MEL_Traveller
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2005
- Posts
- 28,836
Couple of notes from a recent set of flights in Bangkok Airways.
Flew BKK-USM (Koh Samui) followed on a later date by USM-SIN.
Being the main carrier into USM, fares are high. Luckily secured, with a couple of days notice, QFFF awards. 10k to USM and 14k to SIN. Marginal fees which represented taxes. Total cash saving of $600 or so in exchange for 24k points. So not too bad.
Tried online chicken for the flight to USM, which worked, but was unable to bag drop. Took the agent around 10 mins to fix the issue, which apparently is due to it being a points redemption.
There was an economy class lounge in BKK, free of charge, with a fairly good coffee machine, sandwiches and some Thai snacks.
Flight was jam packed. Seats old and very uncomfortable. Seat pitch just 30’.
The flight was just short of 45 mins. Full hot meal served, including special meals. A second pass of the carts served tea and coffee, with fresh milk added by the crew. A third pass or the carts collected trays.
144 pax, 45 mins total flight time. 4 cabin crew.
VA take note! To say you can’t serve tea and coffee due to the short flight time SYD-MEL when the PG crew can do the above!
Bag damaged on arrival… brute force damage that bent the bottom of the bag out of shape (samsonite). Being a black case, and with the wheels still operating, didn’t notice until arrival at the hotel. No way to file a damaged bag claim online, must do it at the airport within 7 days.
Which I did on the onward flight to SIN. Lots of reports in different forums about PG damaging bags. Got 1000 baht compensation. But not happy! (me that is, the staff couldn’t care less)
On arrival,m for those continuing on to any of the islands, there are ferry desks that arrange tickets and transfer to the ferry pier. Very easy and simple.
Flight to USM was only around 50%. This was a two-class a319, but no upgrades possible because used FF points. Exit row seat cost me AUD17, and I had the entire row, left and right to myself. The standard business class fare was double economy, so $800. Same seating as QF domestic, but with a 45 inch seat pitch.
Full meal, hot drinks and wines served. Business class had menues.
They tried to take my cabin bag but i showed them the damaged bag receipt and was allowed to take it. I knew the flight was not packed anyway. Probably didn’t need to spend the $17, but there was no way of knowing how many people hadn’t selected seats.
So PG was fine, expensive, old planes with uncomfortable seats. Buy an exit or bulkhead if you can. Staff on board fantastic… but try and not check in bags!
Flew BKK-USM (Koh Samui) followed on a later date by USM-SIN.
Being the main carrier into USM, fares are high. Luckily secured, with a couple of days notice, QFFF awards. 10k to USM and 14k to SIN. Marginal fees which represented taxes. Total cash saving of $600 or so in exchange for 24k points. So not too bad.
Tried online chicken for the flight to USM, which worked, but was unable to bag drop. Took the agent around 10 mins to fix the issue, which apparently is due to it being a points redemption.
There was an economy class lounge in BKK, free of charge, with a fairly good coffee machine, sandwiches and some Thai snacks.
Flight was jam packed. Seats old and very uncomfortable. Seat pitch just 30’.
The flight was just short of 45 mins. Full hot meal served, including special meals. A second pass of the carts served tea and coffee, with fresh milk added by the crew. A third pass or the carts collected trays.
144 pax, 45 mins total flight time. 4 cabin crew.
VA take note! To say you can’t serve tea and coffee due to the short flight time SYD-MEL when the PG crew can do the above!
Bag damaged on arrival… brute force damage that bent the bottom of the bag out of shape (samsonite). Being a black case, and with the wheels still operating, didn’t notice until arrival at the hotel. No way to file a damaged bag claim online, must do it at the airport within 7 days.
Which I did on the onward flight to SIN. Lots of reports in different forums about PG damaging bags. Got 1000 baht compensation. But not happy! (me that is, the staff couldn’t care less)
On arrival,m for those continuing on to any of the islands, there are ferry desks that arrange tickets and transfer to the ferry pier. Very easy and simple.
Flight to USM was only around 50%. This was a two-class a319, but no upgrades possible because used FF points. Exit row seat cost me AUD17, and I had the entire row, left and right to myself. The standard business class fare was double economy, so $800. Same seating as QF domestic, but with a 45 inch seat pitch.
Full meal, hot drinks and wines served. Business class had menues.
They tried to take my cabin bag but i showed them the damaged bag receipt and was allowed to take it. I knew the flight was not packed anyway. Probably didn’t need to spend the $17, but there was no way of knowing how many people hadn’t selected seats.
So PG was fine, expensive, old planes with uncomfortable seats. Buy an exit or bulkhead if you can. Staff on board fantastic… but try and not check in bags!
