Kingfisher, Emirates, or Thai Air?

[jojo90]

Hi,

 

So I've left flight booking reasonably late however it seems to be working in my favour! I guess the economic downturn means less bums on seats.

 

Anyhow.

 

I've flown with emirates and Kingfisher before. Both are great airlines and my preference is towards Emirates simply because I recall in flight entertainment to be better, having a row to myself on the Dubai <> BKK routes, and that Dubai airport is a Palace compared to Mumbai (Kingfisher).

 

Kingfisher is £453 return with a 16h flight time.

Emirates is £478 return with a 16 h flight time.

 

But then there is Thai Airways. I've done a leg from BKK to Phuket before and the plane was OKish:

 

Thai Airways is £611 return with 11:45 avg flight time. The timings of the flights are also a little more convenient that Kingfisher/Emirates.

 

Has anyone travelled on Thai Airways before, or preferentially all three? What would be your choice given £158-£133 price difference Vs 10h extra flight time? Not a lot, but every little does count!

 

At the moment I'm edging towards the Thai Airways flight for the reduced duration, better times (I might actually get some sleep!), and 10h is about a day of mongering in Pattaya so it would be nice to have that extra time! I just don't know if the seats are cramped and if the inflight entertainment is OK? (although admittedly I'll have my iPhone, iPad, laptop (9h battery life), and noise cancelling headphones with me for music, movies, and games)

Edited September 22, 2010 by jojo90

[glasschin]

thai airways have good legroom but the evening flights have no seat back entertainment...the big sceen is un-watchable.

great customer service though.

[ringadingding]

Definitely Emirates. Fantastic service, better food and good entertainment. Thai would be 2nd choice.

[patty55]

Thai airwaqys is a pretty spectacular airline...those stewardesses get me warmed up for my trip to Pattaya, its a direct air service, and well worth the money, as it gets you straight there, no worry of having to change planes.

[eanto]

I've flown with Thai Airways twice and I agree that their customer service is very good. The aging 747s and lack of in-flight entertainment is a bummer, but I do prefer direct flights.

 

The price seems a bit expensive and I got my best prices about 6-8 weeks prior to travelling. Going with EVA for Xmas/NY for £541.

[greatness]

Hi,

 

So I've left flight booking reasonably late however it seems to be working in my favour! I guess the economic downturn means less bums on seats.

 

Anyhow.

 

I've flown with emirates and Kingfisher before. Both are great airlines and my preference is towards Emirates simply because I recall in flight entertainment to be better, having a row to myself on the Dubai <> BKK routes, and that Dubai airport is a palace compared to Mumbai (Kingfisher).

 

Kingfisher is £453 return with a 16h flight time.

Emirates is £478 return with a 16 h flight time.

 

But then there is Thai Airways. I've done a leg from BKK to Phuket before and the plane was OKish:

 

Thai Airways is £611 return with 11:45 avg flight time. The timings of the flights are also a little more convenient that Kingfisher/Emirates.

 

Has anyone travelled on Thai Airways before, or preferentially all three? What would be your choice given £158-£133 price difference Vs 10h extra flight time? Not a lot, but every little does count!

 

At the moment I'm edging towards the Thai Airways flight for the reduced duration, better times (I might actually get some sleep!), and 10h is about a day of mongering in Pattaya so it would be nice to have that extra time!

 

Jojo,

 

I recently flew Emirates from Kuwait to Dubai and then Dubai to Bangkok. I myself felt cramped flying economy. My flight back to Dubai was with Thai Air, and let me tell you, I LOVED IT. I should mention that this time around I flew Business, but the flight attendants were so nice and beautiful, and just always smiling. Did I mention they were beautiful Thai women? They were. Also the flight entertainment was pretty much the same as Emirates, big screen, and a huge library of videos to chose from. I'd recommend you find out what plane you're flying on and then head over to seatguru.com and look for seat details. You might as well be as comfortable as you can be on a 16 hour flight. Good luck.

Edited September 22, 2010 by greatness

[SRA]

I've flown Thai 3 times and never had any problems. Plus there's always at least 1 hostess that looks like she'd fit right into a gogo bar...

 

My next trip is on Emirates, interested to see how it goes.

