Can Anyone Suggest A Travel Agent?

[Gatsby]

Helllo all. My wife wants her sister to come visit us here In Chicago. She already has her tourist visa in hand, but I was wondering if someone could reccommed a travel agent in the BKK area? I have been told if you buy a ticket in Thailand that the price is considerably lower.

I have always booked flights for us from the states and was curious if the cheaper ticket rumours were true. The sister in laws husband is off on business in Europe for a few months, so we have fairly open dates to play with.

Any and all help is appreciated! Thanks in advance.

[tutsiwarrior]

the following are details for one of the tourist agents across the highway (there is a pedestrian bridge) from terminal 1 at Don Muang. Has the advantage of making the booking with them then walking over on the day of departure, paying and collecting the ticket without having to go into town. If you do the same within the airport terminal you must pay full price (200% more for economy class) for the fare. Call the airline office in BKK first to confirm the ticket price and let the Don Muang people know that you know what the price is. otherwise they tack on another 10% when they get their commission from the airline.

Pimporn Travel

02 566 3846 - 9

[OldAsiaHand]

I have always booked flights for us from the states and was curious if the cheaper ticket rumours were true. 

Well, yes and no. Generally speaking, there's not much difference if any at all in the deep discount economy class tickets that most people travel on regardless of where they are sold. On the other hand, both business class and first class tickets from Bangkok to the US are a good deal cheaper than tickets for the same routing that are issued in the US.

A few years ago the difference could be as much as 50% or occasionally even more, but Thai-baht fares have been moving steadily upward for the last three years (Singapore Airlines, for example, more than doubled their first class fares ex-BKK over a matter of about eighteen months). The differences are far less now than they were even fairly recently, but still pretty significant all the same.

Almost any agent in Bangkok will give you about the same price on unrestricted business and first class fares since they are sold mostly at so-called 'published tariffs.' Even then, however, there are occasiona local deals. Thai Airways, for example, was recently selling round-trip first class tickets at B130,000 in spite of the published tariff being something like B190,000. Still, TG's first class is really no better than business class on anyone else, and B130,000 is about what you would pay for business class on, say, Singapore Airlines.

[TizMe]

I use Khwanjai. Send her an email at [email protected]

She works from an office in KS road, but will deliver tickets to you.

I always get a good deal from her.

[Gatsby]

Thanks for the responses guys! I will check our options.

[SeaVisionBurma]

I have used Traveltech 2000 a number of times because I can deal with them by email.

I was happy with their prices and service, but their website just got revamped and its a tad confusing now.

You can be very, very lucky with ticket prices depending on the route and the time of the year. It's a very good idea to shop around.

Can any of our Bangkok based forum members kindly have a look in the travel section of the daily newspaper (Post, Nation) and post up a few links from the numerous discount airfare dealers? That's normally also a good pace to start.

TG seems to have plenty of good promotions from month to month also.

Good luck.

[alanw]

My company uses World Travel on Charoen Krung Road. Prices not lowest but certainly very competitive. Staff very knowledgeable, always make sensible suggestions to alert you to other possibilities, traps etc. Very flexible about changing dates, flight times etc. Will deliver, can pay their mesenger in cash or he will bring credit card 'machine', if arranged in advance.

About twelve months ago a friend tried calling several operators who advertise every wek in local English language newspapers.

He found: prices out of date, promotions finished, lots of factors (Thai VAT tax, Airport departure taxes which must be collected within ticket price, compulsory insurances etc) not included.

He tried one outfit, they told him several times that his seats were confirmed, but a few days before the trip he went to pick up the tickets and they then revealed that they had been telling lies. His trip, with wife, was for a family wedding,he was to be the best man, and trip was at a peak travel time. He couldn't get seats on any other airline, he wife and family very disappointed. Travel agent asked them to pay 50% of the value of the tickets. He refused. Agent has since gone out of business.

[utapaortnab]

When I am in Bangkok, I use the Travel Desk at the Honey Hotel on Soi 19. Honest, reliable, and seems to know the business well.

When in Pattaya, I use the Travel Desk at the Nova Lodge off Pattaya Central Rd.

Ken Bower

San Antonio Texas USA

Visiting Thailand since 1971