Anyone Tell Me Why Flights Are So Expensive For These Dates?

[smokie36]

Hi

I'm looking to fly from the UK to BKK 20/21 July returning August 5/6. Cheapest fares are coming in at £900 economy and £2k for biz class.

That is more Xmas prices to me. Am I missing something here?

[LucidLucifer]

School holidays.

[LucidLucifer]

I get stuffed every year for the same reason. Prices seem to go up about a week to 10 days before the holidays start. In previous years my wife has travelled out a couple of weeks earlier than me. This has worked well in two ways, she gets her family stuff done without me having to go through the pain of it, and it has saved us sometimes £250 + on her ticket.

Can you not leave say 10th of July? You'll probably save ££££s but search around on dates if you are flexible.

[smokie36]

School holidays.

Thought that might be it. Bloody ankle biters...

What I'm wondering is if I should book up now or wait in the hope of a drop a bit nearer the departure date. Anyone experienced this in July before?

Your thoughts please...

[LucidLucifer]

From experience, they earlier you book the cheaper the flights are. It's simple supply and demand. As the supply of seats dwindles, so prices rise.

It is not to said you cannot find bargains, but personally I think it is a gamble.

Are you quite particular on your airline/departure airport/direct vs indirect?

£900 seems steep.

[UbonOz]

Maybe the Olympics, school holidays, airline short of money, Greek economy, must be more reasons.

[smokie36]

From experience, they earlier you book the cheaper the flights are. It's simple supply and demand. As the supply of seats dwindles, so prices rise.

It is not to said you cannot find bargains, but personally I think it is a gamble.

Are you quite particular on your airline/departure airport/direct vs indirect?

£900 seems steep.

I'm flexible on dates departures and happy to take indirect flights as long as there is no Indian stopover.

Really I would wait for now as the prices even at Xmas don't rise much from £900. That is crazy for July.

Just curious to know if anyone experienced a late drop due to inability of the airlines to sell a few seats....or more than a few at those inflated prices.

Thanks again for your reply.

[LucidLucifer]

As said by another poster, the Olympics are likely are reason

The price difference simply because of the school holidays in my experience is easily in excess of £200.

Add in the Olympics factor too........and who knows?

[theoldgit]

Yes, the Olympics have pushed flight and hotel prices through the roof, the rest of the UK tourist industry are saying this will lead to a reduction of main stream tourists.

[smokie36]

Yes, the Olympics have pushed flight and hotel prices through the roof, the rest of the UK tourist industry are saying this will lead to a reduction of main stream tourists.

Yes I can understand for passengers travelling into the UK on those dates but why so expensive going the other direction?

[yermanee]

From experience, they earlier you book the cheaper the flights are. It's simple supply and demand. As the supply of seats dwindles, so prices rise.

It is not to said you cannot find bargains, but personally I think it is a gamble.

Are you quite particular on your airline/departure airport/direct vs indirect?

£900 seems steep.

I'm flexible on dates departures and happy to take indirect flights as long as there is no Indian stopover.

Really I would wait for now as the prices even at Xmas don't rise much from £900. That is crazy for July.

Just curious to know if anyone experienced a late drop due to inability of the airlines to sell a few seats....or more than a few at those inflated prices.

Thanks again for your reply.

Egypt Air seems to be the cheapest followed by KLM.

Why not depart from AMS or BRU (Brussels has Qatar and Etihad) ?

Yermanee

[PattayaPhom]

School holidays combined with Olmpics....hey its only 44,000 Baht...thats not bad

[LucidLucifer]

Gulf air have often been very competitive, and their stopover times have been reasonable in the past. I will admit however, that after flying with them on numerous occasions, the last time (three years ago) we promised ourselves it would be the last. The plane was filthy.

If you're interested in Gulf, try looking at booking direct through their own website, it can sometimes turn out cheaper.

[beano2274]

Oman Air coming in at 802GBP

Finnair at 866GBP

[smokie36]

Thanks yermanee. I see AMS-BKK already a tad under £800 with BA who i have silver status with. That might be worth a go. Still looking for other options though.

