Should I fly Air China or Thai J? (LHR to MEL in Oct)

[MelbourneGirl]

I'm tossing up a couple of sale fares at the moment - Air China and Thai are both offering good deals (<$5k) for J LHR-MEL flying 17/10 and return 30 or 31/10. I know neither are going to be as good as SIN, but it's my wallet so... I'm most concerned about safety issues, but would love any information about service/seats from people who have flown those airlines.

(I have considered flying to OSL and taking Cathay from there ($4k), but it's an extra couple of segments each way and the flights don't line up, so I might need to get a hotel there, negating much of the saving. The other option is SIN Y/Y+ - not sure that Premium Economy is worth the extra cost.)

 

[bismarck]

Pretty sure Air China are flat beds where Thai are/might be angled (depending on equipment run on the day).

Thai will probably have better service and lounges.

Finnair are great, so would consider them if you can make the flights work.

 

[Guvner]

Is Dublin an option?

https://matrix.itasoftware.com/#vie...KVYBnHFQVUdhf3y4X53/dYe5dYbXgLJLfWa4KL4XTA01Y

3400 Euros is about AUD5000

Tack on a 100 pound return from London (LCY, LGW or LHR) to Dublin and you're good to go?

 

[TonyHancock]

BA from BGO or SVG can be very inexpensive and usually finishes up with QF on the SIN-MEL-SIN legs. It is a bit of a faff taking the extra legs but back to backs work well out of LHR for BGO and SVG. No need to overnight and nil chance of missing the return flight.

 

[MelbourneGirl]

I hadn't thought of BGO. I'd tried TRD because I have family there, but the flight times didn't line up. Just found an Austrian/Swiss fare out of OSL for $4k, but the important part is that it leaves later in the day, so that might work.

 

[Guvner]

Can you pls post the fare?

 

[MelbourneGirl]

Is Dublin an option?

Definitely an option for the future, but just found better flights from OSL and would prefer to save the $1k. Does DUB generally have cheaper flights because of the lower taxes? (We're moving to London in the next couple of months, so will be looking at EU -> MEL flights going forward.)

 

[MelbourneGirl]

Ha! Don't have enough posts for links. Posted with spaces

OSL -> MEL ($3929): goo.gl /flights / aEyb
LHR -> OSL ($170): goo.gl /flights / XiDO

Fare needs to be booked over the phone though.

 

[MelbourneGirl]

Ah, I just found the back-to-back from OSL through LHR on BA. That looks pretty good too.

 

[Guvner]

Definitely an option for the future, but just found better flights from OSL and would prefer to save the $1k. Does DUB generally have cheaper flights because of the lower taxes? (We're moving to London in the next couple of months, so will be looking at EU -> MEL flights going forward.)

In short Yes. You avoid the dreaded UK "APD" which can be many hundreds of pounds.
You don't pay it if you transit through but you do if you arrive/depart from UK ports (with a few exceptions).

 

[travelislife]

Thai runs its A380s and 777-300ERs to London so you are pretty much 'guaranteed' a flat bad with direct aisle access BKK-LHR-BKK.

MEL-BKK-MEL. In theory should also be the same with the introduction of the A350s. But they aren't delivered yet so not guaranteed.

Get a free half hour foot or neck/shoulder massage in BKK with TG. But otherwise the TG lounges are cough. Okay for a shower but better to use SQ or BR for food and drink.

 

[Guvner]

There's a AUD 4k fare floating around on SQ/LH/LX from Oslo to MEL/ADL/SYD/BNE.

 

[MelbourneGirl]

There is... although with a 10 hour stopover in FRA and I can't see a way to get there by 7 in the morning for check in.

 

[TonyHancock]

Ah, I just found the back-to-back from OSL through LHR on BA. That looks pretty good too.

I have done a couple of back to backs BA, LHR-OSL-LHR, and it is relatively straightforward but has the potential to be tricky. You may find yourself clearing immigration, security, and then immigration again, or just clearing inbound immigration and security depending upon what is open at immigration. SVG and BGO involve walking of the aircraft straight into the departure lounge, no immigration and no security. Nice and easy.

 

[MelbourneGirl]

That does make a difference, although I'll have an EU passport by then.

 

[MelbourneGirl]

Ah, okay. The itinerary is showing the A350 for BKK-MEL, but 777 with angled flat for MEL-BKK. That said, it's an afternoon flight, so it might be fine.

 

[dajop]

Ah, okay. The itinerary is showing the A350 for BKK-MEL, but 777 with angled flat for MEL-BKK. That said, it's an afternoon flight, so it might be fine.

That's as per the current timetable. With Thai, between and now and October the operating aircraft is likely to change 3 or 4 times, and then 3 days before departure it will change again, this time to an old 747 with cradle seats they've brought out of retirement

OK, I do jest, but there is a grain of truth in my joking. Although I do think the MEL route is in Thai terms relatively stable in terms of operating aircraft, but Thai are well known for changing aircraft types frequently.

 

[Guvner]

That's as per the current timetable. With Thai, between and now and October the operating aircraft is likely to change 3 or 4 times, and then 3 days before departure it will change again, this time to an old 747 with cradle seats they've brought out of retirement

OK, I do jest, but there is a grain of truth in my joking. Although I do think the MEL route is in Thai terms relatively stable in terms of operating aircraft, but Thai are well known for changing aircraft types frequently.

Known colloquially as being "TG'd". As in "I've just been TG'd.."

 

[travelislife]

That's as per the current timetable. With Thai, between and now and October the operating aircraft is likely to change 3 or 4 times, and then 3 days before departure it will change again, this time to an old 747 with cradle seats they've brought out of retirement

OK, I do jest, but there is a grain of truth in my joking. Although I do think the MEL route is in Thai terms relatively stable in terms of operating aircraft, but Thai are well known for changing aircraft types frequently.

LHR and MEL you are pretty safe I reckon with TG. The angled seats are actually pretty good for a day flight with heaps of space on the 777-200ER but horrendous overnight for sleep.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm tossing up a couple of sale fares at the moment - Air China and Thai are both offering good deals (<$5k) for J LHR-MEL flying 17/10 and return 30 or 31/10. I know neither are going to be as good as SIN, but it's my wallet so... I'm most concerned about safety issues, but would love any information about service/seats from people who have flown those airlines.

Until recently... I would have recommended Air China. Full flat beds on every sector, better lounges than TG, probably slight edge on service on Air China over Thai (very slight edge). The Air China beds are much more spacious (if less private) than TG's.

TG on the other hand has better in-flight entertainment.

Both have equally bad amenity kits.

However... quite recently TG has introduced a new 'street food' style menu, along with a semi-substantial hot snack (on demand) service. There also looks like new crockery and glassware. This is one million percent better than the previous offering - which was pretty much same same as economy (just on china).

That taken into account probably swings the pendulum (just) back to Thai.

Trip report of the new service here (not sure which routes it is available on yet): http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/trip_reports/read.main/271989/