations with people and avoid them at all possible costs. I had no proof, other than a sore muscle.

In the lounge sometime afterward she approached me as I was rubbing my side. She said "You better hope we're not connecting on the same plane together." I think I said something to her, but it was mild compared to what I was thinking. I wanted to say "Touch me again and I'm going to break both of your arms!" But that would have solved nothing and she was obviously looking for a fight. So I bit my tongue and walked away and I didn't see her again after that. What a bitch!

This was an isolated incident, but I haven't flown business class again since then. These days I sit in an economy aisle seat and try ignore some of the silliness I have witnessed on these flights. Like the kid who wanted my seat so he could talk to his friends, or the guy pacing the aisles as he was brushing his teeth. I just keep my head down and listen to music and try ignore the air rage I see other people encounter. Like the guy who stood up and threatened the guy behind him because his legs were so long and were poking him thru the back seat cushion. People have no patience or resilience on these long-haul flights. It brings out the worst in people and sometimes that is not a pretty picture.

 

I reckon this is why I don't relish the prospect of flying business class anymore, aside from the cost. Class of service does not distinguish itself from the class of people flying in it.

I have always wondered how common this is. What could/should I have done differently that day? Does anyone have any air rage horror stories to share on their long flights to Thailand?

[Guest fountainhall]

I reckon this is why I don't relish the prospect of flying business class anymore, aside from the cost. Class of service does not distinguish itself from the class of people flying in it.

 

The beauty of business class in an age of seats that convert into flat beds is that on many airlines there's far greater privacy than before. On some you are cocooned in your own sort of little cabin. On others, like the British Airways seats, there is the danger of being woken as someone trips over your legs en route to the toilet. But on most airlines there are only two seats between the aisles and so you can avoid that problem.

[kokopelli]

. On a longer flight I'd suggest asking your doctor about something to help you sleep. I'm not happy sitting anywhere for 12 hours, myself... I sleep.

 

 

 

I would agree that when flying economy class the best option is to sleep through the experience. One time I did take a sleeping pill and woke up with a doctor standing next to my trying to revive me. So much for sleeping pills.

 

But in Business Class, who wants to sleep?  Bring on the champagne, snacks, wine, meals, wine, dessert, wine, etc. Then a nice movie and then some sleep.  

[Guest timmberty]

koko business class flights 6000 baht a week on food .. sorry i got the impression you had pots of money.

all things are relative of course or not as the case maybe.

[Guest fountainhall]

If anyone wants to compare the various types of seating arrangements on the A380s presently being operated by 9 airlines, there's a 50-photo comparison in the LA Times - 

 

http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-comparing-airbus-a380-photos,0,7651978.photogallery?index=la-trb-thai-airways-airbus-a380

 

It's a pity it does not show the Emirates business class bar. It's by far the best in the business!  TG's are just cupboards by comparison! 

 

[Rogie]

That's a good photo which I think i have seen before. I know space is always at a premium, and if FH is impressed I'd be surprised if many were dismissive, however even so it looks pretty tidgy, maybe room for half a dozen 'customers'. . . hardly much more than a walk-in cupboard.

 

After the revelation of how Boeing were prepared to risk what they intended as a new generation of battery just for the sake of the equivalent of one passenger's suitcase (40 lbs / 18 kg if I recall rightly) I find the parsimony of some airlines pretty pathetic.

[Guest timmberty]

is the barman offable ?

[Guest fountainhall]

it looks pretty tidgy, maybe room for half a dozen 'customers'

 

I did post that photo in another thread some months ago. Unfortunately i only had my small camera with me and it doesn't have a wide-angle lens. Actually the Emirates bar can accommodate at least 5 or 6 seated on each side, around half a dozen standing at the bar area and another 6 - 8 or so in an open area to the right of the photo. So room for 20 - 24 is quite a decent space.

 

is the barman offable ?

 

Aren't all airline stewards offable? 

[Guest thaiworthy]

Aren't all airline stewards offable? 

 

Yes, they are. You can even pay with frequent flyer miles, too! It's called the Fly Me Program.

 

Short time = 5,000 miles

Long time = 8,000 miles

Off fee to airline = 1,000 miles

Condom Pack = 100 miles (After all, the title in this thread, is "Have A Safe Trip!")