Thai Airways To Increase Flight Prices

[GuestHouse]

If Thai want to make more money they might start charging Thais in 1st and Business Class for their tickets.

They have a policy of giving free tickets to a huge range of 'connected' people.

[CSX]

I have the United with the Star Alliance frequent flyer program. Usually travel United. Don't really like going to Tokyo and then changing planes to continue on to BKK. Started looking at different options. Last flight over, went on United and got to come back on Singapore. WOW what a difference. Cheap seat on Singapore started with Fillet Mignon for the first meal of the flight. The other meals were equally as good and it seemed like they were always coming around with drinks or munchies. Freash fruit in the back of the plane where you could stand around and stretch. The girls are beautiful looking and had very pleasant attitudes. The plane was an air bus 345. ( Don't flame me if I got the plane type wrong.) All I know is I had plenty of leg room. Thats important for a guy who is over 6'. Private TV screen and many more options of music then United. That experience was last Jan. Have three trips already ticketed for this year.

L.A. to Singapore and then a short flight up to BKK. on Singapore. Have not had a chance to try Emirates. Not in a hurry to change from my new found love of Singapore.

[bkkjosh]

Being a Singapore airlines (Kris flyer) gold member, I do quite a lot of travelling. The last time I flew thai was Bangkok to Auckland about 6 weeks ago. This was on a brand new Airbus A340-500 I think and the legroom/tv screen/cabin fit out was fantastic, this particular trip was done in economy class and I was very happy with result.

Flew Air New Zealand from Auckland to Brisbane, they are a very average and unremarkable airline.

Flew thai business class from Brisbane to Bangkok on an old boeing 747 and it was very average. The plane had seen much better days.

Singapore Airlines continues to be the #1 airline in asia. I have never had an unsavoury experience with them.

As a side note... I notice the staff on thai airways in economy class treat the thai passengers with quite a lot of disrespect at times... Anyone else noticed this? Many of my thai associates now refuse to fly thai because of the apparent gap in service.

[Trenty]

i think Thai air are brilliant i flew with them great comfortable flight also like cathay , Qatar and Eva and areoflot brilliant great yep long live THAI AIR WAY

fROM uNCLE trenty

[Trenty]

I have the United with the Star Alliance frequent flyer program. Usually travel United. Don't really like going to Tokyo and then changing planes to continue on to BKK. Started looking at different options. Last flight over, went on United and got to come back on Singapore. WOW what a difference. Cheap seat on Singapore started with Fillet Mignon for the first meal of the flight. The other meals were equally as good and it seemed like they were always coming around with drinks or munchies. Freash fruit in the back of the plane where you could stand around and stretch. The girls are beautiful looking and had very pleasant attitudes. The plane was an air bus 345. ( Don't flame me if I got the plane type wrong.) All I know is I had plenty of leg room. Thats important for a guy who is over 6'. Private TV screen and many more options of music then United. That experience was last Jan. Have three trips already ticketed for this year.

L.A. to Singapore and then a short flight up to BKK. on Singapore. Have not had a chance to try Emirates. Not in a hurry to change from my new found love of Singapore.

all you men sound like yuppies luvley gublie

[beammeup]

I have the United with the Star Alliance frequent flyer program. Usually travel United. Don't really like going to Tokyo and then changing planes to continue on to BKK. Started looking at different options. Last flight over, went on United and got to come back on Singapore. WOW what a difference. Cheap seat on Singapore started with Fillet Mignon for the first meal of the flight. The other meals were equally as good and it seemed like they were always coming around with drinks or munchies. Freash fruit in the back of the plane where you could stand around and stretch. The girls are beautiful looking and had very pleasant attitudes. The plane was an air bus 345. ( Don't flame me if I got the plane type wrong.) All I know is I had plenty of leg room. Thats important for a guy who is over 6'. Private TV screen and many more options of music then United. That experience was last Jan. Have three trips already ticketed for this year.

L.A. to Singapore and then a short flight up to BKK. on Singapore. Have not had a chance to try Emirates. Not in a hurry to change from my new found love of Singapore.

all you men sound like yuppies luvley gublie

I fly 100,000 miles a year and have flown with many carriers. I like Thai. I am a royal Orchid Gold member. I have been flying to NY direct lately and have enjoyed the flights untill I get States side then it all goes Kack when I use the US domestic lines, delays cancellations lost bags overbookings. I originnally used United via Tokyo but it was a compete nightmare. Air Canada BA Quantas Everyone thinks Sing Air is so great I have had bad experienced with them as well. I have been living in Thailand for 11 years now and I always feel like I am home free when I get on a TG flight. Good Food and wine leg room pretty air hostesses there is room for improvement though. The thing I like the best is it doesnt cost to change your dates which I need to do frequently. SG may be better but you have to go to Singapore

[svenivan]

I never had any good experiences with Thai.

