Thai Air to Cancel JFK--BKK?
Jun 26th, 2008 | 05:08 PM
#61
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,860
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Rkkwan...I always book far in advance and the original ticket that I had booked...before having to change it by 6 days...was not a bad airfare...$1800-$247(the extra I had to pay for the later date changes and because the 20th was officially in the high season zone. And that was in Premium Economy. I booked that airfare in Feb 2008...for Dec 2008/Jan 2009.
I was to originally have left on Dec 12th, but had to change it to Dec 20th, which hiked it up by actually $147. plus there was the $100. charge for changing the dates which is how it ended up $247. I go at this time of year every year and there can be some very good fares far in advance if one often checks.
High season starts around Dec 15th,I was told by Thai Air, but even with that, it was only a $147. difference due to going from one season to the next.
Bob....I'm on Delta and United's frequent flyer program and when I'm flying that far, I stick with those airlines hooked to either United...which is Thai Air...or Delta which is Singapore Air. I get over 18,000 frequent flyer miles, per trip, which add up quickly. I usually use them for Europe,Asia, and West Africa .
A couple of months ago, I booked L.A.-Paris-Venice-Paris-L.A. for Spring 2009, by cashing in my miles, and it only cost me $165. in taxes and a ticket fee...a lot cheaper than having to actually pay the airfare. And since I have friends in both places who've said I can use their apartments for free, that trip will actually be almost free.
Carol...Hopefully I'll get there in December. I contacted Emporium Suites yesterday, by e-mail, and explained the situation. They answered back right away and were as great as usual. They sent me a very personalized letter expressing their sorrow for my situation and that I had to cancel and saying that they look forward to hearing from me again. Happy Travels!
I was to originally have left on Dec 12th, but had to change it to Dec 20th, which hiked it up by actually $147. plus there was the $100. charge for changing the dates which is how it ended up $247. I go at this time of year every year and there can be some very good fares far in advance if one often checks.
High season starts around Dec 15th,I was told by Thai Air, but even with that, it was only a $147. difference due to going from one season to the next.
Bob....I'm on Delta and United's frequent flyer program and when I'm flying that far, I stick with those airlines hooked to either United...which is Thai Air...or Delta which is Singapore Air. I get over 18,000 frequent flyer miles, per trip, which add up quickly. I usually use them for Europe,Asia, and West Africa .
A couple of months ago, I booked L.A.-Paris-Venice-Paris-L.A. for Spring 2009, by cashing in my miles, and it only cost me $165. in taxes and a ticket fee...a lot cheaper than having to actually pay the airfare. And since I have friends in both places who've said I can use their apartments for free, that trip will actually be almost free.
Carol...Hopefully I'll get there in December. I contacted Emporium Suites yesterday, by e-mail, and explained the situation. They answered back right away and were as great as usual. They sent me a very personalized letter expressing their sorrow for my situation and that I had to cancel and saying that they look forward to hearing from me again. Happy Travels!
Jun 26th, 2008 | 06:55 PM
#62
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,860
Likes: 0
Carol....I forgot to add...you asked about around-the-world tickets. I've been calling and getting the newsletter from Air Brokers International since back in the 80s. They're up in San Francisco and back in the day had round-the-world tickets for, on average, $1200-$1500...depending on the number of destinations. I think the website is airbrokersinternational.com unless things have changed. Whenever I've called them, they've been very helpful. I still have some of their old newsletters stored away somewhere. Happy Travels!
Jun 26th, 2008 | 09:29 PM
#65
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 612
Likes: 0
... oh, have had fun, monitoring this one ...
... as you must know - (and have the dosh) : SQ 21/22 J (EWR-SIN-EWR), followed by, Yes, more Girls, SIN-BKK-SIN ... (your sordid secrets at the Pen and FS are safe with me) ...
... and now, for you LA TG lovers ... (too bad the Celtics recently kicked your ars_) ... well, you still have SQ 37/38 J ... (do remember your charge cards - and yes, sweet SIA thanks you) ...
... now, just between us : I'm still obliged to fly Asia-NA F/J, 'others pay', every month, and these are my current favourites :
SQ 2/1 J/F HKG-SFO-HKG (forever) ...
