Another Discovery Airpass Question
 

Hi All,
I've been reading all responses to Bangkok Airways Discovery Airpass questions and I don't really see this question answered.
I live in Phoenix and that is my perm address & cc billing address. I am currently in North Carolina for a 3 month work assignment. Just booked my RT tickets to Thailand for Jan07 trip and I had to jump thru amazing hoops to get my tickets mailed to NC rather than my cc billing address in Phx. I understand this is for security purposes.
I now need to book Discovery Airpass by calling Bangkok Air. BK to CM (Pass), CM to Samui (Reg ticket), Samui to Phuket (Pass) and Phuket to BK (Pass). Am I going to have a problem getting my tickets delivered to North Carolina in lieu of Phoenix? I realize that no cc will be involved, that I will need to mail certified check or mo, but will there be an issue mailing to my temp address? Any advice would be appreciated and extremely sorry for the long post (and probably too much detail).
Warm Regards

Oh by the way, didn't even think to ask this - Is the airpass valid for 2007 travel?
Thanx again

Wldman, I purchased my Discovery Pass just last month. I'm in Canada but my call was put through to India (I believe all Canadian and US calls are serviced out of India). I don't think there should be a problem since you're paying to have them courier the tickets to you (the courier fee is a bit steep) and they won't issue the tickets until they've cashed your money order. Try just calling them (it's a toll free number) and asking them that question. My salesperson from the India office was extremely helpful (hopefully, you'll get someone equally as helpful). Not sure about the 2007 question as we're using our Discovery Pass in Dec 06.

Thanx Haliburton,
I am going to call for further info, but was just hoping someone might have the info at their fingertips. So many on this site are extremely well-travelled that I always attempt to tap that source before going elsewhere.
Warm Regards

I just got off the phone with a Bangkok Airways representative who told me that they are no longer selling the Discovery Airpass. This is disappointing news. Has anyone else heard this?

What? I just bought my tickets less than a month ago (and still haven't picked them up yet - oh oh).

Edwardm - did you actually call the offices of Bangkok Airways or just speak to a travel agent that also sells Bangkok Airways tickets.

Wldman - Even if the pass has been discontinued which I doubt, you are only saving around $23 on the routes you are taking as compared to the normal fares.

I called the actually Bangkok Air number (866-BANGKOK) and spoke to a guy named "Ralph". At first I called and spoke to a guy named "James" who didn't tell me that the Discovery Airpass had been discontinued and he reserved all my flights and then quoted me a very high price--much higher than booking directly through the internet through individual flights. So I called back to see if I could get a more helpful representative and I got Ralph who told me the Airpass had been recently discontinued. Perhaps I will call back tonight and see what answer I get. I would think that you will be fine Haliburton. I'm sure they will still honor the Airpasses that are already sold. Maybe they are just not selling new ones. Or maybe Ralph didn't know what he was talking about. I will post again if I get a new answer tonight.

Thanx for the responses all. I will be disappointed if it is discontinued, but the price differential for the routes I want isn't all that great anyway.
It is a shame though if it is discontinued - it seemed like a real goodwill creator (sorry if that's not really a word) between bangkok airways and the international community.
Warm Regards

Wldman & Edwardm,

I just got back from picking up my Bangkok Discovery Airpass from the ticket office. My ticketing agent said she has not heard that it has been discontinued and her office (a ticketing office of Bangkok Airways) is still issuing them. Try calling them again.

there have been reports over the past year of problems with dealing with bkk air's india call center....this may be such an incident....i have had no problem with them...is it still mentioned on the web site?? send an e mail to them they get back to you quite quickly...

i think you will find the reg e tickets almost as cheap over the internet directly and you would not have to worry about the mails...

the main savings is had on international travel with bkk air...

To get a definitive answer, I have sent e-mails to the Los Angeles, Chicago, & NYC office to see the responses I receive back. I'll let everyone know.
Warm Regards

I just spoke with "Niki" at the Bangkok Air call center in India. She said that they were still booking Discovery Airpasses, but thinks that they have cut back on the number of "v-class" tickets available. "V-class" is the category for the Airpass. None of the flights we are trying to take next month were available in the "v-class", so I couldn't get the Airpass. Niki was much more helpful than the other two guys I talked to at the call center earlier in the week. Good luck to all those trying to get Airpass seats!

I too have gotten responses back saying that the airpass is still a go. I will attempt to book tomorrow.
Warm Regards

Actually decided not to book airpass. Wanted to sample both airlines so booked Thai Biz Class for Bangkok to CM leg and final Phuket to Bangkok leg. Booked Bangkok Air for CM to Samui and Samui to Phuket legs (only 2 legs so not qualified to book airpass). The more of your trip you book, the more real the trip actually becomes. All airflights now booked -- it is time to begin to joy of booking hotels.
Warm Regards

wild---i find the hotel site: www.huahin.20m.com does well with pricing...their fall rates are not posted as of yet for most hotels however

Actauly looking at your routing if you are looking to save money on both BKK-CM sectors and the Phuket-BKK sectors you have 'multiple' choice of airlines including 3 butget airlines on both those routes. The budget carriers open bookings about 3 months ahead but you can get real bargains around USD 25 per sector including taxes, and if you use Nok Air you can actualy fly in comfort for about USD 12.50 extra by using their 'Nok Plus' class, 30 kg baggage allowance and 2x2 seating on 737's !
So except for the BKK-Samui-Phuket you would be able to get cheaper using Nok Air, Thai Air Asia or One-2-Go airlines!
Nok Air and Thai Air Asia use 737's, One-2-Go uses a mix of MD-80, 757 and 747's.

You can find all those airlines websites on Beachsiam

www.beachsiam.com/thailand.html

Sorry Wldman did not see you had already booked. But if you can afford it flying with Thai is certainly great for flexibility. From BKK to CM they are 'all' wide body aircraft, same applies Phuket-BKK ( several of those on 747-400's ) so if flying Biz Class worth checking which aircraft as you can get to enjoy a 747-400! On Chiang mai it's mostly 777 and Airbus 330's.
The Thai flights are fully flexible and you can change without any hassle at all. Thai also gives you Mileage (Star Alliance) so if you have UA or another Star Alliance Card make sure that is in your booking to get the mileage!

Thanx all for your responses, especially you JamesA. I wasn't really confined by a strict budget for intra-Thai travel, so I didn't really want to sample Thai low-cost air carriers since I don't even use them in the US (don't mean to sound snobby if I did). Sometimes the schedule flexibility and comfort outweigh other cost concerns. I am very happy with all the air travel I did end up booking. I am eager to book my hotels rhkkmk, but trying to book via Sawadee or others, alot of rates aren't available for mid-Jan07. Asiarooms does have rates posted for most desired accomodations and I have made a booking to try them out & see how it goes. Of course I am doing so cautiously since I've read all the good and bad re: Asiarooms.com.
Warm Regards

i too am waiting for the HH site to come with their prices...they told me september, but i think we will see it in the next couple of weeks...i need to book for november...