I asked for both a whisky and a beer as drink before dinner. No!! Drink your beer first and THEN we will see if you can have a whisky!

The wine served 20 minutes after the food and the refill about 2 minutes later!!

There is always this rush serving drinks and food after takeoff and then the 90% of the crew disappear and you can't see them again until next morning.

I three time wrote a letter to the CEO to tell about my experiences with Thai but never got an answere.

EVA is much better and even SAS is better.

I heard that high people in government, police, army etc can have free tickets with Thai for their families, including nieces, uncles, second cousins etc etc. That is why Thai Air can never make any money.

[Losangels]

Without the government financial support, Thai would have been bankrupt long time ago.

[logbags]

Not only do rich connected people get free tickets they often call Thai if they are running late to have the plane wait for them.

If your domestic flight has been delayed you can bet some Khunying or other self annointed ruler is running late for their up country trip to the provincial mansion.

Anybody remember the special Thai flight to LA for VIPS in the 1980's. It was for some Buddhist festival led by General Arthit Kamlang Ek.

The DEA surrounded the plane and found 4 kilos of heroin on board. Some poor steward had to put his hands up and claim it was his.

The classic phae-rabarb.

Thaksin just bought his own plane and his family just call the airforce for a ride.

The Shinawatras show clearly, money cannot buy dignity or character.

[talktomarty]

I just read your coments regarding thai air and i dont really understand that thai should be such a expensive company to fly with. I just did a searcd to se what it would cost to fly my family to Thailand from Denmark. The cheapest price I found was with thai air and the price was around 80.000 bath for 2 adults 1 child and one infant and this just confirms what I always found when searching for tickets to Thailand.

Bur regarding the discussions on the price in asia I don’t have to mush experience but I have worked for a Danish low cost airline so I guess I know the business model the lowpriced companies are using. Thi is a structure that is very hard for the older companies to compete with. One of the things that makes the young low cost airlines so cheap is that they have cut down on everything including the wages for the crew. For example in the airline I worked a pilot could only earn about 50% of what he could with a “old company”and I guess that this may also be true with the cabin crew. Another way to same money is to keep the planes in the air as much of the time as possible. I think this is harder to do with long flights and big planes as they require more time to clean and inspect for the next flight.

Regarding the age of the planes I agree that they are getting quite old nd could do with a upgrade to the interior. I also heard that some of the airlines using airbus 340’s have better space for your legs.

Yes I agree with you and I don't understand why so many in this forum hate Thai so much.

I travel to Bkk from Sydney at least 4 times a year and 80% of the time Thai are the cheapest. If another carrier does happen to be cheaper its usually only $50 - $100 and goes around the world first before it gets to Thailand. I'll pay the extra 50 everytime rather than an extra 3 or 4 hours flying and transit.

The frequent flyer system is very competative and they allways honour their comittments. Every year on my birth month they send me very good bonus certificates. This year they doubled my fly miles.

Very often I miss flights and don't even bother to call them, I just call a few days later and re book, never a hassle. When I am running multiple legs with an open jaw ticket, I have never been stranded and 95% of the time the flight leaves on time (give or take a 15mins).

Thai have basically ordered a new fleet of long haul aircraft that will be in service by early next year so I am willing to cut them some slack there and of course with the new airport being open very soon, do you blame them for not upgrading the business lounge?

After reading the other posts it sounds more like others have got the attitude of "oh...its Thai so it must be bad"

(anything Euro MUST be better, right guys?)

Do your research properly and I think you will find Thai is a reasonable airline at a very reasonable price.

Cheers

[colinj]

I fly Thai only because they fly direct from Sydney to Bangkok and are cheaper than Qantas and British Airways on the same route. I prefer Singapore Airlines but they stop over in Singapore for about 2 hours making a longer trip. I do not mind but the wife wants the direct flight and can speak Thai to the staff. But at the same time she complains that the flight staff are rude and not very helpful. I say OK we go Singapore, she says she does not want to stop over so Ok we go Thai, she then complains about the flight staff and around we go again.

