Jump to content
Instructions on joining the Members Only Forum

Recommended Posts

Just started glancing at flight prices for my next jaunt, specifically:

 

Dep Ex LHR Sun 17 Mar

Ret Ex BKK Sat 06 Apr

 

Usually go direct but the prices are sky high currently. it's still 9 weeks to wheels up, so i'm hoping there is still time for them to come up with some offers. The problem seems to be the return flight on Apr 06. They say that there are only 4 seats available on it at £1464. Eva are +3k on the same day. Surely it can't be sold out 9 weeks in advance can it? Also i'm coming back before Songkran so i'm a bit taken aback by the current state of play. I can get the usual sub £600 in May/June.I know They play games with the release of tickets/promos and am hoping that is the case here. Or is there something I've missed? If it's not (the price) going to come in a lot, i'll need to look at moving my dates back. Tilak will just love that! So, what do you think. Am i getting panicky for nothing, and should just sit tight and wait for the deals, or am i rightly concerned and should be looking around to find someone to exchange my leave dates with?

Link to post
Share on other sites

You could try looking up places like www.ebookers.com and see if they have alternatives. I have a friend who was in a similar situation as you say and he has gone with Etihad with a two hour layover. The flight was 500 pounds cheaper this way.

 

Edit in;

 

I just had a look for you on your dates and they have cheaper flights with Emirates and Etihad, but some crappy layovers. It can be good to stay in Dubai for the 20 something hours and get yourself to Ratskies and take a filipina back to a room for a session while you are waiting for your flight

Edited by bigmick
  • Upvote 2
  • Downvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I couldnt get an EVA flight the day I wanted direct through EVA website but could get an EVA flight through 3rd part reseller - seems they sell a load of seats to 3rd parties

so when they say flight full that may be just the allocation they have kept for themselves to sell.

 

Im guessing the 4 seats they have left are elite class rather than economy as they seems closer to the price range I use with elite class,

 

Regards

Rob

Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Fatboyfat

Definately an "Easter School Holiday" problem. EVA are notoriously money-grabbing wrt UK holiday dates!"Ours" travel agents used to be the best for EVA flight prices from UK, but I haven't used EVA for a long time now. Just phone them, as their online website can be a bit "lumpy". They always had availability even when EVA said there was none, for some reason.

Edited by Fatboyfat
Link to post
Share on other sites

Just started glancing at flight prices for my next jaunt, specifically:

 

Dep Ex LHR Sun 17 Mar

Ret Ex BKK Sat 06 Apr

 

Usually go direct but the prices are sky high currently. it's still 9 weeks to wheels up, so i'm hoping there is still time for them to come up with some offers. The problem seems to be the return flight on Apr 06. They say that there are only 4 seats available on it at £1464. Eva are +3k on the same day. Surely it can't be sold out 9 weeks in advance can it? Also i'm coming back before Songkran so i'm a bit taken aback by the current state of play. I can get the usual sub £600 in May/June.I know They play games with the release of tickets/promos and am hoping that is the case here. Or is there something I've missed? If it's not (the price) going to come in a lot, i'll need to look at moving my dates back. Tilak will just love that! So, what do you think. Am i getting panicky for nothing, and should just sit tight and wait for the deals, or am i rightly concerned and should be looking around to find someone to exchange my leave dates with?

Easter rush pal.... kids on holiday from school and al that. They won't offer the cheaper tickets.
Link to post
Share on other sites

Ok, I hear what you are all saying. Thanks for the imput, but i've just had the old diary out and last year I booked on 04/01/2012 so 10 days earlier, for travel out on 11/03 (a week earlier) and back on 06/04 (same date)! Price then £573. I have seen the Thai/Eva prices swing up and down without rhyme or reason before. In fact for a short time on Sunday the Thai price went down to £943, then back up to £1464 the next day. See what i mean. No rhyme or reason to it. I have an offer of Eva at £750 from an agent i used to use a while ago, which I will chase up 2moro.

 

I just have a gut feeling that this 90, 60, 30, day cycle thing may be in effect here and both airlines may be sitting on seats, which when released will be at a much cheaper rate, rising gradually as the seats available decreases. I can't believe that if their 06/04 flight was sold out bar 4 seats 9 weeks before wheels up that they wouldn't just put another flight on, as the demand is obviously there. Right?

