500 baht increase on Thai Airways Udon-Bangkok route

[lee]

THAI hikes domestic fares by B200 to B700

BOONSONG KOSITCHOTETHANA

Flying on Thai Airways International's domestic routes will cost between 200 and 700 baht more starting tomorrow as the national carrier quietly raises fares to offset higher costs. The increase for trunk routes _ from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Phuket _ will be 200 baht one-way. The fare on secondary routes _ from Bangkok to Chiang Rai, Krabi, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani and Phitsanulok _ will rise by 500 baht one-way.

The fare on the northern feeder route, from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son, will go up by 700 baht one way, THAI executives confirmed yesterday.

The increases, approved by the Department of Civil Aviation, reflect the average cost per seat, with higher passenger volumes on specific routes helping to curb the margin of increase, according to the airline.

The new one-way fare from Bangkok to Chiang Mai will be 2,570 baht, excluding extras such as the fuel surcharge, taxes and insurance. A Bangkok-Khon Kaen ticket will be 2,300 baht and the Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son fare 1,465 baht _ almost double the current 765 baht.

Other domestic airlines _ including low-cost carriers _ are expected to follow suit as THAI's fares have been used as a benchmark.

Except for the trunk routes, THAI has been losing money on all other domestic routes, many of them operating because of political pressure to maintain air connections.

Meanwhile, THAI is looking at the possibility of bringing down the fuel surcharges on its international routes in line with the drop in jet fuel prices.

One proposal is to abolish the current system under which the airline imposes a fuel surcharge on each flight sector. It would be replaced by a single charge that would result in the overall levy per ticket being reduced.

The timing of the change has not been decided.

The last adjustment of fuel surcharges was made on June 1, with international rates variable by route and country of ticket issue, while the flat rate of 300 baht per sector for domestic routes was lifted to 400 baht.

[stoneman]

Don't I remember that it was less than 2 years ago that the total fare on Nok Air from BKK to UTH was 499 baht?

[BKKSTAN]

Inflation was only 2%

[beer monkey]

i have just been quoted on-line ,a price of 2590 baht inc tax of 505 baht.
so is it 500baht on top making it over 3000baht ?

[BKKSTAN]

More good reasons to take the overnight train!

[Galee]

Case of supply and demand.

The flights always seem full to me, so it seems logical business sense to squeeze every Baht they can out of their customers.

Can't see how they can blame the increase in oil prices. They've been coming down recently.

[beer monkey]

Don't I remember that it was less than 2 years ago that the total fare on Nok Air from BKK to UTH was 499 baht?

nok air online at the moment is 3200 baht for 2 adults for 12.20pm flight early Dec.
Thai e-booking is unavailable, must be putting in the new higher prices.

[BangkokButcher]

Just booked a return flight for 5 adults and 3 kids flying with Thai for a tad under 35000, only 23000 with nok air, but no international credit cards can be accepted

[beer monkey]

Thai is back on line with the New Price of 3090 baht as from 1.12.06

NOK Air. something to bear in mind is the baggage allowance is only 15kg and i was charged around 50baht a kilo for having 23kilos a few years back, thats 1 person, so with the wife who is always well over its not as cheap as it sounds if you have heavy baggage,still cheaper than Thai though.

[Miruku]

A friend in Bangkok bought our tickets with Thai a few weeks ago for a December/January Bangkok/Udon return trip

"normal" adult fare Baht 4975

Oldies (over 60) fare Baht 4560

So fellow oldies, don't forget to ask for the lower fare when booking Thai.

[izzix]

they are all faced with higher operating costs from moving airports .
moving usually means better effiency & cheaper costs but only the Thais could generate higher operating costs.