Flip-flops on aircraft? If foreigners can why can't we, moans Thai passenger

[Kevbo]

5 hours ago, Kerryd said:

Thai Air is more expensive than some airlines. Emirates is also more expensive than some other airlines. So is Cathay. So what ? They price what they think they can get away with and if you don't like it you are free to look at other airlines.
I've flown on numerous carriers over the last 14 years. Gulf Air, Emirates, Thai, Air India, Philippines Air, Korean Air, China Air as well as a few on the "lower end" of the scale (Egypt Air, Ariana Air and some dubious charter airlines).
Some airlines have newer, nicer planes. Maybe better seats, facilities amenities. Some airlines are subsidized by their host country. Some aren't. Some have higher overhead. Some want higher profit margins.
No "farang" is also paying "the airfare for the Thai". That's just straight out BS and pathetic to even think that.  

When I book flights I usually do it myself over the internet. I've used other websites like Kayak, Cheap Flights, Expedia and so on, until I noticed that on some of those sites you can end up paying 50% (or more) for a flight than if you booked it through the airline's website directly. (It has a lot to do with whether or not the ticket site/agency has any deals in place with the airline you want to fly on). I recall trying to book a flight to Canada once and Expedia and Kayak were quoting me a price that was $1,200 US over what the exact same flight was priced at on the airline's website (and yes, I checked, double-checked and triple checked to make sure I had the same flights to the same locations on the same dates and even checked that it was the same plane/configuration).

 

I've also used one of those little travel agencies like the ones you see all over the place in the cities in Thailand. I remember having a problem booking a flight online (when I was in Afghanistan) so I contacted the "boss" at SaveFlights and gave (him ?) my details and (he ?) was able to make the booking for me. (And no, I didn't get charged double what a local would have paid for the same flight. I know because I already knew what price the airline was charging for that flight before I contacted the  travel agency).

On a couple other occasions the boss offered cheaper alternatives and explained that because they didn't have any arrangements with my preferred airline(s) they couldn't get me a cheaper ticket. (Though there was the one time when he did get me a cheaper flight, but I ended up with a 22 hour layover in Manila because the flight from Thailand landed 2 hours after the flight to Vancouver had departed. Sometimes "cheaper flight" doesn't mean "cheaper trip !)

Ticket prices can also vary depending on the origin/destination of the flight as well. For example, in 2008 I booked a Business Class, round trip ticket on Philippines Air from Bangkok to Vancouver (via Manila of course). I then booked another Business Class ticket on the same airline, but from Vancouver to Bangkok (via Manila). One ticket was for me to fly to Canada (and back), the other ticket was for my father to fly to Thailand (and then back to Canada).
Guess whose ticket was $300 more expensive ?

The one that originated in Canada. Same route. Same seats (we even sat together on the flights back to Bangkok). Try as I might, I could not get rid of that $300 difference. Apparently, landing fees in Canada are higher (no surprise) as well as assorted taxes (no surprise) and cost of fuel (etc, etc) so tickets that originate from there are more expensive (at least they were back in 2008).

Another thing to keep in mind if you are shopping for flights online using sites like Expedia or Kayak (or any other similar site). 
Clear your browser history/cache before searching !!

Many websites leave "cookies" on your computer and those "cookies" contain information the website can use when you visit it again. If the site(s) see you've been shopping for flights (say from Bangkok to Berlin) it is possible that any prices you see will be higher than normal.

(This info came from a well known travel website that apparently discovered and tested this a few years ago. Clearing the cache and deleting the cookies resulted in being shown cheaper prices for the same flights they'd just looked at minutes earlier.)

 

That is another reason why I often buy my tickets directly from the airline site instead of through a ticketing agency. I'll use the ticket sites to see which airlines have flights on the routes/dates I want, then go to those airline's websites and look at their prices to see which is the better deal.
(Doing that is also how I ended up flying (a lot) of Business Class flights on Gulf Air from Dubai to Bangkok (via Bahrain) for $200(+/-) more than flying Economy Class on Emirates or Thai. The extra $200 was so worth it and I still arrived at the same time as I would have if I'd taken Emirates/Thai as that flight left hours later than the Gulf flight.)

