I agree: NW's decision: to downsize the number of seats available from NRT to BKK and increasing its prices to BKK to the US$1,400 level - is not a good step by NW and I believe is a major problem in the making for NWA! Also NW has as of March 1st taken away the ability to upgrade the M fare :-(

I know of many ff ...who fly to BKK several times yearly...and are now abandoning NW in favor of Eva Air - for its Eva Deluxe seating; and/or switching to UAL as they still upgrade the M fare on United; and United's fares are among the lowest in the market as a US carrier.

One of the alternatives I have come up with is to try the NW routing to Taipei ...(TPE)....Hong Kong (HKG)...and Singapore (SIN)...or check out the "H" fare available via agents who do travel packages to BKK and also sell the "H" fare without the package.......

Recent airfare sales on NW has seen airfares in the mid $650 range from USA to TPE....and $900 to SIN....and $700's to NRT. Paying $1400. via NW's nwa.com to BKK is crazy!! They - NWA - are not doing themselves a favor by only offering the M fare and higher on the nwa.com internet site.

***Be sure to contact travel agents who have access to the 'H" fare on NW: Now costs about US$885. plus taxes....total of $1,005. with taxes if flying from the mid-west to BKK on weekdays. Easy to check if "H" fare is available for your flight days by checking the availability tool at: http://flyaow.com/classcwt.htm .

I have used www.Thaifly.com several times as they have 24 hr chat with agent service and offer the H fare...they have been very helpful to me in past. Easy to see the fares available on their website - then you can either e-mail them your requested dates of travel or chat with an agent on line. I e-mailed them this week and in one day they e-mailed to me my reservation using the H fare and dates I wanted (I had checked the availability tool for the H fare) for a total cost of US $1,005 including taxes from OKC-BKK in May with June return....and I still earn my nw ff miles :-) I have 5 days to confirm and pay for the booking using the H fare via Thailfly or your agent who can book the H fare...... By the way, the H fare return can be up to 180 days...not the usual 30 days that NW uses for their SALE fares. I am usually flexible in my travel dates so I can alsways seem to get the H fare. ....Also- the yield management gurus at nwa are known to add additonal availability of the H fare often....even days before the flight dates....just watch the availability tool if you are needing or wanting certain dates...they may appear :-) ...but be gone in a falsh...be prepared to buy when available!!
Thailfy website: http://www.thaifly.com/

H fare rules: for nwa....
Price period :
30 December 2004 - 31 May 2005
Ticket issue :
30 December 2004 - 31 December 2005
Airline Condition : BOOKING CLASS H
CHD/INF
CHD AGE DEFINED AS 2-11 YEARS/INF AGE DEFINED AS 0-24 MONTHS (NO SENIOR DISCOUNT.)
STOPOVERS
ROUNDTRIP: 4 STOPOVER PERMITTED; 2 FREE AND 2AT USD 75.00
NO FREE STOPOVER IN JAPAN ON OUT BOUND FOR ALL DESTINATIONS. NO STOPOVER ALLOWED IN EITHER DTW OR MSP.
FLT.RESTRICTIONS
ALL TRAVEL MUST BE VIA NW ONLINE ONLY. INTERLINE NOT PERMITTED.
CODE SHARE: BOOK NW DESIGNATED FLIGHTS OPERATED BY:AS-H,QX-H,HP-H,9N-H,HQ-H
MIN/MAX.STAY
MINIMUM STAY IS 6 DAYS. MAXIMUM STAY IS 180 DAYS
ADV.PURCHASE
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED 5 DAYS OR 24 HRS AFTER BOOKING RESERVATION IF LESS THAN 7 DAYS , WHICHEVER COMES FIRST.
NOTE
OPEN RETURN: NOT PERMITED.PER FARE RULES
RESERVATION: RETURN RESERVATION SHOULD BE CONFIRMED IN ADVANCE.
CHANGES: FEE $225.00
REFUND: NON REFUNDABLE
MILLEAGE: WORLDPERKS MILEAGE CREDIT PERMITTED , EXCEPT PROMOTION FARE (UPGRAD NOT PERMITTED)
E TICKETING: PERMITTED
*THE PRICE SHOWN ARE NOT INCLUDEDT TAX AND SURCHARGES*

***KLM has a nightly flight from TPE to BKK for 20k coach, 30k bus class.
The flight also costs about US$330.00 roundtrip coach from TPE-BKK on KLM.
With NW

***From Hong Kong and Macau there are discounted flights available...in the US$150-200 range roundtrip to BKK.

***From Singapore there are several discount airlines now flying to BKK for about US$100 roundtrip.

***From NRT to use nw ff miles is 20k/coach and 30k bus class....but hard to get at standard miles due to smaller plane in use...less seats available. If lucky and can get the ff award to suit you ...no need to layover one day. Or this can give you

All 3 of these options will require you to stay a night at each airport or city as the NW flight arrives too late to make connection to BKK. In TPE and SIN there is an in-airport connection hotel - before you leave customs - if you wish not to leave the airport. But also by using either HKG, TPE or SIN you may add this city to your holiday and spend a few days :-) :-).

Hope this info helps someone avoid NW's high internet fares of $1400.

TravelerJim of www.tjinsurance.com .