LAX-BKK $636 or JFK-BKK $806 Cathay Sept-Nov

[Hoss 0]

Go to Cathay website (USA) as they are offering LAX to BKK at $636 for purchase during July for travel between Sept 5 and Nov 30. From JFK its $806

 

Hoss

[Skytrooper 0]

The website is www.cathay-usa.com

 

The offer is not just for LAX-BKK and JFK-BKK, it is also good for SFO-BKK. When I priced a trip SFO-BKK for September, the total fare including taxes came to $685.50. You don't receive AA frequent flyer miles with this offer, but it's a good price.

[Trvlr 50]

Actually it is NOT a good deal. If you are never likely to travel again then it doesn't matter. But if you do plan to travel again then frequent flyer miles on a trip like LAX-BKK can really amount to something - it is something like 16000 miles. 60000 miles will get you a free trip. Another common measure is 1.5 cents per mile, and that adds up to $240.

So, while Cathay is a good airline, I would suggest sticking with a good network like Star Alliance, and an honest airline that is not playing games with the FF miles. (Air New Zealand once refused to give me miles; Korean did not give the full miles the last time I traveled, Cathay is refusing miles on this ticket, etc. etc.)

And if you travel enough to attain premium status then it is very desirable on long trips - check in with First Class, use the first class lounge etc.

[deleted member 0]

Actually it is NOT a good deal. If you are never likely to travel again then it doesn't matter. But if you do plan to travel again then frequent flyer miles on a trip like LAX-BKK can really amount to something - it is something like 16000 miles. 60000 miles will get you a free trip. Another common measure is 1.5 cents per mile, and that adds up to $240.

So, while Cathay is a good airline, I would suggest sticking with a good network like Star Alliance, and an honest airline that is not playing games with the FF miles. (Air New Zealand once refused to give me miles; Korean did not give the full miles the last time I traveled, Cathay is refusing miles on this ticket, etc. etc.)

And if you travel enough to attain premium status then it is very desirable on long trips - check in with First Class, use the first class lounge etc.

Actually it is still a good deal. You don't get AA fequent flyer miles but you do get Cathay Pacific freq flyer miles (www.asiamiles.com). I called and checked .

[Emil 0]

I'm not familair with Cathay's frequent flyer program to compare it to others, but I firmly believe that if you fly frequently within a calander year you are better off to stay with one program. This is important not only for the benefits that trvlr mentioned, but in programs like United once you hit premier they give you a 25% bonus on your miles when you fly and 100% when you hit premier elite. On top of that, last year (my first year) they gave me some miles as a thank you for only flying twice to LOS. One more feature that is nice is they put you in Economy Plus which gives you an additional 5" of leg room and will try to seat you in an asile or window seat that has a center seat that isn't occupied.

 

Emil

[Babepecker 0]

QUOTE (Trvlr @ Jul 7 2004, 03:54 AM)

Actually it is NOT a good deal. If you are never likely to travel again then it doesn't matter. But if you do plan to travel again then frequent flyer miles on a trip like LAX-BKK can really amount to something - it is something like 16000 miles. 60000 miles will get you a free trip. Another common measure is 1.5 cents per mile, and that adds up to $240.

So, while Cathay is a good airline, I would suggest sticking with a good network like Star Alliance, and an honest airline that is not playing games with the FF miles. (Air New Zealand once refused to give me miles; Korean did not give the full miles the last time I traveled, Cathay is refusing miles on this ticket, etc. etc.)

And if you travel enough to attain premium status then it is very desirable on long trips - check in with First Class, use the first class lounge etc.

Actually it is still a good deal. You don't get AA fequent flyer miles but you do get Cathay Pacific freq flyer miles (www.asiamiles.com). I called and checked .

 

I wonder who these 2 guys might have been in their previous 'lives'?

 

[deleted member 0]

Actually it is still a good deal. You don't get AA fequent flyer miles but you do get Cathay Pacific freq flyer miles (www.asiamiles.com). I called and checked .

 

I wonder who these 2 guys might have been in their previous 'lives'?

