Feb 19, 2022, 11:47 am
Routing Advice BKK / Southeast Asia to/from USA for UA flyers
Jul 2, 2023, 5:41 pm
#361
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: St. Peters, MO - USA
Programs: AA, DL, UA (Silver), WN
Posts: 119
Thanks for the heads up!
Great suggestion - thanks.
Not really Kacee. We are just accustomed to flying with UA, and have accumulated some, but relatively few, old UA miles.
It's probably a habit from the old days, when UA still flew all the way to BKK, and we used to be able to make this trip STL>ORD>BKK all on UA metal in less than 30 hours! Fond memories....
Hearing that going with an ME carrier, the TATL route, may be a better way to go!?!?
It's probably a habit from the old days, when UA still flew all the way to BKK, and we used to be able to make this trip STL>ORD>BKK all on UA metal in less than 30 hours! Fond memories....
Hearing that going with an ME carrier, the TATL route, may be a better way to go!?!?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 2, 2023 at 7:15 pm Reason: merged consecutive posts by same member
Jul 2, 2023, 6:29 pm
#362
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,074
For elderly pax I'd go with least connections. 1 stop from STL are not easy, but its possible. Check business class from some of the coasts ... can be a decent price ... then a feeder flight from STL?
Jul 2, 2023, 6:45 pm
#363
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,515
AC only flies to YYZ from STL, so YVR would not be possible except for multiple segments.
Jul 2, 2023, 8:53 pm
#364
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,470
There will also be numerous good 2 stop options via LAX or SFO on a variety of Asian carriers.
There are good options with either routing . . . I'd consider all available options and choose the routing and carrier that offer the best combination of price, convenience and quality. I don't know that the ME carriers offer a particularly good experience in economy. The Asian carriers are generally best for that (especially JL, NH, KE/OZ, and SQ). Google Flights is a great tool to see what's available.
There are good options with either routing . . . I'd consider all available options and choose the routing and carrier that offer the best combination of price, convenience and quality. I don't know that the ME carriers offer a particularly good experience in economy. The Asian carriers are generally best for that (especially JL, NH, KE/OZ, and SQ). Google Flights is a great tool to see what's available.
Aug 16, 2023, 12:19 am
#365
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 295
Looking for some routing advice here... A friend and I are currently booked HNL-GUM-FUK-BKK in early October. The flight involves an overnight in GUM so no connection issues there, but the GUM-FUK-BKK segments involve just about a 75 minute connection in FUK. This isn't the routing I originally booked, but because of cancellations and time changes this is the best I could do with miles. I've been looking everyday for something I could change us to that's less risky, but no luck yet. We're leaving HNL on 10/1 and need to be in BKK by the afternoon of 10/3. We could leave earlier on 9/30 if necessary. Any routings other than HNL-NRT or HNL-ICN (neither of which show availability) that I should be checking?
Mahalo for the advice and suggestions!
Mahalo for the advice and suggestions!
Aug 16, 2023, 8:46 am
#366
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: Former UA1K transitioning to WFBF mentality
Posts: 779
Looking for some routing advice here... A friend and I are currently booked HNL-GUM-FUK-BKK in early October. The flight involves an overnight in GUM so no connection issues there, but the GUM-FUK-BKK segments involve just about a 75 minute connection in FUK. This isn't the routing I originally booked, but because of cancellations and time changes this is the best I could do with miles. I've been looking everyday for something I could change us to that's less risky, but no luck yet. We're leaving HNL on 10/1 and need to be in BKK by the afternoon of 10/3. We could leave earlier on 9/30 if necessary. Any routings other than HNL-NRT or HNL-ICN (neither of which show availability) that I should be checking?
Mahalo for the advice and suggestions!
Mahalo for the advice and suggestions!
I would keep your current ticket and wait & see. Usually a lot of space opens up closer to departure.
Aug 16, 2023, 9:07 am
#367
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,415
Looking for some routing advice here... A friend and I are currently booked HNL-GUM-FUK-BKK in early October. The flight involves an overnight in GUM so no connection issues there, but the GUM-FUK-BKK segments involve just about a 75 minute connection in FUK. This isn't the routing I originally booked, but because of cancellations and time changes this is the best I could do with miles. I've been looking everyday for something I could change us to that's less risky, but no luck yet. We're leaving HNL on 10/1 and need to be in BKK by the afternoon of 10/3. We could leave earlier on 9/30 if necessary. Any routings other than HNL-NRT or HNL-ICN (neither of which show availability) that I should be checking?
