Etihad Sale Ex Bangkok.

[jacko 8,815]

Etihad are my preferred carrier of late in business class.

They are better than Qatar and Emirates for me.....

They offer a free limo service at both ends (but I live too far out at the Bangkok end for it to be free.. over 50km)

Emirates do too, Qatar don't.

The transit is normally OK, Qatar is awful as last time I was stuck in traffic jams going both to and from the aircrafts as you are bused. Scratch that if they have finished the long long delayed 'New Airport'......I think scheduled in April. Etihad is okay IF you are landing at the same terminal as your next flight, Changing terminals is no fun!

 

Anyhow, I have a lot of miles with them and have reached Silver, can always use more of them there useless FF miles.

 

PRICE #1

Sale period : 31 January – 20 February 2014
Travel period:
Coral Economy Class: 1 February – 15 July 2014
Pearl Business Class: 1 February – 30 June 2014

 

London 33,030 baht Economy 84,840 Biz

 

Manchester 32,225 95,745

Edited February 6, 2014 by jacko

[Guest King_Midas]

Some £200 cheaper in Economy if in reverse for same periods on Travel Supermarket.

Always amazes me that the nearly defunct Lonely Planet Guides still after all these years say buy a one way to Thailand as you'll get a much cheaper flight in reverse.

[jacko 8,815]

Those days are well behind us KM.........

It all changed about when I decided to take advantage of the fact and bought my first one-way ex-UK!

 

As further info to the above, I booked a ticket in Biz Class and despite choosing the cheapest apparent options the total price was 96,365 baht...... not sure where the extra 620 baht came from, possibly currency fluctuations.

 

Base Fare was 70,340 Baht...... (+15280 Service Fee -Fuel, +700 Baht Bangkok Airport PSC, +9250 GB APD, + 795 Manchester PSC).

 

The itinerary shows T3-T3 both ways in AUH but I had that before and still had to do a T1-T3 transfer or similar shit.

The lounge in Manchester is really nice, AUH, it is crowded and not so much so.

Edited February 8, 2014 by jacko

[Guest King_Midas]

Those days are well behind us KM.........

It all changed about when I decided to take advantage of the fact and bought my first one-way ex-UK!

 

As further info to the above, I booked a ticket in Biz Class and despite choosing the cheapest apparent options the total price was 96,365 baht...... not sure where the extra 620 baht came from, possibly currency fluctuations.

 

Base Fare was 70,340 Baht...... (+15280 Service Fee -Fuel, +700 Baht Bangkok Airport PSC, +9250 GB APD, + 795 Manchester PSC).

 

The itinerary shows T3-T3 both ways in AUH but I had that before and still had to do a T1-T3 transfer or similar shit.

The lounge in Manchester is really nice, AUH, it is crowded and not so much so.

 

Travelled Etihad at Christmas

Outbound was arrive T1 and T3 for departure but inbound was T3 and again T3 for final sector to Heathrow (economy was no more than 30% full both sectors inbound)

Edited February 8, 2014 by King_Midas

[Fatboyfat 361]

As a matter of interest Jacko, with you seemingly doing fairly regular journeys back to UK, could you not originate your return trips in UK, and therefore pay the better fares on offer (from the same source in many airlines case) there ?

[CheshireTom 1,377]

As a matter of interest Jacko, with you seemingly doing fairly regular journeys back to UK, could you not originate your return trips in UK, and therefore pay the better fares on offer (from the same source in many airlines case) there ?

 

That was possibly the case while the GBP was down against the THB, but nowadays, less so (if at all).

 

On the subject of Etihad ... what is biz class like on their a330s/b777s these days? Last time I used them it was a pretty claustrophobic herringbone layout ...

[Guest King_Midas]

 

That was possibly the case while the GBP was down against the THB, but nowadays, less so (if at all).

 

On the subject of Etihad ... what is biz class like on their a330s/b777s these days? Last time I used them it was a pretty claustrophobic herringbone layout ...

 

Its a horrible layout and whilst I've never flown that class on Etihad each time I walk by I think jeez that looks awful. The seats look incredibly narrow as well

Omans is far far superior

Edited February 9, 2014 by King_Midas

[jacko 8,815]

As a matter of interest Jacko, with you seemingly doing fairly regular journeys back to UK, could you not originate your return trips in UK, and therefore pay the better fares on offer (from the same source in many airlines case) there ?

