cheapest way of getting to Thailand?

[cybernator_uk]

I reckon this has come up before but if it has i havent seen it. Ok from the uk are there any good sites to use to book flights. I have looked at national carriers (ba/Thai) i saw some flights for 700gbp upwards. If your going for a week you might aswell go to a travel agent and get that with a week accomodation for exmple. So who do you guys use to fly there? any really good websites to look at?

Thanks for your help guys

[Coolhand]

Plenty of choices here; EVA and Etihad are popular airlines, along with national carriers.

To get best bargains look for flights to Bangkok, Singapore or KL. Connecting flights are dirt cheap out there - don't pay UK prices for local flights.

Plan your trip well in advance, especially for busy times like songkran, xmas, etc. The cheaper seats are sold first, and all you are left with are the more expensive ones.

Use sites like Teletext holidays, opodo, expedia, etc to check multiple airlines, but do check with your local bucket shop/travel agent as some times they have access to great deals you can't get on internet.

[steve@thaib]

All good tips CH, especially opodo.

Your real bargains will all be out of London, WestEast travel seem to be about the best. Also, Qatar airlines are very aggressive at the moment in their pricing and seem to be right down there. If you don't mind going to London, or live down there, then you will be getting the best of the best deals.

The other thing worth considering at the moment would be the disruption at Heathrow due to fuel shortages. It won't push the price up, but lots of carriers are making fuel stops on the way because they can't get enough at Heathrow.

What it means for me is that if I fly BA, I land back at Heathrow and my shuttle to Madchester (innit!) leaves from Gatwick, so watch out for that.

It comes up a lot this flight question, and I always say that, for me, it's a false economy going with Sh1tkicker Airways via some godforsaken hellhole just north of Nowheresville for the sake of saving a hundred quid.

[steve@thaib]

One more tip, I've used Trailfinders loads of times and if you would rather speak to a person than book flights on 'tinternet (and I generally do, it's just that I'm using Airmiles this time). They can book your internal flights as well, and a hotel for your first night if you want.

[geespot]

I usually look

Airline Network
Ebookers
Opodo

I usually check all of these and compare what is best.

If u r going to HKT via BKK be careful about buying a connecting flight when u arrive in BKK, there can be limited availability and watch out for cheap airline baggage allowances. In my opinion it isnt a good way to start ur holiday by hanging around BKK airport for over 3 hours in order to save 1000 baht

Another thing, if u plan on multiple journeys to LOS and u have an idea when u r going back, when u get to los book another return ticket in los, i.e. HKT/BKK to your home country return, big savings can be made!!!!

e.g. with Emirates i pay this end Gla-DBX-BKK return £560, in LOS BKK-DBX-GLA 30,000 baht est £430

Its funny in all the time ive flown to LOS ive only ever used 2 airlines, Thai Air and Emirates

G

ps whilst in Patong i highly recommend South Travel & Tours Tel +6676294127, on Rat-U-Tit Road, just around the corner from Bangla, accross from Taipan

pps be careful about change of date restrictions (if this is important to u) i once changed a ticket 5 times and cost me 200 baht admin fee each time levied by the travel agent, other tickets ive had have been more restrictive, so be careful

[dawsey]

Good advice given so far. I'll just add I have found the best bargains at the following websites. Put in some dates and see what they come up with.
Then see if your local travel agent can beat them.
Book your accommodation on the web,this site has a good site for Phuket hotels on the main page.

www.ebookers.co.uk
www.dialaflight.com
www.westeasttravel.co.uk
www.opodo.co.uk
www.lastminute.com
www.flynow.com

[cybernator_uk]

Wow this is all great advice. the first time i went to thailand i got ripped off. i went to british airways and paid well 700 and something formy flight to bkk. It was my first time and we all make mistakes dont we. Well at least joinig this board has helped me find other ways now. Thanks for all your help

[syeatman]

Another option is to be a courier on a BA flight if you are coming through Heathrow, not sure if they do it from others in UK. You just carry documents on the way home (nothing on the way out), and hand them into the cargo desk on return to heathrow, piece of cake.

Just ring BA Travel Shops and tell them you want to be a courier, they'll ask for how long you are going and give you available dates. Used them in Aug 04 and got a return to bkk very cheaply.

[cybernator_uk]

Originally Posted by syeatman

Another option is to be a courier on a BA flight if you are coming through Heathrow, not sure if they do it from others in UK. You just carry documents on the way home (nothing on the way out), and hand them into the cargo desk on return to heathrow, piece of cake.

Just ring BA Travel Shops and tell them you want to be a courier, they'll ask for how long you are going and give you available dates. Used them in Aug 04 and got a return to bkk very cheaply.

yeah heathrow would be my prefered way to thailand. Someone mentioned that aswell to me years agobut i had clean forgot that. That is another really good option to consider thanks mate

[t0rn]

also worth going to www.expedia.co.uk and looking at prices for flight and hotel but choosing only first night in hotel - this can give much cheaper rates than booking flight only (and you don't have to stay in the hotel...).

[syeatman]

Originally Posted by cybernator_uk

yeah heathrow would be my prefered way to thailand. Someone mentioned that aswell to me years agobut i had clean forgot that. That is another really good option to consider thanks mate

found the number now:
British Airways Travel Shop +44 (0)870 606 1133

Really quite easy to sort out and if it's your first time they will send some info through the post about it all.

I remember being very nervous returning from BKK as didn't know what i had to do. When I checked in I told them that I was the courier for this flight - they didn't know what I was talking about , so when I got to the gate I asked again and they said they'll call me if they need me...ended up in my seat on the plane when a guy jumps on and finds my seat and hands me an envelope....I put it on the floor and looked back to presumably sign something and he was gone!!

When I got to Heathrow, straight through green channel and back to cargo desk, noone there so just left them on the desk and went home.

highly recommended if you are trying to save money.

[georgelondon]

i went with eva air this trip. £495 direct. im sure you can get cheaper but this usually involves a stopover.

[gelbfüssler]

German Coffee Seller www.tschibo.de offer, 4 weeks ago
flights with Thai for 388,-- from Frankfurt to Bangkok.
Starting 01.04 till 30.06.

All porice ranges are possible now.
search the internet exactly and be flexible in your dates to make
a good deal.

Gelbfüssler