Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Good travel agent in BKK

Does anyone know a good and reliable travel agent in BKK who can deliver tickets to their clients by meeting them upon arrival in BKK?

I used to be able to book F class roundtrip tickets on cathaypacific.com with the cheaper ex-BKK price. But now, the website seems to insist charging the ex-HKG price (even for a BKK-xHKG-YVR-xHKG-BKK ticket).

daniellam - FYI:

Fare changed 14 April.
Up until 14 April - the booking class for a First Class ticket was F. Your fare ex-BKK to YVR would have been CAD6166.00
After 15April, the booking class should be in "A" class. The fare would then by CAD6273.
If you book in "F" class, the fare will be CAD12,372!!

You have 2 options:
1) Book ticket directly through CX and let CX issue the ticket to you. That way, you just exit BKK airport and go to ticketing counter, give PNR, produce your credit card and voila. Time: 10 minutes.

2) IF you want to get a 'discount', then you';d have to go through a travel agent. There are NO special First Class fares on CX from BKK. So you'd still be booking a full fare ticket. But to book through a travel agent, the hassle is enough to kill you.
1) Book with agent.
2) Agent will call airline to confirm fare.
3) Your special is fare. Less the commission rate to net the fare. Plus tax. Plus their miniscule commission.
3a) THAT WILL BE YOUR FARE IF YOU PAY CASH.

3b) To PAY BY CREDIT CARD....
4) BKK agents will not accept creditcard over phone. They do need you to come and sign cc form!
5) EVEN if it is a full fare, they will follow step 3), then add ANOTHER SURCHARGE because you are using a credit card. YES WE KNOW that a full fare ticket does not incur a surcharge but BKK agents do not follow this.
6) Your basic savings is around $50. But many many long distance phone calls. Then they may or may not 'meet' you upon arrival without a service fee.

My advice - just ticket directly through CX at BKK airport.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Guy Betsy:
daniellam - FYI:

Fare changed 14 April.
Up until 14 April - the booking class for a First Class ticket was F. Your fare ex-BKK to YVR would have been CAD6166.00
After 15April, the booking class should be in "A" class. The fare would then by CAD6273.
If you book in "F" class, the fare will be CAD12,372!!

You have 2 options:
1) Book ticket directly through CX and let CX issue the ticket to you. That way, you just exit BKK airport and go to ticketing counter, give PNR, produce your credit card and voila. Time: 10 minutes.

My advice - just ticket directly through CX at BKK airport.</font>

Can this ticket be issued by CX at the YVR office? (I remember the YVR office saying they can issue tickets at the ex-BKK price)

Also, is e-tickets available if I call the CX office in BKK directly?

I guess when booking I would need to say "A" class the agent on the phone.

To your questions:

1. If the YVR office told you that they can issue the ticket at ex-BKK price, then go ahead.

2. E-Tkts can be issued but NO OPEN DATES allowed!

3. No use calling BKK office. They will not accept any bookings over the phone with instructions to issue the ticket. (except from me ! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif ) You can just do the booking with YVR office, ask them to price out the difference between issuing in YVR and BKK. If issued in BKK is lower, then just do what I told you.

I was using Diethelm travel in BKK for several trips. Many CX/US RTW in F, also LH from BKK via FRA to LAX.
They are reliable, accept credit cards (on some fares with a surcharge), have good rates for hotels in BKK (my favored is the Banyan Tree), deliver the tickets to the hotel, airport or send by courier.
Fast response to email, very good knowledge about RTW and special fares.

DITS TRAVEL (2001) LTD.
DIETHELM TOWER B, 2ND FLOOR, 93/1 WIRELESS ROAD,
BANGKOK 10330, THAILAND
TEL : (662) 627 3350
FAX : (662) 627 3373, 627 3375
www.diethelm-travel.com (http://www.diethelm-travel.com)

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Unterwegs:
[B]I was using Diethelm travel in BKK for several trips. They are reliable, accept credit cards (on some fares with a surcharge)

WIRELESS ROAD,
</font>

Seems like you've bought from them recently. Last I bought from them (many times) was in 1999, and they were very good. Good to hear another FTer thinks so.