It has nothing whatsoever to do with the currency exchange rate.

I normally do 2 trips/year and am in the UK only 20-25 days each ...unplanned incidents notwithstanding.

What you are suggesting would require a ticket with a long validity (4 months or 7 months) as I usually avoid UK winters. There are better prices available in Biz where the validity is under 3 months ie D Class, Z Class whatever. I also plan around catching a few UK friends so the later I buy the better. Fully flexible Biz Fares/ J Class are seriously expensive.

Still I am going to look into your suggestion. Last year, for example, I bought an outward June, return September Ex Bangkok.... thinking I will buy an Ex UK ticket for July and early September when in the UK. A slight error as fares Ex UK in July are seriously priced, I ended up saying sod it and paying just a bit more and going First in Emirates as there was more availability.

 

I like the privacy of the herringbone layout, usually having a window seat. I agree the seats don't appear very wide in Etihad and this may be a problem for some fatties, When travelling with the Missus a few years back I thought the central 'love seats' were great. I find the A330s a bit 'small', but once I am in the seat, with everything handy, including a champers, my headset on, it is comfortable.

Oman would take me to Heathrow T3, then a transfer to T5 required, no thanks.

Edited February 9, 2014 by jacko

[Patna 3,802]

Your airline 'sale' threads always confuse me because they reveal business class prices. the last one you had was about 90 000 baht. Talking about rich. I used to be an Etihad fan but switched to Qatar lately for they always give me a better break and now an extra 10 kilos.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Your airline 'sale' threads always confuse me because they reveal business class prices. the last one you had was about 90 000 baht. Talking about rich. I used to be an Etihad fan but switched to Qatar lately for they always give me a better break and now an extra 10 kilos.

 

I think the point is to highlight that a sale is on and the fares quoted are just an example ... all you have to do is visit the airline website and insert your destination/dates. I usually post biz class fares to MAN or EDI as an example ... if I flew economy to Frankfurt, I'd post that.

[jacko 8,815]

Your airline 'sale' threads always confuse me because they reveal business class prices. the last one you had was about 90 000 baht. Talking about rich. I used to be an Etihad fan but switched to Qatar lately for they always give me a better break and now an extra 10 kilos.

Well that is what I fly but if you look at OP, Economy price is mentioned.

I normally travel with 5-10kg of my 40kg limit, so an extra 10 is not of any use to me.

Sitting in traffic in a sweaty bus isn't my idea of a break.

Edited February 11, 2014 by jacko

[Guest King_Midas]

 

Oman would take me to Heathrow T3, then a transfer to T5 required, no thanks.

Possibly so but Oman hold best Business Class seats last 3 years running according to Skytrax and Omans inflight Magazine.....

I haven't checked that fact Mr Google though hardly expect Oman to openly lie

 

Few Recent Pics.......

Edited February 10, 2014 by King_Midas

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Possibly so but Oman hold best Business Class seats last 3 years running according to Skytrax and Omans inflight Magazine.....

 

According to Skytrax, Oman won the award in 2011 and 2012, JAL won in 2013. Still means they are the best between BKK and UK (unless you fancy a trip via Japan). If I was heading to LHR, they'd be my first choice ...

 

 

Edited February 10, 2014 by CheshireTom

[Guest King_Midas]

 

According to Skytrax, Oman won the award in 2011 and 2012, JAL won in 2013. Still means they are the best between BKK and UK (unless you fancy a trip via Japan). If I was heading to LHR, they'd be my first choice ...

 

jal.jpg

 

Noticeable that Etihad not even in Top 10 but China Southern make it...

Only slight downer with Oman is its down the steps off the Aircraft although new Terminal currently under construction

Edited February 10, 2014 by King_Midas

[Fatboyfat 361]

These awards for airlines often amaze me, and I do feel that there are somewhat dodgy selections (with ulterior motives dictating) at times. I have done an inordinate amount of flights over the past 18 months in either biz or 1st, including a lot of those in that list. I found the new JAL to be really quite claustrophobic, and that was in a window seat. They were harping on about seat width, but I noticed no real difference to Etihads. I was moved to that one as the original passenger couldn't fit in it. The seat width itself is adequate, but the gaps that people have to squeeze through to get to them are not. This fellow was not really much more than standard Pattaya sex pest size! I would put the Cathay seat way above that one, and no mention of Air New Zealand or South African! ……and EVA for goodness sake (unless they have drastically improved over the last two years)! Also Singapore's product is worthy of a much higher spot.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

and EVA for goodness sake (unless they have drastically improved over the last two years)!

