Baggage Rip Off

[Olded 252]

I have a friend coming to Thailand in April and he booked a flight with cheapoair a round trip from Bangkok to Chiang Rai, for $179 but no baggage, they said to contact the airline for the baggage fees.  He booked the ticket and contacted the airline for the baggage fees, and WOW, it was $90 or 3050 baht for a 23 kg bag for both ways. What a ripoff !

[keyman 1,469]

34 minutes ago, Olded said:

I have a friend coming to Thailand in April and he booked a flight with cheapoair a round trip from Bangkok to Chiang Rai, for $179 but no baggage, they said to contact the airline for the baggage fees.  He booked the ticket and contacted the airline for the baggage fees, and WOW, it was $90 or 3050 baht for a 23 kg bag for both ways. What a ripoff !

You get what you pay for these days. Does he need checked baggage? Can he just take a 'carry-on?'

[yselmike 412]

2 hours ago, Olded said:

I have a friend coming to Thailand in April and he booked a flight with cheapoair a round trip from Bangkok to Chiang Rai, for $179 but no baggage, they said to contact the airline for the baggage fees.  He booked the ticket and contacted the airline for the baggage fees, and WOW, it was $90 or 3050 baht for a 23 kg bag for both ways. What a ripoff !

€45 for each leg is the going rate.

I've put my stuff in a locker at Pattaya self storage,mainly I'm done with dragging that wheeled duffle behind me.I was hoping that with just a carry on I would get the cheaper flights,I can but there's no pre booking a seat of choice.Its impossible to say what it will cost to get a seat of choice,untill you actually buy a ticket! Getting an aisle seat is important for me.So I will have to go one step up to get a standard seat,that also is a limited selection.And don't go overweight with the carry-on,they have us over a barrell.I might visit a mate in Chiang Mai next year and may well take the train.

[Olded 252]

If $45 is the going rate for the first check in bag for a hour flight and not overweight, I'd like to know the airline you use?

[yselmike 412]

12 minutes ago, Olded said:

If $45 is the going rate for the first check in bag for a hour flight and not overweight, I'd like to know the airline you use?

I normally fly EVA they allow 2 bags.He should book direct with the airline and/or read what the luggage allowance is.Its getting worse it's 45 Euros or pounds.

[Olded 252]

we are talk about Domestic fights in Thailand

[yselmike 412]

50 minutes ago, Olded said:

we are talk about Domestic fights in Thailand

The extra charges are how they make their money.They are mercenary and brutal.I payed 60 euro to reserve a seat on a KLM flight a good few years ago,I learned my lesson.

[sailingbill 1,156]

In the early days of flying Air Asia I spent more time unchecking boxes “for your Convenience” than booking a flight .  No I don’t want extra baggage, no I don’t want insurance, no I don’t care about my seat on a 2 hour flight, no I don’t want your shitty 300 baht meal. 

[teelack 9,752]

I flew Air Asia a couple of years ago. Prior to the flight I did some YouTube research. There were instances of when every bit of carry on luggage was weighed. The result was (I would estimate) hundreds of pieces of clothing in a large heap prior to the air bridge.

 

What a windfall for the ground staff. What a disaster for the passengers. Anyway, it taught me to follow the rules when travelling with them.

 

 

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[sailingbill 1,156]

At Phuket checkin I was behind a young couple who I could tell had not flown AA. They had a trolley full of luggage, I thought clueless chumps. But I was clueless chump because the agent didn't let me and my small handbag jump ahead while the husband scrambled to the Atm.  I was pretty good at evaluating lines, back when we were still doing those white departure cards and I saw a group not having them, Nope get in the longer line where people understand what to do. 

[awesum4 2,360]

it's not just domestic flights that charge a fortune.  I got cheap flights to Melbourne and then to Bangkok and return with 7kg of carry on.

My wife is visiting her sister in Sydney for part of the time I'm away. Return flights were $650 for carryon but added $300 for 30kg of checked baggage. Didn't pay for 3 different types of insurance or selected seat, she isn't big enough to need extra leg room. She does get a meal included. 

I'll buy food and a bottle of water at the airport to take on the plane.

[yselmike 412]

Headline in today's De Telegraaf. KLM have been misleading people for years with special offers, that are in fact unbookabale.I could have told them that.Dont forget to clear your cache etc.

[yselmike 412]

My mistake it was in the Het Parool 

[jacko 8,907]

Just done a flight myself. and pardon me for drifting off the topic of domestic flights. 

Could have gone far far cheaper with Air Asia, but decided against it... getting to DMG is aggravation enough early mornings. Nor did I want to mess about with seating charges and baggage. I could have managed with carry on but was not prepared to drag a case in transit... SQ and Changi do all that very well. 

Sadly air travel is getting worse in this part of the world, as the airports fill up with 3rd world monkeys that truly irritate, facilitated by cheap budget carriers. 

