autan

I think Gentlemen, I will call it a day here. I will get on with the rest of my happy life.

Good luck and God Speed Everyone.

(Mods feel free to delete my account)

xxx

Very poor quality troll topic.

Sorry auton but you are simply not up to the task. Spend a month reading and learning then try again.

Its Autan (but nevermind that), I am just trying to provoke debate, initiate conversation and add controversy here. I do not intend to troll, but merely add topics that interest me about Thailand. Hopefully people will share my ideas and complaints and respond positvely. Isnt that the point of a forum or should we all just read from the preprinted manual.

Why would i have any interest in the spelling of your name when you come on here and spoil my sunday with such a dull uninspiring piece of trolling drivel?

If that spoilt your Sunday, you didnt have as much fun as me then.

Here we go, lets not start the whole band wagon banging session, my arse is still soar from telling you all how to get a free upgrade from economy to business class.

Very poor quality troll topic.

Sorry auton but you are simply not up to the task. Spend a month reading and learning then try again.

Its Autan (but nevermind that), I am just trying to provoke debate, initiate conversation and add controversy here. I do not intend to troll, but merely add topics that interest me about Thailand. Hopefully people will share my ideas and complaints and respond positvely. Isnt that the point of a forum or should we all just read from the preprinted manual.

No other country in the world, would its people still be so welcoming and so accepting of other cultures and ways of life, while putting up with all the BS that comes with it.

Er, UK?

I am in the UK right now pal. Take off your rose tinted glasses.

All this crap from from a frequent traveller, giving advice on another thread about getting free upgrades flying here. Oh I forgot you come here for the temples.

I merely present an argument for debate, offer advice on travel and complain bitterly about the weather. I try not to let my personal feeling get influence good banter.

For example where else in the world would let thousands of unemployed, retired, usually fat, balding men into their country,

What do you have against balding men?

I will ask my tricologist next time I see him.

I have to say the Thais are great people. Extremely tolerant of the people that visit their country.

For example where else in the world would let thousands of unemployed, retired, usually fat, balding men into their country, to casually have sex with and occasionally marry their daughters, sisters and sometimes mothers, while actually contributing nothing to thai society except to complain about how thais run thing in their own country.

We treat thailand (expats), like were colonists from the 19th century and they dont take us on, they let us play out our sick sexual fantasies like were kings of the world, thinking our way is the best way and they just put up with it.

No other country in the world, would its people still be so welcoming and so accepting of other cultures and ways of life, while putting up with all the BS that comes with it.

The Thai People Are Truly Great.

LHR to JFK

I was about 25 and was asked "Do you mind sitting upstairs", I of course agreed. I have been upgraded 5 or 6 times, but would never even consider trying what the OP suggested. Some of the recent postings on this forum are beyond belief and I wonder if they are genuine or "planted" and designed to keep the audience active?

OK boys we have been caught red handed. We have secretly given up our time to plant posts on TV in order to keep 54321 active. He has seen through our plans and we should just admit it.

Yes these posts have been planted - The Ho Ho Ho Jolly Green Giant made me do it under duress.

As you can see from the variety of posts. There are two types of members on Thai Visa.

The first (I count myself included), seize the opportunity to get what they want from life and end up sipping champagne in business class. Merely impressing themselves for having the balls to ask for something better than they have.

The second, convince themselves, that getting an upgrade is impossible and that you should just cough up the cash if you want the priviledge of flying business or resign yourself to the fact that economy class is home and and theres no point asking, because after all, they might say "no". After all theres no way anyone can possible get an upgrade just for turning up smart and asking is there.

Or as I suspect, they secretly employ my techniques while smoke screening the "impossible" so they get what they want, while your eating your dinner off someones overly reclined chair.

Free your minds people.

TTFN

Autan

I don't understand why people prostitute themselves for something they haven't paid for.

You wanna fly biz class-pay for it.

I do enjoy flying business class, but I enjoy the fact someone else has paid for me to do so. Ca-Ching.

If you sit down amongst a herd of buffalo, Scottish or not. You are going to get gored. What the hell is he kneeling down for anyways.

I know the Scotts can be hard beggars, (Robert Carlisle, Sean Connery, Rab C Nesbitt to name but a few), but to crouch down on the floor was a little of a c--k tease. He was gangraped and I quote:

"The animals dragged him about 50 yards across a field and through a pond, leaving him bloodied and bruised and with severe puncture wounds to his lower body."

''I still don't have a timescale for how long I'll be in hospital — they are still finding the true extent of my injuries.

''Some of the wounds are rather unusual and there will be a bit more surgery towards the middle of the week.

Note to self. Never visit water buffalo in Scotland.

I have really enjoyed reading the responses to my thread. I see there is a mixture of

1) Fear

I get this a lot from people in my line of work. They can't do something or are too afraid to try, so they tell themselves and everyone else that its <deleted> and cant be done. My reply to this is "Drink deep or taste not, the plasma spring".