I know Diethlem. Problem was - the fares were one of the highest in the city - next to American Express Travel!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Guy Betsy:
I know Diethlem. Problem was - the fares were one of the highest in the city </font>

Best I remember, I bought walk-up fares from Diethelm (flying OneWorld Carriers) BKK-SIN one-way on AY for $75US, BKK-LAX on CP roundtrip$600ish, quoted $1500ishRT BKK-SFO on CX biz-class (i). As I expect to buy some tix again with this upcoming *A 5-year anniversary promo, I too would appreciate some better-priced agents in BKK (don't worry, you don't have to share the very best one, just some good ones if you would). Thanks if you would, GB.

I normally use TV AIR BOOKINGS. They have a few branches located all over the city. They advertise regularly in the English newspapers. I think they are one of the largest travel agencies in Bangkok. Most of them do understand English but you have to speak S-L-O-W-L-Y and clearly. All tickets are quoted on a cash basis, and a surcharge is added when using a creditcard.

The main one is at 795 Silom Road. And they have branches everywhere. One is at The Emporium, and the other is at the Central Depart Store on Ploenchit Road.

If you're in BKK anytime soon, maybe we can meet up when I'm in the area!

Note: Simple tickets, they can do. For really complicated tickets, ie RTWs go to the main branch on Silom Road.

[This message has been edited by Guy Betsy (edited 04-19-2002).]

I too have been using Dits Travel, largely because the service is so good (they'll change tickets/routings via internet quickly and accurately),and my plans are always up in the air. Also, since I'm billing to others, I'm a bit more focussed on service, I suppose. But having said that, how much cheaper is TV Air than Diethelm? Is this like 5% less, or 15%? I won't be in BKK for another few weeks, so if it looks substantial (and the after purchase service is good), I might look into it.

I don't think there are any 'substantial' differences in discount ticket prices among agents. (Some agents tend to charge more jut to mark up commissions but if you check several agents in town, it really becomes clear what the going rates are.)

To me, it all comes down to how patient/friendly/convenient/efficient they can be.

I have dealt with TV Air both at Emporium and Silom. The Emporium branch is open on Sat., too. I think they are pretty good and often have various promotions. Buy early and get discounts, etc.

Their web site is http://www.tv-air.com/

I also buy tickets from A. W. Business, which also advertises in local English dailies. Their office on Sukhumvit is open 7/7 (but not 24/24, as suggested). But they can handle ticketing from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. (a bit earlier closure on weekends). But this agent now has a problem with a ticketing machine (for a few months by now). It doesn't seem they can do the on-the-spot ticketing right now. I hope they'll fix this soon.

Delayed thank-you (just returned from a run to SIN)GB and also Chiangi, 2 FTers whose posts I truly enjoy reading. When I make it to BKK, I hope to meet sometime. Again, thank you.

I have bought several tickets from AW Business, and have been happy so far. My staff in Bangkok will usually handle it for me.

I think most of the travel-agents have more or less the same fares, my understanding is that they deduct the commision, arriving at a net net fare, and adding a THB300 - THB350 commision (US$7,- - US$8,-) even with US$2000+ fares......

"Naturally" they will have to charge 2,5% - 3,0% on Creditcards. I normally pay with "Thai Company-cheque" to avoid any charges and unfavourable currency commision, but their "motorcycle-messengers" has also delivered tickets IN the pool at the hotel (with their cc-machine.....)

Diethelm also has some great hotel rates.

www.flights.com (http://www.flights.com) - Thailand used to be a nice page, but it looks like it is not working at the moment...

sorry - double post...

[This message has been edited by Norway_Asia (edited 04-23-2002).]

I could not reach the web site for T V Air Bookings at http://www.tv-air.com for the past week. Anyone knows what happened? Have they changed their web site address?

World Traver service always has a desk several feet away from the front desk at the Marriotts. They are the classiest outfit, I have ever worked with. Air tickets and the best hotel room rates.
Have used them over 10 years without a problem.