Flying to Bangkok
 

Hi, I'm going to study abroad in Bangkok, Thailand and needed some recommondations for what some good airlines are. The ones I'm thinking about taking are either China, Thai, or Cathay. Also, I have a bad back, so going on this long flight is something I'm not looking forward to. Are there any airlines that offer like a lounge area to walk around or stretch out? Or would I have to go with first class for this?

Thanks,
David

First, where are you flying out of? If you're anywhere near LA or NYC, then SQ's A345 would be suitable...even in economy class. Both Business and Economy classes have onboard "lounge" areas where you can walk and stand up. It's pretty spacious too. I can't speak for the other airlines, but I do love the A345 product. Timing is great too...get to Singapore in the morning for the connections to other cities. PM me if you need more info.

Welcome to FlyerTalk, Newbie! How about a few more details, such as where you are leaving from?

Few airlines offer a lounge area, but on the SE Asia route, I believe if you fly SQ (Singapore Airlines) nonstop from LAX or JFK to Singapore (and then connect onwards to Bangkok), they have such an area in both economy and business class. Ask on the Singapore airlines forum about this.

Thai is either about to start, or just started flying, nonstop from JFK to BKK, maybe there will be extra space on that route.

These are very long flights and what is offered is typically called "premium economy (or business) class" and costs more than a regular ticket.

Other flights don't have this extra space in ANY class of service except maybe Virgin on some long hauls in business class (which probably is not helpful on this routing).

In addition to the other options, mentioned Eva Air has a "premium economy"-type product, with 38" pitch. I don't think it will get you all the way to Bangkok, but it will get you across the Pacific from the US.

I know your question is about comfort, but if you're flying either from North America or Europe to Bangkok, you should think about booking either a round-the-world ticket or a circle pacific ticket, either with Oneworld or Star Alliance. Check out their forums for more info. These can be fairly inexpensive, and give you an opportunity travel to a number of places within a year (so that you could, eg. fly across the Pacific one your way to Bangkok, but stop off in Europe on your way home).

I think I've seen some safety concerns posted regarding China - I personally would not fly them :td:

YMMV, of course

This comes up a lot and I'm still getting them confused. Is it Air China or China Airlines (actually based out of TPE) that has the bad safety record? I thought that it was China Airlines.

Just a few points of clarification for Newbie. And in case Newbie's a real newbie, I'll give info seasoned FT-types might consider the basics.

Singapore Airlines' (SQ) Airbus A340-500 ultra-long-haul nonstop service to SIN operates from LAX and EWR. SQ's service from JFK is on a Megatop 747-400 with a stop in Frankfurt. You'll find extensive trip reports (including one by yours truly) regarding the "Executive Economy" product on the A345, which has a small (about 10 sq. feet) exec. economy lounge in the back next to the galleys. The seats all have 37" of pitch and video on demand in-flight entertainment. Cathay Pacific also has VOD IFE but, AFAIK, no premium economy product.

Thai's nonstop JFK-BKK service via A345 begins in May. I can't recall whether it's going to be 3-class or 4-class. In either event, it will have a Premium Economy with a lot more pitch (distance between the starting points of each row of seats), up to 38" or maybe even 41", depending on what you read. Thai offers direct service to BKK from LAX with a stop in Osaka/Kansai (KIX), but no premium economy option; not sure about VOD IFE.

The Chinese (broadly construed) airlines have very confusing names. The flag carrier of the People's Republic based in Beijing is Air China. China Airlines is the flag carrier of Taiwan based in Taipei; it has a big pink flower on the tail and, I believe, a much more extensive international route netwok than Air China. The PRC has two other gov't-owned carriers plying international routes: China Eastern Airlines based in Shanghai and China Southern based in Guangzhou (formerly Canton); both are in serious need of new livery that ditches the communist-inspired abstract geometrics. Eva Air is a private airline based in Taipei owned by the Evergreen shipping conglomerate. As an airline, it's a little green, in more ways than one.

