I hope to get several recommendations as I have already contacted 4-5 agents including Mr. Eddie, Bunnie and several listed on the Lao Airline site.

I sent the emails 2 days ago but haven't heard back from a single agent!

I need to book two legs and I leave in 10 days!

Please provide names of travel agents that can book these flights for me as there is no way to do it through their own website (I am aware of the fake website).

Buckets-o-thanks!

Will you be in BKK first? I've used this travel agent based in BKK and they are quite prompt. Maybe they can help with Lao Airlines.

[email protected]

Have you tried this site which has email addresses in Paris and BKK.

http://www.laos-airlines.com/index.asp

Good luck.

There was a link on www.manidatravel.com to a Lao tour company's website

http://www.viengchampatour.com/about_us.html

The laos-airlines site is the one that reportedly sells bogus tickets. They offer prices for tickets and passes that look goog BUT I e-mailed the real Laos airlines office in Laos about these prices/tickets and I was told that such a ticket would not be honored and if the passenger who had bought such fares from that France based travel agent would be required to purchase a new ticket if they wanted to fly.

The real Lao Air site lists lots of agents that sell tickets. I'd try them.

The real lao airlines site

http://www.laoairlines.com/

Aloha!

Oops! My apologies. Have no shares in the bogus site! But Manida Travel is fair dinkum.

Tamara, you may need to wait until you are in Thailand to buy the tickets. Many people have had difficulty buying Lao Air tickets except in SE Asia.

I have had the same problem and have been emailing agents for over 2 weeks. My son was in BKK yesterday and could not find the ticket office and none of the Lao Air phone #'s worked. Bangkok air is no longer using them for a good reason. I am now trying to change my plans.
My son is still working on our Lao flights in Thailand. I will post if he comes up with any reliable source.
Sally

Hmmm... This is proving to be difficult.

As mentioned in my original post, I am aware of the fake Lao Airline site. I have contacted several agents from the real site and have not heard back.

I called several of the phone numbers on the real site but didn't get through to anyone and I called during their day time. I tried Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang and Hanoi to on avail.

I will be in Bangkok in 10 days so I guess I will just have to attempt this when I get in.

I will try manida travel as suggested but I am losing hope.

Thanks everyone!

I have purchased Lao Air tickets from Air Gorilla. If you are in the US, they can fed ex in a few days. Fast, and easy, you will pay a bit more for the service, but if you don't want uncertainty, they are great.

I booked my tickets to Laos as part of the Bangkok Airways Discovery Pass. Did it by phone to Bangkok Airways in Crawley, UK.

I used Kathie's contact, Mr Eddie Aniwat and had no trouble with the ticket purchase. He will deliver to my BKK hotel in December.

sallyho - What do you mean by "Bangkok air is no longer using them". Are you referring to the Bangkok Air Pass and that they are no longer part of this.

Scotters,
We booked all our inter Asia air on Bangkok Air using the discovery pass. When I tried to pay for the tickets they would not issue Lao Air.

I spent hours on the phone and was told they were not getting commision from Lao Air and will no longer ticket them.

I emailed [email protected] and did get a responce.





My son also suggusted Praset with Asian Trails
<[email protected]>
He has also responded, but I am not feeling very confident at this point about getting authentic tickets.
Sally

Do be aware that www.laos-airlines.com/ sells passes on Lao Airlines that Lao Airlines will not honor...in an e-mail correspondence with the real Lao Airline office in Paris, rather than the travel agency that calles themselves Laos-Airlines in Paris, I inquired about tickets issued by Laos-Airlines and was told that they would not be usable and if I purchased those tickets and tried to fly with them I would be required to pay in full for another real ticket as the Laos-Airlines tickets were not valid for carriage. I had also seen reports of denied boarding for this reason on Lonely Planet.

Be very, very careful about who you buy your tickets from. I would want to be sure it was one of the agents listed on the real airline website if I didn't purchase directly from Lao Air.

I don't know where you live Eurotraveller, but Kim is right. Take a look at the Bangkok Airways website. Telephone your nearest branch, eg, the UK no. is 01293 596626.
I flew:
Bangkok - Luang Prabang with BKK Airways
Luang Prabang - Vientiane with Lao Airlines
Vientiane - Bangkok with Lao Airlines

All done with the Discovery Pass issued by Bangkok Airways which was sent to my home address.