Edited May 10, 2006 by colinj

[cmiuc]

According to Thai Talk...

Fuel prices are not going down, inspite that the worlds fuel prices are...

They are going to suck it for all they can...

And I'm sure Thai airways is part of the Political system of corruption that exists here...

They are a gage to things in LOS...

[logbags]

Thai staff treat fellow Thai's very badly at times. Especially if that person is dark skinned and a social nobody.

I remember I saw Sanan and a group of his Army cronies at the airport in Melbourne, they came over for a golf and casino trip, no problems for them. Assorted Thai airline lackeys were running around after them.

I went through Don Muang with my Thai niece who is very dark. A female Thai official who was Chinese took us into an office and grilled her like I was some Mangdar taking her to sell.

I understand Thai very well and I was close to hitting her. If in Australia I would have bitch slapped her across the room for her insulting and rude language.

I have flown alongside Thai's many times, I have seen this very clearly. It is no different at the embassy where most dark skinned Thais are treated like lackeys from the boondocks.

There is a rigid class system at place. Long timers in Thailand will know exactly what I mean.

I speak Thai quite fluently and often talk to Chinese who say Thai's are drunks, lazy and financial incompetents. Chinese people in general can be extremely rude and self centred. You see them in the bank where they just cut the line waiting and push past others.

This attitude can be seen on Thai Airlines very clearly. With deep understanding of the language you know the subtle put downs and insults.

[N47HAN]

My wife refuses to fly Thai Airways on the grounds the service is garbage, the aircarft old and rickety and the facilities onboard ancient.

I'm inclined to agree with her and have just booked with Singapore Airlines for our next visit.

must be honest only flew a dozen or so times from Phuket to Bkk, always flown with 12go. Cheap fairs and generally on time and no complaints about service, however on my last trip i chose to fly Thai ( flight time was convenient ).

One way was 3320 Baht . bloody expensive if u ask me. ........

My opinion ... sooner catch the overnight Vip Bus !!!!!

[Scottbiker1976]

International i always fly China airlines (mostly Amsterdam-Bangkok), good prices and as a dynasty member they treat you well

Domestic i only fly Bangkok air and Air asia, good prices and services,also the flyer bonus are ok

Malaysia airlines are great too but they have a stopover in Kuala lumpur and that's to long if you have to fly all over from europe

[Rinrada]

Will always have a soft spot for China Air (Amsterdam-Bangkok)

I started using them on courier flights in the late 80s/early 90s (also BA -Lufti-Garuda..etc) and almost always got upgraded.

Later on when I got the old Dynasty Gold C even although I used to buy the cheapest tic available I was again almost always upgraded.

Even got an invite to one of their Chrismas partys in a South Kensington restaurant a few years ago..(not long after the upside down landing in Hong Kong )which was good fun and a chance to talk to the management and meet up with other fellow UK based travellers....Thai please NOTE... ...What was their Motto........? We blossom for you every day....or something like that......

With Thai on the other hand although both K Wifie and I hold ROCI Gold Cards (Star Alli) we have been upgraded Once....... in 5 years.....

[OlRedEyes]

I'm sure (unless I'm halucinating) that just before I read this thread last night, Thailand Outlook Channel was reporting that Thai Airways anounced they will NOT be raising their prices. They said they would look at cost-cutting instead? Still sent shivers up my spine, as I'd imagine maintenance would be a very tempting area to cut costs here in LOS.....

Edited May 10, 2006 by OlRedEyes

[logbags]

With Thai on the other hand although both K Wifie and I hold ROCI Gold Cards (Star Alli) we have been upgraded Once....... in 5 years.....

*** I have been flying Thai for 20 + years. I can't even get any miles logged. I gave up worrying about it, if you don't present your card everytime and ask for your miles you get nothin'. With computers you would think you would automatically be credited with your miles.

Never ever had an upgrade.

One good thing about Thai is they are very lenient on excess baggage. You can be well over and they say nothing. Only been clipped once but I had 75 Kgs. I barted a 2000 Baht deal.

[slim]

I just wish Air Asia hadn't pulled out of BKK to Khon Kaen.

I could fly BKK - KK for less than 2000b return last year - its over 4,000 with Thai Airways and now its going up again !

[ThomasHOL]

You'd be paying the same for 1 adult and an infant if you bought the ticket in Thailand...

