Most comfortable trip to Bangkok under $800 one way?

[kinkacruiser]

Looking to book a one way flight Bne-Bangkok next year. The cheapest is Emirates but I hear the seats are most uncomfortable (least legroom) in economy. A friend suggested Thai at around $790. Has anyone got any thoughts on this?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

What date?

How are you getting back from BKK or where is your onward travel after BKK?

Just had a quick look at JQ ex DRW to BKK via SIN & most dates in Feb are around AUD218.00 to AUD238.00 so IMHO do your DRW/BKK booking in the one pnr then flying up the day before of a cheap fare either QF JQ or DJ.

With the $$$ you save doing it that way you'll have more than enough coin for your nights accommodation in DRW & SIN unless you sleep at Changi Airport.[h=3]Booking Summary[/h]

• Total AUD
• $331.18

[TABLE="class: open"]
[TR]
[TH="colspan: 2"]Departing[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="colspan: 2"]Departing Total[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]$331.18[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: title hidden, colspan: 2"]Departing flight[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: date-time hidden, colspan: 2"]18:20 PM Wed Feb 29 2012[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: title, colspan: 2"]Fares[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: fares-adult"]
[TH]Adult[/TH]
[TD]1 x $218.68[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: fares-adult-free"]
[TH]Adult FREE[/TH]
[TD]0 x $0.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: section narrow, colspan: 2"][/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: title, colspan: 2"]Fees & taxes[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: fees-adult"]
[TH]Adult[/TH]
[TD]1 x $84.50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: fees-adult-free"]
[TH]Adult FREE[/TH]
[TD]0 x $84.50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: section, colspan: 2"]Optional Extras[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: title, colspan: 2"]Baggage[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: baggage-adult"]
[TH]Adult[/TH]
[TD]1 x $28.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: title, colspan: 2"]Value Bundles[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: bundles-adult"]
[TH]Adult[/TH]
[TD]1 x $0.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

• Total AUD
• $331.18

Departing Flight 1 JQ 57

Departing: 18:20 PM, Wed, Feb 29, 2012 - Darwin - International Terminal - Arrives: 21:20 PM, Wed, Feb 29, 2012 - SingaporeDeparting Flight 2 3K 511

Departing: 7:00 AM, Thu, Mar 01, 2012 - Singapore - Arrives: 8:35 AM, Thu, Mar 01, 2012 - Bangkok

 

[kinkacruiser]

Thanks for your research. Not able to book yet till early 2012 ( for a November 24 departure) hopefully ex Brisbane as it's the closest international airport. We are on a cruise Bangkok - Sydney, so only need the one way ticket.
Cheers

 

[mannej]

Looking to book a one way flight Bne-Bangkok next year. The cheapest is Emirates but I hear the seats are most uncomfortable (least legroom) in economy. A friend suggested Thai at around $790. Has anyone got any thoughts on this?

I believe the problem with EK is not the legroom, as I believe they have between 32-34' seat pitch, but the actual width (if on a 777), as EK fit 10 across instead of the typical 9 most other carriers use.

 

[serfty]

Looking to book a one way flight Bne-Bangkok next year. The cheapest is Emirates but I hear the seats are most uncomfortable (least legroom) in economy. A friend suggested Thai at around $790. Has anyone got any thoughts on this?

Have you considered JQi 'pseudo-' Business class.

 

[wilco]

The one and only time I flew EK was on an A345 from AKL to MEL and I found the seats to be hard, narrow and very uncomfortable. I have not and would not fly them again in Y.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Thanks for your research. Not able to book yet till early 2012 ( for a November 24 departure) hopefully ex Brisbane as it's the closest international airport. We are on a cruise Bangkok - Sydney, so only need the one way ticket.
Cheers

I'd call the cruise company or whoever you're booking the trip through as usually cruise lines have special fly/cruise add-ons so they may be able to offer you a better deal.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Saw a special on Nine's Today show advertising a $639.00 package to Bali ex SYD/MEL including 7 nights accomm at Champlung Mas including daily breakfast. You need to book by 31 December 2011. The link below doesn't actually say what the departure dates are so you'd need to call QF Holidays for that.

