Thai Air Back to Perth

[jackspratt]

Thai has announced it is recommencing direct flights to/from Perth as from 31 March.

One flight per day, with a couple of different departure times depending on the day.

https://australianaviation.com.au/2024/ ... h-bangkok/

Still no love for Brisbane.

Fares are cheaper than Singapore Airlines, and on par with Malaysian. Be interesting to see if this new competition leads to some reductions in those 2. The SQ fares are currently horrendous.

[Whistler]

All fares way up from previous Covid times. I just booked return flight to Sydney for next month with flexible fare with Qantas, they seem to be co-sharing with Emirates again. Nearly 40,000 baht economy.

[Bandung_Dero]

The SQ fares are currently horrendous.

Did a test with Thai for May 14500 Baht one way.

Ya right there! After 5 years of using SQ exclusively last year l opted to fly to Melbourne and connect with Thai International for my return to BKK. Half the price!!!!!

[tamada]

Better snap 'em up quick. My experience with TG non-stop r/t BKK-PER in 2022/23 is it gets increasingly expensive and oversold in a heartbeat, all classes too. I ended up flying Malaysian front-of-the bus BKK-KUL-PER r/t cheaper than o/w front-of'the-TG bus. Decent layovers too (and I was able to buy some cigars at KUL on the way back).

[jackspratt]

Thai hasn't flown to Perth (direct) since March 2020.

https://www.thaiairways.com/en/news/new ... vid19.page

[tamada]

Thai hasn't flown to Perth (direct) since March 2020.

https://www.thaiairways.com/en/news/new ... vid19.page

Yes, cancelled temporarily.

[jackspratt]

Now booked April UTH - BKK - PER, on the one booking, for THB13440.

There is a reasonably tight transfer time in BKK of 1.40 hours.

I assume my suitcase will automatically transfer to the outward flight - does anyone have recent experience of this, and can confirm?

Thanks

[Bandung_Dero]

Hour and a half, good luck with that, Jack. --- Let alone your bag! Didn't know one could check-in international baggage at UTH??

Edit:- Good point Tam. Jack what flight they sell you to get into BKK at about 06:00?

[tamada]

UTH isn't a CIQ airport (probably never will be either) so bags will NOT be checked thru BKK, either leaving, or coming back. It's a collect and re-check job. Adjust domestic connections accordingly (or don't have any checked bags).

What are the BKK Dep/Arr times to/from PER anyway? Last time I flew with them on the PER non-stop service, BKK stopovers were needed on both legs although using the BKK-DMK shuttle bus was an option that I declined.

Never mind, just had a quick squiz and the 07:20 departure means a Bangkok overnight for the outbound sector but with a 15:20 arrival on the rebound, the "last train to Clarksville" should be doable.

[Barney]

Now booked April UTH - BKK - PER, on the one booking, for THB13440.

There is a reasonably tight transfer time in BKK of 1.40 hours.

I assume my suitcase will automatically transfer to the outward flight - does anyone have recent experience of this, and can confirm?

Thanks

Its a good question Mr spratt. Will be tight for time though. Any delay at Udon is the problem, usually the flight coming up from BKK delayed. But be positive. Ill assume you're flying Thai Air, if so, give them a call to check, with Thai smile now gone things may have changed recently, especially if on the one Thai Air ticket all the way through.
With all the new stuff at BKK main terminal like online check in, stand-alone check in kiosks and also bag drop you might be lucky. All those additional assistance items were supposed to make it quicker????

Good luck, Ill be flying to Sydney later this year so if you do the leg work, we will be more the happier and any info would be handy.

[jackspratt]

Thanks for your responses.

The entire flight is with Thai, and I have fortunately taken out insurance - for whatever that is worth if the SHTF.

I will contact Thai, and see what they have to say. Assuming the UTH - BKK flight (21.15 - 22.20) flight departs UT on time, I am reasonably comfortable that I will be able to get on the 00.01 flight to Perth even if I have to recheck at BKK.

If not, given that that Thai has booked the entire flight, it will be up to them to accommodate my connecting flight.

Updates coming, when more is known.

[jackspratt]

Amazingly, Thai got back to me within an hour of my email.

Unfortunately, the response was not what I was hoping for.

Please be informed that checked through to Perth is not eligible due to Udon Thani is not international airport.

As stated by tamada.

[TheSportsBar]

Not an International Airport............False Advertising again

[jackson]

Hi Jacksprat,
I had a nasty surprises last year flying Bkk Syd Akl . I was told my baggage would not be needed to be transferred by myself and it would go direct to NZ as per my ticket. WRONG !! The Au immigration wanted me to get my bag and take it through customs at the first stop in Au , (Syd in my case) Then go through immigration/customs before boarding my next flight. All in as you say 1.5 hrs. They asked me where is my suitcase from the flight. I told them I didn't go to the carousel to get it because of the above mentioned. That upset them because now don't have time to go and get it and I'm not even going to try as there was a tremendous que of passengers everywhere.

