I fly out of MEL to Asia weekly, and SQ, GA, CX and QF will often sub me into an older plane, but being able to get where I want to via CGK, HKG, BKK or SIN, I can normally survive, unless I am on an award or cheap fare. Then I politely sit down and shut up.

Now the guy who handles the FRA routes must be called Billy not silly and it must be obvious to all concerned who use BD miles that the Asian carriers are putting you onto flights that use old equipment or are subject to change. This trend was started by SQ and has been wholeheartedly taken up by all the *A carriers. TG have made a lot of money selling the old seats on the 7442 to the young European market who want to fly to Thailand beaches cheaply, why would they change. Who has to change are the whingers who pay peanuts and expect that a couple of thousand points will upgrade them into a state of the arts fair dinkum top rated First class, get a life!, regards bkkrop