Damn good price..

[Greg_B 306]

Okay, I had a chance to get 2 weeks off and head to Thailand. Being an Airline Employee does have it's advantages, so I figured Thai or UAL must have some open seats to BKK from the USA. Every departure is nearly full, so I had to go to Plan B.

 

I started checking out priceline, hotwire, orbitz, travelocity and any other website I could find. Found the price to be about $1200 from LAX-BKK-LAX, it's not the best price, but if you want to go you don't have a choice.

 

 

Just at the last minute of despair, I stumble across another website, it's a consolidator from Texas. I put the dates in and a price of $822 comes across from JAL. Times look very good and connections are short/sweet. That's a better price than I paid in Jan 2005 and I booked 6 months ahead of the flight.

 

http://www.airvalues.com/index.aspx

 

Got an E-Mail from them today, have an E-Ticket sent to me, not a problem at all..

[Emil 0]

Greg,

 

Since your an airline employee can't you fly for free. My good friend who is now retired from United not only flies for free to LOS but goes in First Class. Granted you do have to fly standby and risk spending an extra night at an airport. He's offered to get me a companion ticket for around $400 which would allow me to fly First Class or Business Class. I think I'll take him up on the offer later in the year when the load factor is low.

[Greg_B 306]

Greg,

 

Since your an airline employee can't you fly for free.

It depends if your airline flies to that destination, which mine doesn't have Asian destinations. I fly on a fare that is 95% off of the highest Y fare. So it works out to be about $300 plus the taxes.

 

Yes I fly standby, but would be the last to get on in that catagory, as there employees get on ahead of me. I take a risk of getting stuck in a connecting city with another carrier. Been there, done that on the last trip.

 

If your trip is flexible, it's a great deal. But mine this time is not very flexible, as I have to be back in the USA by a certain date. Now if I was retired, it would be a great deal.

 

If you use your friends pass, make sure they list in Business or First Class for the flight, as they will put you up there, if they have the extra room. Travel without checking any luggage is a good idea, if possible. Since NWA has downsized there inter-Asian routes {Airbus}, it seems there are less seats available during the low season.

 

I'm paying about $500 more for the luxury of having a seat, which this time is a must.

[Emil 0]

These summer months the airlines are very busy. I called UA for an end of June flight (anyday since I'm retired) and the UA flights didn't have any seats but was fortunate that she found me one on Singapore.

 

I would only go on a companion pass if I could get a seat in First or Business. I earn double miles while flying and a companion pass earns you zero, thus when I pay around $700 the effective cost is less than $500 and I'm guaranteed a seat. He had over 30 years service with UA so I would fly on his seniority which would help and like you he has access to the load factors of the flights.

[cowboy 0]

I have been looking to travel from mid of june to early july. United doesn't have any seats.(except for $2000 and up, on one the coach flight came back as $4600)

 

United is are from sfo to tky but full from tky to bkk. many of the thai flights were sold out in economy and eva has whole planes sold out every class. no cheap fares until august. bummer

[Emil 0]

I have been looking to travel from mid of june to early july. United doesn't have any seats.(except for $2000 and up, on one the coach flight came back as $4600)

 

United is are from sfo to tky but full from tky to bkk. many of the thai flights were sold out in economy and eva has whole planes sold out every class. no cheap fares until august. bummer

Cathay Pacific just listed their June Deal of the Month, it is $678 R/T from SFO to Manila, don't know what a R/T is from Manila to BKK. They also have an All Asia Pass for $1099 which would route you through Hong Kong to BKK. Nice airline but these flights don't earn AA miles.

[MrMango 671]

I trid this link from Kona hawaii to BKK the middle of june for 4 weeks - The fare was over $2,000!!!

 

Mabe I'm doing somthing wrong....

[Greg_B 306]

I did a KOA to BKK with the dates of 6/15 and 7/13 and got a lower fare.

 

Total $891.54 - KOA to BKK $891.54 per Adult N/A per Child

 

(KOA) Kona- Hawaii, HI, US 10:45 AM 06/15 747

(NRT) Tokyo-Narita, JP 04:20 PM 06/16

 

(NRT) Tokyo-Narita, JP 06:55 PM 06/16 747

(BKK) Bangkok, TH 11:25 PM 06/16

 

 

 

(BKK) Bangkok, TH 08:35 AM 07/13 744

(NRT) Tokyo-Narita, JP 04:35 PM 07/13

 

(NRT) Tokyo-Narita, JP 09:00 PM 07/13 747

(KOA) Kona- Hawaii, HI, US 09:30 AM 07/13

 

Multiple carriers that weren't listed...