christinaspark

Hi-

I will be in Hong Kong for business from December-January. I wanted to take a little family trip to Cambodia from 12/24-12/31 and am quickly discovering that airfare during this time is pretty expensive. Availability seems to be a problem as well....Serves me right for doing this so late in the game!

I know about the Discovery Pass on Bangkok Air - that would have been perfect but when I called the LA office they said that the flight was full.

Are there any Hong Kong based travel agents that may be able to find me better rates on airfare?

Thanks.

rkkwan

Zuji.com has bookable fares for ~HK$2,800 HKG-SGN-PNH roundtrip. That's a pretty good fare for those dates.

www.tiglion.com - a local Hong Kong agent - also returns those fares.

smartcookie

what number did you call? 1-866-bangkok is the number and it goes to an call center in India, not LA. you can check what flights are available by looking on the BA website first.

If you're flexible, you can also fly from Bangkok to Phnom Pehn via AirAsia.

Check out http://wikitravel.org/en/Discount_airlines_in_Asia to see if any of the Hong Kong Airlines have cheap fares to BKK around that time.

kevin109

I thought the discovery airpass only allows travel within southeast asian (thailand, cambodia and laos) but not to and from Hong Kong. Am I wrong?

Scotters

Kevin109 - the pass covers all routes of Bangkok, Siem Reap and Laos airlines with the exception of flights to Japan, Chiang Mail to Koh Samui and
Siem Reap to Koh Samui.

Smartcookie - If there is a Bangkok Air Office in your country you can call them and they can check advailability and issue the pass. This eliminates the need to call the India call centre.

rkkwan

Siem Reap Airways do fly to HKG three times a week. One non-stop from PNH, and two from REP. But since there are so few flights, they are hardly discounted, and you may find it hard to use the Discovery Pass.

Bangkok Air doesn't fly BKK-HKG, only from Koh Samui. And BKK-Shenzhen (SZX) three times a week.

Overall, I'm afraid you may find it hard to use it for HKG-Cambodia during Christmas holiday.

smartcookie

Scotters, I'm in LA like OP and I booked the pass a few weeks ago, including one leg from Siem Reap to HK. The number for all the offices in the US is the same 866 # which connects to their call center in India. It seems that they outsource and that call center serves all of the US.

If it matters, I booked my flight for Dec 7. They don't fly that route every day, so that might be the problem. I doubt it's sold out at this point. I originally wanted Dec 6 date, and they said it was "sold out". However, when I spoke to another rep and checked on their website, it turned out that they just didn't have any flights scheduled that day, so that might be the issue here too. I would recommend checking the fare on their website first. If it's available, it will be available as part of the pass.

Btw, I assume the OP realizes that she needs at least 3 legs in order to use the pass.

Scotters

Smartcookie - Your right all their offices now have one phone number that connects to the India call centre. Up here in Toronto I have an office close by and just drop in to make arrangements. I used to be able to call the office direct but this has now changed evidently-haven't called for over a year.

Kathie

cookie, depending on what time of the day uou call Bangkok Air from the US, you'll either get a US-based agent or their call center in India. Both are reached by the same number.

christinaspark

Thank you for all of your help and suggestions. I called the travel.com.hk site (thanks rkkwan) and they said that the discounted air fare rates have not been published yet. They told me to wait until mid-late September. This makes me a little nervous since when I talked to the Bangkok Air people it seemed like the international departure and return flights were almost booked. But I guess I could always try to go through BKK or SGN. I am just trying to avoid long transit times since I will be traveling with my mom...

Thanks again for all of your help!

-SmartCookie: When I called the (818) area code for the LA office of Bangkok Airways I got a local rep but this afternoon someone from their India call center called me. I guess Kathie was right about it depending on the time of day as to who you will get on the phone.

smartcookie

where did you find the 818 number? they don't list it on their website and they wouldn't give it to me at the 866 number. they told me that that customers can't call the offices directly. if I was closer to valley, i would have stopped by. I was planning on picking up the tickets in person to avoid the $15 fee, but then they told me that they would just send e-tickets by email instead. it doesn't matter when you call the 866 number. It always goes to the call center in India. I tried on various days and times, and it just goes to voicemail afterhours. I know the local valley office is opne 8-5, but they don't publish that number. I guess they want you to make reservations through the 866 number.

christinaspark

smartcookie-

You could be right about it always going to the call center. Though I have to say that the 1st time I called, their English was very good - no discernible accent so I just assumed I had reached the LA office.

When Bangkok Air called me this afternoon the person had an obvious accent so it was obvious that they were calling from the India call center. I had a hard time with routing with them and they were quoting me over $700 so I think I will just rely on my HK based agent.

As for the number, I was wrong...I guess I did call the 1-866 number. The 818 I mentioned earlier was a fax. My bad. Too much coffee makes my eyes jump around on the screen!