Thai Airways Domestic Price Increase

[tartempion]

Thai Airways had domestic promotion until 31st March, travel needed completion by 31st also.

I need a one way BKK Udon late May and a return for two in June.

Promotion price one way was 1165 + tax

Normal minimum fare (Saver?) came to 2750 one way tax included, thus 11.000 return for two pax, most certainly not cheap.

Last time I used them (nov 2010) one way BKK-Udon I flew business, because my luggage was 35kgs, paid 3505.

Saver as of April 1st is 3250 one way tax inclusive, thus a 500B increase, almost a 20% increase!!!

Tried to book June flights this morning, came to 13100.

Business is 5010 now, a 43% increase

Unfortunately for us these are excellent connection flights for timing and Air Asia flights give us 8h waiting time.

Our other option is to commute to DM and catch Nok Air, 4hrs to connect, too long before/after flights to Europe, but I begin seriously to consider this alternative. In fact I was/am waiting to see if they will continue some kind of promotion for April/June, doubt so.

Guess I will wait a few more weeks and consider taking a cab to Don Muang on my return flight late may.

On the way out late April I have an early morning Air Asia promotion booking 20kgs inclusive paid 420B, will visit Bangkok friend until departure time late afternoon, but on my return late May I would rather be on my way to Udon asap early morning.

Are they shooting themselves in the feet?

[Ricardo]

I too am affected by this. I was looking for connecting-flights from Chiang Mai down-to/back-from Bangkok in several weeks' time, and was expecting to pay the usual -price of a couple-of-thousand Baht each-way.

Instead my travel-agent told me that, after two months of holding seats for me in-anticipation of a new 'Explore-Thailand' deal, there was not going to be one, and to issue the ticket by yesterday, or pay several hundred Baht extra each-way. So I've had to book at B5,420-return, which combined with the newly-weakened Pound means, I've got to pay 50% more than my trip last-October. Not a happy way to start my journey !

And I won't even get started, on why it's not worth looking at using TG, for the BKK-London-BKK legs ! Obviously they need to bring the carrier back into profit, and average load-factors at 80% are already high, but cost-cutting would be preferable to price-gouging !

[richieudon]

I was browsing for flights yesterday on Thai Air for return flight to Koh Samui from Udon Thani..... 16500 baht... a bit over the top I thought. I can fly Air Asia to Phuket return for 5000. When you convert to sterling and maybe want to take the wife and kid, it becomes frightening!!

[tartempion]

Well I am considering booking Nok flight now, leaving Udon 13.55-14.55 and taking taxi to Swampy for 3100 + 400 for taxi versus Thai 6500THB 15.25-16.25 timing, have flight out BKK at 20.35. That's some hours to kill but we have free access to business lounge.

Seriously, the 4h in between flights taking Thai was perfect considering collecting luggage and checking in outbound flight at Swampy.

Considered driving down to BKK also, but driving back to Udon on return is a no go, 8h driving after a 12h flight

Think best is to book return BKK-UTH with Thai at 6500THB, good connection time (2.45 after landing) versus taxi to DM and NOK and 5.30 in between flights, but still considering.

So you say promotion will not happen?

I am afraid so.

[Ricardo]

I too am affected by this. I was looking for connecting-flights from Chiang Mai down-to/back-from Bangkok in several weeks' time, and was expecting to pay the usual -price of a couple-of-thousand Baht each-way.

Instead my travel-agent told me that, after two months of holding seats for me in-anticipation of a new 'Explore-Thailand' deal, there was not going to be one, and to issue the ticket by yesterday, or pay several hundred Baht extra each-way. So I've had to book at B5,420-return, which combined with the newly-weakened Pound means, I've got to pay 50% more than my trip last-October. Not a happy way to start my journey !

And I won't even get started, on why it's not worth looking at using TG, for the BKK-London-BKK legs ! Obviously they need to bring the carrier back into profit, and average load-factors at 80% are already high, but cost-cutting would be preferable to price-gouging !

And looking today at the TG web-site, the fare has gone up from B5,420 to B7,000, mon dieu !

