Thai or Etihad ?

[TURBO 1]

I am currently searching flight prices for early next year . At the moment I can get a good price on Etihad but for £50 more I can fly direct with Thai .

I travelled with Thai last trip & I found the flight ok but i've no experience with Etihad . The travel time with Etihad is 4 hours longer each way , including 3 hours total waiting in Abu Dhabi . Is it worth the extra £50 for a direct flight , considering that Etihad seems to rate as a better airline ?

[pattysteve 34]

Unfortunately us northerners dont get the choice of a direct flight.

 

If we did id chose direct everytime regardless of cost.

[spacebass 0]

It is without any question worth paying GBP50 extra for a direct flight, I have flown Etihad I found it an average experience, I have never had the opportunity to fly direct for +50 and I would like a shot.

 

Especially if the stopover is in Abu Dhabi and you do not like cigarette smoke.

Edited December 30, 2006 by spacebass

[Chivas 0]

It is without any question worth paying GBP50 extra for a direct flight, I have flown Etihad I found it an average experience, I have never had the opportunity to fly direct for +50 and I would like a shot.

 

Especially if the stopover is in Abu Dhabi and you do not like cigarette smoke.

 

Agree with the cigarette smoke comment-Absolutely gross for non smokers within transit area.

As stop over times are normally short its best to hang around the start of the air bridge tunnels where its not so bad or go down to the lower duty free area where again its not so bad.

 

Chivas

[Regyai 415]

I am currently searching flight prices for early next year . At the moment I can get a good price on Etihad but for £50 more I can fly direct with Thai .

I travelled with Thai last trip & I found the flight ok but i've no experience with Etihad . The travel time with Etihad is 4 hours longer each way , including 3 hours total waiting in Abu Dhabi . Is it worth the extra £50 for a direct flight , considering that Etihad seems to rate as a better airline ?

 

 

 

NO CONTEST!

 

£50 / (2 x 4 hours) = £6.25 per hour!!!!!!!

 

Youve already flown once before with Thai - do this one and then only another four trips or so for a free one (the airmiles alone are worth more than this paltry saving).

 

 

 

 

.

[darkmancomes 75]

Its a choice you only can make, having flown with Etihad in last month I can tell you the service is excellent I don't know about your stop over times but I am from Northern Ireland so have to cross that most expensive piece of waterway in the world! I also have a travel mate in Manchester and our stop over times in Abu were around 1.5 hrs each way at the most! I am also a non smoker with a vengance and I did not find anything unusual about the amount of smoke mind you I was shopping!

However have a good trip and I would thoroughly recommend Etihad!

[flighty 31]

Points in favour for Etihad over Thai:

You can avoid Heathrow and go from Gatwick or Manchester; check in will be much quicker (ie often instant), planes are smaller so quicker boarding, likely to be half empty on leg to Abu Dhabi, the stop in Abu Dhabi may often be about 1hr 15min, time to stretch legs, get prayer mat out etc. Also flight times; I quite like the 08.55 depart Gwick and return Bkok 20.25 times. Opportunity to bone up those episodes of Friends and Frasier to impress your UK girlfriends with the inflight choice.

[Dr Mick 111]

I can not compare but have always had great flights with Etihad

 

But I am from North so I fly from Manchester ,

 

Great times to for going and coming home

[Regyai 415]

NO CONTEST!

 

£50 / (2 x 4 hours) = £6.25 per hour!!!!!!!

 

Youve already flown once before with Thai - do this one and then only another four trips or so for a free one (the airmiles alone are worth more than this paltry saving).

.

 

 

 

Should have qualified this,

 

If you go to LOS on a once yearly holiday then the airmiles dont reckon into the equation and basically 8 hours for £50 might tempt you

 

If youre doin 4, 5 or 6 trips a year then the airmiles outweigh any £50 savings on the cheaper tickets.

 

 

@ manracer402003 I know several travellers from North UK who do the shuttle to Heathrow each trip just so as not to clap eyes on any customs officers on their return

 

 

 

.

[Big_Brian 179]

On my first few trips I bought the cheapest possible tickets which usually meant a short hop to the continent, then a long leg to Bangkok, or a long leg to Singapore then a short hop to Bangkok. I didn't enjoy them much so, once I could afford it, I started going direct. I used Thai, BA, Quantas & Eva, all were OK but I always got off of the plane knackered.

 

Last trip I tried Etihad as a lot of boardies seem to recommend them. Great! The stop half way was what made the difference, getting off for a walk around helped me no end and I slept much better before and after. The planes were fine, Abu Dhabi is the best transfer airport I've seen and all the staff were efficient.

 

I've booked them again for my next trip. Even at the same price as direct I think I'd use Etihad again, I felt that much better after the flight - of course I'm overweight so sitting in one place for a long time affects me more than most.

