Sometimes I think I'm too detailed and wordy, so it's nice to hear that all the commentary is meaningful.

I always book with a consolidator (my Mac won't even work properly on their website), what you want is an agent who books a lot with Eva. I have used Borneo International (no website, located in SFO) and most recently Airbound (has a website, also in SFO, agent's name is Raul). For simple roundtrip tickets I would shop around for Taiwan-focused consolidators, you would probably have the best luck by looking in a Sunday L.A. or SFO newspaper travel section and phone their 800 numbers for quotes. You have to have the specific dates ready to get a quote.

For a more complicated itinerary, Raul at Airbound did a good job for me and issued tickets on BR, also a Discovery Pass with Bangkok Airways, and a separate ticket on TG for travel within Thailand. I might have been able to beat his prices by $100 somewhere else, but his service was very good and having once been a travel agent myself I don't begrudge one making a little commission on a complex trip. He was disappointed that I didn't book the hotels and ground arrangements with him, but I always do my own bookings on those items.

Travel agents make very little on issuing air tickets these days, so consolidators can seem brusque and dismissive. It's just that they don't have time to spend with a client, they work on volume.

You have to specify that you want your Eva miles on CO One Pass, you have to buy a fare that gives miles. I usually pay around $1,000 RT for Eva's ED class from LAX or SFO to Asian cities. Your miles on the West Coast to/from TPE are EQMs, the TPE to/from final destination just get counted as regular miles in your account. ALWAYS keep your ticket receipt and all boarding pass receipts, I had no problems with BKK trips posting on One Pass, but always have to fax in the receipts when I go to DPS (Bali) as their systems there don't post the miles. CO has been saying they're going to discontinue their partnership with BR for a while now, so check directly with CO (not on the website) to verify the partnership.

Sorry, I don't know if Eva recognizes CO's status, this is the first year I'm a CO Silver. I have a Diner's Club card, mainly to get access to the Eva lounge in TPE on the long trips. I have a regular routine there that involved access to their e-mail computers, taking a shower and changing clothes, reading newspapers, looking at all the unusual foods in their buffet area, eating snacks (love the little packets of Chinese crackers & cookies), relaxing in the peaceful surroundings.

Warning: the food on Eva leaves a lot to be desired. I always order vegetarian meals, but that only helps a little. I fly Eva for the safety record, faster routing to most destinations, ED seating, nice lounge in TPE, definitely not for the food. Take your own bottled water! They serve tanked water to ED pax, yuk.

Concerning Eva's safety record --- I probably would not have ever considered flying on Eva, then I found out an old friend of mine from many years ago is one of their 747 captains. If Paul works for them, that was good enough for me. I also checked their safety record carefully before I booked them the first time. Two airlines I would definitely NOT fly are China Air and Garuda, the safety website incident reports are frightening for these two carriers.

There are numerous reports on BR's ED service, but with the search function "down" it's hard to find them. Look at the "Other Asian Airlines" forum in the Miles section for reports and more info. on BR.

Thanks again Dianne47 ^ I too get a little wordy sometimes, though I think it's a good thing.

Your detailed answer is appreciated. I'll probably give up on both Travelocity and Eva web sites, as neither one lets me get anywhere near booking, let alone buying a ticket.

There are some consolidators in Houston, so I'll give them a try before I call the ones on the west coast.