Bkk To Los Angeles

[McGinty]

I've been invited to Los Angeles for Christmas. I've never been before so could someone recommend some decent airlines and also ones to avoid.

Much obliged.

McGinty

[jfchandler]

EVA from BKK to Los Angeles is good, especially if you're frequent flier with them. But even if not, if you book thru their web site and use their Hot Fares list there, it's usually close to the best price to be had anywhere. China Air usually can be found a bit cheaper, but I like EVA and their sterling safety record compared to China Air's less than sterling record.

The EVA flight from BKK to L.A. stops in Taiwan, usually just an hour or two layover and plane change... Just long enough to stretch the legs, grab a bite, relax before the long flight leg. Never had a bad flight with EVA, and most of their planes on this route are 777s, which are more comfortable and have better in-flight entertainment options compared with the older 747-400s that some others fly.

Thai Air used to have nonstop flights between BKK and L.A., but I believe those have been discontinued as of November. Thai Air usually also is more expensive than EVA...and service not usually as good.

I'm also going back to L.A. for Christmas...and just purchased my return ticket from EVA back here for New Years...

[McGinty]

Thanks very much for that info, jfchandler.

McGinty

[Thaivisa Travel]

Hi, to advise on this is not so easy as it may rather be down to who still has seats left rather than who is the best, Christmas is reasonably busy but rteurns from the US early Jan are all nearly full. I would suggest Eva Air if we can get the seats, but avoid China airlines. Just email [email protected] with the dates you want and we can help you

Guy and team

 

[jfchandler]

Just in the past couple days, I booked direct with EVA's website a return flight from LA to BKK arriving back here on Dec. 31... I could have booked a day earlier or any of a couple days later thru Jan 5-6... I didn't check any further out than that...

Just fyi, EVA appears to have one of their seasonal price changes for this route that takes effect Jan. 5... So any initial flight out of L.A. prior to Jan. 5 will have a somewhat higher rate, and then a somewhat lower rate after Jan. 5... (the end of their "holiday" period pricing).

But in my case, it made more financial sense to return earlier, particularly since the flight was still available this year. The airline ticket itself may cost $100+ more because of the holiday pricing. But I more that recoup that amount by not having additional hotel night stays at pretty pricey L.A. rates... Plus, wanted to be back in BKK for New Year's Eve!!!

[geriatrickid]

If you can't get the BR flight into LAX consider SFO with a connection on AA or UA. Depending upon the booking engine it can work out to the same price (sometimes). Advantage of SFO is that ICE is a lot friendlier and you can clear them in 30 minutes. LAX can take over an hour sometimes.

[gk10002000]

I have flown EVA or China Air out of LAX several times. EVA uses 777 which I do not like. The seats just seem hard and the plane rides a bit stiff. I do prefer the "Buick" softer ride of a later 747. But, I don't pick a flight based on that. Both work quite fine. Both airlines fly from BKK to Taipei then to LAX with the same general schedule. You probably will notice that if you take the 1245 flight from BKK you have a longer layover at Taiwan. The 1700 flights out of BKK go to Taiepei and then connect on to LAX. Not much sense in getting the earlier flight out of BKK because you probably will just be waiting in Taiepei longer.

LAX customs is a bit crowded but my last few times through (April 08) it went fairly quickly. Lines like at Disney Land with stanchions and ropes. I only have carry on so I can't comment on picking up luggage and getting that past customs.

Do enjoy Los Angeles. If you play poker, there are fantastic poker room/casinos there with action and limits of all types. Hollywood Park Casino is two miles from the airport. Commerce casino is a bit further. Depending on where in Los Angeles you are staying there are many to choose from.

There is a pretty decent Wat Thai up past Burban, north of Los Angeles. Just in case you had a Thai with you that had an interest in that.

[SaigonDaze]

The Thai non-stop flights (TG794-795) have not been cancelled. They are still flying this routing through at least 1/31/09. Another option if you have the $$ is Singapore Airlines non-stop SIN-LAX. All Biz Class flight.

www.a345business.com

[jfchandler]

Thanks Saigon...I thought Thai had already pulled the plug on their LA nonstops by this time.. I see they haven't ... but apparently will still...

Just for fun, I did an identical days flight comparison for EVA and Thai for the LA-BKK route roundtrip. Leaving LA just before New Year and returning back from BKK in mid June 09.

Just last week, I purchased that ticket direct from EVA online for about $1200 all inclusive. Today, I priced the same trip on Thai's web site as a Royal Orchid Plus member and the best price I could find was $1,572, all inclusive.

The EVA flights were all 777-300ERs with one stop in Taiwan. The Thai flight from LA in late Dec. was nonstop, whereas the return options from BKK to LA in June were all one or more stops in Osaka (no nonstop option available then in their system). The Thai plane from LA would be an Airbus A340-500, but the June trips would all be the older 777-200/300s.