booked my flight yesterday, need some advice !

[tmontana]

hello everybody, ok i booked my flight yesterday for LOS in march. heres my schedule

4th march 06 dublin-frankfurt 12.05-15.05
4th march 06 frankfurt-bangkok 2140-13.45

return:

01 august 06 bangkok-frankfurt 23.55-06.00
02 august 06 frankfurt-dublin 10.40-11.40

also:

03 august 06 i will be flying to amsterdam from dublin for a 3 day dance festival called dance valley.dont know what state ill be in for this but should be fun

anyway got my flights to thailand for 750 euros inc txes etc. i think this seems reasonable enough. i plan to spend no time at all in bangkok and wanted to ask your advice on the following:

when i arrive in bangkok will i be able to get a flight handy enough that day to bring me to phuket or will i have to wait till the next day? how often are these flights and how much am i looking at. i arrive in bangkok at 1345 local time and would ideally love to just buy a flight as soon as poss to phuket. can i do this at the airport or better to do online?

and the last thing i need is advice on insurance.there are so many different travel insurance products im not sure which too choose. what do you people do. buy it from travel agent?, buy from your bank? is there anything i need to look out for when im choosing my travel insurance

all opinions/suggestions/comments welcome

thanks in advance

alan

[stevem]

Originally Posted by tmontana

hello everybody, ok i booked my flight yesterday for LOS in march. heres my schedule

4th march 06 dublin-frankfurt 12.05-15.05
4th march 06 frankfurt-bangkok 2140-13.45

return:

01 august 06 bangkok-frankfurt 23.55-06.00
02 august 06 frankfurt-dublin 10.40-11.40

You are you flying with?? If your flying into BKK on Thai, then make sure you book BKK/HKT on Thai as well, as the transit in BKK is easier and you clear formalities in HKT rather than BKK.

Go and see a travel agent and get a flight booked that connects with your arrival into BKK. Otherwise go to one of the online web sites and book one yourself. Be careful to allow minimum connecting time international to domestic in BKK, you should allow 2 hours which is the legal amount of time.

If you paid with a credit card, check if that card provides free travel insurance, otherwise just go to a travel agent and buy some.

[tmontana]

thanks for the reply mate, im flying with a german airline called Lufthansa

alan

[Paddy]

There are loads of flights from BKK to Phuket, especially in the middle of the afternoon when you'll be arriving. You can just walk along the indoor walkway from the international to the domestic terminal (takes about 15 minutes, no more), have a look at the departures board, see what time the next flight is and which airline it's with, then go and buy the ticket at the relevant airline desk, right there in the terminal. I doubt whether it will cost you much more than it would if you bought it in advance - although other BMs might have more info on that. And at that time of day, you shouldn't have to wait longer than an hour at the very most.

[tmontana]

thats good to hear paddy, cheers.

anybody else have any comments/suggestions for me.

[Coolhand]

Lufthansa are part of tha Star Alliance and you should be able to transit through to Phuket.

But that time in Frankfurt is going to drag!

[Allybabba22]

Originally Posted by tmontana

thanks for the reply mate, im flying with a german airline called Lufthansa

alan

750euro is a good price for Lufthansa, They are a very good airline, Probably the best I have flown with, And Frankfurt is a really good airport aswell, I normally just stroll on up to Mcdonalds have something to eat and a few smokes, And read a book to pass the time there, But I think you will pass the time pretty quick between the PSP and books, Ipod etc..etc..

As Coolhand said Lufthansa are part of the same group of Airlines as Thai Airways on www.Staralliance.com so you should be able to book a connecting flight straight into Phuket on www.Thaiairways.com

Or you can always just clear immagration in Bkk and book a flight with either www.bangkokair.com or www.airasia.com which are a lot cheaper than Thai.

[Dodger]

I slightly disagree, if you can book the connection before with thai air via staralliance this will be the cheapest and best option as Thai fly every hour just about, cost should be 2500ish return. If not don't leave it until you get there or you will probably olny have choice of bangkok or thai at full on the day price, approx 5 to 6500bht for return. Nok and Air Asia and one togo? cant remeber full name, are cheapest if booked in advance and if good connecting time, I have found everytime for me, it always saved couple bahts but have to wait 3-4 hours. Bangkok Air usually have internet rate much cheaper if booked in advance and fly fairly reguarly at say 3500 baht.

My advice therefore do it before allow at least 2 hours, keep fingers crossed not delayed.

[del boy]

Ive wondered about whether to book in advance or pay on the day at Bangkok airport. My reservation is, what happens if your main flight is delayed and you miss your Bangkok to Phuket flight? Are you able to get on the next flight and is their any cost to this?

[faultytowers]

Originally Posted by del boy

Ive wondered about whether to book in advance or pay on the day at Bangkok airport. My reservation is, what happens if your main flight is delayed and you miss your Bangkok to Phuket flight? Are you able to get on the next flight and is their any cost to this?

