Centurion

Can anyone tell me what the TG (Thai Airways) Business Class seat is from BNE to BKK ? Is it the angle lie flat affair or the regional old nasty configuration ?

Am considering mixing and matching Thai with Swiss Air on a Europe trip because the fare is so cheap but if I can't lie flat - and angles fine - I don't really want to do it. TYVM

bcworld

Every BNE flight is scheduled with angled lie flats - either 777 or A346 - almost zero chance of a nasty surprise!

Centurion

Thanks very much. I remember flying Thai J a few years back with those horrid nasty old seats, so thanks for the reassurance mate.

bcworld

Yeah me too...at least I knew I was probably getting it though and just hoped I might get the new seats.

I think this is the product that operates the Brisbane day flights on the 777 - sammyg might be able to confirm, I think she just came back??

linabey

louie, Centurion and bcworld - thanks all of you for your replies and very useful info and advice. I've called Thai (and they found my flight details via name and date with no hassles, so that's a relief...) and booked some seats (upper deck ) - just have to hope there are no substitutions of old planes at the last minute now! As you say, I'm hoping that travelling BC will make the journey more of a pleasure than an endurance, particularly as I'm flying on my own this trip, which is usually pretty tedious.

I'll have a leisurely google about the various lounges at BKK - thanks Centurion for the detailed info. OH has Qantas Club membership so I'm used to using that lounge - shame if the ones we can use at BNE aren't quite as good but hey, that's the one I'll be in for the shortest time so it doesn't really matter! I think I've got about 8.5 hrs at BKK on the way back, so will be looking for the best place/way to pass the time there (I've only stopped over in BKK previously, not hung around in the airport for any length of time). Hopefully I'll actually be able to get some rest on the plane this time, so won't be desperate just to catch up on sleep between flights.

Now, you've been very helpful so far...can any of you arrange good weather in the UK for a few weeks from mid-September?

Centurion

Congratulations. Enjoy your business class flight ! BC has certainly made a lot of people's journeys something to look forward to rather than dread this year!

louie

Well we've had the credit card bill, £3,392 all in. Exchange rate not quite as good as I hoped, but still a great result.

Does the fee charged (just under £180) cover UK departure tax/APD, which will be £170 by the time I fly? Has anyone flying business or first from London been charged extra? If so, how/when do you pay it?

And Koolcat, have you booked yet?

Safin

All fees/taxes were included in my ticket back in mar/april

thedons

Ok quick update, called Thai yesterday and booked seats for the Wife and i.
11a 11b upper deck, how good is that !!!!
So excited we even have a night in london and fly first thing in the morning direct to Abz white xmas fingers crossed!!
Then see then New year in Bournemouth with my Parents.

Once again BIG thank you to BC you rock!!

bcworld

Aw shucks...thanks thedons!

It's time for another final call on this thread I suppose...the latest promo runs out on 31st July and the website does now state the account must be at least TWELVE days old to make a purchase. It's now or never, or until the next time!

sammyg

Must say a big thankyou BCworld. I booked a return flight to UK for OH going on your info. He loved it...massages, champaigne, too much food and just generally spoilt!!

Twas slightly unfair though as me and daughter went airasia (who were fine - but NOT buisness class!!). OH didn't book over a year ago when myself and daughter did as he'd just started in the police force and didn't know if he'd get the hols off. As it worked out he could but only a few months in advance and this buisness class deal was near enough the same price as airasia...therefore we booked it.

thanks again Bc

ps, if anyone has any questions i'm sure he can answer them

Koolcat

Well I finally got booked up - business class on Thai!!
'
I've been waiting until Hubby was off work as I was sure that US airways would want to speak to him when I booked his flight from his dividend account - how wrong I was

So...I've booked Bne - BKK - LHR business return with Thai (TG 474, TG916, TG917, TG473) for the two of us, leaving 12th Dec and returning 21st Jan.

The cost per person was USD $1773.76 plus USD $398 booking fee and taxes each person. I paid with my UK credit card so will hopefully find out the cost in GBP in the next few days!! As an aside, the US Airways Rep said she couldn't believe how high the taxes per person were for this schedule and actually put me on hold to double check with her supervisor!

I spent quite a lot of time on the Air Canada Airoplan website checking award flights prior to ring US Airways, so knew exactly what I wanted to book when I called. The lady I spoke with put the flights on hold for 3 days to allow me to go away and buy 120,000 points each

US Airways emailed through a confirmation advice straight away and I noticed my first name was spelt incorrectly - I checked and doubled checked the way they had spelt it when I booked over the phone and they had it correct, so Im thinking it must have been a typo!! Anyway Ive just called and apparently it cannot be amended - however the customer service Rep says shes added a note to their system to advise of the incorrect spelling - she says I should be ok at the airports though - we will see!!

So on the way out we have 18 hours at Bangkok - im thinking that we will need to obtain a visa for this?

The job for today is to look at seat guru and get some seats booked with Thai - it will be nice to confirm business class with them as my confirmation from US Airways says 'type of cabin' unconfirmed?

Thanks everyone on this post for all the help and advice, BC world for posting and Louie you have been a star in instilling confidence Lots of Karma to you all!!

Oh yeah, and before I forget, the US Rep I spoke to on the phone advised that the US Airways international booking call centre (deals with Award bookings) is open 24 hours per day - so you can call anytime

Koolcat

sammyg

regarding seats OH booked upstairs on the 747 (BKK-LHR and vice versa) row 16a or b are good seats as they are exit rows or 16 f or j? you will need to fill out a visa on the plane if you are going out the airport - the lounge is great at BKK and don't forget to get the head/shoulder massage at the spa!!

louie

Well done Rachael

Those taxes are high - we only paid just under £180 LHR - BKK - SYD return in first.... however I thought that was very low bearing in mind that APD for business and first flights out of the UK is going up to £170 in November (robbing barstewards!). Wouldn't surprise me if I got another bill!

You won't need a visa for Thailand (at least, not in advance).

I never did get a confirmation email but our flights still show class unconfirmed but Thai were able to confirm we were booked in first and they had already reserved seats before I rang.

We can compare notes once we've all got back home (next March for me)

Louie

Koolcat

Thanks Sammy G for the advice on the seats I tried to call Thai today to do a seat assignment but it would appear that they are closed on Sundays. Hopefully I will sort it out in the next few days

As an aside - for anyone who wants to look at seat availability before you ring for your seat assignments - Expedia.com.au allow you to see what seats are available for a flight before you book. You just search your schedule and there should be a 'preview seat availability' button underneath each schedule - very handy if you are flexible on your days and want to check that you can sit together, want a window seat etc This alongside seatguru is wonderful

Hey Louie, you done good with your taxes - fingers crossed they stay low - it might be because you are going UK - AUS rather than AUS-UK?

Happy flying

Koolcat