Best airlines and membership programs in Southeast Asia?
Mar 18, 2019, 11:07 am
#16
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: ENA
Programs: AS - MVP Gold, Bonvoy - Silver, Star Citizen - Concierge
Posts: 102
I prefer Bangkok Airways to Air Asia due to the extra fees Air Asia charges for pretty much everything vs Bangkok Airways. When you look at all the extra fees you get charged with Air Asia, sometimes Bangkok Airways is actually cheaper for what you get. Granted I have only flown Bangkok Airways 4 times now but have yet to see the free lounges crowded. Also I much prefer BKK over DMK due to Airport Rail Link access and overall facilities, brightness, architecture, stuff to look at, lack of backpackers sitting in circles on the floor going "chill bro", etc...
If you want to avoid queues, you could get fast track through https://www.limousine.in.th/fast-track-immigration.html
Bangkok Flight Services ( https://www.bangkokflightservices.co...port-services/ ) used to offer fast track to economy passengers (which I used in April) but now it seems like they don't as of sometime last summer. It confuses me because both times I have flown business into bangkok I was given fast track passes by the airlines (Hainan and JAL).
If you want to avoid queues, you could get fast track through https://www.limousine.in.th/fast-track-immigration.html
Bangkok Flight Services ( https://www.bangkokflightservices.co...port-services/ ) used to offer fast track to economy passengers (which I used in April) but now it seems like they don't as of sometime last summer. It confuses me because both times I have flown business into bangkok I was given fast track passes by the airlines (Hainan and JAL).
Mar 18, 2019, 10:16 pm
#17
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,611
I prefer Bangkok Airways to Air Asia due to the extra fees Air Asia charges for pretty much everything vs Bangkok Airways. When you look at all the extra fees you get charged with Air Asia, sometimes Bangkok Airways is actually cheaper for what you get. Granted I have only flown Bangkok Airways 4 times now but have yet to see the free lounges crowded. Also I much prefer BKK over DMK due to Airport Rail Link access and overall facilities, brightness, architecture, stuff to look at, lack of backpackers sitting in circles on the floor going "chill bro", etc...
If you want to avoid queues, you could get fast track through https://www.limousine.in.th/fast-track-immigration.html
Bangkok Flight Services ( https://www.bangkokflightservices.co...port-services/ ) used to offer fast track to economy passengers (which I used in April) but now it seems like they don't as of sometime last summer. It confuses me because both times I have flown business into bangkok I was given fast track passes by the airlines (Hainan and JAL).
If you want to avoid queues, you could get fast track through https://www.limousine.in.th/fast-track-immigration.html
Bangkok Flight Services ( https://www.bangkokflightservices.co...port-services/ ) used to offer fast track to economy passengers (which I used in April) but now it seems like they don't as of sometime last summer. It confuses me because both times I have flown business into bangkok I was given fast track passes by the airlines (Hainan and JAL).
But doing Air Asia with Premium Flex (which includes all available add-ons) is a very decent experience. Just doing a basic fare with Hot Seat is good.
Obviously a lot depends on route.
FWIW when we arrived into BKK on Hong Kong Airlines in business class we were given fast track passes.
Mar 19, 2019, 1:45 am
#20
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,611
Gotta do the math each time.
And it's situational: if you have no bags to check and don't want airline food there may be no or minimal fees on an LCC. Caveat emptor!
You also have to consider potential irrops. An LCC with hourly flights might trump a full-serve airline with once or twice daily service just based on the ability to get from A to B in case of irrops.
Don't get me wrong: I prefer to be on a full-service airline. But there are a lot more variables than price - which in and of itself is highly variable.
Mar 19, 2019, 6:24 am
#21
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,677
I don't think that's true as a blanket statement.
Gotta do the math each time.
And it's situational: if you have no bags to check and don't want airline food there may be no or minimal fees on an LCC. Caveat emptor!
You also have to consider potential irrops. An LCC with hourly flights might trump a full-serve airline with once or twice daily service just based on the ability to get from A to B in case of irrops.
Don't get me wrong: I prefer to be on a full-service airline. But there are a lot more variables than price - which in and of itself is highly variable.
Gotta do the math each time.
And it's situational: if you have no bags to check and don't want airline food there may be no or minimal fees on an LCC. Caveat emptor!
You also have to consider potential irrops. An LCC with hourly flights might trump a full-serve airline with once or twice daily service just based on the ability to get from A to B in case of irrops.
Don't get me wrong: I prefer to be on a full-service airline. But there are a lot more variables than price - which in and of itself is highly variable.
Though I would say that some of the full service airlines have extremely competitive pricing if you are willing to buy out in advance.
Mar 19, 2019, 11:24 pm
#22
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,611