Flights BNE to BKK

[InSpaceNoOneCanHearYouFart 0]

Hi everyone, this is my first post on this forum. I'm making my first trip to Thailand later this year, (also my first OS trip anywhere). I was wondering what experiences people have had flying economy with the carriers I am considering: Royal Brunei and Thai airways. I've been reading reviews of the airlines online, Brunei seems to have problems with the onboard entertainment systems for example. But most reviews seem to be for the really long haul flights, whereas Brisbane to Bangkok is a lot shorter.

[ozboy 31]

Hi everyone, this is my first post on this forum. I'm making my first trip to Thailand later this year, (also my first OS trip anywhere). I was wondering what experiences people have had flying economy with the carriers I am considering: Royal Brunei and Thai airways. I've been reading reviews of the airlines online, Brunei seems to have problems with the onboard entertainment systems for example. But most reviews seem to be for the really long haul flights, whereas Brisbane to Bangkok is a lot shorter.

 

 

Royal Brunei will not be a direct flight whereas Thai probably will,unless it goes Phuket-Bkk like some flights from Perth.

You could also look at Air Asia Coologatta to K/L then K/L to Bkk there are very often very good prices with them.

[Taipan 1]

I fly Thai Airways.

Great service....direct flight.

Highly recommend.

[biggles 509]

I always fly Air asia coolangatta to Kuala lumpur, wait 3 hours for another flight from the same terminal building to Bangkok. Great airline, good service and never a problem in about 3 years. I have paid as little as $99 one way to KL and usually around $120 return KL to BKK. Log onto their web site and register your email address then they will give you advance notice when they have a sale on. They also advertise in the Brisbane courier mail. www.airasia.com

You can travel to Robina station on the train and get the 765 bus from the station right to the airport. There is a YHA right outside the entrance if you want to overnight for an early flight. its not as convenient as Thai but you can easily save $500-600 on their regular cost flights, even more on a sale.

[stevoman 2]

Have flown Brunei last 4 times. No complaints apart from it not serving alcohol! Usually involves quite long stop-overs in Brunei,both ways, and Airport is by far the worst for facilities I have ever had to spend time at.

Saving grace last 3 years has been big savings but now Thai seem to be lowering their fares so that advantage might be gone next trip also. Just a BTW with Brunei, unlike Thai, you cannot pre-book your seat.

[thegrogmonster 111]

I have been traveling from Brisbane to Bangkok at least once a year for the past 10 years. I have flown with nearly every carrier. Creature comforts don't really worry me as I take a couple of sleeping pills each trip.

 

Qantas/BA: via Sydney - Shit service and some staff don't seem to like their job.

 

Jetstar: via Melbourne - Very good for the price

 

Malaysia Airlines: via Kuala Lumpur - Good if the price is right

 

Royal Brunei: via Brunei - Some very cheap flights at the moment. 4 and half hour stopover

 

Air Asia: From Coolongatta via Kuala Lumpur - Brilliant airline for the price. Economy seats don't recline.

 

Thai Airways: Preferred airline only because of the direct flight. Expensive though.

 

Sometimes I will use different airlines for each direction. Flew with Jetstar via Melbourne and then Jetstar Bangkok - Singapore. We then caught Qantas from Singapore to Brisbane. For the Singapore - Brisbane leg I booked through a Singapore travel company and got a real cheap flight. I find it a challenge each year to get the flights for the best price.

 

Next trip I am doing something different. I am flying Brisbane to Singapore and then going to spend a few days catching the train to Bangkok. I love train travel.

[Ass Bandit 0]

I agree with most of the above.

 

I have done the air asia KL/BKK. Good airline but I would recomment you pay the extra $40 on the Gold Coast to KL section to get the seat by the exit, well worth it. Don't pay the extra to get priority boarding, what's the point. Had no trouble with the seats or entertainment. But beware, it is a no frills airline, you will pay for absolutely everything. They turned the air con to freezing then charged everyone for a blanket.

 

Brunei Airlines was good. I had a stopover in Brunei which was a good idea. No alcohol on the plane but they will let you drink your duty free if you are a little discreet. Only allowed 12 cans of beer and 1 bottle of wine into Brunei, I had a bottle of half drunk Baileys, carton of beers, 1 (and a half) bottles of wine but the customs guys just told me not to take so much next time and waived me through. Only problem was on the way back it isn't a stopover, it's a 3 hour wait and not good.

