Would you rather... (2 Routes to Phuket)

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Sep 19, 2013 | 3:24 pm

BrianG86

Original Poster

Join Date: Jul 2010

Posts: 58

Would you rather... (2 Routes to Phuket)

I am going from BWI - HKT and have 2 options I am trying to pick between.

Setup: I am an American Exec Plat who stopped traveling for business at midyear, and only have 49k miles flown this year.

Option 1: Fly AA all the way to NRT, then japan airlines to bkk, then dragon to HKT.

Pros: I get to cross pacific in business rather than coach.

Cons: $2400

Option 2: Fly AA from BWI to LAX, then Cathay on a 777 in coach to HKG and another cathay in coach to HKT.

Pros: More qualifying miles than option 1, being $800-900 less than the other option leaves me money for another trip this year (I have $2500 in vouchers to use...).

Cons: Very long flight in coach.

Option 3 - some amazing idea you have that I have not even considered yet...

What would you do? How are the Cathay 777's that do LAX-HKG in coach? Will my status get me into premium economy or am I out of luck?

Last edited by BrianG86; Sep 19, 2013 at 3:32 pm

Sep 19, 2013 | 4:24 pm

Gamecock

Join Date: Nov 2008

Location: Home Airports: CAE/CLT

Programs: Hyatt Globalist, National Executive

Posts: 5,460

I can't imagine flying TRANSPAC in coach. But I am a wimp.

Sep 22, 2013 | 11:45 pm

PETEFLYS

Join Date: Aug 2001

Location: DALLAS,TX AA EXP-3MM, HYT PLAT, SPG PLAT,HLT GLD,LEADERS CLUB

Posts: 1,183

Well I would forget about coach on CX or any airline going that distance. I figure you have upgrades since you mention flying J to NRT. Your problem is the fare. I would try pricing to ICN or to BKK. If you decide on BKK you can always fly Air Asia to Phuket.

Sep 23, 2013 | 2:20 am

Unterwegs

Join Date: Sep 2000

Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX

Posts: 5,032

I would not fly transpac in Eco, even on a relatively good airline like CX.
Here are some of the fares (without knowing your travel dates this might be off, but it gives you some idea) without taxes and other fines, first to HKT and then to BKK (often cheaper to buy a separate ticket from there)

[KVS Availability Tool 7.2.3/Diamond - Fares/PSH/RU]

Code:

BWI  Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall MD US [KBWI]
HKT  Phuket Intl TH [VTSP]
R/T  05 Nov 2013 | Business

Carrier    From    To    Fare      Cur   AdvanceP  Min  Max  Fare Basis | Travel Period
---------  ------  ----  --------  ----  --------  ---  ---  --------------------------
HU         BWI     HKT      2136   USD    60 Days       180  IA6M5US4     07 May-31 Dec
MH         BWI     HKT      2645   USD        ***        90  ZBT3MUS      07 May-31 Dec
CI         BWI     HKT      2782   USD        ***       360  BC1YE        07 May-31 Dec
HU         BWI     HKT      2848   USD    14 Days       180  IA6M5US2     22 Oct-05 Nov
CI         BWI     HKT      2904   USD        ***       360  BC1Y         22 Oct-05 Nov
HU         BWI     HKT      3713   USD    30 Days       180  IAP6MUS4     01 Nov-31 Dec
HU         BWI     HKT      4120   USD    21 Days       180  IAP6MUS3     01 Nov-31 Dec
HU         BWI     HKT      4425   USD    14 Days       180  IAP6MUS2     01 Nov-31 Dec
HU         BWI     HKT      4679   USD     7 Days       180  IL6M5US1     01 Oct-29 Nov
HU         BWI     HKT      4730   USD     7 Days       180  IAP6MUS1     01 Nov-31 Dec
CA         BWI     HKT      4913   USD        ***    3   90  ZSPLAS7      01 Nov-31 Dec
OZ         BWI     HKT      5096   USD        ***            YOXUG        01 Nov-31 Dec
HU         BWI     HKT      5137   USD        ***       180  IPR6MUS      01 Jan-31 Dec
MU         BWI     HKT      5147   USD        ***       180  I6MNBZ       01 Jan-31 Dec
JL         BWI     HKT      5282   USD    50 Days    7  360  XZX5LA7Y     01 Jan-31 Dec
MH         BWI     HKT      5368   USD        ***       180  DBZ6MUS      01 Jan-31 Dec
HU         BWI     HKT      5391   USD        ***       180  IL6M5US      01 Oct-29 Nov
OZ         BWI     HKT      5402   USD        ***            YOWUG        01 Oct-29 Nov
AA         BWI     HKT      5444   USD    50 Days    3  360  I1X5F4B1     01 Oct-29 Nov
HU         BWI     HKT      5747   USD    14 Days       360  DAPRTUS2     20 Aug-31 Dec
UA         BWI     HKT      5831   USD    50 Days   10  360  ZFXG1NMD     20 Aug-31 Dec
JL         BWI     HKT      5892   USD    50 Days    7  360  XZW5LA7Y     20 Aug-31 Dec
HU         BWI     HKT      6002   USD    14 Days            DART5US2     15 Mar-31 Dec
AA         BWI     HKT      6055   USD    50 Days    3  360  I1Y5F4B1     15 Mar-31 Dec

