Bkk-sfo On Eva

[jonniebkk]

Just booked online a BKK-SFO return ticket on EVA business for B 68,400 That is with a 5% discount for paying on my Mastercard. Regular fare was B 72.000. Total after all taxes and fees came to B 75,345. The best I could do at a travel agent was B 79,200!!!

The best part...flying the new triple-7 300ERs on all legs. Didn't get stuck with any of the old EVA 747s

[steelepulse]

Just booked online a BKK-SFO return ticket on EVA business for B 68,400 That is with a 5% discount for paying on my Mastercard. Regular fare was B 72.000. Total after all taxes and fees came to B 75,345. The best I could do at a travel agent was B 79,200!!!

The best part...flying the new triple-7 300ERs on all legs. Didn't get stuck with any of the old EVA 747s

Seems like a good deal.  A few months ago I flew on ANA and it was 81K before taxes and fees, then ended up being at 98K, but at least had the lie down seats.  Does EVA now have lie down seats?

[jonniebkk]

Does EVA now have lie down seats?

Yeah...on the new 777-300ERs. They have those fully-reclining "cocoons." Over the past year, EVA has been introducing their new 300ERs on all flights to the USA (SEA, SFO, LAX). I believe Seattle and LAX are complete but for SFO, they still use a number of the old 747s.

The older 747s business class seats only partially recline and not nearly as comfy as the 777s (but you do get the upper-deck).

Also, only 2.5 hour layovers in Taipei...and that's a good thing considering the state of the EVA lounge there.

Thanks for the sharp-eye Lop.

[jaiyenjohn]

I do this exact flight on EVA for all my trips to Thailand. Can't say enough good things about the airline. Safe, on-time, good food, and attentive hostesses. I loved the "old" 747's though because in the evergreen deluxe class you got to sit in the top bubble, which is something I've always wanted to do since I was a kid.

Anywho, good deal on a good airline, probably one of the best values for going across the pacific.

JB

[lomatopo]

More and more carriers are offering "discounted" Business Class fares. Full-fare Business Class books into the "C" bucket (on most airlines) and is always available, unless over-sold, and are generally fully changeable (without fees) and refundable. Airlines will over-sell the "C" bucket. Discounted Business Class fares book in to the "D" and "Z" buckets, (D being more expensive than Z), but these have limited availability, and sell out quickly and are more restrictive re: changes/refunds. As an illustration, an aircraft might have 50 business class seats and for a specific sector at initial inventory allocation (330 days out) might have five "Z" fares, ten "D" fares and fifty "C" fares. This represents an over-sell situation, and a very, very simplified example.

It looks like BR has Super Business © and Premium Laurel (J) fare buckets in business class. The 72,000 THB fare books into J and the refund (2.000 THB) and change (2,000 THB) fees are very reasonable. Evidently BR is a bit less sophisticated re: inventory management than most airlines, for any number of reasons.

LAX-BKK-LAX is ~ $4,200 (AI = all in) on BR.

What's most incredible is the extremely low fuel surcharge (YQ) that BR is adding currently; it looks like its only $75 USD per sector (4x) whereas many airlines are charging closer to $125 per sector for similar routings (one-stop USA-SE Asia).

Definitely a good deal, especially with the 5% discount, and the short layovers in TPE. Does the MC have to be issued in any specific country? If another country, do they charge a fee for foreign transactions?

[Nordlys]

Yeah...on the new 777-300ERs. They have those fully-reclining "cocoons." Over the past year, EVA has been introducing their new 300ERs on all flights to the USA (SEA, SFO, LAX). I believe Seattle and LAX are complete but for SFO, they still use a number of the old 747s.

Yes, I just returned from SFO on EVA a week ago and and it was an old 747-400 Combi (1/3 of the aft portion of the aicraft being cargo space). It wasn't nearly as good as the 777-300ER I flew on business class to LAX with full flat, clam shell type seat. Seems Bangkok - Taipei are served by both types of aircraft (return leg on 777-300ER, outbound old 747-400).

Evergreen Deluxe Class (premium economy) isn't bad either, but the seat bottom does not slide forward when you recline the seat (so your seat back is still upright against your seat bottom when you recline) and the leg rest does not seem to go up more than 45 degrees it wasn't as comfortable as it looks (besides, there's soemthing beneath the seat in front of mine blocking my foot space that I couldn't stretch my leg straight forward). Make sure you book your flight on 777-300ERs if you are to fly in their business or premium economy class.

Also, they allow 28kg maximum for check-in baggage even with premium economy which is really a bonus (32kg for business).

Their business class lounge in Taipei was too shabby to say the least it looked more like Chinese restaurant or crowded 3rd star class hotel lounge IMO.

[jonniebkk]

Definitely a good deal, especially with the 5% discount, and the short layovers in TPE. Does the MC have to be issued in any specific country? If another country, do they charge a fee for foreign transactions?

Booking on the web and starting travel from Bangkok, the business class fares are B 72k and B 77k (++). The tickets are non-rerouteable but can change day or refund for B 2000 fee (very reasonable). I don't know how EVA can do this route for this low a fare...but it has been the same for over a year now. And, the price of jet-fuel alone has more than doubled in that time!

[jonniebkk]

Yeah...on the new 777-300ERs. They have those fully-reclining "cocoons." Over the past year, EVA has been introducing their new 300ERs on all flights to the USA (SEA, SFO, LAX). I believe Seattle and LAX are complete but for SFO, they still use a number of the old 747s.

