Bus Travel Via Nakhon Chai Air

[toptuan]

For several years I traveled by Nakhorn Chai Air between Khon Kaen and Bangkok (I understand they also have routes to Chiang Mai and Ubon Ratchathani). They seem like a well-run outfit, and relatively safe. I've got their "Go Card" which offers a 5% discount and the ability to make reservations by phone.

Unfortunately, they've discontinued their English website. I tried to call for reservations and information, but no one speaks English at the other end, and my Thai is too fledgling enough to get past first base.

A couple questions:

1) Are they intentionally throwing away the business that could come to them from the expat community and/or tourism?

2) Does anyone know of another way to get around the existing Thai-only system for information and reservations?

Anyone have any information or ideas?

[gonzobrains]

hey mang,

i travelled to korat from pattaya with them. very classy buses. i had no idea they ever had an english website. maybe they dont have any money/staff to upkeep it?

For several years I traveled by Nakhorn Chai Air between Khon Kaen and Bangkok (I understand they also have routes to Chiang Mai and Ubon Ratchathani). They seem like a well-run outfit, and relatively safe. I've got their "Go Card" which offers a 5% discount and the ability to make reservations by phone.

Unfortunately, they've discontinued their English website. I tried to call for reservations and information, but no one speaks English at the other end, and my Thai is too fledgling enough to get past first base.

A couple questions:

1) Are they intentionally throwing away the business that could come to them from the expat community and/or tourism?

2) Does anyone know of another way to get around the existing Thai-only system for information and reservations?

Anyone have any information or ideas?

[torrenova]

They upgraded (bullshit) their website a couple of years ago and their English pages don't exist. Even worse, in the last 18 months or so the drop down boxes to pull up timetables from their various destinations is broken as well. They have been emailed in Thai and English and failed to respond. Good service, crap customer service.

[gonzobrains]

I usually just get a thai chick to help me out. Or walk down to the bus station and book in person (still lousy customer service in person even though the ride itself is good.

They upgraded (bullshit) their website a couple of years ago and their English pages don't exist. Even worse, in the last 18 months or so the drop down boxes to pull up timetables from their various destinations is broken as well. They have been emailed in Thai and English and failed to respond. Good service, crap customer service.

[midas]

For several years I traveled by Nakhorn Chai Air between Khon Kaen and Bangkok (I understand they also have routes to Chiang Mai and Ubon Ratchathani). They seem like a well-run outfit, and relatively safe. I've got their "Go Card" which offers a 5% discount and the ability to make reservations by phone.

Unfortunately, they've discontinued their English website. I tried to call for reservations and information, but no one speaks English at the other end, and my Thai is too fledgling enough to get past first base.

A couple questions:

1) Are they intentionally throwing away the business that could come to them from the expat community and/or tourism?

2) Does anyone know of another way to get around the existing Thai-only system for information and reservations?

Anyone have any information or ideas?

I have also used them and the answer to 1 ) has to be yes ! I have sent them several emails

in English and they just ignore them all.

[0zz1]

For several years I traveled by Nakhorn Chai Air between Khon Kaen and Bangkok (I understand they also have routes to Chiang Mai and Ubon Ratchathani). They seem like a well-run outfit, and relatively safe. I've got their "Go Card" which offers a 5% discount and the ability to make reservations by phone.

Unfortunately, they've discontinued their English website. I tried to call for reservations and information, but no one speaks English at the other end, and my Thai is too fledgling enough to get past first base.

A couple questions:

1) Are they intentionally throwing away the business that could come to them from the expat community and/or tourism?

2) Does anyone know of another way to get around the existing Thai-only system for information and reservations?

Anyone have any information or ideas?

I have also used them and the answer to 1 ) has to be yes ! I have sent them several emails

in English and they just ignore them all.

well... just looking at their thai website... it does not work either.. you cant search any of the time tables there

[mijan24]

For several years I traveled by Nakhorn Chai Air between Khon Kaen and Bangkok (I understand they also have routes to Chiang Mai and Ubon Ratchathani). They seem like a well-run outfit, and relatively safe. I've got their "Go Card" which offers a 5% discount and the ability to make reservations by phone.

Unfortunately, they've discontinued their English website. I tried to call for reservations and information, but no one speaks English at the other end, and my Thai is too fledgling enough to get past first base.

A couple questions:

1) Are they intentionally throwing away the business that could come to them from the expat community and/or tourism?

2) Does anyone know of another way to get around the existing Thai-only system for information and reservations?

Anyone have any information or ideas?

I have also used them and the answer to 1 ) has to be yes ! I have sent them several emails

in English and they just ignore them all.

I have found their bus service to be excellent and their customer service excellent too. Maybe it is a little like that old saying "when in Rome do as the Romans do" - In other words learn to communicate in Thai or have a Thai help you in your dealings it's very simple really. "COMMUNICATING that is".

[exexpat]

I also took them from Khon Kaen to BKK. Very nice I have to say, someone put some thought into it. NCA is by far the best Ive seen, with Lignite (to Krabi) 1st class quite good as well. For all you complainers about the website, try riding in 2nd class on a hot day with barely working A/C and people crammed in like sardines with blasting thai music and flickering flourescent tubes for a few hours. Or pay first class prices but smell the toilet the whole way. Trust me, I had no complaints, after a 2nd class ride this was absolute heaven. Next to flying, its the next best thing. Will take them again given the opportunity.

Edited February 21, 2009 by exexpat

[dotpoom]

Will somebody please give me an email address for where I can lodge a complaint  with NakhonChai Air. It must be the world's best kept secret ...I cannot find an address anywhere. I thought I had it "cracked" when I found one...."[email protected]"....Mailer Daemon has just informed me that it couldn't be delivered...2 weeks after I sent it off. I am not prepared to give up at this stage.

  Please send me a PM if you have the information.

Edited November 1, 2018 by dotpoom