Are there any airlines that fly from CR to LP, without flying to BKK first?
Are there any other alternative and safe ways to get to LP from CR?

Lao Airlines flies from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang on tues/fri/sun. Fare around $80. This year from mid January to the end of March Thai Air few this route mon/thur/sat. Maybe they will do the same in 2007.

Does anyone know how Lao Airlines' safety rating is these days?

scotters-thanks for the response.

Lao has improved its safety record. Make sure you are flying a "real" airplane, not one of the Chinese or Russian built planes. I believe they typically use their better planes on the international routes.

I flew Lao Airlines from CM to LP in February, and the plane was OLD. You know how you get in a really old car and it doesn't have head rests and you've almost forgotten that cars didn't have them at one time? Well, this wasn't QUITE that bad, but it was the oldest plane I've ever been on - the seats didn't seem all that substantial. I was a little nervous, but all went well. The plane was clean and the flight smooth and totally uneventful. I'd fly them again without hesitation.
Karen

Karen, do you know what kind of plane it was? I have to say I wouldn't get on one of the old Chinese or Russian planes.

Dperry, honestly, the issues in the past with Lao involved not only the planes but also pilot training and the maintainence on the planes. I don't have access any more to the info on inflight "incidents" (engine shutdowns, clipping the tops of trees when they land, etc) so I can't be sure how their overall safety is. In terms of crashes, those numbers have declined.

most of the planes are small boeing jets or ATR's--props

I don't know what kind of plane it was - other than old!
I felt safe, though, and I'm one who doesn't like to fly. The flight was short and quite smooth. No incidents and not even hardly any turbulence.

Actually, I was looking for info on flights from CR to LP, the responses were for flights from CM to LP (I Just realized this!)
Is there anyway to reliably get to LP from Chang Rai, without going through BKK? I would like to avoid that if possible. From these posts, I think I may also want to avoid Lao airlines!

No, there are no flights between CR and LP. Your best bet if you want to avoid Lao (which flies CM to LP) is to route through Bangkok. Take a look at the schedules, it shouldn't be that bad.

Other options include overland via the river (that doesn't sound right, but I expect you know what I mean) which will take two full days (or the speedboat which is only one full day but it makes Lao Aviation look safe, safe safe.)