Sorry, Air Asia

[bob2005 0]

Just tried Air Asia flying Bangkok to Angeles (Clark) to avoid Manila and a taxi. There has to be one change, via Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabula, both in Malasia (does that mean 'bad asia', or is it akin to a malaise). Flight costs vary tremendously day by day. Tax can almost double the initial cost they give. If they don't fly the day you type in they'll show the next day's flight without comment so you have to check every sodding little detail right after you've just said what you want. You have to wait for three web pages to get one flight's actual price incl tax. It's a pain. After loads of webpages it emerges that KK-Clark flight connections with Bangkok flights are useless, certainly outward, so it has to be via KL and that's a long way south to go up north again to Manila.

 

Prices. Morning flight bkk-kl Sept 4=£41, 5=£38, 7=£23. Afternoon kl-clark Sept 4,5,7 all same £49. Coming back, clark-kl lowest Sept 27 £23. Clark-kk lowest Sept 29 £14 but that's over the 21 day initial visa so Sept 27 £23 same as clark-kl. Then kl-bkk £49. Minimum bkk-kl-clark-kl-bkk 23+49+23+49 = £144 (10,512 baht) using cheap days but could be more.

 

In comparison, direct Bangkok-Manila return, with two 1,500 baht taxi's for mnl-clark-mnl, is 11,000 baht on Kuwait, 13,000 on Philippines, 16,000 on Thai. Manila flights take 3 hours plus 2 hours taxi to Angeles, total 5 hours. AirAsia takes 10am to 8pm, 10 hours. There and back is 10 hours verses 20 hours on AirAsia.

 

Kuwait is the same cost as AirAsia and saves 10 hours. Booking four flights on the AirAsia website would be a nightmare. Sorry Air Asia, I'm going direct.

[RhinoTusk 4,901]

Also must factor in AirAsia flight delays, with their very poor on-time record.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Also must factor in AirAsia flight delays, with their very poor on-time record.

Just wait till you experience Kuwait Airlines "timekeeping"!

[bob2005 0]

Just wait till you experience Kuwait Airlines "timekeeping"!

 

Yeah, agreed, I've read enough not to go with them. I mentioned them because a so-called proper airline was not beaten on price by a so-called budget airline. I like Thai flight times, out mid-afternoon, back about 8pm, so both ways I can sleep off last night's booze.