Favourite airline to Thailand?

[joe552]

What are your criteria when choosing your flights to Thailand? Is price the over-riding factor? Frequent flyer points? Connection times? Are there airlines or airports you avoid (for instance, I would never fly through Heathrow again). Just wondering how others make their flying decisions.

[timmberty]

eva or thai airways for me, always from heathrow. 9.30pm flight gets me into bangkok at 3.30pm the following day, then about an hour to the hotel by airport link and bts.
i dont think ive ever picked up a airmile at anytime. normally just book cheapest flight thru whatever agent.
tho this time i have a oneway flight booked thru eva which was about ┬г10 cheaper than anyone else.
always book direct too, i cant stand the poncing about at airports, just want to get to where im going as quick as i can.

[SimpleSoul]

Why miss out Heathrow? Doesn't it have pretty much the most number of flights and so choices to meet budget, schedule and comfort needs? Seems better to use the best airport.

[frequentflier]

Etihad for me..Dublin Abu Dhabi Bangkok.90 mins stopover.great service.

[Jellybean]

IтАЩve been using Qatar Airlines* for a number of years now Joe. The price, the excellent quality of their service and familiarity with the time slots and geography of my transit stopover in Doha suit me perfectly.

But the overriding factor is probably my frequent flyer points. It means I can check-in at Business Class, have an excess baggage allowance, always helpful when I am lugging an extra heavy suitcase for a 6 month trip, use of Business Class lounges on an Economy ticket, which I find a great boon in reducing the stress of the long haul flights.

And, although I purchased an Economy ticket for my forthcoming trip, I was able to use my frequent flyer points to upgrade to Business Class on all four stages of the journey.

* Voted Airline of the Year 2011 and in 2012 in the prestigious Skytrax industry audit.

[joe552]

For my last few trips I've used Etihad from Dublin via Abu Dhabi. Airline is fine, but the stopover in Abu Dhabi is just boring now. I was thinking of using KLM via Amsterdam for my next trip (I haven't been through Amsterdam in 30 years). Although Heathrow has many carriers, I have bad memories of transfers and Terminal 1 (for Irish flights) was always depressing.

Jellybean, I just lost 17,000 miles with Etihad (expired) - had been hoping for a free upgrade on my next trip which I got for one leg of the journey a couple of years ago - part of the reason I'm looking at other options.

[stkyricesf]

Eva is my favorite choice from San Francisco USA. Eva once helped me when China Air had a mix up and stranded me in Taiwan. Been using Eva since 1998. :party

[scottish-guy]

The main criterion for me is a local departure with no more that one connection (tried 2 connection/3 leg trip once and it was horrendous).

That limits me to Emirates via DXB or KLM via AMS - or on any of the non-stop flights out of London (which I'd rather avoid).

I used EVA in the distant past (ex LHR) and it was OK- but I really don't like 11/12hrs stuck on a plane in Economy after skulking around LHR for maybe 6 hours due to the layover in the GLA connectiuon.

I now use Emirates because the trip splits roughly in half GLA-DXB-BKK.
Their seats are narrower than other airlines because they manage to squash an extra seat in every row, but the food is very good and the drinks service is acceptable. I once managed to upgrade to Business Class on DXB - BKK (and return) - and that was a different world - but about 2 yrs ago they reduced the Skywards points on all but their full price tickets (saver fares earning only 50% of the previous points) - and I see now that when booking online they are prohibiting online upgrades - and you can now only upgrade with Skywards miles at check-in (if available) - well they are certainly doing that from GLA at least.

So I may well be looking to change and the feedback from others on this thread will certainly be very interesting and possibly very useful. I'd be particularly interested in any experience of KLM - they don't get very good reviews on Skytrax.

:hello2:

PS I noticed that Vietnam Airways are flying ex-London to BKK via Saigon (with short layover) for just over ┬г500 - might be worth a look if anybody is planning to fly before December. Total flight time is around 15hrs inbound and (curiously) 18hrs return - not too bad really. Would be reluctant to use them myself as it would be back to a 3 leg trip :( Oh, and the Prices I saw for them were via Skyscanner, not direct booking.

[lukylok]

For orthopedic reasons, I want business class and the best for me is China Airlines from Amsterdam. Non Stop.
I shouldn't say so as I notice they seem to be overbooked lately !

