I posted a topic a few months ago looking for an airpass that allowed flexible travel throughout SE Asia. Through input from all of you I found the ASEAN pass.

There is a stipulation that states your inbound travel must be on an ASEAN pass carrier to qualify for the pass.

There was one poster who said that he booked it with no problem through TG without flying in on one of the listed carriers.

I will be flying to BKK on AA and I was wondering if there was anyone else that was able to buy the pass without a qualifying inbound flight.

I called the folks at TG and they were extremely nice, but were not that familiar with the ASEAN pass. I found one supervisor that was and she said it would be no problem to book. I worry that she did not understand that my inbound was not on TG because of the language barrier.

Any help on how strictly this rule is enforced would be appreciated.

That was me - I booked it without any inbound. I never used it and got a full refund. I would call one of the bangkok ticket offices and ask you question again - or use a travel agent if they are able to issue these tickets.

Thanks Erik,

I am going to try and call the local office again until I get someone who will give me a definitive yes or no.

Did you not use it because you found a better deal?

We were going to use the TG/DragonAir pass, but it wouldn't include Bali.

I din't use it because of a last minute change in plans. It'd be hard to find a better deal than this airpass.

Can u provide a link to this pass?

I found this:
http://www.aseanta.org/products.html

Which indicates that you can't yet buy the 2004 pass.



[This message has been edited by doglover (edited Jan 06, 2004).]

Doglover, all you need to do is call one of the participating airlines. They will book it right now.

Erik, I just tried with both TG and SN to no avail. They both took my ASEAN pass itinerary and then when it came time to book they asked me which international flight I would like to book.

When I told them I was flying in on AA they said it was a no-go.

Found this...

�Get Secondary Carriers To Hip-Hop�: ASEAN Air Pass Relaunches In Singapore in March
By: Mimi Hudoyo in TTG Asia, ATF 2004 Day 3 Report

The Federation of ASEAN Travel Agents (FATA) wants secondary airlines in the region to be part of the ASEAN Hip-Hop Pass to promote greater intra-ASEAN travel.

But the constitution has to be changed to allow them, and in future, low-cost carriers, to be part of the ASEAN tourism network, be it FATA or the ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA).

FATA president, Tunku Iskandar, said: �FATA hopes to be able to include the secondary airlines in developing intra-ASEAN travel. Since the airlines (national airlines) have decided not to develop from what they are today, FATA will talk to the secondary airlines and try to create programmes similar to this pass.�

�The connections are there, what we need to do is to work with them to develop intra-ASEAN travel,� Tunku Iskandar said.

The ASEAN Hip-Hop Pass was introduced last year. But according to one FATA member, the eight-week promotion only managed to sell 400 seats. �The promotion was too short, but I think all parties are more ready this year that we are optimistic the one-year promotion will do well,� the source said.

Meanwhile, ASEANTA has decided to relaunch the pass with a bang at the NATAS (National Association of Travel Agents Singapore) Fair in Singapore on March 19.

This time, the pass will be valid from April 1 to March 31, 2005. It will be sold at US$399 for a minimum of three flight coupons. The pass is available from participating ASEAN airline offices and ASEANTA-appointed general sales agents.

It is only on sale in ASEAN, and travel via country of origin is not permitted. The pass will enable ASEAN travellers to visit at least two ASEAN destinations, and those intending to cover more destinations can buy additional flight coupons at US$150 each. All travel must start and be completed between April 1, 2004 and March 2005.

ASEANTA president, Mr Argus Salim, said the hotel component - of which only ASEAN Hip-Hop Pass holders are eligible - would cost US$35, US$50 and US$70 for three-, four- and five-star hotels respectively, and includes American breakfast, taxes and service charge. The maximum stay per hotel is seven nights.

Source: TTG Asia, ATF 2004 Day 3 Report, February 4, 2004

http://www.singaporecanlah.com/feature_articles/?id=320