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Standby Upgrade on Thai


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I note from the UK Thai airways web site that standby upgrade tickets may be available at an extra £620 + tax, is a similar arrangement available at Suvarnabhumi?

My thinking is that if I check out the Thai web site seat availability for my return trip and economy is looking full then it may be worth paying for an upgrade, the taxes from BKK to LHR will be less than the other way round and the flight back drags as UK BMs know.

I find that the last few days of my holiday are spoilt by not looking forward to being cramped into an economy seat for 13 hours.:)

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Yes, I have bought numerous upgrades from Thai at BKK in the past. Just ask at check-in and they will send you over to the ticket office to pay if an u/g is available.

 

So it's cheaper to upgrade at the airport than to buy the more expensive seat in the first place?

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So it's cheaper to upgrade at the airport than to buy the more expensive seat in the first place?

 

Yes, definitely. But there is always the risk no upgrade will be available.

 

Evil

:devil

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Due to UK tax regulations it should be cheaper to upgrade on the BKK-LHR sector than the LHR-BKK sector, anyone know how much?

I am assuming that LHR-BKK is £620+ about £80 tax.

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Last month Thai was offering Business class at 1633 quid return, so paying 700 quid for an upgrade plus your normal flight cost isn't always the cheapest way.

 

KM

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Last month Thai was offering Business class at 1633 quid return, so paying 700 quid for an upgrade plus your normal flight cost isn't always the cheapest way.

 

KM

 

How do you get informed of these offers. I book with West East and they quote around 3000 quid. Does the business class seat fold down to a flat bed and is the grub any better than in economy. On my last couple of trips the breakfasts were not too bad but the dinners were quite frankly revolting.

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How do you get informed of these offers. I book with West East and they quote around 3000 quid. Does the business class seat fold down to a flat bed and is the grub any better than in economy. On my last couple of trips the breakfasts were not too bad but the dinners were quite frankly revolting.

 

If you join the Thai frequent flyer scheme there is an option for receipt of notices from Thai. I get their sales/specials that way.

 

Thai are usually higher priced for me than other airlines flying to Thailand but once is a while they offer a reasonable price, although never during Holidays season in my experience and usually with restrictions such as fly a certain period, certain length of stay, etc.

 

From London I will sometimes take the short hop to CDG in Paris and take the Thai Paris/Bangkok direct leg on the 80 as it is often empty and you can spread out into an entire row. It is about the same from Bkk to CDG.

 

The biggest downside is being frisked not only by the Pakis at Heathrow but also the Algerians at CDG.

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How do you get informed of these offers. I book with West East and they quote around 3000 quid. Does the business class seat fold down to a flat bed and is the grub any better than in economy. On my last couple of trips the breakfasts were not too bad but the dinners were quite frankly revolting.

 

 

I don't. Once I know what date I'm flying, I keep checking the prices on their website until I see one I like, then book it. I keep the info on a spreadsheet for easy checking like for like details. Normally I check the cheapest, the most expensive economy (comparison only!) and business class. I can't afford business class as it normally comes in around 2,600 - 2,700, the highest economy just over 1,000 and I choose the one that gives me better airmiles but isn't the most expensive. Back in November they offered a special for business class at 1630. I was tempted, but not tempted enough!!

The seats are almost lie flat, definitely better than economy, and the food was really good. If I could I would always travel in business, but until my lottery numbers come up I make the best of cattle class!

 

Hope that helps.

 

KM

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Thanks for the input guys, as the OP I will just re-iterate my thinking.

On the Thai web site you can book your seat in advance, so therefore you can see how many seats are available, although i think this method is only 90% accurate but at least you get a good idea. This way if your holiday is flexible you may be able to move your flight by a day or two to find more empty seats and the chance to spread out, which I like:)

 

For my trip out at the end of January there are currently in the 120ish empty seats available depending which day/flight I go for.

For the return it is in the 90s with still 8 weeks before the flight so it may well drop down to nearly zero. I am a big chap and a full 13 hour return flight can spoil my holiday.

If that were the case then I would seriously consider paying £600 at Suvarnabhumi for an upgrade.

 

I know Eva and Thai have occasional business offers but usually the business class is around £1900, my way would work out at around £1150. My mate got me thinking along these lines because it is something he does on Emirates to birmingham, the one thing that puts me off Emirates is they put another seat in economy rows so that they are 10 across, hopefully Eva and Thai don't copy them.

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I know you've been around a while now Gus, but have you considered the China Airlines (Taiwan) via Amsterdam "Premium Economy". The price is generally around that £1000 figure that you are seeking and the good thing with their particular Premium Economy is that they do not have specific seating (as yet) and so you get a full-blown biz class seat and lounge use, but economy luggage etc. I say as yet, because on their new 777s they have a dedicate PE cabin with seating to match, but that aircraft does not serve the AMS-BKK route.

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I know you've been around a while now Gus, but have you considered the China Airlines (Taiwan) via Amsterdam "Premium Economy". The price is generally around that £1000 figure that you are seeking and the good thing with their particular Premium Economy is that they do not have specific seating (as yet) and so you get a full-blown biz class seat and lounge use, but economy luggage etc. I say as yet, because on their new 777s they have a dedicate PE cabin with seating to match, but that aircraft does not serve the AMS-BKK route.

How is the boarding?

I ask because last time I flew with them in their Biz class, many years ago, I left the Amsterdam lounge early to go to the gate, and there was a special but open roped off little area with seats at the gate, that made me think of a pig pen! There was a sign on the rope saying Business Class or something similar, and I felt a right tosser in there! I tend to remain in the lounge as late as I can these days, as many airports/ airlines, the procedures at the gate are screwy and they are unable to segregate or only have one jetway anyhow.

