Non direct flights from London to BKK

Post by **BobHelm** » October 11, 2005, 4:49 pm

As i have only ever managed to get to Thailand on holiday the fight time has been quite important to me. So I have only ever flown Eva, Thai & BA/Quantas - picked the cheapest of the 3 for when I wanted to go. The next time I fly out time will not be quite so pressing for me

so my question is has anyone had any experiences of any of the indirect companies as the savings can be pretty large.

Post by **JimboPSM** » October 11, 2005, 5:32 pm

The only time I

Post by **BangkokButcher** » October 11, 2005, 6:00 pm

I have flown a number if indirect flights in the past, all had pretty good prices:

Balkan airlines via Sofia (flight from hell, dont think they operate this one anymore thankfully)

Qatar airlines via Doha (great flight, new planes, shame we flew just before the last Iraq war was due to start - during the 6 hr stopover on the return leg of the journey, the US air force were hotting things up at Camp Doha. Was one of the most frightening sights I have seen, literally 100's of locked and loaded jet fighters flying over the airport, felt like a bloody earthquake

)

Gulf air via Bahrain (no problems

)

Emirates via abu dhabi (no problems, but very expensive beer at the airport)

Malaysian via KLL (no problems, but may as well go direct)

Garuda (as above)

I would never advise against flying indirect, especially if you can get your hands on a 'courier ticket' (now thats a cheap way to travel

).

However there are some great deals to be had going direct via Thai or Eva with these guys:

http://www.westeasttravel.com

Post by **banpaeng** » October 11, 2005, 6:10 pm

Bob, just a thought but since you are moving this time you might want to think about Eva Deluxe. From the states it is only $300 more per ticket but here is the kicker. As I will be moving also the baggage allowance is quite a bit more. It is the same as business class in other words 70 pouncs per person. For me and wife that equals 60 pounds. If moving that is quite a bit plus you get a business class seat for the trip and that make a big difference on the old bones.

As stated, just a thought.

Post by **BobHelm** » October 11, 2005, 6:39 pm

Thanks Sean, link looks like a good price for Direct flights, I will ask for a quote once I have some dates firmed up.
Jimbo/Sean thanks for the comments on indirect flights too, certainly food for thought as I have seen below à¸ƒ380 via this route.
BP thanks for the tip on Delux, Sean's link showed Eva Elite at about $225 extra, I guess that is the same?? Good tip about the extra baggage, only reserve would be extra baggage costs if flew on from BKK to UTH, but I guess you would say that flying internally would be a waste of money with all the time in the world..

Post by **banpaeng** » October 11, 2005, 7:04 pm

Bob, I to ask about internal and was told if you tell them you just cam from international and fly business it will work. Looked at
thai on business and the baggage allowance is the same as Eva deluxe. I bet deluse and elite are the same.. You just have to decide if shipping is cheaper than flying with your stuff. The difference for the flight on business internal is $15. Not worth the hassel.

Post by **JimboPSM** » October 11, 2005, 7:12 pm

Bob, just checked one way fare on Thai website for BKK-UTH.

Business Class 3,190 THB
Economy Class 2,190 THB

The additional 1,000 THB gets you 10 kilo increase in baggage allowance, use of Thai Airways lounge and Business Class seat.

Some time back was charged 880 THB for excess baggage for UTH-BKK when in sardine class.

We normally stop off in BKK for two or three days so can't legitimately use the

Post by **Paul** » October 11, 2005, 7:16 pm

From UK standard allowance is 20kgs but with EVA Evergreen deluxe you get 25kg (I had 32 and they never blinked)

Seat configuration is 2/4/2 (as opposed to 3/5/3) Its much much better to get the 2 (a window and ailse). Once had the 2 middle seats in the 4 configuration - not pleasant

from what I remember its about 150 pounds extra for evergreen deluxe but you get incresed baggage, dedicated check in, seat back tv's, reclining seats that really do recline and have a footrest which comes up like a footstool, a better menu, complimentary toiletries kit - need I go on ?

On a 12 hour flight it makes all the difference - and once you have tried it - it is hard to go back.

Internally with Thai, if you opt for business class, which is about 10 pounds more you get an increased luggage allowance. The seats really arent that much different but you can sit in the business lounge at BKK and fill yourself full of free snacks and drinks

Post by **banpaeng** » October 11, 2005, 7:58 pm

I agree with Paul, if you ever fly Eva Deluxe you won't want to fly any other way. The small price increase is worth it. I don't need three days in BKK to recoup.

