Flights: Chiang Mai to London

[Nick Carter icp]

2 minutes ago, Stubby said:

Thanks for all the suggestions, folks.

I've viewed the suggested services and they seem to offer the same flight choices at similar prices. I'm not in a rush, but I'm going to avoid those 29 hour flights that use different planes for various legs. I'm thinking it might be easier to just pay a bit extra and let an agency do the searching and booking for me.

Stubby

 

  We've all taken time to try and help you........................and you end up using an agent anyway !!!!!!!

[sandyf]

22 hours ago, Stubby said:

Good afternoon, forum,

 

I'm flying to the UK soon after a long absence. It's my first long-haul flight for almost 10 years. Can anyone recommend an agency that offers the best prices? Or is it just better to search online and book via the web? I'm not in a rush, so I'm not fussed about one or two stopovers.

Thank you,

 

Stubby

I have been at it many years and think Skyscanner is now one of the better options. Decide on the flight that suits best and then book with the airline. Many will say there is nothing wrong with agents, but that depends if there is a problem or not.

The last tme I booked with an agent, the flight was cancelled. I couldn't get a refund from the airline because it was booked with agent, the agent claimed it was not a cancellation but a reschedule. I had an email  saying the flight was cancelled so took them to court, it was settled out of court, but I would never want to be in the same position again.

If not bothered about time, Chinese look about cheapest.

[sandyf]

11 minutes ago, Stubby said:

Thanks for all the suggestions, folks.

I've viewed the suggested services and they seem to offer the same flight choices at similar prices. I'm not in a rush, but I'm going to avoid those 29 hour flights that use different planes for various legs. I'm thinking it might be easier to just pay a bit extra and let an agency do the searching and booking for me.

Stubby

Think there are only 2 direct flights from BKK to UK these days, Thai Airways and EVA Air, not a lot of searching involved if you don't  want different planes.

Not sure what happened to BA, thought they had put one back on to Gatwick but didn't show up on enquiry.

[SMIAI]

If you had gotten back to me sooner, there was Air China for the 7th at £269.10. But now they only have it for the 8th onwards. It's a long stopover, but they do provide a free transit hotel(subject to availability).

 

That's about the cheapest you will find at such short notice.  https://www.airchina.co.uk/  All on one ticket and just one stopover. 

 

Book directly with them of course. As an aside, they have a strange anomaly on that date, wherein Economy Flex is cheaper than Economy Standard. So you get a relatively flexible ticket. Change dates for US$100. Refund US$200.

[Upnotover]

23 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Think there are only 2 direct flights from BKK to UK these days, Thai Airways and EVA Air, not a lot of searching involved if you don't  want different planes.

Not sure what happened to BA, thought they had put one back on to Gatwick but didn't show up on enquiry.

I believe the BA flights were a seasonal addition that ended last week.

[treetops]

17 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

I believe the BA flights were a seasonal addition that ended last week.

 

Yes, resumes again at the end of October.

[worrab]

2 hours ago, treetops said:

Consider yourself corrected.  Chiang Mai only has international flights to elsewhere in Asia, nothing to Europe. 😉

Many thanks for that. 

[brotherother]

57 minutes ago, SMIAI said:

If you had gotten back to me sooner, there was Air China for the 7th at £269.10. But now they only have it for the 8th onwards. It's a long stopover, but they do provide a free transit hotel(subject to availability).

 

That's about the cheapest you will find at such short notice.  https://www.airchina.co.uk/  All on one ticket and just one stopover. 

 

Book directly with them of course. As an aside, they have a strange anomaly on that date, wherein Economy Flex is cheaper than Economy Standard. So you get a relatively flexible ticket. Change dates for US$100. Refund US$200.

I had a look on the Air China website but couldn't see any mention of free transit hotels. 

 

I wouldn't want to fly via China but would be interested in knowing of any flights with a stopover - and ideally a hotel - in the Middle East if there's anything you know of, especially if the price is similar to that of a direct flight, or less of course.

[sandyf]

1 hour ago, Upnotover said:

I believe the BA flights were a seasonal addition that ended last week.

Cheers,  they were a permanent daily to Heathrow when I gave up on them, too many disruptions.

[SMIAI]

https://worldtravelerclub.com/airlines-offering-free-hotel-stays-for-long-layovers-everything-you-need-to-know/

[Stubby]

30 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

  We've all taken time to try and help you........................and you end up using an agent anyway !!!!!!!

No, I haven't, Nick, I'm just not ruling it out as an option, that's all. I appreciate everyone who's taken time to give advice. In fact, I've been surprised at how many eyeballs this topic has received. The reason I 'may' consider an agent is 

 

37 minutes ago, sandyf said:

I have been at it many years and think Skyscanner is now one of the better options. Decide on the flight that suits best and then book with the airline. Many will say there is nothing wrong with agents, but that depends if there is a problem or not.

The last tme I booked with an agent, the flight was cancelled. I couldn't get a refund from the airline because it was booked with agent, the agent claimed it was not a cancellation but a reschedule. I had an email  saying the flight was cancelled so took them to court, it was settled out of court, but I would never want to be in the same position again.

If not bothered about time, Chinese look about cheapest.

That's scary, Sandyf, thanks for your input. I have also found Chinese airline to be the best across the platforms, so it looks like that might be the way to go. 

[Stubby]

3 hours ago, SMIAI said:

If you had gotten back to me sooner, there was Air China for the 7th at £269.10. But now they only have it for the 8th. It's a long stopover, but they do provide a free transit hotel(subject to availability).

 

That's about the cheapest you will find at such short notice.  https://www.airchina.co.uk/

 

Book direct of course. As an aside, they have a strange anomaly on that date, wherein Economy Flex is cheaper than Economy Standard. So you get a relatively flexible ticket. Change dates for US$100. Refund US$200.

Thank you very much, SMIAI ;) 

[Stubby]

3 hours ago, treetops said:

 

Yes, resumes again at the end of October.

 

Bad timing on my part, Treetops.

[Upnotover]

2 hours ago, Stubby said:

I have also found Chinese airline to be the best across the platforms, so it looks like that might be the way to go. 

I am not sure they are ever the "best" option.  Likely the cheapest.  Depends on your priorities.