US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[ferni]

We flew earlier this month TF F on SYD-BKK, HKG-BKK and BKK-SYD and all were 9F (Suites).

 

[travelislife]

Had a win with my flight MEL-BKK changing to the 777-300ER in April. But my connecting flight BKK-NRT was on the A380 and now down to a 747 which is a bit disappointing.

 

[PapaRubbery]

Hi gents,

I'm the crazy guy with the ridiculous routings and stopovers in the US.

So I've put the following on hold:

MEL-BKK-FRA-YYZ-LGA in J, F, J, Y, respectively.

And then doing an open-jaw to do LAX-ICN-BKK-MEL or maybe LAX-PEK-MEL in J/F

140,000 miles each, just bought the difference for my fiancee (I already had 140k), and now I've got until 1-Feb 23:59 PST until the reservation is lost.

I know the route over isn't great - but the BKK-FRA is tight on the A380, so I just grabbed what I could, and I'll find a better routing now.

I'm ideally wanting to do MEL-BKK-FRA-JFK but we'll have to see what's open.

Another issue that came up is the minimal 2xF space from SYD-BKK. Seriously disapointing. If I can get F to open up from SYD-BKK, we'll go via SYD instead.

Anyway, cheers guys for the tips.

 

[FrankC]

Hi

Am thinking of booking a trip on TG F with an overnight transfer (>12 hours) in BKK on my own and have a few questions:
* Can I check my bags through or do I have to collect them at BKK
* Any recommendation on cheap place to stay near the airport - unless they have some complimentary accommodation

Cheers

 

[PapaRubbery]

Hi

Am thinking of booking a trip on TG F with an overnight transfer (>12 hours) in BKK on my own and have a few questions:
* Can I check my bags through or do I have to collect them at BKK
* Any recommendation on cheap place to stay near the airport - unless they have some complimentary accommodation

Cheers

Aren't there sleeping rooms in the BKK F lounge that you can reserve? They don't have a full bed per se, but my understanding was one could always have a kip.

 

[FrankC]

According to the website, it closes between 1am - 5am

Thai Airways International - Inflight Service

 

[PapaRubbery]

According to the website, it closes between 1am - 5am

Thai Airways International - Inflight Service

What a real kick in the crotch.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi

Am thinking of booking a trip on TG F with an overnight transfer (>12 hours) in BKK on my own and have a few questions:
* Can I check my bags through or do I have to collect them at BKK
* Any recommendation on cheap place to stay near the airport - unless they have some complimentary accommodation

Cheers

there's a whole range of accommodation near BKK airport - any of the major hotel booking sites will give you an idea.

for around $40 you can get a 3* that includes an airport pick-up (they wait at arrivals with your name on a board).

other options include the novotel - word is that reasonable short-term rates can sometimes be had by arriving without a reservation and negotiating. No idea if that still applies with the current unrest (might be that more people are staying at the airport before their departure).

the BKK lounges close for a short period overnight... 2am-5am or something? So if you are going to sleep there then you'd need to wonder around for a few hours at least.

 

[get me outta here]

Hi gents,

Anyway, cheers guys for the tips.

Just to let you know, not everyone on here is a bloke !

 

[Alanslegal]

Another issue that came up is the minimal 2xF space from SYD-BKK. Seriously disapointing. If I can get F to open up from SYD-BKK, we'll go via SYD instead.

Don't be dissapointed about the lack of F availability. Have you ever tried booking a F award with Qantas? Unless you are booking a year in advance, gosh it' almost impossible. TG are very generous in releasing award seats, some people (my hands are up) have even managed to book 4 seats in the same F cabin using USDM points. My gut feeling is that every John and Jane from Australia is booking F seats using USDM and with F cabins seating only up to 12 passengers, you can just imagine why F availability is reduced.

Aren't there sleeping rooms in the BKK F lounge that you can reserve? They don't have a full bed per se, but my understanding was one could always have a kip.

Yeah there are slumber/sleep rooms, not very private though.

 

[PapaRubbery]

Just to let you know, not everyone on here is a bloke !

Sorry miss

 

[PapaRubbery]

Don't be dissapointed about the lack of F availability. Have you ever tried booking a F award with Qantas? Unless you are booking a year in advance, gosh it' almost impossible. TG are very generous in releasing award seats, some people (my hands are up) have even managed to book 4 seats in the same F cabin using USDM points. My gut feeling is that every John and Jane from Australia is booking F seats using USDM and with F cabins seating only up to 12 passengers, you can just imagine why F availability is reduced.

Oh look definitely, I can see how and I can see why. When you read these trip reports from people who have managed to snag 2+F seats with amazing stopover times, one can get very jealous.

I've vowed to never part with proper money for a QF product. Flying subload F on QF distorts one's sense of worth, haha!

On the BKK F lounge front - are menu's floating around? I imagine it'd be seasonal.

 

[PapaRubbery]

#liveupdates

UA906 goes FRA-ORD in F

The future mrs has decreed that she'd rather go to Chicago than Toronto, and rather go in F than in J, so Chicago it is.

Windy city, here we come!

 

[Alanslegal]

On the BKK F lounge front - are menu's floating around? I imagine it'd be seasonal.

The menu is loaded onto an iPad so I guess iPad's are floating around

Since it's Thailand, I usually select Tom Yum Prawns, Duck Noodle Soup, Pad Thai and Coconut or Papaya Shakes. Yummy!!!

 

[PapaRubbery]

The menu is loaded onto an iPad so I guess iPad's are floating around

Since it's Thailand, I usually select Tom Yum Prawns, Duck Noodle Soup, Pad Thai and Coconut or Papaya Shakes. Yummy!!!

I trust iPads are complimentary, as I am a full paying F passenger *snigger snigger*

Excellent menu choices, I'm sure I'll report back in time!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I trust iPads are complimentary, as I am a full paying F passenger *snigger snigger*

Excellent menu choices, I'm sure I'll report back in time!

the menu is on an ipad. you are shown the ipad, select what you want, ipad taken away.

 

[PapaRubbery]

the menu is on an ipad. you are shown the ipad, select what you want, ipad taken away.

My tongue was so firmly nailed in my cheek for that post my mouth is now filling with blood.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My tongue was so firmly nailed in my cheek for that post my mouth is now filling with blood.

no - it might have been a reasonable assumption that pax were given ipads not only for the menu, but also to check their emails etc

 

[Alanslegal]

I have a quick query; on 1 April 2014 when US leave *A .... does this mean from the same date, we'd be able to use remaining US miles and book onto OW (via AA)? Or will there be a transition period where remaining US points will remain in limbo in the sense that you can't book anything other than actual US or AA flights until AA/US sort their stuff out.

 

[pmdg7444]

the bigger news is that it almost appears that the TG461/2 (0030 departure from MEL) with full flat beds in business, although you will note the code for the aircraft is still a 777 rather than 773 (which is on known and confirmed routes with full flats). So I wonder if that is just an error?

I thought TG's 77Ws all had F class suites? or they do only sell J on the BNE/MEL- BKK markets on these aircraft and accommodate their best customers into the F cabin but with J service.