JMGJD

Hi everyone,

Wish that I was planning a trip back to SE Asia for myself/DH/DD, but I'm actually trying to help my parents with their trip next December. When I flew to BKK in '08, Thai Airways still had the direct flight from JFK. I now believe that the only direct flight to BKK from the US is from LA. My parents are trying to use their Amex miles and it doesn't seem like FF seats are being released anymore for the LA-BKK flight on Thai because the airline can fill all the seats with paying customers. Does anyone have any suggestions as to the most direct/shortest route from NY to BKK? My parents are overwhelmed with the options- stops in Singapore, Beijing, Hong Kong, Europe... the list goes on and on. They are planning on spending the most time in Vietnam and Cambodia (so if there is an easier route that takes them into Hanoi, HCMC, or Siem Reap that would be fine too). However, they would like to spend some time in Bangkok as well, so I thought it would make the most sense for them to fly into/out of BKK.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

filmwill

I've quite often (3 times and running) booked the LAX-BKK flight using Amex miles (via Continental) -- if you haven't moved your miles to Continental already I guess the point is kind of moot since Amex and Continental ended their relationship in late September. Unless of course you happen to have 120k miles already in your United or Continental FF account (per ticket.)

But I've never, ever had a problem booking TG795 or 794 in Biz Class. In fact, it's kind of odd how much availability those flights tend to have for award redemption.

qwovadis

www.cheapoair.com aa.com good connexions on one stop via
Tokyo for me.Also biz class from NYC many options pretty
cheap on Finnair for me last airawards.com.LAX directs
non-atop work well most trodden route.

kayak,com/buzz good screening site for all this.

Happy Hunting!

qwovadis

Sometimes I find it cheaper better to pay fr biz class and
use all my AA points for nice hotels.Marriott.com and IHG.com
have great points deals on CCs right now just picked up
130K points with2CCs good for lots of nice free rooms.
Might also save your folksa lot.

rhkkmk

korean air is a good option.... i just flew finn air and it was super from nyc...

ANA might be another option...

eva from newark

emerites/ethiad for something exotic

BA/Luftansa/Air France

darrenmike99

I suggest try Kayak.com, mayy be you'll hit some luck.

JMGJD

Thanks for the replies! I called Thai Airways and they said that they still had plenty of rewards seats available. But all of the partner airlines that I am calling (Air Canada, SAS, etc.) are showing no rewards seats for LAX to BKK even if I ask for the first available date! I don't know where the disconnect it... In the meantime, I'll start looking into the other suggested airlines above for an indirect flight.

jenskar2

I always fly Singapore Air from JFK to SE Asia -- it has, in my opinion, the best service, the best food and is the most reliable. The stop in Frankfurt is just to clean the plane and refuel, and changing planes at Changi Airport in Singapore could not be easier -- it's actually a delightful airport. I wouldn't fly anyone else.

mohan

I like Singapore Air too for the service and food but.... it's a long flight. It's way too long and it's even longer on the way back. I think it was 24 hours+ from Singapore to JFK last time I flew and it felt like forever. If you add another leg and the possibility of delays, you are talking endless hours in the airport and on the plane. I usually fly Cathy Pacific to Hong Kong and Japan Airline to Jakarta and they are much shorter flights.
My friend just flew JFK -Chiangmai (direct flight) and had the best thing to say about Korean Airline. You can go to Laos and Burma from Chiangmai.
Hope this helps.

AskOksena

>>>I always fly Singapore Air from JFK to SE Asia -- it has, in my opinion, the best service, the best food and is the most reliable. The stop in Frankfurt is just to clean the plane and refuel, and changing planes at Changi Airport in Singapore could not be easier -- it's actually a delightful airport. I wouldn't fly anyone else.<<<


(Oh, that warms this Singapore Airlines loyalist's heart on this SQ business travel morning! Hope all is well, Jen, and looking forward to your impressions of flying SIA's A380s this year.)

Now, warm greetings to you, JMGJD. Adding to the fine above thoughts: should your parents feel like truly splurging, I can highly recommend, from personal experience, Singapore Airlines' all business class, non-stop service, EWR-SIN-EWR (SQ 21/22). I've flown those sectors on only a few occasions for work (SFO is my main N. America business airport) and each flight has been most efficient and enjoyable with yes, that in-flight service even other airlines talk about.

However your parents fly, hope they have fine times. If you need Bangkok hotel 'reccos' for them, happy to oblige from riverside properties to my current BKK business travel favourite, the St. Regis. (But remain partial to the Peninsula and its upcoming Valentine's Day celebration - always a delight.)

(And, if you sense a touch of Singapore Airlines enthusiasm, we'll, I'm presently at SIA's special SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 3 at Changi, soon to kick off a new year of business travel via SQ16 to SFO. (Via the brief stop at the most efficient ICN.) Initial plan was SQ2 later in the day, but I've always enjoyed SQ's early flight to SFO.)

All the best to you, your parents and all,

macintosh (robert)


... Singapore Girl, You're a Great Way to Fly ...