Airlines Options from Sydney to Bangkok

[Homer]

Just to add to the current crop of Thailand threads (with the very helpful replies from AFF members), we are planning to fly SYD-BKK in October, spending a few days in Bangkok before joining a food tour of Chiang Mai with a chef from a notable Thai restaurant here in Sydney and then finishing with a week in coughet.

Anyway, in terms of getting to BKK I would appreciate some opinions about airlines. Normally I would just book QF to take advantage of lounges and other status privileges. However their flights depart late in the day and arrive close to midnight. EK leaves even later and I haven't looked into BA. Thai Airways seems to have the best schedule with a morning departure out of SYD and an afternoon arrival into BKK. I should point out that we are travelling with our three year old so the daytime flight earns an extra tick in that department.

So what is the TG product like? I've heard from someone that the planes have been refitted in the past few years and measure up well against QF. We may plum for J but as we're all WPs until late 2010 and I don't need PG I think it is more likely we'd just book whY for the nine hour trip and bank the difference. How does TG whY compare with QF whY on this route? Is there another airline worth considering?

 

[serfty]

Just an aside, have you considered JQi via MEL.

It is a red eye on the return but arrives into BKK around 8pm. (+ as a WP you get to use the MEL F/L for a nice pre-departure lunch/spa)

I guess a 3YO son makes it somewhat more difficult, especially with the red eye.

 

[craven morehead]

TG economy in my opinion is superior to Qantas :mrgreen:

 

[craven morehead]

As a WP wouldn't you have some status with OW. Allowing use of louges etc? :mrgreen:

 

[Homer]

Just an aside, have you considered JQi via MEL.

It is a red eye on the return but arrives into BKK around 8pm. (+ as a WP you get to use the MEL F/L for a nice pre-departure lunch/spa)

I guess a 3YO son makes it somewhat more difficult, especially with the red eye.

I hadn't considered JQi at all serfty....

But seriously, that is a good suggestion. I just took a quick look and we could depart SYD at a reasonable morning hour, spend time in the F lounge in MEL as you note, and then get to BKK at the not unreasonable hour of 8pm. That is definitely do-able. Plus depending on the day of the week it looks as though there are JQi flights from SYD T1 to MEL that connect with the MEL-BKK flight so we could get a double-dose of the F lounge by checking in at SYD and then transiting in MEL. The only thing is that JQ's fares are about the same, or more, as I was quoted for QF whY. I'll have to look into this further.

 

[N860CR]

Unless you were planning on travelling in Starclass, I wouldn't recommend Jetstar - the economy product is pretty poor. I personally would prefer a nicer 9 hour flight than a pretty terrible one but with F lounge access.

QF and BA both arrive into BKK at around about the same time (which is late)

 

[serfty]

QF and BA arrive around 11pm.

 

[markis10]

Travel via SIN is worth considering as well as it opens up options for day flights both ways, and good connections SIN_BKK with a choice of airlines, although a stopover might be need to get the day flight home.

 

[docjames]

SYD-BKK TG994 dep 1100 arr 1625

BKK-SYD TG991 dep 0800 arr 2100

SYD-BKK via SIN SQ232/978 dep 1230 arr 2000

SYD-BKK via HKG CX110/703 dep 0835 arr 2030


I'd be taking the TG options if travelling with a child.

 

[Dee Thom]

I'd be taking the TG options if travelling with a child.

TGs' y class is far more roomy,and better serviced than JQs, perhaps closer to *class with better service. As docjames said, with a child the early 1625 arrival is best bet, especially having to then make your way to your hotel.

Cheers Dee

 

[markis10]

SYD-BKK TG994 dep 1100 arr 1625

BKK-SYD TG991 dep 0800 arr 2100

SYD-BKK via SIN SQ232/978 dep 1230 arr 2000

SYD-BKK via HKG CX110/703 dep 0835 arr 2030


I'd be taking the TG options if travelling with a child.

You have a few more options than that:

SQ220
SYD 08:05
SIN 14:20



SQ976
SIN 15:30
BKK 16:55



Return
SQ979
BKK 18:35
SIN 22:00
SQ219
SIN 09:25
+1DaySYD 18:55


Keeping in mind the current SQ specials as well as newer aircraft etc etc , TG are known for late aircraft changes to substandard equipment by comparison.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My initial thoughts were for starclass - the fare may not be much more than QF economy by the looks of it (depending I guess on when you're going but at the moment I see QF advertising economy to BKK for $1260 - I paid $1460 rtn in *class). Also any additional SCs will go towards lifetime status - and you get a good solid chunk of miles!

However... it does add a good three hours (if not more) going via MEL. That's an extra 1/3 of the flight.

 

[serfty]

I did some dummy bookings on JQi for October and *Class promo was coming up for around $2200.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I did some dummy bookings on JQi for October and *Class promo was coming up for around $2200.

Or, if you can bear economy for the SYD-MEL-SYD sectors (with star class for the long hauls), then you can do it for around $1658 per person, return, including all taxes and fees etc

 

[Dee Thom]

Homer, what it all boils down to is the travelling ability of your 3yr old.....

If it were me, I'd be going on one of the direct daylight flights, don't need tired 3yr old doing terminal transfers, which add extra travel time. The y class pricing is all much the same, so select according to your airline affiliation, and comfort.

Cheers Dee

 

[Homer]

Homer, what it all boils down to is the travelling ability of your 3yr old.....

If it were me, I'd be going on one of the direct daylight flights, don't need tired 3yr old doing terminal transfers, which add extra travel time. The y class pricing is all much the same, so select according to your airline affiliation, and comfort.

Cheers Dee

Thanks Dee, and everyone else who has posted their thoughts. Our three year old is a great traveller - she's been overseas with us every year since she was born and we took her on a two-month DONE4 this year with maxed out sectors and she coped better than we did. However this will be her first time in long haul whY and the more, um, cramped conditions may change things somewhat. TG seems to have the best whY price and schedule so I think we'll give them a shot...unless I wimp out at the last minute and go with the safer QF option.

 

[docjames]

unless I wimp out at the last minute and go with the safer QF option

Unless desperate for the QFF points (I cant imagine it's that critical at this point) then go TG. We had a quite fine trip in Y a few years ago, and the travel times are miles better for a 3yo.

 

[Homer]

Unless desperate for the QFF points (I cant imagine it's that critical at this point) then go TG. We had a quite fine trip in Y a few years ago, and the travel times are miles better for a 3yo.

Thanks James. I am holding seats on TG and I think that is the way we'll go.