I think this was the 3rd or 4th time that the BKK-NRT flight has been cancelled since the move from Don Muang to the Suvarnabhumi Airport, but since the problem originated with the fact that the incoming NRT-BKK flight the day before was cancelled, BKK's obviously not to blame for that.

My cancellation ordeal was on 14 NOV. It was a bit oversold (I think), with many many PAX not happy with their early-morning surprise. UA folks were very courteous and efficient, to their credit. The JAL counters were chaotic traffic jams for hours, though.

I believe that BKK folks started booking us on other carriers well in advance; many PAX on NW, NH, TG, and JAL. I was perfectly happy taking JAL, since I'd never flown them before and wanted to give it a try, but didn't anticipate the checked luggage dilemma. In the future, you're right, it would make sense to try to put status-bearing PAX on *alliance carriers, so they wouldn't run into the hang-up that I experienced.