theoldgit

There is a warning about delays on the site which is understandable, but I managed to book in about 30 mins, and I did suffer from Gateway timeouts as well, think you need to be really patient.

One word of warning, I even got a timeout after I had submitted my credit card details, before I tried to book again I went into their system and checked the "manage my booking" function and lo and behold it was there, the itinerary arrived in about 15 mins.

The free flights are out there, I have just booked flights to Bali next summer, 1600 Baht return for the two of us, including their new "convenience fee" that has crept in for using a credit card - of course you have to use a card to book on-line.

Me thinks that's a good deal.

I very much doubt it, it hasn't started yet.

AA website says the flight offer is up to October 2010, but the drop down menu dates only go up to July 2010. <deleted>?

I can only assume that the dates will be available on the drop down menu when the offer opens.

those 99 baht "far in advance" tickets will be on offer again tonight starting midnight for May - October 2009

Yes, that's why I started this thread

We are flying to Bali on Monday with Air Asia, booked in February paying 2,340 Baht for the two of us, not a bad deal me thinks.

Yes, the buffet is a bit limited but the selection was ok me and the quality is pretty good.

The wine flight is ok, but the sizes are pretty small.

Went there a few times during their two for one promotion during September and October, but at the full price I think there is far better value in town.

Well I've just given you one - not sure if that sounds right

Funnily enough my girlfriend had to fly up at short notice yesterday, we booked on Sunday night, to see her mother.

She told me this morning that her mother knows your wife's salon, though I didn't think she uses it, she says yes I know the salon "they have falang sit outside too much"

Unfortunately I could not come but I promise I will soon.

Air Asia are running their latest free flights promotion from 00.01 on 11 November for travel from 1 May to 30 October 2010.

http://www.airasia.com/site/th/en/promotio...e=rr097#Bangkok

Vietnam and Laos are indeed good examples as are Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and South Korea and I'm sure there are others, but India is not one of them.

Those countries allow visa free travel but not necessarily hassle free

Thanks to all for the replies, very helpful and informative.

I have been living in Bangkok for a couple of years, after a while in Hua Hin which didn't work out for reasons nothing to do with Hua Hin and it's way of life. After working in a fairly stressful job in London coupled with the daily commute via rail and underground Bangkok doesn't really phase me, and whilst I have a fairly good circle of friends here it's not really what I came to Thailand for.

My good lady is from Namsom though she moved to Bangkok to work in her families business and of course to find me, and whilst she has not spoken about returning "home" I think we both need to explore all options, though I am worried it might going from one extreme to the other and in fact be too quiet. I have been to Namsom a few times to visit my good lady's parents and have always been made most welcome, her father repairs agricultural equipment and has been having a hard time of late, though seems to be just about hanging on.

Anyway thanks again for everyone for taking the trouble to write the helpful replies, and "Lickey" the next time we come up I will certainly try to include a fish and chip night and I could probably to with a hair removal.

On another tack, here's a question for non- UK passport holders or residents: Does UK immigration stamp your passport on entry and exit, either or both? Or neither?

Non EU citizens will normally have their passport stamps on entry to the UK, but as there are currently no embarkation controls passports are not normally stamped on leaving the UK. I say normally because at some ports there are UKBA desks on departure but they are not always staffed, and if they are they will rarely stamp your passport, unless there is evidence of an overstay.

Thanks Dave

And I see you are from South London, as am I, the posh bit - Stockwell

Have visited Nam Som, fairly near Udon Thani, a few times but have never seen any other Farrangs there.

Place is very quiet, and I suspect too quiet for me, but never rule anything out. Would be interested to learn if anybody has any experience of this town.

I am considering taking a job with the company who saying that I must be eligible for a work permit.

I entered Thailand a little over two years ago and have extended my stay twice based on retirement. If I decide to take this job would I need to leave Thailand and get a new visa or can transfer my stay in country?

Thanks

Not really a dinning deals question, but I have just received a 1000 Baht voucher for the 55 Restaurant at The Centara Grand after renewing my Bangkok Post subscription, and I wondered if anyone had any experience of this place. Is the food any good and as 1000 Baht going to go any way for paying for a meal there, or is the voucher just a teaser to get you through the doors?

Sorry to ask on your thread JC, but I figured out that the people to read your column, sorry thread, might have an idea.

OMG! Really?! Can I still book the tickets now?

Yes, the sale started today.

http://www.lufthansa.com/online/portal/lh/...7C3-Day%20Sales

I noticed that Lufthansa are advertising a three day sale in today's press, with prices to Europe at 5,000 Baht, plus taxes and surcharges. You have to book from today until Thursday, with travel from 1st December until the end of June 2010.

I certainly found seats available at 5,000 Baht for the dates I was interested in but was a little shocked at the extra charges of 20,000 Baht for the extras on flights to the UK, though I suppose 25,000 Baht is still not a bad price.

Other European countries had lower charges presumably because they do not impose the same APD as the outgoing Labour Government are now charging.

All the info is here: http://www.vfs-uk-th.com/

As TVE has indicated the processing time seems to be down, but she needs to get cracking if she wants to go to a cold, wet and dreary UK for Christmas.

Have a read of this website, check the prices of flights to the UK over the Christmas period and if there are any specific questions ask them here.

If she has a good job which might help proving the reasons to return and a good job, which would probably mean she wouldn't need sponsoring, then she is almost there. As I say read through the information on the VFS and ask anything she is not sure about, it's a relatively painless process but she needs to get cracking.

Sorry this happened, just the result of one of the most flawed exit systems in the world.

I seem to remember them trialing a system which was a machine which looked very similar to the ones they use for self check these days, I think I scanned my passport on this machine which was located air-side and entered the details of my flight and it gave me a printed receipt of my departure, presumably logging my details onto their database.

I agree that their exit system is flawed so it beggars th question why do they place so much reliance on it, with the passengers being forced to explain their mistakes?

I think you could make a career of this JC, though it appears you already have,

Great posts and the tips are really useful, though I suspect you have too much time on your hands.

Yes it is, for both their domestic and international flights.

As "rfukata" suggests, for your own piece of mind you might want to check their website though it should be detailed on your booking.

On the other hand I recently flew in to Baltimore, the guy at the desk asked me the purpose of the visit and when I replied I was coming over for the weekend to attend my daughters birthday party he simply replied with a dead pan face "you are required to drink as much as possible and party for for the whole weekend" adding, with a wry smile, "I don't make the rule, I just enforce them".

I little off topic, well a lot off topic really, but it proved to me that they can be human, I know it can be a pretty mundane job, and his cheerful approach cheered me up no end and was a really good start to the weekend.

I am pretty sure it must be in the country of residence, which makes sense as an interview, though unlikely, may be required.

Just one point, she applies for her visa not you.

If she is in Thailand and has a UK Visa it's very quick and easy and almost guaranteed.

I don't know if your ID could get everyone a cheap price. Go try it and report back.

I have seen their ads in "The Bangkok Trader" which clearly state, in English, that foreigners will be charged the local rate with proof that they live in Thailand, it mentions a Thai driving licence as acceptable proof and I believe there are others.

I have been there a few times and have always been asked if I lived in Thailand and had proof.