United Airlines discontinuing all service to Thailand

[firecat69]

Even in BC  I hate those 13 hour legs which I think is what DTW-PEK is?

[MrBill]

14 hrs 10 min from IAD. We arrived about 25 minutes early so you are very close. But much more bearable than DTW to NRT in my estimation. The immigration and security rescreening went so fast because it was very well organized. My biggest problem was layout of UA "Business/First" they advertise "true lie flat seats". I am a shade under 5'11" and while the seat could lie flat, there wasn't enough room for my body to lie flat with the back-to-back seating. There was a cutout for my feet to fit in which would have worked better if I were one-legged. Thai 747 wasn't total lie flat but at least I could stretch my legs full length.

[fedssocr]

Be prepared for some headaches on your return through PEK. Of course all flights to the USA are a total PITA these days with all of the extra security theater hoops you have to jump through. My PEK-IAD flight last year was a mess. They required you to get another boarding pass at the gate even if you already had one (something I didn't find out until I got to the head of the boarding line). And then they search everyone another time on the jetway before you get on the plane. Lots of people had their water confiscated at that point leading to plenty of very unhappy people. Transfer security at PEK on that transit also required that everyone remove every single electronic device/item from their carry on bag. So the line took forever. And since I was traveling with a lot of photography equipment, laptop, etc I had to essentially empty my bag. It was even worse than TSA madness in the US. I will avoid PEK in the future as a result of that unpleasant experience. I never had a major issue going through NRT though.

[Guest anonone]

Yes, I was surprised to hear Mr Bill prefer PEK over NRT.  That is the exact opposite of my preference.  I have been through both of them, and greatly prefer NRT for the ease of transfer / quality of lounges.  PEK gate security was much more militant then the random re-screens at NRT.

 

Also surprised to hear about the experience with UA "BusinessFirst" (What a stupid name) seats.  That was a 777 from the United side of the fleet (Not Continental).  I find that seat to be one of the most comfortable I have ever been on...for reclining as well as sleeping.  I am well over 6 foot tall and sleep very well in those seats.

 

Oh well, different people prefer different things.  Makes the world fun.

[MrBill]

My UA flight Business/First was 2-4-2 seating rather than other airlines' 2-2-2. Assuming all 777-300 ER are the same width, something had to give in the cabin. I'll let you know what my return experience is like. Air China gets some good press on the comfort of their BC. When transferring through PEK there was no gate security to speak of - one guy standing at the side of the gateway watching people pass through. I did have to take out all electronics but here were so many screening checkpoints it didn't take long to get through, just a bit more hassle. Previously I had to take out all electronics everywhere I flew in USA until I joined TSA prescreen. Now I don't have to take out my camera or laptop, just my cpap machine. Obviously heavy snorers are a threat to freedom

[vinapu]

The last time I flew back to the states, I had a ten hour layover in Incheon, and Korean air put me up in a nice Hotel for free.  You can't beat that for service.  I did have to go through customs, but that took less then 10 minutes.  Smiles is correct about the showers, but there is also a hotel in the airport if you wish to avoid customs, and some really nice inexpensive hotels near to the airport if you are paying.  A lot of people choose just to stay in the airport as there are quite rest areas in many areas of the airport on the second level.  Koko, I found the temp okay.  Give Incheon a second chance, I think you just got a bad day.

 

The last time I flew back to the states, I had a ten hour layover in Incheon, and Korean air put me up in a nice Hotel for free.  You can't beat that for service.  I did have to go through customs, but that took less then 10 minutes.  Smiles is correct about the showers, but there is also a hotel in the airport if you wish to avoid customs, and some really nice inexpensive hotels near to the airport if you are paying.  A lot of people choose just to stay in the airport as there are quite rest areas in many areas of the airport on the second level.  Koko, I found the temp okay.  Give Incheon a second chance, I think you just got a bad day.

I like that airport, in the afternoon you have even a chance to listen to live music and see Korean folk performances. If you are in transit and have enough time there are several options to take a free tour of various places around the airport and Seoul city itself.

[vinapu]

I guess we all have different experiences.  I really like Incheon airport and never noticed it was too warm.  And I thought the food was fine on Korean Air (although I do eat with the  peasants in economy class...hehe).

I was there on Tuesday, thanks God airport  was warm as temperature outside was below freezing when we arrived from BKK.

 

I like leg room in economy in Korean Air. When they served some kind of Korean dish they even had printed instruction how to prepare it. And it's only airline I know where you make your own tea - they pour water and hand you tea bag instead treating you with some tepid brown water called tea as other airlines do , at least in economy. 