 

I take the point about the Easter holidays, and come to think of it, last year I actually flew back on Good Friday! This time I straggle the entire holiday, so that could well be it! Bugger!!!!!!!!

 

Having said that, I have punched in going out a week earlier (sicky), and coming back a week earlier (decorating) and that still comes in at hi £800s. Of course, that still catches Good Friday out there. Hmmm. Thinking aloud here, but it looks like that is it doesn't it? I should have been chasing this up in the week after Christmas! (the busiest week of the year in the uk for holiday bookings due to the post festive depression rate).

 

Ok,thanks guys. I admit defeat and will immediately get after Thailearners £650 fare on travel supermarket, and my own guys £750 with Eva. Thanks for all your input. Actually though, what is your opinion of the 90, 60, 30 day pricing benchmark? I ask as i'm tantalizingy close to it......

Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes, but Easter moves around each year being related to lunar cycles and Passover.

There is always rhyme and reason for the prices to be up and down.

And yes the airlines will investigate ways to improve their income.

 

The school holidays seem to be bad dates price wise.....

I also watch out for Chinese New Year ,and the Muslim holidays as I normally go via the middle East.

 

If you actually fly on a holiday (New Years Day, Christmas Day etc) a bargain can sometimes be had.

 

Use Kayak etc and others and good luck.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Ok. Thailearner was right. I've just been on travelsupermarket.com, and they directed me to a Crystal Travel website, who are indeed offering flights on dates either side of my own that I can manage for £651. They are backed by IAATA which seems to be a representitive body for the airlines, not the punters. They also claim to be affiliated to ATOL and quote an ATOL number and invite you to click on this on their website to get further details of the ATOL protection. But when you try to do this, nothing happens. No site opens up. Also, while searching this site it has frozen my computer twice! Gives me collywobbles when other agents are asking £950 upwards for the same flights, and some agents don't even list these flights as available. Fucking minefield! (so what happened to the regular £1464?) You see what I mean? No rhyme or reason to it all. I'm sorely tempted by the price with Crystal (travel supermarket), but have doubts about there authenticity. Anyone booked with Crystal in the past, or any other agent backed by IAATA? I'm also tempted to go with the agent I used to deal with for £750. His name is Adrian De Sousa, who formerly worked with Lazy Vacation until they went bust. Like i said, i dealt with him at that company successfully, but the only details I have for him now are a personal email address. One man band now maybe? Something else I have to chase up. Shambles this time really. Anyway, anyone dealt with any of the above who can give me the "heads up" would be much appreciated. Now i'm gonna go sleep on it, and hopefully wake to see that the prices have tumbled and i can get c £600 with EastWest. Never know your luck lol .... Goodnoght all

Link to post
Share on other sites

you need to clear your computer of cookies they use them to track you, airlines/agents are well know

to change the price each time you go to there site,

Link to post
Share on other sites

you need to clear your computer of cookies they use them to track you, airlines/agents are well know

to change the price each time you go to there site,

 

The prices came back up, but by the time you complete the booking process the site just tells you that you have been timed out, and takes you back to the search page. Sure enough, the used the email address that I had entered to send me a happy sheet! I may try booking by phone 2moro (off to work now), as last EVA price quoted was £585 !!!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Ok. Thailearner was right. I've just been on travelsupermarket.com, and they directed me to a Crystal Travel website, who are indeed offering flights on dates either side of my own that I can manage for £651. They are backed by IAATA which seems to be a representitive body for the airlines, not the punters. They also claim to be affiliated to ATOL and quote an ATOL number and invite you to click on this on their website to get further details of the ATOL protection. But when you try to do this, nothing happens. No site opens up. Also, while searching this site it has frozen my computer twice! Gives me collywobbles when other agents are asking £950 upwards for the same flights, and some agents don't even list these flights as available. Fucking minefield! (so what happened to the regular £1464?) You see what I mean? No rhyme or reason to it all. I'm sorely tempted by the price with Crystal (travel supermarket), but have doubts about there authenticity. Anyone booked with Crystal in the past, or any other agent backed by IAATA? I'm also tempted to go with the agent I used to deal with for £750. His name is Adrian De Sousa, who formerly worked with Lazy Vacation until they went bust. Like i said, i dealt with him at that company successfully, but the only details I have for him now are a personal email address. One man band now maybe? Something else I have to chase up. Shambles this time really. Anyway, anyone dealt with any of the above who can give me the "heads up" would be much appreciated. Now i'm gonna go sleep on it, and hopefully wake to see that the prices have tumbled and i can get c £600 with EastWest. Never know your luck lol .... Goodnoght all

 

If you're only booking a scheduled flight, IATA is irrelevant.

