I am planning my first trip to BKK sometime in February. I am wondering about airline fares. My first choice, because of Elite status, is NWA. I will be flying from the midwest through MSP. I know there have been changes in what tickets you must use to get your FF miles. I would appreciate an update on that change. The best fare I have seen on NWA is about $1,400. I have done several trips in the past to HkG and CAN and have always found a ticket for less than 1k. more in the $800 range. Is BKK just more expensive? What about using a consolidator? How early should I start looking for tickets? It seems NWA often has a sale for Asia right after Christmas. Any advice from BKK experts would be appreciated.