CbrLad

BA surely use T4 & T1, not T3, at LHR ? Shortly to move everything across to the new T5 .. the FT week-end edition recently had an article about designing facilities for 'them up-front' too.

BA is not moving everything to T5. In fact their Australian (and hence BKK) flights will be moving to terminal 3 along with flights to Spain and I think Finland. See T3 will become the OneWorld terminal + Virgin Atlantic. T1 will become Star Alliance, so Thai, Singapore etc will move there and T4 will become SkyTeam and others, with T2 being home to the bull dozer.

You are right though at the moment BA have nothing out of T3.

PS. The lounge at BKK is actually a Qantas Club, that BA uses. Just like in LHR Qantas uses BA lounges.

Who are Quantas, never heard of them. Are they some rip off of Qantas, you know the Australian National airline, that stands for Queensland and Northern Territory Areial Service?

Ohh just went to the Quantas website and guess what it redirects to the Qantas website.

the advantage of thai air that they are flying directly - so you pay for a convenience.

just in february my partner fly Bkk-Lhr return open ticket with BA for 39k baht - booked diretcly on their website. Agents were offering this same flight for a 2k more. Advantage of flying with BA that on international flights they give 32kg hold baggage allowance

Since when? Hold allowance on flights that use the weight system (Ie non US) is 23kg, not 32kg. Flying to the US it is 2 bags, max bag weight 23kg, so max in total 46kg.

PS. It has been this for a long time that I know of, before the 23kg limit it was 20kg. Qantas is still 20kg on such flights.

Refer to: http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bagch...ic/en_gb#europe

What is good, depending upon how you look at it is with BA you can also take 1 bag weighing 23kg into the CABIN:

Refer to: http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bagcabin/public/en_gb

The problem with BA at the moment of course is that it may be a long time before you're reunited with your 32Kg of baggage at Heathrow

BA flights to BKK are still leaving from T4 where there is no apparent issue. In fact when BA vacates T4 their flights to Australia (and hence BKK and SIN) will be moving to T3 along with Qantas.

I would have thought you would have known better. Just look at question 1 and question 2 of the 48R form. First question is when do you want to visit, which gives a from and to dates, and the next question oddly enough asks how long. (I would have thought Q1 would have answered this)

As I said you won't get into trouble, no laws have been broken, but what you have said in previous applications can and do get used in processing future applications. Simple as that.

Question 1 asks when do you WISH to visit.....It does not say When WILLyou visit

Question 2 asks How long do you want to stay in Oz......upto3 months, 6 months and 12 months.

It is meant as a rough guide toward the intent of the traveller not as a cast in stone statement. You can say that the visa was granted based on the dates supplied at Q1....if that was the case then the visa would only be issued for that period.

The visa is issued for 3 months and that is how long she can stay...

If on a future application the question regards the length of stay against the bosses letter and the dates given....a letter from the boss allowing an extension of her holidays and of course if she retains the job on her return would both be favourable to her. However this is untested here so any comments made by anyone regards any possible hindrance to future applications is pure assumption

Like usual you are splitting hairs for no apparent reason but self preening. Your post is nonsense, as you know fully well the whole visa application process is about intent and I will tell you know as fact that previous applications and your actions are taken into account in future applications. As for testing it, there is no way, none of us here unless we work for DIAC and processed a specific application can say why an app was refused or given the go ahead. What is well know that one's previous applications are taken into account and what you did in country, ie how long you were here. No one is saying an app will be refused if they stay the full amount of the visa having only said they would stay a few weeks, but the example Mighty Mouse gave above, is a classic of where one could get into trouble.

If you want assumption, take a look at some of our stat dec head to heads......

Anyway I think this will be my last post on this board, too many dills who won't listen and who trot out half truths, so not much point contributing.

Dubai-based airline Emirates has become the first commercial airline to allow passengers to make mobile phone calls during flights.

Emirates said the first permitted mobile phone call was made on a flight between Dubai and Casablanca.

The aircraft, an Airbus A340, is fitted with a system which stops mobiles from interfering with a plane's electronics.

Emirates plans to extend the system to more aircraft and later this year add BlackBerry and other data services.

According to the airline, the mobile service will only be activated when the aircraft is at cruising altitude and the cabin crew will be able to monitor and control the use of the system.

Passengers will be able to receive and send text messages, but the crew will be able to prevent voice calls at certain times, such as during night flights.

