Asia - Booking Nepal Airlines online or good TA?

I'm currently in Burma and trying to book flights from Bangkok to Kathmandu on October 13. The Thai flights departs too early to connect with my flight from Yangon, so I need to book the Nepal Airlines flight (RA 402). I haven't had any luck booking flights online with the usual suspects (zuji, kayak, the airline's website), but though someone might know of an online ticket site that allows reservations on RA. If not, does anyone know of a good TA who can book the tickets for me via email? I'd love to avoid the US$5/minute my hotel charges for calls to Nepal (and of course mobiles don't work here).

Thanks,
Merrick

Nepal Airlines, the "democratised" incarnation of Royal Nepal Airlines (RNAC) is a disaster. Presently one of their two 757s is grounded in Bangkok waiting for engine repair. They are trying to operate a two-plane schedule with one plane and flights are always delayed or cancelled.

Once in the air, however, the service is not bad and the pilots are good.

Their reservation system is primitive and bookings are not always honoured. Best advice for the OP's situation is to simply go to the Nepal Airlines check in counter on arrival BKK and buy a ticket IF the flight is operating within a reasonable time of the schedule. If not, wait overnight and try Thai, which is fully booked for the next two months. Or take the previous days rescheduled Nepal Air flight!!

Nepal Airlines, the "democratised" incarnation of Royal Nepal Airlines (RNAC) is a disaster. Presently one of their two 757s is grounded in Bangkok waiting for engine repair. They are trying to operate a two-plane schedule with one plane and flights are always delayed or cancelled.

Once in the air, however, the service is not bad and the pilots are good.

Their reservation system is primitive and bookings are not always honoured. Best advice for the OP's situation is to simply go to the Nepal Airlines check in counter on arrival BKK and buy a ticket IF the flight is operating within a reasonable time of the schedule. If not, wait overnight and try Thai, which is fully booked for the next two months. Or take the previous days rescheduled Nepal Air flight!!

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like the goat sacrifice wasn't a success (unless this is their other 757, in which case perhaps more sacrificial offerings are in order). We'll hope for the best and attempt to buy tickets on the RA flight at the airport. The TG flight on the 14th is showing seats available in Sabre, so we can fall back on that flight as a worst-case option. May even be worth buying refundable TG tickets now. We've got Druk Air tickets to Bhutan from Kathmandu, so we've got to find some way to get there.

Thanks again!
m

new here ,hi all...wondering if anyone would give their opinion of this outfit-and also what kind of aircraft to expect ?Also are there only little planes on to Pokkhara (shudder!)thanks

Just to give an update:

I was able to buy a Nepal Airlines ticket from the Nepal Airlines station manager at the airport, but it was clearly not something he often did. You have to pay cash, though there's an ATM nearby. The flight operated on-time (actually an hour earlier than KVS said it would) on a somewhat aged 767. I upgraded to business class for ~$150 USD/ticket. They use a lounge that's operated by a private company and used by a number of carriers including Northwest Airlines.

Flights to Pokhara are on small planes with all the carriers, but Nepal Airlines' domestic flights are among the least reliable, and on the oldest aircraft, of the domestic carriers' flights. I'd recommend Budda Air or, failing that, Yeti Air, for domestic flights.

-m

Just to give an update:
Flights to Pokhara are on small planes with all the carriers, but Nepal Airlines' .

-m

thanks -er ,how small? (braced here!)

Best choice is Buddha air. The have newer aircraft including ATRs.
Look at http://www.buddhaair.com/

Second choice is Yeti Airlines. Older twin otter and SAAB planes.
http://www.yetiairlines.com/

Both have online booking facilities.

Sit on the right side of the airplane for excellent mountain views.

I flew Yeti in April.
No problems. You say small, I say cozy. ;)
Good suggestion to sit on right side of plane for the westbound!
As you disembark by stairway, be ready for a beautiful photo op of your turbo plane on the apron w/ the Himalayas in the background.