FFMAN
Totally agree with you re Hainan. I also travel into China and also "Stans" and always use LH for the long haul work if just going into China,though have obviously used Hainan within China. Can honestly say I prefer LH by some margin and obviously sometimes use EK or even SQ if I have other projects to visit out East. With regards to arm chair travellers / key board wordsmiths I think you have to be tolerant, as after all as you say we are the "lucky ones" who get to go to these places, and fly these routes - I keep telling myself that every time Mrs Mac bends my ear about having another extended trip, or things go Pear shaped while I am half a world away !