[KhorTose]

I was there on Tuesday, thanks God airport  was warm as temperature outside was below freezing when we arrived from BKK.

 

I like leg room in economy in Korean Air. When they served some kind of Korean dish they even had printed instruction how to prepare it

Every time I have flown out of Seattle you always have two choices when they are serving food.  One dish is usually Western and the other Asian.

[vinapu]

Every time I have flown out of Seattle you always have two choices when they are serving food.  One dish is usually Western and the other Asian.

We had three choices each way on every meal served but this was longer Toronto flight 

[MrBill]

Be prepared for some headaches on your return through PEK. Of course all flights to the USA are a total PITA these days with all of the extra security theater hoops you have to jump through. My PEK-IAD flight last year was a mess. They required you to get another boarding pass at the gate even if you already had one (something I didn't find out until I got to the head of the boarding line). And then they search everyone another time on the jetway before you get on the plane. Lots of people had their water confiscated at that point leading to plenty of very unhappy people. Transfer security at PEK on that transit also required that everyone remove every single electronic device/item from their carry on bag. So the line took forever. And since I was traveling with a lot of photography equipment, laptop, etc I had to essentially empty my bag. It was even worse than TSA madness in the US. I will avoid PEK in the future as a result of that unpleasant experience. I never had a major issue going through NRT though.

Just returned BKK-PEK-IAH-DTW on UAL award ticket. $76.80 USD + 150k miles. I didn't have many problems in PEK. At first the transfer lane had a long line as there were only 2 immigration agents on duty. Within minutes they opened up other transfer lanes on the other side with additional 4 agents, so it took me about 20 minutes to get through transfer lanes. Did experience some congestion with security rescreening as the space is limited. Things were backing up at the bottom of the escalator to the point that was becoming dangerous as there was no room for people the escalator to disembark. Again to their credit, they added security screeners and things started moving faster. I minimized electronics in carry-on but they did have to be removed from bags, same as here in USA airports. Total time for transfer process about an hour. I haven't travelled through NRT in several years now, but each time I did, it took me much longer to transfer there than it did in PEK. Last 2 times in NRT I nearly missed connecting flights due to congestion at transfer/security, so I felt PEK was bearable.

 

No new boarding card was required. Boarding was quick and efficient. There was security on the jetway, but took literally a minute for me. The flight on Air China B777-300 to IAH made it all worth it. I was very impressed with every aspect of this airline from BC lounge to seats to food. Really LOVED the comforter that came with BC lie flat seat and the soft perimeter lighting that changed throughout the flight.

[firecat69]

You have to be very unlucky to have had such problems in NRT.  I have been through there 20 times in the last 5 years and it has never taken me more then 20 minutes and in most cases 10 minutes or less.  The 150,000 seems like a lot for your award ticket. I assume it was not a Low Award??

[vinapu]

1. avoid  connecting through Shanghai, in May I was supposed to pick up my language like at final destination and go thorough  boarding process  again including immigration. Granted it was well organized and I was escorted through process as I did not have a visa but still nerve wracking experience for 1 hr 40 minutes connection.
2.  
3. Only good thing was that I was warned about procedure  when boarding originally and even agent asked me question ' where you will be picking up your language" to make sure I understand process. This was Air Canada / Thai connection , both Star alliance so supposed to ne seamless but not at that airport, be warned.

Never had issues at Narita / Tokyo but always surprised how crappy duty free shops  there are, poor relative to Swampy or Incheon / Seoul/ . 

[kokopelli]

You have to be very unlucky to have had such problems in NRT.  I have been through there 20 times in the last 5 years and it has never taken me more then 20 minutes and in most cases 10 minutes or less.  The 150,000 seems like a lot for your award ticket. I assume it was not a Low Award??

If round trip award not a lot but  if one way, yes.

[fedssocr]

That does seem like a lot of miles. 

 

I just booked a saver award to SE Asia for 70K miles in F ... DPS-SIN-NRT-IAD. Looks like MrBill booked a business class standard award which is 150k one way!

 

AA awards are even cheaper 67,500 miles one way in F to SE Asia but they have more restrictive routing rules (you can only go trans pacific for example while UA/Star Alliance allows routing via Europe).

[MrBill]

You have to be very unlucky to have had such problems in NRT.  I have been through there 20 times in the last 5 years and it has never taken me more then 20 minutes and in most cases 10 minutes or less.  The 150,000 seems like a lot for your award ticket. I assume it was not a Low Award??