[joe552]

Looking at flight times on KLM for my proposed dates (next year, sadly) KLM have good connection times in AMS, which is why I am considering them. No matter what route I've taken before, it's a 24 hour journey door to door from Dublin to Pattaya. I was just looking for alternatives to Etihad that I might not be aware of. In my experience, there's not a huge difference in service quality in Economy and I'm easily pleased.

[scottish-guy]

RE: journey duration door-to-door - I'm near enough the same Joe.

I leave home at around 11am on the day of departure and I finally arrive at my hotel in Pattaya about 4 or 5pm the next day. The only unnecessary stop being a 20 minute break in the taxi trip from BKK.

[ceejay]

I always fly direct from Heathrow (I live an hour or so from LHR). I prefer to fly direct and, in order of preference (best first) would choose EVA, then Thai, then BA. However, price counts and my next trip will be by BA because the ticket was ┬г200 cheaper than I could get anywhere else (once I have a trip planned I check the websites regularly. I got ┬г619 return).
All of these three fly in the late evening, around 9.30 pm and, like Timberty, I like that. Landning at 3,30 pm local time, in the hotel by about 5.00pm, quick shower, out for a few hours and then to bed at a normal local time. It avoids jetlag.

[joe552]

you stay in a hotel, Scottish-guy? I'd always assumed that was you flaked out on Beach Road? someone else in a kilt perhaps?

It's actually the connection times and facilities at the transit airport I'm enquiring about. Price is a factor to a degree, but I'm not willing to save тВм100 be using Turkish via Istanbul, for example.

[Marsilius]

Istanbul is - or certainly used to be - a notoriously chaotic airport. On the one occasion, years ago, that I flew Turkish Airlines to Thailand, I looked out of the window as we were taxiing and about to take off. There, adjacent to where the plane had been parked, was a container full of unloaded luggage and my own unmistakable suitcase perched right on top of the pile. I had to wait two days in Thailand until it eventually followed on behind and reached me.

[joe552]

ceejay, flying direct from Heathrow might be ok, but transferring there is a nightmare, in my experience.

Marsilius, your experience seems not uncommon judging by reviews I've read of Turkish and Istanbul airport.

[Nirish guy]

I've just spent the last two weeks searching every twist and turn to find a suitably priced flight with a minimum lay over and after all my asking about with nigh on pages of scribbles in my note pad I ended up right back where I started with the same blooming Emirates flight ( belfast to gatwick to dubia to bkk) at the same times and even on the same one of the two double seats at the back that I've used in my last three trips for an all in cost of ┬г1123.

I did look closely at the direct BA flight ( with a Belfast connection first of course) via LHR which was ┬г1428, this was mainly as I've about 60,000 airmiles gathered up with them which would take me just about anywhere in the world and that would have added about another 12 or 15,000 miles or so, BUT no matter when I've tried to use their miles, certainly on the Bkk route anyway, there's never availability and you still have to pay the taxes anyway plus after doung the direct flight several times now i actually find the break in the flight quite acceptable as the direct flight and local connection used to wreck me oddly enough.

But in case any one from Europe is looking at booking shortly I did find a great bargain flying (firstly from Dublin in my case on this flight ) but then direct from Brussels of all places on the emirates Bkk direct flight, which for me including the dublin leg was only going to be ┬г885 in total, but that flight only seems to fly every third day or something but if you're flexible with dates that seemed like a good deal to me but unfortunately ive to be back in my office by a specific date so I had to forego the extra few days that would have given me, but as I figured I'd of probably spent three times more than I would have saved by staying in Pattaya I was happy enough to come home when I am this time round.

[Alex303]

Generally use either EVA Air or Thai Airways direct from LHR, bit like Timberty i like the evening flights as find it easier to grab a few hours on the plan then still have plenty of time the next day when it lands at BKK. Have used Etihad quite a bit in the past but thought their service levels had dropped off in recent years.

[adman5000]

I use UA most frequently because of connecting flights, periodic promotions, and I have miles to upgrade to either Business Class or First Class. On occasion I have purchased Economy Full Fare, gotten a special promotion to Business and used miles to move to First Class. Most recently, due to cost and seat availability I tried Qatar Airlines and was extremely satisfied with their Business Class. Great service and good connection through Doha. I usually buy my tickets in Thailand through an agent and see what the best prices are.
I have also used ANA (efficient but high priced now) and Philippine Air (but had a difficult connection through LAX) and older but comfortable planes.
I liked UA as I could get a direct flight into Narita, take a shower at the lounge and short connection, and get to my hotel before midnight in time to hit the bars.(for the guys as I do not drink) :alc:

[bucknaway]

I use to fly North West, then Delta. Later I switched to Eva out of New Jersey until they priced their flights out of consideration. I flew Thai Air once when they offered a direct flight out of NY but now I try to fly using Korean Air out of Philadelphia. I like the flights, the short wait time between connections and they get me into Bangkok before 10pm.