Depends on time of day and how busy flights are. If you have a connecting flight booked, and your international flight is delayed ,they will normally get you on the next available flight.

If you just turn up , you may face delays. I arrived for one trip on the weekend of (I think) the queens birthday , and was stuck for almost 24 hours before getting a flight. If you are a member of ROP(Thai's frequent flyer club) then you get priority on the waiting list.

Nowadays , I don't take the risk ,I book all the way through from London to Phuket. This also means my luggage is checked through and I clear customs and immigration at Phuket.

[t0rn]

I usually turn up and go on the next available flight with whoever.
Might not be the cheapest way but has always worked for me - had to go Biz class with Thai in June or wait 4 hours for next flight with economy availablility.

If you allow the 2 hour transfer time and are early Thai will put you on the next available flight.
Not sure what would happen if you were on a cheap ticket and missed you flight because you (non-Thai) flight was late - ok if a through ticket but otherwise not sure.

[Hep]

Originally Posted by tmontana

thats good to hear paddy, cheers.

anybody else have any comments/suggestions for me.

Sign up for Lufthansa's frequent flyer program Miles & More if you havent done so already. As they are part of STAR alliance you will also get points/miles when flying the domestic segments on Thai.

You might aswell take the free miles because they will add up once you go back again and again and...

[stevem]

Originally Posted by del boy

Ive wondered about whether to book in advance or pay on the day at Bangkok airport. My reservation is, what happens if your main flight is delayed and you miss your Bangkok to Phuket flight? Are you able to get on the next flight and is their any cost to this?

If your arriving flight is delayed, and you have purchased a connecting flight on a full service carrier (Thai and Bangkok Air), and you have allowed the legal connecting time, and there is a note on your booking that you are connecting, then you will be accommodated on the next available flight to Phuket.

If you have booked on one of the cheapies to Phuket, then you are basically on your own.

[tmontana]

and do you people all think i would be better to get a one way ticket to bangkok, then another one way when coming home. suppose this would make more sense in case i come home earlier(not bloody likely) or stay longer

thanks for all the replies by the way

alan

[stevem]

Your only going for 6 months, 1 12 month return ticket is cheaper than 2 one ways.

[tmontana]

12 month retuen ticket? is this like an open ticket or something mate where you can change dates etc within 12 months, i have never heard of this,. do you know if all the airlines offer this service

thanks.alan

[stevem]

Originally Posted by tmontana

12 month retuen ticket? is this like an open ticket or something mate where you can change dates etc within 12 months, i have never heard of this,. do you know if all the airlines offer this service

thanks.alan

Yes you get an open dated return, some carriers wont issue one though, so just pick a date for the return, and then when you get to LOS cancel it and make it open

[Allybabba22]

Originally Posted by Hep

Sign up for Lufthansa's frequent flyer program Miles & More if you havent done so already. As they are part of STAR alliance you will also get points/miles when flying the domestic segments on Thai.

You might aswell take the free miles because they will add up once you go back again and again and...

I signed up for that after my last trip, And then I realised I was after throwing away my flight stubs

Anyway, This I am flying Thai so how exactly does it work? As I never actually got a card, Just an on screen print out with a number on it in the shape of a card, When exactly do they issue you with a real card (Like cc) or is this it? And if not what do I have to do to get it? Thanks in advance

[stevem]

Originally Posted by Allybabba22

I signed up for that after my last trip, And then I realised I was after throwing away my flight stubs

Anyway, This I am flying Thai so how exactly does it work? As I never actually got a card, Just an on screen print out with a number on it in the shape of a card, When exactly do they issue you with a real card (Like cc) or is this it? And if not what do I have to do to get it? Thanks in advance

Thai only issue a card when you reach silver status

[Petter]

hey Ally

When you do your first trip afther you have reg the - number at the travel agent or at the airport they send you the card by mail home to you.
Afther 10 000 points you get the silver card /Royal Orchid Plus.

You get ca 10 000 points on a ordinary flight to Bkk

[Allybabba22]

Originally Posted by Petter

hey Ally

When you do your first trip afther you have reg the - number at the travel agent or at the airport they send you the card by mail home to you.
Afther 10 000 points you get the silver card /Royal Orchid Plus.

You get ca 10 000 points on a ordinary flight to Bkk

I signed up through the Lufhansa website with Staraliance so im not sure if its the same as Royal Orchid?

Or is it? And if it is can I just register my points when I get back through staraliance website?

[Petter]

http://www.lufthansa.com/online/port...459379197&l=en

Send them a mail before you go and get the tickets registered or do it at the airport before leave.

You can check your status at the Lufthansa website.

[Allybabba22]

Thanks Petter and Stevem

[Crustasian]

If you have any problems with your flights you could switch to China Air who fly Dublin to Bangkok via Amsterdam every day.I have just flown with them and had a great set of flights.