jenskar2

Ok, I know some of you excel at this -- I'm reeling from what Singapore Air has done to my flights from NY -- I was planning to splurge on exec economy but it seems everything from Newark is now biz ?? Even Thai Air seems ridiculous for the winter -- I've been out of touch so any tips appreciated.

Kathie

It's true that the Singapore AIr flight out of Newark is now all Biz.

All airline prices have gone way up due to the price of oil. Also, the closer you get to your travel date, the higher the prices get. So if you are planning to go this winter, prices are way up. Also, Thai cancelled their non-stop from JFK. There are fewer flights and they are more expensive.

rhkkmk

look at ANA....book sing. through frankfurt.....eva from newark...japan.....air france through paris.....emerites....

let us know what you find...

cathy pacific

simpsonc510

I bought my UA ticket several months ago, just to lock in the prices. They were high then, but I knew that they were going UP. My ticket (ORD-NRT-BKK and BKK-NRT-ORD) was just over $1600 in economy. I just checked ticket prices for my same flights for a friend who thought it might be nice to go to BKK at the same time. The price for an economy ticket was now just over $3000!!! The friend is NOT joining our family this time...

Yes, air fare sticker shock is the appropriate title for this thread, jenskar2.

Carol

tengohambre

Boy, I saw this too looking for winter travel. Any winter fares under $1,500 or so for SEAsia seem to be unusual.

I have seen some relatively "better" fares on Vayama, using Cathay, through HKG. Also, look at Malaysia Air and Qatar and the like. I wonder if the fares will come down a bit now that oil has or, they are up there to stay. And, if that's the case, will decreased demand then force the fares down a bit?

zinfanatic

Checked Cathay through HK just yesterday and they ewre all booked for two weeks around March 15!!!!!

DonTopaz

You really do have to look around, especially when there are so very many options between the US and Asia.

I didn't do any type of extensive search, but just picking a high season mid-week date at random (depart Jan 7, return Jan 21) for a JFK-BKK round-trip, Japan Air Lines offers a price of $1454, including all taxes and surcharges.

You also might want to consider joining ExpertFlyer (expertflyer.com), a site that lists routes, availability by booking class, and fares for pretty much all airlines. It also lists frequent flyer award availability for a limited number of airlines. It's a subscription service ($10/month), cancelable at any time.

jenskar2

Thanks everyone -- tengo, good point whether lower oil prices right now will trigger anything. I've seen all the various options on line so the next question becomes -- which carriers do people like? Which are the most reliable, best service, half way decent food (if I'm going to be captive for 18 hours, yes I do want something edible). I've only flown Sing Air to SE Asia -- always via JFK, so I never did experience the exec economy. But my flights left on time, my seats were actually available, not over booked, and connections met consistently. And the inflight entertainment didn't hurt either. So, any anecdotal info re: actual flight experience with an airline greatly appreciated.

And, I missed you all. Bob, how was Bali?

rhkkmk

bali was more than fabulous.....didn't you see my very short trip report??

our time in bali with the pandas was amongst the best travel experiences we have ever had.....the hotels were simply faboulous, putu was even better than the first time and the food was great..

my very best experience with travel to SEA was on air france from boston direct to paris on a nite flight, with a 12 hour layover in france (rented a car for the day), and then another nite flight to bkk with an afternoon arrival there...on the return it was a nite flight from bkk to paris and a 5 hour lay over in paris (not too much with changing terminals, etc) and an afternoon arrival in boston.

my usual route is on northwest, which while long is serviceable through the mid-west and a stop at narita---

i would love to try ANA..

rhkkmk

and eva and emerites

Guenmai

Oil prices are dropping, but airfares certainly aren't. Thai Air has gotten ridiculous. The tax/fee on an Economy Class ticket alone in now right at $650. I recently looked it up out of curiosity.I fly with them.
I plugged in my Dec/Jan dates. I already have a ticket which I bought in Feb 2008 for Dec 2008/Jan 2009 before the crazy tax/fee add-on amount. This $650. add on amount is nearly half of the airfare amount.
The tax, on the same Economy Class ticket, used to be around $325. and that was on my last ticket to Bangkok which was for last month. That ticket I had bought in the spring. It's ridiculous.

Now Economy Class, on Thai Air, for Dec/Jan is pricing out at a little over $2,000 total. It wasn't that long ago when one could fly to Bangkok, from L.A., for less than $900.rd. trip. Happy Travels!

Guenmai

Jenskar 2- Oh, by the way, I splurged and bought my upcoming ticket to Bangkok, on Thai Air, in Premier Economy and of course now that class has been eliminated. I'm more than ticked off. It's a MESS of a situation.
I just got another answering machine message from Thai Air, the other day, saying to just hold on to the original ticket and show up at the airport with it. They aren't reticketing those of us with now non-existent Premier Economy tickets before the departure date. I really wanted to cancel Thai Air and try to get on Singapore Air, but those prices were really high and everything is sold out for my dates anyway. I even tried ANA and everything is sold out. I want to stay with an airline where I'll get my frequent flyer miles. Happy Travels!

rhkkmk

guen---go very very early to the airport....maybe even the nite before and take your sleeping bag and a tent...you will get noticed and moved up to first class and get on tv also

Guenmai

Bob...what would I do without your insightful advice? And Bob, did you get my e-mail reply yesterday? I was wondering what apartment you'd chosen for BA. I e-mailed you my narrowed-down list. Happy Travels!

cruisinred

Jenskar-

You could try getting a quote on Singapore Air from Diane at www.balibarongtours.com
She quoted a very good rate for me last year from JFK to DPS.

jenskar2

cruisin -- how was bali ?? I have to search out trip reports next -- I couldn't even look at fodors for months as I was too bummed about not going to Cambodia last winter and just too busy. But I've been a good girl and worked hard so this year should be a go for somewhere. tks for diana suggestion
Guen so smart of you - I can never plan that far ahead.
I'm off to compare seat pitch ....

TracyB

God, i am glad i booked my flights to Middle East/India a few months ago.

For $2200.00 (including tax) per person, we are flying economy class on Emirates from Edmonton (Alberta) to Mumbai (via LHR and Dubai) then after a few weeks, onto Amman, Jordan and then back to Dubai with a 4 day stop over and then back home again!! I must mention we are flying with Air Canada to London to catch our Emirates flight..but that $2200.00 includes those flights...

Hmmm...i hope eventually the prices will go down....

Guenmai

Jenskar...I don't always know if I'll be able to make a planned trip or not, but I book ahead anyway. My logic is that even if I have to cancel it's only a $100. loss as opposed to waiting to book later and then end up with an outrageous airfare plus that egregious tagged on $650. tax/fee/surcharge or whatever they want to call it. Happy Travels!

jenskar2

Air France is about 1500 each in January NY to BKK with the layover (I think I could handle a night in Paris) , Qatar to SIN is about 1600 -- I'm becoming more hopeful Carol -- have family member check those two out, especially Air France.

tengohambre

Upon some further searching:

Korean Air seems to have some less expensive (comparatively speaking) fares out of NYC, with a stop in Seoul. And, I love a good bim bim bop.