OK, where can I start: buy a Disco <acronym title="Business Air (United Kingdom)">II</acronym> if: -you're friends with the local dealer. Better still, you are the dealer. -you're inclined to mechanically get to know your car's foibles... -you don't mind seeing the car on the back of a tow truck. Wa...
Jump to postWe make it at home. Use pork neck (whole), cut into good-size chunks. Slice 1kg of onion. Slice 1kg of tomatoes. Take 500ml (or more) of mayonaise, add meat, onion, tomatoes, some coke (if you can't get kvas), combine well (get your hands dirty). Let it fester overnight in the fridge. Next day prepa...
Jump to postWhy does Vienna do so well? <table border="0" align="CENTER" width="95%" class="quote"><tr><td><font size="2" face="ARIAL, Helvetica, Geneva" color="#9A9DA0">Quoting <a href="/profile/blink182" class="quote" target="_blank">blink182</a> (<a href="#78" class="quote">Reply 78</a>):<br/><i>Perhaps some...
Jump to postMy personal best: Porsche 911 C4 (996) @ 278 km/h A8 Munich-Salzburg. Of interest: my pregnant wife was three weeks off giving birth... Would not do that again. As another poster mentioned, the nose does start sniffing the pavement... Conditions were excllent, no traffic, four lanes, fine weather. O...
Jump to postI recall a flight in 2004: Sin-Moscow in January: Singapore: +33 degrees, Moscow was -26 degrees. Ok, the flight was via FRA, but still the change was quite a shock to the system. To make matters worse, our (checked) bag with coats for three adults and one child went missing - so it was a quick dash...
Jump to postZHR-<acronym title="Milan - Malpensa (MXP / LIMC), Italy">MXP</acronym> on <acronym title="OLD: Crossair (Switzerland), NEW: Swiss International Airlines (Switzerland)">LX</acronym> Avrojet 85. Or <acronym title="CURRENT: Hong Kong - Chek Lap Kok International (HKG / VHHH), China - Hong Kong AND OLD...
Jump to postWell, don't travel to China or Russia (where they check your temperature on board before you deplane. I was unfortunate enough to spend a night in a chinese hospital in the infectious diseases ward with suspected swine flu until the all-clear came. All I had was a temperature, no other symptoms. NG1...
Jump to postit wasn't a regular scheduled service, but back in late July,I flew an <acronym title="OLD: Crossair (Switzerland), NEW: Swiss International Airlines (Switzerland)">LX</acronym> A340-300 from ZHR-<acronym title="Vienna - Schwechat (VIE / LOWW), Austria">VIE</acronym> when the <acronym title="Austria...
Jump to postI've flown on the new Y class (and also new J Class) and unreservedly find the new Y seats UNCOMFORTABLE!! Reasons: while the seat squab slides forward and with it, the recline of the backrest changes slightly, the headrest stays in position. So the thigh to waist angle on the hips changes (as you'd...
Jump to postUnremarkable. Been delayed once or twice by the weather. No cancellations. I've tried <acronym title="Air China">CA</acronym>, <acronym title="China Southern Airlines">CZ</acronym>, <acronym title="China Eastern Airlines">MU</acronym>, Xiamen Airlines, Hainan Airlines. The latter was the most USA-li...
Jump to postI travel mainly in Asia now, with trips to Europe & Russia about four times per year. I normally travel to the USA once per year, and this usually includes some domestic flights. When you catch up with work colleagues, suppliers, etc. at the hotel bar, *everyone* in the USA discusses how they got th...
Jump to postOk, I can't resist: Europe: O/D <acronym title="Vienna - Schwechat (VIE / LOWW), Austria">VIE</acronym>, <acronym title="Graz - Thalerhof (GRZ / LOWG / LOXG), Austria">GRZ</acronym>, <acronym title="Innsbruck - Kranebitten (INN / LOWI), Austria">INN</acronym>, ZHR, <acronym title="Geneva - Internati...
Jump to postIN Feb: -<acronym title="Cathay Pacific (China-Hong Kong)">CX</acronym> <acronym title="Brisbane (- Eagle Farm) (BNE / YBBN), Australia - Queensland">BNE</acronym>-<acronym title="CURRENT: Hong Kong - Chek Lap Kok International (HKG / VHHH), China - Hong Kong AND OLD: Hong Kong - Kai Tak Internation...