Yes, I just returned from SFO on EVA a week ago and and it was an old 747-400 Combi (1/3 of the aft portion of the aicraft being cargo space). It wasn't nearly as good as the 777-300ER...

Yes, it depends on the day of travel. At least for BKK-SFO, if your days of travel are THU-FRI-SAT, you can get newish Airbus 320 or 777ERs to Taipei and then 777-ER300s to SFO. Same for return. On all other days, you are usually stuck with 747s on the long stretch across the Pacific both ways, with the 777s only on the BKK-Taipei leg.

Evergreen Deluxe Class (premium economy) isn't bad either...

Great option for those who don't want business.

Also, they allow 28kg maximum for check-in baggage even with premium economy which is really a bonus (32kg for business).

Business allows up to 3 checked bags...2x 32kg and 1x 28kg. Total up to 90 kg...plus your carry-on!

Their business class lounge in Taipei was too shabby to say the least it looked more like Chinese restaurant or crowded 3rd star class hotel lounge IMO.

Agreed. However, the lounges in Bangkok and SFO are comfortable (but not plush).

[lomatopo]

I don't know how EVA can do this route for this low a fare

Obviously they are having trouble filling seats so better to get 72/77 k THB rather than nothing (having the seat fly empty). This is just basic yield management. I haven't looked at the market/competitive angle; I buy USA-BKK-USA economy fares (~ 35,000 THB, to the east coast, and earn ~ 20,000+ RDM), on UA, and use complementary earned upgrades to business, so BR is of little interest to me.

As I said, I am surprised that the YQ (fuel surcharge) charges are so low. Maybe they've got a decent hedging program, or someone forgot to jack them up?

[jonniebkk]

Obviously they are having trouble filling seats so better to get 72/77 k THB rather than nothing (having the seat fly empty). This is just basic yield management.

I don't think that is the case. Most of the time, the planes are pretty full and you also run into full flights when booking on the net. Also, their economy deluxe class fares have been popular for years. EVA Air is just one part of a much larger company, the Evergreen Group (shipping, hotels, other stuff I'm sure) so maybe they just don't run it for maximum profitability (though that doesn't make much sense).

However, if you look-up just about any other airline's business class fares to the West Coast of USA, they are usually at least twice as expensive B 140,000 to B 175,000. Singapore even quotes a price of USD 10,000!!!

[lomatopo]

Clearly you are missing the point. Airlines sell a perishable commodity. Once the plane pushes back any empty seat represents lost revenue. If the planes are "pretty full", based on your "experience" (which represents what, less than a 0.05% sample rate), the BR is doing a good job or pricing their product. BR will sell out the "J" bucket first, then over-sell the "C" bucket. My guess is that the short-straw (higher loads) is BKK-LAX, and BR is trying to drive loads on BKK-TPE, while enticing pax from competitors. They have committed to flying the aircraft to BKK, so they might as well fill as many business class seats as possible. Since BKK is more of a tourist destination BR feels the need to aggressively price BKK-(TPE)-LAX for business class fares. Hence the reasonable fare. But the low fuel surcharge also makes for a less expensive all in.

As I said, this is a good deal. I am not familiar with BR's frequent flyer plan, but for many this is of little concern.

Direct, non-stop Royal Silk (business class) service to LAX with TG can be had for 116,000 THB AI.

[fm2002]

I too fly this route about once a year and in the past have flown with China Airlines as their price was the cheapest business class seat I could find out of BKK. After doing a check today with the same exact dates found that EVA and China are exactly the same price. Will fly with EVA next time. In addition to newer planes I get miles. Thanks for the heads up !

[jonniebkk]

I too fly this route about once a year and in the past have flown with China Airlines as their price was the cheapest business class seat I could find out of BKK. After doing a check today with the same exact dates found that EVA and China are exactly the same price. Will fly with EVA next time. In addition to newer planes I get miles. Thanks for the heads up !

Safety record of EVA is on par with world standards too. China Airlines, while much improved (thanks to Western safety consultants) and they haven't had a crash landing is a few years, there were at the bottom of the pile (along with Korean) for most of the last decade or so.

Only problems with these Chinese airlines is the meal selection..."would you like braised pig's trotter with noodle soup or deep-fried chicken feet with honey mustard sauce as you main today sir"?

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I too fly this route about once a year and in the past have flown with China Airlines as their price was the cheapest business class seat I could find out of BKK. After doing a check today with the same exact dates found that EVA and China are exactly the same price. Will fly with EVA next time. In addition to newer planes I get miles. Thanks for the heads up !

Safety record of EVA is on par with world standards too. China Airlines, while much improved (thanks to Western safety consultants) and they haven't had a crash landing is a few years, there were at the bottom of the pile (along with Korean) for most of the last decade or so.

Only problems with these Chinese airlines is the meal selection..."would you like braised pig's trotter with noodle soup or deep-fried chicken feet with honey mustard sauce as you main today sir"?

[jonniebkk]

Only problems with these Chinese airlines is the meal selection..."would you like braised pig's trotter with noodle soup or deep-fried chicken feet with honey mustard sauce as you main today sir"?

And those are the selections in business!

Well, when you gotta feed 1.5B people, I guess you can't be a nation of fussy eaters! As an example, you know what they say about the Chinese and a duck for example, "they eat everything but the quack"

[Zpete]

would you like braised pig's trotter with noodle soup or deep-fried chicken feet with honey mustard sauce as you main today sir"?

That I should be so lucky.

Bring it on.

Better than some of the big airlines serve, which is usually bland and tasteless, very american.