Keeps

£150 is unfair for the emergency exit seat but the airlines know somebody will pay it for the extra comfort. I'm quite lucky in that I usually know my travel plans well in advance so can plan ahead carefully. I book the fare class that suits me best considering the circumstances of the upcoming trip. For instance, for a trip next February I paid an extra £100 for the fare class on the return leg from Bangkok but that allowed me to redeem points to upgrade to Royal Laurel. The cheaper option did not. On a separate note, the last time I used points to upgrade from economy to premium economy on the London to Bangkok leg I was hit with an additional charge of £104 when checking in. This was the long haul tax that the UK government imposes. As I was no longer flying economy I had to pay the difference which would have already been priced into the premium economy ticket. I was not happy but not much I could do. As I've mentioned previously, happy to fly economy now on the London to Bangkok leg in the front row emergency exit seat.

My friend tends to get to Schipol mid morning on the day of his flight which departs around 9pm. He travels light so is not bothered about carting luggage around although there are storage lockers at the airport. He then gets the train from the airport into Amsterdam Central station, has a mooch about and a few Heineken's, a bite to eat then heads back to the airport early evening to check-in for the Eva flight. I'm with you. I would need that safety margin in case the UK to Schipol leg has problems. He stays near the airport on the return leg from Bangkok then usually gets a flight back to the UK around 7am next morning. I know he did pay £729 for his last return flight in premium economy both ways but he did have some Eva reward miles to redeem against the cost. That's another reason to sign up to the Eva rewards program. Can use cash+miles to book or redeem miles for an upgrade.

I got the bid email from EVA on my trip out here last month. It is done on a 'swingometer' basis (low bid, fair, strong etc). To upgrade from economy to premium economy the starting offer was around 500 Euros which showed as 'poor'. I think you need to be in the 'fair' zone to even stand a chance of them accepting it which was around 700 Euro. To upgrade my return leg (this coming Sunday) from premium economy to Royal Laurel 1,100 Euros was shown as 'poor' and 1,450 Euro crept into the 'fair' zone. Ridiculous prices - almost as much again as the original flight ticket. Needless to say I didn't take up their kind offer. As mentioned in one of my earlier posts, I did get a free upgrade from economy to premium economy about 10 minutes before boarding on the outbound leg from LHR. Happens rarely these days.

A friend of mine has flown the last three times with EVA Air from Schipol, Amsterdam despite living in the UK. He is paying around £850 return in premium economy. For the similar flight from LHR it is around £1,700+. There are of course additional costs involved getting to/from Amsterdam but he still makes a significant saving. The flight times are not dissimilar to the EVA flights from LHR. This does involve staying a night in a hotel near the airport on the return leg as there are no suitable flights from Schipol back to the UK at that time in the evening. He did say Schipol airport itself is a bit chaotic and the EVA lounge is crap but the savings are worth it in his opinion. I always used to do premium economy both ways (paying around £880-£950) but have now started flying LHR to BKK economy (I am guaranteed emergency exit window seat at front of economy as I book well in advance combined with the Gold card). I am happy to do this as the flight departs around 9.30pm. I'll have a few drinks in the lounge, get the emergency exit talk from the stewardess out of the way, pop a pill and sleep most of the journey. I then return premium economy and every second or third flight upgrade to Royal Laurel using points. Even the economy outbound/premium inbound is still costing around £1,400. EVA are not the 'bargain' they once were but I continue to use them as I like a direct flight, the times both ways suit me and the rewards program I find useful.

You need to be Silver or above membership status to get free seat selection on EVA flights. Otherwise, I don't think you have any option other than to pay the fee or hope for the best at check-in. I would sign up to the membership program before your flight even if you do not plan on using EVA again in the future. I assume you booked directly with EVA online or using the APP? If you sign up prior to the flight your upcoming journey should be linked to your profile. It won't mean much at this stage but you MAY get a sympathetic response when checking in if they see that you are a member. I actually got a free upgrade flying from LHR to BKK last month. The flight was full and I was a lone traveller with EVA Gold card. Doesn't happen often at all these days but was a welcome surprise. Tier membership details on link below:- https://www.evaair.com/en-gb/infinity-mileagelands/about-infinity-mileagelands/tiers-and-privileges/membership-benefit/

Weren't they more than half way there after two and a half hours? Why return to Phuket taking another two and half hours? Not sure if there was a body of water to cross for the remaining part of the flight?

I have just noticed that your post got 46 positive reactions of various types and not one negative reaction. I think the masses have spoken....

Please excuse my ignorance but what is the latest situation regarding Aung San Suu Kyi? How is she now regarded by the general masses? Is she under house arrest? Is she still 'active'? I can only assume with your background, you are probably best placed to comment.

Isn't a blank gun similar to that used to start athletic events for example? I very much doubt they can fire live rounds. Would certainly make the 110 meter hurdles more exciting though....

Probably tried to sell her a rug first.....

Thank you to everyone who has replied. Each and every one a really helpful and useful response. Very much appreciated.

When the lights have been fully dimmed there is always at least one person who decides to lift the window shade to have a look outside (what exactly do they expect to see at 30,000ft?) and then, even more annoyingly, doesn't close it fully so there is a blinding gleam of light shining when you are trying to get some kip. That's my experience anyway and seems to happen on every long haul flight I take. Yes, I do ask them (if they are still awake which often they are not) or a stewardess to close it but I don't like to make a fuss. 555

I do read the forum fairly regularly - your posts? Not so much. I tend to pass them by as I know they will be of little or no value to me. Occasionally I will click on one just to see if you are maintaining your deeply anti-British stance and you rarely disappoint..... I don't mind that - I like a bit of uniformity to my day.

Could have fooled me with the anti-British vitriol you spout here on an almost daily basis. You can't have your cake and eat it (look it up if you do not know the meaning).

Yesterday, first thing, I went to see the dentist you recommended. A little trouble finding it initially as Google Maps shows it as being opposite Amora hotel whereas it is actually opposite the end of Loy Kroh Road. Not sure if they have recently moved premises. Anyway, they booked me an appointment for 2pm yesterday. Had an x-ray and the tooth in question was 'condemned'. Had an extraction (with some difficulty as the tooth had a complete vertical split). Lots of pulling and tugging but eventually came out. Mr/Dr. Pongsakorn was excellent - explained everything clearly and in detail (even pointed out a crack in another tooth that might give me problems in the future). Gave me the tooth to show to my dentist in the UK. Total bill 1,000 baht for x-ray, extraction and pain relief. Pain free for the first time in days. An excellent recommendation from yourself so thanks again for responding to my request.