1. Premium Economy seating is the best bargain going. Business class accommodations for a few hundred bucks extra above Economy seating. LOTS of length and width room in the seating. I mean LOTS. I was very happy with the accommodations, the food and the service by the stewardesses/stewards.
2. LAX ticket counter wasn't open for Thai Airways until three hours before the flight left. If you're earlier than that, go find something to do. There won't even be signs up showing you where the Thai Airways ticket counter WILL be located once up.
3. Don't bother showing up earlier than 2 hours for any flight at BKK or DMG or UTH airports. They won't be ready for you. Whether it's the ticket counter or the boarding gate, they are thrown into a tizzy if you are there before the flight BEFORE you has taken off. I wasn't even allowed in my proper boarding gate area until the flight ahead of me was gone. They made me go sit in a vacant boarding area until they were ready for me.
4. Arrived at DMG much earlier than expected after my taxi ride from BKK airport. Checked with the Thai Airways Information Desk at DMG and asked if I could get an earlier flight to UTH. They were very helpful, friendly, and got me to UTH without any service charge whatsoever.
5. (Not Thai Airways Related) My taxi driver from DMG to BKK took some back roads and avoided ALL of the tolls on the main highways between the airports. My taxi fare was much cheaper -- 400 baht including tip.
6. (Not Thai Airways Related) Saturday and Sunday arrivals in BKK have been excellent for me in getting from airport to the other. There is NO TRAFFIC on the roads, and the taxis move with ease between airports.
7. The Economy seating of Thai Airways was excellent compared to Cathay-Pacific in the way of roominess. I'm 6-2 and 240 and was comfy for the entire trip back to the US. Still a good bargain if you can't get Premium Economy both ways. I sat in the last row in an aisle seat. Made the restroom handy, too.
Recent Thai Airways experience
Thai Airways Tattle. I have just purchased my wife a flight from Kuwait to BKK Thai Airways on line @ USD 485 ALL INCLUSIVE. However, there is no e ticket and the ticket had to be collected from the local Thai Airways Office who charged a US35 issue fee. Local Thai Airways Office can not book BKK to Udon (!?!). If booked online the original credit card holder must present themself at BKK check -in. As I am not travelling with my wife, that means we can't pre-book.
Thanks Ricohoc, I think the point I was trying to make is that if you book in advance not only do you secure your connection, but also get a much cheaper ticket. So, why won't the local Thai Airways rep make a reservation???
I can do it myself on the net, but this has to be paid for by credit card - and the credit card holder has to be the one travelling. Bit of a Catch 22 here.
I can do it myself on the net, but this has to be paid for by credit card - and the credit card holder has to be the one travelling. Bit of a Catch 22 here.
To protect thai business, you can not buy flights originating in Thailand at a travel office outside Thailand. It's that easy.gulfman wrote:Local Thai Airways Office can not book BKK to Udon (!?!).
Thai has problems with e-tickets at many airports that are not operated by Thai Airways (means all except Suvarnabhumi). That should change in April due to international regulations.
Re: Recent Thai Airways experience
Just one word of advice...if you are e-ticketed, make double sure you have in your possession the exact credit card you used to book the flight. It will be requested at check-in, and if you don't have THAT card, you are kicked into one of those Thai bureaucratic "I have to check with a supervisor and you have to fill out a form" situations. My husband booked on his gold AmEx card and then upgraded to a platinum (different number, of course), and Thai Air wouldn't consider it the same credit card.Ricohoc wrote:1. Premium Economy seating is the best bargain going. Business class accommodations for a few hundred bucks extra above Economy seating. LOTS of length and width room in the seating. I mean LOTS. I was very happy with the accommodations, the food and the service by the stewardesses/stewards.
We absolutely agree with this. Our last two visits were Premium Economy on Thai Air out of JFK -- comfortable/able to sleep and excellent service!