[lbfmlover]

Hi,

 

So I've left flight booking reasonably late however it seems to be working in my favour! I guess the economic downturn means less bums on seats.

 

Anyhow.

 

I've flown with emirates and Kingfisher before. Both are great airlines and my preference is towards Emirates simply because I recall in flight entertainment to be better, having a row to myself on the Dubai <> BKK routes, and that Dubai airport is a palace compared to Mumbai (Kingfisher).

 

Kingfisher is £453 return with a 16h flight time.

Emirates is £478 return with a 16 h flight time.

 

But then there is Thai Airways. I've done a leg from BKK to Phuket before and the plane was OKish:

 

Thai Airways is £611 return with 11:45 avg flight time. The timings of the flights are also a little more convenient that Kingfisher/Emirates.

 

Has anyone travelled on Thai Airways before, or preferentially all three? What would be your choice given £158-£133 price difference Vs 10h extra flight time? Not a lot, but every little does count!

 

At the moment I'm edging towards the Thai Airways flight for the reduced duration, better times (I might actually get some sleep!), and 10h is about a day of mongering in Pattaya so it would be nice to have that extra time! I just don't know if the seats are cramped and if the inflight entertainment is OK? (although admittedly I'll have my iPhone, iPad, laptop (9h battery life), and noise cancelling headphones with me for music, movies, and games)

 

When are you flying? seems pretty cheap to me. I am flying out the 3rd of december back on 4th january. I booked with Eva direct heathrow-bangkok £640 through dial a flight. Good airline, nice asian hostess and good inflight entertainment. Personally i think they are better than thai airways. Have you check the prices with them? just a thought...

[Derbytony]

I've flown with Thai Air last year. I thought they were very good, but I flew out on an aging 747. I flew back to LHR on a A340 - they even put me in business class for no extra charge.

 

My preference, having said all that, is EVA Air. On my trip last March they used a new 777. Very nice. I've booked EVA again for my flight on 8th Oct (£494).

 

I always prefer to go direct after trying Jet Airways (via Mumbai). Jet Airways were excellent, but it's just hassle having to stop and change aircraft.

 

 

Cheers

 

Tony

[themosch]

That's the question which shall always be asked by yourself: what do you prefer:

- the cheapest rate?

- the best flighthours/connection/waiting time at transfer?

I always optain for a comfortable flight in means of not stopovers if possible, and no crazy flighthours. So personally i would pay a little more to have reasonable flighthours and no waisted times in shitty airports during stopover between flights home-BKK.

But to say it in a BG-sentence: up to you !

[Bam_Bam]

Only fly Bkk to Brisbane in Oz and back and always fly Thai, in the 9hr flight bracket and that is bad enough, no complaints from me about them.

 

Have flown Eva as some are suggesting from Australia to Taiwan and they were great as well.

 

As someone else said, it's up to you whether you want to sit around in airports getting bored off your skull or just pay a little more and get on at your end and get off at the other end.

 

Personally, killing time in far flung airports is for tight arsed cheap skates. Sorry all of you cheap charlies.

 

Bam Bam

[FIGO_0710]

Dont know how you guys do long haul without a break..i like to get off a dubai stretch my legs, have a proper chilled pint(£8 haha)and a smoke,cheeseburger and a decent tom tit in a proper bog...jump back on nice clean plane ,pop a sleep tab and wake refreshed bkk to hit the ground with a hard on....Emirates for me everytime

[mainefreedom]

I usually try to travel on whichever airline program (i.e. Star Alliance, One World, etc.) I'm trying to get preferred status on. Thai is part of Star Alliance but I don't think Kingfisher or Emirates belong to any program. The Emirates website says you can earn miles in their program when you fly on Kingfisher. You would earn about 12K frequent flyer miles. Just something to consider in addition to the price/comfort factor.

[andycat]

Flew with thai air in july and they were great loads of leg room and a good service, was hopen to book with them for jan

but a bit to expensive so booked with eva got the flight for £640.

[moon71]

My first trip was LHR-BKK with a stop with Qatar airways.

 

Never again, i've had 4 trips with thai airways and with the price difference your qouting, i'd take it as it's a no brainer.

