Do we go via Europe or via the West Coast? NWA has a non-stop to Tokyo, but the price is high right now. Overall, which route do most fo you take and which is faster.

THanks.

just returned and we went from Toronto west on a non stop with Air Canada. and our friends went New York to Las Angeles. I don't think the Europe direction makes sense from here.
It was 17 hours for us going and 15 returning.

It would be less flying time to go via Europe (about 18 hours via Frankfurt) versus going via Tokyo (20.5 hours). Add in connection time and the trips are about the same, maybe longer via Europe because of a longer connection time. From US west coast, it would be a few hours longer since you would have to go via another city (Tokyo or Seoul, e.g.).
The shortest return would be over the Pacific.

Thai will be starting non-stop New York-BKK service later this year, after receiving its A340-500. But until then, most people fly to BKK via the Pacific, as it almost always cost more to connect in Europe.

You could try NW/KLM over Amsterdam from DTW. The non-stops to BKK might be a long time coming as the A340-500s haven't been ordered yet by Thai.

A whole bunch of news releases from August 2003 says Thai ordered three 345 and five 346, to be delivered 2005. They increased the order by one 345 and one 346 this year. I did not read that they've cancelled these orders. Other news releases have indicated Thai's going to start the service mid-2005 or June 2005.