Thai Air Asia's Low Fares Keep Coming

[george]

Thai AirAsia's low fares keep coming

BANGKOK: -- Thai AirAsia has launched another low fare campaign with domestic flights starting at Bt299 and international routes going for Bt499 and the company expects to sell 300,000 tickets as a result.

The tickets are on offer on the airline's website www.airasia.com until July 14 and passengers can fly from July 17 until March 24, 2007.

Domestic fares start at Bt299 for Bangkok to Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani. While prices for Hat Yai, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Narathiwat, Surat Thani, Krabi and Phuket start at Bt399.

International prices are Bt499 for Bangkok to Phnom Penh, Penang and Singapore, while seats to Hanoi start at Bt799, Macao, Bt899 and Xiamen, Bt999.

During its travel fair in Bangkok last week, the airline sold 20,000 tickets.

The airline's chief executive, Tassapon Bijleveld, said fuel surcharges, insurance, administration fees and airport taxes would be tacked onto all discounted fares.

Tassapon said the airline generated profits of around Bt10 million from January to March.

He said the airline's revenue goal for 2006 was Bt4 billion and its expected passenger count was three million passengers.

Last year, the airline logged sales of Bt2.4 billion from 1.8 million passengers.

The airline, which flies to 16 destinations of which 10 are domestic, will add two more Boeing 737-300 aircraft to its fleet this year.

-- The Nation 2006-06-28

[Donz]

dam i love there air hostess (spelling prob wrong)

[PeaceBlondie]

I just checked the website, which already reflects that 399 baht fare. With all the add-ons, it comes to 1015 baht. For BKK-CNX, that surely beats 2,700 baht on Thai International.

[Soju]

I just checked the website, which already reflects that 399 baht fare. With all the add-ons, it comes to 1015 baht. For BKK-CNX, that surely beats 2,700 baht on Thai International.

You're comparing apples and oranges there. Look at the terms and conditions for Thai Air Asia and then look at Thai. Completely different. If you want to change or cancel with Thai Air Asia you will pay a lot in fees if they'll even permit it. On Thai Air Asia you must pay for a snack - admittedly not a big deal, but for some it's a slight additional expense. No mileage with Thai Air Asia either. I've only flown them twice, and both times they were over an hour late. My wife took them once and they were three hours late. Sometimes I think it's worth paying 1000+ baht extra just to avoid that stupid mad rush everyone makes to try to get the best seat. I absolutely detest that and only fly them as a last resort because of it. To me it looks like a bunch of wild animals being herded into a pen. Why they can't simply give a seat assignment at check-in is beyond me. Thanks, but no thanks. I'll stick with airlines that treat me like the human being I am. But if you're really on a budget and can live with all the restrictions, you will save some money.

[smartecosse]

i decided to save the 1000 baht on a fare and it cost me 8 hours of delays

[The Dan Sai Kid]

You're comparing apples and oranges there.

Don't agree - they both go from BKK to CNX! Airplane food? It's still crap in business class, I would rather not have the stuff they serve up - ask yourself this - if you bought it in a restaurant would you be happy with it?

I've flown with Thai a few times and they are all right - nothing special. If I were flying long haul then maybe it would be a problem but not for a 1 hour flight.

As for delays - well, I had a 4 hour delay with Thai because a VIP wanted a flight too, I flew business class and got my luggage dropped in a muddy puddle en-route to baggage collection.

I'm sure you can stories about how inefficient any airline is.

Edited June 28, 2006 by The Dan Sai Kid

[Soju]

You're comparing apples and oranges there.

Don't agree - they both go from BKK to CNX!

Yes, and apples and oranges are both fruits but the similarities stop there. Look again at the original post...

The tickets are on offer on the airline's website www.airasia.com until July 14 and passengers can fly from July 17 until March 24, 2007.

This means that you're likely buying your ticket way in advance. Anything can happen during such a long period and chances are very good that many people will want to change or cancel their flight. That's what Thai Air Asia is counting on. These discount airlines make it very difficult/costly for you to change/cancel your ticket because they know so many people end up doing it. They lure you in with a low fare, but if you have changes/cancellations, you may end up paying more than if you just bought your ticket with Thai to begin with. If you know for certain that you won't be making any changes, and can live with their service, then by all means go with them. I still stand by my original statement that it was comparing apples and oranges.

Airplane food? It's still crap in business class, I would rather not have the stuff they serve up - ask yourself this - if you bought it in a restaurant would you be happy with it?