[ovenman]

Thai Airways explains their reasoning: THAI Clarifies Increase in Domestic Airfare

[justcruisin]

Thai Airways explains their reasoning: THAI Clarifies Increase in Domestic Airfare

Thai Air are certainly biting the hand that feeds it,a massive 36% increase in one hit for domestic flights.

Seems it also applies to international flights.I was looking for flights to Aus today,BKK-BNE are now 78,000 Bht and Singapore Air are doing it for 30,000 Bht,a massive 160% price difference.

Have they gone crazy,their planes will be flying empty.

[ovenman]

Have they gone crazy,their planes will be flying empty.

THAI's planes will never go empty when one considers all of the free-flying leeches that they need to accommodate.

[goldfinger]

they are crazy,

one way Bangkok -Samui now 6460 Baht, before about the same as BKK Airways (from 3600 to 4000+)

[Ricardo]

Thai Airways explains their reasoning: THAI Clarifies Increase in Domestic Airfare

Many thanks for the link.

On their own figures quoted, this is a 34.5% increase, in the price-per-km.

I also love their assurance that "there are different airfare prices to cater to various passenger needs". I don't yet see them on their web-site. I look forward to their announcing what replaces the old domestic-promotion, which gave a reasonable fare, higher than the LCCs but still not totally over-the-top, considering the normal full-service airline service. I'd love to continue to use TG, at least for domestic-connections to long-haul flights, but must look elsewhere if this rip-off pricing continues.

[Garry]

Thai Airways explains their reasoning: THAI Clarifies Increase in Domestic Airfare

Thai Air are certainly biting the hand that feeds it,a massive 36% increase in one hit for domestic flights.

Seems it also applies to international flights.I was looking for flights to Aus today,BKK-BNE are now 78,000 Bht and Singapore Air are doing it for 30,000 Bht,a massive 160% price difference.

Have they gone crazy,their planes will be flying empty.

Definitely agree with you 'justcruisin'

I felt like I had just been financially raped the other day. That is when I bought two round trip tickets CNX-BKK-CNX for my wife and myself. 16380 THB including tax. I had actually thought I had made a mistake and selected Business class.

[kratiam]

Have they gone crazy,their planes will be flying empty.

THAI's planes will never go empty when one considers all of the free-flying leeches that they need to accommodate.

All airlines allow free (or nearly free) tickets to all sorts of people.....BA is the worst!

[kratiam]

Have they gone crazy,their planes will be flying empty.

THAI's planes will never go empty when one considers all of the free-flying leeches that they need to accommodate.

...and I think 'leeches' is less than polite!

[iang]

TG's domestic fare increases are just outrageous! I just travelled Royal Orchid (business) class Bangkok - Chiang Mai earlier this week on a ticket booked & paid for a couple of months ago. And the cost? Baht 3,865 one way.

I just went to book the same flight (in reverse) Chiang Mai - Bangkok and the price for Royal Orchid (business) class has skyrocketed to Baht 5,865! A Baht 2,000 increase - that's more than a 50% price hike in one hit!

I also noticed that there's no longer any special promotional prices available - these expired 31 Mar 10 and have not been renewed and that now, the cheapest economy class ticket Chiang Mai - Bangkok is Baht 3,500! Just a tad under what I paid for business class just a couple of months ago!

What are TG doing!? Are they really saying to both local Thais and Farangs that they don't want the business domestically & to please go and book with a competitor?

In the meantime, Air Asia continue with super low fares........... But TG's unique selling point is interline connections, which the others can't do. But at what price......

[Jocky]

In Khon Kaen we don't have a choice, It's TG or nothing and the flights never time right with any UK flights.

[citizen33]

In Khon Kaen we don't have a choice, It's TG or nothing and the flights never time right with any UK flights.

I was looking today at TG BKK-Khon Kaen flights in July for myself, the wife and our child. The cheapest fare I could see was 3200 baht each way per person, with no reduction for the child. Going back just to last year, I think the cheapest flights were about 1800 baht each way. I must say that the prospect of over £400 for a domestic return flight made me wonder about a one-way car hire or taxi. The only promotion I could see on the website was for senior citizens and, guess what, the fare was 3200 baht single.