Decent BA Offers up until June.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Some decent prices if you're after non-stop flights ex LHR ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 17, 2013 by CheshireTom

[Billions 687]

I was monitoring LHR-BKK direct flights over the last month or so,waiting for some matters in the UK to resolve themselves before making a booking. That opportunity presented itself a week ago,and a 650 GBP option appeared out of the blue,with other options by Thai being 900-1200 GBP for the same or similar days,so I took the deal,thinking that capacity must be high for these prices to be competitive. Unusual though was that EVA was coming in with the lowest direct flight on every search.

 

So,three days after making the booking I was at Heathrow,checking in at a deserted Thai desk.

 

The flight departed,perhaps only at 30% of load capacity. Empty rows of seats everywhere. It was like in the old days,when it was usual to have an entire row of seats to yourself,and could bed down with ease.

 

No groups of pensioners this time,on their way to Vietnam. Surprisingly quite a few single women,and the rest blokes of a certain age.

 

Maybe the market is very depressed on this route? I can't remember it being so desolate for many a year.

 

What made me think is that Thai are still pushing high prices as the flight departure day nears yet are prepared to fly almost empty rather than attract more travelers to take up the spare capacity with attractive pricing. Looks like BA have the same forecasts showing reduced demand,and are doing something about it. As are EVA.

[jacko 8,827]

I was monitoring LHR-BKK direct flights over the last month or so,waiting for some matters in the UK to resolve themselves before making a booking. That opportunity presented itself a week ago,and a 650 GBP option appeared out of the blue,with other options by Thai being 900-1200 GBP for the same or similar days,so I took the deal,thinking that capacity must be high for these prices to be competitive. Unusual though was that EVA was coming in with the lowest direct flight on every search.

 

So,three days after making the booking I was at Heathrow,checking in at a deserted Thai desk.

 

The flight departed,perhaps only at 30% of load capacity. Empty rows of seats everywhere. It was like in the old days,when it was usual to have an entire row of seats to yourself,and could bed down with ease.

 

No groups of pensioners this time,on their way to Vietnam. Surprisingly quite a few single women,and the rest blokes of a certain age.

 

Maybe the market is very depressed on this route? I can't remember it being so desolate for many a year.

 

What made me think is that Thai are still pushing high prices as the flight departure day nears yet are prepared to fly almost empty rather than attract more travelers to take up the spare capacity with attractive pricing. Looks like BA have the same forecasts showing reduced demand,and are doing something about it. As are EVA.

Dare we say it, the old cliche, if Thai are losing money, they will be putting up the prices.

[bigdelta 46]

Same Thai logic applies to barfines & s/t and l/t quotes when business is slow. Imagine if UK dropped that absurdly high departure tax-you'd have a very cheap fare.

Dare we say it, the old cliche, if Thai are losing money, they will be putting up the prices.

[teelack 9,650]

Same same withThai Air flights out of Auckland. All the recent flights have been half full and I have been able to get three seats or the emergency exit ones where I can stretch out. The one annoying thing is that when I log onto the Thai Air site the prices are 50 % greater than the specials offered by the travel agents. I have till the 31st to book a flight at the equivalet of 31000 return and this is a direct flight and is what I was paying years ago for a one stop flight takeing a lot more time to get there and back.To be honest I am a happy traveller.

[bigdelta 46]

teelack,where does you direct flight stop?

[teelack 9,650]

teelack,where does you direct flight stop?

 

Auckland to Swampy. The Australian airlines take over 3 hours extra and stop in Sydney.The Thai flight also gets into Swampy at 8.30 PM so thsatanother night in Pattaya. Yeah!

[marleyboy 140]

I must be mega unlucky then! EVERY! time Ive flown with Thai, they have been packed! Same with Eva! I normally go in Jan or Feb or March!

[bigdelta 46]

Thanks.So it's non-stop,not direct,excellent.

 

 

Auckland to Swampy. The Australian airlines take over 3 hours extra and stop in Sydney.The Thai flight also gets into Swampy at 8.30 PM so thsatanother night in Pattaya. Yeah!

[teelack 9,650]

Direct? Non Stop? Its all a bit over my head for humble Kiwi boy but I thought that they were the same.

[bigdelta 46]

Ha,Kiwis-nicest folks on earth and 2nd most beautiful country IMO.

Direct? Non Stop? Its all a bit over my head for humble Kiwi boy but I thought that they were the same.

[steamer 158]

Direct? Non Stop? Its all a bit over my head for humble Kiwi boy but I thought that they were the same.

Direct has a stopover but you don't have to get off the plane (supposedly)

[teelack 9,650]

Direct has a stopover but you don't have to get off the plane (supposedly)

 

Thanks for explaining that. Shows that I am never too old to learn-only too old to remember!