 

In my previous life I was a girl's bicycle seat. : rolleyes :

[Emil 0]

Hub,

 

I agree it's a good deal and Cathay is my favorite airline. I was just trying to make a point that if your traveling multiple times within a calendar year, certain FF programs are much better than others and your better off sticking with one instead of bouncing around. While Cathay has it all over United on arrival/departure times, food, in flight entertainment and cute flight attendants, they can't touch United on legroom when your in economy plus or cost.

 

Emil

[Trvlr 50]

Hey Super Poster, I just read your comment and I have no idea what you are hinting at. Do you mind elaborating?

While I wish I was a girl's bicycle seat, as Newbie noted, I wasn't. I was a journalist and objectivity was instilled in me, still is. What were you?

I stand by my assertion that Cathay's is NOT a good deal, but I am not going to argue with anyone who believes it is. If you do a search on the web you will find several airlines offering a lower price AND FF miles. (Cathay's price is close to 700 with tax).

Emil, one thing you did not note is that when you are member of a large network like the Star Alliance, you can fly on any airline and accumulate miles that can be used on any member airline. You have to join through a particular airline and I chose United. I would prefer to take Thai to Bangkok, and have on several occasions, but this year I have elite status with United - which means I get double miles. So, two trips to Bangkok and I get a free one.

I do not need to state the obvious, but you always have to do your math with big business- after all they are in it for profit. I am going to Bali in a couple of months and I chose Cathay for that, even though FF miles are not available. That is because Cathay's price was some 400-500 US less than anything else I could find, and a better deal even without FF miles.

[Trvlr 50]

Newbie - I have a question for you. I see no mention of any other FF program on Cathay's web site - only AAAdvantage.

So what is this FF program you mention? If eligible I would like to earn miles for an upcoming Cathay trip - it is not eligible for AAAdvantage.

[Emil 0]

Emil, one thing you did not note is that when you are member of a large network like the Star Alliance, you can fly on any airline and accumulate miles that can be used on any member airline. You have to join through a particular airline and I chose United. I would prefer to take Thai to Bangkok, and have on several occasions, but this year I have elite status with United - which means I get double miles. So, two trips to Bangkok and I get a free one.

I'm not that familiar with UA program and Star Alliance. I know that you can fly on one of the member airlines and get credit on your UA account but if you fly on one of these member airlines would you still get double miles if your elite status is with United? Also when you fly on these member airlines do those miles count in qualifying you for premier or elite status with United? I had assumed that the qualifing and bonus miles only applied with United flights but if that is wrong that will give me more options.

 

Emil

[Babepecker 0]

Hey Super Poster, I just read your comment and I have no idea what you are hinting at. Do you mind elaborating?

While I wish I was a girl's bicycle seat, as Newbie noted, I wasn't. I was a journalist and objectivity was instilled in me, still is. What were you?

QUOTE (deleted member @ Jul 8 2004, 01:52 AM)

In my previous life I was a girl's bicycle seat.

 

Guys, glad that you both replied - my question was not directed at anything special, really.

I just wondered whose style/s I was reminded of while reading your posts.

 

In my previous life I was a mouse - as I was not intelligent enough, I became what I am now... (a tribute to DA )

 

 

To the topic: a good offer stays a good offer even if you are denied ff-miles, as I see it really working only for the few very regular customers (i.e. guys who commute by air on a weekly basis). Just my inner-euro-perspective (few miles - high prices).

 

 

[Trvlr 50]

Emil, you first. To answer your questions:

You do not get double miles if you fly another airline, except for Lufthansa and US Air. On those two United gives you double miles on flights to Europe. IE: I went to Lisbon a couple of months ago and Lufthansa flew first to Frankfurt. LA-Frankfurt I got double miles from UA. Frankfurt-Lisbon was just regular miles. However, I am sure United changes these, so you need to check with their web site. Overall, I have had excellent experience with United - a few bad ones also of course - and I intend to stay with them. On a trip London-LA earlier this year they upgraded me to Business. I was trying to get to Bangkok over July 4, and nothing was available, but they offered me First if I would use my FF miles. And so on.