2) Holier than though

The attitude of some people is never beg. Even if the result is you get something for free. I suppose this all depends how you were brought up. Certainly living in Manchester in the 70s, 80s and 90s taught me, that if you don't ask you dont get. It brought a smile to my face, the poster who said this "Things just dont work that way anymore". In other words, you lost your bottle to ask and sit there in economy while the ass--le in front of you decides to recline their seat on you, with your dinner still on the tray.

3) Disbelief

How is this possible, surely that cant be true. An upgrade, you must be a friend of the airline staff, next door neirbours with the cabin crew or send your children to school where the Pilot sends his . . . right. Wrong, airlines make most of their money from business class customers and so if they feel they are going to get a customer in the future and they look presentable then they will upgrade, if you "beg" in the right way.

One of the first responses to this thread was "why are you telling people", well for those with the bottle to try you can get a seat worth thousands for a few hundred pounds and a little nerve to ask, as you can see from some of these responses most people will do just about anything not to ask. Its human nature.

As for having delusions of granduer and having issues, a little on the personal side for TV, but I am not crying about it.

Do I have issues, probably. Do I give a fig, No. Do I have delusions of Grandeur, dam_n right I do, especially when I have just been upgraded to business class for free. (hehehe).

I'm sorry, when you can buy a perfectly decent bike in Thailand. I have to ask "Why would you want the hassle ?"

I hate debt, credit cards etc. I don't do them and no intention of starting now.

The number one thing, this guy has to do is call each of the people he owes money to and write down that until his financial cirmcumstances improve he cannot afford to meet his obligations. He then priorities his expenses.

1. Food

2. Rent/Mortgage

3. Bills

etc etc

Cut down food to essentials and shop around. If the rent does get paid, then he will be living in a cardboard box, so that is a priority. Bills can cut, save energy, dont use air conditioning etc.

Good luck to the man. If he is careful, he will bounce back, but the hard thing is stopping people repeating the same mistakes again and again.

Nice work pal ! I'm not sure I have the brass-neck to carry this off though. Plus I like to check-in on-line or get to the airport early and nab one of the Emergency Exit aisle seats.

I've only ever had 1 upgrade in about 15 years flying around Asia - and it was on one of the shorter routes - Jkt to Sing. We were up and down again before I had a chance to enjoy myself

Most people dont try it. This sort of answers the post above too.

Imagine dropping your bags off at the checkin and going to the business lounge, drinking a few beers and eating some free food. The waiting in the gate with the hoi paloy and getting called up first. The cabin crew taking your hand luggage and stowing it for you. Asking you if you would like a scented towel to freshen up. The bringing round some champagne, sipping it gently while you relax into your lie flat bed/seat.

Your only worry and concern is do you stay awake to drink champagne and watch the films or do you lie flat and arrive at your destination refreshed after leaving the plane first.

Business class used to be a better seat, now its a better life.

I've only ever had 1 upgrade in about 15 years flying around Asia - and it was on one of the shorter routes - Jkt to Sing. We were up and down again before I had a chance to enjoy myself

You need to travel business. That emergency bulkhead seat will pale in comparison.

^^

This is actually very clever and useful information. Are you sure you want to give it out though? Like everyone will be trying it and there certainly will be no more upgrades.

I was under the impression everyone sort of knew. I got the info from watching a cheeky Austrailian Girl in her 20s pull it off. She was dress in a ladies suit and looked the part. At the time, I thought is she going for a interview or something (hehe), then I saw her being move to the business class check desk and handed her boarding cards. I thought you cheeky lush.

I have searched and cant find much on getting free upgrades from economy class to business class with the airlines. I have been upgrade a total of 4 times in the past 3 years, whilst travelling alone. Just a point to note, it is virtually impossible to get an upgrade if your travelling with children.

OK heres the rules for those who are travelling by themselves.

1. Dress smartly & formally.

2. Clean shaven and wearing aftershave. (Lipstick & Perfume for the Ladies).

DO NOT CHECK IN ONLINE.

Leave plenty of time before you need to check in.

When you are called to the check in desk say the following:

"Hi, could you tell me if business class is full today or is their availability ?"

If there no seats, you have not embarrased yourself. If there are seats ask the following :

"On my planned trip next month, I would like to travel business class, would you be able to upgrade me today, so I can try it on this leg, they say once you have tried business class, you always fly business class. Is that true ?"

At this point the check in staff wont know if you intend to pay or trying to get a free upgrade.

"If you would upgrade me for free for me to try it, then I will email the airline after I have booked my next trip, saying it was thanks to you. Whats your full name please, so I can write it down".

You will get, a reply like, "Sorry I cant do that Sir, if you want to upgrade, I can direct you to the ticketing staff".

This is when you say "Is your supervisor on duty. Simply repeat the statements above".