Actually i just tried to do a search on tickets from thailand to denmark and back. I searched on tickets going to denmark on may 31 and back on june 19. First I searched the tickets on thaiair.com and then I searched on the Danish price database. On Thaiair.com the price was 193850 bath but on the Danish site I could not find any listings on the thai flight so I chose the SAS flight that are flown on the Thai air flight and they wanted almost 240.000 bath for the flight.

I also tried to search for the same flight as I did before on the thaiair website and they wanted around 120.000 for the same flight that I found for 80.000. But I think that price difference is often what you will se if you book directly on a company’s website rather than using some of the price databases around the web.

But I have heard about it being more expensive to but tickets in Thailand than abroad. I know that when my wife first came to Denmark (when she was 14 she came to live with her mother) the ticket were bought in Denmark and then mailed to her in Thailand.

[beammeup]

Will always have a soft spot for China Air (Amsterdam-Bangkok)

I started using them on courier flights in the late 80s/early 90s (also BA -Lufti-Garuda..etc) and almost always got upgraded.

Later on when I got the old Dynasty Gold C even although I used to buy the cheapest tic available I was again almost always upgraded.

Even got an invite to one of their Chrismas partys in a South Kensington restaurant a few years ago..(not long after the upside down landing in Hong Kong )which was good fun and a chance to talk to the management and meet up with other fellow UK based travellers....Thai please NOTE... ...What was their Motto........? We blossom for you every day....or something like that......

With Thai on the other hand although both K Wifie and I hold ROCI Gold Cards (Star Alli) we have been upgraded Once....... in 5 years.....

I liked China air as well untill they started dropping out of the sky! I have been upgraded the last 3 times I flew with Thai

[bquick]

Thai airways are a bit overpriced already on a lot of longhaul flights. The bad quality toothpaste thing.

[Johpa]

Not only do rich connected people get free tickets they often call Thai if they are running late to have the plane wait for them.

If your domestic flight has been delayed you can bet some Khunying or other self annointed ruler is running late for their up country trip to the provincial mansion.

Anybody remember the special Thai flight to LA for VIPS in the 1980's. It was for some Buddhist festival led by General Arthit Kamlang Ek.

The DEA surrounded the plane and found 4 kilos of heroin on board. Some poor steward had to put his hands up and claim it was his.

If I remember correctly, Gen. Arthit was not the highest ranking member of Thai society on that flight. But darned if I can find a single reference online to help remember details. There was also a similar scenario a few years later in the UK that was more hushed up.

[ChiangMaiSky]

Travelling from Chiang Mai to Bangkok first week of next month. I'LL TAKE THE TRAIN! Thank you. 1st class, A/C, sleeper is "the only way to fly."

[Ricardo]

Yes I agree with you and I don't understand why so many in this forum hate Thai so much.

I wouldn't say we hate Thai, simply that we would like to see 'our' national airline reaching normal Asian standards, rather than charging more for less.

I travel to Bkk from Sydney at least 4 times a year and 80% of the time Thai are the cheapest. If another carrier does happen to be cheaper its usually only $50 - $100 and goes around the world first before it gets to Thailand. I'll pay the extra 50 everytime rather than an extra 3 or 4 hours flying and transit.

Indirect flights are usually cheaper than a direct-flight, they have to offer an inducement, to attract price-sensitive customers, to a slightly-longer flight & stopover.

The frequent flyer system is very competative and they allways honour their comittments. Every year on my birth month they send me very good bonus certificates. This year they doubled my fly miles.

I only wish that I could say the same. The one time I tried to use an upgrade-certificate, I was denied by Thai, because the fare-code letter on my (expensive !) ticket was wrong. Needless to say - this did not result in an increase in MY loyalty to the airline.

Very often I miss flights and don't even bother to call them, I just call a few days later and re book, never a hassle.

Could it be that you're on a full-economy ticket, which permits this, rather than one of the severely-limited discount-tickets which us mere mortals usually use ?

When I am running multiple legs with an open jaw ticket, I have never been stranded and 95% of the time the flight leaves on time (give or take a 15mins).

Thai have basically ordered a new fleet of long haul aircraft that will be in service by early next year so I am willing to cut them some slack there and of course with the new airport being open very soon, do you blame them for not upgrading the business lounge?

I blame them for failing to upgrade their existing-fleet, even some years after their competitors have done so, on the long-haul European routes I use, and understand that the major new order with Airbus is still under negotiation, with arrival of the new planes several years away.

