Good price for an airline ticket?
Jul 9th, 2005, 06:35 AM
#21
A cab is the better option. Make sure however, that you go to the taxi dispatch line and get a yellow metered cab. Do NOT use a driver that approaches you. These are livery cabs and it is illegal for them to pick up in the street (and that includes approaching you at an airport). They must go through a base. They will rip you off, charging much more than a metered taxi will.
Jul 9th, 2005, 06:46 AM
#22
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Another possibility is to hire a car service to take you for a flat fee. That's the way I used to go to the airport when I lived in NY and I suspect you could do the same to go from airport to airport -- I'll be checking it out before my trip. That way you don't have to worry about the traffic in terms of money. Also the cars themselves are more comfortable. They are usually about the same amount as a cab or a teeny bit more and they can end up less if you hit traffic. There are lots of them -- most named after Israeli cities although I have yet to have an Israeli driver. Tel Aviv is one of the biggest ones. whether they are taking theh'm sure they havesu
Jul 9th, 2005, 06:56 AM
#23
The problem with hiring a limo service is that you must do it in advance by calling a base. There may be web sites to do this through as well, I'm not sure. But, you need to tell the base what time you want the car there and if your flight is delayed, you pay for the waiting time. This can more than double the already high price. I did this once, had a limo pick me up at JFK to bring me home. My flight was delayed and the limo ended up costing me almost $50. A yellow cab would have been about $15. The only time I use a limo is when I'm going to the airport from home since they will pick me up when I tell them to and I'm not delayed from home.
Jul 9th, 2005, 07:03 AM
#24
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I am sorry, but I don't see the advantage of going through all that just to get on a JFK-BKK non-stop. Maybe if one can get a good deal for premium economy. But not regular Y or C.
The 3.5-hour connection between LGA and JFK some of you suggested basically negate any time saving over a ORD/NRT connection. And don't forget it means waiting for luggage and check-in again at the other airline's counter. Just more waiting and standing in line.
I'm sorry. Unless I live in NYC or have a good JFK connection, I really won't do it.
Taking the train? Acela is expensive and not running. Either way, you arrive at Penn Station and it's either hauling your stuff onto the street to get a taxi, or LIRR + AirTrain. Not TOO bad, but just think about the time and hassle. And AMTRAK is not the most reliable transportation in the world. How much time between a scheduled Penn Station arrival and the Thai flight would you give? 3.5 hours, 5 hours? Add the train ride itself, you're talking big numbers. [And Logan isn't that hard to get to these days. For most people it's not much different than going to South Station unless you're already in Downtown.]
Again, sorry, but I don't get it.
The 3.5-hour connection between LGA and JFK some of you suggested basically negate any time saving over a ORD/NRT connection. And don't forget it means waiting for luggage and check-in again at the other airline's counter. Just more waiting and standing in line.
I'm sorry. Unless I live in NYC or have a good JFK connection, I really won't do it.
Taking the train? Acela is expensive and not running. Either way, you arrive at Penn Station and it's either hauling your stuff onto the street to get a taxi, or LIRR + AirTrain. Not TOO bad, but just think about the time and hassle. And AMTRAK is not the most reliable transportation in the world. How much time between a scheduled Penn Station arrival and the Thai flight would you give? 3.5 hours, 5 hours? Add the train ride itself, you're talking big numbers. [And Logan isn't that hard to get to these days. For most people it's not much different than going to South Station unless you're already in Downtown.]
Again, sorry, but I don't get it.
Jul 9th, 2005, 07:19 AM
#25
I have to agree with rkkwan. Taking the train to NY and then having to get to the airport is a major pain in the neck. They are not close. Penn is in midtown Manhattan and the airports are in Queens. And Amtrak is very unreliable. I take Amtrak to Albany (upstate NY) often and they are almost always late, sometimes several hours late. The only feasible way to get from Penn to the airports is by taxi. You will save no time with this option and unless you give yourself many hours between arriving in NY by train and your flight, you are in real danger of missing your flight.
Jul 9th, 2005, 02:48 PM
#28
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I'm also going to be looking for a good airfare from ORD to BKK in Sept. I am hoping prices come down just a tad, because I pay a bit more to get my upgradeable seat and use miles to get upstairs in business class on UA. Always have flown UA to BKK from ORD and probably always will. Just my own personal preference. I fly Thai Air all the time in Thailand and from Hong Kong or Taipei to BKK, and think they are a very nice airline. I wish Thai would offer a non-stop from ORD to BKK that would avoid NRT. Then I'd change from UA. Otherwise, NO. Give me my upper deck seat in business class and I'm perfectly happy.
Carol
Carol
Jul 9th, 2005, 02:59 PM
#29
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From ORD, I MUCH prefer Japanj Air to United. They clean the bathrooms every hour; never run out of anything and are pleasant and give you water constantly. United seems to run out of water, the bathrooms are filthy and smelly within 3 hours and only get worse. It might be better in business but I hope I never have to find out.
Jul 9th, 2005, 09:14 PM
#30
I've flown United several times recently. The bathrooms were reasonably clean and the pleasant FAs come around regularly with bottled water and cups.
