Thai Changes Schedule-May affect LM redemptions

[RB]

I was doing another check of our May 2014 LM redemption last night (and also reading FT) & came across the fact that Thai (TG) have changed their schedule out of Syd. I have been able to get our flights reorganised. I think there are probably quite a few people on here that have TG flights through LM's so may be worthwhile checking your reservations. We ended up with a change from TG 472 to now be on TG 476

 

[kpc]

Thanks for the reminder / heads up. I was already booked on Tg476 (the 10am Syd departure) for my late night connection to Fra as opposed to TG472 which I see now leaves Syd at 2045 and gets into Bangkok at an ungodly 0305, hence mssiing the late night connections to europe

For my return, Dme-Bkk-Syd, my connection time in Bkk has been redued from 90 mins to an unbelievable 55 mins which I gather is the miniumm connection time at Bangkok (see FT thread below) alto. this makes me a little nervous. I can book this itinerary on the Thai website and Expert Flyer now and it shows it to be a valid routing but I guess I'll be protected as it is all on one PNR. The next flight from Bkk-Syd is the evening flight meaning I will have a 13 hour transit at Bkk!!

Do you think practically I can make the 55 minute transit at Bkk? I'll be in J so should be first off the plane.

Yes, in some cases 55 minutes is enough...

[KVS Availability Tool 5.4.5/Diamond - Reference: Minimum Connection Time [MCT]: BKK/TG-TG]

                                               DD  DI  ID  II   
STANDARD:         BKK                          075 075 075 075  
TG-TG ONLINE      BKK                          055 075 075 [B][COLOR=#ff0000]055[/COLOR] [/B]

Just to confirm TG to TG International is ok with 55 minutes MCT right?

Standard at BKK is 75 mins but TG-TG International with an e-ticket falls under exceptional rule and 55 mins is legal:

[KVS Availability Tool 6.0.8.R5/Diamond - Reference: Minimum Connection Time [MCT]: BKK/TG-TG]

                                               DD  DI  ID  II   
[B]STANDARD:         BKK                          075 075 075 075 [/B] 
[B]TG-TG ONLINE      BKK                          055 075 075 [COLOR=#ff0000][U]055[/U] [/COLOR][/B]

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for the reminder / heads up. I was already booked on Tg476 (the 10am Syd departure) for my late night connection to Fra as opposed to TG472 which I see now leaves Syd at 2045 and gets into Bangkok at an ungodly 0305, hence mssiing the late night connections to europe

For my return, Dme-Bkk-Syd, my connection time in Bkk has been redued from 90 mins to an unbelievable 55 mins which I gather is the miniumm connection time at Bangkok (see FT thread below) alto. this makes me a little nervous. I can book this itinerary on the Thai website and Expert Flyer now and it shows it to be a valid routing but I guess I'll be protected as it is all on one PNR. The next flight from Bkk-Syd is the evening flight meaning I will have a 13 hour transit at Bkk!!

Do you think practically I can make the 55 minute transit at Bkk? I'll be in J so should be first off the plane.

the next flight to sydney will be something like the SQ flight via SIN - so you may well end up on that. i wouldn't be too worried

 

[smit0847]

Thanks for the reminder / heads up. I was already booked on Tg476 (the 10am Syd departure) for my late night connection to Fra as opposed to TG472 which I see now leaves Syd at 2045 and gets into Bangkok at an ungodly 0305, hence mssiing the late night connections to europe

For my return, Dme-Bkk-Syd, my connection time in Bkk has been redued from 90 mins to an unbelievable 55 mins which I gather is the miniumm connection time at Bangkok (see FT thread below) alto. this makes me a little nervous. I can book this itinerary on the Thai website and Expert Flyer now and it shows it to be a valid routing but I guess I'll be protected as it is all on one PNR. The next flight from Bkk-Syd is the evening flight meaning I will have a 13 hour transit at Bkk!!

Do you think practically I can make the 55 minute transit at Bkk? I'll be in J so should be first off the plane.