Dont forget Star Alliance includes Thai and Singapore, which are both great airlines. I think maybe that is why United offers double miles to elite members on its own flights - it is hard to compete with airlines like Thai, Singapore or Cathay.

Flights on any Star Alliance airline qualify you toward elite status. Last year I flew twice on Thai, and all those qualified to giving me elite status this year.

But I am not pushing Star Alliance or United. I think any large alliance can give you benefits - you need to look at the benefits individual airlines offer, and the mix of airlines in the alliance.

 

And Super Poster:

Your comment was snide and uncalled for. However, I do not wish to be combative, we are all trying to get information to better our lives on this board. I will point out something to you however: as a newspaper reporter I have run numerous times into people who have held a position for long, and think they have come to own it. Even little old lady teachers try to break the law because they have done the job so long they think they can do anything they want. Please remember that when you make comments on other people. Newbie and I may have few posts on this board - but that does not make us any less than you because you have a thousand posts.

And... if you really want to know ... I did think I was Hemingway, but that is a secret.

[Babepecker 0]

And Super Poster:

Your comment was snide and uncalled for. However, I do not wish to be combative, we are all trying to get information to better our lives on this board. I will point out something to you however: as a newspaper reporter I have run numerous times into people who have held a position for long, and think they have come to own it. Even little old lady teachers try to break the law because they have done the job so long they think they can do anything they want. Please remember that when you make comments on other people. Newbie and I may have few posts on this board - but that does not make us any less than you because you have a thousand posts.

And... if you really want to know ... I did think I was Hemingway, but that is a secret.

Trvlr,

where should I start... ...well, I'll go with the sequential approach:

 

1. There are 9 other Members with the Super Poster status on this Board, at this particular moment - my nic is Babepecker.

 

2. Initially, I just posted a question - not a comment. There was nothing negative in it, as I see it. Actually, I have had no dislike for the Member you reminded me of.

Also, I don't quite get your point about anyone's 'comment' being 'uncalled for'...

 

3. I don't believe that the number of my posts is in any way connected to my credibility (if I should have any ).

I don't think that I have any 'position' on this Board.

It seems that you are reading a bit much into my posts.

To sum it up: I wasn't commenting on either you or deleted member (yet).

 

4. Hemingway... ...you mean Ernest, that old chap? How did you like Cuba?

 

5. Could you, please, help me in my quest for a cheap flight from Central Europe (MUC, VIE, FRA or Budapest) to Bangkok, starting between the 20th and 27th of July? I don't care about anything, but price. There is a thread on this in this section. Thanx.

 

 

[Trvlr 50]

I used the term Super Poster to bring across a point ..

 

You really think that the comment ': ' I wonder who these 2 guys might have been in their previous lives ...' is not offensiive? That is what I was referring to.

No, you do not have a position on this board, but I have come across several instances where long-time members seem to think they 'own' the board. ... by which I mean making comments like you did. It happens. Sorry if you did not mean it that way.

 

You have been to Cuba? Unfortunately it is not easy from here, and our present misguided administration is making it even harder.

 

Which country do you live in? Do you need some web sites that offer comparative airline prices?

[Babepecker 0]

I used the term Super Poster to bring across a point ..

 

You really think that the comment ': ' I wonder who these 2 guys might have been in their previous lives ...' is not offensiive? That is what I was referring to.

No, you do not have a position on this board, but I have come across several instances where long-time members seem to think they 'own' the board. ... by which I mean making comments like you did. It happens. Sorry if you did not mean it that way.

 

You have been to Cuba? Unfortunately it is not easy from here, and our present misguided administration is making it even harder.

 

Which country do you live in? Do you need some web sites that offer comparative airline prices?

Trvlr,

nope, that was not intended offensively - if you were to search this section 5-10 months back, you'd probably be able to guess which 2 guys' 'exchanges' I have had in mind. Anyway, it doesn't really matter...

 

Haven't been to Cuba, yet, but some of my friends were. Everybody told me that I should go there ASAP, if possible before Castro dies...

Seriously, they all liked the country (although poverty is rampant), the people and the atmosphere.