[psd1315]

Korean airlines, pretty flight attendants with chopsticks in their hair. Next month is my 3rd trip to Thailand in 2013, and with the best frequent flyers programs around, I have not had to pay one penny for a ticket in 2013. Great food, clean planes, plus the Seoul airport has a hotel right inside the airport that t rents out rooms at 4 hour increments.

[billy2bs]

Well, being here in the USA east coast I fly United as it still is a western flight to Tokyo and on to Bkk .All 27 hours of it. It is pricing out at 1400 US now for the full term but with miles I can get it out for 65000 if I chose economy and 130k if I went Business.I have looked at the journey if I went east and that would not work out well as the layovers would be disasters. All in all the eastern flights are a lot more expensive vs any western direction flight. The cost out of the states is ever climbing as I can recall my first flight some 10 years or so was in the 800 dollar area. So I do my best to amp up my mileage and go that way. In the long run 27 hours of flying on any airline cannot make one too happy. So if nothing outlandish happens and I am not delayed I land about 1130 pm and get to bed in BKK by about 130...now where did I put my passport???? :love4:

[arsenal]

From London I always liked Jet Airways, they offer the best and the worst. The best was their in-flight entertainment and the cabin crew boys are the best looking I have ever seen. Not only that but they don't charge if you want to change your flight and during the airport sit-in they were wonderful. The worst was changing planes at Mumbai Airport, a horror story but at least you can have a ciggie.

[Up2U]

Another vote for EVA from the west coast OF USA. Price, schedule, service are better when compared to domestic counterparts (United, Delta). EVA is now part of the Star Alliance. Those midnight arrivals in Bangkok and 6:00am departures are now a distant nightmare.

[Nirish guy]

Oh just a wee tip for those slumming it ( like myself ) in economy class ( fully by choice in my case as it works fine for me) - I always find the actual flight bit of my trip fine as i've got it off to a well timed art now almost i.e. I'll board, get settled, watch a movie or two, perhaps read a bit of a book, have some dinner and then a kip and as I split my flight in two it works fine for me - BUT the bit that always stressed me out more is having to actually sit waiting in a crowded busy noisy airport, struggling to hear boarding calls or see TV screens and generally being surrounded a million screaming kids and they're totally disinterested parents as "they are on their holidays" and so let the kids run riot so my fix for that was I joined up with "Priority pass" which gets you access to the private airport lounges in just about every airport around the world.

On entering your lounge you find total peace and quiet, soft leather seats and private seating areas, a free bar, lots of well cooked fresh hot and cold food and ( depending on the airport) you get called for your flight ( or there's enough screens to ensure its no bother to keep a check on your flight yourself. The cost is only about ┬г150 a year and that entitles you to I think 10 lounge visits anywhere (you can add more if needed) and as I use it for both my Thai flights and also my other normal business flights throughout the year I find it invaluable and highly recommend it as it makes all the difference to me between a stressful flight and a relaxed one and certainly is one way of reducing the stress of sitting waiting in airports on your arrival / layovers - here's the link just in case if anyone wants to check it out it.

http://www.prioritypass.com/

[scottish-guy]

I had Priority Pass for a couple of years and found it very useful for major airports.

I think I paid around ┬г250 a year for the full boona (there are cheaper packages with less access) - but the downside was that, at that time I was doing a lot of business travel in and out of BHX and MAN - and the Exec Lounges there were not accepting it. Also at LGW there was an anomaly that the Lounge was in the North Terminal and I was always flying out of the South Terminal (or vice versa, I can't remember) and you were not allowed to move between the terminals. However, I defied this and moved from one terminal to the other which caused me to be (I kid you not) POLICE ESCORTED back to the right terminal !! For fuck sake - over an attempt to get a free beer :sign5: Similarly in GLA the "big" lounge did not accept PP, only the extremely tiny Servisair one did and they insisted in serving the drinks to your table (with their idea of a measure - which didn't match mine!). Of course, things change and there may be better accesss now.