(Note - at the time Emirates and Thai had a code share agreement. I had flown Emirates Business Class once and it was awesome so on another trip I booked Emirates Business Class again. However, it was a Thai "code share" flight operated by Thai Air. Emirates wouldn't let me use the Emirates Business Class Check in or the Emirates Business Class lounge because the flight was "operated" by Thai Air. (Was a little p/o'd by that as their Business Class check-in and Lounge was one of the reasons I went with Emirates. That was also the last time I flew with them actually.) Still, it was Thai Royal Silk Class and was also an awesome flight (though if I recall, had I booked through Thai Air it would have been more expensive).

Another thing to watch for. In most cases when you are entering dates for your flights, those dates are "flexible". However, many sites have the option of selecting (or deselecting) something like "Fixed Dates" or "I must fly on these dates" and so on. Telling them that you have to fly on a specific date(s) can result in a huge increase in ticket price. In some cases, double the cost (or more) !

I flew another Philippine Air flight to Canada in 2010 for a (very) short trip. I was going to arrive on a Sunday afternoon, take care of some personal business on Monday morning and fly out again that night. 
I could not get their system to accept those dates unless I selected "Must fly on these dates" (or whatever it is on their site, can't remember off hand). I even played with the dates (a lot) and found there was no problem with seat availability on the dates I wanted, unless I selected "Flexible dates". However, when I selected "Must Fly", the price of the ticket almost doubled !! No explanation why ! The seats were available on every flight I looked at, and if I selected fixed dates, the price doubled !
(I ended up flying in on the Sunday, doing my business on the Monday morning, flying to Calgary that afternoon, back to Vancouver on Wednesday morning and then out on Wednesday evening. Still ended up cheaper than paying double the ticket price !)
It seems some airlines, for some reason, don't like the idea of people flying in and back out within 24 hours. Not sure why but they seem to expect at least 3 days between arrival and departure (Maybe it's just Philippine Air or maybe it's just on long haul flights or just into/out of certain destinations. I couldn't tell because I couldn't find anything anywhere that said there had to be at
least 3 days between the flights.)

 

Oh and most airlines also have dress codes not just for employees, but for regular passengers (and more so for those in Business/First class and the associated lounges as well). Employees (and their families) are probably flying on discounted (or upgraded) tickets and are expected to dress appropriately as they are considered (in a way) to be representing the airline, especially if they are travelling in (for example) the Business or First Class cabins.  

 

 

Thanks Kerry, informative, good English, good grammar, what a nice change

[maddox41]

7 hours ago, electric said:

 

I fly Thai Airways often, and my experience has been that their fares are very competitive with other full service airlines flying the same route.

 

Sure, the budget airlines are much cheaper, until you start adding all the extras.

 

Not sure what you're getting at with "farang paying the airfare for Thai" comment ?

 

 

I agree if anything there prices have come down in the last 2,"years 

Just there planes are so bloody cold lol

[Argus Tuft]

Just now, maddox41 said:

I agree if anything there prices have come down in the last 2,"years 

Just there planes are so bloody cold lol

Can ask them to close the windows if its too cold during flight, I find this helps and they are happy to comply

[jaiyen]

7 hours ago, MadMuhammad said:

I don't think I've ever paid double with Thai and I fly them exclusively. 

We Fly Thai from Perth and it is over $150 cheaper than 10 years ago

 

[maxpower]

1 hour ago, The manic said:

Yes they are truly dreadful items of footwear which expose people to the wearers dirty, unhygenic  ugly feet. The Aussies call them thongs!

Yeah yeah; first class economy man. You would be dribbling and trembling like a silly old fool if these feet sat next to you.

