Best way to fly to BKK comfortably and affordably???
Nov 26, 2018, 3:52 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Florida/NC
Programs: DELTA SKYMILES
Posts: 6
Best way to fly to BKK comfortably and affordably???
I would appreciate anyone that has more expertise to help me out, I am planning a surprise trip for my parents to Thailand for their 45 year anniversary gift....on short notice....from anywhere in the U.S. (I can get them to departure city with my miles) - destination BKK (Thailand) on business class, preferably a flat bed...they have always wanted to go there and they so much deserve it! Any and all help would be so much appreciated!!! Looking it up some of the prices were outrageous and I know it can be done for less....thanks in advance!!!
Nov 26, 2018, 3:57 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 15
I've been doing a lot of searching for cheap(er) lie flat seats to Asia, and pretty consistently, the lowest prices seem to pop up from Vancouver, and not the US. Can your miles get your parents there? Not sure why that's the case, but it is.
ETA: I use Google flights to find the best deal. Not sure what you mean by last minute, but flights in December can be had in the $2500-2600 range round trip from Vancouver, which I don't think sounds bad at all for a lie flat seat to Asia. In contrast, cheapest flights from Seattle and San Francisco are about $1000 more.
ETA: I use Google flights to find the best deal. Not sure what you mean by last minute, but flights in December can be had in the $2500-2600 range round trip from Vancouver, which I don't think sounds bad at all for a lie flat seat to Asia. In contrast, cheapest flights from Seattle and San Francisco are about $1000 more.
Last edited by mnflyer58; Nov 26, 2018 at 4:04 pm
Nov 26, 2018, 3:59 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2017
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Without more detail, all I can say is that you can usually find business class tickets from the West Coast to BKK for as little as $2500-3000 with reasonable 1 stop connections if you're willing to fly a non-US carrier with flexible dates. Pick competitive hub airports (e.g., LAX, SFO, or even NYC airports if you're East Coast based).
Here's an example on China Eastern with one stops (there's a 4 hour hop that is more like Domestic First, but the long haul are comfortable lie flats but with medicore service) for $2400: https://www.google.com/flights/#flt=...13*.USD.241392 (edit: just saw this was their A330 and not 777 so the seats are not very good; there's some Air China options that are $3000 with better seats).
Here's an example on China Eastern with one stops (there's a 4 hour hop that is more like Domestic First, but the long haul are comfortable lie flats but with medicore service) for $2400: https://www.google.com/flights/#flt=...13*.USD.241392 (edit: just saw this was their A330 and not 777 so the seats are not very good; there's some Air China options that are $3000 with better seats).
Nov 26, 2018, 4:01 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2014
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A good site to use is awardhacker.com . What dates are you looking for? Do you have any Amex/Citi/Chase points? Some programs open up saver space at the last minute, for instance using Flying Blue or Virgin Atlantic miles within 2 weeks on Delta medal might get you a better deal than through delta themselves. Also I suggest using Google flights if you're looking for deals on revenue fares. They have a map based search that you can find out which US city has the cheapest airfare to BKK.
Nov 26, 2018, 4:31 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2017
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I would looks for one stop options - especially if you are already re-positioning your parents to take the first leg (meaning it will be two stops minimum already). In my opinion it's not worth saving $200-300 dollars to add an extra stop if you're trying to make it a luxury / easy / comfortable trip. This is especially true for Vancouver if you then have to re-connect in the US given that they'll have to go through customs multiple times (entrance to Canada and then pre-clearance back to the US).
Nov 26, 2018, 4:38 pm
#7
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If you buy today, SQ has a black friday sale from SFO or LAX for $3190, $3390 from NYC.
It's not a great fare, but it's quite a bit cheaper than usual.
It's not a great fare, but it's quite a bit cheaper than usual.
Nov 26, 2018, 6:50 pm
#9
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Tomphot - Thanks for that information, is the second leg PVG to BKK on the 777 as well? that is a great price either way, best I was able to see is $2900 but a 4 and 5 hour layover
Nov 26, 2018, 6:59 pm
#10
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For some reason, I've always had difficulty putting together an MU itinerary to BKK that didn't involve either a very long layover or two stops in one direction.
Nov 26, 2018, 7:02 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2000
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the flights change by the day of the week. I’m going to book a 12:05 AM departure - IMO, perfect for getting on and to bed. Second flight then lands about noon. The short flight isn’t a lay flat. I’m looking at Jan so short term might be more $$
Nov 26, 2018, 8:19 pm
#12
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If you can possibly afford it, business class on SQ is a truly luxurious experience.
if you parents are, presumably in their late 60s, and are not frequent world travelers, transfers in ICN or HKG are much less stressful than in PVG.
I’m a fairly frequent visitor to BKK (probably 25+ times)...currently leaving for there from NY next Wednesday. We are taking an absolutely insane itinerary, but that has more to do with it being a mileage run-and we know what we’re getting into. I completely agree that adding additional stops for those who are not familiar with Asia’s airports is probably not a great idea.If you’d like some other suggestions (pluses and minuses of various places to stay, etc.) feel free to private message me.
if you parents are, presumably in their late 60s, and are not frequent world travelers, transfers in ICN or HKG are much less stressful than in PVG.
I’m a fairly frequent visitor to BKK (probably 25+ times)...currently leaving for there from NY next Wednesday. We are taking an absolutely insane itinerary, but that has more to do with it being a mileage run-and we know what we’re getting into. I completely agree that adding additional stops for those who are not familiar with Asia’s airports is probably not a great idea.If you’d like some other suggestions (pluses and minuses of various places to stay, etc.) feel free to private message me.
Nov 26, 2018, 9:18 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: YVR
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Here's an example on China Eastern with one stops (there's a 4 hour hop that is more like Domestic First, but the long haul are comfortable lie flats but with medicore service) for $2400: https://www.google.com/flights/#flt=...13*.USD.241392 (edit: just saw this was their A330 and not 777 so the seats are not very good; there's some Air China options that are $3000 with better seats).
Nov 26, 2018, 9:29 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2017
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I'm not super familiar with MU, and I can't speak to the entire airline, but when I flew them from YVR-PVG the business class seats were lie flat suites, akin to the Air Canada dreamliner seats. I'm not sure the make/model exactly of the seats, but they looked pretty good and that was on the 330. Just not sure if all their aircrafts are configured with those or not. FWIW the economy seating was just fine too, the worst parts about MU are the service (which is fine, just not geared towards non-Chinese travelers) and the food which again isn't really geared to anyone other than Chinese passengers.
Nov 26, 2018, 10:34 pm
#15
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And apparently the pilots smoking and frequently lost luggage, so I've heard.