jacketwatch

We fly ANA business class from Chicago to Narita, then connect with Thai airways to Bkk. There is no connecting to Delhi until the next day and we plan to use Thai air as well for that. We plan an overnight in Bkk as our flight gets in around 2100 so can I book our luggage to Delhi from embarkation in Chicago? Thank you.

Gardyloo

Probably, but you need to ask Thai Airlines. Some airports/airlines have limits on how long luggage in transit can be stored. I would assume Thai at BKK would be okay, but the airline would be the best source on this. The connection through ANA/Narita to BKK shouldn't be an issue, assuming all the flights are on one ticket.

alanRow

Who are you booking this set of flights through?

jacketwatch

The flight to BKK and back were thru UA using miles. The BKK to Del will be a cash purchase.

Gardyloo: I think it should be OK as well. I tried to call Thai but the wait time was 30 mins. I'll try again.

mrwunrfl

ANA started NRT-DEL nonstops in late October.

What is the rest of your air ticket after Delhi? You should be able to get BKK-DEL on the same award ticket.

jacketwatch

How would that work if we wanted a stop over in BKK on the way back? We want a stop for about a week.

mrwunrfl

A stop of less than 24 hours does not count as a stopover.

You do it by flying to BKK, spend the night, and leaving for DEL on the TG flight in the morning. There currently is also a BKK-DEL flight at 20:40. So if your "about 21:00" means anytime from 21:41 and later then you could take that evening flight.

To say it another way, just make sure that the time between your scheduled arrival in BKK and scheduled departure from BKK is less than 24 hours.

That overnight in BKK does not count as a stopover. Your one allowed stopover would occur on the return.

This will cost a few more miles.

mrwunrfl

Actually, it won't cost more miles for business class. USA to South Asia (Thailand) is the same mileage (60,000 miles) as for USA to Central Asia (India).

Instead of booking an open-jaw roundtrip USA-South Asia, Central Asia-USA, you want to book a simple roundtrip USA-Central Asia-USA with a stopover in South Asia.

jacketwatch

We already have a flight booked on miles. To change the itin. would cost about $300.00 if they have the space but that's less than purchasing another two tickets so I'll look into that.,thanks!

jacketwatch

Well I must thank you. I called UA today and got the reservation changed to business all the way to Delhi for a change fee of around $260.00 vs. about $800.00 for the two of us for coach for the R/T BKK-DEL. I did not know this could be done, that is with a stop in BKK on the way back for a week. Thanks!!!!!

mrwunrfl

That't great! Good to hear that you took action and that it worked out for you.

I guess you didn't want the ANA nonstop NRT-DEL or it wasn't available.

jacketwatch

We actually prefer to go to BKK and sleep overnight. I saw some hotels near the airport for very low rates. It seems hotels in general in BKK are a bargain. Have U ever stayed there and if so do U have any recommendations for a hotel,or area?

This works out so well as we can book our bags to Del. and bring 70 lbs. too.

Cheers, Larry

mrwunrfl

I have not done that. Had a similar choice though and flew on to DEL as the hotel rate there was better than what I could find at/near BKK. You can check in the Asia forum for advice.

jacketwatch

I did that already. Gotta sort it all out. I saw that the nRT-DEL flight is 10.5 hrs. Too much after a 13 hr. flight from ORD.