Mahalo for the advice and suggestions!
Mahalo for the advice and suggestions!
Another options would be HNL-GUM-MNL-(Overnight)-(SIN)-BKK; while I don't normally recommend connecting in MNL, it's fine for an overnight. There are several hotels near T3. MNL-BKK is served by TG, and if TG isn't available, you may find SQ availability via SIN.
Alternatively, if you'd prefer to spend the night at GUM, GUM-KIX-BKK, which operates on 10/2 (so you'd need to leave HNL on 9/30), would be an option.
Dec 26, 2023, 6:29 pm
#368
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: BWIADCA
Posts: 1,902
UA or Star partner J award seats to Thailand help
Hi All,
For the past week I've been searching for award flights in J from DC to Thailand for April or May 2024. All I see is Ethiopian for 88k or 110k. Sometimes I see mixed cabin; economy to Europe and J on Thai. Once I found mixed Turkish DC to IST in economy then J to Dhaka and then J on Thai to BKK. All I see for United is 650k one way via SFO and HKG. That's out of the question.
When I tried to look for economy seats IAD-Japan-BKK (my favorite connection) I could find round trip for $1400 pp. Was happy with it, I've purchased the ticket, and then I saw IAD-HND then 3 hours connection and next flight from Narita to Bangkok! WTH? Is it even possible to to make intl to intl connection with bags in 3 hours? All other paid flights on United/ANA are $4000+
I would be happy with one way (all the way) in J for 150k pp if that's possible. I can fly Turkish for $900rt and skip the return flight if there is possibility of finding return flight in J. Either BKK or HKT would work. I could also do repositioning flight within SE Asia if I there was J award seat to IAD. We could do repositioning flight to Cairo if there was a chance to get decent J seat from there to IAD (found only Ethiopian). Any help and suggestions are greatly appreciated
Please help! What can I do?
For the past week I've been searching for award flights in J from DC to Thailand for April or May 2024. All I see is Ethiopian for 88k or 110k. Sometimes I see mixed cabin; economy to Europe and J on Thai. Once I found mixed Turkish DC to IST in economy then J to Dhaka and then J on Thai to BKK. All I see for United is 650k one way via SFO and HKG. That's out of the question.
When I tried to look for economy seats IAD-Japan-BKK (my favorite connection) I could find round trip for $1400 pp. Was happy with it, I've purchased the ticket, and then I saw IAD-HND then 3 hours connection and next flight from Narita to Bangkok! WTH? Is it even possible to to make intl to intl connection with bags in 3 hours? All other paid flights on United/ANA are $4000+
I would be happy with one way (all the way) in J for 150k pp if that's possible. I can fly Turkish for $900rt and skip the return flight if there is possibility of finding return flight in J. Either BKK or HKT would work. I could also do repositioning flight within SE Asia if I there was J award seat to IAD. We could do repositioning flight to Cairo if there was a chance to get decent J seat from there to IAD (found only Ethiopian). Any help and suggestions are greatly appreciated
Please help!
What can I do?
Dec 26, 2023, 6:39 pm
#369
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: LAX
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,535
3 hours is the minimum connection time between HND and NRT so if a schedule change shortens that, you can ask to be reaccomodated. What other points do you have? Have you looked at flights to SIN and then repositioning? Have you also considered repositioning flights on the US end?
Dec 26, 2023, 6:40 pm
#370
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,384
If UA did sell you a ticket violating MCT, You should be able to ask for availability on CONUSA-NRT, though it may require extra hop to a CONUSA hub to fly to nrt
Dec 26, 2023, 7:20 pm
#371
formerly 1984SW
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,058
Thought MCT for HND -NRT is 3.5 hours. 3 hours is tough especially bc u need to be there 60 min for check-in , but doable at the right hours.
If UA did sell you a ticket violating MCT, You should be able to ask for availability on CONUSA-NRT, though it may require extra hop to a CONUSA hub to fly to nrt
If UA did sell you a ticket violating MCT, You should be able to ask for availability on CONUSA-NRT, though it may require extra hop to a CONUSA hub to fly to nrt
Spoiler
Dec 26, 2023, 7:31 pm
#372
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: BWIADCA
Posts: 1,902
I've looked at SIN too. UA1 SFO-SIN the lowest I saw in J was 350k pp. On the way out nothing.
As for the HND NRT transfer. I wouldn't want to add more stress to the trip. That's why I cancelled the ticket few minutes after booking it (and reviewing in details).
