Bangkok Airways

[Batesy]

Anyone have any experience with Bangkok Airways? I am flying them on an ATR-72. I have never heard of this aircraft type before. coughet- Koh Samui.

 

[markis10]

Anyone have any experience with Bangkok Airways? I am flying them on an ATR-72. I have never heard of this aircraft type before. coughet- Koh Samui.

ATR is a joint venture between EADS (think Airbus ) and an Italian company, Alenia Aeronautica .

ATR aircraft are very common across the world and because of their regional nature have had quite a few hull losses, of interest to you would be the skidding of one Bangkok Airways flight: Bangkok Airways Flight 266 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Weather seems to be a significant common factor in their incidents in the past that included a Dash 8 and a HS748, but they have been around since 1968 , after all QF had a similar incident at BKK with their 747-400 so I would not be judging a 40+ year old airline by three incidents in that time!

 

[djfuzz]

I recently flew a PG ATR72 from BKK-USM, not quite the same route as you.

Of course I had reservations due to the incident noted by markis10, but what can you do - with such regular workhorse flights across the Gulf, statistics catch up. I guess you can take comfort in the fact that now that incident's happened, the counter resets to zero.

My experience was that it was a pleasant flight, and that they appear to take safety seriously (but then again, USM is their airport, so it's unfortunate for that incident to have happened there). Service was decent, though I did much prefer their A319.

Also, if travelling with a companion, check in online early as they are pretty bad with allocating seats by the number of people in your booking - both times we were seated apart.

 

[Alanslegal]

Anyone have any experience with Bangkok Airways? I am flying them on an ATR-72. I have never heard of this aircraft type before. coughet- Koh Samui.

Yep flown on them twice (coughet to Koh Samui, then Koh Samui to Bangkok back in 2007). Service was pretty good, I think there were only two pursers on both our flights, but were able to serve refreshments and a sandwich on the short flights.

Koh Samui (USM) is a very laid back airport when I was there with open-air type check in's - but they have completed their airport renovations (I think) by now.

 

[moa999]

Pretty much have to fly them to USM given they own the airport.

They do run bigger planes (eg A319s and A320s) on the BKK-USM route and fly about every hour.

Have a small lounge at BKK.
The airport at USM is very different - open air thatched hut style but very cool all the same.

In my experience a pleasent enough carrier - from memory you get a small meal as well.

 

[docjames]

....
(but then again, USM is their airport, so it's unfortunate for that incident to have happened there
....

Nothwithstanding that USM is the airport they have most experience with, statistically you'd say it was MOST likely if that a/p has the majority of flights.

And to the OP - not many airlines you can fly that have never had an "incident" (use whatever definition you wish).

 

[MissBurrill]

My parents flew them in December and said they have a lounge which EVERYONE flying on the airline can use but no one else seemed to realise so it was quite pleasant and the lounge had some food and drinks.

 

[drron]

Recently flew Luang Prabang-BKK on one of their ATRs-no problems at all.Board from the rear,cargo section at front.Quite comfortable.

 

[Sethor]

Pretty much have to fly them to USM given they own the airport.

Have a small lounge at BKK.
The airport at USM is very different - open air thatched hut style but very cool all the same.

Thai Airways fly to USM now but only from BKK using 734's.

Flew with them on a charted flight BKK-USM-BKK in the ATR-72 back in 07, Can't fault the service or product. The open air terminal at Koh Samui was quite odd, security was pretty minimal with only a walk thru detector I doubt luggage was screened.

 

[Batesy]

Thanks to all for your feedback. All good and appreciated.
Cheers
Batesy.

 

[joeymelb]

The only place I heard ATR-72 aircraft type mentioned was on Air Crash Investigation.

Correct me if I am wrong, there was one case of ice build up in the US that caused ATR to crash. (Ever since, all ATR aircraft in the US are now servicing the warmer climates.) Another crash was involved with ground engineer replacing the Fuel Sensor from one ATR-70 to ATR-72. (I stand to be corrected on thsoe cases, as I only vaguely remember the TV show.)

Hmm... I should stop watch Aircrash Investigation on Nat Geos

 

[drron]

The Air Crash Investigation of the ATR72 crash was repeated a few weeks ago.An American Eagle flight into ORD that was put into a holding pattern through a cold front.

 

[oldbold]

The ATR72 is a modern, comfortable high-winged twin turboprop. All seats are in pairs, and the airline is consistently rated highly.
See the airlinequality dot com slash forum slash bangkok website where there are hundreds of favourable comments.

 

[Batesy]

Nothwithstanding that USM is the airport they have most experience with, statistically you'd say it was MOST likely if that a/p has the majority of flights.

And to the OP - not many airlines you can fly that have never had an "incident" (use whatever definition you wish).

Thanks to all for the feedback. As for my OP I never really wanted to know about any incidents, just about what to expect. I fly a lot and never have I thought about my plane being involved in an "incident"

Cheers.
Batesy.

 

[purplegez]

I recently flew from Koh Samui to Bangkok in an ATR72 and enjoyed it. The short flight was smooth and quiet - (although the landing was somewhat interesting and caused a woman, seated in front and across the aisle from me, to cross herself several times!)

I had already ascertained that boarding was from the back of the aircraft and so was able to request seats at the rear (a personal foible - I like to be close to the disembarking exit when I fly, I find it a rather claustrophobic experience when everyone crowds the aisles waiting to leave the aircraft).

 

[one9]

A word of warning regarding Bangkok Airways (or the luggage handlers):

Myself and a colleague flew Bangkok Airways. On checkin I had a bag and they had a backpack. The check in person put security seals on my bag which I thought was a little unusual. They did not put them on my colleagues backpack.

After arrival in Sukothai, we got on a bus and a short time later, my colleague realized several things were stolen from his backpack.

It may have just been bad luck (ie. can happen with any airline), but the fact that the checkin staff had put security seals on the zips of my bag indicated that it may be a larger problem for Bangkok Airways.