MAZ3

You have to be careful of K Bank,I used an over the counter withdrawal from my(no card fee or currency exchange change)Debit card,straight into my K Bank account.

But I didn't notice the used their exchange rate instead of the Visa exchange rate,very sneaky.

I also enquired at my local Bangkok Branch and was pointed to the Banksters ATM Machine,when I pushed the point of over the counter withdrawal,they said only at a Main branch.

They did however,kindly warn me that there's a 3% exchange fee incurred. So I didn't bother to try.

I've planned my retirement without my State pension,it will probably be more like 70 if/when I get there!.

But if I do they will be a clawback from my final salary pension,not sure of the percentage yet.

It all stinks,paid all my life and people without paying a penny can get benefit's similar to my pension.

I wonder where this rule change will leave me?,paid over 35 years NIC,but 29 were opted out. Only 1% less,but may make a big difference?.

Not even our Pension Trustees could explain how much less we will get!.

I've got over 10 years(at the present rate)before I draw the BSP,I'll wait and see if paying extra to top-up any deficit is worth it.

I'm using 3BB'S 10MB to watch Netflix via a VPN,both the UK and the USA'S site. No problem with buffering once it starts,speed check constantly show's 11,over WIFI. I can watch Netflix,while she looks at her Cat VDO's on YouTube etc.

Edit. I did buy the better router for 990B,free installation. No fibre available or needed yet.

The -100 Versions,we used call them The Red Rockets,quick but limited range. However the -500,what an improvement.

Back on subject,I still fly TG and like their Jumbos with 34 inch legroom,not looking forward the 31inch on the A380's. The same as crappy BA and I'm British,my worse two flights were both on BA's 747's. Reduced legroom and knacked crew.

They fly the 777 now. I think you would find it an improvement.

Not in seat pitch you wont.......!!

Correct,newer aircraft,same crappy legroom. EVA will have the best legroom on direct flights at 33".

Yes Gents,2 inches does make a difference!

A lot of damage was done by using the old 747 rattlers on the BKK/London route for far too long.

People just went elsewhere.

Maybe a good advertising campaign to let folks know that now using A380's

The 747's may be getting on a bit,but they have 34 inch seat pitch.

The A380 only has 31(some 32),same as crappy BA.

Progress?

Ah,the Scandinavians. Lovely people,but the amount of times their late for flights,because their in the Bar!. LHR is like a cheap drinking club,compared to their home Country and yet the booze on the flight is free!.

As ex airline staff,I avoid BA long haul like the plague. 31 inch legroom,tired crew etc. I'm 6'1'' and 31 inside leg,this means I find it very difficult to stretch my legs under the seat in front,to avoid DVT. Also my friends who are ex BA staff,fly to HKG to get Business class or jump on Thai,rather than fly economy on BA and their both under 5' 8''.

Even people who have flown on BA as couriers,won't do it again. No matter how cheap,unfortunately Full fare Airlines are going down the Bucket Airline route(pun intended),reducing legroom AND seat width to pack em in!.

As said before,check on Seat Guru,before you book. I'm Flying back on Thais Jumbo soon and I will certainly miss them the service/food and Singha![emoji482]

The -100 Versions,we used call them The Red Rockets,quick but limited range. However the -500,what an improvement.

Back on subject,I still fly TG and like their Jumbos with 34 inch legroom,not looking forward the 31inch on the A380's. The same as crappy BA and I'm British,my worse two flights were both on BA's 747's. Reduced legroom and knacked crew.

IMG_0261(small).jpg

I see the BIB are enforcing the Helmet Law!,what's next?,Tea Cosies?

ImageUploadedByThaivisa Connect Thailand1426397579.928032.jpg

Are they the bottle condoms on top?

This is at Bang Chak on the Sukumvit 62 in Bangkok

It doesn't affect me yet,but it's absolutely disgusting that any British Government can treat their Citizens,(who have actually paid into the system!)in this manner.

Especially with all the money their give away to corrupt Counties around the World,so they can buy new Lear Jets etc.