So, my advice is - check the Lounge availability on their website and if the Airports you regularly use accept PP then it's a good deal. They also used to have a handy feature that if you sent them the Airport Code you'd just landed at, by SMS, they's send you an SMS back with the location of "their" Lounge (if they had one)

If your regular airports are not listed, you need to consider if it's worth it - as you can easily book individual lounge visits via Loungepass etc at around ┬г15-20 a shot.

Also NIrish, you probably know that Emirates Skywards Silver gets you into one of the DXB B/C lounges free - irrespective of flying Economy Class - (the one near the Irish Pub!!) - with the Champagne and smoked salmon. Lovely jubbly.

[Nirish guy]

Yes on first using the priority pass thing I first got turned away from the usual airline lounges ( thinking it got you in there - it doesn't ) they seem to have an arrangement with the mid level private lounge supplier in most airports - so it's not first class but it's "ok" for chilling out for a few hours - and the Dubai and Abu Dhabi lounges which work for my flights are fine. Actually the only one lounge that has been crap I've found is Dublin where on looking at a container of soup and some wheaten bread or plain crackers and biscuits as the food choice I asked where was the hot food or even sandwiches only to get a strong "we don't DO sandwiches here" reply lol - Joe get on to it and sort that out FFS !! But apart from the odd glitch like that and yes that having to make sure there is a lounge ( although as you say in most major airports there is and there's a handy app for checking now too) I find it a life saver to get away from the hustle and bustle of the shops and the duty free and the screaming kids - and I've worked out that as you're in an airport anyway once you eat and drink ANYTHING that basically pays for your usage as you'd be paying your ┬г15 out in any food court for any food and a couple of beers or spirits so to me I consider it "free" - God I should tell me Thai friends then as if it's "free" they would LOVE it ! lol

[scottish-guy]

Just lend your Thai friends your PP Card for an hour - I almost guarantee they'll soon source perfect copies!! :laughing3:

Re: the ┬г15/20 pre-pay lounge entry - what i meant was that at say ┬г250 a year membership - you need to be sure of getting Lounge access around 15 times to get your PP Card money back.

[Nirish guy]

yeah I think the latest ( seemingly permanent ) offer is now ┬г150 a year and that gets you 10 visits - but if you've a partner they other a second card for only ┬г49 I think so as a couple that's quite good value and as I said the way I look at it with a couple of Thailand trips a year and a few business trips thrown into the mix it's not to difficult to pass that 10 visits ( each way on each route way obviously) and speaking personally I know I certainly get my moneys worth on beer and grub alone which I would have spent anyway if going to AN Other airport eatery / bar at the prices they all charge !

[christianpfc]

Airlines are not important to me. I think I have flown in more than 5 different airline for 10 trips to Thailand.

I decide via price (always economy) and times. I prefer leaving from Europe at night, not more than 4 hours stop over, and leaving from Thailand at night.

[gaymandenmark]

I know totally OT, but now that PP has been mentioned, I use my Diners Card to get access to lounges. They don't have as many as PP, but it is useful for me.

The rules for access to the lounges depends on the issuer/country where you are living, but here is a list:
http://www.dinersclub.com/airport-lounges.html

[lukylok]

Diner's Club ????, I thought it had disappeared 10 years ago. It certainly doesn't exit any more in my part of the world, and I never see it listed as an "acceptable" card. Good for you if it helps you !

[scottish-guy]

If anybody is interested in taking out PP membership I have a code which gives 20% discount.

I just checked, and it works as of today.

It makes the UK Prices ┬г55/┬г127/┬г207 for each of the 3 tiers.

US top price comes down from $399 to $319 with the two lower tiers at $79 and $199

If you want it - send a PM.

:hello2:

[gaymandenmark]

Diner's Club ????, I thought it had disappeared 10 years ago. It certainly doesn't exit any more in my part of the world, and I never see it listed as an "acceptable" card. Good for you if it helps you !

Belgium:
http://www.dinersclub.be/

Thailand:
http://www.citibank.co.th/global_docs/d ... /index.htm (http://www.citibank.co.th/global_docs/dinersclub/index.htm)

International site:
http://www.dinersclub.com/

When in Thailand I normally use it in departments stores like Central or Paragon.

I also use it in BKK airport to get access to lounges.