As the last-minute packages to Cuba tend to be pretty cheap at the moment, it is strong 2nd on the priority list for my upcoming vacation (Thailand being the 1st ).

 

I live in the city of Zagreb in Croatia, Europe (Dubrovnik could ring a bell ). When I wish to have cheap long-distance flights I have to do it from either Austria (Vienna) or Germany (Munich is just over 400 km away) as Zagreb rarely gets any promotions.

Not to forget: Budapest might be my 3rd option.

 

I use the German-speaking sites like www.ltur.com, www.travelocity.de or www.restplatzboerse.at in order to get my data on the competetively priced flights. If you have some more links, you could post them in this thread:

 

http://www.pattayatalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9265

 

Thanks

 

 

I apologise for hijacking this thread a bit towards my problems...

 

 

[Trvlr 50]

Those sites should come up with a decent price. In addition you can try Mobissimo (http://travel.mobissimo.com/travel/search_airfare.php) which will search travel agents and other web sites for you. And dont forget to ask your local consolidators.

I tried Wien-Bkk Sept 15 to 30, and came up with a price of about USD 900, offered by a site in France and Travelocity. No idea whether this is a good price.

I have heard Cuba is a fun place ... I would go but for the travel restrictions we face. There are ways of getting round it, but for me the hassle is not worth it.

[Emil 0]

To the topic: a good offer stays a good offer even if you are denied ff-miles, as I see it really working only for the few very regular customers (i.e. guys who commute by air on a weekly basis). Just my inner-euro-perspective (few miles - high prices).

 

 

Babe,

 

That is an exaggeration, it only took me 1 1/2 trips (25k) to LOS before I was at premier status and earning the 25% bonus miles and setting in the seats with the additional legroom. Only 3 trips to LOS and I qualify as premier elite which allows me to earn 100% bonus miles and I live on the West Coast. Other members that live on the East Coast have mentioned that they only need 2 R/T to qualify for premier elite. What makes it even better is your status carries over to the following year so your first and second trips you are still earning that bonus. So let me beark this down for you, 2 trips @ an average cost of $700 = $1400 or an effective cost of $467 when you consider the 3rd trip is free and these are in seats that are much more confortable than your usual economy.

 

Emil

[deleted member 0]

Newbie - I have a question for you. I see no mention of any other FF program on Cathay's web site - only AAAdvantage.

So what is this FF program you mention? If eligible I would like to earn miles for an upcoming Cathay trip - it is not eligible for AAAdvantage.

You have to go to the Cathay Pacific global site NOT the USA site and click on "FF Miles" or you can go directly to the site www.asiamiles.com and learn more. The Cathay 'deal of the month' fare IS eligible for asia miles which you can use on future Cathay Pacific flights. If you fly AA quite a bit then it would not be a good deal but if you prefer to fly Cathay Pacific Airways to Bangkok mostly then it is a great deal because the miles CAN BE USED FOR FUTURE CATHAY FLIGHTS. So, YES you do get FF miles just not with American airlines which I would never fly anyway as they are on the verge of bankruptcy which is probably why they don't give you the miles.

[Babepecker 0]

Trvlr,

thanks for the info - I'll keep working on my cheapo-air-fare...

 

Emil,

from my euro-perspective, it looks like this: normal fare VIE or MUC to BKK runs at around 800 EUR (tax incl.). I'd need about 5 trips to get 1 free. Inner-European flights, on the other hand, bring very few miles. Consequently, I always opt for the cheapest option (promotions, last-minute etc.).

It seems like the incentives to be a loyal customer are far higher in the USA than around here - I am starting to be a bit envious.

 

[Emil 0]

It seems like the incentives to be a loyal customer are far higher in the USA than around here - I am starting to be a bit envious.

 

Babe,

 

Don't be too envious, one of the reasons it takes us less trips is because we're flying much greater distances.

 

I didn't understand the value of the premier/premier elite status until after my 2nd trip with United in November of last year. I had flown EVA last August because they had a fare that was $100 lower than United. Because of that savings it has cost me 45K miles on United or 3/4 of a free flight to LOS which would equal about $525.