Post by **JimboPSM** » October 11, 2005, 11:17 pm

It is ironic BB mentioning WestEast Travel above, they get many recommendations from folk on Thailand-UK site and we had decided to ask them for a quote a few days ago.

Anyway result is that we have just booked our next trip with WestEast Travel, made my booking with a very helpful girl called Angela

cost was à¸ƒ450 + taxes.

After a couple of days in BKK should be arriving Udon 13th November

WestEast specialise in bookings for families with connections in Thailand and have some kind of

Post by **BangkokButcher** » October 12, 2005, 12:38 am

JimboPSM wrote:It is ironic BB mentioning WestEast Travel above, they get many recommendations from folk on Thailand-UK site and we had decided to ask them for a quote a few days ago.

Shame the times never worked out Jimbo.

I must admit though, that I have always been surprised at the prices they quote, most of the time (maybe 90%) they are a lot cheaper than other places I try, the only other place that has come close was ebookers.

According to my wife, westeast used to be owned or run by Thai's, no idea if they still are though.

Post by **JimboPSM** » October 12, 2005, 1:58 am

BB, you are correct, it is a Thai family owned business, the girl I spoke to is English with Thai parents and visits Thailand herself every year.

In recent years I have been using travel select, flights4less, travel4less (all now part of lastminute.com) and e-bookers; in the last year I used flights4less twice as they had all the others beaten on Manchester departures.

Today got a good deal with WestEast and will certainly give them a try for my next flight in January

Post by **businessman** » October 12, 2005, 11:45 am

Bob,i always use Eva.Cannot fault them.

Before i found Eva, i tried many of the indirect flights and the worse by far was Biman Bangladesh with a stop over in a small hut on an air field in Bangladesh.In the hut with me and a few other scared farang was about a thousand Iman on some sort of fatwa mission to somewhere and no one to help.Vowed to pay the extra cash if i ever got out of there.

Post by **BobHelm** » October 12, 2005, 1:01 pm

businessman wrote:Bob,i always use Eva.Cannot fault them.

Before i found Eva, i tried many of the indirect flights and the worse by far was Biman Bangladesh with a stop over in a small hut on an air field in Bangladesh.In the hut with me and a few other scared farang was about a thousand Iman on some sort of fatwa mission to somewhere and no one to help.Vowed to pay the extra cash if i ever got out of there.

Ha, ha, ha Marcus I have sat in some strange airports in the past waiting for connections, but I certainly can not beat that..

My only real complaint about EVA was that I really am not too keen on 'pot noodle' for breakfast and I think the BA/Quantas facilities are probably a bit better. In saying that the price for BA is about equivalent to the Elite EVA so maybe not in 'like for like'.

Post by **BangkokButcher** » October 13, 2005, 1:08 am

JimboPSM wrote:Today got a good deal with WestEast and will certainly give them a try for my next flight in January

Glad to hear it Jimbo

Post by **tenbyboy** » October 13, 2005, 2:18 am

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Post by **arjay** » January 4, 2006, 10:40 am

Can anyone recommend an agencies in Thailand, preferably Udon where I could book return flights from Thailand to the UK?

I prefer to fly direct with EVA Air, though I note tenbyboy's comments on using KLM via Amsterdam, as I could then fly onwards to Bristol avoiding heathrow. I have no experience of KLM, though I thought they were in financial difficulties.

Can anyone advise about KLM and legroom etc? I like lots of space.

Thanks

Post by **JimboPSM** » January 4, 2006, 11:10 am

According to the following site KLM only gives 31" legroom in sardine class, whereas Thai has 34".

http://www.airlinequality.com/Product/seats_global.htm

As far as I'm aware

KLM are not in any financial difficulties as they merged with Air France last year.

As I'm still UK based, can't help on agencies in Thailand.

Post by **arjay** » January 4, 2006, 2:33 pm

Jimbo, Thanks for the webpage details. That was very useful. I not only checked out seat pitch details, but also passenger opinion reports. KLM didn't come out so well!!

Thanks again,

Rj

Non direct flights from London to BKK

Non direct flights from London to BKK

Local departures