Almost free air travel Bangkok/Vientiane daily from 14/03

[lonelywombat]

[attachment=0:15lp2d7u]L_vientiane_en.jpg[/attachment:15lp2d7u]

Commencing from 14th March 2012, Nok Air will be making it easier for people to visit Vientiane, the charming capital of Laos. FlyтАЩn'Ride means that you fly with Nok Air from Bangkok to Udon Thani with a convenient connection by coach to the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge at Nong Khai. After clearing Thai and Lao immigration process and passing to the other side another coach is waiting to take you to downtown Vientiane.

This new service is available every day from Bangkok to Vientiane and from Vientiane to Bangkok. Flights depart Don Mueang Airport at 6 a.m. arriving in Udon Thani an hour later. By 9 a.m. you will be at the border crossing. At 10 a.m. you will board a coach for the Laos capital arriving at about 11 a.m. A total journey time of five hours.

Coming back, coaches leave Vientiane at 2 p.m. More information and disclaimers on the Nok Air website.


http://www.thaitravelblogs.com/2012/03/ ... vientiane/ (http://www.thaitravelblogs.com/2012/03/nok-air-launches-flynride-to-vientiane/)" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.nokair.com/contents/promotio ... index.html (http://www.nokair.com/contents/promotion/vientiane/en-US/index.html)" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Whats "free" about it???

[pong]

Yes- I know LW as always punctual and not telling overblown promosyens etc.
In fact this NOTHING new at all-there has since many years been the direct MINIVan from Udorn airpt to Lao-bridge-connects with every flight in. Often a mad scramble-as lately the nr of seats were to small for the nr of pax. It is of course much, much cheaper to fly to Udorn (also AirAsia) as to fly into VTE direct. I guess NOK now has simply hired a larger coach and allows thorugh boking-so they know before of how many take it.
The bridge, for those unknown, is the border-TH emigration at TH side-then Lao IMmigration-with the obligatory visum purchase and form filling-at lao side. You cannot walk over it-have to use a pedestrian shuttle bus-cost 20 bt or so. Then plenty of the usual Asean supply of any conceivable means of transport after Lao immigr.

[lonelywombat]

my info came from a thai who is visiting and suggested that I join him.

the qualification that i did not understand was

QUOTE ** The border pass paper is a pre-arrangement document for Thai citizen only. The passenger can request for border pass paper by contacting tel no. 042-412565, 042-467406-7
For non-Thai passenger or Thai passenger who does not want to request for border pass, passport is required. The travel document is a sole responsible of passenger.end of Quote.

When I checked the cost of fares the low cost impressed me I thought the cost was for non flying only. $1300.93 one way.

http://www.nokair.com/nokconnext/aspx/Availability.aspx


Regardless the cost of the flight compared to the direct flight with Thai is huge.

[yaraboy]

I have lived in Vientiane part time for 4 years and always fly out to Bangkok through Vientiane airport
Much time is saved and the immigration formalities are much simpler. The hassle of the bus rides and slow immigration at the bridge are just nor worth it. Locals always fly out of Vientiane if they can afford it.

[Beachlover]

Yes- I know LW as always punctual and not telling overblown promosyens etc.
Heh... :hah:

[witchhunt]

Thanks for posting that link and the differerence between the Bangkok Air fares and the special, means I might give it a try

I am not the type who pays $10,000 for a weeks entertainment, that some who post here do often. That package fits in with my budget.

[yaraboy]

Bangkok Air does not fly to Vientiane....only Thai and Lao.....though Air Asia comes in from Kuala Lumpur and is cheaper than the former.
Frankly the $100 or so difference is worth the hassle and extra time of going through Udon Thani

[ceejay]

Something that someone using this service may need to check. Since you are crossing into Thailand via a land border, if you are relying on a visa exemption to clear immigration, will you only get a 15 day stamp rather than a 30 day one?