Totally agree! But my point is that SOME people will buy the crap food on Thai Air Asia. Not me, but some who do may spend a few hundred baht that they wouldn't if they flew on Thai. If you're one of those people who would buy their food, then you need to factor that additional cost in. If you're not, then no need to factor in any additional cost.

I've flown with Thai a few times and they are all right - nothing special. If I were flying long haul then maybe it would be a problem but not for a 1 hour flight.

Again, agree. There's nothing really special about Thai, and for a one hour filight I'm willing to put up with no food, cramped seating, no service, or whatever. It's not really a big deal for a one hour flight. I often use Nok Air because for a short flight there's really very little difference between Nok Air and Thai Air for what I'm looking for, other than no mileage on Nok Air. I factor that disadvantage into it, and plus the flight schedule to see which one to take. However, I will not be treated like I'm an animal which is exactly what I feel Thai Air Asia does with their asinine boarding / no seat assignment policy. I don't mind not being able to get pre-assigned seats when purchasing your ticket, but at least give seat assignment when checking in to avoid the mess at the gate. I've seen budget airlines in other countries where they have a board up behind the checkin counter with a diagram of the seating and a paper hanging in each position with the seat number written on it. You look at the board and pick which seat you want and the paper is removed and given to you as your seat assignment. Really low-tech, but costs the airline next to nothing to implement. Why Thai Air Asia refuses to do this is beyond me. They would be ten times better if they simply made that one change. This is just my pet peeve with them, so maybe some people don't mind at all the lack of assigned seats.

As for delays - well, I had a 4 hour delay with Thai because a VIP wanted a flight too, I flew business class and got my luggage dropped in a muddy puddle en-route to baggage collection.

I'm sure you can stories about how inefficient any airline is.

Agree that you can always find someone with a horror story with any airline. None of them are perfect. I only have experience with three flights on Thai Air Asia (two for me and one for my wife), and all of them (100%) were significantly late. Not enough for a statistical sample, but enough for me to think they have a problem with on-time service. Of your one delay on Thai, that is out of how many flights? I fly Thai at least twice a month, sometimes more, and so far the longest delay I ever had was 45 minutes. If I once had a multi-hour delay, I'm sure I wouldn't be happy, but can hardly say that is a trend. I fly Nok Air once or twice a month and the longest delay I had with them was one hour, plus one flight got cancelled. I expect a budget airline to perhaps be a little later and have more cancellations than a full-fare airline and feel that the level I've experienced with Nok Air is within those acceptable limits. Based on my limited trips with Thai Air Asia, they are not within my acceptable limits. Of course others will have different experiences based on their particular flights.

One thing to note about delays or cancellations. If you're on a connecting flight or have some pressing need to get to your destination on-time, Nok Air will put you onto the next Thai Air flight if there's room for no charge. Thai Air Asia will not. You will forfeit your ticket if you need to buy another ticket on another airline to make your connections or appointment. With their known tardiness, I wouldn't chance it if I had a pressing need to get there on time.

Edited June 28, 2006 by Soju

[gabriel]

Thai AirAsia's low fares keep coming

BANGKOK: -- Thai AirAsia has launched another low fare campaign with domestic flights starting at Bt299 and international routes going for Bt499 and the company expects to sell 300,000 tickets as a result.

The tickets are on offer on the airline's website www.airasia.com until July 14 and passengers can fly from July 17 until March 24, 2007.

Domestic fares start at Bt299 for Bangkok to Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani. While prices for Hat Yai, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Narathiwat, Surat Thani, Krabi and Phuket start at Bt399.

International prices are Bt499 for Bangkok to Phnom Penh, Penang and Singapore, while seats to Hanoi start at Bt799, Macao, Bt899 and Xiamen, Bt999.

During its travel fair in Bangkok last week, the airline sold 20,000 tickets.

The airline's chief executive, Tassapon Bijleveld, said fuel surcharges, insurance, administration fees and airport taxes would be tacked onto all discounted fares.

Tassapon said the airline generated profits of around Bt10 million from January to March.

He said the airline's revenue goal for 2006 was Bt4 billion and its expected passenger count was three million passengers.

Last year, the airline logged sales of Bt2.4 billion from 1.8 million passengers.

The airline, which flies to 16 destinations of which 10 are domestic, will add two more Boeing 737-300 aircraft to its fleet this year.

-- The Nation 2006-06-28

they are ok if all runs smoth but recently they have had many postponed flights chiang rai to bkk but allowed next day flights free of charge!

[listenup]

You get what you pay for!