 

Crystal is ATOL registered, part of Moresand Ltd.

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

The prices came back up, but by the time you complete the booking process the site just tells you that you have been timed out, and takes you back to the search page. Sure enough, the used the email address that I had entered to send me a happy sheet! I may try booking by phone 2moro (off to work now), as last EVA price quoted was £585 !!!

 

Use your rates that you have obtained via the internet and contact www.westeasttravel.com . They offer a great service and price match or even beat your rate. Have used them for the past few years.

Edited by ThaiLearner
Link to post
Share on other sites

If you're only booking a scheduled flight, IATA is irrelevant.

 

Crystal is ATOL registered, part of Moresand Ltd.

 

 

 

True, but they are also the only agent that charge me £4 (not a fortune I know) for ATOL protection. It comes free everywhere else. (that I use) Also, their prices are generally fiction, which explains why you can never (maybe too strong) complete a deal online with them. I have it on good authority, from an indeoendent travel agent here in London, who I have dealt with for many years that only the ebookers and opodo sites are worth looking at to get the ACTUAL current prices, as they are tightly run outfits, and their computers are linked to some mainframe computer that links the travel agency world. Something that the satalite agents aren't privvy too. That's his story, and he is sticking to it so please, don't shoot the messenger. Having said that, the two sites that I will be refering to for current prices in the future will be? No prizes for gussing!

Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Fatboyfat

mareht... You see to be steadfastly ignoring the advice given re Ours by more than one BM for some reason. To satisfy my own curiosity I got one of my admin staff to test out your original dates with them, and she was offered £610 return cattle class, provided she went ahead there and then!

Link to post
Share on other sites

I booked a flight with Crystal travel last year over the phone, they couldn't offer same as on web!!! Would only hold price for that day, it was still a good price so I went for it...... A week later the eticket still hadn't arrived, I got fobbed off a few times when chasing, then they held their hands up and admitted they couldn't get me on the return leg..... Shortened my trip by one day, ticket arrived shortly afterwards, then no more problems.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I booked a flight with Crystal travel last year over the phone, they couldn't offer same as on web!!! Would only hold price for that day, it was still a good price so I went for it...... A week later the eticket still hadn't arrived, I got fobbed off a few times when chasing, then they held their hands up and admitted they couldn't get me on the return leg..... Shortened my trip by one day, ticket arrived shortly afterwards, then no more problems.

So they sold you something you didn't order...... doesn't sound like a good result to me!
Link to post
Share on other sites

So they sold you something you didn't order...... doesn't sound like a good result to me!

 

Exactly. Dodgy firm. Anyway, fact is (despite having previous experience of this) I have blinked too soon as Thai are now down to £674 for my dates having released some more tickets. I fully expect them to dip under £600 to generate sales and then rise sharply to catch the people who will pay the £1464 (which some did), before recalculating and pitching again. I knew the strategy before, and the timescale. It just shows the power of the idea that you may be the guy to miss the flight to paradise and spend that week/fortnight/month at home instead. Thing is, I should know better by now (30 trips). Still....at least i'm on the plane tee hee :clap1

Link to post
Share on other sites

mareht... You see to be steadfastly ignoring the advice given re Ours by more than one BM for some reason. To satisfy my own curiosity I got one of my admin staff to test out your original dates with them, and she was offered £610 return cattle class, provided she went ahead there and then!

 

I refer you to pinoydave's reply!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Exactly. Dodgy firm. Anyway, fact is (despite having previous experience of this) I have blinked too soon as Thai are now down to £674 for my dates having released some more tickets. I fully expect them to dip under £600 to generate sales and then rise sharply to catch the people who will pay the £1464 (which some did), before recalculating and pitching again. I knew the strategy before, and the timescale.

 

I think the yield management systems operated by the airlines are a bit more sophisticated that what you make out.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...