jlemon

36. And your final guess is correct! Here's the sched....

DL 6121: New York Kennedy (JFK) 8:30a - 11:50a Portland (PDX) 1:05p - 5:30p (+1) Taipei (TPE) 6:45p - 9:20p Bangkok (BKK)
Freq: Mondays and Fridays only
Equip: 757 JFK-PDX, M11 PDX-BKK

The OAG listed a minimum connecting time at PDX for domestic to international flights operated by DL at a mere 25 minutes at this time.

As previously discussed, I flew into and out of Portland a number of times in business class on board three class MD-11 aircraft operated by Delta back then and it was usually a very nice experience. My DL Crown Room membership also gave me access to their international first and business class lounge at PDX back when I was flying domestically through the Portland and it was very nice as well.

YVR Cockroach

So at that time, there were 3 U.S. airlines serving Thailand and until not too long ago, it was down to 0 IIRC.

jlemon

Correct. Besides Delta and its MD-11 service, Northwest and United were also serving Bangkok in the fall of 1993, NW with the B747-200 and UA with the B747-400 and DC-10-30. In addition, Canadian Airlines International was operating B747-400 service into BKK at the same time.

And this, of course, engenders yet another BONUS quiz item...

37. At this same time in 1993, only one airline was operating nonstop service between Bangkok and Johannesburg (JNB). The service was operated twice a week. Identify the air carrier and the equipment it operated on the route.
ANSWERED

Seat 2A

37. At this same time in 1993, only one airline was operating nonstop service between Bangkok and Johannesburg (JNB). The service was operated twice a week. Identify the air carrier and the equipment it operated on the route.

Well I suppose we could always start with South African Airways, operating a 747SP I should imagine...

KT550

I'll anticipate an "incorrect" from Mr. Lemon and offer China Airlines with a 747SP.

WHBM

Can I offer British Airways, with a 747 operating Hong Kong-Bangkok-Johannesburg.

WHBM

Were Continental running there from Guam, which would make it four ?

jlemon

37. And that would be a logical place to start. However, South African (SAA) wasn't actually operating the JNB-BKK nonstop although they were code sharing on the route with another air carrier. So we are looking for that other airline. As for the equipment, the service was not operated with a Boeing 747SP.

jlemon

37. Ah, it was not China Airlines and we have already ruled out the B747SP.

jlemon

37. It wasn't British Airways although the westbound flight for the service in question did originate in Hong Kong with the eastbound flight terminating at HKG as well . As for the equipment, we can safely say it was a Boeing 747-400 operating this 5,586 mile nonstop flight.

jlemon

Dupe post by accident (I think my PC needs replacing). Please see below....

jlemon

Well, I did look for CO Micronesia possibly operating a flight into Bangkok from GUM in the fall of 1993; however, the OAG does not list any BKK service flown by Continental at this time. Thai Airways (TG) was flying from Guam to Bangkok twice a week with an A300 at this time via an intermediate stop at Manila (MNL).

So let's go with one more BONUS quiz item concerning Bangkok in the fall of 1993....

38. Three different airlines were operating nonstop service to Bangkok from Ho Chi Minh City in the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam at this time. This city was formerly known as Saigon, of course, and the SGN three letter airport identifier was still being used in the OAG. Airline # 1 was operating three different aircraft types on the route while airlines # 2 and # 3 each operated one aircraft type. All of this equipment was different; thus, there were a total of five different aircraft types being operated on the route by the three air carriers. Identify all three airlines and the respective equipment they operated nonstop at this time from SGN to BKK. ANSWERED - Air France (AF) operating a B747-200 Combi, Thai Airways (TG) operating an A300 and Vietnam Airlines operating A310, B767 and Tu-134 equipment

WHBM

OK, Cathay Pacific then.

jlemon

37. Another excellent guess! However, it wasn't Cathay Pacific (CX). And I think the airline in question will be a bit of a surprise.

WHBM

Well I'm sure it would be, after we have knocked off all the obvious contenders.

Now, it ran through from Jo'burg to Hong Kong, it wasn't SAA or Cathay, and it had a 747-400. So it must be someone operating beyond those points. Incidentally, BA was not an idle suggestion. They ran the Hong Kong to Jo'burg route for many years, back to VC-10 days and before. I don't think JAL or Korean had a shot at South Africa in those days. So ...

Could it have come from South America ? Varig had got 747-400s by then. What about routing Rio-Jo'burg-Bangkok-Hong Kong ?