 

Qantas to Sydney then BA to Bangkok.........don't even think about it. Terrible attitude by both airlines.

 

If you don't mind paying a bit more then definitely do the direct flight to BK with Thai. They were good, very good. I got a midnight flight that got in about 7am.

 

For me, I'd do either air asia for price of Thai for service etc. Enjoy your trip you lucky bastard.

[InSpaceNoOneCanHearYouFart 0]

Thanks for the help everyone, I'll look into those. I had never heard of Air Asia for instance.

I may end up having an overnight stay in Brunei; that way I get to see another country. Don't mind paying the extra night's hotel accomodation.

[jacko 8,815]

Thanks for the help everyone, I'll look into those. I had never heard of Air Asia for instance.

I may end up having an overnight stay in Brunei; that way I get to see another country. Don't mind paying the extra night's hotel accomodation.

Reports of overnight stays in Brunei are not positive..... there is no competition on seeing most countries.

[ozboy 31]

I have been traveling from Brisbane to Bangkok at least once a year for the past 10 years. I have flown with nearly every carrier. Creature comforts don't really worry me as I take a couple of sleeping pills each trip.

 

Qantas/BA: via Sydney - Shit service and some staff don't seem to like their job.

 

Jetstar: via Melbourne - Very good for the price

 

Malaysia Airlines: via Kuala Lumpur - Good if the price is right

 

Royal Brunei: via Brunei - Some very cheap flights at the moment. 4 and half hour stopover

 

Air Asia: From Coolongatta via Kuala Lumpur - Brilliant airline for the price. Economy seats don't recline.

 

Thai Airways: Preferred airline only because of the direct flight. Expensive though.

 

Sometimes I will use different airlines for each direction. Flew with Jetstar via Melbourne and then Jetstar Bangkok - Singapore. We then caught Qantas from Singapore to Brisbane. For the Singapore - Brisbane leg I booked through a Singapore travel company and got a real cheap flight. I find it a challenge each year to get the flights for the best price.

 

Next trip I am doing something different. I am flying Brisbane to Singapore and then going to spend a few days catching the train to Bangkok. I love train travel.

Air Asia are now upgrading the planes on the long range planes(air asia x) and will have flat bed seats in premium economy and reclining seats in economy,when this will affect various flightd I dont know.

[ozboy 31]

I agree with most of the above.

 

I have done the air asia KL/BKK. Good airline but I would recomment you pay the extra $40 on the Gold Coast to KL section to get the seat by the exit, well worth it. Don't pay the extra to get priority boarding, what's the point. Had no trouble with the seats or entertainment. But beware, it is a no frills airline, you will pay for absolutely everything. They turned the air con to freezing then charged everyone for a blanket.

 

Brunei Airlines was good. I had a stopover in Brunei which was a good idea. No alcohol on the plane but they will let you drink your duty free if you are a little discreet. Only allowed 12 cans of beer and 1 bottle of wine into Brunei, I had a bottle of half drunk Baileys, carton of beers, 1 (and a half) bottles of wine but the customs guys just told me not to take so much next time and waived me through. Only problem was on the way back it isn't a stopover, it's a 3 hour wait and not good.

 

Qantas to Sydney then BA to Bangkok.........don't even think about it. Terrible attitude by both airlines.

 

If you don't mind paying a bit more then definitely do the direct flight to BK with Thai. They were good, very good. I got a midnight flight that got in about 7am.

 

For me, I'd do either air asia for price of Thai for service etc. Enjoy your trip you lucky bastard.

Not surprised you had no trouble with the entertainment as they dont have any lol,it is a no frills airline.

 

They dont charge everyone for a blanket as they dont have them to hire out,you have to BUY a comfort pack of blanket.eye mask and ear plugs,but not real expensive at somewhere between $7 and $14 (at least thats the price if you pre book on the website) but I doubt they have anywhere near enough packs on board for everyone and of course you would just take your own for free after your first flight.

[Ass Bandit 0]

I may be wrong but pretty sure you do have entertainment on air asia, you can pre pay or pay on flight. I just checked the website in case I was losing my marbles and yes they do have in flight entertainment.

 

I did buy the pack with the blanket, it's more expensive than doing it online before the flight. When I say everyone was buying blankets I didn't mean it literally, used a bit of litterary licence, those that could get one did and those that did not were none too happy about freezing their cods off. No way am I bringing a blanket to or from thailand. Just wear jeans and a jumper next time.

