American Airlines nonstop to Bangkok

[short 215]

Just got the word from American Airlines now has approval to fly into Bangkok. It may be 2009 before the non stop flights actually start.

 

I also learned that because of the latest agreement between AA and JA, You can fly all the way from the US to Bangkok for 70k points.

[joekicker 53]

Non-stop will be good. United talked about this 18 months ago and ended up merely making a single flight number, BFD - same number of stops. The "70K" doesn't seem like much, though. You can do a lot better than that on other airlines.

Edited March 26, 2008 by joekicker

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Just got the word from American Airlines now has approval to fly into Bangkok. It may be 2009 before the non stop flights actually start.

 

I also learned that because of the latest agreement between AA and JA, You can fly all the way from the US to Bangkok for 70k points.

 

AA doesn't have any aircraft in its fleet (or on order) capable of flying from continental USA to Bangkok non-stop. I would think that, as with United, it would be a direct (one flight #) rather than non-stop flight.

Edited March 26, 2008 by CheshireTom

[brotherbuzz 3,206]

Just got the word from American Airlines now has approval to fly into Bangkok. It may be 2009 before the non stop flights actually start.

 

I also learned that because of the latest agreement between AA and JA, You can fly all the way from the US to Bangkok for 70k points.

 

Not really understanding the 70k points as I can already fly from the US to BKK for 70k AA points. It's on a partners metal of course as AA stopped their Japan route from SJ and SF a few years back. Besides, I'd rather fly Cathay than AA.

 

The "70K" doesn't seem like much, though. You can do a lot better than that on other airlines.

 

If you are locked into AA as your primary source for miles you can't do better .

Edited March 27, 2008 by brotherbuzz

[joekicker 53]

If you are locked into AA as your primary source for miles you can't do better grin.

 

Two shay. Might be an argument to start with another airline, though.

Edited March 27, 2008 by joekicker

[Sailfast 503]

Not really understanding the 70k points as I can already fly from the US to BKK for 70k AA points. It's on a partners metal of course as AA stopped their Japan route from SJ and SF a few years back. Besides, I'd rather fly Cathay than AA.

 

 

 

If you are locked into AA as your primary source for miles you can't do better .

 

 

 

United/star is 60K for eco. If you are lucky, and it's still available in the future, this includes the Thai not stop flight. I just reserved a Thai bus. class ticket, but the dates don't work so I didn't lock it in. Also, I'm worried about what will happen if the cancel that non stop flight. Anyway, 90K for bus. class

[brotherbuzz 3,206]

United/star is 60K for eco. If you are lucky, and it's still available in the future, this includes the Thai not stop flight. I just reserved a Thai bus. class ticket, but the dates don't work so I didn't lock it in. Also, I'm worried about what will happen if the cancel that non stop flight. Anyway, 90K for bus. class

 

As best I recall all of the US carriers aside from AA are 60k. Business on United for 90k is a great deal, and I almost did it but decided 3 economy flights were better than 2 business flights as far as my wallet was concerned . I would have stuck with UA for the miles but I don't fly enough to keep any status and garner extra percentages on my flights. I did get to bump up to E-Plus for my 3 freebies.

 

My latest miles have been collected on EVA as they had, note "had", the best prices. My plan was to direct them to a Continental account and when I reached 60k (3 flights and 20k for CC bonus) then use them to fly EVA cuz I liked the flights with them. Was a cunning plan except that if I book EVA with Continental miles it's the same 100k EVA wanted. Doh . Oh well, I'll use the 68k miles NOT on EVA .

 

Apologies to Short for going off on a miles tangent.

[mister_handy 124]

AA doesn't have any aircraft in its fleet (or on order) capable of flying from continental USA to Bangkok non-stop. I would think that, as with United, it would be a direct (one flight #) rather than non-stop flight.

 

Presumably continuing on from Tokyo...? Hard to imagine going on from Shanghai, and those are their only transpac routes.

 

That said, it would at least beat having to connect to a JAL codeshare in some respects - the whole trip would be upgradeable (right now only the AA metal part is), you'd be able to preselect seats (including the good ones if GLD or better), and it would be eligible for promotions which exclude codeshares. Plus, if it's the same aircraft going on the normal crap that is connecting in Tokyo is avoided.

 

Downsides are the much better service and food on JAL.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Presumably continuing on from Tokyo...? Hard to imagine going on from Shanghai, and those are their only transpac routes.

 

That said, it would at least beat having to connect to a JAL codeshare in some respects - the whole trip would be upgradeable (right now only the AA metal part is), you'd be able to preselect seats (including the good ones if GLD or better), and it would be eligible for promotions which exclude codeshares. Plus, if it's the same aircraft going on the normal crap that is connecting in Tokyo is avoided.

 

Downsides are the much better service and food on JAL.

 

 

It's assuming a lot that any one US airline will be in existence 12 months from now. I think we can expect to see fewer frequencies from the US carriers as they merge to survive.

Edited April 18, 2008 by CheshireTom

[MrMango 671]

It's assuming a lot that any one US airline will be in existence 12 months from now.

Come on, It's not quite that bad. Since ONLY U.S. airlines can fly between U.S. city's, there must be at least one in existence in 12 months. Please don't ask how much they will charge though...

 

 

I think we can expect to see fewer frequencies from the US carriers as they merge to survive.

Maybe, maybe not - IMHO, it depends if they are making money on these routes, and what the competition does.