[KVS Availability Tool 7.2.3/Diamond - Fares/PSH/RU]

Code:

BWI  Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall MD US [KBWI]
BKK  Bangkok Metro / Suvarnabhumi Intl TH = BKK DMK [VTBS]
R/T  05 Nov 2013 | Business

Carrier    From    To    Fare      Cur   AdvanceP  Min  Max  Fare Basis | Travel Period
---------  ------  ----  --------  ----  --------  ---  ---  --------------------------
HU         BWI     BKK      2136   USD    60 Days       180  IA6M5US4     07 May-31 Dec
MH         BWI     BKK      2136   USD        ***        90  ZBT3MUS      07 May-31 Dec
CI         BWI     BKK      2675   USD        ***       360  BC1YE        07 May-31 Dec
CI         BWI     BKK      2797   USD        ***       360  BC1Y         07 May-31 Dec
HU         BWI     BKK      2848   USD    14 Days       180  IA6M5US2     22 Oct-05 Nov
CA         BWI     BKK      3560   USD     7 Days            JXAP7        22 Oct-05 Nov
HU         BWI     BKK      3713   USD    30 Days       180  IAP6MUS4     01 Nov-31 Dec
CA         BWI     BKK      3764   USD     7 Days            JSAP7        01 Nov-31 Dec
CA         BWI     BKK      3764   USD     7 Days            JWAP7        01 Nov-31 Dec
CA         BWI     BKK      3967   USD        ***            JXR          01 Nov-31 Dec
PR         BWI     BKK      3988   USD        ***       180  IL3BCXU      21 Jul-05 Dec
HU         BWI     BKK      4120   USD    21 Days       180  IAP6MUS3     01 Nov-31 Dec
CA         BWI     BKK      4171   USD        ***            JSR          01 Nov-31 Dec
CA         BWI     BKK      4171   USD        ***            JWR          01 Nov-31 Dec
AY         BWI     BKK      4222   USD        ***            IFLEX2US     01 Nov-31 Dec
RJ         BWI     BKK      4303   USD        ***    7  120  DEERTUS2     01 Nov-31 Dec
HU         BWI     BKK      4425   USD    14 Days       180  IAP6MUS2     01 Nov-31 Dec
OZ         BWI     BKK      4588   USD        ***            YOXUG        01 Nov-31 Dec
HU         BWI     BKK      4679   USD     7 Days       180  IL6M5US1     01 Oct-29 Nov
HU         BWI     BKK      4730   USD     7 Days       180  IAP6MUS1     01 Nov-31 Dec
EK         BWI     BKK      4848   USD    50 Days    7  360  IX50US1      01 Nov-31 Dec
JL         BWI     BKK      4875   USD    50 Days    7  360  XZX5LA7Y     01 Nov-31 Dec
OZ         BWI     BKK      4893   USD        ***            YOWUG        01 Nov-31 Dec
CA         BWI     BKK      4913   USD        ***    3   90  ZSPLAS7      01 Nov-31 Dec
CA         BWI     BKK      5015   USD        ***            ZRBU         01 Nov-31 Dec

Sep 27, 2013 | 3:11 pm

Paiteaw

Join Date: Jul 2003

Location: WAS/ Silver Spring, MD,USA

Programs: UA/AA

Posts: 857

Given the choices presented, I would not be opting for one involving a coach flight across the Pacific. I've done it many times but now have no desire experience it again.

Sep 27, 2013 | 5:29 pm

DeltaFlyingProf

Join Date: Mar 2003

Programs: Triple LT Gold (AA, DL, BA).

Posts: 3,854

Trouble is the OP's credit on AA may not be usable with the listed fares.

OP, are you sure the CX fare would give you qualifying miles? CX has an AWFUL long list on class buckets that yield .... nada.

