Nok Air Website

[chivasgeo]

Hello all,

I am here in USA. I am trying to book online Round Trip flight from Udon Thani to Chiang Mai from April 4th to 7th . But the Nok Air website ends online booking to/from Udon Thani-Chaing Mai on March 26 2011. Does anyone here have experience with Nok Air Website...will the schedule update to reflects flights avail after March 26th 2011? Email inquiries to NOK AIR did not get replies back to me.

Currently I am trying to call them to find out, but my phone card is not so reliable ...hehehe! Any info from anyone is appreciated.

[gotlost]

Just checked their site and your correct. march 26 is their last posted date. It would not surprise me if they do not cancel this route as it has never been profitable for any airline.

[gotlost]

I Wonder if this was moved to the CM forum if we may get some answers?

[siam2007]

wasn't it that one of those several new small regional Airlines that were established in the past few months would want to take over this route ?

not Happy Air, but one of those two or three others

[gotlost]

This is the second time Nok has tried this route. The stopped their CNX to Pai for the plane. Old SGA tried it once an Thai Air also. This is over the pass 5 years. They only last about 6 months. N ow I'm not saying for sure but it does not look good.

[knocka]

Hang on for a week or two.

Nok Mini or SGA Airlines have just leased 2 Saab 340's and based them at Chiang Mai and Chiang Mai to Udon is currently there most prolific route (10 r/t flights per week)

Can't see them cancelling this route unless they have obtained a more profitable one for these acft.

I'd say u will be able to book within a week to 10 days.

[knocka]

You can send them an email using this form from their webpage

[Sam Drucker]

March 26th is the end of the winter schedule. It appears they just haven't loaded the summer schedule yet. Call them if you can't get a timely response by email. You might also want to Google "SGA" or "Nokmini" as SGA is operating this flight under the Nok Mini name for Nok.

This route was successful last year, along with the Chiang Mai-Khon Kaen route. But the aircraft were on short term leases and when the political problems happened last May, the lessor refused to renew the leases on the airplanes. Nok announced at the time that they had to temporarily stop the routes. They've now restarted the Udon Thani route since early February, and the Khon Kaen route starts again around March 15th. They should be around for a while.

[chivasgeo]

Thank you all for your responses. I will give it another week or so, then call Nok Air if no online schedule for April appears. Unfortunately emails inquiries sent to them (2 times) have come unanswered (unless my email provider is blocking their replies)

I'll repost with any updates in case others may also be interested, thank you all again.

[zzaa09]

Thank you all for your responses. I will give it another week or so, then call Nok Air if no online schedule for April appears. Unfortunately emails inquiries sent to them (2 times) have come unanswered (unless my email provider is blocking their replies)

I'll repost with any updates in case others may also be interested, thank you all again.

I wouldn't count on any such email replies, my friend. Thai are notorious for not responding in this manner {email}. Best that you contact them directly by phone. If you're in the states, better chance that decent and knowledgeable agent would be better to help you dealing with domestic Thailand flights. Info, schedules, booking, etc. Good luck to ya!!

[knocka]

Just received an email from Nok Mini in Chiang Mai.

Dear value passenger,

Timetable on website currently shows only flight schedule for winter 2010; period Oct 31 2010 - March 26 2011.

The new flight schedule time will be shown soon.

Please kindly visit our website later.

Best Regard

Customer service Chiang Mai Station, Nok Mini Airlines

[chivasgeo]

Just received an email from Nok Mini in Chiang Mai.

Dear value passenger,

Timetable on website currently shows only flight schedule for winter 2010; period Oct 31 2010 - March 26 2011.

The new flight schedule time will be shown soon.

Please kindly visit our website later.

Best Regard

Customer service Chiang Mai Station, Nok Mini Airlines

knocka,

Nice to see an official reply from Nok Air. Very comforting I actually used the same link you provided to email them 2 times but no luck with receiving a reply (I suspect my email service provider has blocked them, therefore I never seen a reply from Nok Air)

I really appreciate your follow up. Thank you.

[chivasgeo]

Hang on for a week or two.

Nok Mini or SGA Airlines have just leased 2 Saab 340's and based them at Chiang Mai and Chiang Mai to Udon is currently there most prolific route (10 r/t flights per week)

Can't see them cancelling this route unless they have obtained a more profitable one for these acft.

I'd say u will be able to book within a week to 10 days.

I saw the change in type of aircraft they will be using....too bad, as I wanted to experience the Cessna planes (from what I have heard the view of the countryside from Cessna aircraft is nice, I am guessing due to lower flight altitude?)

[knocka]

I too did not receive a reply from the main Nok Air site but emailed the Nok Mini site in Chiang Mai who replied promptly.

You may still even get to fly on their Cessna 208's, they are keeping 2 in reserve at Chiang Mai.

The Saab won't fly much higher anyway!

[Sam Drucker]

I too did not receive a reply from the main Nok Air site but emailed the Nok Mini site in Chiang Mai who replied promptly.

You may still even get to fly on their Cessna 208's, they are keeping 2 in reserve at Chiang Mai.

The Saab won't fly much higher anyway!

It figures that it was Nok Mini that replied; I wrote to Nok a few years ago on separate occasions about some problems and they never replied.

The Saab aircraft only seats 34 passengers, and the OP's travel date is approaching Songkran. Best to keep on top of this so you can make a reservation as soon as they open it up to accept bookings. It could fill up fast. Keep in mind if you can't get a flight to/from Udon Thani, Khon Kaen might be open (or vice versa). They are only about 120 km apart, with many busses going between and taxi meters now in both cities (to get you to/from the airport.)

As for the view from Cessna aircraft, that reputation (from the General Aviation community i.e. private pilots) is because Cessnas have a high wing. Thus, you can look down fore and aft and not have a wing blocking your view. In reality, it's not that big of a thing however.

Finally, I've seen the Cessna Caravan 208's hauling freight before. It would be interesting to take a ride in one as that would be a rarity. Many western countries (including America) require at least a twin-engine aircraft for commercially hauling passengers, so you would never see this airplane used for airline use in America.

[chivasgeo]

YouTube has some nice videos of flights into Chiang Mai in a Cessna type aircraft, searchterm= nok air flights to Chiang Mai

[knocka]

You can book NOW for those dates!

[chivasgeo]

You can book NOW for those dates!

Yup, I've been "standing in line" waiting since I started this thread Thank you for the follow up. Got my R/T tickets!!!