Recommendation Hyderabad -> Bkk

[digibum]

I've been searching around on flights from Hyderabad to BKK. From the looks of things it appears that the choices fall into the following ranges:

1) Direct HYD -> BKK for about $1200

2) 19 - 25 hours travel time with layovers for $600

Anybody have any suggestions on a cheaper alternative? I go out to Hyderbad often on biz and figured it would be nice to take a long weekend but the total travel time from HYD to BKK rivals the total travel time flying from LHR.

[ovenman]

Anybody have any suggestions on a cheaper alternative?

There really aren't any truly cheap options for travel to/from India, no matter which location on the sub-continent you look at. Maybe when the low-cost carriers start offering flights to India...

[digibum]

There really aren't any truly cheap options for travel to/from India, no matter which location on the sub-continent you look at. Maybe when the low-cost carriers start offering flights to India...

I was afraid of that. My searches kept coming up with crazy prices or schedules no matter what search engine I used. I was hoping there was some small carrier that might be running a better service.

[ovenman]

There really aren't any truly cheap options for travel to/from India, no matter which location on the sub-continent you look at. Maybe when the low-cost carriers start offering flights to India...

I was afraid of that. My searches kept coming up with crazy prices or schedules no matter what search engine I used. I was hoping there was some small carrier that might be running a better service.

Yes, plus there is the problem of schedules. Most international flights arrive/depart India during the night. Domestic operations take place duing the daytime, so if you do need to connect at one of the major metros, the schedules generally won't be convenient.

You could always try flying from HYD to Kuala Lumpur or to Singapore and then onward to Bangkok, but you'll probably run afoul of the same pricing issues or schedule problems.

[enyaw]

I've been searching around on flights from Hyderabad to BKK. From the looks of things it appears that the choices fall into the following ranges:

1) Direct HYD -> BKK for about $1200

2) 19 - 25 hours travel time with layovers for $600

Anybody have any suggestions on a cheaper alternative? I go out to Hyderbad often on biz and figured it would be nice to take a long weekend but the total travel time from HYD to BKK rivals the total travel time flying from LHR.

I can see your problem, the direct HYD-BKK flights which just takes 3.5 hours and are operated by Thai Airways are ideal:

1. TG 330 Q 15JUN HYDBKK HS1 2355 £0500 O FR

2. TG 329 Q 18JUN BKKHYD HS1 2050 2250 O E MO

but like you say are over $1200.00 which is a total rip off for a 3.5 hour flight!

I've been having a look at your options and it seems flying via Mumbai offers the best connections v's price.

1. AI 818 L 15JUN HYDBOM SS1 2110 2225 S FR

2. AI 6318 G 15JUN BOMBKK SS1 2325 £0515 S FR

OPERATED BY THAI AIRWAYS INTL

3. AI 359 L 18JUN BKKBOM SS1 1930 2200 S MO

4. AI 820 B 19JUN BOMHYD SS1 0045 0200 S TU

With this option your flying time from HYD-BKK takes a total of 5.15 and connections aren't bad, and at half the price about US$650.

The cheapest options are via Colombo with Srilankan airlines:

1. UL 176 L 15JUN HYDCMB HS1 1025 1225 O E FR

2. UL 422 L 16JUN CMBBKK HS1 0720 1220 O E SA

3. UL 423 L 25JUN BKKCMB HS1 2110 2255 O E MO

4. UL 175 L 26JUN CMBHYD HS1 1800 2000 O E TU

on this option you'd need to spend a night in Colombo in both directions which would not be worth it for just a few nights but i'd consider it for stays of a week or more as this fare is less than $400.

[Soju]

Direct from THAI's website it comes back with a price of 18,950 THB for a roundtrip in restricted economy. That's for BKK-HYD-BKK, not for HYD-BKK-HYD. If you fly this route regularly, why not just buy your ticket in Bangkok next time and in the future. You may have a problem trying to board in HYD if you don't have a return or onward ticket out of BKK (not sure what the requirements are from HYD). If so, keep an unused HYD-BKK ticket with you or always buy your tickets one trip in advance so you have your next ticket with you to meet that requirement if present.

[enyaw]

You'll probably get a more reasonable price for the Thai flights from an agent or tour-op from within India.

[digibum]

I noticed that the pricing was very different directly from the Thai website. I did a sample trip July 6 leaving HYD to BKK and leaving BKK back to HYD on July 9. On Expedia, Travelocity, and other websites the flight is over $1200 USD. On Thai Airway's site it's listed as $325. Same exact flight. Same airline. Same flight numbers. Wow!

[enyaw]

Well, that solves that problem then. It's just a wonder why it cost so much through the GDS?

[ovenman]

Well, that solves that problem then. It's just a wonder why it cost so much through the GDS?

I have never found booking engines like Expedia and Travelocity to be all that reliable for international itineraries with a non-US origin. Sometimes the fares offered are right on the mark, and sometimes they are way out in left field.

[enyaw]

Well, that solves that problem then. It's just a wonder why it cost so much through the GDS?

I have never found booking engines like Expedia and Travelocity to be all that reliable for international itineraries with a non-US origin. Sometimes the fares offered are right on the mark, and sometimes they are way out in left field.

The fare was spot on as per Galileo GDS,. which is one of the reservation systems where airlines make the fares available to the public. So as far as I know.... fark knows?