 

[Nemises]

41 minutes ago, baboon said:

While you are cleaning them, like?

Now, now, no need for jealousy!

 

 

 

 

 

[mikosan]

At one time I was very fortunate to be entitled to staff rates with a major airline, because of my relationship with a staff member.  However, the dress code was quite strict and I had no problem with that at all and was always happy to comply,  I was, after all, getting an enormous discount on my tickets.  I understand that this is standard procedure on most airlines and why not? 

[maximillian]

8 hours ago, sirineou said:

Only while on duty, 

While travelling on an ID-ticket.   (ID = Industrial Discount)

I do agree with a stricter dress code on airplanes. At least on international flights.

[JaseTheBass]

Why anyone would wear flip-flops if not by the pool or beach is beyond me. And as for the idiots who drive in them...

[Dazinoz]

3 hours ago, farcanell said:

back to the article ?.... airlines usually include suitable footwear in a dress code as a safety initiative. Fleeing a incident, its safer to run in enclosed footwear. 

 

Not sure for certain but in an emergency evacuation I think most airlines get you to remove your shoes for a couple of reasons. One is to prevent puncturing of the escape chute and the shoes can act as brakes on the chute and slow you down. 

[bkk_mike]

7 hours ago, baboon said:

+1. I would happily fly Thai to the UK but I have not seen in years an even halfway sensible price. It has always been Emirates  £550, BA £690 and Thai £800 plus. Maybe I just fly at the wrong times.

I just booked Thai return - out in December back in January - for £574.

 

They do seem to be cheaper if you book UK - Thailand - UK than they ever were when booked from Thailand. But that's going to be an issue for expats and Thai nationals, rather than holidaymakers... (The default ticket used to be different - i.e. tickets bought in the UK were generally not changeable, while tickets bought in Thailand generally were - but I don't know if that's still the case).

 

Emirates is cheaper partly because of the difference in UK taxes for a flight to Dubai vs UK taxes for a flight to Bangkok. Add in that, personally, I avoid BA economy in long haul - but that's because I'm over 6ft and BA keeps pushing people to pay for premium economy by making their actual economy seats pretty terrible. Thai (and Emirates) economy seats are a lot more like premium economy on BA in terms of leg room, etc.

[baboon]

4 minutes ago, bkk_mike said:

I just booked Thai return - out in December back in January - for £574.

 

They do seem to be cheaper if you book UK - Thailand - UK than they ever were when booked from Thailand. But that's going to be an issue for expats and Thai nationals, rather than holidaymakers... (The default ticket used to be different - i.e. tickets bought in the UK were generally not changeable, while tickets bought in Thailand generally were - but I don't know if that's still the case).

 

Emirates is cheaper partly because of the difference in UK taxes for a flight to Dubai vs UK taxes for a flight to Bangkok. Add in that, personally, I avoid BA economy in long haul - but that's because I'm over 6ft and BA keeps pushing people to pay for premium economy by making their actual economy seats pretty terrible. Thai (and Emirates) economy seats are a lot more like premium economy on BA in terms of leg room, etc.

£574 is pretty damn good. However once I add flights from Newcastle... But then that is probably why all my quotes come in at £800+.

 

Flying BA tomorrow, probably for the last time. I used to love them but that CEO of theirs has done a sterling job of turning them into an airline of last resort. Plus I have heard they are going 3-4-3 in Economy, so forget it, I'll slum it on the Gulf carriers and save the £100 or so...

[pby92]

7 hours ago, Thian said:

Well i just compared Thai air BKK-CDG (paris) ....Thai air 34.000 and KLM 28.000

 

KLM not a direct flight or only one way must have a stop at Schipol Amsterdam

[Kiwisailor]

Flew from NZ with Thai Air for many years but for the last 3 I've gone with Qantas. Offseason rates with Qantas are ~$1200 NZ but Thai want $1800. This year we only paid $1050 on sale and the Thai equivalent fare was $1600.