Jump to postMy top speed on a public road was 278 km/h in a Porsche 996. Ok, so it was in Germany, my heavily pregnant wife next to me and, yes, the road does get very narrow at that speed. And it is true that a sack of cement in the front luggage compartment would have helped. I've made it a point to v-max eve...
Jump to postGoodness me what a fabulous trip report! Reminds me of my time in Russia during which time I got to fly just about every Soviet type except for <acronym title="Istanbul Airlines (Turkey)">IL</acronym>-62 and and <acronym title="Istanbul Airlines (Turkey)">IL</acronym>-96. Isn't the <acronym title="I...
Jump to post<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=95% style="border-top: 1pt #28455E solid;border-right: 1pt #1B2E3F solid;border-bottom: 1pt #1B2E3F solid;border-left: 1pt #28455E solid;table-layout:fixed;border-spacing:0;padding:0;border-collapse: collapse;" bgcolor=#1E3951><tr><td><font size=2 face="ARIAL, Hel...
Jump to postMy uncle lives in the Yarra Valley, south of Healesville. While he thankfully wasn't affected, he recounted temp of 47 degrees (35 degrees inside the house). Air cond failed, could not open windows on Sat or Sun due to the smoke. In all, a miserable experience. Let's pray that those who perished ate...
Jump to postI've recenty tried to deal with Wedgwood for their food-service side, which incidentally is licensed to Oneida in USA, Asia and some other markets excluding Europe (cutlery and hotel porcelain). While the cutlery side has been a breeze, the porcelain hasn't been. Unfortunately, so much of that side ...
Jump to postOur oldest son's flights before he was two years old included: <acronym title="Moscow - Sheremetyevo (SVO / UUEE), Russia">SVO</acronym>-<acronym title="Vienna - Schwechat (VIE / LOWW), Austria">VIE</acronym>-<acronym title="Moscow - Sheremetyevo (SVO / UUEE), Russia">SVO</acronym> about 8 times on ...
Jump to post<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=95% style="border-top: 1pt #28455E solid;border-right: 1pt #1B2E3F solid;border-bottom: 1pt #1B2E3F solid;border-left: 1pt #28455E solid;table-layout:fixed;border-spacing:0;padding:0;border-collapse: collapse;" bgcolor=#1E3951><tr><td><font size=2 face="ARIAL, Hel...
Jump to postYak-40 'Rossiya' Airline <acronym title="Moscow - Vnukovo (VKO / UUWW), Russia">VKO</acronym>-<acronym title="St. Petersburg (Leningrad) - Pulkovo (LED / ULLI), Russia">LED</acronym>: should have caught the train: interior cramped, sat next to a guy with the biggest shoulders, so I had to turn and f...
Jump to postOn <acronym title="Tyrolean Airways (Austria)">VO</acronym>: <acronym title="Vienna - Schwechat (VIE / LOWW), Austria">VIE</acronym>-<acronym title="Edinburgh - Turnhouse (EDI / EGPH), United Kingdom">EDI</acronym>. On <acronym title="Lauda Air (Austria)">NG</acronym>, later on <acronym title="Austr...
Jump to postIMHO, your folks will have zero chance of making the connection. And if they do, then their bags are unlikely to make it. <acronym title="United Airlines (USA)">UA</acronym> will just rebook them on a later flight. I've gone through <acronym title="Washington - Dulles International (IAD / KIAD), USA...
Jump to postI'd choose the Audi A8 4.2 Tdi. Rocket with a conscience. I'll never forget the Top Gear eposiode where Jeremy Clarkson drove that model from London to Edinburgh and back on one tankful of diesel. <TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=95% style="border-top: 1pt #28455E solid;border-right: 1pt #1B2E3F s...
Jump to postI've flown on both 70s and 100s on <acronym title="Austrian Airlines">OS</acronym> (in fact will fly <acronym title="Vienna - Schwechat (VIE / LOWW), Austria">VIE</acronym>-<acronym title="St. Petersburg (Leningrad) - Pulkovo (LED / ULLI), Russia">LED</acronym> this week). I don't mind the seats, ju...