They have. On BKK-LHR/AMS they have their new Royal Laurel Class ...

 

 

[Guest King_Midas]

They have. On BKK-LHR/AMS they have their new Royal Laurel Class ...

 

EVA_Air_Business_Class1.jpg

 

That looks very nice indeed and better at first glance than Oman

[CheshireTom 1,377]

That looks very nice indeed and better at first glance than Oman

I was tempted to get it to AMS and then take a cheapie to Edinburgh ... on offer at 82k Baht it was good value.

[Fatboyfat 361]

They have. On BKK-LHR/AMS they have their new Royal Laurel Class ...EVA_Air_Business_Class1.jpg

Yes, that is different. From that photo it looks a bit similar to the advertised Qatar dreamliner set-up for the centre seats. On another tack tho' EVAs timings were always a problem for those not living in Cockneyville (especially with the painfully slow security at Heathrow), and to be honest Heathrow is probably the worst airport in the world to "transit" through. Amsterdam may be a better option, although I prefer "seamless". (IE I don't want to see my poxy suitcases until I reach my destination !)

Just had a quick scan of their website. Laughin out loud to the picture in my mind of a troop of tattooed Pattaya monsters disembarking from one of those " Hello Kitty" liveried planes ! I thought it was doing my dubious "cred" no good flying around in that gruesome Manchester City Etihad Airbus!

Edited February 10, 2014 by Fatboyfat

[jacko 8,815]

Yes, that is different. From that photo it looks a bit similar to the advertised Qatar dreamliner set-up for the centre seats. On another tack tho' EVAs timings were always a problem for those not living in Cockneyville (especially with the painfully slow security at Heathrow), and to be honest Heathrow is probably the worst airport in the world to "transit" through. Amsterdam may be a better option, although I prefer "seamless". (IE I don't want to see my poxy suitcases until I reach my destination !)

Just had a quick scan of their website. Laughin out loud to the picture in my mind of a troop of tattooed Pattaya monsters disembarking from one of those " Hello Kitty" liveried planes ! I thought it was doing my dubious "cred" no good flying around in that gruesome Manchester City Etihad Airbus!

I am thinking if you did a T5-T5 flight it would be okay, anything else would retain that evaluation, which is mine too after many horrible trips through the vile 'Connections Centre'. Hence all the other airlines above are of little relevance. I was tempted with the Oman air with the special offer, thinking it left me enough cash to buy a shuttle or train to Manchester. But what would I rather do, transit in Heathrow, fly up to Manchester, get the train, get a taxi and arrive home...or get off the plane in Manchester straight into a free Merc to the house.... no brainer.

Edited February 11, 2014 by jacko

[globaljonesey 6]

I only fly first class because I am extremely rich

[jacko 8,815]

I only fly first class because I am extremely rich

Etihad and many others don't do First through to Manchester....... we don't need the extra baggage as we travel with just a flat cap, Mac, braces and corduroy pants and clogs.

Edited February 13, 2014 by jacko

[jacko 8,815]

I see Emirates are now offering a better price BKK to Manchester ......... I haven't checked the availability, but for me it would have been a second option..they offer the limo and the A380. Dubai is big and crowded but the dedicated A380 terminal works well. A wider travel window too.

 

Price Class Book By Travel Dates

THB 29,760* Return Economy 16 Feb 14 10 Mar 14 - 31 Aug 14

THB 96,745* Return Business 16 Feb 14 10 Mar 14 - 31 Aug 14

 

For those in the South of England...

LGW

THB 29,760* Return Economy 16 Feb 14 10 Mar 14 - 31 Aug 14

THB 96,745* Return Business 16 Feb 14 10 Mar 14 - 31 Aug 14

LHR

THB 30,475* Return Economy 16 Feb 14 10 Mar 14 - 31 Aug 14

THB 98,405* Return Business 16 Feb 14 10 Mar 14 - 31 Aug 14

Edited February 14, 2014 by jacko

[globaljonesey 6]

I always thought the interior designer for Emirates was colour blind

[Fatboyfat 361]

I always thought the interior designer for Emirates was colour blind

LOL. …… and don't even try to comprehend the Emirates 1st Class decor designer! Almost "tacky" really; fortunately the product is better once you see beyond the garishness!