Flights to/from Koh Samui
Oct 30, 2022 | 6:56 am
#31
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Why couldn't he just lower the landing fees to the same ballpark as Trat, Phuket, etc? Obviously, the real estate is more prime than its peers, but this could be taken into account without resorting to anti-competitive practices, and the airport would remain a profit center on its own.
Oct 31, 2022 | 8:29 pm
#32
Join Date: Dec 2014
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Why couldn't he just lower the landing fees to the same ballpark as Trat, Phuket, etc? Obviously, the real estate is more prime than its peers, but this could be taken into account without resorting to anti-competitive practices, and the airport would remain a profit center on its own.
Oct 31, 2022 | 8:49 pm
#33
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 1,483
Surat Thani has become disappointing since the Great Plague with only flights to and from Bangkok from what I can see on the arrivals/departures board online. I specifically want to fly to KUL from Samui and would stomach the ferry ride if Air Asia reinstated the route because the alternative is to fly to BKK and double back. I suppose flying to KL via HKT from USM would also be viable somehow.
Let's not forget that Malaysia's Firefly used to fly to USM direct from KL's other airport in Subang and undercut Bangkok Airways's insane regional fares but they stopped operating the route some years before the Great Plague.
I don't think it's viable for other airlines to fly to USM so I've give up hoping to see other airlines there. Cambodia Airways announced two return flights a week from Phnom Penh in May this year but it's scrubbed from their web site now. I assume that Bangkok Airways didn't think the route was viable so let Cambodia launch the route with crippling landing charges and thus proved their point.
It's not much mentioned but Bangkok Airways does offer a significant discount to Samui Residents on its USM flights and if you can prove residency then you get a special resident card and booking portal. It takes the sting off the fares, particularly ruinous international flights like the SIN one.
Also, when you're paying your absurdly high fare for a domestic or regional flight ex-Thailand you can rest assured that the airline has reinstated hot meals on the USM-BKK route (cold snack still on USM-HKT) and I got five glasses of wine with my hot meal on my recent SIN flight so you can get some added value from the journey.
Let's not forget that Malaysia's Firefly used to fly to USM direct from KL's other airport in Subang and undercut Bangkok Airways's insane regional fares but they stopped operating the route some years before the Great Plague.
I don't think it's viable for other airlines to fly to USM so I've give up hoping to see other airlines there. Cambodia Airways announced two return flights a week from Phnom Penh in May this year but it's scrubbed from their web site now. I assume that Bangkok Airways didn't think the route was viable so let Cambodia launch the route with crippling landing charges and thus proved their point.
It's not much mentioned but Bangkok Airways does offer a significant discount to Samui Residents on its USM flights and if you can prove residency then you get a special resident card and booking portal. It takes the sting off the fares, particularly ruinous international flights like the SIN one.
Also, when you're paying your absurdly high fare for a domestic or regional flight ex-Thailand you can rest assured that the airline has reinstated hot meals on the USM-BKK route (cold snack still on USM-HKT) and I got five glasses of wine with my hot meal on my recent SIN flight so you can get some added value from the journey.
Nov 1, 2022 | 12:43 am
#34
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Nov 1, 2022 | 3:59 pm
#35
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Nov 1, 2022 | 9:04 pm
#36
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Nov 2, 2022 | 2:12 am
#37
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if the government change to Phuea Thai (Thaksin clan) and/or Forward (Thanatorn), you might have to sell it again as they strongly oppose this law....lucky if you still get the same price...
Last edited by BinSabai; Nov 2, 2022 at 5:44 am
Dec 11, 2022 | 5:44 pm
#38
Join Date: Dec 2014
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Another #winning moment in December. It appears availability from BKK-USM is completely zeroed out in the week between Christmas and New Year with two weeks to go. Is this normal at this time of year? In this situation, does PG tend to put on additional flights or do they just laugh all the way to the bank?
We've booked our one-way from USM-BKK in the week before Christmas and are currently facing a return flight to Surat Thani with bus and boat ride to get home for New Year.
We've booked our one-way from USM-BKK in the week before Christmas and are currently facing a return flight to Surat Thani with bus and boat ride to get home for New Year.
Dec 11, 2022 | 6:07 pm
#39
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Another #winning moment in December. It appears availability from BKK-USM is completely zeroed out in the week between Christmas and New Year with two weeks to go. Is this normal at this time of year? In this situation, does PG tend to put on additional flights or do they just laugh all the way to the bank?
We've booked our one-way from USM-BKK in the week before Christmas and are currently facing a return flight to Surat Thani with bus and boat ride to get home for New Year.
We've booked our one-way from USM-BKK in the week before Christmas and are currently facing a return flight to Surat Thani with bus and boat ride to get home for New Year.
Dec 11, 2022 | 7:04 pm
#40
Join Date: Mar 2018
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27 and 31 currently available. No surprise at all that availability is limited in this week. If you want a direct flight book and pay for it and check later if seats become available on a more preferred date, if you did not pay for preferred date in the first place.