Jump to postMost of the points below refer to Europe, but can apply to other countries. Caution, may be misconstrued as a rant/ Learn some basic geopgraphy. I once shared a table with a late-middle-aged couple. Started taking about my native Austria. When he chimed in, oh, like Munich, sausages? Don't ask for M...
Jump to postBest Flight: <acronym title="Austrian Airlines">OS</acronym> in Y <acronym title="Vienna - Schwechat (VIE / LOWW), Austria">VIE</acronym>-<acronym title="Milan - Malpensa (MXP / LIMC), Italy">MXP</acronym> in Summer 2002. Daytime flight, good load. Apart from the fabulous <acronym title="Austrian Ai...
Jump to postFor me (and the one I use most): <acronym title="Cathay Pacific (China-Hong Kong)">CX</acronym> The Wing @ <acronym title="CURRENT: Hong Kong - Chek Lap Kok International (HKG / VHHH), China - Hong Kong AND OLD: Hong Kong - Kai Tak International (HKG / VHHH) (closed), China - Hong Kong">HKG</acronym...
Jump to postQantas: 747. That's all they had at one stage.
Lauda Air: 767 and 777. And Niki Lauda piloting them.
Aeroflot: TU-154
Austrian: as a kid, I always associated them with DC-9, and MD-series aircraft.
NG1Fan
Hubs I've used for connections: <acronym title="Frankfurt am Main (Rhein-Main AB) (FRA / FRF / EDDF), Germany">FRA</acronym> <acronym title="Vienna - Schwechat (VIE / LOWW), Austria">VIE</acronym> <acronym title="Washington - Dulles International (IAD / KIAD), USA - Virginia">IAD</acronym> <acronym ...
Jump to post<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=95% style="border-top: 1pt #28455E solid;border-right: 1pt #1B2E3F solid;border-bottom: 1pt #1B2E3F solid;border-left: 1pt #28455E solid;table-layout:fixed;border-spacing:0;padding:0;border-collapse: collapse;" bgcolor=#1E3951><tr><td><font size=2 face="ARIAL, Hel...
Jump to postLauda Air - swallowed by <acronym title="Austrian Airlines">OS</acronym> Group Ansett Australia - bankrupt Domodedovskie Avialinii - now part of Air Union Pulkovo Airlines - now part of GTK Rossiya (or is it the other way 'round?). East-Weat Airlines (Australia) - not sure where they went. Australia...
Jump to postI actually tried the spring-loaded device. Caught the mouse alright, but partially. This little thing was squealing - so I had to shoot it. Since then, a carpet snake calls the attic home, having grown from 50cm to now over 3.5m (that's 9ft). My mother has a collection of skins she shed over the yea...
Jump to postCountries I've only transited through: -Thailand (<acronym title="Bangkok - Suvarnabhumi International (BKK / VTBS), Thailand">BKK</acronym>) -Bahrain -Malaysia (<acronym title="Kuala Lumpur - International (Sepang) (KUL / WMKK), Malaysia">KUL</acronym>) Can't think of any others for now. NG1Fan
Jump to postI've used the new <acronym title="Qantas (Australia)">QF</acronym> First Class Lounge once in <acronym title="Melbourne - Tullamarine (MEL / YMML), Australia - Victoria">MEL</acronym>. -bring a fan as it gets very hot in summer mid-afternoon with direct sunlight. My favourite is the Wing (CX <acrony...
Jump to postI rate the <acronym title="CURRENT: Hong Kong - Chek Lap Kok International (HKG / VHHH), China - Hong Kong AND OLD: Hong Kong - Kai Tak International (HKG / VHHH) (closed), China - Hong Kong">HKG</acronym> Airport Express as the benchmark for other authorities to use: -frequency: every 12 min -ticke...
Jump to postIt would have to be Louis Vuitton. Wife and I over the years got a whole set and it is remarkably durable. My roll-a-board is now 14 years old, and apart from replacing handle, zipper (free of charge) and wheel bearings, it is as functional as ever. Same with the regular suitcase, which was a gift I...
Jump to postOr try the 457 temporary skilled visa. Serious shortage of labour in Australia right now. This visa category allows you to work in your chosen profession for up to three years. Good try-before-you-buy scheme. This will also make eventual migration a little easier.