Really I'd like a biz class fare around £1500-1600.

As I am in the Highlands of Scotland at the moment any flights to Amsterdam etc are similarly priced to London anyway.

[beano2274]

I got prices from Glasgow to BKK with Emirates for around 37500baht, but long stopovers

Outbound Fri, Jul 20 02:15 PM GLA BKK 12:25 PM 1 stop via DXB (16:10)

Emirates

Return Sun, Aug 5 09:20 PM BKK GLA 12:35 PM 1 stop via DXB (21:15)

Emirates

Price on the website is 696.24GBP

[smokie36]

I got prices from Glasgow to BKK with Emirates for around 37500baht, but long stopovers

Outbound Fri, Jul 20 02:15 PM GLA BKK 12:25 PM 1 stop via DXB (16:10)

Emirates

Return Sun, Aug 5 09:20 PM BKK GLA 12:35 PM 1 stop via DXB (21:15)

Emirates

Price on the website is 696.24GBP

Thanks beano. Yeah that is one of the options I am considering. Glasgow takes longer to get to and more inconvenient than London though!

I looked at the AMS-BKK flight on ba.com and it routes via London for £760. The flight LHR-BKK is £1200. Crazy!

[itishothere]

Netflights ..... LHR/BKK/LHR via VIE .... business £1700. How tall are you? 2m bed. 46kg luggage ... ideal for all those chocolate bars I need.

[LAKRA]

If you can, try and avoid travel Friday through to Monday as fares are always highest on these days. Fares rise steeply after 10th July so suggest you do a skyscanner search which should give you a competitive fare.

[yermanee]

I got prices from Glasgow to BKK with Emirates for around 37500baht, but long stopovers

Outbound Fri, Jul 20 02:15 PM GLA BKK 12:25 PM 1 stop via DXB (16:10)

Emirates

Return Sun, Aug 5 09:20 PM BKK GLA 12:35 PM 1 stop via DXB (21:15)

Emirates

Price on the website is 696.24GBP

Thanks beano. Yeah that is one of the options I am considering. Glasgow takes longer to get to and more inconvenient than London though!

I looked at the AMS-BKK flight on ba.com and it routes via London for £760. The flight LHR-BKK is £1200. Crazy!

On the return flight you could get off at LHR, saves you the trip LHR/AMS.

Yermanee

[PhilHolme]

try this skyscanner oman air LHR _ BKK - 25th July - 9th Aug £650

[PhilHolme]

try this skyscanner oman air LHR _ BKK - 25th July - 9th Aug £650

they only have 7 seats left now

[smokie36]

Thanks Phil but its the 20th/21st departure only.

[hansnl]

From experience, they earlier you book the cheaper the flights are. It's simple supply and demand. As the supply of seats dwindles, so prices rise.

It is not to said you cannot find bargains, but personally I think it is a gamble.

Are you quite particular on your airline/departure airport/direct vs indirect?

£900 seems steep.

Supply and demand?

Are you serious?

No, it is just how much can we charge those stupid sods?

[LindsayBKK]

Best I can find 654 but not your dates.

http://www.dohop.com/flights/?a1=LHR%2CLGW%2CSTN%2CLCY%2CLTN&a2=BKK%2CDMK&return=1&d1=250712&d2=090812

[smokie36]

Thanks for checking these folks. I think I may wait a week or two and see if any deals appear. Maybe I'll just keep checking every day...

[thrilled]

I buy 6-8 months early.It seems like I make out better buying way ahead of time.

[smokie36]

I buy 6-8 months early.It seems like I make out better buying way ahead of time.

Often i do the same but not possible this time around.

[FalangBaa]

Olympics... Duh.

[FalangBaa]

Yes, the Olympics have pushed flight and hotel prices through the roof, the rest of the UK tourist industry are saying this will lead to a reduction of main stream tourists.

Yes I can understand for passengers travelling into the UK on those dates but why so expensive going the other direction?

Because everybody wants to escape from the Olympics, which is a massive bore as well as being an insane waste of money.