theoldgit

Thai Immigration will not be concerned about your visa, though you will have to convince the check-in staff at with your airline, as it's them who would be liable for a £2000 fine if they carried you without entry clearance.

Providing you are set to land during the validity of the visa I don't envisage you will have a problem, though be prepared to convince the check-in staff.

Or tell you to pack your bags and go home to your own country, if you don't like it.

Why oh why is this some peoples stock answer for someone having the audacity to ask a, not unreasonable, question?

I'm sure the tourists will understand the reasoning, even if I don't.

Most airlines will provide an escort service. Just ask when checking in.

Wow that's a good service, I remember Virgin used to offer an onboard massage in Upper Class, but they have stopped it now

Sorry 7by7, couldn't let that one go.

By reading this thread you can see that Thai is cheaper on some routes and more expensive on others. We just flew Thai from Bali to BKK return for cheaper than AirAsia. No complaints for that.

And I have just returned from Bali paying 2,800 Baht with Air Asia for the two of us, whilst Thai wanted 36,000.

I think it all depends on whats available when you book.

I was thinking of going to The UK mid January, Thai wanted in the region of 160,000 Baht each in something called economy.

If he opens a Nationwide Offshore account he could have his pension paid into that in Stirling, he can then transfer funds electronically into Bangkok Bank and get a slightly better rate. It does cost £20 a pop so, if he can afford to do so, it might be better doing two or three months at a time.

My Civil Service pension is paid into my Thai Bank, in Stirling, and I lose about 1 to 2 Baht in the Pound, depending on when they purchase the Baht.

On one months pension he would probably lose out but anything over that he would be in profit.

Not sure if that makes sense, but I know what I mean.

I heard somewhere that Korea is one the driest countries in the region and all snow at the resorts is infact artificial, is this true?

There certainly are snow cannons there but we had fresh snow when we were there in January, and there was plenty of snow on the roof tops.

Sorry not sure how long it's on for, whilst they were still setting up today there will be Beer Gardens on the site soon.

We stayed in Yongpyong which was, as I recall two to three hours by bus, was very good and pretty high, even had night skiing, there were resorts nearer Seoul but we were recommended to go to this one, and I'm glad we did.

Edit - forgot to add that there was plenty of English spoken.

South Korea is probably the best, good resorts and certainly a lot cheaper than Japan, a visa is required for Japan for some nationalities but not not many require visas for South Korea, including Thais.

I skied in South Korea earlier this year, most enjoyable.

It's a pity you're not based in Bangkok, Central World is having an exhibition of all the South Korean ski resorts.

First of all, the limit of 30 Kg per bag (I do not know where the 32 Kg comes from, perhaps a variable...?) has been negotiated by the unions in the various countries in the world so that baggage handlers will not hurt themselves picking up bags.

Yes, I am pretty sure it's a variable.

Thai has a weight limit of 30kg per piece, whilst other airlines differ. British Airways, for instance, has a weight limit of 32kg per piece with items heavier having to go freight, I am pretty sure this applies to all UK carriers, as I recall the belts at check-in at UK airports are calibrated to cut out over 32kg.

Of course you are still subject to the weight restriction of your ticket and frequent flyer status.

I shall be eating my Christmas dinner with the "Bah Humbugs" in the food court, or MacDonalds or wherever I don't have to pay an overinflated price for a poorly cooked, bulk produced meal!

Ah the famous McDonald's "Turkey and Sprout Burger".

Whilst I am not attempting to defend Thai Airways "logic", I thought there was a worldwide ban on individual pieces over 32kg, something to do with the people who have to lift them?

Qatar Airways currently 25k return. Brilliant airline!

Except when I want to travel unfortunately.

Same thing happened to me, I called 12call, and they either blocked it or cancelled the subscription within a couple of days, they even called back to check.

You can also download all the soaps, and practically everything else, from UK Nova, I have just watched last weeks episode of Spooks.

I think this is against Thai Visa rules ... discussing where to download illegal stuff ...

It was allowed before when someone asked a similar question, I suppose it depends if downloading from these sites is actually illegal, I really don't know. One site that allows access to iplayer by using a proxy server even advertises on The Radio Times website.

It's a real pity that this thread has deteriorated onto such unpleasantness between some members.

can you tell me where the fair is ??

It's at the Shrewsbury School, on the river near Saphan Taksin BTS.

http://www.bctfn.com/

So, thanks about the streaming - but does anyone know if anyone does DVD's of the British soaps ??

Try the Ploenchit Fair on Saturday, they had loads there last year but I'm not sure they were that recent.

MBK?

You can also download all the soaps, and practically everything else, from UK Nova, I have just watched last weeks episode of Spooks.

Yes, but the red plate belongs to the dealer I think it's not registered at that stage, as well as not driving out of hours you are not supposed to drive it out of the area, though you can permission to make a specific journey out of hours and out of the area from the vehicle office who will endorse the book you get with the red plates.

Not sure about the insurance but I would have thought you were right on that.

The thinking behind it is that the police are supposed to be able to check that any driver is legally able to drive that car, at night they cannot access the dealers records - that's what I was told anyway.

And it shouldn't be driven on the roads after about 18.00.

If an angry ex-boyfriend has paid for a visa to be processed, is it possible that he may inform the immigration dept that he will no longer act as sponsor?

Yes indeed, in fact not necessarily an angry ex-boyfriend. If somebody has sponsored an applicant and the relationship is no more, it is in their own best interests to notify UK Visas of he fact. You have to remember that sponsors are recorded on a database as are applicants, if the ex-boyfriend decided to sponsor somebody else in the future questions might well be asked. UK Visas would more than likely not cancel the visa but she could have to satisfy the IO at the port of entry that she could keep herself and that she would return at the end of the visit, and as there had been a material change entry could very well be refused.

As 7by7 points out she would probably be waived through with few or any questions, IO's are sometimes instructed not to waste to much time on passengers with entry clearance as busy times.

Yes the details of the sponsor are available to the IO at the port of entry, there are plans to make these quickly available on-line but I am not sure if this has been fully implemented. Above each visa vignette there is a handwritten number, something like "3670/0" this refers to the case paper file in the visa section and would ensure that the details can be easily obtained.

As this is, presumably, her first visit, and as it is a visit, then it is extremely unlikely that an IO will let her through the UK/EU gate with you.

Why?

Is there something set in stone in the immigration rules, after the first visit will it then be OK to go through UK/EU Channel?

I am not disagreeing, I would just like to know is there a ruling, a standing requirement, or any other reason?

It is UKBA policy that families will not be split up on arrival, a long time girlfriend, and by that I mean some with whom you have a relationship for over two years could be regarded as family. A wife would certainly be allowed through the EU channel with her husband though a girl friend would depend on the IO. I would agree with 7by7 that you might cause yourself problems if you did, so it might be better to go through the non-EU channel or blag yourself into the fast track line.

That said, I took a calculated risk and my girlfriend and I went through the EU channel at LHR in the summer on her first visit and the IO smiled and said "have a good trip".

Good advice, but too late for me I'm afraid.

I have booked a couple more flights this morning, but have found that you really need to be flexible for these free ones, at least you seem to be able to get into the site now.