Thai Air Lax-bkk

[Spee]

I'm booking a trip to LoS and am considering the Thai Air nonstop from LAX to take advantage of the larger Economy Plus seats that are offered. I'm willing to pay the premium, which is about 30% from a typical coach seat booking, but something concerns me.

When going through the booking process, the website doesn't guarantee that E-P seats are available and indicates a slight refund if only cattle class seating is available. I don't want to book with Thai Air to go economy because I can do a lot better with several other airlines. However, I would want to take the flight if I can be assured of an E-P seat.

Has anyone else run into this situation? Is there a way to check for E-P availability or guarantee before actually booking and paying for the trip?

TIA for any advice.

[britmaveric]

Check with TG - believe they are switching planes (cutting out premium economy) and nonstop will be stopping on the LAX route via Osaka. They promised this change in the fall, so I would check - granted prob not get the truth even if you ring them.

[Spee]

Check with TG - believe they are switching planes (cutting out premium economy) and nonstop will be stopping on the LAX route via Osaka. They promised this change in the fall, so I would check - granted prob not get the truth even if you ring them.

Yeah that's what bothers me. The website still says the A340-500 and a nonstop flight on the dates that I want to fly. I'd be really p.o.'d if I booked the non-stop in premium econ and then got stuck with a one-stopper in regular econ. I can already get that on 4 or 5 other airlines, and for less money.

[lomatopo]

I confess I haven't stayed up to date on this subject but the last I heard (end August) TG would be changing the equipment/routing/timing on 26 Oct 2008 from the direct, non-stop flights (TG 794/795 serviced with A340-500 with E/PE/J seating) to one-stop service via KIX (TG 796/797 serviced with a 777-200ER with E/J seating). Service remains 5x weekly (no flights on Mon, Wed).

TG796 BKK 0730 - KIX 1440

TG796 KIX 1550 - LAX 0915 777-200ER x13

TG797 LAX 1210 - KIX 1800+1

TG797 KIX1910+1 BKK 2340+1 777-200ER x13

1:10 ground time in Osaka on both flights; total scheduled time

BKK>LAX 16:45 (+2:15 compared to the TG794 nonstop)

LAX>BKK 20:30 (+2:30 compared to the TG795 nonstop)

Not sure when you are planning on traveling but if before 26 Oct and on TG 794/795 I'd expect a reasonbly good shot at actually getting PE. I know TG has been trying to sell these aircraft (A340-500) unsuccessfully so am honestly not sure if they'd choose to keep flying them on the LAX route beyond 26 Oct? I suspect not.

[lordofdelusion]

I flew that route in PE and it's no big deal. A mechanical recline seat and what I thought to be awful service.

Try EVA Deluxe or similar.

[Thaivisa Travel]

Good morning, this sounds a little strange as there is a specific booking class on Thai Airways for Premium, and if that is what you book and pay then they should not just make you go sit somewhere else! This is U class, and I would suggest that you might use a travel agency who should if good be able to match the fare on the TG website and also book you a specific seat number in Premium so you cannot be kicked out! ONE WARNING though, Thai will soon STOP their nonstop LAX BKK service, so keep an eye on that as then you have a long flight via Osaka. Hope this helps you

Kind regards

Thaivisa Travel

[Spee]

I flew that route in PE and it's no big deal. A mechanical recline seat and what I thought to be awful service.

Try EVA Deluxe or similar.

Unfortunately EVA deluxe is almost double the Thai Air PE fare and almost triple available economy fares from several US carriers.

[mdechgan]

I'm flying on the 26th Oct. Their last A340 flight to LAX is on the 25th.

Nope no more A340-500 non-stop, now it is a 777-200ER with a technical stop in Kansai. So no more premium economy (unless they find a way to upgrade and reseat their 777-200ERs within the next month.. Atleast they have IFE screens on their 777-200ERs. I been on their 200ERs, they use them for their BKK-AKL routes nonstop. Their A340-500s are up for sale ( I think already sold to TAMS) and I don't think they will be using them.