Rather than premium economy on an ultra-long-haul (16+ hour nonstop flights, at a premium cost), you may find yourself more confortable on shorter transpacific legs. Consider making your first stop in Seoul (Incheon) or Tokyo (Narita). That can cut your longest leg down to ten hours or thereabouts. From ICN or NRT to BKK is just 6 hours or so, like flying transcon in the US. Korean Air is the flag carrier of Korea, and Asiana is a private airline based in Seoul. SQ also flies SFO-ICN, but the connections in SIN to BKK don't work as a through-routing; SQ's one-stops with valid connections to BKK operate SFO-HKG-SIN (Megatop), LAX-NRT-SIN (Megatop), and LAX-TPE-SIN (777). Lots of airlines fly from US to Tokyo, including the Japanese airlines JAL and ANA. Northwest has a direct flight from SFO to BKK with a stop at NRT.

If all you really want is room to stretch your legs, you might just try to make sure (barring last-minute equipment changes) that you're on the largest possible aircraft, currently a 747-400. Although they don't have a true economy lounge area onboard, you can stretch your legs in the galleys. With the threat of Deep Vein Thrombosis and consequent lawsuits from American pax, FA's aren't gonna throw out someone stretching in the galley unless he becomes a total nuisance or safety threat.

An excellent post!!

TG has finally released more details on the JFK-BKK product. It will be 3 class (Business, Premium Econ, Econ). According to reports they had a problem spacing the premium econ seats at 368 so they upped the pitch to 42" in a 2-3-2 config. Standard econ is 36" in a 3-4-3 config. Business will be a spacebed lay-flat product with 60" pitch. AVOD should be available throughout the plane with wireless internet service to follow in the coming months.

I'm hoping that they eventually bring this product to the LAX market as I don't want to fly 6 hours to JFK just to catch a 17 hour flight.

You've received good information already, you'll find FlyerTalkers like to help and have lots of opinions. I urge you to look carefully at flying in Eva Air, based in Taiwan. This airline has a perfect safety record and currently flies 747s to Asia (at least the North America to Taiwan sectors are 747s).

I highly recommend the Evergreen Deluxe product, a deluxe economy class that costs about $200 more than regular economy. Eva flies to Asia from New York, Seattle, San Francisco, and L.A. Their 747s come in several configurations (arrangements of the seats), my favorite is the aircraft with the Evergreen Deluxe located in the nose of the plane. There are other versions with First Class in the nose, OK, but ED in the nose is great for the ED traveler. Here's why: right at the nose, in the front of the cabin they have a huge closet for people to stow their carryons, this closet is so large I can step inside it and walk around. The first three rows of ED have two seats on each side of an extremely wide aisle (further back there are also seats in the center of the plane). For the mildly claustrophobic (like me) or a person with back problems (like you), this seating arrangement is as good as it gets on any aircraft.

The seat pitch (distance from the back of one seat to the back of the seat in front of it and the determining factor in how much legroom you have) is 38 inches for Eva's ED class. Singapore Air has a 31 inch pitch in their regular Economy section, excruciating if you ask me, and 37 inches on the non-stops in their Deluxe Economy. Thai International is touting a 42 inch pitch in their Deluxe Economy new non-stop service JFK-BKK. Each airline has their own terminology for their economy deluxe class, I'm using it as a generic term. Just to get really confusing, Eva has the ED seats on some aircraft, not all. Check carefully if you decide to fly ED on Eva. All the aircraft from USA to Taipei have ED, not all have ED from Taipei to Bangkok. Eva has no onboard "lounge," but I take a walk around the cabin at least once an hour (while awake) and they always have drinks and snacks set out on a galley counter, plus room to exercise a little by the exit doors.

If you're going to be flying back and forth from Asia you need to carefully determine which airline you want to use based on their frequent flyer program. Be sure you're signed up before your first trip and always make sure your FF account number is in your reservation. I apply my Eva miles to my Continental One Pass account, and Eva partners with several other U.S. airlines. Singapore, Thai, and Cathay Pacific have their own programs AND partner with some U.S. carriers. Do consider all this carefully before you purchase your first ticket.

Thanks to Diane47 for the helpful information about Eva. Good to have such a detailed review.

EVA is the best option in Economy.

Avoid China Airlines at all cost (Air China has a much better safety record).

