LoungeLizzard

Maybe I missed the announcement, maybe there wasn't an announcement and maybe it's just a temporary glitch or simply a mess.

I'm looking for domestic flights in Jan, Feb and March on thaiarways.com
The main routes (BKK-HKT and BKK-CNX) come up more or less as always, just with some TG flights operated by A320.

Some less frequented domestic routes were so far operated by Thai Smile and bookable on TG as code share.
This is still the case for example for Khon Kaen.

However it does not appear to be the case anymore for example for Udon Thani or Ubon Ratchathani.

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Not a big problem to book it on Thai Smile, but I'm just wondering if they might stop service to those cities completely or change to DMK?

Thai-Kiwi

Codeshare flights by TG are available booking with Expedia (and probably other OTA). I did this back in Oct when the Mrs was travelling around, and I was hoping for the TG luggage allowance vs Thai Smile's.

The flights to both UTH and UBP show on ExpertFlyer as codeshares.

However, I have no idea why the codeshare sectors are not available on THAI's own website.

BinSabai

just 2 days ago on TG domestic. noticed that flights with Thai Smile to Chiang Mai as well as to Udon Thani had also TG 4 digit numbers

LoungeLizzard

Thank you for your advice Thai Kiwi and Bin Sabai.

It appears that Thai IT is just working on it at the moment.
I got 2 different error messages in the last 5 minutes and
now I finally get an availability for Thai Smile again via the
Thai Airways page.

So all is good.

dsquared37

I'm just seeing this now and you already have your answer but I flew UBP->BKK on Sunday with WE and it was TG codeshared.

Is there a reason you want the codeshare? Often I'm seeing the WE flights cheaper when booked as WE rather than through the TG portal.

Thai-Kiwi

dsquared37, for Mrs TK it was the TG luggage allowance of 30 kg for domestic vs WE's 20kg for 'Smile' class that drove me to specifically want the TG code-share to UBP/UTH.

dsquared37

My understanding is the allowances/benefits were based upon the metal not the codeshare.

Thai-Kiwi

Since I didn't fly with her, I'm not sure - all I know is she had no issues with bag weight for checkin. Her expedia ticket baggage entitlement simply links to the THAI web domestic baggage page (30kg). Similarly, a dummy booking on THAI website directly links to their domestic baggage web page, again 30kg.

That said, I was curious and some browsing suggests IATA rules mean the operating carrier's baggage rules apply (ie WE's 20kg). I'd be curious, then, what would happen on an international connecting flight from XXX-BKK-UTH - would teh THAI e-ticket state 30kg for each sector? and if so, would WE honour this? From some travel web forum it seems YMMV.

JVPhoto

I too was looking at BKK-CNX in Feb and it was showing the A320 flights w/o the Thai Smile logo on maybe 3 of the flights, 2 still showed the Smile logo and then there were the usual wide bodies scattered throughout the day.

joy16

dsquared37, I used to book the CEI-BKK flight on TG website which is cheaper than on WE website.

JVPhoto, TG also has A320 in their own fleet.

dsquared37

If your hypothetical XXX-BKK was on TG then I'm sure WE would allow the higher baggage allowances. If on another carrier I'd think they'd follow the 'most significant carrier' rules.

There was a time where flights were cheaper on TG's site but I haven't seen this in some time. If purchasing WE metal my recent experience is that the best prices can be found on WE's site.

As for the A320s, TG 'bought' back some from WE because the frames were needed for short international hops that used to be served by the 734s once Laos and Cambodia (and possibly others) argued their landing allowances were for TG not WE.

JVPhoto

Ahhh okay I thought all of the A320s got Smiled which is why it stuck out as an oddity to me.

dsquared37

All the A320s were directed at purchase toward TG but a few were then brought back into the TG fold.

JVPhoto

Went to the TG flight to look up the times and $ for the Smile CNX-HKT flight. Wasn't showing up, only TG flights connecting through BKK. I know for a fact it used to be on there because I booked the flight for 2 friends this past December.
Anyways, popped over to the Thai Smile site and (naturally) it was there.
Not sure if this means TG is not going to show any more Smile options.

LoungeLizzard

...so I finally went ahead and booked with Thai Smile because there was no published fare from CNX to UBP on TG. A bit stupid to have it in two separate records, but there is ample connecting time, so not a big issue.

That wasn't so hard to book on their site instead of the TG site.
Received the Travel Itinerary / Receipt promptly and I can also retrieve my reservation on the Thai Smile webpage. The itinerary is confirmed and the payment is approved.

Great. Almost.

I can't see my e-ticket number anywhere, so I assume that it's not issued and the booking was done more than two weeks ago.

...and now comes the reason why I'd be happy to have have booked via the Thai Website and not Thai Smile.
I can't find an e-mail address to contact Thai Smile anywhere. There is a contact form to fill out online, but that fails due to "invalid e-mail. Whatever I fill into that field.
The reservation code seems to be proprietary to Thai Smile, because I cannot retrieve the booking with checkmytrip or Thai webpage.

Question:
Is there any e-mail address to contact Thai Smile?
I'd like to avoid calling the helpdesk (Tel. 02-118-8888) from abroad.