 

Be aware that air asia are a point to point carrier, your connecting flight won't wait. But in saying that, my flight from KL to BKK was delayed for 2 hourse anyway. Just don't cut it fine with onward flights. In the KL airport you can pay about $20 and use their lounge for shower, relax etc.

 

By the way, the overnight stay in Brunei is free, sort of, it's included in the flight. Brunei is an alcohol free country/state whatever but there are 'hidden' places you can partake.

 

If Thai is only a couple of hundred more than the others then I would go directly with them but otherwise go the air asia option.

Edited May 7, 2010 by Ass Bandit

[ozboy 31]

. I just I may be wrong but pretty sure you do have entertainment on air asia, you can pre pay or pay on flightchecked the website in case I was losing my marbles and yes they do have in flight entertainment.

 

I did buy the pack with the blanket, it's more expensive than doing it online before the flight. When I say everyone was buying blankets I didn't mean it literally, used a bit of litterary licence, those that could get one did and those that did not were none too happy about freezing their cods off. No way am I bringing a blanket to or from thailand. Just wear jeans and a jumper next time.

 

Be aware that air asia are a point to point carrier, your connecting flight won't wait. But in saying that, my flight from KL to BKK was delayed for 2 hourse anyway. Just don't cut it fine with onward flights. In the KL airport you can pay about $20 and use their lounge for shower, relax etc.

 

By the way, the overnight stay in Brunei is free, sort of, it's included in the flight. Brunei is an alcohol free country/state whatever but there are 'hidden' places you can partake.

 

If Thai is only a couple of hundred more than the others then I would go directly with them but otherwise go the air asia option.

 

 

If the website says there is entertainment on board you had better explain to me exactly whereabouts on the site it says so as I have made dozens of flights on air asia over the last 4 or 5 years and have yet to even see any screens fitted to the aircraft.

Unless you have flown on one of the upgraded planes operated by Air Asia X and they have put entertainment in them,but again I haven't seen anything about that on the website,not that iv'e looked as it's mostly the regional air asia I have flown,the last time being 5 weeks ago on an Air ASIA Indonesia plane that was 6 months old and it didnt have any screens fitted.

For me A/A travel blanket would be far lighter and easier than trousers and jumper lol

Edited May 7, 2010 by ozboy

[bigdelta 46]

Reports of overnight stays in Brunei are not positive..... there is no competition on seeing most countries.

http://www.travelerscenturyclub.org/

[Ass Bandit 0]

It was the long haul flight from Gold Coast to KL. Can't really remember short haul. Go to site and type in 'entertainment' in the search box.

 

http://www.airasia.com/au/en/myflights/ife.html

[jacko 8,815]

http://www.travelerscenturyclub.org/

I decided not to send them a cheque....

[ozboy 31]

It was the long haul flight from Gold Coast to KL. Can't really remember short haul. Go to site and type in 'entertainment' in the search box.

 

http://www.airasia.com/au/en/myflights/ife.html

 

 

Thanks for that,as i said it must have been on the new or upgraded planes on AAX.

We have had only one AAX flight which was last year to Perth and they didn't have any entertainment on board,but they have just recently started an upgrade program inc lie flat bed/seats.

The short haul dont have screens fitted and again as far as I know there is no entertainment offered.

I am actually surprised they dont seem to be advertising the entertainment on the long haul flights,i haven't noticed it at all on the home page.

[biggles 509]

|If the website says there is entertainment on board you had better explain to me exactly whereabouts on the site it says so as I have made dozens of flights on air asia over the last 4 or 5 years and have yet to even see any screens fitted to the aircraft.|

 

They dont have screens they have portable type dvd players that plug into a usb socket on the back of the seat in front. Also, the seat backs dont recline, the seat base slides forward, this reduces the amount of leg room you have.

[ozboy 31]

|If the website says there is entertainment on board you had better explain to me exactly whereabouts on the site it says so as I have made dozens of flights on air asia over the last 4 or 5 years and have yet to even see any screens fitted to the aircraft.|

 

They dont have screens they have portable type dvd players that plug into a usb socket on the back of the seat in front. Also, the seat backs dont recline, the seat base slides forward, this reduces the amount of leg room you have.

Yes that was the case on the AAX flight we had last year,didnt see or hear anything about entertainment though,and the new planes supposedly have reclining seats in economy and lie flat seats in premium.