Eva Air Samui Return Ticket

[spacedcowboy]

Hi I just like to know if anyone has any experience of the following:

I am thinking of cutting my stay in Samui short by one month and visiting Bangkok for a month and therefore tried to change my return flight to Bangkok via Bangkok Airways at Samui Airport.

The ticket was booked in England on the internet using EvaAir as the airline for all stages of the trip.

I have been told that I must use the return leg from Samui to Bangkok via Bangkok Airways on the original date or else I might (and this is where it gets a bit grey) be refused entry on the final flight from Bangkok to London.

Has anyone any ever experienced being refused entry onto an International flight because they did'nt use the original connecting domestic flight into Bangkok via EvaAir.

I obviously want to avoid the expense of an International flight and falling foul of Eva Air rules if this is the case.

Is ther an EvaAir information office on Samui where I can get some clarification?

Many thanks in advance.

[Mario2008]

You booked your whole flight from Samui to London. It is probably the case that your seat is "confirmed" when you check-in for Bangkok Airlines. If you don't, they will assume that you don't fly and might give your seat to someone else and put you from the passenger list.

Did you contact EVA directly at the office in BKK? They might be more of service.

[spacedcowboy]

Hi Mario2008

Yes I contacted the Bkk office to change the ticket but it was expensive to do so, I was thinking of just travelling to BKK anyway and then catching the original return flight from BKK to London, however this confirmed status of the ticket might mean as you say that I lose my seat on the plane,

[Rooo]

Why don't you just contact Eva air & ask what are the consequences if you miss the Samui leg?

[spacedcowboy]

Hi

I did contact Eva Air on a couple of occasions, but to put it diplomatically they were very vague in their response.

However they weren't as vague "unsurprisingly" to want to charge me a lot more than the going price of a normal ticket to Bangkok, the mention of adminstration and transfer fees were mentioned/threatened when I requested the final cost of amending the ticket.

Hence the reason I was just intending to get back to Bangkok and then board the final International leg from Bangkok to London, however this "confirmed status" might change that.

[smokie36]

Hi

I did contact Eva Air on a couple of occasions, but to put it diplomatically they were very vague in their response.

However they weren't as vague "unsurprisingly" to want to charge me a lot more than the going price of a normal ticket to Bangkok, the mention of adminstration and transfer fees were mentioned/threatened when I requested the final cost of amending the ticket.

Hence the reason I was just intending to get back to Bangkok and then board the final International leg from Bangkok to London, however this "confirmed status" might change that.

I would try calling their number again....I've had to spend a couple of hours doing this one occassion.

I can't see a problem really as there's no way they can resell your ticket in such a short space of time. It might cause some confusion at worst but I'd bet they don't even notice.

Forget changing the Samui BKK sector...waste of time....start looking at the 999 bus!

[roamer]

Hi

I did contact Eva Air on a couple of occasions, but to put it diplomatically they were very vague in their response.

However they weren't as vague "unsurprisingly" to want to charge me a lot more than the going price of a normal ticket to Bangkok, the mention of adminstration and transfer fees were mentioned/threatened when I requested the final cost of amending the ticket.

Hence the reason I was just intending to get back to Bangkok and then board the final International leg from Bangkok to London, however this "confirmed status" might change that.

I would try calling their number again....I've had to spend a couple of hours doing this one occassion.

I can't see a problem really as there's no way they can resell your ticket in such a short space of time. It might cause some confusion at worst but I'd bet they don't even notice.

Forget changing the Samui BKK sector...waste of time....start looking at the 999 bus!

Sorry but you couldn't be more wrong. Terms of booking will include something like this:

"Also, please note that where a sector of a flight itinerary is not utilised without contacting the carrier directly any remaining sectors may be subject to cancellation without further notification."

Note that that is standard procedure for all airlines and as far as going on to "bet they won't even notice", well I can tell you that the computer WILL notice.

As far as not having time to sell your ticket, you have obviously never stood in an EVA queue at Swampy whilst they scrutinise passengers documentation for any pretext to offload them because they have overbooked the flight and want to "bump" those who they are not obliged to compensate.

