reader

That's at odds with previous announcement but then again TIT.

Just experienced another case where mileage credit wasn't awarded for flight segment between Bangkok and US (see OP). It took four phone calls to customer service (including two transmittals of copies of boarding passes) to get it resolved. In both cases, it involved booking code share flights. Lesson learned twice: keep those boarding passes until you see mileage posted.

As more details are released about the murder, I become increasingly aware of the risk sex workers take on when they accompany a customer to a hotel. Beyond the obvious risk to their physical well being, the run the risk of having their reputations impugned by a dissatisfied customer. I believe we have a responsibility to protect the identity of guys we encounter as required by forum rules. Covenant: The Gay Guides Management takes very seriously the privacy of its members and recognizes the desire and in many cases the need for discretion. Personal information that can be used to identify a member, a user, or a go-go boy or bar boy, whether or not a Gay Thailand member, shall not be permitted. No member shall publish or cause to be published such personal information. A violation of the Covenant shall be cause for immediate termination of Forum privileges.

There's a website dedicated to aircraft bone yards. https://airplaneboneyards.com/commercial-aviation-airplane-boneyards-storage.htm

CNN — Donald Trump won back the Oval Office and took charge of the government amid the strongest poll numbers of his political career, but as the 100-day mark of his presidency approaches, Americans’ views of what he’s done so far have turned deeply negative, a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds. Trump’s 41% approval rating is the lowest for any newly elected president at 100 days dating back at least to Dwight Eisenhower – including Trump’s own first term. Approval of Trump’s handling of the presidency is down 4 points since March, and 7 points lower than it was in late February. Just 22% say they strongly approve of Trump’s handling of the job, a new low, and about twice as many say they strongly disapprove (45%). https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/27/politics/approval-rating-trump-100-days/index.html

There are probably more than a few involved in the construction of the collapsed high rise waiting to find out.

Phoenix Massage has posted a new video of what appears to be its complete line up, featuring some new masseurs. Found it well worth viewing. The LINE ID is Phoenix25. (If you're unable to locate video, send them a text and they can send it to you).

Moe is great example of how ASEAN workers contribute to the Thai economy by filling jobs left wanting by locals. Beyond his appearance and engaging manner, his skills help Poseidon maintain its culinary reputation.

NOTE -- I have no interest in visiting Michelin starred restaurants but this place is so offbeat that it proved worth the time. From CBS Anglo Thai is London's only Michelin-starred Thai restaurant. Chef John Chantarasak has drawn on his family history to create an award-winning culintary experience and put a unique spin on Thai food. https://www.cbsnews.com/video/london-chef-puts-unique-twist-on-thai-classics/#x

This is among the saddest crime I've posted about since I joined the forum. It illustrates the dangers anyone in the flesh trade faces when they agree to go to the room of an unknown customer. ===== Extract from Pattaya News Maj. Gen. Thawatchakiat personally oversaw the reenactment, which is required in major criminal cases as part of Thai law. The suspect stated that he brought the victim to the room, agreed on a price of 8,000 baht for intimate services, and paid her in advance. However, when the victim resisted during an intimate moment, a heated argument ensued. The suspect demanded half the money back, but the victim refused, leading to a violent altercation. The victim allegedly scratched the suspect’s face and kicked him, breaking one of his front teeth. Enraged, the suspect said he pulled the victim to the side of the bed, pressed his left knee against her neck until she died, and then dragged her body to the bathroom. Using scissors, he stabbed her abdomen, slashed up to her chest, removed her breast implants, and placed her heart on her left shoulder. He has tried to claim this was self defense, but police are unsurprisingly skeptical. See full report at https://thepattayanews.com/2025/04/27/pattaya-police-bring-chinese-murder-suspect-for-reenactment-enraged-father-of-murdered-victim-attacks-suspect/

Agree that the 380 was unsuited for Thai. But the 777 remains the workhorse of long haul carriers worldwide. The problem wasn’t the plane but the hands it was in.

G-Zone has changed the shop's name to Sun Massage. The original Sun Massage was located on Soi Tarntawan, adjacent to what was the former site of Tawan Bar before it moved across soi into much smaller quarters (we now know it as The One). I think one of the new owners may have worked at the original Sun at one time.

Agree that that's not all that much on per capita basis. But in reality, the TAT's estimates are based at best on sketchy data. They can get a handle on credit card charges, foreign currency exchanged and VAT amounts. What they can't track is how much cash gets spent on non-credit card transactions or other forms of bank transfer. They don't know how many garlands get distributed, off fees paid, tips of all types dispersed, street vendors, markets or restaurants compensated. We all know what we spend on an average week. Agreed that it will be higher than visitors from less wealthy countries but it certainly yields a more accurate picture of real spending.

R.I.P., Francis.

NOTE -- Although I take the following article with a grain of salt, I believe the comments about price gouging may resonate with many. From The Nation Tourist Appeal Wanes as Gripes Over Price Hikes and Dodgy Systems Mount Thailand, once a magnet for budget-conscious backpackers and sun-seekers alike, is facing a growing backlash from international tourists. A surge of online criticism, with nearly 2,000 comments flooding a Bangkok Post Learning social media post, reveals widespread dissatisfaction with the kingdom's current tourism landscape. Travellers are increasingly voicing concerns over inflated prices, a discriminatory two-tier pricing system, outdated bureaucracy, and the now-commonplace aroma of cannabis in holiday hotspots. An analysis by Krungthep Turakij, sifting through some 800 of these online missives with the aid of artificial intelligence, has identified four key areas of concern. Foremost among these is the perception that a holiday in Thailand no longer offers the value for money it once did. The overwhelming sentiment is that Thailand has ceased to be a cost-effective destination. Accommodation costs in popular tourist areas, in particular, have seen eye-watering increases. One disgruntled visitor to Koh Samui recounted: "The same hotel I paid 2,000 baht a night for five years ago now demands 6,000 baht." A European traveller in Pattaya was similarly aghast, reporting a 180-euro (around 7,000 baht) bill for a two-person dinner, sans alcohol. While acknowledging global inflation, many feel that price hikes in Thailand have far outstripped typical inflationary pressures. One European tourist put it bluntly: "Hotels jacking up prices from $100 to $200-300 a night can't be blamed on normal inflation. It's pure greed, that is. Continues at https://www.nationthailand.com/life/travel/40049275