Thai Airways - Are they cheaper from Thailand?

[JimboPSM]

There will come a time when (hopefully in months rather than years) I will need to switch to Thailand originating flights rather than UK originating flights.

Does anyone know if flights from Thailand to the UK are cheaper than the other way round? If so may be possible to save money by starting that switch sooner rather than later.

Has anyone compared return ticket prices for Bangkok London against London Bangkok (similar could apply to members from other countries).

As I don't read Thai, the only comparisons I've done have been on the Thai Airways site (which is not a true comparison as official Airline sites are nearly always more expensive than travel agents or the internet).

Although the internet is good for comparing & getting good value flights, occasionally some airlines seem to give even better value to travel agencies, prices I have not been able to find on the internet.

I do recall seeing prices for Thai Airways advertised on boards outside travel agencies around Udon last time we were there but didn't do any comparisons at the time so have no idea whether they were good, bad or indifferent.

[arjay]

Yes, as a general guide, flights originating in Thailand, to the Uk, are cheaper than those originating in the UK.

Thai Air tend to not be the cheapest, but they are very good and of course direct/non-stop.. EVA I have found to be very good, (better) particularly their Evergreen De-luxe class, mentioned elsewhere on the Forum. Though EVA don't fly daily and are often booked up well in advance. With Thai you get that continuity if flying on within Thailand and a discount on the internal fare.

My following comments may not be appropriate if travelling to or from Udon, but when I lived in Phuket, Malaysian Airlines were another good option, cost-wise - because they quote an inclusive fare from Phuket via KL to London, whereas with Thai and other airlines the fare is quoted from Bangkok, and one then has to add on a few thousand more (baht) for the Phuket - Bangkok leg. For example this time last year, I flew Phuket to London return, via KL, with Malaysian for about 30K baht. The year before they were no more than 25K baht.

I would incidentally rate Thai Air above Malaysian, for service legroom etc.

But to answer your question - Yes, flights are usually significantly cheaper originating from Thailand.

[thethailife]

Also Thai Air is more expensive if booked thru the website. Try using expedia or oritz, etc.

[banpaeng]

By using bucketshops here in the states I have not been able to beat the prices. Seems I can get to west coast or New York but when you add on Houston Tx or Charleston SC the price really goes up. I will be honest and say have not checked in aobut two years. Things change. Will check next time I go.

[albeach]

Taking Thai Air for first time this trip. Their direct JFK to BKK cuts 10-11 hours off my usual flight time. Booked direct with ThaiAir, was cheaper than Orbitz or other consolidators. Lucked out on the timing, flight went up by 12300THB nine days after I booked. Only drawbacks are getting 50% of FF miles on flight to BKK because of V class, full miles on return leg, and couldn't get E-ticket on Phnom Penh to BKK leg, have to figure my own way out of Cambo after I get there.

[Paul]

checked the prices BKK-LHR -about 2 months ago. 42000 baht return on Thai. (From an agency in Udon)

The advertisers in Bkk Post tend to have some good deals on and have all the latest promotions too.

[JimboPSM]

Tickets I bought yesterday in UK from WestEast Travel with Thai cost ฃ545.60 each. The cost breakdown is:

Air Ticket: ฃ450.00
Airport & Security charges ฃ95.60
(Also a recorded delivery of ticket for another ฃ4.00 was optional)

In January I purchased tickets (including taxes) from flights4less with Thai at ฃ368.48 each (they were particularly cheap post Tsunami tragedy), the real bummer was that in UK it cost ฃ125 each for us to get from IOM to LHR, about 250 miles compared to ฃ368 for 6,000 miles.

[BangkokButcher]

Airport & Security charges ฃ95.60

Looks like a mighty leap in the usual price I'm used to paying for the airport tax or as the charge name suggests, is there more to it now??

I dont think that I've ever paid more than ฃ60 for the tax aspect of the ticket

[tenbyboy]

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[JimboPSM]

Always intrigued by perceptions relating to money, so did a little research, these are all flights quoted a few minutes ago from LHR to BKK leaving November 9th returning a month later, results sorted in ascending airport/security costs.

Staggering to see airport security cost range between GBP 43.10 Emirates and 158.30 Lufthansa on total ticket costs between GBP 508.90 Gulf Air and 593.70 Swiss/Lufthansa.

Ticket - Security - Airline
571.10 - 43.10 - Emirates - Indirect
580.90 - 57.90 - Eva Air
592.90 - 57.90 - Kuwait - Indirect
555.70 - 59.70 - Swiss - Indirect
530.90 - 75.90 - Eva Air
508.90 - 96.90 - Gulf Air - Indirect
576.10 - 106.10 - Air France - Indirect
592.90 - 107.90 - Swiss/Lufthansa - Indirect
593.70 - 108.70 - Swiss/Lufthansa - Indirect
593.30 - 158.30 - Lufthansa - Indirect

In theory all the airport security charges should be fully refundable if you do not fly as none of the costs are incurred by the airline - but just see how far you get trying to get them back - it's a big profit earner for the airlines.

[BobHelm]

Nice to see that EVA are so consistant Jimbo. When I flew with them in February (but booked on 7th December)
Total payment GBP 480.40
But ฃ5 of that was Opodo booking fee...

[Galee]

I think you will find that all fares have gone up due to the increase in oil price.

Last June I paid ฃ353.00 to fly with Etihad Airways. The cheapest I can find for them now is ฃ425.00.
I've just paid ฃ455.00, for my January visit using Lastminute.com, to fly with Qatar Airways.
I've used Qatar twice before and in my experience thay are an excellant Airline. Well worth paying a little extra for.

Gary

[banpaeng]

Here is a site of a travel agent I have used in BKK. If you know you are going to make several trips within a set time frame you might buy a one way then buy the RT in BKK.

http://olavi.com/flights_europe.htm

[BangkokButcher]

Kuwait sounds like a good deal, 21,500 baht return BKK-LON-BKK, only got the usual departure tax to add.

[allen]

BB, be careful if you decide to use Kuwait. Last year it took me an extra
eight days to get out of Bangkok using Kuwait Airlines. I had already checked in and had my boarding pass and got bumped because a
Kuwaiti and his six wives arrived late and they got to fly. It took eight days and many phone calls to get another seat back to Kuwait. After
working there for several years You realize if you are not Kuwaiti you
are treated second rate at best.

[BangkokButcher]

BB, be careful if you decide to use Kuwait. Last year it took me an extra eight days to get out of Bangkok using Kuwait Airlines.

Sorry to hear of your experience using Kuwait, Allen, but to me an 8 day delay in getting out of thailand would be a result....

[polehawk]

Yeah, in Thailand you would only have to worry about Somchai and his six mia nois bumping you. Horrors! That would mean going back to your hotel and then Patpong again.

Just kidding, gang. No hate mail this time, puh-leaze. OK, ms admin?