Heard Rumor Thai Cancelling JFK-BKK Non Stop

[PigDogg]

(rxpharm @ Jun. 06 2008,22:12) PD, now this is official, I would suggest you contact TG right away to negotiate how they will get you back to NY for the return portion of your ticket.

I have to deal with United since it's a free flight through United Mileage Plus.

This might work out well for me RX, since flights can only be booked 11 months in advance. So I'm thinking if I wait till February to rebook that'll give me 11 extra months in Thailand.
Doubt they'll go for it but it's worth a try!

[Snick]

Singapore if offering ONLY business class on non-stop to NYC
Is this true, can anyone confirm ?


Bitch of it is, I like the non stop to NYC, and I would have qualified for a gold card after one more flight...bastards
Still can't understand why they didn't scale back the NYC flight to 4 or 5 days a week

[PigDogg]

(Snick @ Jun. 08 2008,04:07) Singapore if offering ONLY business class on non-stop to NYC
Is this true, can anyone confirm ?

Confirmed Senor Snick. Premium economy on the SIN-EWR route no longer exists. I'm sure because I tried to book it in premium economy redeeming 60K United FF miles and was told the planes were reconfigured to all business class.

The fastest flights had been important so as not to burn vacation days but now it doesn't really matter too much to me.

[SukhumvitRoad]

(PigDogg @ Jun. 08 2008,19:50)

(Snick @ Jun. 08 2008,04:07) Singapore if offering ONLY business class on non-stop to NYC
Is this true, can anyone confirm ?

Confirmed Senor Snick.  Premium economy on the SIN-EWR route no longer exists.   I'm sure because I tried to book it in premium economy redeeming 60K United FF miles and was told the planes were reconfigured to all business class.

The fastest flights had been important so as not to burn vacation days but now it doesn't really matter too much to me.

Confirmed and, for you business class flyers, even worse news....

Not only is the flight all business class now, but SQ has even begun charging a premium for that flight over the standard SIN-EWR business class fare.

The aircraft is configured with the new four-across business class flat seats like the A380, and SQ now charges something like a 25% premium over the usual business class fare to New York as well as a premium in mileage even if they let you redeem frequent flyer mileage for the route (which, at least initially, they announced they would not at all).

Welcome to the new world of air transportation. And notice how much it looks like the old world of air transportation back in the 1950's, before Freddie Laker and Richard Branson and the other discount fare pioneers, back when flying anywhere was largely limited to the very well off and those traveling at the expense of some company.

[aktiv-passiv]

In Germany Thai is even cooperating with discount stores (Tchibo) to fill their flights from Frankfurt and Munich to BKK. For my trip starting on Friday I paid 429 Euro for the return ticket.

In addition they now have "last minute" offers and special prices until End of October if you book in advance. My September flight will cost about 560 Euro.

Thai is right now cheaper than the lowcost airlines like Air Berlin or Condor.

Wonder when they start selling their european fleet.

[BlueBallz]

The price of flying is going up and it should. Are we still paying $2/gallon at the pump?? Fuel is now the largest expense of the airlines-even behind stealing from scum sucking execs!!!! All airlines will be parking large sections of its fleets after the summer. Less flights = less seats = higher prices. It also MIGHT mean less delays. I remember right beforee 9-11 the delays were terrible that summer. After 9-11, delays went way down until a couple of years later when people atrted flying again. In order to get the flying, the airlines had to slash prices.

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!!!

[PigDogg]

From THAI's website:

THAI Announces Board Meeting Results


On 6th June 2008, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) held a Board of Directors€™ Meeting at THAI€™s Head Office, chaired by Mr. Chaisawasd Kittipornpaiboon, THAI€™s Chairman, with the following results:

1. Flight Operations between Bangkok and New York
Effective as from 1st July 2008, THAI will cease flight operations between Bangkok and New York due to the continual surge in oil prices.

2. Restructuring of flight operations to Los Angeles
THAI will reduce direct flight operations between Bangkok and Los Angeles from 7 flights to 5 flights per week, utilizing A340-500 aircraft type until September 2008. For THAI winter schedule, THAI will operate flights to Los Angeles via Osaka, Japan, utilizing Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft.

Currently, THAI operates daily flight to two US destinations, Los Angeles and New York, utilizing Airbus A340-500 aircraft.

Press Release From Thai Air

[Snick]

That makes sense, keep the 16 hour direct flight during low season, then in high season switch to non-direct 21 hours

[thaibound]

TIT baby
true and total TIT.
and i was really looking forward to a non-stop to bkk for the new year...

[Guest]

I just flew JFK- Bkk May 26- June 4. Return flight was half full. I dont wanna go back to United

[willyb]

I want to thank you guys for letting me know- i just had to change my flight coming back-man this ....Sucks ladyboy balls!!!!! the last three trips I took the non stop it was soo nice . I'm upset about this,fuck shit damn..

[Snick]

Before Thai direct, I always flew Japan Airlines (JAL) via Tokyo/Narita
Its not a bad flight 11 hours to Tokyo, stretch your legs for 2 hours and have free internet courtesy of Yahoo,then 8 hours to Bangkok.

Service is good, and since most of the passengers are Japanese they are nice and quiet.

Flying United is like Hell on Wings

[SukhumvitRoad]

I can't imagine why anyone would voluntarily fly United. Awful, awful, awful. Crappy old planes that are half falling apart and crappy old employees who hate the passengers.

The choice of a Japanese carrier from the States is a call I really agree with. My recommendation over JAL, however, would be ANA. Far newer equipment, much better seats, vastly better food, and almost always cheaper fares, at least in business class. Out of New York in particular, ANA is generally the best deal going by a good margin.

[PigDogg]

But when flying ANA it's perhaps best to put your miles in United Mileage Plus. United may be a crappy airline but a good FF mile program.

I used to pay for flights on Thai, deposit miles in United, and redeem on Sing. Maybe it's time to fly ANA.

Does ANA have video on demand?

[Snick]

I looked it up and ANA is part of Star Alliance and JAL is not.
After a bunch of Thai flights to NYC and LAX I have lots of Star Alliance Miles and want to keep using them.
Guess its ANA next time.