Your dog will travel as "AVIH" or animal in hold and not as cargo / freight. You need to contact normal ticket booking and not cargo if you want your dog to travel with you. There are only 3 airlines currently offering direct flights from LHR to BKK - British Airways, EVA and Thai International so it should be easy for you to get prices from all three. Lots more options ofcourse with one stop along the way.

AVIH can be Cargo or baggage and can be booked to travel on the same flight as you and your wife,sorry I'm in Thailand and retired or I could have helped you directly.

I've not got any Cargo phone numbers anymore,but I'm sure you can find them,online or via the Airlines reservations call centre.

Ask EVA/THAI and BA cargo department's directly for a quote,your Dog will be looked after very well and flown on the same flight as you.

Live cargo,always carries an 100% extra cost, because of the special handling and allowing extra airspace on the aircraft etc. It will be placed in the bulk(loose compartment of the Aircraft)hold,exactly the same as an excess baggage Dog would. They are com pines that will handle it for you, but at a cost. Good luck.

That's a Gray/Grey area.

Or what Colour/Color!

My favorite place for an easy getaway (from BKK where I live and work) in Thailand? Kanchanburi.

My favorite is Camelia Resort. Was 1000 baht per night, but haven't gotten out of BKK in a while so it may have changed.

My favorite way to get to K-Buri? http://www.seat61.com/Bridge-on-the-River-Kwai.htm (Though I usually drive myself nowadays because I can't always get the 06:30 tourist train.)

I've been told the Camelia is closed for renovation,not when it reopens. And I've heard nice things about Goodtimes(I think,not Goodview).

Still learning about the area and I've downloaded Kan Wins pictures and information.

Thanks KW

Cheers

You must be SCATTY to ride a DUCATi . Ok in my youth I rode a BSA Bantam .

Me too,a D14 scrambler and a Scottish Greaves. Wish I had kept them. But I fancy something a bit quicker to haul my fat arse around.

I like Thai(TG)and I have used them since 1986,on the LHR-BKK-LHR route.

But now their stopping the B744/A340 service from July. The A380 only has 31/32 inch legroom in Economy(EY)compared to the Jumbo at 34 inches. Their main problem in that route was pricing, approx £100/£250 more than EVA or BA. Not always but usually a higher fare,than EVA or BA. Sometimes they had great deals,including CNX etc for £20 extra taxes.

I flew out on them last month,good service,nice food and a flight that was less than a 1/3 full in EY.

I wonder who will buy the TG916/TG917 slots at LHR,their worth Millions of Pounds.

Yes you can and its much better than sending Thai baht from the UK. You will get Bangkok Banks rate in Thailand (its the clearing Bank and better than its UK rate). Do not let your Uk Bank bully you into sending Baht, Halifax has a warning not to send £,ignore it(I've sent £ many times.

HSBC only charge £4 to send an International Transfer,Halifax £9.50 online (£19.50 if you call them). The Thai receiving Bank will charge you a minimum of 200B,but a maximum of 500B.

The first transfer takes 4/5 days,but after that 2/3(extra checks I assume). Swift is about £20/£25,not used it for years. Thai Banks don't have a sort code,you need the receiving Banks account address. You can Google the swift code. Regards

I was told that a builder saved the owner some by not glueing the blue water pipes(lazy bastard),but he was proud of saving a few Baht(including inside the walls. I wasn't sure if this could be true. But on retelling this story to an American friend,he went red. Same thing had happened to his place,he had to knock down the wall and rebuild. Crazy

That_Phanom -- strange number plate

MAZ23, thank you for the update. I too, know of a one elderly guy personally, who travels down from Korat every year to take advantage of this non-enforcement. I will ask his best buddy here in Pattaya what he plans to do this year.

If it helps,it was the one opposite Friendship supermarket that closed down.

Good luck to your friend!

This is all well and good for those with sufficient income 65000 or 800000 in the bank, unfortunately my mates can due neither but want to live out their lives here, so have no choice.

Correct....however

Pattaya immigration has not enforced the above regulation for quite some time provided you go through one of their favoured agents for a fee. As far as I know, this route is still available.

A friend (yes really)has for years used an agent to get his retirement extension with a agent,without having any financials at all.

He checked at Immigration once and it was legal,the agent has recently closed down. Probably can't,em,give the same service as before!.

So probably only legitimate from now on.