Originally Posted by
ftrichard
Is there a more expensive route in Asia per km flown than Bangkok Airways from Samui Airport (USM) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL)?
This short flight (officially 1.5 hours) has cost us an incredible 9000 Baht one way tomorrow (28 December). That was the cheapest economy fare of 7000 Baht + 2000 Taxes and Fees a couple of weeks ago when I booked it (there were four economy fares to choose from - can't remember their names).
Bangkok Airways owns USM airport. A couple of months ago the only other airline that flew a similar route (Malaysia's Firefly to KL's Subang Airport) stopped flying to USM leaving Bangkok Airways with its comfortable monopoly.
It is an outrageous price for such a short journey. They charged us 3000 Baht for a 45 minute flight from Phuket to Samui earlier this week.
I know that you can fly with Air Asia for peanuts from Surat Thani on the mainland but that turns the journey home into a mission and probably requires an overnight on the mainland due to the return flight timing.
So, is this the most unjustifiably expensive short flight in SE Asia or what? I despise this airline because of it.
If going to Samui, then that is a private airport and charges for use per passenger landing/departing are priced somewhat higher. It was a monopoly originally but can now use SIN to Koh Samui or TG
I used to regularly fly USM-Samui 1999-2011 and yes pricey, and in those days USM was less of an airport, flights only to Koh Samui, and USM has had investment , more airlines+flights including International flights.
I last used USM with Air-Asia to Macao in Feb2016, despite a 2hour taxi drive from Bangkok Sukhumvit, it was worth it, over a too early Don Muang 7am flight
Won't speak out on USM-KUL other than say last minute booking in holiday season, less than 5weeks before departure, then yes airlines world wide will gouge you for
a)initially higher fares for a peak period (say 10Dec - 10 Jan)
b)Flights already sold out of cheapest seats in Y, so you are now buying costlier semi-flex or flex economy fares
c)in last 4weeks before departure airlines increase costs slightly day by day, either inceasing fare for letter-class or removing cheapest from sale.
Before you really say fare is that much, look at same flight for Dec2017 booking early Jan2017, it is not going to be 9000Bt