You either fly the sector or pay the required fees to change your flight details. In such a case you must get your ticket endorsed. You certainly do not rely on a verbal OK not to fly the sector.

I can tell you this much. If you do not do this by the book then whether or not you get your bum on the seat on the final sector will depend solely on how full the flight is. You could get to Swampy hours ahead of everyone but you will still wait until they are sure that flight won't be overbooked.

Do you feel lucky ?

[spacedcowboy]

Many thanks Roamer

Youv'e confirmed what I thought might be the case, and I'm going to do by the book because I really don't feel lucky thanks again.

[roamer]

Many thanks Roamer

Youv'e confirmed what I thought might be the case, and I'm going to do by the book because I really don't feel lucky thanks again.

No worries. Enjoy the rest of your trip.

[rakman]

Many thanks Roamer

Youv'e confirmed what I thought might be the case, and I'm going to do by the book because I really don't feel lucky thanks again.

No worries. Enjoy the rest of your trip.

You can book a separate r/t ticket from Samui - BKK - Samui, spend time in BKK (and get around the area) then return to Samui for a couple of days to relax and then depart to England as per your original ticket. Yes, it will cost a few extra Baht, but probably less than the change to the original ticket, and R/T tickets are usually a good bargain compared to one-way. Since you're on holiday, you don't have to take the first out flight and can look around for a cheaper fair.

[smokie36]

Many thanks Roamer

Youv'e confirmed what I thought might be the case, and I'm going to do by the book because I really don't feel lucky thanks again.

No worries. Enjoy the rest of your trip.

You can book a separate r/t ticket from Samui - BKK - Samui, spend time in BKK (and get around the area) then return to Samui for a couple of days to relax and then depart to England as per your original ticket. Yes, it will cost a few extra Baht, but probably less than the change to the original ticket, and R/T tickets are usually a good bargain compared to one-way. Since you're on holiday, you don't have to take the first out flight and can look around for a cheaper fair.

A cheap flight Samui-BKK return?

Best of luck!!!

[smokie36]

Hi

I did contact Eva Air on a couple of occasions, but to put it diplomatically they were very vague in their response.

However they weren't as vague "unsurprisingly" to want to charge me a lot more than the going price of a normal ticket to Bangkok, the mention of adminstration and transfer fees were mentioned/threatened when I requested the final cost of amending the ticket.

Hence the reason I was just intending to get back to Bangkok and then board the final International leg from Bangkok to London, however this "confirmed status" might change that.

I would try calling their number again....I've had to spend a couple of hours doing this one occassion.

I can't see a problem really as there's no way they can resell your ticket in such a short space of time. It might cause some confusion at worst but I'd bet they don't even notice.

Forget changing the Samui BKK sector...waste of time....start looking at the 999 bus!

Sorry but you couldn't be more wrong. Terms of booking will include something like this:

"Also, please note that where a sector of a flight itinerary is not utilised without contacting the carrier directly any remaining sectors may be subject to cancellation without further notification."

Note that that is standard procedure for all airlines and as far as going on to "bet they won't even notice", well I can tell you that the computer WILL notice.

As far as not having time to sell your ticket, you have obviously never stood in an EVA queue at Swampy whilst they scrutinise passengers documentation for any pretext to offload them because they have overbooked the flight and want to "bump" those who they are not obliged to compensate.

You either fly the sector or pay the required fees to change your flight details. In such a case you must get your ticket endorsed. You certainly do not rely on a verbal OK not to fly the sector.

I can tell you this much. If you do not do this by the book then whether or not you get your bum on the seat on the final sector will depend solely on how full the flight is. You could get to Swampy hours ahead of everyone but you will still wait until they are sure that flight won't be overbooked.

Do you feel lucky ?

Scrutinising passengers tickets for any excuse to offload them? You're just a tad paranoid I think!

Anyway as I said he should speak to someone at the airline with sufficient comprehension and seniority who can help. Its not an insurmountable issue this.