I think low cost airlines have changed the way people can fly. These low cost fares open up the possibility for some to fly, who could not afford otherwise.

For me, I use them alot - I'm just looking to get from A to B. I can put up with the crap service, food or the occasional delay for a half price ticket!

[Donz]

the view is all i care about, who has the best air hostesses (spelling)

[AsiaWolfie]

Sportsmen, please RELAX a little.....

the good thing in the year of 2006 is: you can CHOOSE to pay more for a full-service flight, or pay less for a no-frills-transportation ( I just LOVE airasia's boarding-stampede and manage to be the first passenger inside the plane in 50% of the cases - maybe my experience with them on more than 50 flights helps me )

5 years ago you could NOT choose anything.....

so, isnt that good news

[jackr]

Flown with AA many times and never had a problem and yes the hostesses are gorgeous. Changed the date of a flight once and they did if for free, although another time they made me pay, which was simply another 500 baht + any difference if the new flight is more expensive. If you have kids they move you to the front of the line. The major drawback I find with them is that flights don't marry up into and out of Bangers.

[jdinasia]

i'll pick AirAsia over Thai anyday ... after all Thai instituted the 2 tier pricing on some routes (a route?) last year I think.

plus for flying to Phuket ... well ..... the planes have nicer people in them!

[britmaveric]

Nothing wrong with Air Asia, never an issue with them. Cheap and no frills, all you need for a short flight.

Edited June 28, 2006 by britmaveric

[Soju]

i'll pick AirAsia over Thai anyday ... after all Thai instituted the 2 tier pricing on some routes (a route?) last year I think.

plus for flying to Phuket ... well ..... the planes have nicer people in them!

Can you elaborate on what this 2-tier pricing is and why it makes you pick Air Asia over Thai?

[bkkharry]

Always try and book the morning flights, less chance of delays. It seems most of the delays occur in the afternoon. Once an AA flight gets behind schedule it just snowballs.

[thaiflyer1]

The 499 baht BKK-SIN fare seems a little hard to find..........ive done a bit of forward planning and need to do a visa run in late Dec and March but the site is only coming back with 1299baht++ one way.

Guess i was a little slow in booking.

On the other hand ive got a freebie ticket to Singapore from last years xmas sale in Sept.

[toptuan]

Always try and book the morning flights, less chance of delays. It seems most of the delays occur in the afternoon. Once an AA flight gets behind schedule it just snowballs.

I concur. I've flown them maybe a dozen times. Usually on time through about 3-4pm. After that, you're taking your chances especially if you have a connecting flight later. My last flight was a Phuket-Bangkok flight due to leave around 11:00PM. Waited until almost 2AM. Yawn. On the other side of the coin, I got my money's worth.

[craigt3365]

I have just flown on AA about 10 times in the past 3 months. Every time except one, they were late...and actually cancelled a flight on me one time without every notifying me (they have both my mobile # and my email address on file). I flew to Penang for 4 nights. My return was cancelled (the AM flight). So, I got to enjoy the airport for 8 hours until the PM flight. About 15 people were all in the same boat.

My flight from Singapore yesterday actually left 2 minutes early! I couldn't believe it! Amazing....

But other than the cattle call for boarding, they are OK...

[AsiaWolfie]

thaiflyer, too early to get the 499-Baht tickets if u plan to fly in DEC 2006 and MAR 2007. when they open the booking period for the summer or winter schedule, thes usually start with the "P" fare which is not the lowest...... the lowest fares can be had an average 2-3 months before departure date, for Thai Air Asia its the "I" fare, as far as I remember....

and just be patient.... there will be MANY new promotion periods in the next months were u will certainly be able to get a super-cheapo-ticket for ur desired departure date....

another thing, though a little off-topic:

when airlines fly to new destinations there is a big ballyhoo.... but when they STOP the service to particular destinations, u wont hear anything....

so its me to announce the very sad news that ThaiAirAsia is stopping its nonstop-flights to the beautiful island of Borneo (Kota Kinabalu) by 1st of August......

when they first published their winterschedule few weeks ago, they actually planned to increase from 3 weekly flights to daily flights..... but now its all gone..... :-(

they were the only airline to fly nonstop to the Malaysian nature-beauty state of Sabah.... but probably it brings more profit to carry Thai gamblers to Macau....

another route they have already cancelled is the daily Hat Yai - Kuala Lumpur flight.

and there is only 1 daily flight to Ubon Ratchathani left, the early-morning-flight will exist no more after October 2006

Edited July 3, 2006 by AsiaWolfie