[cameroncat]

For me, Premium Economy Class is a must. Economy is too claustrophobic for me. When I first started flying to Thailand from Los Angeles 12 years ago, that meant EVA. When Thai started flying Non-stop with PE class, I used that for many years. Now that Thai has dropped the non-stop flight and PE class from L.A. I have switched to Cathay Pacific's new PE class. Very nice. A little more comfortable Than EVA's PE with slightly better service and food. I bump up to Business when I've accumulated enough miles.

[Sooty]

Easy. Always fly Thai, make sure the booking is for Q class in Economy and then pay for a Stand-by upgrade to Business at Heathrow so I can sleep on the way out. I'm ok in Economy on the way back as I always take the flight that leaves around midday from Swampy as it gets back to Heathrow in daylight hours.

[scottish-guy]

Sooty - Can you put some figures on that?

[Sooty]

Sooty - Can you put some figures on that?Q class fares vary but they're always ones that include "mileage accrual" in the description. The Heathrow-Bangkok standby upgrade price is a smidgeon under 30,000 baht and you can find info per Google Search on of all places the Australia TG site!!!!!

Ticket class is always the first letter of the fare code so never choose one that is V or W if you want to try for an upgrade.

[areena]

What are your criteria when choosing your flights to Thailand? Is price the over-riding factor? Frequent flyer points? Connection times? Are there airlines or airports you avoid (for instance, I would never fly through Heathrow again). Just wondering how others make their flying decisions.
Ialways choose ewa airlines for heathrow.My first priority connection times than i bother on price factors.And i achieve both of my purposes through these airlines...........

[areena]

i also have been using qatar airlines in case of business tours. inspite all of these factors ... i preffer ewa airlines most of all

[Shuee]

eva as thai didnt used to have personal tv's, but now i see the new a380 double decker airbus operates on route of LHR_BKK whose tried this yet? well done cj getting BA for ┬г612 an amazing price, whats the secret, you can PM me if you like :salute:

also whats the deal with 3 airlines leaving at the same time, surely they have to keep an extra eye out for the other 2 aircraft in the air space around them the whole 12hrs flight! & over taking or going slower may cause problems with the other 2 airlines also :dontknow:

[joe552]

Shuee, I think you'll find that even if they leave together (which they don't - there's at least a couple of minutes between take-offs) they will remain separated by height and distance. That's what air traffic controllers are for. And I would hope that the pilots are in fact keeping an eye out, but think they use autopilot more that we mere humans would feel comfortable with.

[Nirish guy]

well done cj getting BA for ┬г612 an amazing price, whats the secret, you can PM me if you like :salute:

For anyone half debating buying a ticket just now, even for next year ( joe ! ) BA Currently have a sale on ( bookings must be made by 24th Sept) and on checking suitable dates for Songkran 2014 the fare from Heathrow to BKK (to suit me in this case but it applies across all routes) was only ┬г599 including taxes !! which is a great price for BA as the taxes alone are about ┬г445 so you're getting a flight from London to BKK for ┬г72 each way !!

I actually started off thinking I'd try to use up some miles to book that trip but with such a good price I would have burned up 58,000 miles and the discounted price would only have been ┬г528 so to get a standard online price from BA.com direct of ┬г599 on a direct flight was quite good I thought - their sale is on NOW for those that may be interested.

[MiniMee]

For anyone half debating buying a ticket just now, even for next year ( joe ! )

(or scottish-guy! )

[Nirish guy]

ha ha yes or EVEN him - lol - you never miss a chance do ya :-)

[ceejay]

well done cj getting BA for ┬г612 an amazing price, whats the secret, you can PM me if you like
There's no secret. I plan my trips a long way in advance, and buy the tickets a long time before I fly. I got this one in early July, to fly in early October. I check the main booking sites (especially, for me, Opodo and Netflights) every day and if I see a good rate, I buy immediately. It also helps a lot that I am, being retired, very flexible as to dates. So, what it adds up to is:
Start looking as early as you can.
Check all the booking sites every day. They have special price tickets that they release in dribs and drabs and they soon go.
Be flexible - if you need to take time of from work, try to arrange to buy the ticket and then book the time off (I was lucky - when working I had an employer who allowed this)
When you see the bargain, buy it at once.

[timmberty]

whats so special with booking B.A. ? its the last flyer i would choose .. and the reason is simple .. these national carriers love nothing better than going on strike, and if they do it when you are due to fly wave bye bye.

[joe552]

NIrish guy - thanks for the heads up - but the cheque you sent to cover my fare bounced, so please try again. Love you long time :love4:

My own philosophy, for what it's worth, is to book the flight when the price seems reasonable, and I have the money available - not always easy in my case, but I somehow manage to get there in the end.