Dec 11, 2022 | 7:45 pm
#41
Join Date: Dec 2014
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What are you searching on? Bangkok Airways shows one seat available on 27th right now (I need two). Last night and earlier today (when I posted) there were no seats on 27th. Nothing on 26th or 28th. Of course that seat isn't available on the Samui Resident fare page either when everything that week is zeroed out. the following is the regular search on their web site:
My real question is whether PG has a habit of adding capacity when this occurs two weeks out- not to express surprise that the festive season is peak for Samui and flights are busy. A couple of months ago I was trying to get a flight back from HKT on a Sunday in September and there was nothing. but I kept checking and then a few weeks later a new flight magically appeared so I nabbed it. Hence whether PG has a habit of adding capacity on its monopoly routes which I can keep an eye out for or whether I just bite the bullet and book Air Asia to Surat Thani.
My real question is whether PG has a habit of adding capacity when this occurs two weeks out- not to express surprise that the festive season is peak for Samui and flights are busy. A couple of months ago I was trying to get a flight back from HKT on a Sunday in September and there was nothing. but I kept checking and then a few weeks later a new flight magically appeared so I nabbed it. Hence whether PG has a habit of adding capacity on its monopoly routes which I can keep an eye out for or whether I just bite the bullet and book Air Asia to Surat Thani.
Nov 3, 2023 | 10:52 am
#42
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,217
Had some questions about USM airport in general was hoping those more experienced can help provide some information.
1) Having never been to USM before, how large is the airport, and how efficient is it? Ie. How early before my flight should I plan to arrive (w/ checked bags).
2) How reliable/on-time are PG flights to/from USM and BKK? I'm self connecting at BKK, with BKK international departure at 8pm. Looks like there are tons of options between USM-BKK, was considering either the 1pm or 2:15pm arrival. Assuming typical operations, how risky is this plan? Traveling in May, if time of year makes a difference.
1) Having never been to USM before, how large is the airport, and how efficient is it? Ie. How early before my flight should I plan to arrive (w/ checked bags).
2) How reliable/on-time are PG flights to/from USM and BKK? I'm self connecting at BKK, with BKK international departure at 8pm. Looks like there are tons of options between USM-BKK, was considering either the 1pm or 2:15pm arrival. Assuming typical operations, how risky is this plan? Traveling in May, if time of year makes a difference.
Nov 3, 2023 | 7:29 pm
#43
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Lisbon
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, IHG Platinum, BAEC Silver, TK Miles & Smiles Elite
Posts: 2,520
Had some questions about USM airport in general was hoping those more experienced can help provide some information.
1) Having never been to USM before, how large is the airport, and how efficient is it? Ie. How early before my flight should I plan to arrive (w/ checked bags).
2) How reliable/on-time are PG flights to/from USM and BKK? I'm self connecting at BKK, with BKK international departure at 8pm. Looks like there are tons of options between USM-BKK, was considering either the 1pm or 2:15pm arrival. Assuming typical operations, how risky is this plan? Traveling in May, if time of year makes a difference.
1) Having never been to USM before, how large is the airport, and how efficient is it? Ie. How early before my flight should I plan to arrive (w/ checked bags).
2) How reliable/on-time are PG flights to/from USM and BKK? I'm self connecting at BKK, with BKK international departure at 8pm. Looks like there are tons of options between USM-BKK, was considering either the 1pm or 2:15pm arrival. Assuming typical operations, how risky is this plan? Traveling in May, if time of year makes a difference.
2. Reliability can deteriorate as the day progresses. The service USM-BKK is basically a bus route and you can see the schedule gets packed at peak periods with multiple departures an hour on the route sometimes. Delays are generally short though and won't affect onward travel if you're connecting to an international flight at BKK that requires a two-hour check in. If you book much in advance then re-scheduling can happen when they add more planes to the route as flights get full. We've had that happen so keep an eye on your email. For an 8pm departure from BKK you'll be beyond safe getting an early afternoon flight from USM as you plan.
Nov 3, 2023 | 10:51 pm
#45
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,217
1. Tiny open-air airport with basically one airline - Bangkok Airways - using it. It's not chaotic. You can check in on line in advance and get your boarding pass on your phone. You'll queue for baggage drop and to get through security but neither is onerous. Without baggage I've arrived 20 minutes before departure time and walked straight on the plane to put it in perspective. With baggage I'd give myself an hour on the understanding I'd be sitting around by the departure gate. PG gives everyone free coffee and pastries at the gate while you wait. The premium lounge serves terrible wine.
2. Reliability can deteriorate as the day progresses. The service USM-BKK is basically a bus route and you can see the schedule gets packed at peak periods with multiple departures an hour on the route sometimes. Delays are generally short though and won't affect onward travel if you're connecting to an international flight at BKK that requires a two-hour check in. If you book much in advance then re-scheduling can happen when they add more planes to the route as flights get full. We've had that happen so keep an eye on your email. For an 8pm departure from BKK you'll be beyond safe getting an early afternoon flight from USM as you plan.
2. Reliability can deteriorate as the day progresses. The service USM-BKK is basically a bus route and you can see the schedule gets packed at peak periods with multiple departures an hour on the route sometimes. Delays are generally short though and won't affect onward travel if you're connecting to an international flight at BKK that requires a two-hour check in. If you book much in advance then re-scheduling can happen when they add more planes to the route as flights get full. We've had that happen so keep an eye on your email. For an 8pm departure from BKK you'll be beyond safe getting an early afternoon flight from USM as you plan.
Does raise the question though, if there is a schedule change with PG, what generally happens? Do I get the option to change my flight?