Flying Don Muang To Khon Kaen

[peter991]

I am trying to get organised for my next Thailand trip.

I know Thai Airways flies DMK to KKC with 3 flights each way daily. When I was at Khon Kaen Airport last week I noticed 1-2-GO had a poster, advertising a single flight each way between KKC and DMK.

On 1-2-GO's website there is no mention of Khon Kaen. You can only book from DMK to Chang Mai, Chang Rai, Hat Yai, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phuket and Suratthani.

So - do Thai Airways have a monopoly on DMK-KKC flights or can I fly with 1-2-GO?

Peter

[toptuan]

Yes, they have had a monopoly ever since Air Asia pulled out of the market last year. I'm not sure about Nok Air, since I inquired from a travel agency and was told that Nok tried the market for awhile and pulled out too--methinks the poster might have been outdated. However, if you find out that Nok is trying the market again, and the poster is new, let us know!

Incidentally, since Thai Airlines now has a monopoly, they've increased their BKK-KK prices by more than 1,000 baht each way in less than a year. Bring back the competition!

Edited April 30, 2007 by toptuan

[Soju]

1-2-go did fly to KKC last year for a while but then stopped. AFAIK, Thai Air is the only airline that flies to there presently. BTW, THAI didn't just increase their fares to KKC, they increased them for domestic flights across the board. So it really had nothing to do with lack of competition. They're just as expensive to fly to Udon Thani which is just a short hop away and where they have both Nok Air and Air Asia as competitors. If you want to get there cheaply, I'd recommend a bus or the train being it's not all that far from BKK. I think THAI also has a discount domestic fare available currently for I'm guessing something like 1,700 THB one-way, taxes included, but it's a non-changeable ticket. I think the booking class is 'V'. I believe that promotion goes through the end of June.

Edited May 2, 2007 by Soju

[Sam Drucker]

Just to update this thread, Thai Air Asia is apparently back in the KKC market with one flight daily between BKK (Suvarnabhumi) and KKC. I'm not sure what the range of fares is, but definitely cheaper than THAI.

1-2-Go stated earlier this year that they were picking up some used DC-9 Super 80's from Japan, and would be returning to the KKC market later this year. I haven't heard anything since. Anybody know any more?

(Did 1-2-Go actually enter KKC last year? I remember seeing advertising, but if they did, they must have been in and out in a matter of 3-4 months.)

[pascharay]

Go to www.airasia.com

Tickets range from 900 baht to 200 baht depending on time of departure

That doesn't include airport taxes

Edited August 30, 2007 by pascharay