My bag was wrapped in glad wrap and thoroughly labelled. I literally told them too bad as I don't have a clue where it is by now. In this case they let me through because with so many in the que they nor me had time to argue. I really believed that it would arrive in NZ , which it did next day . They did indeed open an inspect it at some tim though.

So my point is 1.5 hrs is cutting it fine to go through customs and then immigration again and still atch your next flight. I will never try to do that again

[JimboPSM]

Time could be very tight if you have to collect bags at BKK Domestic Arrivals and then go to 4th floor to recheck them at Thai International Departures as (generally speaking) check in for Thai international flights closes 50 minutes before departure (which halves your transfer time of 100 minutes – assuming an on time arrival).

I’ve analysed arrival information for TG9 (UTH-BKK) from “Flightradar24” over last 65 days which provides some idea of the risk involved (76.9% arrive less than 30 minutes after the Scheduled Time of Arrival):

28 (43.1%) – On time or early
10 (15.4%) – From 1 to 15 minutes late
12 (18.5%) – From 16 to 30 minutes late
6 (9.2%) – From 31 to 45 minutes late
3 (4.6%) – From 46 to 60 minutes late
6 (9.2%) – From 61 to 75 minutes late

I have been on a number of international trips where the airline delayed the departure of my connecting flights because of the late arrival of my incoming flight – however, my circumstances were different to those that you face because my bags were already in the system having been checked through to my final destination at my initial departure airport.

Much may depend on the way that Thai operate their connection policy when it involves connecting from their domestic to international flights at BKK.

.

[tamada]

Personally, I have already stopped hedging on that last UTH-BKK flight ever being on-time when my international departure is before 01:00 the following morning. There are just too many wide-bodies departing for mid-east and Europe either side of midnight, that even if your domestic hop arrives on time, your international check-in may be challenging and security and immigration may be totally gridlocked.

Since BKK is TG's home hub airport, I have had no issues checking in for their onward flights more than the usual 3-hours before departure. Sometimes it's been nearer 8 hours. So catching an earlier flight from UTH doesn't mean hanging around waiting for check-in to open. Clear security and immigration at my leisure and find a lounge to hang out in. If you don't have any airline lounge access, most of the Miracle Lounges will allow you paid access if they're not too busy. If you're NOT on TG, there's a small, paid Miracle 'VIP' Lounge on the check-in side of the level between Departures and Arrivals where you can at least get a comfy seat and a snooze. No beer or snacks at this one, only help yourself water but you can always BYOB.

[jackspratt]

I am currently in "negotiation" with Thai Air about changing to the earlier UTH flight, which would get me to Swampy around 3.00pm ie plenty of time for the midnight connection. Their initial response was to require a THB3000 change fee, which I am not keen to pay on a 13k ticket.

I do have a lounge pass which needs to be used before the end of April.

If that fails, I will stick with the later flight, and just take carry-on, given that I have a stack of clothes in Perth. I will then buy a cheap, one-trip suitcase to fill with the normal goodies for the return flight.

[jackspratt]

I’ve analysed arrival information for TG9 (UTH-BKK) from “Flightradar24” over last 65 days which provides some idea of the risk involved (76.9% arrive less than 30 minutes after the Scheduled Time of Arrival):

Thanks for your analysis, Jimbo. However, it is based on the current timetable for TG9, which shows a 20.45 departure from Udon, arriving at 21.45.

My initial booking (which wasn't completed because of payment issues) was based on this schedule. I received a very quick email from Thai stating the revised time for my trip ie 21.15 - 22.20. I am not sure when the timetable flips to this new schedule.

[tamada]

I’ve analysed arrival information for TG9 (UTH-BKK) from “Flightradar24” over last 65 days which provides some idea of the risk involved (76.9% arrive less than 30 minutes after the Scheduled Time of Arrival):

Thanks for your analysis, Jimbo. However, it is based on the current timetable for TG9, which shows a 20.45 departure from Udon, arriving at 21.45.

My initial booking (which wasn't completed because of payment issues) was based on this schedule. I received a very quick email from Thai stating the revised time for my trip ie 21.15 - 22.20. I am not sure when the timetable flips to this new schedule.

Their UTH timetable only 'flips' on Sundays with that later last flight. Mon thru Sat the last flight to BKK is 19:40 - 20:50. Makes for less stressful connections IMHO.

Their afternoon flight to/from UTH has a higher base fare than the morning and evening ones, hence their asking for mo' munny for the ticketing change.

Also note that the BKK-PER slot has two timings depending on the day of the week flown with the 'overnighter' that js is flying and the one I mentioned earlier (and used before) with a 07:20 - 15:05.

[tamada]

Not an International Airport............False Advertising again

Screenshot 2024-02-04 130948.jpg

Lao Aviation served Luang Prabang for a spell while the short-lived Tiger Air did an even shorter lived Singapore service.

I recall these services ended shortly after the brand new "International" signage was nailed to the walls.