This worked on 4 seperate occasions over three years. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt.

But if you dont try, you will never be upgraded for free.

On the 23/8/2012. I flew with Qatar Airways from BKK to Doha on to Manchester. I checked in online and joined the queue for internet check-in. I was given 3 fast track vouchers just for checking in online. I didnt realise you get your own immigration guy. A very fast and effective service, but I dont think I would have paid for it.

Its a little like sex really. Over in 5 minutes and great if its free, but paying for it. I leave that to others. No thanks.

Now I understand that the OP was not adopted as a grandchild in Thailand or in the UK but entered into a civil law agreement to regard the couple as his grandparents (undefinable and therefore unenforceable) and to make certain financial arrangements for them (also effectively unenforceable because he could easily argue in a civil court that they had frustrated the contract by not performing their own undefinable part of it and anyway it would be very complicated and expensive for them to sue him in an English court).

I remain skeptical about how a peculiar legal agreement of this nature could entitle the OP to Thai nationality under the Nationality Act. Even if Thai law recognized this agreement as an adoption by adoptive parents, that would not entitle the OP to Thai nationality, unless he was also born in Thailand. Many Thais have tried unsuccessfully to obtain Thai nationality for alien children not born in Thailand they have adopted as infants.

You have made several wrong assumptions and this has led you to an incorrect conclusion.

You are making a case for enforceability of a contract, this isnt under dispute.

As you a contract is a agreement between two parties. In England & Wales you can recognise a person as family even if they are not. A common example of this is where a child recognises a step-parent as a adoptive parent. If they over 18 years old then this can be a formal agreement. You can formally recognise anyone to be of relation to you. As I stated the agreement for me to take care of them in their old age is a seperate agreement, again we are not seeking to test the enforceabilty, it is about the relationship.

The Thai Authorities want to see what your relationship is to the Thai Citizen, for instance if you had two Thai Parents (Birth), then you are entitled to a birth certificate because you decended from Thai Nationals.

However you have a relationship, which has been formally recogonised as being a family relationship and you have also shown you are not just playing the system, then it can be seen that two Thai Nationals have legally adopted a British National as their next of kin and formally as an adoptive child. Adoptive children have the same rights as naturally born children.

The agreement to take care of them in their old age, as well as presenting a family based unit throughout the interview, ensured that a birth certificate, passport, and id card (in time) was bestowed as a thai citizen.

You could argue that if the same set of cicumstances was repeated, but the Thai Authorities believed that you are manipulating the system in order to become a Thai Citizen, then they could refuse you.

You need to present a genuine case and show that the people you call your grandparent/parents etc are in fact in your mind and theirs as real as if you were descended from them.

How many people each day have to convince embassy staff of the UK, France USA or Austrailia, that a marriage or cohabitation is genuine in order for a visa to be granted. Its about how you appear in your interview that counts, not what law you can cite and that it why your skeptism is valid and completely reasonable and rightly so.

The border areas with Burma will almost certainly have a tiger or two. You should bear in mind that we are not natural prey for Tigers and that the reason why they are "so rare", is because they have a fear of man. Unless you accidently stumble upon a Mother and Cub or a large Male in heat then you wont know there looking at you.

If by chance your unlucky and you find yourself face to face with a tiger, the most important thing to remember is to hold your ground and stare directly into the Tigers eyes. Slowly open your mouth a bear your teeth. For every step the Tiger takes towards you, you match it and take a step towards the Tiger.

Tigers avoid fights when not hunting prey as they can be injured it would most likely back off.

You will not be able to outrun, outclimb, outswim or oufight a Tiger, so you might as well be brave and die like a man.

Charge !!!!

I agree with yourself and the other posters. This is very strange and anything strange at 3am in BKK isnt good.

You did the right thing.

It is a taboo subject in most counties of the world. But in Thailand they have actually made some serious inroads.

I was talking to a charity in Northen Thailand this morning and they have told me, that by the year 2045 they expect the amount of the children born with HIV to eradicated. In addition the adults infected with HIV to enjoy free treatment as they do know. They expect that that HIV infections will decrease to zero by 2045 if current trends continue.

Is this the real cure for HIV, education and safe sex, rather than relying on some wonder drug.

Thailand is leading the world in educating its young about safesex.

Limit your alcohol intake. A 44baht for a large bottle of chang from 7/11 you tend to drink like a fish. At least I did.

Visa 90days,that I will then extend....maybe go for student visa after for 1 year.

I am 48 single, good wedge of savings, 20 years IT experience (good for nothing in Thai I know)

Irish,living in Munich(well for one more month)

You do realise you will have to do a visa run every 2 weeks don't you ?

The rules are if you enter by Thailand then the visa in your passport is valid. If you have no visa, then if you come by air, they give you 30 days. However if leave by land on a visa run, the visa is only valid for 14 days.

This can be a little expensive after a while.

I stand corrected if this has changed.