 

Emil

[Greg_B 306]

Airline launches All-Asia Pass

 

Targeting business travellers, it offers 30% discount off normal airfares to 22 Asian cities

 

YVONNE BOHWONGPRASERT

 

 

Yongyut ... making flying fun and hassle-free.

Business and leisure travellers opt for the most cost-saving method to reach their destinations. With improved connectivity, businessmen prefer to cover as many destinations as they can on a single trip.

 

To cater to this particular market, Cathay Pacific launched the "All-Asia Pass" which has proved to be highly successful not only among expat business travellers, but Thais as well, says Mr Yongyut Lujintanon, Cathay Pacific's sales & marketing manager for Thailand and Burma.

 

The fact that 65% of Cathay Pacific flyers are business travellers is one reason why the pass has been warmly received.

 

"For both leisure and business travellers, this campaign means saving up to 30% off normal airfares on the 22 destinations in Asia covered by the pass," said Mr Yongyut.

 

"This will especially help business travellers who need to fly to multiple cities. This campaign is a package deal that has made it more convenient for such travellers to receive a discount on full airfares compared to what they were paying earlier for tickets bought separately." The promotion, which runs June 1-October 31, will be extended if the feedback continues to be positive.

 

Mr Yongyut says the objective is to let passengers experience a top grade product that has through the years serviced both business and leisure markets. "The All-Asia Pass has further consolidated Cathay Pacific's networking supremacy over Asia's major business destinations"

 

Mr Yongyut believes that the pass should also help increase its share of Thai travellers that make up 35% of its clientele.

 

Apart from Asians, Cathay Pacific has been gaining popularity among travellers from Europe and Australia as well, even though it's not a major player on those routes. Mr Yongyut noted that recent statistics indicated a distinct increase in Western travellers opting to fly Cathay largely due to the airline's excellent inflight product and service delivered by cabin crew drawn from 12 Asian countries.

 

"Having such a cosmopolitan cabin crew has done wonders to remove any communication breakdown between passengers and cabin crew," enthused Mr Yongyut. "Another big plus has been our safety record, which makes passengers feel confident when flying with us. Cathay is also up there in terms of product leadership. It was the first airline to introduce private television, which has since become very popular. Premium passengers can also enjoy a restful flight as its seats can recline 180 degrees."

 

Food is an integral part of any airline's success. Cathay Pacific sees to it that only the best gourmet food is served to passengers. Cuisine from all parts of Asia is rotated, adding a new meaning to airplane meals that have unfortunately gained a reputation for being repetitive and bland. From the last week of May to October, Cathay will be serving mouth-watering Chinese cuisine prepared by chefs at The Peninsula, Hong Kong.

 

Always looking to improving service, Mr Yongyut said that the airline added a second daily flight from Hong Kong to New York on July 1. The flight over polar route will help save four to five hours of flight time.

 

Also, seeing great potential in the Chinese market, Cathay Pacific has been flying to Beijing three times a week since March this year and prospects of flying there daily look very optimistic at this stage. Also on the cards are flights from Hong Kong to Shanghai and Cinema, a coastal city in China's south.

 

Hoping to make it more attractive financially for Thais to travel to Japan, via Hong Kong, the airline has designed competitively priced packages available between May-September. Passengers have the option to stop over in Hong Kong on their way back to Bangkok.

 

Purchasing tickets directly from the airline will entitle passengers to a double mileage bonus. Some of the promotions this year with Cathay Pacific include the "Hong Kong Supercity", a joint campaign in tandem with City Bank, which qualifies subscribers for triple mileage bonus when flying in Asia. Another promotion is the "Hong Kong Summer Sale", valid between June 8 to August. Drawn up in tandem with the Hong Kong tourism board, the package is priced at 8,900 baht per person and includes raindrop airfares and two nights hotel accommodation.

 

By introducing frequent flyers to new campaigns and promotions, Cathay Pacific hopes to make travel more affordable and hassle-free, concluded Mr Yongyut

 

 

Bangkok Post July 9, 2004

[saigon_butterfly 1]

I suspect that CP flight from the west coast to BKK will drop to 499 in a couple of months. Thats what I paid last Nov but, with no FF miles. SB