[TURBO 1]

Its a choice you only can make, having flown with Etihad in last month I can tell you the service is excellent I don't know about your stop over times but I am from Northern Ireland so have to cross that most expensive piece of waterway in the world!

 

I guess I should've mentioned that I'm from Northern Ireland & I agree with your comments .

 

Unfortunately a lot of the flights from the UK mainland to Bangkok leave early in the morning & you cannot get an early enough flight from Ireland to make the connection . None of the LGW flight are suitable & from LHR only the Etihad and Thai flights suit whilst still remaining cheap . BA/Qantas are too expensive & with Eva you have to stay over in LHR on the return leg .

 

We are also limited on connections to LHR . The only'cheap' ones are BMI from Belfast City & Dublin and Aer Lingus from Dublin . Anyone know of any airline flying the BFS - LHR route now ? Where I live it is the same distance to Dublin & both Belfast airports but the prices of the BMI flights from BHD means I usually travel from Dublin .

 

In the past I've usually flown with China Air DUB-BKK via Amsterdam . The price is usually around £540 , the connections are good & Schipol is a much nicer place than LHR . But they seem to have gotten expensive , I guess to pay for their new planes . They also had a good airmiles program which meant a free one-way upgrade every 3 flights but they have now increased the mileage required for an upgrade .

 

Last trip I flew with Thai & coming back I took the later flight , arriving in LHR 6pm . I was just about able to make the last flight back into Dublin but it was tight . Now due to the time change from BST-GMT plus some unknown factor that flight doesn't arrive into LHR until 19.35 , making it impossible to catch the last flight to DUB ! Now I'm going to have to take the earlier Thai flight which means less time in LOS .

[Terry Lee 3]

For me...

 

1st. British Airways

 

Close 2nd Eva Air

 

3rd Thai

 

Always fly direct. Have a drink, catch a movie, eat a meal, have a drink, sleep

[whitespider 1]

Why ony consider two airlines>

 

Go to http://www.westeasttravel.com/user/strPage.asp?idlink=27

 

Not sure what "early next year is" but as you can see EVA is only £30 more than Etihad at £335+tax and for £30 I would definitely take a direct flight.

 

ALL the direct carriers including EVA have night time flights leaving around 9.30pm from LHR. EVA have a return from BKK that arrives at 7.30am so NO need for an overnight stay.

 

EVA have brand new 777s with personal interactive entertainment where you can stop and start the movies to suit your sleep. The 777s have slightly less legroom than their old 747s but this is compensated for by the fact that when the guy in front reclinhes his chaor now slips forward giving you a little more foot room.

 

EVA is way better than Thai but I cant compare it to Etihad as I have never flown them.

 

With West East - ignore the prices you get on their flight search facility - PHONE them and you will get the offer price, subject to availabllty of course.

Edited December 31, 2006 by whitespider

[CheshireTom 1,377]

The connection up north has always been a problem with EVA, particularly during the summer schedule. What are thde times now if they have a 7:30 a.m. arrival back into LHR?

 

Turbo, what's wrong with Gulf Air DUB-BAH-BKK? Only one change, 17 hours total travelling time and you don't have to go through the nightmare called Heathrow.

[whitespider 1]

The connection up north has always been a problem with EVA, particularly during the summer schedule. What are thde times now if they have a 7:30 a.m. arrival back into LHR?

 

Turbo, what's wrong with Gulf Air DUB-BAH-BKK? Only one change, 17 hours total travelling time and you don't have to go through the nightmare called Heathrow.

 

Not 100% sure Tom - my last flight (April) left BKK about 1.am approx and arrive LHR about 6am or so - i am adding time for customs, baggage etc. I know it was EARLY as I was in the London office with plenty of time for a 9a.m meeting.

 

EDIT - apologies I stand corrected, my return was with thai (out was EVA). It appears the EVA flights return at 7.15 PM

Edited December 31, 2006 by whitespider

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Not 100% sure Tom - my last flight (April) left BKK about 1.am approx and arrive LHR about 6am or so - i am adding time for customs, baggage etc. I know it was EARLY as I was in the London office with plenty of time for a 9a.m meeting.

 

I remember EVA as being a lunchtime departure from BKKwhich was no good to me and ended up giving my airmiles to another boardie.

 

Has anyone done Etihad biz class to Manchester? If so, what is the seating like between AUH and MAN? I need to book a quick trip back to MAN in the near future and would opt for Etihad over Qatar if they have a full flat-bed as they do on the AUH-BKK leg.

[whitespider 1]

I remember EVA as being a lunchtime departure from BKKwhich was no good to me and ended up giving my airmiles to another boardie.

 

Has anyone done Etihad biz class to Manchester? If so, what is the seating like between AUH and MAN? I need to book a quick trip back to MAN in the near future and would opt for Etihad over Qatar if they have a full flat-bed as they do on the AUH-BKK leg.

