for bangkok aire flights return bkk vientiane, the fare is 2560 retuern, but taxes are 2875.

just struck me as odd.

Not unusual. They're doing all sorts of nasty tricks with regards to airfares these days.

Many times you can't find the exact price until you are ready to buy. Crazy.

The big hits are YQ, fuel surcharge.

I looked into this and am catching the bus up instead. I really like meeting the locals on the bus, I love the Thai countryside. I dislike waiting in airports and the Air Con on-board the plane does funny things to my skin which takes a week to recover from (no, I am not gay, just particular).

The bus ride is very easy to navigate, as us Farang are always there on the buses so don't think you might get stranded somewhere with nobody to help you. Just make sure you book a first class bus unless you really love the "normal" Thai experience. I try to avoid it if I can as those non-First Class buses tend to take a lot longer to get to Vientiane (the holdup being the Bangkok-Udon Thani leg).

You will need to get a single bus from Bangkok to Udon Thani, changing buses at Udon Thani to take you to Vientiane. I have contacts in Udon if you need help they can get times etc for you. A friend also owns a backpackers there if you need somewhere clean to rest your head for 150 baht or so a night (I may be slightly off on pricing but not far off).

Fly to Udon Thani with Thai Air for about 1,500 baht and get the bus across the border into Laos,simple solution!

I looked into this and am catching the bus up instead. I really like meeting the locals on the bus, I love the Thai countryside. I dislike waiting in airports and the Air Con on-board the plane does funny things to my skin which takes a week to recover from (no, I am not gay, just particular).

The bus ride is very easy to navigate, as us Farang are always there on the buses so don't think you might get stranded somewhere with nobody to help you. Just make sure you book a first class bus unless you really love the "normal" Thai experience. I try to avoid it if I can as those non-First Class buses tend to take a lot longer to get to Vientiane (the holdup being the Bangkok-Udon Thani leg).

You will need to get a single bus from Bangkok to Udon Thani, changing buses at Udon Thani to take you to Vientiane. I have contacts in Udon if you need help they can get times etc for you. A friend also owns a backpackers there if you need somewhere clean to rest your head for 150 baht or so a night (I may be slightly off on pricing but not far off).

12 hours plus on a bus with a driver that doesn't sleep,no thanks!

At least get the train,you can go right through to Nong Khai plus eat,drink and sleep on there!

I looked into this and am catching the bus up instead. I really like meeting the locals on the bus, I love the Thai countryside. I dislike waiting in airports and the Air Con on-board the plane does funny things to my skin which takes a week to recover from (no, I am not gay, just particular).

The bus ride is very easy to navigate, as us Farang are always there on the buses so don't think you might get stranded somewhere with nobody to help you. Just make sure you book a first class bus unless you really love the "normal" Thai experience. I try to avoid it if I can as those non-First Class buses tend to take a lot longer to get to Vientiane (the holdup being the Bangkok-Udon Thani leg).

You will need to get a single bus from Bangkok to Udon Thani, changing buses at Udon Thani to take you to Vientiane. I have contacts in Udon if you need help they can get times etc for you. A friend also owns a backpackers there if you need somewhere clean to rest your head for 150 baht or so a night (I may be slightly off on pricing but not far off).

I thought bus journeys in Thailand were fun once,you eventually wise up and realise they are nothing but a risk to personal health and well being.

To the OP

Take a look on Youtube 'Cheap flights Fascinating Aida'

It explains it quite well

Nothing odd about this at all. Air Asia and Nokair also fly to Udon from Bkk a lot cheaper than international flights and you avoid paying cross border taxes.

Lao Central Airlines $85 BKK VTE ow

Lao Central Airlines $85 BKK VTE ow

All in price?

Is their website up and running yet?

_{I flew Lao Central VTE BKK in march and it was 695,000 kip bought at their booth at VTE airport, direct to Swampy, added it up and don't think you can get to Swampy and cheaper by air, plus you save about 4 hrs of travel time, I looked for a Lao Central booth at BKK and couldn't find one, but someone told me you can buy at the check in counter there}

I just checked and their site IS up and running checked sept 18 and it quoted me $91.91