Flight routes

[Milk78]

Having now been there and back again from the UK a few times, I have tried a few different routes/ airlines into BKK and Chiang Mai. 

I have always found SWISS and Austrian pretty decent - not direct but the transfer is easy and efficient. Recently, I have flown China Eastern which has the advantage of being much cheaper than everybody else, but the Shanghai transfer is always pretty shit. 

Just wondering what others' favourite routes and airlines are - do you always fly direct or do you take the cost saving and add a transfer on route? I am tempted by Ethiad. I have not done the UK-Thailand route but recently went to Sri Lanka with them and it was very good.

[vinapu]

2 hours ago, Milk78 said:

 

Just wondering what others' favourite routes and airlines are - do you always fly direct or do you take the cost saving and add a transfer on route?

I'm too far to fly direct but my favorite is one offering transfer within 28 hours from first take-off to final landing at cheapest price, numbers of transfers irrelevant 

[stijntje]

We have a Thai Airways direct flight from Brussels to Bangkok, but I don't like that airline.

The best, but often the most expensive solution, is Emirates. 

I like Austrian Airlines and Turkish Airlines.

Lufthansa did not so good service.

[Keithambrose]

1 hour ago, stijntje said:

We have a Thai Airways direct flight from Brussels to Bangkok, but I don't like that airline.

The best, but often the most expensive solution, is Emirates. 

I like Austrian Airlines and Turkish Airlines.

Lufthansa did not so good service.

Eva is direct from London, first class airline, but not cheap.

[floridarob]

1 hour ago, stijntje said:

We have a Thai Airways direct flight from Brussels to Bangkok, but I don't like that airline.

why?

[PeterRS]

There is no non-stop between Bangkok and the city I fly to in the UK. So I've flown Qatar biz class regularly as it gets me there with just one short stop en route. There are generally reduced QR fares on offer around October time for the first months of the following year. Not last year, though. Recently had to do the trip on Cathay Pacific with a change in HKG and then another change to BA in London. Not being able to fly the semi-circle route over China and Russia made the HKG/LHR flight almost 14 hours rather than 12. The whole trip took around 25 hours against the usual 16. One intermediate change I can handle. I'll never do two again!

I could have taken BA first to London but their planes on that route are old and very unpleasant. Cathay's new Aria Suites are so vastly superior they defy comparison.

[vinapu]

2 hours ago, floridarob said:

why?

stewards are overdressed ?

[siriusBE]

Emirates and Etihad are great, but I don't like the stop in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Same with Singapore Airlines (specially when flying with a A380😍), but at least Changi is a nice airport. But killing several hours in those airport is very cumbersome. Fortunately we have direct flights vom ZRH by Swiss and Thai. Thai is surprisingly expensive and the planes are old. Swiss is +/- ok and not that expensive. But quality went down since Swiss got acquired by Lufthansa. The latter is one of the most shitty airlines on this planet. My flights were canceled several times due to strikes or whatsoever reasons. Never ever again.

[Olddaddy]

The worst I flown is Qantas 🦘Always late, but not as bad as Cebu Pacific 

The best is Malaysian Airlines🇲🇾 from Sydney to KL then Bangkok,but nowadays I only fly business class 

I want to try SCOOT Business class on my next trip to Kuala Lumpur 

[PeterRS]

I find you virtually have to have one stop if you are to find the cheapest ticket in whichever class to Europe. I quite liked Finnair and the price is usually competitive, but only in summer does it get me to my UK  destination with one stop. I agree about Emirates. I was only ever on their once daily A380 between Bangkok and Hong Kong when the biz class fare was only fractionally more than economy on TG or CX. I must have taken that flight at least a couple of dozen times and really loved it. Once they had brought back the service after covid, the biz class price went up 50%, but there was an offer recently at the old price. Now it is mid-way between the two. Still great value if you add in the airline's excellent lounge access, amazing flat bed seats, the best IFE in the sky and ease of check-in and priority arrival. Plus the booze in the stand-up bar at the back is all premium quality.

