Rawhide2
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Posts posted by Rawhide2
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United is starting direct service from Los Angeles to Bangkok on October 26,2025 on a 787-9. There is a 2 hour stop in HKG in both directions. The long segments are 16:05 westbound and 12:40 eastbound. Happy to miss the former TYO connection.
I’m booked for late February.
How much was that then if you dont mind me asking ??
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Try their Biz Class! That is the last Air India flight I did and it was OK. I think I was the only guy up front and was well treated. I got an impression there was a fine scotch that needed to be finished off.
Beyond that, and not wishing to pass aspersions, I wouldn't dream of using them!😀
What I dont understand is why Air India dont allocate a widebody onto that 2nd sector from Delhi and Mumbai to Bangkok......from reading airline forums these connections are full every time
Now China Eastern on their 2nd sector start January Shanghai Bangkok had an A330 on that sector and that was full as well
If a widebody was allocated it would make the experience perfectly acceptable especially for the price on Air India and pricewise at £289 very good indeed
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I was looking for flights Amsterdam return Bangkok.Saudi air had ridiculously low fares,then I read the reviews.Whoo! Pretty much like yours, avoid at all cost.Air India the same.Do basic research and you would not have used them.Booked with Etihad instead.
Just done short trip report over Air India same sub section
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My lad went to Dubai via Riyadh last year......on outbound sector bag didnt come onto acrousel at Dubai....his story was the same multiple bags hadnt been loaded. They did get it back about 5 hours later fortunately. Apart from that though he thought Saudi were good
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I thought I had done a report here before from last October over using Air India via Delhi
Its possible it was elsewhere as cant find it here...no problem
Recap back to October I had flown out of Heathrow via Delhi....one of the reasons was certainly price one way but also the fact Air India had literally just taken delivery of a brand new A350 few weeks before
Now the Heathrow Delhi sector was excellent as expected but Delhi Bangkok let it down with single aisle A320 and an old one at that. No screens no nothing. Chalk and cheese compared to 1st sector
Fast forward and am on Air India again but this time via Mumbai again price was excellent
Main sector was on 777-300ER but probably older version clearly....seats were fine no problem not on a par with A350 but quite acceptable nonetheless
Onto to 2nd sector and after choosing 25C aisle at online check in near the back (and obviously having that boarding card at Heathrow) going through final gate the scan flashes red and says seat change...thinking immediately might have been upgraded no in hindsight I've been downgraded lol
New boarding card showing 29C so think no problem until I got on
29C was final row and not only was the seat back jammed hard against bulkhead its clear the seat pitch is less than other rows...visibly different
Spoke to male flight attendant who immediately contacted someone from ground handling who came 5 minutes later...Really sorry Sir we've had to substitute the aircraft which has different configuaration.....Very politely quietly non aggressive I say I'm not sitting there. I cannot genuinely get my legs in straight.
Off he goes and says flight is full sir completely......this time I did speak slightly louder saying dont make your problem my problem. You'll have to offload someone I said (clearly not the wisest thing to say) lol
Back he comes and says sit 26D and very small lady got lumbered with my initial seat....in hindsight I should have stayed there !!
Half the passengers were up walking around talking to other passengers standing in aisle...how many times I got accidentally whacked I dont know....only 2 shitters at back so queue all the time past where I was sitting
Nighmare 4 hours that was ! They are so ignorant without outright naming the nationality !
Definately thats it never again !
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China Eastern and Air India both leading the way with decent priced single and return fares
Now I'd be the first to say if you were on a very short trip than the increased airtime might not suit but if you're on a long trip another 3 hours in the air is no big deal
China Eastern bouncing around £500 return like Air India in fact £485 when I did random midweek dates
Just picked up Air India for just after Songkran one way for £289 Heathrow Bangkok total "airtime" of 13 hours 20 minutes so perfectly acceptable...normal transit times
Eva cheapest the day I booked AI was £515
Extra £226 or 9.831 at todays rates.......for just under 10k could have fair bit of fun in gents clubs over say 3 visits !
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I would surmise the passport stamp
I'm not quite sure what you're referring to ??
When you say Evisa did you mean SETV from Embassy website
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That China Eastern was decent again...food not the best but had A330 and 777 on the two sectors so no single aisle 737 etc
95% plus full from Gatwick to Shanghai and 100% full Shanghai to Bangkok
Very heavy flight traffic was circling for 30 minutes...;arrived about 45 minutes late
Immigration heaving
2nd trip in a row I was asked the question "no visa"
I had an onward ticket for 6th Feb so wasnt concerned but interesting that they asked again
Didnt ask for anything though but the kiosk beside me a female IO did ask young guy for something (I didnt hear) but he was frantically looking through his phone for something....no idea if he found it
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I wrote the above before going down for the breakfast buffet and the foodi itself was actually fine...solid 8/10 there
It opened at 6am and I was first in quickly followed by others.....2 piles of plates heated through. Top 2 plates covered in yesterdays remnants of food
This time I have reacted lol and totally warranted.....calls the server over and just point. Further words were superfluous. Not a word of apology whatsoever. Just took the 2 plates away and said absolutely nothing !
