mogandave Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 I do the LAX-BKK several times a year and have been pretty happy with United, as I always got economy-plus, and I love the new B787. Unfortunately, United dropped the BKK-NRT route, which means I have to code-share on ANA. Seat spacing on ANA is unacceptable. I am thinking of going up on United and going with Delta. Delta has a better schedule, but I will be stuck in economy. Anyone fly this route? If so, how is the seat spacing and entertainment? Any other decent flights with good seat spacing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigt3365 Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 One guy I know uses Cathay Pacific. Combines it with stopovers in Hong Kong. Prices were quite good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
55Jay Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 I'm headed that way mid/late June. May not be your FFP program, but I keep leaning toward Asiana for service rep. Price has been around $1,200 and change r/t. Reviews seem to universally say the ECO seats are very good. Downside is the layover in ICN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taggart Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 In case you haven't noticed, EVA Air has a special running from April 1st to December 31st on their Elite/Economy deluxe from Bangkok to U.S.A. and Canada (including LAX). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el jefe Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 One guy I know uses Cathay Pacific. Combines it with stopovers in Hong Kong. Prices were quite good. I'm not the guy Craig knows but I fly Cathay Pacific regularly between JFK and either BKK or CNX. Prices are fair in the winter but summer prices have climbed to an unacceptable level. If you fly twice a year between the US and BKK on CX (30,000 miles) the perks are pretty good -- free lounge access, priority seating available, and usually a free upgrade to Premium Economy (it used to be a free upgrade to a flat bed Biz Class seat, but no more now that there is Premium Economy in between). But for those first few flights you'll be stuck in economy with full planes (from JFK), slightly cramped seats, and noisy passengers. The fare next month on United was 45% less than on CX so for the first time ever, I'm trying United instead. I realize I'm not going to be happy on that ANA flight, 6+ hours each way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dundas Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 My best flights across the Pacific in Y class have been on Asiana. Good service and acceptable legroom. As someone else has said, the layover isn't that great, although in my case, I stayed in Seoul for a night or two in one direction. Thai Premium Economy on non-stop flights was wonderful, but alas, was scrapped with the non-stop flights. I wouldn't fly CX - my last experience with them was on a short flight from Osaka to Hong Kong on a plane with limited legroom, but generous recline. Terrible if you're tall, but great for people who aren't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigt3365 Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 One guy I know uses Cathay Pacific. Combines it with stopovers in Hong Kong. Prices were quite good. I'm not the guy Craig knows but I fly Cathay Pacific regularly between JFK and either BKK or CNX. Prices are fair in the winter but summer prices have climbed to an unacceptable level. If you fly twice a year between the US and BKK on CX (30,000 miles) the perks are pretty good -- free lounge access, priority seating available, and usually a free upgrade to Premium Economy (it used to be a free upgrade to a flat bed Biz Class seat, but no more now that there is Premium Economy in between). But for those first few flights you'll be stuck in economy with full planes (from JFK), slightly cramped seats, and noisy passengers. The fare next month on United was 45% less than on CX so for the first time ever, I'm trying United instead. I realize I'm not going to be happy on that ANA flight, 6+ hours each way. I havent' flown back to the US in over a year and 1/2 now. Use to go 2-3 times every year. So my knowledge is a bit out of date. But the last year or so I was using United due to their extremely low fares and good schedules. Service was OK,but not great. Planes were a bit tired at times. But the savings made up for it, especially since there were 2 of us flying. 45% less...wow...that's significant!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocean268 Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 Korean Air economy class is $1,112 between BKK and LAX. Ensure you book the A380 (flight #11 and #12) between Seoul and LAX. Japan Airlines new business class flatbed Sky Suites is $3,147 between BKK and LAX. Ensure you book flight #32/33 on their remodeled 767 and #61/62 on their remodeled 777. Good Luck! from my iPad in Cha-Am Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinger Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 I flew back in November. American code share with JAL stopover NRT for about 1 hr. New 787 plenty of leg room and JAL had very good service. Not sure what your final destination is but I was going to San Diego and got a direct flight from NRT to San Diego. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joealx Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 I checked out China Airlines a couple of days ago, and a six month fare for business class to SFO, was around 88,000 Baht. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DepDavid Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 EVA has had great service for me. I am booked for October, 2300 usd for two RT. If you want upgrade is 600 each. Economy is economy, get up and stretch your legs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watcharacters Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 . http://www.seatguru.