Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus - ROP general queries

Hi all,

I'm currently a BD*G but with the (rumour has it) imminent demise of Diamond Club I'm thinking of signing up to ROP as an alternative, I regularly fly TG anyway. The one show-stopper to me is the expiry of miles after 3 years. Is there anyway to avoid this? For example LH's M&M don't expire miles if you have any status or a credit card, or another trick is to book a redemption flight and later cancel it and get the miles re-credited to your account (small fee). Any such thing with ROP?

How easy is it to redeem flights, use upgrades etc. via ROP? Just trying to gauge what they are like as a FFP.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Netd,

As a long time ROP*G, who earns more miles with BMI DC, I'll have a go at answering your question.

I'm not aware of any way to significantly extend the 3-year life of miles - I have used hotel vouchers, that can be used any time in the following year, but don't think they are a great solution.

However, one of the best features of ROP is an annual 'Birthday' award, that is not documented, and often not publicised very well, but often gives an opportunity to redeem at significantly reduced rates (as low as 50%), so you often end-up burining miles each year.

Award availability has always been very good for me, always getting the flights I wanted, but I do plan in advance, and visit the local Thai office in person most time, so your mileage may vary.

2-year Gold validity is also a good bonus.

ROP is not very generous when earning miles, particularly with low-cost fares around europe (eg earns zero miles on low-cost BMI, SAS), and has low multipliers in C & F worldwide.

If you are a regular TG Flyer I would certainly recommend it (with the chance of Op Ups) ; if looking for a DC replacement with high earnings/benefits, I'd keep it on the short-list but also consider other *A options such as AC - you'll find much discussion over this in the BMI forum.

Regards,
Graham

Thanks Graham, that is useful info. I had not noticed the poor earnings rates for ROP, that is a shame really, and makes the 3 year limit a little harder to stomach. The 2 year *G is v.good and I like the upgrade voucher deal, have you had much luck with those? Is is a single leg (M&M style) or return?

Mrs netd says she has also heard there are a few ROP promotions doing double miles and such, any experience with those?

My main flights are MEL->LHR 3-4 times a year (TG or SQ), usually in cattle class cheap-o but I sometimes pay the few extra $$$ for a full or flexi ticket. Thai also do some bargain J tickets to Europe if I can catch them.

A lot of posters here say the TG ROP Team go out of their way to be helpful, especially in MEL which is my home base, that can really make a difference.

Anyway, have J flight in two weeks, tempted to sign up and shoot (almost) straight to gold....

Fully agree that ROP is a very good programm if you fly TG regularly - upgrade and free award tickets work fine with them, and much much better than they work for other programs members trying to use TG fligths.... TG grants (much)high(er) priority to their own loyal members than toother 1* program members. If you have a chance and establish a personal contact with them at MEL, then you should be well off - at least this is an experience in Germany, where staff do whatever they can and appreciate the personal contact once established.... From time to time ROP offers nice specials especially to their GOLD members, just the communication could be improved. You probably wont find much about it on the TG-website, unfortunately.....

...I like the upgrade voucher deal, have you had much luck with those? Is is a single leg (M&M style) or return?


The gold upgrade vouchers are for all segments on a ticket (Return), but think they must all be on TG metal (no codeshares). I have always got exactly the flights I wanted, but have been waitlisted on a couple of occasions, which has always cleared.


Mrs netd says she has also heard there are a few ROP promotions doing double miles and such, any experience with those?


Not much experience, they seem to be making more effort this year to celebrate 50 years of flying, but otherwise they often seem related to regional routes from Bangkok (China, India spring to mind), or limitted domestic routes, and not very relevant to my travel needs.


Anyway, have J flight in two weeks, tempted to sign up and shoot (almost) straight to gold....

Sounds good ... Signup online for 2500 bonus miles (not sure status or destination).

Regards, Graham

My main flights are MEL->LHR 3-4 times a year (TG or SQ), usually in cattle class cheap-o but I sometimes pay the few extra $$$ for a full or flexi ticket. Thai also do some bargain J tickets to Europe if I can catch them.

...

Hi netd, Mrs netd sound like a smart cookie, hold onto her. There are a couple of crucial problems you are going to encounter. Singapore is better than Thai, but Thai is cheaper than Singapore, so youhave to get your head around that factor first. As I pay my own way, it is a no brainer, saving 3/4000 dollars a run is very important to me. If someone else was paying, it would not be on Thai. I fly business/first, TG economy long haul is difficult, so you use the ROP program to it's fullest, so you never fly at the back of the bus.. I buy TG fares in advance on special, You get a birthday return upgrade each year, also 50% mileage award. Every 50000 I apply for another return upgrade, I see it as a given, but others have problems getting it. The first thing to do is to get gold, nothing happens till then, but gold is easy, last for two years and they swing 5000miles your way every time. The MEL office is very good, but you have to do the homework too. If there are any cheapies around they will put you onto them, they will look after your mileage problems, upgrades awards and importantly get you the seat and the flight you want. You should do most of your ticket buying overseas, it's cheaper, so initially there is an expense. This year I am using CDG as a base because the new 773 flies there and it is beautiful compared to the 747. CDG is a nightmare but I am working out a system for flights. I use BKK for business and relaxation, so that part suits me fine, the airport is a breeze, and as gold there are perks and the staff will help you. If you decide to go ROP, give me a PM, I am back home soon.

PS I hear that a summer MEL-LHR(Europe) special will be released in 2 weeks

Thanks guys, again this is all great info. You've pretty much convinced me ROP is the way to go, I'm particularly impressed with the way they seem to look after their *G's individually, that seems to be pretty rare in a FFP these days. The lower earning rates probably results in fewer status members and as such they can go the extra mile (so to speak) in looking after them. Also things like the upgrade voucher seems a great perk, DC and M&M do similar but theirs are only for individual legs, and booking them is a bit like playing the lotto, DC anyway, "present it at the gate prior to boarding" yeah right. Though they have moved to electronic ones finally that you pre-book, but of course now BD don't fly anywhere useful...

I've never had any problems with TG, SQ are arguably better but TG cannot be beaten on price in my experience. A little rougher around the edges but try really hard to please. I remember a few years ago changing my itinerary while on route, the TG staff at BKK couldn't do enough, and I was on a BMI award ticket ^ awesome!

However, I probably wont move over immediately. I want to wait and see if DC cut us a good deal with the move to M&M. I'm not an M&M fan but I don't want to miss out on any status match they do. Also, with the demise of DC I have pretty much most of my flights booked up via redemptions for the next 6-9 months (cashing in my DC miles while I can) so wont be earning. A paid business in two weeks will renew my BD*G for long enough to find out what is going on there, but I will hopefully join your ROP ranks within 12 months. Beers in the BKK lounge :)

Thanks again for the insights, much appreciated.