Passengers will also be requested to keep their phones on "silent" mode, said the airline.

High demand

Emirates said it decided to introduce the use of mobile phones in its fleet after experiencing high demand for the phones already installed in aircraft seats.

The airline had to obtain approval from international air safety organisations before adopting the system, which was developed by the AeroMobile company.

"We have gone to considerable lengths to ensure that all safety and regulatory issues have been fully addressed", said AeroMobile Chief Executive Bjorn-Taale Sandberg.

Emirates flies to more than 60 countries and is owned by the government of Dubai.

Source: BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7308041.stm

I wonder if the figures for "Air Rage" will increase.

I just hope that most people will show a bit of consideration and keep their phones switched off.

Qantas have been trailing it on one of their 767's for some time and I belive there was a european airline that was doing the same so Emirates is hardly the first. Qantas has now annouced plans to extend the system to other 767 and A330 aircraft. The big killer is the cost, the calls/texts are considered to be roaming and as the link to ground uses satellite the roaming call cost is at satellite prices. For me it is one place I wish they didn't have the bloody things, an aircraft has too many people and is way too enclosed to make it a nice experaice.

Won't worry me, the taste of Vegemite is totally disgusting, so I won't be buying it-

Go wash your mouth out!! I am guessing you are not Australian. Right?

....... what you have said in previous applications can and do get used in processing future applications. Simple as that.

Agreed.

One of the important parts of a tourist visa application is to provide a compelling reason to return to Thailand. By not abiding to the dates the applicant stipulated in answering question 1 and 2, it could make a mockery of the stated 'compelling reason' to return to LOS.

Any future TV application, in which a similar 'compelling reason' was stated, may well be regarded as 'doubtful.'

Well said, that is what I was getting at but couldn't find the right words.....

Just a quickie to settle a worry-

My TGF has a tourist visa to visit Australia. We didn't ask for 3 months stay, but that is what she got.

My question is - Can she stay for 3 months anyway?

Thanks for any replies.

She can stay until the date stated on the visa.....she must leave on that date or earlier.....There is no penalty for staying longer than the original intent as long as the visa conditions are met.

They may ask about it on future applications but it really isnt relevent as no law has been broken.

Did you put a time period on the application anywhere ??....

I would have thought you would have known better. Just look at question 1 and question 2 of the 48R form. First question is when do you want to visit, which gives a from and to dates, and the next question oddly enough asks how long. (I would have thought Q1 would have answered this)

As I said you won't get into trouble, no laws have been broken, but what you have said in previous applications can and do get used in processing future applications. Simple as that.

I know there have been loads of threads discussing jungle medicine but i don't remember reading of anyone actually trying it.

Today i drove out to the middle of no where for a bike ride. It was somewhere i had never been before and the terrain was difficult. Cutting a long story short i crashed after attempting a 3' drop off without enough speed. I called my wife when i had got back to the car and driven far enough to get a mobile signal. I expected an ear chewing but instead she was a little worried and said she would start burning something for when i got back home.

When i arrived home her dad had collected a big leaf, (about 4' long and quite fleshy), and was heating it over a gas flame. After i washed my leg including the 2 egg sized lumps i was given this leaf, (in 2 pieces), to press against the injured bits. It was bl00dy hot at first but soon became quite comfortable. After 30 minutes or so the swelling had gone right down and the pain was more of an ache. Now it is 4 hours later and the swelling and pain are still minimal although i have the beginnings of a wonderful bruise.

I always laughed at Issan medicine but today made me closer to conversion. I'll try hot leaves again for sure.

Nidge.

Well lots of "native" or as we call it in Aus bush medicine works a treat. These people aren't silly for years they would have been doing the same thing and know what works. In fact a lot of western medicines are based on bush medicine, the main difference is we try and make a chemical equivalent so we can mass produce them.

actually i think the Thais add it out of habit whether or not their food is fresh

i will not say why i think this

...

I tend to agree they put it in fresh food too and for reason it makes some dishes taste better. When my (now) wife first came to the UK for a visit she brought with her a heap of spices and other stuff including this white stuff the looked a bit like salt. When she did some cooking she asked me to have a taste and it was a bit bland, so she gets out the magic white stuff puts it in and bugger me it tasted so much nicer. Now the label being in Thai I had no idea what it was, until I saw a Thai grocery website which had the same stuff, labeled as MSG.