I've just noticed the water in the last year or so. It is in addition to the beverage service; just an FA walking down the aisle with a bottle in one had and a stack of cups in the other and they seem to be doing it on a schedule. No big thing.
I've just noticed the water in the last year or so. It is in addition to the beverage service; just an FA walking down the aisle with a bottle in one had and a stack of cups in the other and they seem to be doing it on a schedule. No big thing.
Jul 9th, 2005, 10:49 PM
#31
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If price are the same and FF miles don't matter, then I'd suggest JL over UA, if flying coach. JL has personal video screen on all seats, and several of their 744 configurations have coach seats in the upperdeck, which should be a little more comfortable. And it should have better service, food and amenities than UA.
Or one can also consider flying AA ORD-NRT and connect to JL NRT-BKK.
But price aren't always equal, and cheap JL fares only earn 70% AAdvantage miles. Those are other factors that matter.
Or one can also consider flying AA ORD-NRT and connect to JL NRT-BKK.
But price aren't always equal, and cheap JL fares only earn 70% AAdvantage miles. Those are other factors that matter.
Jul 10th, 2005, 02:12 AM
#32
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As posted by rkkwan
<i>But price aren't always equal, and cheap JL fares only earn 70% AAdvantage miles. Those are other factors that matter.</i>
One can always purchase AA codeshare op by JL and get full mileage as per AAdvantage rules..
I have flown that route few times and I could attest that AA has a very nice service, clean bathrooms, etc. on the ORD-NRT route. The JL NRT-BKK flight has very nice service, clean bathrooms but extremely tight seating in economy. It's a good thing it's only a 6 hour flight. I can't imagine sitting in Y on JL across the Pacific.
I also don't understand why anybody would want to fly to NY from ORD, wasting hour(s) collecting, schlepping around and rechecking luggage, ride around in taxi/busses just to catch a non-stop to BKK. They are not saving any time.
It may be worth it to mileage runners, but to a regular one time flyer in economy? NO. Take the shortest route. US-Asia flights are long enough, you don't need to make it any longer.
<i>But price aren't always equal, and cheap JL fares only earn 70% AAdvantage miles. Those are other factors that matter.</i>
One can always purchase AA codeshare op by JL and get full mileage as per AAdvantage rules..
I have flown that route few times and I could attest that AA has a very nice service, clean bathrooms, etc. on the ORD-NRT route. The JL NRT-BKK flight has very nice service, clean bathrooms but extremely tight seating in economy. It's a good thing it's only a 6 hour flight. I can't imagine sitting in Y on JL across the Pacific.
I also don't understand why anybody would want to fly to NY from ORD, wasting hour(s) collecting, schlepping around and rechecking luggage, ride around in taxi/busses just to catch a non-stop to BKK. They are not saving any time.
It may be worth it to mileage runners, but to a regular one time flyer in economy? NO. Take the shortest route. US-Asia flights are long enough, you don't need to make it any longer.
Jul 10th, 2005, 07:01 AM
#34
AAFF, you would go that way if you had a Star Alliance award and refused to fly on United internationally.
Maybe my standards for bathroom cleanliness are lower than others, I don't know, but ideally I would take UA to NRT (on the 777 with personal video) and connect to UA, Thai, or ANA to Bangkok. Return on Thai to KIX, spend a couple of days in Kyoto (or thereabouts) and then UA back to ORD from there.
United Economy Plus seating is available to anyone on a Q fare or higher. It doesn't have to be full fare.
Maybe my standards for bathroom cleanliness are lower than others, I don't know, but ideally I would take UA to NRT (on the 777 with personal video) and connect to UA, Thai, or ANA to Bangkok. Return on Thai to KIX, spend a couple of days in Kyoto (or thereabouts) and then UA back to ORD from there.
United Economy Plus seating is available to anyone on a Q fare or higher. It doesn't have to be full fare.
Jul 10th, 2005, 07:09 AM
#35
No orgy, it is four posts: 1) fares for BOS-BKK, 2) fares for ORD-BKK, 3) transferring between LGA and JFK, and 4) service and routing ORD-BKK. Did I miss anything? I guess that's what happens to a post with a rather vague title.
Jul 10th, 2005, 08:23 AM
#38
Actually, I think the original question was whether yo buy the JFK-BKK tickets for about $1000 or wait for a better price. (I think the price is fair). Saying they were originally coming from Boston was an afterthought. I don't believe the original poster ever even asked the best way to get from Boston to JFK. I think we all just got carried away.
Jul 10th, 2005, 10:26 AM
#40
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Think I was the one that got off the subject also asking about the way to get from one NY airport to the other. I do appreciate the website Laurieco posted. I was the one that I might take the flight from JFK to Bangkok rather than flying Northwest. I have flown them 3 times to Bangkok,but coming from Myrtle Beach I have to go through Charlotte, Detroit, Narita and then to Bangkok. If I did not have a daughter I spend the night with near Charlotte (after a 4 hour drive the day before )the early flight the next day would even be longer. That is why I might be interested in the JFK one. By taxi getting to JFK from La Guardia does not sound that difficult to me if you can make the connections flight wise. Sorry I am off the original subject again,but that happens quite often here doesn't it?
