Looks like it was a freighter from day 1, as there are no window/door markings on the fuselage. I’m guessing this is ex-AF. That is a nice livery.

Originally posted by T5
Was quite surprised by my Thai flight last week from Bangkok to London Heathrow. When we boarded the aircraft in Thailand, the screen said it was a codeshare with Air Canada and United Airlines. However, baa.co.uk displayed it only as TG917 and not the other two flight numbers.

Interestingly enough, I just checked UA’s electronic timetable to list the flights between LHR and BKK and the direct TG flight didn’t come up. They listed 2 flights, both via FRA. LHR-FRA on LH, then FRA-BKK on TG.

Bkonner, I have already said this once, but I’m going to say it again. Welcome to the forum. It’s great to have another American point of view in here, especially if they know what they are talking about, which you definitely do. Everything you say is valid.

I especially agree with the point about all the ethnics flying their “home-country’s” carrier. That is also true of people in Australia. The problem they have down there, however, is that all but 2 Euro (BA and Lauda remain) airlines have pulled out of there 1 by 1 the last 4 years. In the U.S. we still have a plethora of Euro airlines to choose from if we want to go to Europe.

I live in the L.A. area where we have a fair share of Greeks. Olympic has never flown to these parts. My travel agent, who does tickets for quite a few Greeks in the greater L.A. area, has told me if Olympic did a ATH-ORD-LAX service (Chicago has a boatload of Greeks too), it would undoubtedly be full all the time. My old man goes back to Greece 2-3 times per year.

Who is the only U.S. carrier to fly to ATH nowadays (TWA and Pan Am both used to)? Delta, so my dad has been very loyal to them the last 10 years, despite their recent cutback in service (they no longer offer free booze on Intl flights, which I think is absolutely pathetic!). He could very easily fly Skyteam partners Air France and more recently KLM (Alitalia no longer serves LAX), but the real reason my dad flies Delta, is the schedule. They arrive in ATH at 10 a.m. If you fly one of the Euro carriers from LAX and catch the connection from their hub, they typically get into ATH after 3 p.m. He likes getting there early. We used to fly TWA in the 70’s and 80’s, not only because of their schedule, but because every Tuesday, the cabin crew was ATH based so all the non-English speaking Greeks (which included my parents back then, not now) could actually communicate with the crew!

To close out this very long post, like bkonner points out about 99% of Americans will choose the cheapest, and most direct airline. I however, do not fall into that category. I fly to Vegas about 4-6 times per year. I could fly Southwest directly from my neighboring airport, ONT, and pay less than $100US if I get the tickets in a timely fashion. This is a 45 minute flight. With the exception of 3 times the last 8 years, I choose not to do this, however. I will pay double to fly United, which means I have to connect via LAX, and basically triple my travel time, when you factor in the layover. Why do I do this? Frequent Flyer mileage (which includes bonuses, plus upgrades prior to the LAX-LAS route being transfered to TED), elite status points, UA’s Red Carpet Club in LAX, etc. I basically will pay more to fly on Star Alliance carriers if possible. But that’s just me.

“The aircraft is one of 41 that will replace SAA’s Boeing fleet at a cost of $3.5-billion (about R29-billion) in the biggest deal in South African aviation history”

I’m assuming this large number represents the total number of aircraft that SAA are scheduled to take, and not just widebodies? Also, Is this type of panic normal by pax resultant from turning around just 25 minutes into a flight due to one (out of four not two!) engine going out? I’m pretty sure if I was on that flight, I would not have been trippin’. Tell me all 4 engines have gone out, then I’d be in a frenzy!

Originally posted by NCLRULES
They should of just stayed in the UK as there british!:(

Are there not any American aircraft in any of the British museums?

And yes Jeanske, I believe QM2 is the biggest cruise liner at 1,100+ feet long.

Yeah, that’s all Lake Havasu is. In Southern Cal (especially in the Inland Empire which is where I reside), we have “River Rats.” These people take off whenever they can to the Colorado River, Laughlin, NV, or Lake Havasu. Many have houses/trailers there, but they don’t reside there year around. They use it as a getaway for weekends and hollidays. Mind you, Havasu does have its fair share of permanent residents, but most are elderdy that are retired, as Duval’s character in “Falling Down” is set to do. Lake Havasu is famous during “Spring Break” where you have pontoon boats parked side by side all over the lake almost acting as a reclaimation project. People walk from boat to boat and get drunk. This is where the ‘flashing’ occurs and there are videotapes out there documenting this. 😎

Originally posted by Snapper
So why did they buy it then? They clearly didn’t know what it was when they did, so no change there.

They don’t know because they don’t care. They obviously put it in one of the most important ‘cities’ in the U.S., Lake Havasu, AZ. Huh? Anybody know where that is?