[jacko 8,827]

Direct has a stopover but you don't have to get off the plane (supposedly)

Really, well you learn something every day.

I am guessing it is only 1 stop otherwise the bus from Chiangmai could be deemed direct as you sit wondering why you are sat in Phetchaburi bus station.

 

It is a slightly devious use of Engish as I never felt the Singapore flight from Manchester was 'direct' with a stop in Delhi or now Germany.

[teelack 9,650]

Really, well you learn something every day.

I am guessing it is only 1 stop otherwise the bus from Chiangmai could be deemed direct as you sit wondering why you are sat in Phetchaburi bus station.

 

It is a slightly devious use of Engish as I never felt the Singapore flight from Manchester was 'direct' with a stop in Delhi or now Germany.

My dictionary tells me that the word direct means "Without delay" therefore in strict terms it cannot have a stop or stops of any number.

[bigdelta 46]

Direct in the airline business means 1 or more stops,most always same plane but on a rare occasion,a change or gauge,meaning aircraft type.This usually happens with a smaller aircraft on the domestic portion and a larger one on the int'l segment.Changing planes is obviously a connection.Nonstop means nonstop.

I do remember a few things after 32 years in the industry.

[bigdelta 46]

What "airline" dictionary are you referring to? LOL!

My dictionary tells me that the word direct means "Without delay" therefore in strict terms it cannot have a stop or stops of any number.

Edited March 19, 2013 by bigdelta

[teelack 9,650]

What "airline" dictionary are you referring to? LOL!

What airline dictionaries are there?

[bigdelta 46]

The one airline employees learn from.And hopefully travel agents (if they still exist).

What airline dictionaries are there?

[CheshireTom 1,377]

The one airline employees learn from.And hopefully travel agents (if they still exist).

 

Maybe they have different terminology in the US. It wouldn't be a first.

[bigdelta 46]

Similar to the pronunciation of "derby"."It's a local dArby".I know Tom,pronunciation & terminology aren't the same thing but get your drift.

If you check the wiki for the OAG,I believe you will see the clear definition for a direct flight.It is accepted worldwide,not just here.

Edited March 19, 2013 by bigdelta

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Similar to the pronunciation of "derby"."It's a local dArby".I know Tom,pronunciation & terminology aren't the same thing but get your drift.

If you check the wiki for the OAG,I believe you will see the clear definition for a direct flight.It is accepted worldwide,not just here.

 

I'm aware of the OAG definition, but since it's a Brit publication, I didn't think it correct to quote its definition. However, for the sake of clarity, it is ...

 

"A direct flight in the aviation industry is any flight between two points by an airline with no change in flight numbers, which may include a stop over at an intermediate point".

 

By that definition, the TG flight AKL-BKK is direct. And non-stop. See, you were both correct.

 

As an aside, the OAG site has several tools to search for direct flights .... and the results include non-stop.

 

 

[jacko 8,827]

Similar to the pronunciation of "derby"."It's a local dArby".I know Tom,pronunciation & terminology aren't the same thing but get your drift.

If you check the wiki for the OAG,I believe you will see the clear definition for a direct flight.It is accepted worldwide,not just here.

If it stops some-place it ain't direct, it is via..... so it is up to me if I accept the lie presented to me. I only hope it is apparent.

[bigdelta 46]

Yes Tom,the "may" you quote is roughly .000001%.Don't argue with me on this.I didn't question industry standards when you were a secret agent,trash collecter,bail bondsman,soccer player,dog catcher or whatever the FCUK you did in a previous life.I don't give a FCUK where it's published-worldwide,the accepted standard in my industry is obvious to everyone but you.You're beginning to sound like that obnoxious joekicker,arguing for the sake of arguing.

Edited March 19, 2013 by bigdelta

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Yes Tom,the "may" you quote is roughly .000001%.Don't argue with me on this.I don't give a FCUK where it's published-worldwide,the accepted standard in my industry is obvious to everyone but you.You're beginning to sound like that obnoxious joekicker,arguing for the sake of arguing.

 

Ease up! I'm not arguing with, or questioning, you or any one else. All I did was to post the OAG definition from the website that you suggested I check.

If you check the wiki for the OAG,I believe you will see the clear definition for a direct flight.It is accepted worldwide,not just here.

 

 

I didn't question industry standards when you were a secret agent,trash collecter,bail bondsman,soccer player,dog catcher or whatever the FCUK you did in a previous life.

 

What I did in my previous life is pretty irrelevant. All that matters is that tomorrow morning I can take a quick trip to Hat Yai Airport and book a flight to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, KL or Singapore. Direct.

 

For the sake of clarity, this is what you suggested I check and what you determined was accepted worldwide. It seems that OAG suggest it is merely any flight that doesn't entail a change of flight number.

 

 

Edited March 19, 2013 by CheshireTom