Even more alarming from the Travel lodges own point of view....nobody bothered checking complimentary breakfast voucher whatsoever. Anyone could walk in
Checking out a bloke comes up beside me and says he wants to pay for his breakfast lol (its not included automatically its £11.95).....complete honesty from him and his wife yet the indifference from reception staff just astonishing. Couldnt have cared less and with that shuttle coach came and the less said the better about that lol.....shocking experience all around.....will give it overall 2/10 and one point was for the decent food assuming I dont start shitting myself to death on the plane lol
No alarm wake up call service so just had phone alarm but woke up 1am anyway... just farcical
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I'm actually in the accomodation in above post now
Has to rank as the biggest shithole I have ever dropped anchor in
I wouldnt even know where to start but its mid winter minus 3 outside and this in photo is the heating provided....its a family room "upgrade" and woke at 1am its so cold inside
Wifi you get 30 minutes and then have to pay (not joking)
The approach road to the property has no pavement. You're literally walking in the road full of potholes (and ice)
TV is something out of the ark must be about 19" tops
I could go on for an hour......wait to the fuc**** see the review I give tomorrow once left. Travelodge Gatwick
I've stayed at Premier Inn Heathrow previously which was fine. Wrongly assumed this would be similar
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I flew with them last year . It wasnt all bad but I would rather not use them again if I had a choice. The stop-over in Pudong was boring and a cup of coffee reqired a second mortgage,
One thing that was a pain after a long flight to get there was the combined layover and the time to fly to Bangkok. The time seemed endless. There are simply better options but the price is great assuming that you have easy access to the airport where your home airport is.
Unfortunately where we are from in UK its a minimum 220 miles to either Heathrow ot Gatwick
Take into account coach times and time between arrival and wheels up its typically 9 hours minimum
Not to bad coming to Thailand for obvious reasons but coming home is utter nightmare
Even when I came home on Thai (so obviously non stop) because of coach timings and getting home from final coach stop was 29 hours on Boxing day door to door.....I could have chopped 1 hour off that by leaving later from Condo but thats it
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Whilst that is a pretty good price some other details are relevant.. like carrier and layovers. For example, I might pass if it was on Biman and with 12 hours layover in Dhaka.
I have just been looking at a flight to Bali (ex BKK) in a couple of months... and Skyscanner prices I got before Christmas I put alerts on them ready to catch a price drop... but they have gone up since!
China Eastern Jacko who I have flown before
Lovely seating 33" in economy no stupid underseat AVOD boxes either
Transit in Pudong Shanghai 2 hours 10 minutes
"Air time" is the same as say Malaysian or Cathay from Bangkok to or fro London so not excessive
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Just had a look at pricing on my flights this weekend back out with scheduled return end of March and its £484
I paid £404 back when I booked it in November
Plenty of value about still
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Flipper was my first hotel ever in Pattaya so always holds a good memory care of "Thai Adventures" Brian Kelly and Nick Hurn out of Guernsey
Havent dropped anchor there for a long time though last visit must have around 2007 ish
Friend from UK who must be pushing 200 visits (if not higher) always stays there so must be still very good
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Interesting re Agoda
I had to come back for 2 weeks and back out on 11th January
Because of where I live in the UK and the ability to get to Gatwick (a rare occurence) and an early flight I looked at getting a hotel at Gatwick for evening of the 10th
initally I looked at Agoda without being logged in.....£55 (very fair) for the one I wanted
Logged in few hours later to book it and status is high (usual agoda I thought bollacks) but now the price dropped to £51....now they have thrown in free breakfast AND upgraded me to a family room !
Fair play indeed
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I'm sorry, I don't follow you. The link I posted shows it to be £10,000. it makes no mention of £1,000. I don't get what you mean when you tell me I'm referring to paper declaration limits? I'm talking about currency notes, what else am I referring to?
If you could post a link to your figure of £1,000 , it might help?
The proceeds of crime act of 2002 covers the £1,000 level at which point "they" can take interest and covers the Police/ Border Force/ Customs and other official Government departments. I gave personal experience of 3 instances of myself being tugged (one less than 2 months ago) and suggested you watch any number of border force shows (not a day goes by without repeats somewhere). I am surprised anyone didnt know that we as passengers "could" be questioned at only the £1000 level..."Could/can" being the operative words
So the paper declaration in otherwards written declaration is presented to Border Force/Customs as you leave the country and is required at 10k Euro as Knortyboy correctly stated albeit sooner or later (doubtless later) than wil revert to Sterling now we've left the EU but notwithstanding whether its 10k Euro or Sterling its not relevant to the point being made namely the much lower limit
Returning to proceeds of crime act of 2002.......hordes of links but this one will suffice
No one needs to panic over this level because all it takes is some proof of where the money originated. Bank receipts/ATM receipts are perfect.