I asked her if she had heard that some people have a reaction to it and it was news to her, she reckoned it was as common as salt in all Thai cooking and was just accepted as being normal. Sometimes I wonder if we in the west worry about things too much, sometimes it is best not to know what is in something.

Of course she can stay 3 months. The only word of caution though is for next time. If in her 1st application she said she was going to stay 2 weeks, but stayed 3 months then at next application time they might question her honesty.

So you're not allowed to change your mind?

-

It is not a matter of changing ones mind, it is a matter of credibility. As I said they MIGHT question why the applicant originaly said they were staying for 2 weeks but stayed for 3 months and use that as a reason to refuse the 2nd app.

Just a quickie to settle a worry-

My TGF has a tourist visa to visit Australia. We didn't ask for 3 months stay, but that is what she got.

My question is - Can she stay for 3 months anyway?

Thanks for any replies.

Of course she can stay 3 months. The only word of caution though is for next time. If in her 1st application she said she was going to stay 2 weeks, but stayed 3 months then at next application time they might question her honesty.

Thank God we've got the PPP in power to clean up all that's gone to rot during the military junta's disgraceful tenure!

I can't believe your serious, but if you are, show me the timeline that says the runway was constructed during the time the junta were in power.

I cannot beleive you didn't sense the humor in his post....... He wasn't serious.

Dosed, I agree with you that it would seem as if this girl has taken him for a ride big time and as such is a bad bad women. The guys lauging at him being taken for a ride should be ashamed, I think we know sometimes how in this part of the world in 'love' makes many thing with the little head and not the big head. But his article as far as I am concerned makes him no better and makes him look like a tosser. I have sympathy for him but his attitude and methods offend me greatly. All of us knows this kind of thing goes on, and much of it seems to come from ladies who work in bars but to make an 'attack' on a group of people, many, no most whom are good people is stupid.

Does anyone know how long it takes to get a Schengen visa from the French Embassy in BKK?

Thanks in advance.

Took my missus about 1 week, that was mid 2007.

One thing they ask for is a return ticket and proof of travel insurance.

can somebody tell me, what is the nearest bts/mrt station from grand palace? and whats the best and fastest way

If you catch the BTS go to Saphan Taksin, then go to the wharf and catch a ferry up river. As for the MRT, then go to Hua Lamphong and get a taxi. Depending upon where you are staying you are probably better off just getting a taxi.

Britain's a damaged country.

Millions are in terrible debt - earning embarrassingly low salaries -

It's a taxed-to-death populace being watched over by big brother.

The populace no longer - in the main - has any trust in their government or the political process.

Crime - political correctness - and a dumbed down population obsessed with sport, celebrity, television and sex are - in the main - all that awaits you.

Brit

Well summed up. Then there is also the infrastructure that is falling appart, hardly any inovators and a country that is all to happy to just accept their lot rather than do something about it. As for political correctness one guy I know seem's to think it is ok to make derogatory comments about my (Thai) wife, such as asking how much I payed for her, infering she is a prostitute etc, but when I refered to soccer as <deleted> ball he was up in arms, and he was serious too.

I thought that but wondered if a visa for one EU country was issued then it might dispense with the need for another for another country visa within the same validity.

I presume that these visas are not like Thai ones and are all multi entry ?

One argument I could see would be if someone was issued a visa for say the UK but declined one for the Netherlands. Once could argue that the whole trip was based upon a need to visit the two (or more) places and thus it was an "all or nothing" situation.

Out of interest, how long are such visas issued for ? Is there a rule of thumb that say after X number of visits, an annual multi entry visa is issued rather than a more time resreicted one ?

What are you on about? You have to remember that the EU is not schengen and if a country such as the UK or ROI want's to retain control of their borders they have every right to do that. Your argument is like somone saying if you have a visa to enter Thailand you should have the right to enter the whole of Asia, it doesn't add up.

As for what they issue and for how long it depends upon the circumstances. When my now wife applied for her first visa to the schengen area, which was specificaly to France they issued a schengen visa as single entry for exactly the number of days we would be there, ie 3 days. Her latest visa for schengen also issued by France was 3 month multiple entry. Why the change I don't know, but I suspect it is because she now lives in the UK and is married (to a non EU citizen might I point out). Maybe next time it will be 12 month multi entry.

