rkkwan

The question is "how bad do you want/need to be in Bangkok"?

I can understand if one lives there and is stranded elsewhere, or there's important business matter to take care of. But for a leisure trip? Too much trouble in my opinion, unless you're going to lose a lot of money or lose a whole vacation.

glorialf

Personally I just don't think this is worth it if you can get your money back -- which I'm sure you can. Even if you land, we have no idea what the next step in this will be. If you had to be there for a wedding or something it would be one thing but it just sounds too iffy for me and with too many potential non-fun, aggravation and tension causing problems.

filmwill

to clarify: there's no money invovled--just miles. which is what's making this so difficult.

if they cancel our flight we are again at the mercy of Mileage Plus award availability and that's a scary thought in and of itself. it took us booking these tix almost 10 months out to secure them. personally, i don't want to wait another 10 months to take our trip.

i love the way this all works out: neither airline wants to take responsibility, nor do they want to do anything (like open up seats) to help accommodate you.

glorialf

If thai cancels your flight before Thursday can you rebook to plan B-- i.e. going to singapore or bali etc? If so, I would try to push that.

Kathie

As I remember, this is the only time of the year when you and David can get this much time off together. So it's now or next year. Also, I remember that you two have a little leeway on each side.

I anticipate that the airport situation in Thailand will be settled before too long (of course, that's no guarantee - repeat after me, I anticipate that the stock market will rise 2% a day until it passes the peak reached a year ago!) .

If I were in your situation, with a few days leeway at the end, I'd go. If I had no leeway - had to be back to work a day after my original return date, I would approach this with much more caution. With some leeway, I would go, monitor the airport situation, and have a plan B I could use just in case (e.g., train to Singapore and fly home from there).

glorialf

There was not a grenade that went off at the airport -- one person killed and about 25 injured. Unfortunately, I just don't think this is the time to be in thailand if you don't have to.

glorialf

I meant there was just a grenade that went off (the not was a typo)

filmwill

Yes, but the problem that still exists is that if we lose our flight on Friday, we are not protected by anyone. We will be relegated back to United who will find the next available award ticket to book us on, which, according to my conversations with supervisors there, isn't for months.

glorialf

Look again for a cheap flight to someone. Maybe you'll luck out like Guen did. Is there someplace closer that might interest you where you might be able to fly cheaply or get ff? Or use your ff to upgrade a regular fare ticket?

hawaiiantraveler

will, you must have the saver awards, right?

As I check online at ual dot com it shows openings on various dates for standard awards lax/bkk r/t but at double the miles of course. must be lots of cancellations

The saver awards are available,but only on certain days.

Have you tried booking online instead of with an agent? maybe try getting a ticket first then call an agent?

hawaiiantraveler

here is a list of some other destinations that ual has saver award tickets available to from lax. there are more

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,51324,00.html

Aloha!

rhkkmk

start writing down the names of everyone you talk to as you may need them for dealing with united if things don't work out....

my vote was to go of course....i think if it were me i would speak to a supervisor in the award dept. and appeal to them to allow you on the thai flt....keep going up the chain....get all the names, you may need them later...

after all of this a letter to united's president is in order... think bonus points....even if you get on a flight, send a letter...


did thai offer you to buy tickets on that flight....there's always mastercard...

glorialf

Tokyo is on that list. Maybe either go to Japan or use Tokyo as a base and see if you can find some cheap flights to other places from there.

Smeagol

Film, I know its a gutter but i wouldnt go right now, there are demostrations all over the place on both sides (and hopefully)they are contained to certain areas but unless the situation significantly improves i would say no to BKK.

As you may be aware we were stuck in Penang and on Thursday the earliest flight i could get home out of Singapore was yesterday (which we took and are now back home) don't let the chance of more action have a potential to ruin your holiday book Plan B.
I am so heartbroken abut the situation in BKK as it really is affecting a lot of Thais income and of course we were really upset to miss out on Bangkok this year.

filmwill

Well perhaps there is a silver lining after all this drama.

After speaking with David at length tonight and spending just a few more hours on the phone with United...we've finally come to a compromise. One that luckily will not only work for both our schedules, but, more importantly, also worked for re-booking our United reward seats.

We'll now be traveling to Bangkok in May (we now leave 5/15) on Thai Air going there (in business) and ANA coming back to LAX (in business as well.) I need to go to LAX in the morning to have them swap out our tickets, but, pending that, this is a done deal.

And, as for the immediate future, and in order for me not to lose my sanity (after working myself into a near-coma all year) we'll most likely be going to Hawaii next week for a few days (turns out that rates are great just before the holidays...cheap airfare and cheap accommodations!) just so we can unwind a bit and bring a little peace and prosperity back into our lives.

Even if, somehow, they manage to get our flight out on Friday, it just didn't feel right being there given all that's happening. I figure at 5+ months out, we at least stand some chance of normalcy returning to Thailand by then. It's definitely a bummer to miss out on our trip for December, but May is not THAT far away (I keep reminding myself.)

Granted, now this leaves me a lot of time to focus on something different--particularly our lovely LA GTG, which I promise to pour myself into as soon as we return from a little hula dance and beach time in Hawaii.

Thanks to you all of you guys for putting up with all my bitching and moaning and manic back-and-forths in the last few days. It was hard at first to let go of what I've poured almost a year of planning into, but now, in retrospect, I think I feel much better about the outcome.

Guenmai

GREAT!!! I'm glad you've MOVED ON! I told you that positive karma brings positive results! Happy Travels!

Hanuman

filmwill,

Don't change a thing and wait for another 24 hours as the ruling parties or coalition parties that form the current government has been dissolved by the Thai Constitution Court. I've hear rumours that the PAD will hold a meeting and "might" move out of the airports soon.

filmwill

Hanuman,

I understand--and have read the news. But the point is that Suvarnabhumi will never be cleared by Friday. And if we don't make our Friday flight, then we will basically lose our seats and end up back in mileage award hell.

I'd love to think that this will all resolve in 4 days, but I seriously doubt it.

filmwill

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...ewsid=30089997

If this is any indication of how things are going to play out, I'll be changing my ticket first-thing tomorrow.

I had a feeling this court ruling wasn't going to change anything.

SiamJai

Going on from what Hanuman said, reports are coming in that the PAD leaders are now discussing the airport blockade. Maybe re-opening parts of the airport.

There is also the King's birthday speech on the 5th to look forward. One hint from HM and the PAD will soon be packing their bags.

I cant see this airport saga going on much longer. So, no need to cancel tickets to Thailand well in advance.