Airfares from Thailand

[superman]

I've been looking at flights from Bangkok to the UK for next year. The best I can currently get is Swiss Air. Looking at the trip in reverse I would pay 25% less for flying from UK to Bangkok return. Checking other airlines, for the same, gives me the conclusion that someones making a lot of money. It relates to roughly to 200 Pounds (10,000 Baht) per person on the cheapest seat. How do they justify the difference ?

[aging one]

Economics its that simple. This used to be the cheapest place in the world to buy tickets now its very expensive. I paid 1500 dollars apiece for my kids to go home this summer. Friends just arrived on the same airline CX flying the other way from SFO to here. 1000 bucks.

[Bettyboo]

someones making a lot of money.

Economics its that simple. This used to be the cheapest place in the world to buy tickets now its very expensive.

It's not simple economics, it's greed, market monopoly and illicit controls...

I agree with Superman - some folk, Thai folk, are making a lot of money (likely due to taxes, etc at the new airport...). Look at the wealth of the King Power guy, how quickly and massively he acquired it... Banharn, Surthep, Thaksin, Newin, army generals, privy councilors, etc, their massive wealth is paid for by Thai consumers (and us, as we're effectively Thai consumers...).

[superman]

Apparently it's not just Thailand flights.

EXPENSIVE OZ FLIGHTS
Hi, I'm currently in australia on a WHV. I came here with a one way ticket, its a long time till i go home but just checked flights home for around may/june 2012 and flights from oz to uk are way more expensive than the other way round. Anyone know any way around this? even a flight just to bangkok costs as much as it cost me to get all the way here from the uk. dont think its cause of the olympics cause its just constantly that price! any suggestions? thanks in advance

EXPENSIVE OZ FLIGHTS - Lonely Planet travel forum

[chitown]

Economics its that simple. This used to be the cheapest place in the world to buy tickets now its very expensive. I paid 1500 dollars apiece for my kids to go home this summer. Friends just arrived on the same airline CX flying the other way from SFO to here. 1000 bucks.

I can remember a decade ago paying something like $495 roundtrip from the US to Bangkok, so for some reason $1000 to $1500 still shocks me.

[harrybarracuda]

From the sandpit to BKK used to be hideously different, so I once got a refund on the return leg and now I buy online and fly the other way round.

It's an e-ticket, they've never questioned it.

[Lostandfound]

I buy my UK bound tickets in Phnom Penh.

[Lostandfound]

TG to London in Feb on their website is 1526 us = 46 000 b

Straight BKK - LHR rtn is 44500 b - about the same but you fet a "free" PP ticket, same as buying in KL (actually KL is 4231 R, a bit cheaper).

If you travel to any other Asian cities for weekends etc occasionally it might be worth making sure all your London trips originate there as these are 1 year tickets that allow flexible stopovers in BKK.

[mobs00]

Sometimes you can find a good deal on this site. It takes some searching but I found one last june that was $500 cheaper round-trip than anywhere I else I looked.

You can even change the "Sales City" to try and find a better deal.

Matrix - ITA Software

[mobs00]

^ One way BKK to London is $530 USD in May.

[hazz]

I was in the uk august-sept. I ended up buying a bkk-lhr single with an indian airline and then a 12 month bhx-bkk return with emirates for less than the cost of a bkk-bhx return.

I suppose in thailand they can get away with charging higher price; perhaps those cartels they got in to trouble with in europe and NA are still alive and well here.

[thehighlander959]

I book any tickets i require through our company travel office in Doha,its an awful lot cheaper than going through a travel agent or any website.

[Rural Surin]

Thailand travel agency offers airfare, air ticket to Thailand, Cheap Thailand hotel Deals, Thailand package tours

BKK based. Have to register - takes 5 minutes.
Browse around, you'll find some great deals from Thailand.

[superman]

I can't beat the price I already have from Swiss Air on any of the sites suggested. Thanks for the suggestions anyway. My main gripe was why, when flying from Thailand, does it cost 25% more than flying in from the UK ?

[Mr Lick]

Is it not simply related to the currency exchange rate?

Having made many trips between London - BKK - London, and BKK - London - BKK during the past 9 years i too find the fare from the Thai side more expensive but things were ok when the baht was running at 70 to the £.

I pay 50,000 baht for a 3 month return to the UK every year with EVA. That now equates to just over £1000.

Around 4/5 years ago when i was charged the same in baht it equated to less than £800.

The same ticket from London is around £800 now so nothng much has changed other than the strength of the Thai baht against sterling and other currencies.

I tried booking the same trip BKK/LON/BKK from the UK last year and the company wanted to charge me £1100 simply because they were also calculating currency conversions and also taking their own cut.

It may pay to book 2 single tickets as the one from the UK should work out cheaper but i doubt there will be a great saving overall.

[dirk diggler]

I booked a flight on the 10th of October, leaving on the 13th October:

BKK - Dubai - Manchester - Aberdeen.

1.5 hour change over in Dubai. Cheaper smokes, (Thai Price cigs in checked through baggage), stretch of legs and a smoke.

1 hour change in Manchester. Welcome stretch of legs, also avoiding London.

Flew with Emirates, one way - 33,000bht. All in.

6,000 air miles and tier miles with their frequent flier thing.

KLM wanted 55k, AIA(?) Scandinavia wanted 56k for comparison.

Emirates is my favourite airline.