Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus - Thai Airways might suspend Tokyo flights?

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsworld.php?id=571679
BANGKOK, March 17 (Bernama) -- Thai Airways International (THAI), the national flag carrier, has announced that it will suspend its flights to Tokyo if radiation leaking from a nuclear power plant in a disaster-hit area in Japan's northeastern region appears to be beyond a 100-kilometer radius, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.
Piyasvasti acknowledged that THAI flights would fly to Kansai, Osaka and Nagoya Airports instead if the national airline's aviation services to Tokyo's Narita and Haneda Airports need be suspended for safety reasons.

You can't help but get the feeling that it is worse than we are being told it is.:(

You can't help but get the feeling that it is worse than we are being told it is.:(

Let's pray not...

Cheers,

AG. :-:

Does the same TG crew operate both the inbound and outbound flights?
European airlines do not wish to station their crew in Tokyo (2 or 3 days rest), so they are now flying thru ICN or elsewhere in Asia, so that the crew rest there. That means an additional crew (e.g. one AF crew for CDG-ICN, one for ICN-NRT-ICN, one for ICN-CDG). This reduces the exposure of the resting crew and allows to cancel the flight to NRT is situation worsens. LH only flies to southern Japan. If TG uses two separate crews for inbound and outbound, this is a less flexible and more risky scenario as one crew is resting in NRT.

Question...

I am flying BKK - NRT - YYZ on April 21 on an Aeroplan (Air Canada) reward ticket that starts in YYZ on April 5.

BKK - NRT is on TG676 in F and NRT - YYZ on AC002 in J.

Q: If TG676 is cancelled on April 21 AFTER I start my trip (on April 5) who is responsible to reroute me - Thai or? And if it is cancelled (unlikely) before I start my trip on April 5?

Q: Would this be considered like a weather delay (not the airlines fault) or mechanical - I am assuming the first?

If they do fly I am not worried about transitting in NRT.

I did call Aeroplan but there is no Aeroplan reward availability out of Asia that day.

Thanks

Hi Yukonprince,
Most airlines are altering their plans on the Tokyo route. You have noted that TG has already flagged their changes, Air canada are doing likewise and advise their customers to contact 1.888.247.2262 or to check on daily flights on 1.888.7533.

By late April, everything should be back to normal, even the largest disasters around the world do not keep the aviation sector from flying to profitable routes for too long.

If your airline is not flying out of your NRT departure port on the day, you require, you will need to make alternate arrangements. During these disruptions you will find that your program will accomodate you with changes and alterations.

Hi Yukonprince,
Most airlines are altering their plans on the Tokyo route. You have noted that TG has already flagged their changes, Air canada are doing likewise and advise their customers to contact 1.888.247.2262 or to check on daily flights on 1.888.7533.

By late April, everything should be back to normal, even the largest disasters around the world do not keep the aviation sector from flying to profitable routes for too long.

If your airline is not flying out of your NRT departure port on the day, you require, you will need to make alternate arrangements. During these disruptions you will find that your program will accomodate you with changes and alterations.

I tend to agree with you that things should be relatively normal by April 21...

But if my Thai BKK - NRT is cancelled say the day before I must call Aeroplan, right?

I tend to agree with you that things should be relatively normal by April 21...

But if my Thai BKK - NRT is cancelled say the day before I must call Aeroplan, right?

TG at BKK is generally pretty good with IRROPS, even on awards, let them sort it out. TG Outstations are a very different story though.

I was confirmed on TG640 departing Bangkok on 4/24 @ 22:10. Now re-booked on TG642 @ 23:50 on the same date.
If you have a reservation to fly BKK-NRT on Thai Air it might be a good idea to check your flights. Hopefully it will not be an equipment change too.

Thanks for the update. I was booked on TG640 on Apr 6, now rebooked onto TG642.

My mother was also moved from TG640 to TG642, it looks like there will also be an upgauge on the later flight to the 744.

TG640 to TG642, it looks like there will also be an upgauge on the later flight to the 744.

The CS person I spoke with when checking my seat request said it would be one of their "new model" 747's.

I am in TG676 on April 21 - still appears to be flying as scheduled....

Fingers crossed as I am connecting to AC002 at NRT.

My mother was also moved from TG640 to TG642, it looks like there will also be an upgauge on the later flight to the 744.

Wonderful, a few days before my scheduled departure on TG640, I receive an e-mail from TG stating that the plane has been downgraded to 2 class 777-200 equipment and I am now in business class rather than first for the late night flight from BKK- NRT. They say speak with CS at check-in for some type of compensation. Does any know what this implies or have experience with this type of situation on TG equipment changes and COS reassignment on short notice ?

I was able to use the first class check-in and lounge at BKK. Compensation provided for COS downgrade from F to I was 9K Baht cash in an envelope and a bulkhead seat with adjacent seat blocked . Does this seem reasonable?

Wonderful, a few days before my scheduled departure on TG640, I receive an e-mail from TG stating that the plane has been downgraded to 2 class 777-200 equipment and I am now in business class rather than first for the late night flight from BKK- NRT. They say speak with CS at check-in for some type of compensation. Does any know what this implies or have experience with this type of situation on TG equipment changes and COS reassignment on short notice ?

I was able to use the first class check-in and lounge at BKK. Compensation provided for COS downgrade from F to I was 9K Baht cash in an envelope and a bulkhead seat with adjacent seat blocked . Does this seem reasonable?

No it's 15k baht to UG. They ought to give you at least that or better yet the fare difference

Compensation provided for COS downgrade from F to I was 9K Baht cash in an envelope

Perhaps someone else took THB6000 out of the envelop therefore the OP did not get his full THB15000...:)

But really, paying someone cash in an envelop. Looks like something from a mafia film and makes the episode looks rather shady.

I agree, it should have been the actual price difference between F & I. even though it was an award ticket, that should not be relevant
I thought it was a bit low and a strange way to do business, but this is Thailand.
I was interested to know if anyone else has experienced this type of deal and how it was handled ?

others have posted here regarding forced downgrades in the past with the same envelope of cash handed over. Not sure what the amounts were. But I know one person complained that they gave them Thai baht notes which were not of use to them since they were leaving the country, so doing a currency exchange was an added hassle.

I'm on an Aeroplan award late in the year that goes through NRT. I guess no one knows what the situation will be like then. I'd hate to have to give up the 77W suites. But maybe I should take a look to see if any other F award seats are available and change routes.

I am in TG676 on April 21 - still appears to be flying as scheduled....

Fingers crossed as I am connecting to AC002 at NRT.

Great flight - only one in F...

Not sure if I am keen on the Suites vs a regular F seat.

Had a bottle of DOM on my table along with the Ostrich steak - made a great photo hee, hee!

But really, paying someone cash in an envelop. Looks like something from a mafia film and makes the episode looks rather shady.

Thai is not the only carrier doing that, I once received a cash envelope from Cathay Pacfic for invol downgrade F to C. Mind you that was in Manila. I was not very impressed, both to the value of the content and that I received pesos just when I was leaving the country.