CX 713 F HKG-BKK ... CX HKG F Lounges forever ... (please don't tell my SQ forever wife) ...
TG 600 F BKK-HKG ... (RFL Spa masseuses - forever) ...
... as always, savour your special times ... (aboard a certain Singaporean airline) ...
macintosh (robert)
... liberate your senses ...
(Singapore Airlines)
Jul 1st, 2008 | 04:00 AM
#67
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,160
Likes: 0
THAI Suspends Service Between Bangkok and New York
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited announced that the company regrets passenger inconvenience as a result of THAI’s suspended service to New York, due to the continually increasing cost of jet fuel, and confirms that it will provide the most assistance possible with this regard.
Flg. Off. Apinan Sumanaseni, THAI’s President, said that the company’s service on the return route Bangkok-New York v.v. will be suspended as a result of the continually increasing cost of jet fuel, with flight suspension effective as of 1 July 2008 onwards. The company has implemented a reduction of flight frequencies, re-routed flights with particular impact on its U.S. flight operations, and other cost cutting measures.
While THAI will discontinue its New York operations, the company will retain service on the return route Bangkok-Los Angeles v.v., which will utilize Airbus A340-500 aircraft until September 2008, thereafter to utilize Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft to and from Los Angeles at 5 flights per week.
Passengers who wish to cancel their flight reservation routed Bangkok-New York v.v. and request a refund at any THAI sales office or by contacting the representative travel agent where the passenger purchased the ticket. The company will waive the refund fee for passengers who cancel or refund their ticket on the route Bangkok-New York v.v. due to flight suspension.
The company will coordinate with other airlines operating services to and from New York and Los Angeles. Flights may be rerouted to facilitate passengers who will fly to other destinations operated by THAI. Passenger who did not provide their contact information when purchasing air tickets to and from New York, or those who have not been contacted by THAI representatives, are advised to contact the company as soon as possible in order to reroute their flight itineraries accordingly.
For more information, please contact THAI Contact Center at Tel. 0-2356-1111 or by contacting any THAI sales office or representative travel agent.
http://www.thaiair.com/About_Thai/Ne...8/press128.htm
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited announced that the company regrets passenger inconvenience as a result of THAI’s suspended service to New York, due to the continually increasing cost of jet fuel, and confirms that it will provide the most assistance possible with this regard.
Flg. Off. Apinan Sumanaseni, THAI’s President, said that the company’s service on the return route Bangkok-New York v.v. will be suspended as a result of the continually increasing cost of jet fuel, with flight suspension effective as of 1 July 2008 onwards. The company has implemented a reduction of flight frequencies, re-routed flights with particular impact on its U.S. flight operations, and other cost cutting measures.
While THAI will discontinue its New York operations, the company will retain service on the return route Bangkok-Los Angeles v.v., which will utilize Airbus A340-500 aircraft until September 2008, thereafter to utilize Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft to and from Los Angeles at 5 flights per week.
Passengers who wish to cancel their flight reservation routed Bangkok-New York v.v. and request a refund at any THAI sales office or by contacting the representative travel agent where the passenger purchased the ticket. The company will waive the refund fee for passengers who cancel or refund their ticket on the route Bangkok-New York v.v. due to flight suspension.
The company will coordinate with other airlines operating services to and from New York and Los Angeles. Flights may be rerouted to facilitate passengers who will fly to other destinations operated by THAI. Passenger who did not provide their contact information when purchasing air tickets to and from New York, or those who have not been contacted by THAI representatives, are advised to contact the company as soon as possible in order to reroute their flight itineraries accordingly.
For more information, please contact THAI Contact Center at Tel. 0-2356-1111 or by contacting any THAI sales office or representative travel agent.
http://www.thaiair.com/About_Thai/Ne...8/press128.htm
Jul 3rd, 2008 | 05:01 PM
#70
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,860
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I would hope they'd keep the L.A.non-stop route as there are so incredibly many of us who fly it. My big concern is that if the L.A. non-stop flight is discontinued, then it will, once again, be difficult to get to BK if one has to go through Japan during high season as there are so many booked solid flights from L.A.-Japan. Many times, in the past, I couldn't get to BK, on my selected carriers becaause the L.A.-Japan portion was sold out and I book many months in advance. Happy Travels!