[roamer]

Hi

I did contact Eva Air on a couple of occasions, but to put it diplomatically they were very vague in their response.

However they weren't as vague "unsurprisingly" to want to charge me a lot more than the going price of a normal ticket to Bangkok, the mention of adminstration and transfer fees were mentioned/threatened when I requested the final cost of amending the ticket.

Hence the reason I was just intending to get back to Bangkok and then board the final International leg from Bangkok to London, however this "confirmed status" might change that.

I would try calling their number again....I've had to spend a couple of hours doing this one occassion.

I can't see a problem really as there's no way they can resell your ticket in such a short space of time. It might cause some confusion at worst but I'd bet they don't even notice.

Forget changing the Samui BKK sector...waste of time....start looking at the 999 bus!

Sorry but you couldn't be more wrong. Terms of booking will include something like this:

"Also, please note that where a sector of a flight itinerary is not utilised without contacting the carrier directly any remaining sectors may be subject to cancellation without further notification."

Note that that is standard procedure for all airlines and as far as going on to "bet they won't even notice", well I can tell you that the computer WILL notice.

As far as not having time to sell your ticket, you have obviously never stood in an EVA queue at Swampy whilst they scrutinise passengers documentation for any pretext to offload them because they have overbooked the flight and want to "bump" those who they are not obliged to compensate.

You either fly the sector or pay the required fees to change your flight details. In such a case you must get your ticket endorsed. You certainly do not rely on a verbal OK not to fly the sector.

I can tell you this much. If you do not do this by the book then whether or not you get your bum on the seat on the final sector will depend solely on how full the flight is. You could get to Swampy hours ahead of everyone but you will still wait until they are sure that flight won't be overbooked.

Do you feel lucky ?

Scrutinising passengers tickets for any excuse to offload them? You're just a tad paranoid I think!

Anyway as I said he should speak to someone at the airline with sufficient comprehension and seniority who can help. Its not an insurmountable issue this.

Sorry you feel that way Smokie. Fact of life, all scheduled airlines overbook according to a computer model that differs from airline to airline and sector to sector on a daily basis. The largest "unknown" unknown is the amount of no-shows from full fare paying customers who have paid for that flexibility. On certain routes that can amount to a significant proportion of passengers and trying to predict it accurately ain't easy. TSA-BKK-LHR is one of those routes and in such circumstances an airline looks to offload those that it can do so at no cost to itself.

Anyone with any experience of the airline business knows that failure to complete a sector means that all subsequent sectors can be regarded as cancelled.

Thanks for diagnosing me as a touch paranoid but anyone who has ever worked a gate will confirm that when it looks like your flight is going to be overbooked you look to bump those who you can do so cheaply or at no cost. You could have spoke to the airline president for all it matters to a check in clerk who has been told they have to lose 5 passengers. Try arguing your case as the security guard escorts you out of the airport.

Those are the rules. Ignore them at your peril.

[smokie36]

Well thanks for the info roamer. I guess the message is to book each sector separately.

I'm left wondering what the OP's saving was on booking the Bangkok Airways flights through Eva.

[roamer]

Well thanks for the info roamer. I guess the message is to book each sector separately.

I'm left wondering what the OP's saving was on booking the Bangkok Airways flights through Eva.

No worries smokie. Doubt there was little if any savings on booking the whole trip. Always worth while to check the flight rules on any particular ticket incidentally. Sometimes you'll find paying a few quid more for what is essentially the same flight allows changing dates/sectors at a minimal cost. Bottom line is airlines are either flexible and accommodating or hard-assed depending on seat availability. Take care.

[NanLaew]

Well thanks for the info roamer. I guess the message is to book each sector separately.

I'm left wondering what the OP's saving was on booking the Bangkok Airways flights through Eva.

Probably quite a decent saving but since their agreement is a limited code-share versus being a full partner in some major airline alliance, I assume the mumbling approach from EVA's agents in Bangkok says it all.

