I was just having a chat with my close, personal friend Michael O'Leary about Ryanair (which serves Europe) and Air Asia (which offers a similar service around Asia). There's a huge gap in the market (literally) between Europe and Asia. I was suggesting that he get together with the boss of Air Asia and set up a joint-venture offering low-cost flights between one of Ryanair's European hubs and one of Air Asia's hubs in Asia. Then we could all get to Bangkok for a song and a dance. Turns out Air Asia X is already set to announce flights between KL and London Stanstead for the end of this year. How very interesting. If anyone working in the industry hears anything, be sure and keep us up to date.

Great name drop. What a fascinating guy to know! - He has been a hero of mine for many a year

Don't start me off about that horrid man and his dreadful airline

Hi Cliff

Please pass on to your "close, personal friend" that I think he's a complete ****. By the way, I am most impressed that you're his friend!!

Many thanks

I have flown Air Asia twice from Macua to Bangkok and return, both times the plane was delayed for more than two hours, the first one we had to wait at the gate no toilets and nothing to drink, the return we sat on the plane for one hour again no drinks no explanation when we asked the staff just shrug of the shoulders, back to the gate another one hour twenty minute wait no one said sorry here's a drink of water, I think they should be called Air Cowboys, its a better name for them

db1 i am suprised to hear of your difficult travels with air asia.

we used them quite a few times around thailand and outside and always on time and confortable even though a few planes seemed really old.

if only the low cost airlines over here were as good!

My only concerns with these cheap airlines are the riff-raff they may end up bringing over. People that would normally holiday in hideous resorts in Spain or the lager lout crowd.

i shall look forward to bringing a rafia donkey and a kiss me quick hat back from bangkok next time then

How long is it since you were in Pattaya, SteveR ???
The invasion of the lager lout started long since !!

it most certainly did.......... definitely a good reason to avoid the place, unless thats what you are looking for

call me an old fart, but i enjoyed hua hin a lot more

i know its off topic, but, do you recommend Hua Hin then Axel. Thinking of a week there in April. We normally have a week in Pattaya, but like you say, maybe its being an old fart but just not 'up for it' this time. Jumpa is 'allowing' me a day/night in Korat to have a round of golf then we are looking for a week somewhere different. Hua Hin is favourite cos she can get staff rate at the Hilton

What happened to the Air Phuket aircraft grounded at LHR?

quote:

What happened to the Air Phuket aircraft grounded at LHR?

I think it was LGW. Something to do with not paying airport fees (allegedly, of course) and the aircraft safety systems not working. When it was sorted, the CAA allowed them a one-way journey back home.

Packpao

quote:

Originally posted by N Barton:
Hua Hin is favourite cos she can get staff rate at the Hilton

If that means cheap, you'd be mad not to go for it, it's excellent and slap bang in the centre of town whilst still being on the beach.

If you're into golf, Hua Hin has at least 7 courses to enjoy with more springing up all the time, usually linked to housing.

I'm staying a little further out - about 4k - in a rented house.

Sorry - off topic I know!

N Barton,

We enjoyed our stay in Hua Hin too, we wnet by bus from Bangkok. The only problem we had was a lot of Jellyfish in the sea and on the beach, everything else was perfect.

Air Asia X has yet to decide between Stansted or Manchester for it's service between Kuala Lumpar and UK. Flights will commence in early 2009 using A346x600 aircaft (ex Qatar Airways)

Also regarding Air Asia X ask your friend to talk with Richard Branson who is already an investor !

We went to Hua Hin for our honeymoon and it was a lovely sleepy seaside village. Absolutely no hassle whatsoever from either shop sellers or market traders.

Loved the night market which was great. Some nice goods on offer with none of the "you must buy this" hassles you get in pattaya.

It may be a bit quiet for some peoples tastes. The bar scene was about as lively as I was yesterday after my team was beaten by cardiff

We stayed in a hotel just across the road from the Hilton. It was just over 1000baht a night and about 3 minutes walk from the beach. Perfect.
If you fancy a laugh you can do the train ride back to bangkok at the end of the day. That was good fun. Even slower than by road though. I think I could have walked quicker. You must book tickets in advance though.

The beach is superb as well. Watch out for the jellyfish at certain times of the year though.

Axel, what time of the year did you go? It's not always so sleepy and you must surely have got hassle from the tailors?

The place is by all accounts developing very quickly and when I go back it will be for the first time in two years, which is the longest I have been away since 2000. I'm worried it will have changed all the more in that time.

But most of that change is outside the centre, which hasn't changed too much and I hope that remains the case.

I recall it being sleepy in 2000, but it wasn't then a destination for ex-pats and all the housing developments you now see weren't there.

I'm looking forard to going back.

And the jelly fish are there now according to the local forum.

I didn't go back for 5 or so years until a couple of years ago, and then once again last May. The differences were noticeable even after 12 months (from 2006 until 2007)

A McDonalds was built, for example, but the worst thing of all was the proliferation of real estate agents and to me they just suck the character and life out of any place, including many of our high streets.

Outside of the town they seem hellbent of building it up to resemble the Spanish coast, lifeless estates going up everywhere full of European retirees and 2nd home owners.

i walked past many tailors shops and market stalls in the town and did not get hassled once in the 4 days we were there.

great place

we were there in early march last year

it does seem a place that will develop big style over the next few years. i really do hope it does not turn into another pattaya. seems very unlikely as it is more aimed at older people and not the blackpool that is pattaya

Axel, you must look 'Ard! no-one goes past a Hua Hin tailors shop without being induced to step inside!!!

I doubt it will turn into another Pattaya, Thank God. Sure, Hua Hin Has a smattering of bars centred around 4 small Soi's, but there are lot's of family places as well (even in those Soi's).

As you say, it's aimed at a different market and most visitors are Thai.

most tourists i saw there were the type who had lots of cash.

me look hard? you are joking. i could not bounce a ball!!!

we walked all over the place and nobody came out to hassle us at all. maybe my wife scared them off?

good job i decided not to get myself some crocodile shoes as my suitcase was opened up at gatwick airport on the way home and all the guy seemed interested in was my wife's fake alligator handbag. i had to convince him that she only paid about a fiver for it and it was not real.

If Hua hin seems to busy you can pop along the coast to Takieb, which is what HH was like when I first started going over 10 years ago. About B100 in Tuk tuk.