Qantas holidays

Although it's probably not suitable for your exact dates it's a good example of how doing a return package to Asia (& being a noshow on the flight home) gets you more bang for your buck.

You could use a similar package to that maybe to SIN stay in the hotel accomm for a few nights then buy a cheap ticket on 3K or whoever to fly to BKK if Bali didn't interest you.

 

[serfty]

FWIW, Qantas have a special to BKK for $799 (Sale ends Monday 12th)

Book Qantas International Flight Specials from Brisbane to London, Bangkok, Los Angeles, Dallas, Buenos Aires and more.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

You could also fly Air Asia OOL-KUL-BKK for AUD365.00 or OOL-KUL-HKT for AUD349.00. Day time flight ex OOL arrive that evening so no overnight flights or accommodation required.

 

[JohnK]

Has anyone got any thoughts on this?

Here is a thought.

Sign up for 2 BMI accounts and with the current special purchase 13,000 BMI miles and receive 50% bonus making it 19,500 miles. These should cost ~GBP171 or ~AUD270 including foreign currency exchange fees.

Then redeem 18,750 miles + GBP127.50 co-payment for a one way BNE-BKK in business class which all up should cost ~GBP255 or ~AUD405 including the co-payment, taxes and surcharges, credit card processing fee and foreign currency exchange fees.

So for a total of ~AUD675 each you get to travel in business class. Certainly beats any one-way economy airfare....

 

[Happy Trails]

Here is a thought.

Sign up for 2 BMI accounts and with the current special purchase 13,000 BMI miles and receive 50% bonus making it 19,500 miles. These should cost ~GBP171 or ~AUD270 including foreign currency exchange fees.

Then redeem 18,750 miles + GBP85 co-payment for a one way BNE-BKK in business class which all up should cost ~GBP255 or ~AUD405 including the co-payment, taxes and surcharges, credit card processing fee and foreign currency exchange fees.

So for a total of ~AUD675 each you get to travel in business class. Certainly beats any one-way economy airfare....

Are you sure of those sums? I thought it was 37,500 miles required but I'll be very happy if I'm wrong.

 

[JohnK]

Are you sure of those sums? I thought it was 37,500 miles required but I'll be very happy if I'm wrong.

Sums are right. It is only 18,750 miles + GBP127.50 co-payment for a one-way in business class.

I made a mistake in the co-payment required but the total is correct as I took it off my credit card statement.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Sums are right. It is only 18,750 miles + GBP127.50 co-payment for a one-way in business class.

I made a mistake in the co-payment required but the total is correct as I took it off my credit card statement.

JohnK, how many points would you need for a J award on NZ BNE/AKL/LAX or even AKL/LAX & how do you book it? I've looked at the Dividend Miles redemption table but it doesn't mention Australia or SW Pacific on it.

 

[arraitch]

JohnK, how many points would you need for a J award on NZ BNE/AKL/LAX or even AKL/LAX & how do you book it? I've looked at the Dividend Miles redemption table but it doesn't mention Australia or SW Pacific on it.

ozbeachbabe, JohnK was referring to a BMI - rather than a US DM - redemption. BMI permits one-way fares, but US requires return fares. South Pacific to US and return in J is 110,000 miles.

 

[JohnK]

JohnK, how many points would you need for a J award on NZ BNE/AKL/LAX or even AKL/LAX & how do you book it? I've looked at the Dividend Miles redemption table but it doesn't mention Australia or SW Pacific on it.

Not sure if you actually meant Dividend Miles but BMI is Diamond Club.

Anyway USA is Zone 3 and Australia is Zone 9.

You require 120,000 Diamond Club miles for business class or 60,000 Diamond Club miles each + GBP405 co-payment. Obviously you have one way awards and these require half the miles.

US Dividend miles may be better for redemptions to USA but I believe BMI Diamond is much better for redemptions to Asia.