Hello everyone! I am about to book a flight to Thailand (BKK) and am flying during peak season (mid Jan). This is my first time, so am looking for feedback for what is reasonable--lowest fare I can find is for $1000 from NYC (with stopover)--is this as low as I can go? Any tips? The airlines (with lowest fares) are Korean Air--is this a safe airline? The other is Quantas which I'm a little more familiar with. Thank u!

That's probably about as good as you will find for this time of year, unless an airline decides to run a special. For the heck of it, I put in Jan 16 from JFK, returning Feb 2 from BKK on Thai Airways and came back with non-stops, for $1159.70, including all taxes. If the $1000 you found includes tax, it's then for you to decide if the stopovers are worth saving $160.00.

Both Korean and Quantas are decent airlines but figure out how many more hours you would be adding to an already long flight.

By the way, there is a good chance that the Qantas flight will codeshare with British Airways (you would be flying BA NY-London) and then switch to a Qantas flight from London to BKK.

Best is www.china-airlines.com. Just priced you up a trip for 17Jan06.Nyc-Taipei-Bkk $450 plus tax& fuel chg.Lvs 17Jan-2200hrs eta Bkk 19Jan 1225hrs.Internet access with c card, and your done.Used China before and my return in March06 only $463 total.Little known secret this Airline.

Wow! Do you know anything about China Airlines upgraded classes?

Connette; Checked china, and no 1st class only Dynasty?? at $1351 as opposed to $ 450 Guess that means you don't have to drive half way!!Hint logging in to china click online booking to expedite.Questions: I'm available at [email protected] Leaving 3Dec for Thailand until late March.

We're flying Eva Air in mid January and didn't pay much more than that for premium economy out of St. Louis. Usually NYC origin seems cheaper, due to more competetion.

It's went up some, (using our dates since I don't know yours) but Eva Air is coming in at $832 + tax for a total of $1013 for regular coach now. Newark to Taiwan, Taiwan to BKK, same on return. Premium economy comes in at $1103 before taxes, $1263 total, but gets you a bigger seat and more leg room. We got premium for just above $1100 but booked a month ago. Coach then was $932 all in, so maybe it'll change again. Maybe not.

But at least it's not as far out of the way as Seoul or Australia. Using Qantas would add a lot of air time, I would think. Sydney is just about as far as BKK and then you have a long flight again to BKK. They're a nice airline though if you have the time.

We are flying to Vietnam in a few days on EVA Evergreen - is that the same as premium economy? I think so. For just a bit more to Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh return from Denver. I was thinking for our Thailand trip next year we should look at Dynasty on China airlines, since economy is so reasonable. Sounds like they have a much bigger jump between the two classes than EVA. I was wondering how Dynasty on China and Evergreen on EVA compare? For only $450.00, maybe it is worth being a bit uncomfortable. One of my clients just had to pay $358.00 rt Den/LAX.

Dynasty on China Airlines is a true business class, while Evergreen Deluxe is just a premium economy.

I punched in the 1/16 date on china-airlines.com (no service 1/17 from JFK), and the best fare is $750. Not sure if it's including tax or not. I hope it is. But to proceed further, I have to give them my credit card, etc, so I stopped.

Like laurieco says, the Qantas flight probably means a BA flight to LHR, and the connect to QF for LHR-BKK. Not going to Sydney.

The Dynasty thing sounds pretty interesting.

Yeah, off the east coast, you're right. It's probably via LHR on BA (or AA?) for the first leg.

The Quantas flight stops in London..
I found a pretty good flight on thai air (thanks laurieco!)..still around $1000 (inclu taxes) but have heard this is a great airline. One ques, does Thai Air have any partnerships with US/European carriers so that the miles could be converted to something? I suppose this is the advantage to flying a US Airline--get a free ticket right of the bat with all the miles flown.

Thai is part of the Star Alliance, which earns miles on United and US Airways.