I wouldn't risk it. Having been through BKK on the weekend and previously having had a 75m TG to TK connection it is a massive, massive airport, and if your gates are far away you will be in for a long, long walk. We literally RAN through the airport with our 75m connection (as the SYD-BKK flight was parked at perhaps the most remote gate possible). We didn't even see the lounge. If you arrive in Concourse G or E and depart from concourse B or C you will need to allow at LEAST 20 minutes in walking time in addition to disembarking and clearing security. If you plane is more than 5 minutes late it is going to be pretty tight.

You could work out what gates your flights have arrived and departed at the last week (or this week) to work if you're likely to have a long walk. Hopefully they'll be the same concourse.

 

[kpc]

the next flight to sydney will be something like the SQ flight via SIN - so you may well end up on that. i wouldn't be too worried

I wouldn't risk it. Having been through BKK on the weekend and previously having had a 75m TG to TK connection it is a massive, massive airport, and if your gates are far away you will be in for a long, long walk. We literally RAN through the airport with our 75m connection (as the SYD-BKK flight was parked at perhaps the most remote gate possible). We didn't even see the lounge. If you arrive in Concourse G or E and depart from concourse B or C you will need to allow at LEAST 20 minutes in walking time in addition to disembarking and clearing security. If you plane is more than 5 minutes late it is going to be pretty tight.

You could work out what gates your flights have arrived and departed at the last week (or this week) to work if you're likely to have a long walk. Hopefully they'll be the same concourse.

I don't think I have a lot of options here but to wear the short 55 min connection at Bkk, and if I miss it, I should be protected for the later TG Bkk-Syd flight (nearly 13 hours later!!). Currently, the connection at BKK is "legal" and there are also no award setas (not even 1) on the later Syd bound flight. I should add that there are 3 pax travelling in J (me, +1 and my mother). So I can't change the Bkk-Syd flight with Lifemiles. I reckon TG are extremely unlikely to release 3 award seats for the later Syd bound flight given the original still meets MCT. Someone suggested (offline) that I contact Tg to see if they can offer a buggy service to expedite the short transfer even tho. we are not travelling in F. Any further thoughts?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don't think I have a lot of options here but to wear the short 55 min connection at Bkk, and if I miss it, I should be protected for the later TG Bkk-Syd flight (nearly 13 hours later!!).

in the event of IRROPS, you should be accommodated on the next available service. No need to prepare for a 13 hour wait in BKK... you'd be pressing for an SQ/SQ connection via SIN.

I agree - your flights are booked and there's probably not a lot you can do to change them right now. If your flight arrives on time then 55 mins should be ok (might have to forego the lounge). If the flight is running late, speak to the purser on board and they will hopefully liaise with the ground. There are often staff waiting for tight connections to assist people.

 

[quokka77]

Booked FCO-BKK-SYD for the in-laws to return from Eu3ope. TG945 and 471 was the original itinerary with a nice gentle 2:30 connection in BKK. They've been shifted to a later flight due to schedule change and are now facing a 13 hour stop. They have a pre paid room at the Rydges SYD on arrival which is now redundant and they will have to hope their SYD leg isn't late so they don't miss their JQ SYD-MCY leg. It's not ideal. Should I ask life miles for other options first or Thai?

 

[kpc]

in the event of IRROPS, you should be accommodated on the next available service. No need to prepare for a 13 hour wait in BKK... you'd be pressing for an SQ/SQ connection via SIN.

If my inbound to Bkk is late, I won't be able to make the 0705 or 0925 SQ flights to Syd ex Sin either. The next Sq flight after that is 2025 which is later than the evening ex Bkk flight to Syd, so looks like if i miss the am flight ex Bkk to Syd we'll be stuck in Bkk for at least 13 hours!!

I agree - your flights are booked and there's probably not a lot you can do to change them right now. If your flight arrives on time then 55 mins should be ok (might have to forego the lounge). If the flight is running late, speak to the purser on board and they will hopefully liaise with the ground. There are often staff waiting for tight connections to assist people.

Thanks for that. I will ring TG in Syd closer to the time of travel and ask for a buggy service to help with the short transit time in Bkk, and I will be also informing the purser on my inbound flight to Bkk about the short transit time and requesting assistance!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for that. I will ring TG in Syd closer to the time of travel and ask for a buggy service to help with the short transit time in Bkk, and I will be also informing the purser on my inbound flight to Bkk about the short transit time and requesting assistance!

