golfer1111

Thanks for the response. I think the ticket agents have been shut down by a new requirement that a person can only buy so many tickets (2?) in one day.

You need to present your photo ID (passport for most of us) at the ticket counter - the ticket you get will have your name, photo id (passport) number and train car/seat number on it. I think you are correct about the ticket offices in town only taking OnePay. I have heard the ticket office at the main stations do take cash, tickets available up to 3 days in advance.

Check with your hotel to see if they can help.

I'm planning to take the high speed train from Luang Prabang to Vientiane in December.

Does anyone have recent experiences on the train? Any suggestions about how to get tickets? Any do's and don'ts?

How strict is the baggage screening? I'm mainly worried about medicines like Aldactone, Caraten, and Losartan, etc.

Airline: China Airlines

Route: SFO - BKK

Flight: 003/833

Aircraft: 777 on SFO - TPE sector. 777 on TPE - BKK (Note that the 777 from TPE - BKK is unusual, normally 747 or A330)

Price: 35000 RT - SFO-TPE (PE) TPE-BKK (Business)
Purchase Channel: China Airlines website

Dates: Feb 2017
Class: Premium Economy / Business
Seat Configuration: 777 was 2-4-2 (PE), 777 was 1-2-1 (Business) 
Check-In and Immigration: Separate premium check-in line, 1 minute wait. Premium immigration line pass for BKK provided...no line at premium immigration passport check.
Baggage Fees: 28k 2 bag limit, no fee
Lounges: SFO & Taipei

Lounge Quality: SFO - ok, Taipei ok (had to use terminal 2 lounge, terminal 1 is really nice)
Limousine Service: none
In-flight Entertainment: 777 was new, large screens, noise cancelling headphones, very nice in business, good in PE

In-flight Internet: yes
In-flight Service: Very good on all flights

Seat Comfort: PE on SFO-TPE is decent, Business on 777 TPE-BKK was great - I'm not small & have 2 more PE trips booked.
Food Quality: Very good

China Airlines has a good PE product on it's 777's & A350's & the bump to business class on the TPE-BKK leg is nice. If you have to make 2 trips to the west coast, consider PE starting from SFO on China Air for your middle 2 legs, I have found fares around 35000 a couple of times.

Airline: China Airlines

Route: BKK - SFO

Flight: 838/004 

Aircraft: 747 on BKK -TPE sector. 777 on TPE-SFO

Price: 68000 RT
Purchase Channel: China Airlines website

Dates: Feb 2017
Class: Premium Economy /  Business (upgraded to Business with coupon for TPE-SFO)
Seat Configuration: 747 was 1-2-1 in 1st, 2-3-2 in Business, 777 was 1-2-1 in Business
Check-In and Immigration: Separate premium check-in line, 1 minute wait. Premium immigration line pass (both ways) provided...no line at premium immigration passport check.
Baggage Fees: 32k 2 bag limit, no fee
Lounges: BKK, SFO & Taipei

Lounge Quality: BKK - ok, Taipei - really nice
Limousine Service: none
In-flight Entertainment: 747 - good, 777 was new, large screens, noise cancelling headphones

In-flight Internet: 747 - no, 777 - yes
In-flight Service: Very good on all flights

Seat Comfort:  great in 1st class on BKK-TPE, great on the 777 
Food Quality: Very good

Notes: PE tickets purchased on China Airlines website flying BKK-SFO book into D class( Business) on the BKK-TPE route. Sometimes they fly 747's that have a 1st class section. these seats are available with business class tickets

Chipolte peppers in adobo, spices hard to get here like annatto, sous vide quality plastic zip bags, Germain Robin brandy, cheese, Pappy's seasoning, Prague pink powder #1, corn tortillas, vitamins, aspirin, ibuprofen, allergy medicine, pool test kit, glasses, books, xxxl clothes, good quality bedding, high quality sausage & bacon, dried chiles from new mexico, kitchen utensils like can openers & corkscrews (much better made), good knives

Also, whatever turns up at Costco. As for a bag, a large ice chest.

Airline: China Airlines

Route: BKK - SFO

Flight: 836/004 - 003/833

Aircraft: 747 on BKK -TPE sector. 777 on TPE-SFO

Price: 80000
Purchase Channel: China Airlines website

Dates: Oct 2015
Class: Business
Seat Configuration: 747 was 2-3-2, 777 was 1-2-1
Check-In and Immigration: Separate premium check-in line, 1 minute wait. Premium immigration line pass (both ways) provided...no line at premium immigration passport check.
Baggage Fees: 32k 2 bag limit, no fee
Lounges: BKK, SFO & Taipei

Lounge Quality: BKK - ok
Limousine Service: none
In-flight Entertainment: 747 didn't work, 777 was brand new, large screens, noise cancelling headphones

In-flight Internet: 747 - no, 777 - yes
In-flight Service: Very good on all flights

Seat Comfort: ok on BKK-TPE, great on the 777
Food Quality: Very good

Overall, 747 was poor, 777 was great. They are phasing out the 747's. China air has long been the pits but the new 777's are great. They are adding A350-900's for flights to Europe next year designed by the same guy who did the 777.

Airline: China Airlines

Route: BKK - SFO

Flight: 836/004 - 003/833

Aircraft: 747 on all routes BKK -TPE sector had 1st class seating

Price: 96000
Purchase Channel: Vayama (fare found with Google Flights) - much cheaper than others

Dates: 7 - 5 - 2015
Class: Business
Seat Configuration: 2-3-2
Check-In and Immigration: Separate premium check-in line, 1 minute wait. Premium immigration line pass (both ways) provided...no line at premium immigration passport check.
Baggage Fees: 32k 2 bag limit
Lounges: BKK, SFO & Taipei

Lounge Quality: BKK & SFO - decent, Taipei, very nice
Limousine Service: none
In-flight Entertainment: Primitive for modern business class, small screens, poor selection

In-flight Internet: Not sure but don't think so
In-flight Service: Very good on all flights

Seat Comfort: Not ok on TPE - SFO, ok on rest of flights, good only when put in 1st class section due to change of plane (from seat plan with no 1st class to one with 1st class - that was nice)
Food Quality: Ok, not special

Overall, somewhere between Eva deluxe and other business class offerings, not terrible for the price but not great either - it is a good schedule, but EVA is as well

You could also check siamnissin.com in bangkok for a large selection

siamnissin in bangkok have a large supply, he can special order for you as well

Try Kronus in Bangkok as a last resort. They can provide you with an aide 24/7. It won't be 500 a day though. They have filipino aides with excellent english skills (not much thai though!)