So you would have to earn a lot of ff points to get a AUD1000 ticket then, you would have to be flying just about continuously all year round, one thinks they may be just a marketing gimmick to get you in.

Like trading stamps, the "gift" redemption value (against flights) is considerably greater than the "cash" redemption value (required by law).

The number of miles needed to get a free flight would be worth only a few cents in cash, in other words, there is no cash alternative.

Although airlines do list FF points as a liabilty of fiscal statements. So there is a cash value to them, as to what the figure is, it would vary from airlines to airline.

Qantas is considering selling off it's FF program, so there must be money to be made in them.

Scouse has already pointed out that a visa will not be required providing all the docs are in place, and they seem to be.

Regarding checking the baggage through to the final destination, I recently booked a connecting flight, albeit through Hong Kong, and they wouldn't/couldn't book my luggage through. As pointed out for the boarding cards, I went to the airline transfer desk and they also sorted out my luggage without me having to go landside

What were the two airlines involved just out of curiosity?

Say you have a Thai lady who wants to visit the UK and Holland. Now if she gets a visa for the UK, presumably she would need another visa for Holland - yes ? Do you really have to jump through all the hoops again or is there some special dispensation ? Would she actually need a visa for each different european country she wished to visit ?

In this example she has a kid with a UK father and has been to europe before, though not to the UK.

In you example above she would require a UK visa and a schengen for the Netherlands (Holland). Having a UK visa does not allow entry into any other country in Europe including the Republic of Ireland.

As for the rest of Europe if your GF has a schengen visa she will be able to enter any country which is part of schengen. As for which countries juust google schengen and you will see.

But as Etihad does not fly on all legs of the OP's journey it may be that he has to collect baggage if they do not have an agreement with the corresponding airline at Thiefrow.

Read all the posts above. BTW it is VERY VERY rare for one major carrier to not do BAGGAGE interlineing with another major carrier and IATA member will do it. In anycase it has been shown that even if they do have to collect them they will be right for a transit visa.

Was talking to the curtain installer this morning, who had come to my house to install some new curtains I ordered for my house. As the conversation turned around to the ladies, found out he was 25 and still single. When I asked why, he said pretty ladies from his area were pang maak maak!!

He said he was from Sakorn Nakorn (which is not too far from Kalisin central Issan area) and when I asked how much the going rate for a pretty local girl was he said B 100,000. That's allot of money for a local boy...when I asked about trading down to a less pretty or older girl, he said it was better to remain single

I wonder how much impact the prices that farangs are ready to pay in sin sot has effected how much the local girls and their families ask from the local Thai boys?

Expatriates and tourists always complain about the attitude of lots of Thai male toughs...I wonder how many of them have been outbid by a farang for their village sweetheart's heart

Hey, if you have to bid for a lady, then just forget it. Any woman who selects the man offering the most money is not worth a light.

That comment shows you don't understand what Sinsod is all about. It isn't about bidding and the highest bid win's. There is still love involved in it all. That being said there is an element of negotiation with the parents.

I remember this being the case when I flew Thai to Iceland first time. Other times it has not been so simple, maybe because of some reasons posted here, ie budget airlines and such. I trust Ethiad will book us all the way or else I´ll sik CbrLad on ´em

If Ethiad is a member of IATA and do interlining they should be able to through check the bag. If in the very unlikey event they don't, then don't do what you suggested, ie leaving your missus in no mans land (before immigration) without a passport and going out to re-check!!! Very bad thing to do.

I am sure there is some resentment when a farang marries a pretty girl from Issan, i should be fine as i married a dark skin flat nosed Issan farm girl. Ugly as hel_l too. So the local guys probably are quite thankful

By the looks of your little fella in your avatar, i find it hard to believe in the "she's ugly as hel_l" crapola.. :D

Hahaha, you got me!

OR.. perhaps i velly velly hansum man

Ugly parents good looking kids. Well that's my theory anyway and I am sticking to it.

As for Sinsod I compensated my inlaws 100,000 for a 28 yo Issan girl with Uni degree. Didn't get the money back, the parents need it more than me. I am lead to believe that her elder sister who married a Thai guy about 5 years ago had a compensation figure of about 75,000. So guess in one way, taking into account inflation and all in my inlaws family there is not difference between a Thai and Farang. Of course when it comes to taking care of the family in the future I might get hit up a bit more, but that is a different story....