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Gus, ..It was a while back now, but I believe I used "Ours" who also did the best EVA rates back then. There was a local Newcastle agents (recommended on this Forum) offering similar. I haven't actually used China personally for a while now, although have friends who swear by them. Nowdays I tend to book directly with airlines, although very recently I went back to a 3rd Party (Flight Centre) for an upcoming return from UK-BKK with Emirates, who were not reducing their 1st Class fares as on previous occasions, and achieved the required 33-40% reduction in fare. Unfortunately I cannot get those sort of reductions from my Dubai base/departures.
Jacko--Again, a while ago now, but I do recollect that "viewing pen" set up. It may be a Schipol thing though, as I more recently encountered a similar thing with "short-haul" KLM there.

Edited by Fatboyfat
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If you join the Thai frequent flyer scheme there is an option for receipt of notices from Thai. I get their sales/specials that way.

 

Thai are usually higher priced for me than other airlines flying to Thailand but once is a while they offer a reasonable price, although never during Holidays season in my experience and usually with restrictions such as fly a certain period, certain length of stay, etc.

 

From London I will sometimes take the short hop to CDG in Paris and take the Thai Paris/Bangkok direct leg on the 80 as it is often empty and you can spread out into an entire row. It is about the same from Bkk to CDG.

 

The biggest downside is being frisked not only by the Pakis at Heathrow but also the Algerians at CDG.

 

The biggest downside is being frisked not only by the Pakis at Heathrow but also the Algerians at CDG.

 

There are very few people around who are as tolerant of other races and embrace multiculturalism more than myself and even fewer who are more appreciative of the benefits that mass immigration has brought to the UK but that would seriously get my goat.

 

The last time I arrived back at LHR a Paki customs tart nicked my 15 pouches of Golden Virginia and took my computer and portable hard drive away on the pretense of looking for animal and child porn. I was tempted to go into one about the grooming gangs in Rotherham and the fondness her countrymen are said to have for carnal activities with donkeys, goats and camels but thought better of it and decided to hold my tongue as exercising our much vaunted freedom of speech can have serious consequences regarding any future travel plans you may consider making.

 

You'd think that our political establishment would see sense and keep these people in their corner shops and in local government rather than letting them more or less run Britain's major airport and its security systems. What any sane Westerner must think when he or she arrives at LHR on a trip to England beggars belief. It can surely only be a matter of time.....

Edited by yogi100
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I have to agree with what you are saying about LHR staff, I always have to have an additional hand scan because my metal hip joints set off the alarm, I just bite my bottom lip and think of Thailand. Having said that on my return once an obese english secuirty woman asked to look in my case, I said to her,"What do you think that I have in there my Thai girlfriend" :llaugh

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The biggest downside is being frisked not only by the Pakis at Heathrow but also the Algerians at CDG.

 

There are very few people around who are as tolerant of other races and embrace multiculturalism more than myself and even fewer who are more appreciative of the benefits that mass immigration has brought to the UK but that would seriously get my goat.

 

The last time I arrived back at LHR a Paki customs tart nicked my 15 pouches of Golden Virginia and took my computer and portable hard drive away on the pretense of looking for animal and child porn. I was tempted to go into one about the grooming gangs in Rotherham and the fondness her countrymen are said to have for carnal activities with donkeys, goats and camels but thought better of it and decided to hold my tongue as exercising our much vaunted freedom of speech can have serious consequences regarding any future travel plans you may consider making.

 

You'd think that our political establishment would see sense and keep these people in their corner shops and in local government rather than letting them more or less run Britain's major airport and its security systems. What any sane Westerner must think when he or she arrives at LHR on a trip to England beggars belief. It can surely only be a matter of time.....

 

 

Did you and Sam ever consider refusing to be searched by them because of their nationality or did you just button it because you didn't have the balls?

 

 

KM

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Did you and Sam ever consider refusing to be searched by them because of their nationality or did you just button it because you didn't have the balls?

 

 

KM

 

More like they just like writing a good fictional story!

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Did you and Sam ever consider refusing to be searched by them because of their nationality or did you just button it because you didn't have the balls?

 

 

KM

Well so long as they don't ask him if he is British I am guessing the latter!

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I "think" Gus a few people have mentioned Gazelle travel for booking China airlines.

 

That's the one mb. :thumbup
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Did you and Sam ever consider refusing to be searched by them because of their nationality or did you just button it because you didn't have the balls?

 

 

KM

 

It's not a matter of having 'balls'. What a stupid fucking comment! If you refuse to be searched you get arrested, you're searched anyway, your home is also searched and you can have your passport confiscated. Where would having 'balls' or not get anyone in such circumstances.

 

Instead I swallowed the loss of the tobacco and bit my lip over the insinuations of sexual perversion. Which is exactly what you'd have done.

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No, it's not exactly what I would have done, because I don't have the same issues with them as you do.

 

 

KM

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Did you and Sam ever consider refusing to be searched by them because of their nationality or did you just button it because you didn't have the balls?

 

 

KM

 

I assumed they were officials of their respective governments even if their primary allegiance is to Mo.

 

I always leave some dirty undies and some dried pork on top in my carry-on; Mo boys seem to lose interest in my balls after that.

 

YMMV, as some seem to enjoy the frisking and as the expression goes in the Middle East, i.e., Luton, Bradford, Rotheram, Tower Hamlets, etc., women are for family, men for companionship and young boys for sex. You might be the exception though and be a choice for both the harem and diwaniyah.

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