 

Edited March 11 by jacko

[yselmike 412]

I've just booked with Etihad.Return Amsterdam-Bangkok €673.only carry on and no seat selection.Should not be a problem as long as I only need the toilet once each leg.It arrives Bangkok 18:05 I might book a taxi or spend a couple of nights in Bangkok.I can use the priority passport lane and no waiting for a bag,I have options.

 

[yselmike 412]

Each step of the booking I had to tick a box that I understood the economy basic restrictions,only 7kg hand luggage,no checked luggage,no seat choice,NO extras.Its a very good price.

[jacko 8,907]

12 hours ago, yselmike said:

I've just booked with Etihad.Return Amsterdam-Bangkok €673.only carry on and no seat selection.Should not be a problem as long as I only need the toilet once each leg.It arrives Bangkok 18:05 I might book a taxi or spend a couple of nights in Bangkok.I can use the priority passport lane and no waiting for a bag,I have options.

 

Finding the priority passport lane is not so straightforward these days.. It had actually been some years since I arrived in BKK and I felt completely confused looking for priority..... many directions seemed to be for special people, it was crowded and near bedlam. That said, when I got to immigration lines, it was moving fairly well. I was met by Nam's taxi service and was very pleased with them. 

[yselmike 412]

43 minutes ago, jacko said:

Finding the priority passport lane is not so straightforward these days.. It had actually been some years since I arrived in BKK and I felt completely confused looking for priority..... many directions seemed to be for special people, it was crowded and near bedlam. That said, when I got to immigration lines, it was moving fairly well. I was met by Nam's taxi service and was very pleased with them. 

I found it ok arriving in bangkok,it's at the farthest immigration booths.not really obvious.Didnt find it leaving, hopefully I will be wiser next time.

[jacko 8,907]

1 hour ago, yselmike said:

I found it ok arriving in bangkok,it's at the farthest immigration booths.not really obvious.Didnt find it leaving, hopefully I will be wiser next time.

Leaving it is at the far end again... on the check in level. On arrival I had already walked a long way and it was like Calcutta railway station. 

[awesum4 2,360]

10 hours ago, yselmike said:

I found it ok arriving in bangkok,it's at the farthest immigration booths.not really obvious.Didnt find it leaving, hopefully I will be wiser next time.

so does that mean it's on the left side facing the immigration booths....the Thai only ones are to the right

[yselmike 412]

It's the security that's the problem when leaving , everyone is funneled but there's nobody to direct us to the right lane.The airport is the busiest I've ever known it.One good thing is no need to get stamped out,there are automatic gates,as long as everything is ok !

[yselmike 412]

3 hours ago, awesum4 said:

so does that mean it's on the left side facing the immigration booths....the Thai only ones are to the right

It's on the right of the Thai immigration booths.At the moment it's the very last two booths,it wasn't even signposted in January. The airport web site gives the same location to be permanent and temporary,it seems to be in a permanent state of construction.Its a bit of a trek from where you disembark.The aircrew an diplomats have their own lanes.Theres new cameras at check in and immigration, biometric or facial recognition,maybe both.No lines for passport check when leaving, automatic gates.Dont be an overstayer.

[teelack 9,752]

I thought that I might summarise and clarify the Priority Lane issue .

On arrival the PL is to the far right of the main Passport /Immigration Area (that we all know and love!). You cant go further! its on the same floor and feeds directly onto the carousel area. Its been in action for some while now and I have never had more than two people in front of me. 

As for departure. As you come in the front entrance to the departure area turn right and keep right. Walk as far as you can (its beside to lowest numbered check in counter) and its right before your eyes. Yes, its a bit longer walk but the whole procedure of security and passport can take less than 5 minutes. Its a breeze.

 

[Bazle 1,623]

7 hours ago, teelack said:

I thought that I might summarise and clarify the Priority Lane issue .

On arrival the PL is to the far right of the main Passport /Immigration Area (that we all know and love!). You cant go further! its on the same floor and feeds directly onto the carousel area. 

The last two times I have arrived, the entrance to the main area was cordoned off, and non-Thais were being told to move along to the next Immigration area. 

Thais were being allowed through, and I saw no sign about Priority.

It was only that I knew where I wanted to go that I was Mr Awkward, and joined the Thais. Inevitably, I was challenged by the IOs, and had to show them my passport to prove my age. (Aged 70 and over entitled to use Priority.) 

[jacko 8,907]

14 hours ago, Bazle said:

The last two times I have arrived, the entrance to the main area was cordoned off, and non-Thais were being told to move along to the next Immigration area. 

Thais were being allowed through, and I saw no sign about Priority.

It was only that I knew where I wanted to go that I was Mr Awkward, and joined the Thais. Inevitably, I was challenged by the IOs, and had to show them my passport to prove my age. (Aged 70 and over entitled to use Priority.) 

Yes that was my recollection and experience......my thoughts are that 'Priority' should be easier, rather than the furthest away point it can possibly be. 

Airports in this part of the world are destined to be crowded with folks yet to learn about queueing, or how to use a bathroom. 

Edited March 14 by jacko