Remember, they paid big bucks and invested a ton of political capital just to get the these routes

[Hub 203]

United/star is 60K for eco. If you are lucky, and it's still available in the future, this includes the Thai not stop flight. I just reserved a Thai bus. class ticket, but the dates don't work so I didn't lock it in. Also, I'm worried about what will happen if the cancel that non stop flight. Anyway, 90K for bus. class

 

I've been using 70K AA miles for Cathay or JAL flights and have to say the United 60K for the Thai non-stop is a better deal. Also, the 90K for business class is a great deal (AA is 120K to fly Cathay), considring how much a biz ticket compares in price relative to an economy ticket.

 

Hub

[PenName 1]

That's interesting about it being 120,000 AA miles to get a business class ticket on Cathay. I collect my AA miles in an Alaska Airlines account since I fly Alaska a few times a year and can also deposit miles from Delta, Northwest, KLM and Air France in the account and have them all count toward elite status. Anyway, I was just able to get a Cathay business class ticket using Alaska Airlines miles (many of which were flown on American), and was only dinged for 100,000 miles. A first class ticket could have been had (if any had been available) for 140,000. Funny the currency and exchange rate nature of airline miles.

 

This coming trip (two weeks to go) is tossing some coin the way of China Airlines. Personally, at this point, I'd fly a crop duster to get there.

 

~ Pen

[joekicker 53]

It's assuming a lot that any one US airline will be in existence 12 months from now. I think we can expect to see fewer frequencies from the US carriers as they merge to survive.

 

Almost all current US airlines will be in existence in 12 months. Flat statement. A couple or five won't be. Do you think it is assuming a lot that.... lessee, lessee... oh, say, Delta Airlines will be in existence in a year? Would you bet me more than 25 satang that it won't be - even money?

 

I strongly believe you've stated this bassackwards. It's not that "any one US airline" could go TU - on the contrary, almost none of them will and most of them definitely will not and there are dozens and dozens which can be named as "definitely will be in existence in 12 months". If you'd said it the other way, that another couple or three US airlines might tip over within a year, who could argue?

 

But then I don't get the second sentence at all. Why wouldn't they fly if there are passengers in the terminal who want to go?

 

My balls aren't made of crystal of course, and if I knew the future I wouldn't be here writing speculation. But pax loads into Bangkok from the worlds to the east HAVE BEEN close to 100% for quite a while now. I can see higher prices, for all kinds of reasons, but "fewer flights" doesn't compute.

 

I can't imagine fewer frequencies in order to surive. That doesn't even make sense. I can see fewer frequencies ONLY if there are fewer passengers. That's not survival, that's business.

 

And of course airlines are a weird business, too. At the moment, it costs almost exactly twice as much to fly from Bangkok to the US and back, as it costs to fly from the US to Bangkok and back. THAT could change - probably will. But fewer flights for the currently increasing number of passengers? Why?

 

Anyhow, so far as Bangkok, there are actually very few American airlines that actually, physically fly to Thailand so it is almost academic anyhow, unless United goes TU. The important question on this subject right now is whether Delta WILL continue flights to Bangkok that Northwest is flying, or whether it will just expand code-sharing.

[Samsonite 181]

The important question on this subject right now is whether Delta WILL continue flights to Bangkok that Northwest is flying, or whether it will just expand code-sharing.

NWA has the long haul aircraft (and the slots), plus Delta has ordered 8 B777-200LR (of which 2 have been delivered), so yes, I think they will not only continue to fly into BKK, but they will expand their overseas operations.

 

Edit in, 20 April. Looks like Delta also has 23 Boeing 787 aircraft on order.

 

"Delta Eyes Northwest's 787 options: Order already placed?

 

On January 14, Boeing received an order for 23 787-8 Dreamliners from a single unidentified customer. A source close to the airframer tells FlightBlogger that the unidentified customer was Delta Air Lines. The source explained that the order was contingent on the announcement of a merger.

 

Coincidentally enough, according to Flight's ACAS database, the oldest members of Delta's widebody fleet happen to be 767-300s. How many 767-300s does Delta operate? You guessed it: 23.

 

Delta's 767-300s (non-extended range) have the highest number of average cycles in the widebody fleet at nearly 25,000 per aircraft. These aircraft are ripe for replacement, especially with oil well over $100 a barrel. Delta has never made any secret of its desire to replace its 767s with 787 aircraft.

 

Ed Bastian, President and CFO of Delta, commented during Tuesday's merger press conference that, "Our existing order books on the 777-LR and the 787, along with the new markets this combination will provide us opportunity to exercise options for up to 20 additional widebody jets between 2010 and 2013, creating a world of opportunity for our customers."

 

Northwest holds rights to 50 options on its 787 order that made it the North American launch customer for the type. Delta does not currently hold any options on its firm order for 8 777-200LRs. This suggests that if the merger goes through, the additional widebody options exercised would be exclusively from Northwest's 787s."

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/flightblogger/

Edited April 20, 2008 by Scalawag

[Emil 0]

I've been using 70K AA miles for Cathay or JAL flights and have to say the United 60K for the Thai non-stop is a better deal. Also, the 90K for business class is a great deal (AA is 120K to fly Cathay), considring how much a biz ticket compares in price relative to an economy ticket.

 

Hub

 

Hub,

 

Using 60K UA miles and flying on Singapore with one stop is also sweet.