2. LAX ticket counter wasn't open for Thai Airways until three hours before the flight left. If you're earlier than that, go find something to do. There won't even be signs up showing you where the Thai Airways ticket counter WILL be located once up.
This isn't the case at JFK.
We have flown from Las Vegas Nevada to Udon Thani the last three years and have always booked the entire route in both directions without any difficulty. Our itinerary includes the use of at least three different airlines (i.e. United LAS to LAX, EVA Air from LAX to BKK, and Thai Air from BKK to UTH) with the reverse taking place on the return.
I've had a similar experience using Southwest to LAX, Thai to BKK, and Thai to UTH ... and the reverse. No problems whatsoever.Go4er wrote:We have flown from Las Vegas Nevada to Udon Thani the last three years and have always booked the entire route in both directions without any difficulty. Our itinerary includes the use of at least three different airlines (i.e. United LAS to LAX, EVA Air from LAX to BKK, and Thai Air from BKK to UTH) with the reverse taking place on the return.
*Knock on Wood*
I have been asked to present the credit card used to book the e-ticket everytime on both THAI and EVA when departing the USA. On both airlines it is printed in the pages of rules,etc that comes with the e-ticket that if you do not have the card you will need to purchase a new ticket. I fly regularly phoenix--Lax- bkk-Udon and back. In my experince flights to and from ASIA have always been on time and without hassle. Wish I could say that in the USA where air travel has become ' no fun'
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Miruku
- udonmap.com
- Posts: 216
- Joined: January 26, 2006, 8:30 am
- Location: Williamstown, Australia & udon Thani
I am traveling next week from Oz to LOS but because I'm immediately going on to Hong Kong for 2 days then back to Bkk/Udon by Thai, I had my friend book the BKK/HKG/BKK E ticket using his AMEX card at a Bangkok travel agent yesterday. In view of the problems with AMEX cards previously referred to here, I asked the travel agent if there will be a problem when I present the E ticket at Thai's Suvanabhumi check in counter, she replied:
"Your ticket not problem I issue and reconfirm it by your name all ready
You can print e-ticket in your e-mail and bring to check in at the airport
for payment by the card of Mr.XXXX it not the problem because it have your name
and number ticket all ready."
Hope all will be well.
Hopefully she's right, but I'll find out next week.
I wish you good luck in your trip.
"Your ticket not problem I issue and reconfirm it by your name all ready
You can print e-ticket in your e-mail and bring to check in at the airport
for payment by the card of Mr.XXXX it not the problem because it have your name
and number ticket all ready."
Hope all will be well.
Hopefully she's right, but I'll find out next week.
I wish you good luck in your trip.
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rickfarang
- udonmap.com
- Posts: 2397
- Joined: January 1, 2006, 6:01 am
- Location: Udon Thani
I tied to get out of Phoenix on Thursday, but U.S. had "weather related" delays that would have made me miss my EVA flight out of LAX. I came back Friday and not only did they not put me on the early flight, which they said they would do, but they made me miss the EVA flights again 
And EVA canceled my ticket since the season had changed. Here I sit, in the U.S., waiting until Sunday, when I will attempt to get home 10 days later than planned. The real pisser: U.S. Air wanted US$160 to rebook me. They can keep their worse-than-useless ticket and go pound sand 
-I have already rebooked on Southwest. Sorry if this went a little bit off topic.
And yes, the last time I checked in for an EVA flight at LAX, they asked to see the exact same credit card I used to purchase the ticket, and even though the card expired last month, I will present it to them.
And EVA canceled my ticket since the season had changed. Here I sit, in the U.S., waiting until Sunday, when I will attempt to get home 10 days later than planned. The real pisser: U.S. Air wanted US$160 to rebook me. They can keep their worse-than-useless ticket and go pound sand -I have already rebooked on Southwest. Sorry if this went a little bit off topic.And yes, the last time I checked in for an EVA flight at LAX, they asked to see the exact same credit card I used to purchase the ticket, and even though the card expired last month, I will present it to them.