The one problem with Emirates is biz class in their 777 fleet - 2-3-2 seating and a massive difference with the A380s. Given that Emirates Chairman has been aggressively outspoken with Boeing for the massive delays in getting the 777X into the sky, it seems Emirates now has no choice but to upgrade their old 777s. Like all airlines seem to be doing, as the 777X was viewed as the natural replacement for the A380.

5 minutes ago, Olddaddy said:

The worst I flown is Qantas 🦘Always late

That used to be the explanation for the PAL acronym - PLANE ALWAYS LATE. After PAL went through some restructuring, the PR people tried to get the public to buy into PROMPT AT LAST. It never worked!

Airline acronyms can often be quite fun. When SABENA was flying out of Belgium, its was SUCH A BLOODY EXPERIENCE, NEVER AGAIN. 

One of the best, though, was LUFTHANSA. LET US FUCK THE HOSTESSES AND NOT SAY ANYTHING!🤣

[khaolakguy]

11 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

Eva is direct from London, first class airline, but not cheap.

The quality of their wines are great, but unfortunately on my last flight first the champagne ran out, then the red wine ran out and finally the white wine ran out. Their staff seemed a  bit ragged. 

Perhaps they were drinking it!

First World problems I know.

[thaiophilus]

2 hours ago, PeterRS said:

That used to be the explanation for the PAL acronym - PLANE ALWAYS LATE. After PAL went through some restructuring, the PR people tried to get the public to buy into PROMPT AT LAST. It never worked!

Airline acronyms can often be quite fun. When SABENA was flying out of Belgium, its was SUCH A BLOODY EXPERIENCE, NEVER AGAIN. 

One of the best, though, was LUFTHANSA. LET US FUCK THE HOSTESSES AND NOT SAY ANYTHING!🤣

Queens And Nymphomaniacs Travelling As Stewards was another.

And - small Caribbean airline - LIAT: Luggage In Another Terminal.

[Keithambrose]

2 hours ago, khaolakguy said:

The quality of their wines are great, but unfortunately on my last flight first the champagne ran out, then the red wine ran out and finally the white wine ran out. Their staff seemed a  bit ragged. 

Perhaps they were drinking it!

First World problems I know.

Yes, indeed. Luckily I've not had that problem!

[Keithambrose]

21 hours ago, Milk78 said:

Having now been there and back again from the UK a few times, I have tried a few different routes/ airlines into BKK and Chiang Mai. 

I have always found SWISS and Austrian pretty decent - not direct but the transfer is easy and efficient. Recently, I have flown China Eastern which has the advantage of being much cheaper than everybody else, but the Shanghai transfer is always pretty shit. 

Just wondering what others' favourite routes and airlines are - do you always fly direct or do you take the cost saving and add a transfer on route? I am tempted by Ethiad. I have not done the UK-Thailand route but recently went to Sri Lanka with them and it was very good.

Incidentally,  there was a cheap option on Gulf Air, via Bahrain.  Don't know if its still available. 

[vinapu]

4 hours ago, Olddaddy said:

 

The best is Malaysian Airlines🇲🇾 from Sydney to KL then Bangkok,but nowadays I only fly business class 

 

no wonder you complain about off fees and  boys being too greedy

[vinapu]

3 hours ago, khaolakguy said:

The quality of their wines are great, but unfortunately on my last flight first the champagne ran out, then the red wine ran out and finally the white wine ran out. Their staff seemed a  bit ragged. 

Perhaps they were drinking it!

First World problems I know.

funny thing, when i was reading your first sentence it was what immediately come to my mind and then I saw you already commented on it , exactly word for my planned word.

