Wanderlust for Laos: Thai AirAsia launches direct flights from Bangkok

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Wanderlust for Laos: Thai AirAsia launches direct flights from Bangkok
By Coconuts Bangkok


A temple in Luang Prabang. Photo: Reuters

BANGKOK: -- The stunning temples, bustling markets and dramatic caves of Laos are more accessible to Bangkokians now as Thai AirAsia is launching daily direct flights to Luang Prabang. Yay!

Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways already serve the Bangkok-Luang Prabang route, but Thai Airasia is the budget airline to fly to the Laotian city, Nikkei Asian Review reported.Thai AirAsia was finally given permission by the Laotian government to fly to the country after applying for the license EIGHT years ago.

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/02/10/wanderlust-laos-thai-airasia-launches-direct-flight-bangkok

[cnb]2016-02-10[/cnb

[condo bought]

They should do them direct to the Savannakhet consulate.

They'd be chockablock every day with alien husbands.

[alex88]

Wow it's about time!

[nev]

Pretty good price at 990 baht one way, and laung prabang is a lovely place to visit.

[alex88]

I love Luang prabang and the only reason I haven't been back there is that it has been difficult and expensive to find transport to go there. I will go back there again in the near future if Air Asia is flying there.

[canopus1969]

Pretty good price at 990 baht one way, and laung prabang is a lovely place to visit.

Agreed but AA is not the way to go, try BKK Air, far better service.

[alex88]

Pretty good price at 990 baht one way, and laung prabang is a lovely place to visit.

Agreed but AA is not the way to go, try BKK Air, far better service.

I have had great experiences flying on Bangkok Airways but I can't afford their prices so Air Asia is my only option. I am very happy that they fly to Luang Prabang as it hasn't been possible for me to go there in a long time. When there is that much difference in price the service is quite irrelevant considering it's a pretty short flight.

Edited February 10, 2016 by alex88

[MickGC]

They should do them direct to the Savannakhet consulate.

They'd be chockablock every day with alien husbands.

Was supposed to happen many years ago when the bridge across the Mekong from Mukdahan opened. Savannakhet has a great little airport. Politics raised its ugly head and nothing happened. Laos Air has a monopoly on flights to BKK. Too expensive, especially when you include Laos visa fees. Flight alone about Bt10,000 return.

[Fairynuff]

Pretty good price at 990 baht one way, and laung prabang is a lovely place to visit.

Agreed but AA is not the way to go, try BKK Air, far better service.

Yeah you're absolutely right. AA is not the way to go for 990 baht. Much better to get ripped off for 15,000 baht on Bangkok Airways. Duh! Edited February 10, 2016 by Fairynuff

[zaZa9]

Pretty good price at 990 baht one way, and laung prabang is a lovely place to visit.

Agreed but AA is not the way to go, try BKK Air, far better service.

How would one know if they havent flown BOTH services to compare ?

[hgma]

AEC or not, Laos asks fees for entering their aerospace.

The Fee is ok, but question should be raised in a months time, ....lets wait and see.

[canopus1969]

Pretty good price at 990 baht one way, and laung prabang is a lovely place to visit.

Agreed but AA is not the way to go, try BKK Air, far better service.

How would one know if they havent flown BOTH services to compare ?

Personally I have tried them all and Air Asia is at the very bottom of the pile

[alex88]

Pretty good price at 990 baht one way, and laung prabang is a lovely place to visit.

Agreed but AA is not the way to go, try BKK Air, far better service.

How would one know if they havent flown BOTH services to compare ?

Personally I have tried them all and Air Asia is at the very bottom of the pile

Air Asia is also the cheapest in this case. What difference does it make as long as you get there? You take what you can afford.

[geisha]

Wow , for such a huge difference in price, and an hours flight, I know which one I would choose.

[Ricardo]

Pretty good price at 990 baht one way, and laung prabang is a lovely place to visit.

Agreed but AA is not the way to go, try BKK Air, far better service.

Yeah you're absolutely right. AA is not the way to go for 990 baht. Much better to get ripped off for 15,000 baht on Bangkok Airways. Duh!

"get ripped off for 15,000 baht on Bangkok Airways"

A quick look at Bangkok-Airways website shows them selling discount-fares, for mid-week returns in March, as low as B7,350.

That would include a reasonable-meal, also 20 kgs of hold-luggage (or 30 kgs if you're a SkyPass-member), and advance seat-selection.

None of which are included in the Thai Air Asia fare.

And Bangkok-Airways have a Sale starting tomorrow, with Luang Prabang from B6,285 return, book 13th-16th February for travel starting after 1st March, the Sale also applies to their other domestic & international routes.

http://www.bangkokair.com/eng/promotions/fabulous_february_fare?utm_source=website&utm_medium=homebanner_th&utm_campaign=TITFFEB16

Edited February 12, 2016 by Ricardo

[Fairynuff]

Pretty good price at 990 baht one way, and laung prabang is a lovely place to visit.

Agreed but AA is not the way to go, try BKK Air, far better service.

Yeah you're absolutely right. AA is not the way to go for 990 baht. Much better to get ripped off for 15,000 baht on Bangkok Airways. Duh!

"get ripped off for 15,000 baht on Bangkok Airways"

A quick look at Bangkok-Airways website shows them selling discount-fares, for mid-week returns in March, as low as B7,350.

That would include a reasonable-meal, also 20 kgs of hold-luggage (or 30 kgs if you're a SkyPass-member), and advance seat-selection.

None of which are included in the Thai Air Asia fare.

And Bangkok-Airways have a Sale starting tomorrow, with Luang Prabang from B6,285 return, book 13th-16th February for travel starting after 1st March, the Sale also applies to their other domestic & international routes.

http://www.bangkokair.com/eng/promotions/fabulous_february_fare?utm_source=website&utm_medium=homebanner_th&utm_campaign=TITFFEB16

I've been there on Bangkok airways. Meal? That's stretching the description a little. Plus it's a propellor plane and takes just short of 2 hours. Even at 6,000 baht it's 3 times AirAsia's promo fare...on an Airbus 320 and probably an hour or less flying time. Enough said.

[Ricardo]

Yeah you're absolutely right. AA is not the way to go for 990 baht. Much better to get ripped off for 15,000 baht on Bangkok Airways. Duh!

"get ripped off for 15,000 baht on Bangkok Airways"

A quick look at Bangkok-Airways website shows them selling discount-fares, for mid-week returns in March, as low as B7,350.

That would include a reasonable-meal, also 20 kgs of hold-luggage (or 30 kgs if you're a SkyPass-member), and advance seat-selection.

None of which are included in the Thai Air Asia fare.

And Bangkok-Airways have a Sale starting tomorrow, with Luang Prabang from B6,285 return, book 13th-16th February for travel starting after 1st March, the Sale also applies to their other domestic & international routes.

http://www.bangkokair.com/eng/promotions/fabulous_february_fare?utm_source=website&utm_medium=homebanner_th&utm_campaign=TITFFEB16

I've been there on Bangkok airways. Meal? That's stretching the description a little. Plus it's a propellor plane and takes just short of 2 hours. Even at 6,000 baht it's 3 times AirAsia's promo fare...on an Airbus 320 and probably an hour or less flying time. Enough said.

But you would agree that your claim of B15,000 on Bangkok Airways was an exaggeration, and double the true price ?