BOOKING INTER-ISLAND FLIGHTS
 

Greetings again fodorites!

Im trying to book our flights for our travel within thailand for our honeymoon coming up this august. Our plan up til now goes from Bangkok, to Krabi/Phuket, to Chiang Mai, then back to Bangkok.

Ive mistakenly booked our first leg of our trip (BKK to CHIANG MAI - which has now since changed, on Thai Air) without first seeing the TG THAI DISCOVERY PASS. Ive been since trying to get a hold of their ticketing via phone with ABSOULUTELY NO SUCCESS! Ive called their 1-800 # for ticketing, and I either get a busy signal or I end up being on hold for over an hour!

Ive considered just eating the cost of the first set of tickets that I purchased to but the Discovery Pass. Should I book these sets of tickets before I get to thailand or when we arrive and buy them directly from the airport?

Also, are their flights from BKK to Krabi without stops? From Krabi to Chiang Mai?

Any insight to my dilemma would be of tremendous help!

Thanks in advance!

Someone else can probably give you tips on the 800 numbers - I always book online.

You should definitely purchase your tickets in advance. With fuel surcharges going ever upward, you'll save money, and, seats to popular destinations such as Chiang Mai and Phuket can be fully booked up to a month in advance in high season.

AFAIK, all flights from Bangkok to Krabi are non-stop. It's only a 50 minute flight. There are not as yet any direct flights between Chiang Mai and Krabi. Even Chiang Mai to Phuket is something of a rarity. You almost always end up changing planes in Bangkok, especially if you use low cost carriers.

The only way I was able to get through to Thai Air last week was to call them in Bangkok. I used Skype so it wasn't expensive at all. I asked to be connected with an English speaking agent and she was very friendly and knowledgeable. Thank goodness for SKYPE!!

I'm sure that the Thai Air phone lines in the US are always busy as they've just cancelled their very popular JFK to BKK non-stop. Everyone who has a ticket on that flight or on the LAX-BKK nonstop are calling them about rebooking or re-routing. Depending on the fare class of the ticket you purchased, Thai will likely apply most of the cost to the purchase of a Thai Air pass. But you will have to talk to them... ay least I don't know of a way to cancel a flight and get credit for it on their website (but do look - you can do that for instance on the United site for United flights).

Unless you are flying the Chiang Mai to Phuket direct flight, the discovery pass does not save you very much. There is no direct flight Phuket to Chiang Mai that I know about. Flying in August the flights Bangkok/Krabi, Phuket/Bangkok, Bangkok/Chiang Mai would cost around 9000 baht or $272. Even less if you can book their hot deals. The pass would cost $290 (199 + 91 in taxes)

keep the thai air flt....you won't save all that much

try air asia for other flts, but make sure to book express boarding with your tickets

Thanks for all the advice thus far. Ive been looking and it seems like NOK AIRLINES have really cheap fares; especially on my last leg of the journey from Chiang Mai back to BKK. Has anyone flown this airline and can vouch for their quality and safety?

Thanks!

JamesA often recommends this airline. On his recommendation, I'd fly it.

Nok has been my favorite of the low cost carriers. You can book everything online, including your seat assignment. I just used them on my last trip to Krabi.

They are having financial problems, but so are almost all low cost airlines. Booking any airline these days involves some degree of risk.

Just to add to Michael's comments about Nok air being in financial trouble. The Bangkok Post reports that they will continue to operate for now but will be downsizing their fleet by half and eliminating some flights. If oil reaches $160 a barrel that could spell the end.

Oh man. NOK AIR outta business! That could be bad news for me. But, so far I've taken all of your collective advice, and searched hi and low online. So far what Ive come up with is:

Bangkok to Krabi> $58 pp - Asia Air

Krabi to Phuket> ferry costs TBA (guess thats easy enough to book once Im there)

Phuket to Chiang Mai> $62 pp - Nok Air Eco class

Chiang Mai to Bangkok> $68 pp - Nok Air Eco class

*prices are inclusive of taxes and fees

TOTAL >>> $376 for both of us

thats good savings considering that the THAI DISCOVERY PASS on Thai Air is $290pp after taxes and fees.

At this point, I think Im going to just cancel my THAI AIR ticket, and eat the cancellation fees.

let me know if i should be wary either of these airlines.

thanks again for all the insight!

Well, given the info about Nok Air's precarious financial situation, I'd be wary. What will happen to your tickets if they go under?

Asia Air is a low-cost airline, with no pre-assigned seating, low baggage limits (15 kg) and they do charge for excess baggage. If you cannot use your ticket for any reason (including that they changed the time of the flight) there is no refund. If you can live with those caveats, go for it.

We got a full refund from Air Asia last year when they changed the time of a flight that made it no longer feasible for us. Didn't have to argue or anything for it. But if you miss the flight for any reason, no refund.

Kim, that's good to hear. It seems they've changed their policy!

Firstly, Thailand has a passenger rights law (came into effect last year) which says that in the case of a delay of more than a hour, they have to compensate you with a meal, and for cancellation they have to refund fees or make alternate arrangements - and still make compensation if the delay is longer than 'normal'.

Things have gotten a lot better since the new law came into effect. I no longer hear horror stories of 4 hour delays.

As for Nok, the one thing I would take solace in is the fact that they're partly owned by Thai Airways. So, I would presume (hope, really) that should they decide to pull the plug on Nok, Thai will offer some way to make good on the tickets.