Oct 8, 2013 | 3:06 am

im.daniel

Join Date: Jul 2011

Programs: QF Plat, VA Plat, BA Gold

Posts: 547

I'd personally take the hit in Y and use the saved money on another trip/at the destination. 12 hours isn't that bad

Oct 8, 2013 | 9:22 am

savitar

Join Date: Jun 2013

Location: Edinburgh

Programs: AA Plat, QF Silver

Posts: 288

Quote:

Originally Posted by im.daniel

I'd personally take the hit in Y and use the saved money on another trip/at the destination. 12 hours isn't that bad

I am with you.....take the $800 and buy yourself the latest Ipad to entertain yourself on the journey....then you get the keep the Ipad...

As you have AA Exec plat you can choose the best seats and might be able to get exit / bulk head which is really not that bad in Y. Middle seat in Y, sure...but as exec plat you should be able to get a good seat.

Oct 10, 2013 | 11:50 pm

nkedel

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2000

Location: in the vicinity of SFO

Programs: AA 2MM (LT-PLT, PPro for this year)

Posts: 19,784

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianG86

Option 1: Fly AA all the way to NRT, then japan airlines to bkk, then dragon to HKT.

What aircraft is the NRT-BKK leg? The NRT-BKK leg is 7 hours, and if it's the JL 763, those things are MISERABLE... make the AA 767s look nice, the seats have super-wide armrests so unless you have a narrow tush, they are very tight, and the pitch is tight as well (SeatGuru lists 34" pitch, which isn't awful, but does not match my experience.)

(I'd also consider using AirAsia or Tiger for Bangkok (DMK, the old airport, probably) to HKT, and only ticketing as far as BKK on the major.)

What about saving money and doing AA coach? 31ABHJ are really, really good seats if you can snag one on one of the days you're going.

Quote:

Option 2: Fly AA from BWI to LAX, then Cathay on a 777 in coach to HKG and another cathay in coach to HKT.

What about paid Premium Economy on CX? Likely cheaper than 1, pricier than 2, and intermediate in comfort, but fewer connections than 1 and miuch nicer on the short-haul leg. If the fares are good, of course -- if not it might be pricier than 1, and not worth considering.

Quote:

What would you do? How are the Cathay 777's that do LAX-HKG in coach?

All on the new seats, AFAICT, and a fairly comfortable 3-3-3. Status WILL get you into the extended legroom (bulkhead/exit) seats for free, although as of my last CX flight you will need to phone to get those seats.

Quote:

Will my status get me into premium economy or am I out of luck?

Only if regular coach fills up; I've gotten more op-ups on CX than I have on AA, and I'm a mere PLT, but it's pretty rare.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gamecock

I can't imagine flying TRANSPAC in coach. But I am a wimp.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unterwegs

I would not fly transpac in Eco, even on a relatively good airline like CX.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paiteaw

Given the choices presented, I would not be opting for one involving a coach flight across the Pacific. I've done it many times but now have no desire experience it again.

Wimps.

I've done it at least once and usually 2-4x a year most years for the past ten years, and it's not that bad. Honestly, the awfulness of the long-arse 767 leg from NRT kills a lot of the goodness of business class on the leg to Tokyo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by im.daniel

I'd personally take the hit in Y and use the saved money on another trip/at the destination. 12 hours isn't that bad

Ditto.

Oct 13, 2013 | 7:08 pm

#10

Paiteaw

Join Date: Jul 2003

Location: WAS/ Silver Spring, MD,USA

Programs: UA/AA

Posts: 857

Transpacs from the East coast are considerably longer than from sittin on the dock of the Bay !

Oct 13, 2013 | 9:57 pm

#11

nkedel

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2000

Location: in the vicinity of SFO

Programs: AA 2MM (LT-PLT, PPro for this year)

Posts: 19,784

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paiteaw

Transpacs from the East coast are considerably longer than from sittin on the dock of the Bay !

...and routing through the mid-West or the East coast are good ways to maximize your miles when coming from the West coast. BTDT many times through ORD/DFW, a few through JFK.

There isn't a good connection from BKK-NRT-LAX*, so since they ended SJC<->NRT... I've done the NRT-(ORD/DFW) leg more often to LAX coming back.**

Honestly, once I'm in on 10 hours+ plus flight, extra time doesn't seem to matter to me; I just up my medication dosage and sleep.

(* AA170 is too early for the morning flights BKK-NRT, and is one wicked long wait at the airport if you're leaving BKK the night before.)
(** before I got Global Entry, it also didn't hurt that the Immigrations and Customs guys in LAX tend to be particularly nasty to deal with.)

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