I did multi city routing IAD-DEN-NRT... and IAD-SFO-SE Asia nothing available for miles. The paid tickets were under $2k pp.
You gave me another idea, to start the search at LAX SFO ORD or IAH. If the paid tickets are at reasonable levels I can use miles to repo to the other hubs.
Back to the drawing board Thanks
I just looked at the cancelled ticket and the exact time between flights shows as 3 hours and 35 minutes. Still too tight as for my nerves
UA 803
12:30 pm
Washington, DC, US (IAD)
3:25 pm
Tokyo, JP (HND)
Duration: 13h 55m
UA 7971
Operated by All Nippon Airways
7:00 pm
Tokyo, JP (NRT)
11:45 pm
Bangkok, TH (BKK)
As for the HND NRT transfer. I wouldn't want to add more stress to the trip. That's why I cancelled the ticket few minutes after booking it (and reviewing in details).
I did multi city routing IAD-DEN-NRT... and IAD-SFO-SE Asia nothing available for miles. The paid tickets were under $2k pp.
You gave me another idea, to start the search at LAX SFO ORD or IAH. If the paid tickets are at reasonable levels I can use miles to repo to the other hubs.
Back to the drawing board
ThanksI just looked at the cancelled ticket and the exact time between flights shows as 3 hours and 35 minutes. Still too tight as for my nerves
UA 803
12:30 pm
Washington, DC, US (IAD)
3:25 pm
Tokyo, JP (HND)
Duration: 13h 55m
UA 7971
Operated by All Nippon Airways
7:00 pm
Tokyo, JP (NRT)
11:45 pm
Bangkok, TH (BKK)
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 26, 2023 at 7:36 pm Reason: merged consecutive posts / update by same member
Dec 26, 2023, 8:08 pm
#373
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
Programs: *
Posts: 2,774
Consider looking outside Star Alliance if paying cash is an option - may give you better value than the mile awards. Qatar and Emirates are very competitive on this route, often much cheaper than UA, and will give better value than almost any Star alliance carrier.
Dec 26, 2023, 10:47 pm
#374
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,470
Right now is probably the worst window to be looking for award seats for April/May. I'd either book a cash fare you can live with or book the best mileage redemption you can find, and then look to improve it. IME, things start to open about two weeks prior to departure. Noting though, that the return from Asia can be really difficult.
If you have transferable points currency, be sure to check SQ.
If you have transferable points currency, be sure to check SQ.
Dec 27, 2023, 12:14 am
#375
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: LAX
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,535
I've looked at SIN too. UA1 SFO-SIN the lowest I saw in J was 350k pp. On the way out nothing.
As for the HND NRT transfer. I wouldn't want to add more stress to the trip. That's why I cancelled the ticket few minutes after booking it (and reviewing in details).
I did multi city routing IAD-DEN-NRT... and IAD-SFO-SE Asia nothing available for miles. The paid tickets were under $2k pp.
You gave me another idea, to start the search at LAX SFO ORD or IAH. If the paid tickets are at reasonable levels I can use miles to repo to the other hubs.
Back to the drawing board Thanks
I just looked at the cancelled ticket and the exact time between flights shows as 3 hours and 35 minutes. Still too tight as for my nerves
UA 803
12:30 pm
Washington, DC, US (IAD)
3:25 pm
Tokyo, JP (HND)
Duration: 13h 55m
UA 7971
Operated by All Nippon Airways
7:00 pm
Tokyo, JP (NRT)
11:45 pm
Bangkok, TH (BKK)
As for the HND NRT transfer. I wouldn't want to add more stress to the trip. That's why I cancelled the ticket few minutes after booking it (and reviewing in details).
I did multi city routing IAD-DEN-NRT... and IAD-SFO-SE Asia nothing available for miles. The paid tickets were under $2k pp.
You gave me another idea, to start the search at LAX SFO ORD or IAH. If the paid tickets are at reasonable levels I can use miles to repo to the other hubs.
Back to the drawing board
ThanksI just looked at the cancelled ticket and the exact time between flights shows as 3 hours and 35 minutes. Still too tight as for my nerves
UA 803
12:30 pm
Washington, DC, US (IAD)
3:25 pm
Tokyo, JP (HND)
Duration: 13h 55m
UA 7971
Operated by All Nippon Airways
7:00 pm
Tokyo, JP (NRT)
11:45 pm
Bangkok, TH (BKK)