[Krataiboy]

8 hours ago, kotsak said:

It's not unusual for airlines to have strict dress codes for their staff and even their families when travelling using company benefit. Example the two girls who were kicked out from an United Airlines flight because they were wearing leggings.

 

Ludicrous.

[Argus Tuft]

8 minutes ago, pby92 said:

KLM not a direct flight or only one way must have a stop at Schipol Amsterdam

KLM does list a flight direct Bangkok to CGD, but its a codeshare on Air France metal

[MaxYakov]

49 minutes ago, maxpower said:

Yeah yeah; first class economy man. You would be dribbling and trembling like a silly old fool if these feet sat next to you.

 

Wrong "thong", I'm afraid! Anyway, this looks like a ladyboy to me so I'd at least be "trembling" and requesting a seat change.

[maxpower]

5 minutes ago, MaxYakov said:

Wrong "thong", I'm afraid! Anyway, this looks like a ladyboy to me so I'd at least be "trembling" and requesting a seat change.

Sorry about the ladyboy look, just working on what's most popular on TV. 

[bleble]

8 hours ago, electric said:

 

I fly Thai Airways often, and my experience has been that their fares are very competitive with other full service airlines flying the same route.

 

Sure, the budget airlines are much cheaper, until you start adding all the extras.

 

Not sure what you're getting at with "farang paying the airfare for Thai" comment ?

 

 

 

 

How can someone say something so ridiculously wrong ?

 

 

[Johnboxer]

That has got to be the longest reply in the history of Thaivisa?

[bleble]

Anyway, who is a scumbag enough to wear flipflop anywhere else but on the beach ? and even....

 

 

[wakeupplease]

9 hours ago, Thian said:

Because the farang also paid the airfare for the Thai since Thai Airways has double prices compared to the other airlines.

The answer is don"t buy or use their services, your be much safer if you don't and richer.

[Aussieroaming]

9 hours ago, kotsak said:

It's not unusual for airlines to have strict dress codes for their staff and even their families when travelling using company benefit. Example the two girls who were kicked out from an United Airlines flight because they were wearing leggings.

 

So what was banned, camel toes or leggings

[LisuLover]

No one over 30 should be legally permitted to wear flip-flops.  Old men aged 50+ should be jailed for doing so.

[Jonnapat]

8 hours ago, Seismic said:

I would have to disagree, and a simple search on websites like Kayak or skyscanner would show quite quickly that Thai do not appear to be able to match the fares of many other major airlines.

Exactly right, the majority of major airlines are cheaper than Thai when you check on the net

[joecoolfrog]

7 hours ago, DipStick said:

That's probably because the Thai Airflight is direct whilst the KLM flight is via Amsterdam. 

Well they are a dutch airline so Amsterdam would be direct !

[sammieuk1]

23 minutes ago, LisuLover said:

No one over 30 should be legally permitted to wear flip-flops.  Old men aged 50+ should be jailed for doing so.

Why? are you the fashion police?

[wgdanson]

2 hours ago, Bastos60 said:

The difference in price between inbound and outbound flights is not that big. 
Any high price differences can be attributed to seat occupancy on those flights. 

The only big price difference I found was for the cheapest fares on Thai Air which are sometimes a lot lower for inbound flights (with differences averaging 100€/return ticket)

 

Just looking Bkk to Lhr early October. Bht 32000. Same day, same plane, same fuel, same taxes....Lhr to Bkk , 26,000. WHY?

[wgdanson]

How would a passenger know, or care the job of their next seat neighbour, flip flops or not.? 

[sklmeeera]

Was at Chiang Mai International last week and a couple of  young Bogans wearing flip flops , shorts and singlet were snogging ,i kid you not, with a couple of young transexual hookers just before going through security at 5 am . Quite a disgusting sight at any time . Thankfully the wee retarded bogans were stopped at security and sent back downstairs as far away from me as possible .