MangoKorat

Surely anything's better than a petulant 12 year old who lies every time he opens his mouth and cries 'witchhunt' whenever he's accused of breaking the law?

God knows! Granted it doesn't happen as often these days but its the same as those who just accept "you go to fast sir" - with no evidence. If I know I wasn't speeding, I simply refuse and ask for evidence - never failed me yet and neither have I spent ages parked up arguing with them. They don't want to waste time fighting this 'arrogant' farang while there other potential 'victims' passing - normally just waved on.

Never used that agent but I have used many others and I always check them out on Trustpilot. Never had a problem. The agents I've used have all issued e-tickets within minutes.

Agreed, I used to use Travel Trolley or their sister company, Southall Travel quite a lot but in recent years they have not been so competitive. Always helpful though and open 24 hours.

Why? I've been using a mixture of agents/airlines for 22 years, never really had a problem and I rarely need to change my dates. What I have saved over the years far outweighs any potential problems. What really annoys me though, is if the airlines can offer agents discount prices, why not offer the same to their frequent flyer members? Its not difficult for an airlines to identify those people.

Although I sort of agree with your general sentiment, let's keep to the facts to be against the law, the work doesn't have to be paid work. There's always crazy talk on here when this subject comes up - people saying they can't even paint their house, one guy a while back claimed he was fined for drilling a hole in the wall of his condo etc. All I would say to anyone in that situation is, if what you are doing is on your own premises and falls within the definition of DIY - don't accept any 'fine' from the police. Tell them you want the matter decided by a court - the chances of you receiving a summons are 0 to zero.

And just how do you 'stay and fight' if you're locked up for simply critcising the system? You know very well that even if he says something that isn't actually illegal - if they don't like it, he will face trumped up charges. Its very easy for us to pass judgment on this guy, we are not Thai so although we may comment on the country's so called democracy etc. it doesn't really get to us, not in the way it does for those Thai's who care - its not our country.

Just to back up what I said about fare differentials. I have never found the airlines prices to be the same but if they are within £30, I book direct. I regularly find that the airlines are £100 - £150 more. This is a screen shot taken tonight on Travelsupermarket's site. The cheapest agent is £843 whilst Etihad is £921. Yes, I followed the agent's deal through and yes, its bookable at the price stated. I also checked on Etihad's site and the price is correct.

Even the better quailty ones will pack up if you don't use them regularly. Calcium is their biggest enemy.

Yep, new announcements on a weekly basis - bunch of mixed up cookies.

What's mindboggling to me is why anyone would pay £100's more on some occasions by booking direct. Believe me, I always check and if the price is close, of course I book direct but you can usually do that on the comparison site in any case. You certainly can on Travelsupermarket.

Interesting that so many insist that booking direct is better but very strange that so many say agents prices are not much cheaper. I always compare before booking and have saved £ thousands. Not an opinion but fact - I travel 4 to 6 times per year so the price is important to me. My last flight with Qatar was £102 cheaper through an agent. May's flight was just £27 cheaper so I booked direct with Etihad. The beauty of using a comparison site is that most also list the airline's price. I sometimes check this on the airline's website and so far its always been the same. Sometimes more timings are shown on the airline's site One of the annoying things is that sometimes when you click on a flight/price, when you arrive at the agents site, the flight is not available. They claim its just not updated on the system yet...... bull. Over the years I've learned that its usually the same agents that operate that way - so I avoid them. I won't name full names on this but UK members will probably recognise one with 'Guru' in their name - they are the worst I've seen for this.

You don't book with the website - they direct you to an agent.

Are you referring to sites base in Asia or ones like Travelsupermarket that I previously mentioned? I can't speak for other sites but I've used Travelsupermarket for years and never had a problem. They are simply a comparison site that display prices and deals offered by many different agents. When you choose a price you are then transferred to the agents website to make the booking. Before booking you can check out the agents credibilty on sites such as Trustpilot. Travelsupermarket also, in most cases, display the price of the airline involved and will direct you to their site to complete the booking if you choose to book direct. I normally have a rule - if the agents price is less than £30 cheaper than going direct - I book with the airline. However, that is very rare and I've saved thousands of £'s over the years by using agents. Anyway, what I'm trying to establish is if there are any Asia/Thailand specific comparison sites.

These guys are sick - sick but very aware that what they do is wrong. Why the hell would you find a child sexually attractive? Never been able to work that out.

We all have our preferences that we swear by and when I'm in the UK, I find that Travelsupermarket works best for me - its Kayak based so other sites are similar. I am aware that I can use that site (and Kayak) to book flights FROM Thailand but I have no idea if I'm getting offered the best prices. So, when you're in Thailand, which booking sites do you use? I am aware that Booking.com are now selling flights but there's are rarely the best prices and on the one time I booked through them, I was simply passed on to another agent. Are there sites similar to Kayak etc. that are Thailand/Asia based and if so, are the agents trustworthy and do they offer anf fare protection?

When I return from the UK I'm normally on a late flight so I stay over in Bangkok and have a night out. On a recent trip I bumped into a bloke I've known for a few years. Sitting in a bar opposite Big Dogs & Morning night I commented that the girls were older and uglier than I remembered them to be 20 years ago. To which my mate commented 'Yeah, its the same girls"........🤣

This is not a private chat - its a public forum.

Terrorist? On what basis do you make that claim? Do you have some 'special access' to the facts?

I'm guessing that you have some inside information on the background of all the 'boat people'? And that you have specialist knowledge on how to distinguish between those who are genuine and those who really need help? You should go talk to Starmer, he's looking for a solution to the problem - someone with your apparent knowledge could probably demand a very high salary.

I do not think that immigration per se causes problems for the UK. I actually don't believe in borders as such. However, I do believe that when a country is full, its full. The world, more particularly Europe has been defined by immigration for centuries - the entire region is a mish mash of races. However, it is only within the last 100 years or so that we have seen the rise of serious racism and that is because of what? Colour! Previous migrants have not been obvious so they were more accepted. The white man's arrogant belief that he is somehow superior and that people of a different colour are lesser beings, responsible for more crime is behind their racism. Should a white american man come to live in the UK, would he draw the same thoughts? My niece for example, recently made a social media post complaining that asylum seekers were able to claim more benefits than British born people and generally berating immigrants as benefit cheats. I pointed out to her that according to a news report last year, there are now white British 3rd generation unemployed in Leeds. That's 3 generations that have never worked. I probably know 8 - 10 coloured people, all of them either work or have retired from work. The basis of my niece's post came about from misinformation created out of populist misconceptions that often have their basis in more deliberate misinformation spread by racist right wing groups. What has the above to do with the current debate? The countrywide riots were the result of misinformation spread by racist groups - it never fails to amaze me how easily people believe what they read. The rise of social media has given voice to all sorts of groups and individuals and very few of them contribute positively to society.

But its the misinformation that started the riots - however, I believe the far right groups have been waiting for an excuse.

And where do you draw that inference from? My comments on that matter are not reluctant at all. They are widely held beliefs - mainly based on environmental concerns. If calling the rioters - the people that destroyed property that both you and i paid for, damaged shops and houses, and generally terrorised non ethnic British people living in the UK - far right, racists, meatheads and uneducated is bad - guilty as charged. Perhaps you think I should talk nicely about these hooligans?

To assist your confusion. The guy who murdered the young girls was black and born in Britain to Rwandan parents - not that that had anything to do with his crime. He was/is clearly suffering from a severe form of mental illness. The far right groups posted information on social media stating that he was a black asylum seeker - he was not. I hope that clears the matter up for you.

Again, you are being 'selective' in your reading. I suggest you read all my posts.