[Nirish guy]

whats so special with booking B.A. ? its the last flyer i would choose .. and the reason is simple .. these national carriers love nothing better than going on strike, and if they do it when you are due to fly wave bye bye.

I actually totally agree with you re that Tim, I haven't flown BA on my last few trips both as I find them over priced for their service, plus their luggage allowance is a crap 23kgs compared to Emirates 30kg, I think generally they couldn't give a shit about their customers because they know they ARE the national carrier (or so they think still) and don't have to work to hard for your business.

They also lost my luggage on a flight to the US and took days to recover it, plus they quite happily left me totally stranded in Heathrow a few years back during the bad weather with only my own gumption getting me on one of their partner airlines, so like you generally speaking I bypass them every time now. But over several years I'd gathered up about 68,000 miles which is just about enough for one return flight to Bkk but their Aviois rewards programme is also so crap and loaded in their favour that I STILL haven't managed to cash those in, which was solely the reason that I'd checked their site out this time to try yet again - again without success !

Still all of the above aside I did think the ┬г599 was a good price for one of the bigger airlines to Bkk in this particular instance, but like you apart from that I certainly wouldn't be rushing to give them my business unless either the price or the flight times particularly suited me for some reason.

And Joe unfortunately I'm right out of stamps so you may just work it out yourself it seems ;-)

[colmx]

whats so special with booking B.A. ? its the last flyer i would choose .

I actually totally agree with you re that Tim, I haven't flown BA on my last few trips

Personally i would choose BA every time if possible

Sure their 747s to BKK are ancient and seat back TVs are tiny... But at least their entertainment is good, aircraft clean, passengers are generally clean too and service is great

Best part for me is the friendliness of their service...
>>>>> Remember i am irish so i should be grumbling about the brits... not complimenting them!
For me BA can't be beaten for service

On the other hand as flying Dub --> Bkk always involves at least 1 stopover and transfers from heathrow terminal 1 to 4/5 are a nightmare (or more specifically from terminals 4/5 back to 1 on the way home), my preference is for DUB->CPH->BKK

Usually the arrival gate from DUB is right next door to the departure gate for BKKand there is only a 55 min stopover (and best part is they wait for the irish if our inbound flight is late :notworthy: :notworthy:

Unfortunately SAS have cut back their flights on this route recently... but for me the transit times in CPH (copenhagen) via DUB can't be beaten

Next best for me is KLM via Amsterdam... KLM planes are modern but a bit cramped... but at least the dutch customers are well behaved and pleasant... and again transit times are short and Schipol is easy to navigate (except for the bizarre 20 minute aircraft taxi from landing to the terminal and body scanners at the gates!)

[bucknaway]

A great website I like to go to is www.hipmunk.com (http://www.hipmunk.com) It does a great job at displaying the AGONY level of a particular flight route.

[pennyboy]

eva as thai didn't used to have personal tv's, but now i see the new a380 double decker airbus operates on route of LHR_BKK whose tried this yet?

I was not aware of any A380 direct flights LHR/BKK.

What airline is this?

[Shuee]

thai air said after i emailed them in April;

Subject: A380 LHR-BKK

Dear Mr Bond,

Please be advised that the aim is to start deploying the A380s on the London route from end of October but it is not definite yet so for the time being we cannot guarantee this

Thank you

Vivek Desai

Reservations

[fedssocr]

For me it usually depends on who's got F or C award seats available when I want to go.

After my horrible experience at PEK last year I will avoid it from now on. I've been avoiding CDG for years.

From where I live going via NRT usually works out fairly well. This year I'll be in Taiwan before I go to BKK so I just bought a ticket on EVA.

[SimpleSoul]

Surely the simple answer is whatever schedule and price suits you best; there is vast choice for almost everybody no matter their originatiion.

Timmberty, just to nit pick BUT when was the last time that BA went on strike? I think these events are very infrequent and would it really sully their reputation such that one might cut one's nose off to spite one's face? I have always found the service on BA to be good; but then again I think I am also a good passenger. Service is often a 2-way street.

I just like to get on, settle down and largely be left alone; whichever airline suits my budget and schedule works for me. These days there is often little to choose between them, I think.

[Shuee]

ops!! Today thai air liner skids off runway at bkk

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... unway.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/10295696/Thai-Airways-plane-skids-off-runway.html)