After reading the other posts it sounds more like others have got the attitude of "oh...its Thai so it must be bad"

(anything Euro MUST be better, right guys?) Disagree, we're comparing with other asian airlines, not the (mostly CRAP & over-priced) Europeans, and simply wish that Thai were competitive.

Do your research properly and I think you will find Thai is a reasonable airline at a very reasonable price.

? Which is why I was quoted B49k for CNX-London return next month, and am instead taking my family-of-4 on Etihad's brand-new high-specification 777-300s, for B35k instead. Much as I'd rather support 'our' national airline.

Cheers

[Jarrod]

Hello, I have always flown with TG whenever returning to BKK from AKL. The reasons (1) I feel I am half way there already when I get on the plane (2) They have exceptional (special) fares and I can change the dates any time between now and November 31 withour penalty (3) They now fly direct with updated aircraft (4) The service is a bit sloppy but relaxed. I will be returning to BKK in three weeks and I paid NZ$890 return (with all taxes only NZ$1100). Specials can be booked for anytime in the upcoming low season and paid for by late March. I have no problem with Thai people nor their airline.

[LaoPo]

THAI???

A true and incredible story; I will make it short/telegram style.

Amsterdam-Roma-Bangkok some 20/25 years ago.

The body/handluggage check at the gate (...) was extremely tough; they even opened the toothpaste tubes.

Once in the plane, delay of course, after 30 minutes of flying there was an announcement that we were NOT heading Roma....but Geneve/Zwitserland to pick up some passengers...

A lot of passengers were very annoyed because they would miss their connections in BKK.

Landed in Geneve and HRH Kings' Mother boarded with her daughter and Royal staff.

On to Roma, just a little late...

Landed in BKK AHEAD of arrival time (......)

Stopped at the special Royal arrival hall; all windows were complete iced and we couldn't see a thing; than the plane taxied to the normal arrival hall.

IN TIME.

LaoPo

[Mosha]

Flying LHR BKK do a Google search on West East Travel. Any one who pays ANY airlines asking price is nuts. Incidentally flying UK to Thailand my worst ever experience was Lufthansa, both in the air and the Frankfurt airport personnel. I mentioned this to some Germans in BKK. They just laughed, and said what do you expect from Southerners, most Northerners use KLM

[Mr Hugh Jarse]

One of main main reasons for flying Thai economy is leg room. They are better than all other carriers London - Bangkok.

Not anymore ,mate. Check out EVA's flights to/fro. Europe and beyond. They have added B.777's to their fleet, much firmer seats too. Also Thai speaking staff on board and usually excellent service even in economy.

[george]

Related news:

Tourists help Thai Airways increase net

BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International, the country's biggest airline, reported its most profitable quarter in more than six years as it flew more passengers and booked gains from a stronger baht.

Net income surged by a stronger- than-expected 78 percent to 6.2 billion baht, or $165 million, in the three months ended March from a restated 3.49 billion baht, the airline said in a filing Wednesday night to the Thai Stock Exchange. Sales rose 19 percent to 46.1 billion baht.

Apinan Sumanaseni, president since May 1, takes over a carrier that is flying more European tourists to Thailand, while a 40 percent increase in surcharges starting June 1 will shield earnings from rising fuel costs, which make up 35 percent of the airline's operating expenses. The baht gained 5.5 percent against the U.S. dollar in the quarter, cutting Thai Airways' overseas debt.

The airline said its fiscal second- quarter profit included a foreign-exchange gain of 3.86 billion baht. It flew 3.13 million passengers in the first two months of 2006, an increase of almost 12 percent from last year. March passenger data have not been released.

Thai Airways filled 76.7 percent of seats in the quarter, 6.1 percentage points more than the same period in 2005, it said in a statement Thursday.

Thai Airways shares have gained 11 percent this year, making the stock the fourth-best performer among the 10- member Bloomberg Asia-Pacific Airlines Index. The stock fell 1.1 percent to 47 baht in Bangkok on Wednesday.

The second-quarter profit was the biggest since the first quarter of 2000, when the carrier reported 7.7 billion baht in net income.

"Thai Airways' earnings have improved steadily as the additional surcharges have helped mitigate rising fuel costs," Sukhbir Khanijoh, an analyst at Trinity Securities in Bangkok, said before the earnings announcement. "The number of overseas tourists is also back to normal levels after the large impact of the tsunami" which roiled Southeast Asia's tourism industry last year, said Sukhbir, who recommends a "hold" on the airline's stock.

--bloomberg.com 2006-05-12