BC Tam

I just booked the family's year end holiday this evening - am resisting urge to work out how much is actual air fare and how much goes into taxes, fuel surcharges (hasn't oil prices gone down lately ?!) etc etc for fear of resulting heartache thereafter !

One cannot but notice the differences in approach by MH and SQ MH : Look here, we're bleeding red ink cause it's everybody else's fault except ours, you can't expect us to remain flying with cost of fuel like it is now and we have to fly all these socially obligated domestic services for the locals too. So, we're going to jack up our prices, like it or not and if we don't make money this way, we'll find some way yet to squeeze blood from stones ! SQ : Here are our new offerings - feel free to be pampered to your heart's content. We're confident you'll be so taken in by the subtle changes introduced, just so everything looks new and refreshed. In fact, we're so sure you can't wait to sample this new product, we will be attaching a premium, price wise, upon their introduction. More champagne ?! OK OK, perhaps a bit lob sided but then it's just one person's observation !

Let's put it this way, they've been exchanging recipes and suggesting improvements here and there so far, but the actual cooking ingredients, much less the cooking utensils and other hardware are but a distant reality at this point in time !!

It is quite true the 747 programme too had its 'problems' and doubters during its gestation, birth and infancy. If I've got my facts right, the project itself resulted from failure in competition, to Lockheed, to supply what is now the C-5 Galaxy to the USAF. So, Boeing is no stranger to the downs of the industry as far as history can tell. However, bear in mind there wasn't the intensity of A vs B competition then, as is nowaday. Perhaps more importantly, it's a Europe vs US competition nowadays. Granted there would have been industrial rivalry from Lockheed, McD, Convair et al in those days, but I believe nobody else was planning to develop a competing giant against the 747 then. Furthermore, competition against a rival in similar stage of development is one thing, competition against a well proven successful predecessor (as what Airbus is trying to do with their A380) is another ball game. SV, If you're Boeing's CEO, suggest you get off that chair and get a few extra nails, make doubly sure the rival's coffin is securely fastened ! Smoking is bad for you in any case !! Whilst you're at it, can you arrange for a freebie tour of Everett and some corporate give-aways

Pieter, I believe KUL (MTB that is) is always very quiet nowadays, irrespective whether there is a KLM flight arriving or not And this ever since LCCT opened for business and Malaysian aviation services "rationalisation" programme. I wonder if we will have to wait for re-irratinalisation before MTB gets properly populated once again

Is the model flying already ? If not, maybe not a very bright idea. Reason ? This 380 fiasco has mopped up so much of Airbus and EADS resources, both financial and technical, and likely to sponge up quite considerably more just so to clear the present hurdles. What is then left to move other projects along ? Remember, it has been quoted that even the A350 is in danger of being ditched

Hey, they are changing chief executives more rapidly than we change chief ministers here in Sabah (well, used to anyway) Just imagine the tremendous bargaining advantage Emirates has now over Airbus. Wonder how far they will stoop - lifetime warranty, free parts and service for first xx years or xx,xxx,xxx miles, whichever comes first, etc etc ?

Life is not going to be easy at Airbus anytime soon I reckon !

Sorry folks, my mistake - charters will be operated by China Eastern (MU?)

I remember watching clip of an equally scary MH landing at Kai Tak as the KE one. Iirc, one of the engines actually smacked the runway too

OK, judging from your name, you better have the antihistamine instead !! But after that suggestion, anybody's guess whether the flight carries any antihistamine in its 'first aid' kit ? The old fashioned drowsy varieties mind you, the newer generation non-sedating stuff would be useless in such cases

QUOTE "Ala...kalau tak nak puasa, cakap jela." "Ala (doesn't mean much does it !) ... if you don't want to fast, just say so." Well, that seems about the limit of my linguistic ability - for the rest of the passage, best left to the more fluent amongst us !! For the record, that quote is in bad taste, irrespective of circumstances imo OK, whilst we are on the subject, how does one adjust for fasting and breaking of fast timings when flying across many time zones (eg KUL-LHR vv) ?

I'll go with the others' advice - DO NOT overnight at BKI, particularly T2 (AK Terminal) !! Unless you have some fetish for the mess of construction sites Having said that, you're only travelling in Jan, by which time T2 should be looking a lot more decent than now, if the PR dept's of Global Upline, AK, MAHB and Sabah Tousism can be believed. Best choice would be the Casuarina imo, within walking distance of T2. Can also walk to the beach area for food. Get some proper rest before you embark on your adventure the next day, a long one by the look of your schedule ! Enjoy (PM me if you need assistance )

One cannot help but feel there could be more to the story than what Airbus/EADS has decided to reveal to the world. So, you have wiring problems - is it an 18 months worth of delay ? Or could that actually be a screen, behind which they could be frantically trying to find remedies to other problems. Performance not up to guaranteed parameters perhaps ? Weight issues ? Washroom plumbing not flushing properly ?! Mind you, all this is just mere speculation on my part, so just laugh it off if it doesn't make sense !

This forum here is such a rich source of education, I got my excuse ready already for future use : "Sorry ah boss, late for work today. Haze so bad outside how to find way to office"

Isaac, I think 738 is for Oct & Nov only, thereafter equipment scheduled to be A300-600 Chan, Not just at night, but in the DEAD of night ! I just got info from travel agent friend that China Southern will be operating a series of charters into BKI from end Oct to Dec, A320 operated. And you guessed it, something like 2am departures !!

Pieter the party pooper !!

Have to agree, I personally cannot see what the big hoo-hah Sepilok is supposed to be - perhaps trying to ward off pesky mosquitoes and nosey monkeys all the while. But then we the locals would be the last to appreciate what we are presented with on daily basis whilst the novelty value will strike all foreigners with full force wonders ! All said, our local STPC (tourism promotion body) must have done one heck of a fantastic promotion on Sabah for the results we're getting re. tourist arrivals.

Thanks for the feedback guys ! What can one do but just sit back, let the jaw drop and plain and simple just be amazed outta one's mind at the number of flights in/out HKG !! Bear in mind, those are just flights to three destinations only, NOT counting flights from and flights to/from the very numerous other destinations. Sneeze, A word of warning - after HKG, you're likely to drop dead from sheer utter boredom if ever you try our BKI here !!

My, how Virgin has evolved since it's introduction all those years ago. IIRC, it was conceived as a lower cost alternative to British Airways, targetted at the budget conscious younger age bracket group - I suppose a mid of road milestone in evolution of the LCC's of today. Hats off to Sir Richard for the astounding success since

I wonder which of the following routes is the busiest in terms of (a) frequencies ( total capacity 1 HKG-Shanghai 2 HKG-Beijing 3 HKG-Taipei Thanks for any help !

Apparently, if you discount 'reclaimed' land, the Netherlands would be quite a tiny nation ! True Pieter ?

Strange, but the idea never really caught on with other airlines either, correct me if mistaken. My guess is it must be very difficult for the crew to remember all the time who to 'pamper' and whom to 'discriminate' upon ! As for the direction MH's inflight meals are heading, it will soon cease to be 'enjoyed' in true sense of word Rather, pax will be doing the airline a favour to consume what MH deems palatable ! Mind you, my experience lately has largely been on domestic, may be a different story on international sectors.

Checked the KE site - ICN/BKI flights are back on from next month ! Bringing in B738's first, then A306's later - much more realistic approach I reckon ! Downer is the flights will again be the midnight run - very spotter unfriendly. Still, where there is a will, ..........

Cultural or geographical differences ? IPH is about half that driving distance from KUL and PEN - but you see the hue and cry about the lack of services into the airport ?!