NG1Fan
Ah, yes, the <acronym title="Moscow - Sheremetyevo (SVO / UUEE), Russia">SVO</acronym> customs queue. Can be a zoo at around 4pm on any weekday, any summer weekend (charters!). Used this airport for nine long years while living in Moscow and the only improvements were removing some of the copper cei...
Jump to postI cannot comment about economy, but on my flight, the upper deck was all J. And I had upperdeck exit row seats on all 4 <acronym title="Japan Airlines">JL</acronym> 744 sectors I flew in May. Loved it! Yes, the aircraft is immaculate, the service very polite and dignified, and no difference between ...
Jump to postSeeing Hayley's comet aboard <acronym title="Qantas (Australia)">QF</acronym> <acronym title="Brisbane (- Eagle Farm) (BNE / YBBN), Australia - Queensland">BNE</acronym>-<acronym title="Sydney - Kingsford Smith International (Mascot) (SYD / YSSY), Australia - New South Wales">SYD</acronym> in 1986. ...
Jump to postThe most unplesant experience I had was once waiting in an overcrowded immigration line at <acronym title="Washington - Dulles International (IAD / KIAD), USA - Virginia">IAD</acronym> in summer. Boy, was it warm. Those weird mobile lounges kept bringing passengers until the place was completely ful...
Jump to postI would allow min 2 hours connection time. If you hold a <acronym title="Qantas (Australia)">QF</acronym> ticket for onward travel, simply head to the <acronym title="Qantas (Australia)">QF</acronym> transfer desk. And no, it is not upstairs, but right once you've made it past Customs/Quarantine and...
Jump to post<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=95% style="border-top: 1pt #28455E solid;border-right: 1pt #1B2E3F solid;border-bottom: 1pt #1B2E3F solid;border-left: 1pt #28455E solid;table-layout:fixed;border-spacing:0;padding:0;border-collapse: collapse;" bgcolor=#1E3951><tr><td><font size=2 face="ARIAL, Hel...
Jump to postMy wife and I took our then two year old son <acronym title="Moscow - Sheremetyevo (SVO / UUEE), Russia">SVO</acronym>-<acronym title="Vienna - Schwechat (VIE / LOWW), Austria">VIE</acronym> on <acronym title="Austrian Airlines">OS</acronym>. One of the FAs in Y came over with the obligatory kiddie ...
Jump to postDo you mean winged headrests? With adjustable wings? If so, then I agree. <acronym title="Cathay Pacific (China-Hong Kong)">CX</acronym> flies their sh!tty regional product to some ports in Australia. While they have the fixed bolsters (in Y) so you can rest your headin between, they are nowhere nea...
Jump to postOk, this thread is too US-centric, so here's a couple of more 'exotic' airlines. Transaero in summer 1998 (Russia): booked a Fri 6.30 pm <acronym title="Moscow - Sheremetyevo (SVO / UUEE), Russia">SVO</acronym>-<acronym title="St. Petersburg (Leningrad) - Pulkovo (LED / ULLI), Russia">LED</acronym> ...
Jump to postI flew <acronym title="Graz - Thalerhof (GRZ / LOWG / LOXG), Austria">GRZ</acronym>-<acronym title="Vienna - Schwechat (VIE / LOWW), Austria">VIE</acronym> as a kid. Ca. 90 miles? Also, <acronym title="Geneva - International (Cointrin) (GVA / LSGG), Switzerland">GVA</acronym>-ZHR on Swissair <acrony...
Jump to postWas on a flight <acronym title="Vienna - Schwechat (VIE / LOWW), Austria">VIE</acronym>-<acronym title="Milan - Malpensa (MXP / LIMC), Italy">MXP</acronym> on <acronym title="Austrian Airlines">OS</acronym> June or July 2001 on F70 or CRJ (can't recall, sorry...). Beautiful day, cheerful cabin crew ...
Jump to postOn A321, the business/economy class is variable. Best to ask for the first Y row seat A or C. The B seat is not sold since it is about two-thirds its regular width to allow transition from J cabin to Y. Also, try row 9 or row 23 - both are exit rows with miles of legroom but no view out the window. ...
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