I've noticed much discussion of using Priceline to obtain hotel

lodging in Bangkok, but nothing much about using them to be

ticketed aboard a flight there. Am currently wondering if it's

a good idea to price a September/October trip from the US

West Coast to BKK via their site.

Certainly I know that the trans-Pacific carriers vary widely in

their amenities, from pleasant to awful, and I know from my

and other people's experience that Priceline will usually get

one a seat on the worst imaginable airline.

For my part, I bring my own food aboard, I sleep 3/4 of the

time aloft, and I prefer reading to IFE video viewing -- so a

carrier with bad food and lousy entertainment is OK by me.

It's obviously preferable for them to avoid crashing, but even

the previous champ of crashes among Pacific Rim air carriers,

China Airlines, has been doing okay safetywise for the last

two years.

What do you more experienced hands think -- is it a bad

idea to roll the dice with Priceline, or, are there reasonable

discounts to be had for a hardy traveller?

http://www.nwa.com/home.html

http://www.nwa.com/home.html

(grin) 12call, are you suggesting booking with NWA directly as a superior alternative to Priceline, or suggesting NWA as an example of a low-priced and poor-quality airline?

Out of SFO, Northwest run the Bangkok route with their old DC-10s, which I suspect would put off many people who prefer to fly on newer metal with more modern amenities. I'm okay with veteran planes so long as they've been well maintained, though.

NWA currently are offering SFO-BKK fares in the range of approximately $750 inclusive of taxes and fees. Looking a bit further out, it's possible to fly EVA to Bangkok via Taiwan for approximately $650 all in.

The intent of the original question was whether it's possible to effect a significant enough discount from these fares to make it worth the potential hassle of dealing via Priceline.

What -is- the cheapest that anyone's been able to make the BKK run from the US recently (i.e., in the last year or so)?

From LA to BKK last year was @ $550.00 on North West.

From Greenbay to Bkk last year was $849.00 on North West.

all taxes and fee included.

North West has been the cheapest I have found as far as regular carriers.

As far as priceline, I have not had the courage to use them on a international flight because they do not guarantee you specific dates or times.