If you have a chance I suggest you pick another airline. I paid 69,000 baht for my ticket. I had no choice because I had to use my mileage for another ticket.

I recommend Korean Air, they cost 20,000 baht less and very good service. Heck ANA, JAL,EVA all cost less if you fly economy.

Their new schedule is terrible. We have to check-in at the airport like at 4:30am. So we have to leave home around 2-3:00am

[mdechgan]

A TG rep just called me. Looks like TG is still keeping its L.A. express routes. The KIX route has been replaced by the 794-795 route again. They said fuel prices have fallen and are keeping the route until fuel prices rise again.

[SaigonDaze]

A TG rep just called me. Looks like TG is still keeping its L.A. express routes. The KIX route has been replaced by the 794-795 route again. They said fuel prices have fallen and are keeping the route until fuel prices rise again.

Yes, that's correct. Just booked a fight to LAX in Biz class this morning $2550 r/t (which is where they used to be before the fuel surcharges were added).

If the OP is still looking, you'll need to call TG and good PE with an agent. It's still not showing up online.

[Spee]

A TG rep just called me. Looks like TG is still keeping its L.A. express routes. The KIX route has been replaced by the 794-795 route again. They said fuel prices have fallen and are keeping the route until fuel prices rise again.

Yes, that's correct. Just booked a fight to LAX in Biz class this morning $2550 r/t (which is where they used to be before the fuel surcharges were added).

If the OP is still looking, you'll need to call TG and good PE with an agent. It's still not showing up online.

I ended up going AA/JAL via Narita. The price was quite a bit better (appx $1300), albeit in straight economy. Although I did get the exit row seating on the AA flights which is every bit as good as EP, if not better. And apparently because Japanese tourism to LoS is way off, the JAL flights were only about 25% full and there was plenty of room to move around or spread out. In any case, it's nice to know that the LAX nonstop option is available. Cheers.

[gk10002000]

I love JAL. Sometimes because I flew at last minute I grabbed whatever cheap fair was available. Luckily, twice on those, my Narita to BKK connection was on JAL. What a joy. Planes have been immaculate, stewardess extra extra nice, they even clean the bathrooms during the flight. Never a bad experience.

My friend takes the LAX to BKK non-stop flight. I just never saw the reason. You only save a few hours as compared to the LAX to Taipei to BKK flights but you pay quite a bit more. Basically, almost my entire hotel bill for one month in Thailand more! I will take the three hour longer flight with one connection! But I do understand your desire for legroom. My friend is on the large size both in height and weight and he is miserable in an economy seat.

[mesquite]

A TG rep just called me. Looks like TG is still keeping its L.A. express routes. The KIX route has been replaced by the 794-795 route again. They said fuel prices have fallen and are keeping the route until fuel prices rise again.

Yes, that's correct. Just booked a fight to LAX in Biz class this morning $2550 r/t (which is where they used to be before the fuel surcharges were added).

If the OP is still looking, you'll need to call TG and good PE with an agent. It's still not showing up online.

I have a TG ticket BKK LAX BKK for Nov 16 and it has changed two times. Once from Non stop BKK LAX to BKK KIX LAX, then back to Non stop BKK LAX. Thai never told me about these changes. I was in their office for other reasons and we all found out together. I speculated the last change was because of the falling fuel prices and TG rep thanked me for enlightening her.

I hope they don't want me to fly the plane, too! cuz I can't.

As irritating as it is to deal with Thai, I don't think the Non stop BKK LAX can be beat. I do a gold upgrade from an economy ticket so I end up paying 1500-1800 US (actually from Chiang Mai) for a great flight.

[Zpete]

AKL - BKK, 15th Oct, Thai on 777-200ER was superb, best Thai flight for ages.

Interested in seeing if food from BKK has picked up, has been poor.

AKL tukka far superior, great stuff.