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogandave Posted April 28, 2014 Author Share Posted April 28, 2014 Thanks for all the responces. I sure miss the TG non-stop. Seems like everything that is resonably priced has a long layover. I love the Delta schedue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikerlou47 Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 Delta sucks! Sent from my iPod touch using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dddave Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 I've flown Delta, BKK-LAX coach about 6 times in the last year...dread it every time., though they did improve to the point where they are a touch better than United. Check in is always very slow...very strict security, many questions, extremely slow baggage inspection. The flights always seem full...FA's really busy and not attentive...very understaffed compared to CX, EVA, Korean or Asianna and with a Wallmart attitude. Food service is slow. You will be charged $7 for anything alcoholic besides beer and wine. You will also be charged for "Premium Content" on IFE Leg room and seat width is slightly better that UA...but not saying much. C&I at the Delta Terminal at LAX can be a breeze....or an absolute catastrophe. I've been through in as little as 20 minutes but 3 months ago it took 4 1/2 hours...after the first 2 hours, we were still in the hallway before Immigration....I missed a connecting flight in which I had built in 4 hours between flights. CBP could not have cared less and went about things as though there was no line at all...Ho-Hum. If it were up to me, I'd never fly them again...but it's not me who's paying. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogandave Posted April 28, 2014 Author Share Posted April 28, 2014 I've flown Delta, BKK-LAX coach about 6 times in the last year...dread it every time., though they did improve to the point where they are a touch better than United. Check in is always very slow...very strict security, many questions, extremely slow baggage inspection. The flights always seem full...FA's really busy and not attentive...very understaffed compared to CX, EVA, Korean or Asianna and with a Wallmart attitude. Food service is slow. You will be charged $7 for anything alcoholic besides beer and wine. You will also be charged for "Premium Content" on IFE Leg room and seat width is slightly better that UA...but not saying much. C&I at the Delta Terminal at LAX can be a breeze....or an absolute catastrophe. I've been through in as little as 20 minutes but 3 months ago it took 4 1/2 hours...after the first 2 hours, we were still in the hallway before Immigration....I missed a connecting flight in which I had built in 4 hours between flights. CBP could not have cared less and went about things as though there was no line at all...Ho-Hum. If it were up to me, I'd never fly them again...but it's not me who's paying. If you've flown them six times, do you get upgraded to the economy plus? I don't care about the food or entertainment, but spacing is a big deal. I like the economy plus on United, and until they dropped the route, I was pretty happy with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dddave Posted April 29, 2014 Share Posted April 29, 2014 Never get an upgrade. Flights nearly always full, no empty premium or business class seats available....or so they tell me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtoad Posted April 29, 2014 Share Posted April 29, 2014 One guy I know uses Cathay Pacific. Combines it with stopovers in Hong Kong. Prices were quite good. Cathay is decent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dddave Posted April 29, 2014 Share Posted April 29, 2014 I thought the UA premium economy product was the absolute worst of the various airlines now offering it. They merely took the first ten or so aisles in coach, marginally increased pitch and seatwidth but not so you'd really notice, served the same substandard food in minuscule portions and were no more attentive to premium passenger needs than any other, About the only benefit is boarding before the rest of economy. Not worth the additional fare nor air miles unless they are about to expire anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogandave Posted April 30, 2014 Author Share Posted April 30, 2014 I thought the UA premium economy product was the absolute worst of the various airlines now offering it. They merely took the first ten or so aisles in coach, marginally increased pitch and seatwidth but not so you'd really notice, served the same substandard food in minuscule portions and were no more attentive to premium passenger needs than any other, About the only benefit is boarding before the rest of economy. Not worth the additional fare nor air miles unless they are about to expire anyway. I tend to agree, but with the United Mileage-Plus gold card I get the upgrade free automatically every time I book. Three trips a year qualifies for gold. The BKK-NRT was not bad before they canceled, and he 787 from NRT to LAX it is pretty darn nice for the money. The BKK-NRT was not bad before they canceled, and the 787 from NRT to LAX it is pretty darn nice for the money. Nice gold lounges at BKK, NRT & LAX as well. The only thing that blows is the BKK-NRT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogandave Posted May 2, 2014 Author Share Posted May 2, 2014 Well, ended up staying with United. $!,474.80 with taxes. I do like the schedule, and the economy plus on the B787 is great. It’s also nice to keep up the Star Alliance gold as I fly Thai a bit. Thanks for the input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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