On all three occasions I brushed the query off easily once on final gate and once at hand scanners (both those with receipts) and on 3rd occasion in March this year he didnt even check....just asked if I had in excess of £1,000
Vast majority of us (to Thailand) I'd imagine send money in advance these days anyway via Wise etc etc so anyone with hard currency kinda stands out a bit to them and their money dogs
Reading the flyer forums the money dogs are more prevalent it seems at Heathrow and Manchester
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I thought it was the equivalent of 10000 Euros.
It is 10k Euros or equivalent
It was "supposed" to have reverted the day we officially left the EU but the statute book still has it at Euros
No Keyman you're talking about paper declaration limits. Anything over just £1,000 and questions "can" be asked as to origin and in fact as recently as March this year arriving into the UK was pulled at Customs at Gatwick and after first usual questions pack the bag tourself, do you know alcohol and cigarette limits etc etc the 4th or 5th question was do you have over £1,000 on you which I truthfully answered no (to all questions)
He didnt check at all. Open palms and looked him right in the eyes lol
That £1.000 level has been in force since 2002 where questions to origin can be asked under proceeds of crime act of that year
Customs programmes on the Sky Channel feature it weekly....amusing watching a Vietnamese girl recently who lied when the dog indicated on her (think it was Heathrow) and they uncovered about £4,500 on her (edited in...she didnt have proof of where it came from)
She claimed she worked in a nail bar. Border Force confiscated it pending further investigation. They asked if she still wanted to fly and rather surprisingly (to me) she still did
Too me she looked like a well you know lol
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I can only imagine how awful that might be!
Well its booked lol
Out of interest I have flown Air India twice before via new Delhi (round trips) and its a typical "internet myth" that they are horrendous that somehow the last 25 years has become an "internet fact" instead
First I agree the security was over the top with bells on. I recall 5 security checks leaving Delhi for the connection to Bangkok but its a one off we're not doing it weekly
Food was "ok" albeit I'll eat anything except brusell sprouts lol
Joined their frequent flyer scheme which is part of star alliance.
Out of interest on Air India was one of two times I've been pinged out of Heathrow with cash in excess of £1000 by a money dog on final gate. (think it was around £3000 from memory) Receipts from ATM had border force politely saying thank you within a minute
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^^^
I always find it amusing when based on one person's great experience with a business, any others that report a negative experience are discounted and their reports classified as "myths".A data point of one is statistically irrelevant.
Force
I "doubt" very much if this is anyone (on any forum) who has done more London Bangkok round tickets with a fair proportion on staff tickets and a few booked direct with airline down the decades
At least of the overall total I'd say a minimum 100 have been "agent" tickets. Never once have I had a problem. Not once. Have they all been booked with one single agent...nope far from it
When I have had issues or want changes did the agent deal very effectively with the requests....yep each and every time
The problem with what you (and others say) is invariably we always only (in the main) hear the bad experiences (doesnt matter what the subject matter is the same scenario applies)
100/100 succesful bookings is some five star rating am sure you agree
If peoiple want to book direct crack on and pay more but with none of the benefits of an agent if things go awry with a booking
Out of interest 1 month after contacting an airline direct over a minor issue am still waiting for a response from their registered Twitter and FB messenger accounts after it transpired they closed their phonelines at weekends.....it took my agent in March who really shouldnt have needed to get involved just 22 minutes to respond and sort)
As Trink would have said.....further words are superfluous
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This was the Air India screenshot one way obviously
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I've been looking at one way tickets out start of October time which apart from Air India who have some promotion on via Delhi and Bombay on their new Dreamliners and A350's (around £310) are roughly the same as I paid October 2023 for one way around £380 to £400.....I would expect that to drop nearer the time though
But its the round trip prices that have dropped....I was going to put uploads of screenshots but instead with list a few returning end of March 2025
Eva the cheapest I've seen for a long time £664
Singapore at £605 and I saw fairly recently those at £560.....standard connections 2 hours or so
Malaysian at £570 normal connections 2 hours
Saudia at £568...slightly longer connections although they have short connection at enhanced price
Swiss/Austrian code share at £550...extremely short connections (40 minutes on Austrian the minimum allowable)
Plenty more
All agent prices and make no apologies for always using them lol
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Dont carry Power packs when you go through transit. No matter what the size they get confiscated. I thought it may have only been the day I transitted very recently but have read multiple reports of the same issue since then
Seeing as its forbidden to put in checked luggage its a pain in the arse
On an aside the airport was deserted at around 1am nothing was open and only 2 flights leaving one of which was ours to London
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Surprised that monies in light of Iran Israel havent on the face of it flowed into the safe(r) haven of the USD overnight and today
Sterling/Baht more or less where it finished Friday
Indicies in the main all up as well. Very strange and even oil has eased slightly
New Norse flights to BKK
in Airline Discussion
Posted
Some of the fares I'm seeing are eye watering to say the least
Even Thai and Eva were cheaper albeit could just have been the few dates I tried re Norse