Originally Posted by
CJKatl
Am I missing something? There seem to be several CEI-XXX-DPS options which do not require overnight layovers, including a Thai Lion option (SL533 connecting to SL258 w/1:45 layover at DMK) and several AirAsia options arriving in DSP at 1:00 am the next morning. You do not mention a flight date but these were all available on the three random dates I checked. I have flown AirAsia many times and paid with a US CC without issue. I have flown Thai Lion and must have paid with a US CC, too. AirAsia also waived the luggage fee whenever I have shown up with too much luggage without my asking and I have paid for the extra ahead of time a few times, too.
These are short flights and neither airline is too bad in economy. The last time I flew DSP-DMK was on AirAsia in a middle seat towards the back. It wasn't bad at all.
Nope, you're not missing anytime, but as [MENTION=120782]CrazyInteg[/MENTION] noted, it seems that Thai Lion Air does not want foreigners buying tickets on its planes. As for the seat situation - for a short flight, this wouldn't be an issue, however, BKK-DPS looks like its blocked at over 4 hours, which is longer than I'm willing to turn myself into a pretzel for (seperate from that, my fiance has some back issues that will make the situation worse).
Originally Posted by
CrazyInteg
He says Thai Lion is not accepting his foreign credit card.
Originally Posted by
CJKatl
I have flown Thai Lion and only have an American CC, but maybe there has been a rule change? Putting that to the side, I have flown AirAsia many times, have chosen front seats, extra luggage and meals and never had an issue paying for it all with a foreign card. While CEI-DMK-DSP FD3210 connecting in DMK to FD398 gets to DSP slightly after one the next morning, there is no overnight layover. Ten hours from start to finish, $113.
Not sure when the credit card restriction started, but I tried to book on their website multiple times and eventually was told this directly by Thai Lion Air. As for AirAsia, I did see that (at least over the past few weeks while checking, for some reason it doesn't show up in my searches now). Ultimately, given the situation, it may be a better option, especially since I wasn't too keen on Thai Lion Air's safety record. The AirAsia arrival time and duration are trash, but at least we would have some certainty around the luggage situation and decent seats.
I guess I was just hoping there was some simple option that I've missed - a good product with decent connection time, a different combination of airlines, etc. Seems that's not the case.