Jul 3rd, 2008 | 10:19 PM
#71
Original Poster
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,433
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Guen, they're definitely adding a stop in Japan.
The press release on their site states that as of October, it's a 1-stop at KIX utilizing a 777. As much as I wish it weren't the case, I think it's pretty much a given at this point.
There is some debate, however, as to whether or not Thai Air be able to unload their Airbus 340-500s (the planes they now use for the nonstops)--but even if they can't, they'll still have to do a stop in Japan to refuel. The idea being...the lighter the plane (i.e., flying with less fuel than a full tank) the less the fuel burn and, thus, less financial loss.
If it helps ease your mind a bit, there's a LOT more carriers flying to Japan from LA than there were before TG started their nonstops. ANA, Japan Airlines, Singapore, EVA and United (just to name a few) and, with the fuel crisis, less people are flying in general. So I don't think you should worry about that.
I was confused a bit about the LA-Japan-Bangkok availability you mentioned, though. If you stayed on Thai, they would still book you straight through to Bangkok (even with the fuel stop) and it would count as one flight, so LAX to Japan wouldn't really come into play there...I don't think Thai is going to be selling LAX to Japan tickets.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding though...
The press release on their site states that as of October, it's a 1-stop at KIX utilizing a 777. As much as I wish it weren't the case, I think it's pretty much a given at this point.
There is some debate, however, as to whether or not Thai Air be able to unload their Airbus 340-500s (the planes they now use for the nonstops)--but even if they can't, they'll still have to do a stop in Japan to refuel. The idea being...the lighter the plane (i.e., flying with less fuel than a full tank) the less the fuel burn and, thus, less financial loss.
If it helps ease your mind a bit, there's a LOT more carriers flying to Japan from LA than there were before TG started their nonstops. ANA, Japan Airlines, Singapore, EVA and United (just to name a few) and, with the fuel crisis, less people are flying in general. So I don't think you should worry about that.
I was confused a bit about the LA-Japan-Bangkok availability you mentioned, though. If you stayed on Thai, they would still book you straight through to Bangkok (even with the fuel stop) and it would count as one flight, so LAX to Japan wouldn't really come into play there...I don't think Thai is going to be selling LAX to Japan tickets.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding though...
Jul 4th, 2008 | 01:23 AM
#72
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,160
Likes: 0
filmwill,
I think the reason they want to stop in Tokyo is because of the high number of traffic(passengers) from the Tokyo to Bangkok sector. I've been on a few flights when the plane was full from BKK to NRT and then more then half the plane disembark and the plane was left with a very light passenger load going to LAX.
I think the reason they want to stop in Tokyo is because of the high number of traffic(passengers) from the Tokyo to Bangkok sector. I've been on a few flights when the plane was full from BKK to NRT and then more then half the plane disembark and the plane was left with a very light passenger load going to LAX.
Jul 4th, 2008 | 07:09 AM
#73
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,334
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Same way with BKK-ORD via NRT. The BKK-NRT flight will be just about full, but the NRT-ORD flight a much lighter load. In fact, I got all 5 seats across the middle of the 777 in econ+ to myself... great for sleeping all the way home. Hope that happens again in August.
This NRT-ORD situation with two flights, about an hour-90 minutes apart, is changing. There will only be the one flight (882) as of the first of September. I'm returning from BKK on Sept 3 and had been scheduled on 884 (the
second of the two) but had to be rescheduled to the 882 flight. No problem, in any case. But I'd suspect that flight 882 is going to have fewer empty seats since 882 and 884 will be doubled up. Good reason to try for business class upgrade.
This NRT-ORD situation with two flights, about an hour-90 minutes apart, is changing. There will only be the one flight (882) as of the first of September. I'm returning from BKK on Sept 3 and had been scheduled on 884 (the
second of the two) but had to be rescheduled to the 882 flight. No problem, in any case. But I'd suspect that flight 882 is going to have fewer empty seats since 882 and 884 will be doubled up. Good reason to try for business class upgrade.