I don't feel sorry even a bit for  the inconveniences of you guys spreading themselves at front of plane . We proletarians from the last row of economy  are happy with getting to our destination  fed something digestible on the way. And if we learn somebody got poisoned with pink champagne in the first class we treat it as a bonus in  entertainment.

[vinapu]

4 hours ago, PeterRS said:

 I was only ever on their once daily A380 between Bangkok and Hong Kong when the biz class fare was only fractionally more than economy ....... great value if you add in the airline's excellent lounge access, amazing flat bed seats, 

 

I wonder what is benefit of having flat bed seat  on 2hrs 50 minutes route

[PeterRS]

40 minutes ago, vinapu said:

I wonder what is benefit of having flat bed seat  on 2hrs 50 minutes route

Very little, although the return flight leaves Hong Kong just before 10:00 pm. After a full day working in Hong Kong, after dinner with a drink or two on board it was sometimes wonderfully relaxing just to put the seat back and relax for an hour or so before starting the descent. 

[gerefan]

Agree with the business review of Emirates. Incredible service and great aircraft so long as you stick with ONLY the A380. 
 

What was not mentioned is the free chauffeur service at each end of the flights. They come and get me from  home to Gatwick Airport (London)  about 60 miles. And take me back home on return. Also take you to Bangkok and back. All included in the business fare. 

[Olddaddy]

9 hours ago, vinapu said:

no wonder you complain about off fees and  boys being too greedy

True 

Business class Sydney to Bangkok $3600

Economy is $1200,just the seats are too small .....or is my 🍑too big?😯

[vinapu]

2 hours ago, Olddaddy said:

Economy is $1200,just the seats are too small .....or is my 🍑too big?😯

my guess would be that second option 

[Travellerdave]

Having made numerous one stop flights from,U.K. to Bkk I have found that it is worth paying a little extra (about £200) and choosing Emirates who have highly reliable flights with convient times and a minimum of transit time in Dubai. Also the meals and seat back entertainment are pretty good even in economy.  If that amount is an issue for you maybe you should not be travelling half way across the globe. I cannot justify the substantial premium flying business class involves even when I can afford it, to avoid about 12 hours of mild discomfort sitting in economy. 

[CallMeLee]

On 4/19/2025 at 4:06 AM, Milk78 said:

Recently, I have flown China Eastern which has the advantage of being much cheaper than everybody else, but the Shanghai transfer is always pretty shit. 

Fully agree with you on this. 

I find meal service to be odd as well. I remember them serving the dinner roll separately and way after everyone finished their meal (happened on two separate flights).

And I was surprised and so confused finding a large pouch of vegetable like the ones below with my airline meal.

[Olddaddy]

1 hour ago, Travellerdave said:

Having made numerous one stop flights from,U.K. to Bkk I have found that it is worth paying a little extra (about £200) and choosing Emirates who have highly reliable flights with convient times and a minimum of transit time in Dubai. Also the meals and seat back entertainment are pretty good even in economy.  If that amount is an issue for you maybe you should not be travelling half way across the globe. I cannot justify the substantial premium flying business class involves even when I can afford it, to avoid about 12 hours of mild discomfort sitting in economy. 

I flew economy last year ( bought two economy seats) $2300 versus the $3600 in business class 

Although I had 2 seats✈️ ,the people in front reclined their seat ,which meant ...I had to recline mine too 

I hated it ,it was uncomfortable,cramped ☹️

[PeterRS]

2 hours ago, Travellerdave said:

I cannot justify the substantial premium flying business class involves even when I can afford it, to avoid about 12 hours of mild discomfort sitting in economy. 

I fully agree with you! My only excuse is that I have been wonderfully fortunate to have had business class travel as part of my employment packages - except for one case where I was permitted first class intercontinental travel. After 40 years with all the comforts near the front (when not a few of my holiday travels were 'paid for' with free miles), it gets rather difficult to sit at the back of the plane on long trips. But I do take the cheapest economy tickets now for my trips to Taipei, Hong Kong and Tokyo.