I've only flown Thai in Biz Class which was a nightmare. Other airlines' premium economy class is a better product.

re: flying to bangkok
 

Having just taken the SQ flight EWR - SIN -BKK (RT) on the 340-500, I can't praise it highly enough. Great flight in Exec Economy, lounge area, good pitch, great schedule with just enough time in Singapore for a morning swim at the outdoor pool in the transit area before getting the Bangkok flight. Used my United miles for the trip. Before this flight, I had only ever flown to Bangkok on United or Northwest via Tokyo), and don't think I'll ever be able to suffer like that again.

I have only taken Thai on short haul flights, but find their service far poorer than SQ.

I agree that China Airlines has a very poor safety record. They are one of the few long haul carriers I would avoid for safety reasons.

Dianne47,

I too am a member of OnePass, and a have a question for you.

I tried to book Eva when they had a sale on their Economy Plus, but was never able to do it online. Now they have decent fares listed on Travelocity, and still can't book it.

So the question is how do you book, and are you after EQMs or just plain ol' miles? Also, does Eva recognise your CO status?

So many questions ....

And thanks for taking the time to post those lengthy answers, they are much appreciated ^

For fares on EVA and other asian airlines, best to try in person with a travel agent as they have access to special unlisted consolidator fares.

Eva Tickets & One Pass Miles
 

Sometimes I think I'm too detailed and wordy, so it's nice to hear that all the commentary is meaningful.

I always book with a consolidator (my Mac won't even work properly on their website), what you want is an agent who books a lot with Eva. I have used Borneo International (no website, located in SFO) and most recently Airbound (has a website, also in SFO, agent's name is Raul). For simple roundtrip tickets I would shop around for Taiwan-focused consolidators, you would probably have the best luck by looking in a Sunday L.A. or SFO newspaper travel section and phone their 800 numbers for quotes. You have to have the specific dates ready to get a quote.

For a more complicated itinerary, Raul at Airbound did a good job for me and issued tickets on BR, also a Discovery Pass with Bangkok Airways, and a separate ticket on TG for travel within Thailand. I might have been able to beat his prices by $100 somewhere else, but his service was very good and having once been a travel agent myself I don't begrudge one making a little commission on a complex trip. He was disappointed that I didn't book the hotels and ground arrangements with him, but I always do my own bookings on those items.

Travel agents make very little on issuing air tickets these days, so consolidators can seem brusque and dismissive. It's just that they don't have time to spend with a client, they work on volume.

You have to specify that you want your Eva miles on CO One Pass, you have to buy a fare that gives miles. I usually pay around $1,000 RT for Eva's ED class from LAX or SFO to Asian cities. Your miles on the West Coast to/from TPE are EQMs, the TPE to/from final destination just get counted as regular miles in your account. ALWAYS keep your ticket receipt and all boarding pass receipts, I had no problems with BKK trips posting on One Pass, but always have to fax in the receipts when I go to DPS (Bali) as their systems there don't post the miles. CO has been saying they're going to discontinue their partnership with BR for a while now, so check directly with CO (not on the website) to verify the partnership.

Sorry, I don't know if Eva recognizes CO's status, this is the first year I'm a CO Silver. I have a Diner's Club card, mainly to get access to the Eva lounge in TPE on the long trips. I have a regular routine there that involved access to their e-mail computers, taking a shower and changing clothes, reading newspapers, looking at all the unusual foods in their buffet area, eating snacks (love the little packets of Chinese crackers & cookies), relaxing in the peaceful surroundings.

Warning: the food on Eva leaves a lot to be desired. I always order vegetarian meals, but that only helps a little. I fly Eva for the safety record, faster routing to most destinations, ED seating, nice lounge in TPE, definitely not for the food. Take your own bottled water! They serve tanked water to ED pax, yuk.

Concerning Eva's safety record --- I probably would not have evr considered flying on Eva, then I found out an old friend of mine from many years ago is one of their 747 captains. If Paul works for them, that was good enough for me. I also checked their safety record carefully before I booked them the first time. Two airlines I would definitely NOT fly are China Air and Garuda, the safety website incident reports are frightening for these two carriers.

There are numerous reports on BR's ED service, but with the search function "down" it's hard to find them. Look at the "Other Asian Airlines" forum in the Miles section for reports and more info. on BR.