Anybody Flown Gulf From Bangkok?

[Old Man River]

Gulf Air has been advertising special prices for economy, business and first class on its return flights originating from Bangkok. For example, you can fly Bangkok to London return prior to mid-July 06 on first class, stopping in Bahrain for only USD 2,400. My wife and I never, ever fly first class for obvious reasons, but since we are planning a trip to London next summer, this may be too hard to pass up.

Reviews I have read so far on Gulf's first class have not been complimentary (I know, you pay for what you get), but the airline has said they are upgrading business and first class flights, probably to compete with airlines such as Emirates.

Has anyone taken Gulf Air up on this offer and flown out of Bangkok on either business or first class? If so, I would be interested in your experiences.

[markuk]

Ive flown Gulf loads of times around gulf / india and to UK, never flown from Bangkok though - always received good service and usually priced competitive. Got an upgrade to 1st class from business ones from Delhi to Musct - very nice...

[The_Moog]

For 2-for-1 1st/Biz class travel on Gulf you must use Mastercard. That is compulsory.

[johnnyk]

FWIW, I've used then twice Paris <> BKK return.

Cheapest fare I could find but a long layover in the Gulf.

[Jack Jones]

In my personal experience I would recommend against it. It doesn't matter if you're flying first class or cattle class when you have 2 connecting flights in the Middle East and there are delays, it can make it a very long journey.

[ThaiPauly]

I dont rate Gulf Air at all. I used them last month to fly back to the UK. Staff were rude, I was supposed to get help with my luggage owing to my back problem and none materialised.

The company PHONED me the day before departure to enquire about my special needs, but when arriving at the airport nobody knew anything about it, so I just got on with it.

On the return journey I was one kilo over and they made me open my suitcase and carry another kilo with me all the way, ebven though they knew I was suffering with back problems, and although they are not that bad , I need all the help I can get anfd they offered NONE!!Cheap yes 28,000 Baht return to London ecomnomy. Efficient a big NO! Ethitad are better by far, and not that much dearer

[Buff-horns]

terrible airline ,thats why they are cheap. constantlly breaking down and leaving late.

idle aircrew .

the last and final time i flew with them when the plane landed at Heathrow there was nearly a riot by angry and disgruntled pax . they were really in a foul and dirty mood .

so many holdups and delays .

the cheap seats attract the worst passengers .drunks and chavs.

[Buff-horns]

one drunken chav kept on shouting 'i'm not leaving this plane till i get my money back ,now' ...

he was really in a foul mood.

[Guest endure]

It's a shame actually. I flew them quite a lot in the 70s and they were really good then - the Emirates of their day.

[Rinrada]

It's a shame actually. I flew them quite a lot in the 70s and they were really good then - the Emirates of their day.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Bahrain to Dhahran...about 7 minutes.

Just enough time for an orange juice and a sticky bun.

[Levent]

It's a shame actually. I flew them quite a lot in the 70s and they were really good then - the Emirates of their day.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Gulf Air is not the only quality airline that went down the drain. KLM for example used to be one of the best airlines in the world in the 1980's. Now, they're not much different to a good low-cost airline...

On the other hand, airlines that used to be regarded as lower on the list, are skyrocketing. Take Turkish Airlines: excellent service, and growing fast. Or Qatar Airways.

[Lourens]

I used to fly Gulf all the time and even got upgraded to 1st from economy. That was in 1998. 1999 things changed dramatically. Delayed flights, unscheduled stop-overs, overbooked aircraft, dirty and disgusting. I sent them back my frequent flyer card and strarted using Emirates in stead. Much happier with them even if it is a bit more expensive. Qatar Air is not bad either.

[Rinrada]

Used to fly in and out of Africa and the Middle East quite often and as a rule of thumb this is roughly what my impressions are and were of the following....

Nigerian Airways.....No...save me.........................Now -Believe gone Bust.

Saudia...................Not 2 Bad .but No Booze.........Now...?

Iraqi Air.................Great ...plus booze and Pilots all top guns....fun........

Kuwait Airways........No way.................................Now No Thanks.

Gulf Air...................Not Bad ...............................Now...?

B.Caledonian Air......Great....................................Gone Bust

Air Afrique..............No way..................................??????

Ghana Airways........Nop.......................................Last Time OK.

Sierra Leone Airways...........................Yes ...the Best.......Now...?

UTA..(air france offshoot)...Not bad.......................Now..dont know.

Egypt...................... ............................

Royal Jordanian.........Not bad................................Now..?

Air Algerie................Good and Booze even during Rama-din.......

Air Zimbabwe............Down the pan............................

and me old mate on

Continential of Nigeria.(air freight to stanstead).....er Crashed..now ...Gone..

Never tried them yet but Emi-Etti-and Qatar Air all seem to be doing very WELL.

[spacebass]

Gulf Air has been advertising special prices for economy, business and first class on its return flights originating from Bangkok.  For example, you can fly Bangkok to London return prior to mid-July 06 on first class, stopping in Bahrain for only USD 2,400.  My wife and I never, ever fly first class for obvious reasons, but since we are planning a trip to London next summer, this may be too hard to pass up.

Reviews I have read so far on Gulf's first class have not been complimentary (I know, you pay for what you get), but the airline has said they are upgrading business and first class flights, probably to compete with airlines such as Emirates. 

Has anyone taken Gulf Air up on this offer and flown out of Bangkok on either business or first class? If so, I would be interested in your experiences.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have you checked this web site?:http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/gulf.htm

Has some good info, but I travelled Gulf Air economy to London from Bangkok and as stated above four hours in Bahrain on inward leg rather flies in the face of the term 'First Class'!

[Old Man River]

Gulf Air has been advertising special prices for economy, business and first class on its return flights originating from Bangkok.  For example, you can fly Bangkok to London return prior to mid-July 06 on first class, stopping in Bahrain for only USD 2,400.  My wife and I never, ever fly first class for obvious reasons, but since we are planning a trip to London next summer, this may be too hard to pass up.

Reviews I have read so far on Gulf's first class have not been complimentary (I know, you pay for what you get), but the airline has said they are upgrading business and first class flights, probably to compete with airlines such as Emirates. 

Has anyone taken Gulf Air up on this offer and flown out of Bangkok on either business or first class? If so, I would be interested in your experiences.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have you checked this web site?:http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/gulf.htm

Has some good info, but I travelled Gulf Air economy to London from Bangkok and as stated above four hours in Bahrain on inward leg rather flies in the face of the term 'First Class'!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the link. Mixed opinions. Looks like this will be another dartboard decision.

Thanks

[IMA_FARANG]

FWIW, I've used then twice Paris <> BKK return.

Cheapest fare I could find but a long layover in the Gulf.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Same here. I flew from Athens to BKK and return Business Class with Gulf about 5 months ago. Service and trip up to Biz class standards, but 6 hour layover in Dubai ATH to BKK and a 12 hour layover BKK to ATH return (overnight wait). Reasonable service in Biz lounge (including good breakfast with bacon/eggs cooked to order in morning) 12 hours in airport does drag, but slept thru part of it. Advantage: saved about 400 Euro on Thai International round trip fare.

400 Euro pays for at least one week in BKK.

[spacebass]

Here is a very recent review of Gulf Air First class out of Paris:

http://www.airlinequality.com/AirlineWatch/ftr_Gulf-1.htm