Thai Airways
 

We'll be in Thailand for a couple of weeks during December 2005. Since our time is very short, we're planning to use Thai Airways incountry to vist Chiang Mai and Krabi. We'll be flying round trip from BKK to Chiang Mai, first. Then, back to BKK to fly down to Krabi.

Question: We'd like to know how well Thai Airways meets their listed arrival and departure times. We have some choices among flights and we'd prefer a short stay in BKK before taking off for Krabi. The flights leave Chiang Mai at 0830 or 1015 andwould arrive in BKK either 3 or 1 hour prior to the flight down to Krabi. Can we sleep in and take the later flight?

Any information would be appreciated. TIA.

my experience is that operate pretty well on time....have you also looked at bangkok air flights...their discovery pass allows individual flights in country at $50 each...you do have to buy 3 segments however, which your schedule qualifies for....i think they fly to krabi....does thai have a direct CN-krabi flight or does BA??

I looked at all the incountry airlines I could find. Bangkok Air looked good. It was my thought that sticking to one airline would simplify things for us, regarding terminals, gates, etc.

There is no CM to Krabi flight, that would have been ideal. Thai Air seems to have adopted the unfortunat "hub" system of our USA companies and all destinations appear to originate from BKK.

On the plus side, it appears that we can save a bit by purchasing round-trip rather than individual-trip tickets.

Thanks for your reply. I wrote to Thai Air with the same query and have not heard from them.

Thai Airways has an excellent on time record on domestic flights. It really is worth considoring upgrading to Business Class, you get separate check in, lounge use and good seating at just a small extra amount, plus you can pick up useful extra mileage ( Thai is Star Alliance so you can find mileage with them useful for UA etc ).
Most flights Bangkok to/from Chiang Mai are wide body Airbus 300 or 330's, 777 and sometimes even 747-400.
Changing flights with Thai domestic at BKK is a 'breeze', couldn't be more simple or stress free.
There are no direct flights from CM to Krabi.

Thai Airways has a 3-airport pass for $169 that you could use. Thai Airways website shows connections of 55 minutes going from Chiang Mai to Krabi. You would earn 363 ff miles and elite qualifying miles for each of the CNX flights. About 405 for the Krabi flights. That's about 1536 miles, definitely worth $15.36 to me (which reduces the small airpass difference between Thai Air and Bangkok Air).

I was able to use the separate check-in and Thai Air business class lounges in the domestic terminals at BKK and CNX. Am pretty sure it was the Star Alliance Gold (not Red Carpet Club) card that I showed. Flew in coach and neither was on the same day as a *A international flight.

The lounge in the domestic terminal at BKK is ok. Decent sized room. Furniture was a bit worn, not particularly comfortable, but ok, and definitely better than waiting in the terminal. Snacks and drinks. The lounge at CNX was small but nice with with some good snacks and drinks.

Both flights were on-time. The return from Chiang Mai was definitely a 777.

To take advantage of the intra-country fare Thai Airways offers, don't you have to have flown to Thailand on their airline or a partner airline?

Many thanks for all the information. I found the 3 city note on TA's site, but no way to purchase it. Given the positive notes, I'll book flights with one hour between arrival and departure.

No, you don't need to use Thai Airways to fly into Thailand, you just have to purchase it outside of Thailand. If you call Thai Airways in your home country they can sort it for you.

I'll give them a call. I think I have weblock and didn't think about doing it the old fashioned way. Thanks.

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