Actually, looking back, it was 120K NOT 150k which was a saver award for business class. Same dates on DL from DTW was 245K miles for business.

[firecat69]

Actually, looking back, it was 120K NOT 150k which was a saver award for business class. Same dates on DL from DTW was 245K miles for business.

I'm impressed. You found a saver award with Sky Pesos in BC.  I'm a 2million miler with them and Platinum for years but they drove me away with their useless awards.

[Guest travelerjim]

I'm impressed. You found a saver award with Sky Pesos in BC.  I'm a 2million miler with them and Platinum for years but they drove me away with their useless awards.

firecat69...

My Thai bf just returned to Thailand...

I booked him on Delta from BKK-SAN and return via Delta & Korean Air in Business Class for 120,000 FF miles.

In fact on his return he flew in the new A380 from LAX to Seoul...on to BKK. He started on DL from San Diego to LAX. 

Searched and was flexible...so the tickets are out there...also call in to DL to get good elite desk assist. Also, note the ticket was available without my flying with him...although  was already stateside...and my return a week later.

Good luck,

tj

[MrBill]

 

Never had issues at Narita / Tokyo but always surprised how crappy duty free shops  there are, poor relative to Swampy or Incheon / Seoul/ . 

 

Duty Free at PEK. Bought 2 bottles of Chinese vodka. $88 US cash, if using credit card $97 US. That's a pretty steep add on for cc.

[vinapu]

Duty Free at PEK. Bought 2 bottles of Chinese vodka. $88 US cash, if using credit card $97 US. That's a pretty steep add on for cc.

OMG, what kind of vodka it that ? 44 $ per bottle, better check as it must be gold coin inside bottle.

Thank for warning  about c/c surcharge, obviously 10 %,  my friend is flying to Sri Lanka through PEK on Sunday, called him already to have a cash handy on transit there.      

[MrBill]

I'm impressed. You found a saver award with Sky Pesos in BC.  I'm a 2million miler with them and Platinum for years but they drove me away with their useless awards.

My last 2 trips to LOS have been award trips from UAL. Both times it was MUCH easier finding cheaper award seats on UAL than it was on DL. DTW is a major hub for DL and it seems award seats are fewer in number and far more expensive mile-wise.  Fortunately, on both those occasions, the majority of the flying was on partner airlines. Both Turkish Airlines (chef on board) last trip, and Air China this trip. along with Thai were much better in my opinion than UA itself.

[MrBill]

OMG, what kind of vodka it that ? 44 $ per bottle, better check as it must be gold coin inside bottle.

Thank for warning  about c/c surcharge, obviously 10 %,  my friend is flying to Sri Lanka through PEK on Sunday, called him already to have a cash handy on transit there.      

Shanghai White Vodka - premium a la Grey Goose and similar high-end brands, designed for drinking neat rather than mixing.  Though I am more of an Irish whiskey fan, I wanted to bring back something not likely to be found here in the states.

 

http://www.bloodandsand.com/index.php/shanghai-white/

[firecat69]

My last 2 trips to LOS have been award trips from UAL. Both times it was MUCH easier finding cheaper award seats on UAL than it was on DL. DTW is a major hub for DL and it seems award seats are fewer in number and far more expensive mile-wise.  Fortunately, on both those occasions, the majority of the flying was on partner airlines. Both Turkish Airlines (chef on board) last trip, and Air China this trip. along with Thai were much better in my opinion than UA itself.

That Turkish flight looked interesting to me until I saw how long the layover in Istanbul was.

[vinapu]

That Turkish flight looked interesting to me until I saw how long the layover in Istanbul was.

at night it would be disaster but during day you can buy visa , hop on subway and in less than 1 hr. you are at Hippodrome where Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia is or at Kapali Carsi / covered bazar

[kokopelli]

Shanghai White Vodka - premium a la Grey Goose and similar high-end brands, designed for drinking neat rather than mixing.  Though I am more of an Irish whiskey fan, I wanted to bring back something not likely to be found here in the states.

 

http://www.bloodandsand.com/index.php/shanghai-white/

Wandering far off track, but, try Blue Ice potato vodka from Idaho at about $20. Better than most of the premium brands and perfect for drinking it neat, the only way to drink vodka.

[vinapu]

Wandering far off track, but, try Blue Ice potato vodka from Idaho at about $20. Better than most of the premium brands and perfect for drinking it neat, the only way to drink vodka.

Most of premium brands are just avenues  to extract more money in exchange for a nice bottle to the  stuff inside.

 

Yes , I agree , vodka should be taken neat and cold.  I keep mine in the freezer all the time.