 

TOM you are correct - see my edit/apology

[Guest Fatboyfat]

Having just completed an outbound trip with Etihad from Manchester; Total time from Take off at Manchester to Landing at Bangkok was 14 Hours 15 Mins (Actually 13h 45m, due to late take off at Man). Using a "so-called" direct flight (EVA), total timings from Manchester are in excess of 17 hours, and a flaming nightmare on return flights (security, missed connections, mile long hikes, and the baggage NEVER makes it ! )

Yet again emphasising that "Direct" flights are only really worth bothering with if your local airport is Heathrow.

 

I have seen the light !

[bob2005 0]

Etihad business is way better than Thai business, own cubicle etc. Nice break halfway too. Connection was just over an hour each way (Heathrow).

[marleyboy 140]

For £50 extra I would probably go with thai. Actually I have been going with thai the last few times.The only good thing I find about them is the times and frequency of their flights. (plus if you get the midnight-ish flight frok bangers you get into heathrow at about 7 in the morning!) H aving said that! B.A./Qantas, have practically the same timed flights as thai!

The main reason I fly with Thai, is cos the missus is thai and she likes them! Alos cos of their frequent flyer club, BUT! they only give 50% mileage accrual with most economy tickets now. I have heard only good things about Ehihad, good service, good i.f.e. (thai STILL! has no individual screens in the 747s for lhr-bkk route!).

Im going in March to bangkok, I still havent booked the tickets yet! I might go thai for the last time (as we will have almost enough miles to up-grade to business on the way back!) If I get a good price with thai Ill fly them, if not I will try etihad, or eva if their prices are good!

I obviously think non-stop is the way to go! but! for me ! Thai arent that good, and the I.F.E. is crap! (personally I find watching movies playing games can help to kill time!)

As most posters say though! you will have to make up your own mind!

[Carraig 1]

I thought Etiyhad were quite good when I flew with them last September, but I think for anythiing less than £100 saving, I would be tempted to take a direct flight .

Like some of the other BM,s on this thread, I am also from Northern Ireland and agree it is a bitch to try and sequence (and pay!) for connecting flights.

The first flybe flight (7.00 am) from Belfast will normally get you into Gatwick for a lot of the BK flights, thats what I got for my Etiyhad flight, £100ish for a return flight. I find the Heathrow connection more ackward and expensive.

I am going again in April and so far this is coming up as the best cost/ratio option so far.

Edited December 31, 2006 by Carraig

[spacebass 0]

Two bad elements in my Etihad experience to add to the pedestrian cabin service:1) Driving round the airport in a bus at 2am in the morning to board connecting flight coming in, even though Abu Dhabi is supposed to be Etihad hub, no gate, and 2) Plane broke down on runway at Abu Dhabi (Big shiny 777) on return to Bangkok and had to sit on Tarmac for 1hr 30mins waiting for repair, (that we didn't know was going to happen until it did), both of these circumstances would not be able to happen on direct flight.

 

By the way Etihad is a 3 star airline indicating that the great service experienced by some is not reliable, for me average

Edited January 1, 2007 by spacebass

[pauly77 1]

Flown with Etihad from Manchester twice this year,got back 21st Dec,was quite surprised that there was plenty of spare seats on all the flights,getting a bit sick of the sight of Abu Dhabi airport but at a price of £399 it's a no brainer.

The airline is expanding rapidly and delivery of new planes not keeping up-on Abu Dhabi to Manchester we had a leased plane with no seat back entertainment-I didn't mind as I just wanted to sleep and actually had more legroom as there was no bloody footrest to contend with.

I would have been pissed off if I had been in business class as they just had a couple of tv's to watch and the seats looked crap.

[TURBO 1]

Sorry for the delay in posting . Our phone line went down on New Years Eve & it only got repaired today & only on a temporary basis at that .

 

Turbo, what's wrong with Gulf Air DUB-BAH-BKK? Only one change, 17 hours total travelling time and you don't have to go through the nightmare called Heathrow.

 

I very nearly used this route shortly after it started as it was coming in at the same price as the China Air DUB-AMS-BKK route . I went for China as I had enough airmiles for an upgrade . Ever since then their prices have been very high , usually over £600 !

 

The first flybe flight (7.00 am) from Belfast will normally get you into Gatwick for a lot of the BK flights,

 

That flybe flight lands at 08.35 & the Etihad flight takes off at 08.55 so that connection is not possible , unless you know of a later flight . You would even be too late for the only other morning flights from LGW , the Qatar 10.00 & Emirates 10.00 .

[Carraig 1]

That flybe flight lands at 08.35 & the Etihad flight takes off at 08.55 so that connection is not possible , unless you know of a later flight . You would even be too late for the only other morning flights from LGW , the Qatar 10.00 & Emirates 10.00 .

 

Turbo, the flight Im looking at takes off at 9 55, still tight but I think its do,able. Im now looking at Thai flights that are just over £40 more than Etihad but are direct.