 

My tip, get some sleeping pills, and pop them when the first meal is served, as this will hopefully wipe out 7hours of the journey.

[DAVE6]

I have flown from London direct with Thi and Eve. Thi have better food eve better entertainment. I am flying out on the 1st November with thi. Starting to get a bit excited now.

[Kandinski]

My preferance is direct flight, hate the stop overs, and Thai schedule exatly fit m needs. Fly Thai frequently, latest earlier this month and never had any complaints. I try to avoid the old 747 and, if possible, pick depatures with newer equipment and the nice in-seat entertainment.....and the cabin attendant is soooo cute on Thai

Edited September 22, 2010 by Kandinski

[saxondale]

I've flown with Thai Air last year. I thought they were very good, but I flew out on an aging 747. I flew back to LHR on a A340 - they even put me in business class for no extra charge.

 

My preference, having said all that, is EVA Air. On my trip last March they used a new 777. Very nice. I've booked EVA again for my flight on 8th Oct (£494).

 

I always prefer to go direct after trying Jet Airways (via Mumbai). Jet Airways were excellent, but it's just hassle having to stop and change aircraft.

 

 

Cheers

 

Tony

 

I've noticed a lot of sub-500 pounds EVA air flights from Heathrow, I'd definitely take a direct flight over others.

[Grass-hopha]

being an airline staff myself i only have to 10% of the ticket fee ( thats why i fly to BKK all the time hehe ), at the same time we got something called ZED fares for other affiliated flights, where i only have to pay 25%, so i have traveled on almost all the major airlines travelling to Thailand

 

of them my top choice goes to Emirates coz the foods great and nothing even comes close to onbrd entertainment !

 

thai airways is great but a bit over prices for the same services....havent flown on king fisher yet but hmm think i'll give it a shot this time around.

 

BTW even Qatar airways is a great airline to travel on ...

 

this reminds me ...dont fuckin travel on budget airlines !!..once i went to Goa on Leo airways fuckin hell ...all did on my entire flight time was count the bed bugs roaming around on the seat infront of me ..SHIT at its best !!

[MunterHunter]

I have only flown emirates so cant comment really.

 

My flight just there was only £540 but had 8 hour stopovers each way in Dubai.

 

I cant face that again.

 

Im looking at March next year if all goes well in my job. Emirates want £750 so im gonna shop around this time i think.

 

Emirates are class. The ICE system kills so much time for me. I cant sleep on planes as for one i cant get comfy being a tall fucker.

[Knight101]

Dont know how you guys do long haul without a break..i like to get off a dubai stretch my legs, have a proper chilled pint(£8 haha)and a smoke,cheeseburger and a decent tom tit in a proper bog...jump back on nice clean plane ,pop a sleep tab and wake refreshed bkk to hit the ground with a hard on....Emirates for me everytime

Agree with that. It makes more sense to break long flights. It is healthy too. Risk of trombosis diminishes by half !

[holsteinpill]

Emirates all day long. Flew with Thai Airways once and that was one too many times. IMO I prefer a quick transfer in Dubai, stretch your legs a bit and maybe have a beer in one of the pubs (Although it is quite expensive)

 

Thai Airways, Usually packed flights, no entertainment plus the seats aren't that comfortable either.

 

Have never flown with Kingfisher but have been told that they are cheap but not very cheerful

[MunterHunter]

Emirates all day long. Flew with Thai Airways once and that was one too many times. IMO I prefer a quick transfer in Dubai, stretch your legs a bit and maybe have a beer in one of the pubs (Although it is quite expensive)

 

Thai Airways, Usually packed flights, no entertainment plus the seats aren't that comfortable either.

 

Have never flown with Kingfisher but have been told that they are cheap but not very cheerful

 

I cant never see any quick transfers on the emirates website mate.

 

Do you need to call them and ask?

 

Dont wanna do 8 hours again.

[holsteinpill]

I fly from B'ham and it is always a 2 hour transfer,, I suppose it all depends on where you fly from

[panasar]

Kingfisher or Emirates.

 

Emirates everytime, even if a bit dearer. I have recently converted to EVA, much shorter jflying time, not the hassle of getting on and off.

 

But in truth I would fly any airline, if that was the only way I could get back to Thailand.