Pre-approval for a buggy service? why would they approve that when you may have plenty of time? on board (if you're running late) would be the time.

 

[zainman]

any schedule changes out of MEL?

 

[Rallo]

Our intenrary has been changed as well ,ex Sydney on TG476 and originally connecting that night to CDG TG930, they have now bumped us to the next night, anyone recommend a good hotel at the airport or nearby.

 

[markis10]

Our intenrary has been changed as well ,ex Sydney on TG476 and originally connecting that night to CDG TG930, they have now bumped us to the next night, anyone recommend a good hotel at the airport or nearby.

Go into town, the train is quick and won't rip you off and hotels are cheaper with a wide choice of facilities.

 

[ReLoad]

Thanks for the reminder / heads up. I was already booked on Tg476 (the 10am Syd departure) for my late night connection to Fra as opposed to TG472 which I see now leaves Syd at 2045 and gets into Bangkok at an ungodly 0305, hence mssiing the late night connections to europe

For my return, Dme-Bkk-Syd, my connection time in Bkk has been redued from 90 mins to an unbelievable 55 mins which I gather is the miniumm connection time at Bangkok (see FT thread below) alto. this makes me a little nervous. I can book this itinerary on the Thai website and Expert Flyer now and it shows it to be a valid routing but I guess I'll be protected as it is all on one PNR. The next flight from Bkk-Syd is the evening flight meaning I will have a 13 hour transit at Bkk!!

Do you think practically I can make the 55 minute transit at Bkk? I'll be in J so should be first off the plane.

You will make that flight no problems , I had a similar connection coming back from India. They have ex formula one golf cart drivers that will meet you as you disembark and whisk you to the next flight.

TG are really good at the whole tight connections thing

 

[kpc]

You will make that flight no problems , I had a similar connection coming back from India. They have ex formula one golf cart drivers that will meet you as you disembark and whisk you to the next flight.

TG are really good at the whole tight connections thing

Thanks for the reassurance. Did you have to prebook the golf cart or was it just there when you arrived at Bkk? Did your bags make the tight connection?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for the reassurance. Did you have to prebook the golf cart or was it just there when you arrived at Bkk? Did your bags make the tight connection?

there is a paid golf cart service if you are not flying first class and if you want a confirmed buggy.

 

[ReLoad]

Thanks for the reassurance. Did you have to prebook the golf cart or was it just there when you arrived at Bkk? Did your bags make the tight connection?

I was flying J so the lady was there waiting for me with a sign, she basically grabbed my hand luggage and sped through the terminal at warp factor 7.

I was rather embarrassed but i think she got a kick out of it.

I was fully prepared for my bags not to make it, but they did, even the custom made cricket bats made it through and they were in bat bags.

The connection on the way over wasn't as tight but still got the cart thing.

Some of my old work colleagues used to do TG to India a lot and they marvelled at the both the cart driving Insanity and the super tight connections.

 

[kpc]

Great to here that TG automatically sent a golf cart to pick you up for the tight transfer. We are also in J....

 

[mushypeas]

What a major pain in the cough!

I've got an F redemption in August and now I lose a day of my holiday, flight now has 22 hr stop over.

What recourse is there? Means I've also burnt £180 on accomm in London. How/who do I contact to get on diff flight

 

[Rallo]

What a major pain in the cough!

I've got an F redemption in August and now I lose a day of my holiday, flight now has 22 hr stop over.

What recourse is there? Means I've also burnt £180 on accomm in London. How/who do I contact to get on diff flight

I called the Australian reservations number 1300 651 960 , agent I spoke offered to bring my departure date forward by one day to avoid the 22 hr stop over.

 

[mushypeas]

sadly ive called the 1300# and have been told in no uncertain terms that if i want to amend my flight to an earlier departure i would need to initiate the change via Avianca. they also mentioned that i'm booked in "O" class which is award inventory and would be wait listed with no guarantee to travel on the elected date.

so it looks like im screwed, i need 3 F tickets SYD>LHR and there appears to be none available - what a nightmare.