Most airlines will charge for a "stopover" if it is suddenly requested on an itinerary that is already in use and the OP is now requesting a stopover. Booking a multi-sector r/t ticket means that those seats are locked in and 'off' the booking system. If a pax decides to change a sector, then TWO seats re-enter the booking system, the original closed sector becomes open (for another pax) and the new request needs to be filled. Some airlines that provide full service to the onward/final destination can offer stopovers at reduced cost, ie. flying THAI, request a Bangkok stopover on one or either leg of a London-Bangkok-Phuket itinerary. Since EVA and Bangkok Air aren't remotely affiliated, they probably don't have anything in their booking systems to address all the whims of all the pax.

[spacedcowboy]

Its all true!

Just a quick update I contacted Eva Air and you do need to inform them if you decide to alter your arrangements.

In my case I intend to visit Bangkok an therefore had intended just to buy a cheaper ticket from Surat Airport and avoid paying the higher price fares and the cost of altering my existing return ticket to Bangkok which is going to work out about £100.

However as Roamer pointed out as the ticket is a "confirmed seat" booking by not showing up for the first leg to Bangkok they will/may assume you are also not turning up for the International sector of the flight this could leave you bumped of the seating plan your seat taken by someone else. So I would advise you be prepared/warned of this potential outcome.

The ticket price worked out as a direct flight from London to Bangkok and then the domestic leg to Samui at £680

However the cost of the changes has worked out at £97 + 700 bht.

The identical flight which has now been arranged for me from Bangkok Airways was available at £61.91 via there website.

I should also mention that my ticketing information given to me in the UK states that changes after departure cost £75 so somewhere in the region of £40 is still unaccounted for, but I will pursue this when I get home.

Hope this has helped someone in a similar dilema.

[smokie36]

Its all true!

Just a quick update I contacted Eva Air and you do need to inform them if you decide to alter your arrangements.

In my case I intend to visit Bangkok an therefore had intended just to buy a cheaper ticket from Surat Airport and avoid paying the higher price fares and the cost of altering my existing return ticket to Bangkok which is going to work out about £100.

However as Roamer pointed out as the ticket is a "confirmed seat" booking by not showing up for the first leg to Bangkok they will/may assume you are also not turning up for the International sector of the flight this could leave you bumped of the seating plan your seat taken by someone else. So I would advise you be prepared/warned of this potential outcome.

The ticket price worked out as a direct flight from London to Bangkok and then the domestic leg to Samui at £680

However the cost of the changes has worked out at £97 + 700 bht.

The identical flight which has now been arranged for me from Bangkok Airways was available at £61.91 via there website.

I should also mention that my ticketing information given to me in the UK states that changes after departure cost £75 so somewhere in the region of £40 is still unaccounted for, but I will pursue this when I get home.

Hope this has helped someone in a similar dilema.

Thanks for the update spacedcowboy. Just for info I did a return UK to Samui last month with Royal Jordanian for £404 return to Bangkok then picked up a Bangkok Airways promotion for 2200 Baht each way to Samui.

Message here is to shop around.

[spacedcowboy]

Just to clarify Smokie36

Were you flying initially from Samui then onto the UK and was it a direct flight , as the price I paid was a direct International flight and I spent quite some time researching the best prices, and this really was the best available at the time of booking about £60 cheaper than what every other airline was offering.

I ask this because I had wondered if it were cheaper to arrange my future return tickets starting and finishing in Thailand?

[smokie36]

Just to clarify Smokie36

Were you flying initially from Samui then onto the UK and was it a direct flight , as the price I paid was a direct International flight and I spent quite some time researching the best prices, and this really was the best available at the time of booking about £60 cheaper than what every other airline was offering.

I ask this because I had wondered if it were cheaper to arrange my future return tickets starting and finishing in Thailand?

This was booking from London to Thailand return. The £404 ticket was booked through a company llisted on the Samui forum...I may have the details somewhere if I find will post a link here.

Royal Jordanian with a stopover in Amman...2 hours outward ...7 hours on the return with a hotel provided in Amman for a few hours....free brekkie etc.....great deal it was....decent seating and service.

Definately fly them again!

Flights booked going the other way are always more expensive.