Thailand Thread

[DaveTX 2]

I'm back with yet another question.

So it's rather easy to locate a round trip (or even one way) FROM the US to Thailand. I usually go to Expedia or even Travelocity.

I decided to do a little recon for the time when she would have her visa in hand and can accompany me back to the US.

On the above mentioned sites (and others alike) I am having difficulty finding a round trip ticket (for me) and a one way FROM Thailand to the states for my fiancee.

Are there other sites I should be checking here... or when the time comes, should I just pony up the dough for TWO round trip tickets so as to guarantee that we are on the same flight, seated together?

You guys are awesome BTW! Wish I would have found this site BEFORE I filed.

You probably will need to bite the bullet and call the airline you want to book on. They can do stuff like that for you that is hard to do online. Alternatively, book them separately and then just try to pick seats together on the two different reservations. I had to do that once.

[daboyz 36]

I travelled pretty much every week I lived there. I would change plans all the time. I would walk across soi 22 and this old lady always figured it out. Cost me 1000 thb which is cheap these days for a change fee.

[SqdnGuns 21]

I'm back with yet another question.

So it's rather easy to locate a round trip (or even one way) FROM the US to Thailand. I usually go to Expedia or even Travelocity.

I decided to do a little recon for the time when she would have her visa in hand and can accompany me back to the US.

On the above mentioned sites (and others alike) I am having difficulty finding a round trip ticket (for me) and a one way FROM Thailand to the states for my fiancee.

Are there other sites I should be checking here... or when the time comes, should I just pony up the dough for TWO round trip tickets so as to guarantee that we are on the same flight, seated together?

You guys are awesome BTW! Wish I would have found this site BEFORE I filed.

Try Eva Air................BKK > TPE > SFO or LAX

[daboyz 36]

Try Eva Air................BKK > TPE > SFO or LAX

BKK-ICN-LAX is also nice.

[SqdnGuns 21]

BKK-ICN-LAX is also nice.

Had a layover in Incheon once and liked the airport, much better than the dirt air strip I landed on in a C-141 in Phohang in '89!!

[daboyz 36]

Had a layover in Incheon once and liked the airport, much better than the dirt air strip I landed on in a C-141 in Phohang in '89!!

It's a nice airport. Easy for Thais. Narita is a pain in the a$$. My experience at HK (Cathay) was ok I guess. Not sure where you live, but 2 stops is awesome on Korea.

[SqdnGuns 21]

It's a nice airport. Easy for Thais. Narita is a pain in the a$$. My experience at HK (Cathay) was ok I guess. Not sure where you live, but 2 stops is awesome on Korea.

Agreed on Narita!! I live in Huntington Beach, CA so I fly from LAX. I usually fly EVA, frequent flyer so I can upgrade but on my last trip to Thailand in Oct I flew Thai Air direct..............that was great as well as the service.

[gvt 0]

I'm back with yet another question.

So it's rather easy to locate a round trip (or even one way) FROM the US to Thailand. I usually go to Expedia or even Travelocity.

I decided to do a little recon for the time when she would have her visa in hand and can accompany me back to the US.

On the above mentioned sites (and others alike) I am having difficulty finding a round trip ticket (for me) and a one way FROM Thailand to the states for my fiancee.

Are there other sites I should be checking here... or when the time comes, should I just pony up the dough for TWO round trip tickets so as to guarantee that we are on the same flight, seated together?

You guys are awesome BTW! Wish I would have found this site BEFORE I filed.

Good Thailand based online travel agency I have used for one ways out of Thailand (good customer service too):

http://www.worldexplorer.co.th/

You can search for flights, etc.

Good aggregate of air ticket search engines:

http://www.kayak.com/

Also you can book straight on most of the Airlines websites sometimes at cheaper rates and sometimes promotional rates.

I have also traveled through NRT several times with no problems so guess I have been lucky. Great also if you want to layover if you want to visit Tokyo. Your fiance would need to get a visa for Japan ahead of time though if she wanted to visit Japan . Otherwise no transit visa is required since you never leave the transit area.

Good luck!

Edited January 8, 2011 by gvt

[AaronLV 12]

Agreed on Narita!! I live in Huntington Beach, CA so I fly from LAX. I usually fly EVA, frequent flyer so I can upgrade but on my last trip to Thailand in Oct I flew Thai Air direct..............that was great as well as the service.

I normally fly Eva also, but this year the prices were more than the Thai air direct flight. Now that I have done the direct, I think I will always be paying the extra money, plus the food and service was great, compared to my last few trips on Eva.

[Kimo3 3]

After some searching, it appears it is easier to ensure the same flight and easier on the bank account to just book two round trip tickets to start with.

This route... I can have two seats side by side for a some-what comfy ride to Thailand since I'm not the size person they used to design the seating and on the return flight... I KNOW we're seated together!

[lvriesling 11]

Regarding Narita - to explain it for those who have never been, international travelers who change planes in Narita (Tokyo) get treated as if they were never screened in the first place, thus you have to stand in one of three incredibly long queues for passenger screening. On top of that, if you survive the wait and eventually make it to the screening area, you are then greeted by an official sign explaining that Narita prohibits ALL LIQUIDS, right above a trash can which is to be used for, among other things, those very expensive bottles of wine that you thought you could safely keep in your carry-on. I'm betting that Narita gate agents have, far & away, the best office parties in Japan!

[gvt 0]

After some searching, it appears it is easier to ensure the same flight and easier on the bank account to just book two round trip tickets to start with.

This route... I can have two seats side by side for a some-what comfy ride to Thailand since I'm not the size person they used to design the seating and on the return flight... I KNOW we're seated together!

Some airlines will cancel the return leg if you failed to use the first leg of a round trip. Make sure you check with the airline you are planning on flying with regarding their policy. Some airlines don't cancel but others do to discourage people from doing exactly what you are trying to do.

[gvt 0]

Regarding Narita - to explain it for those who have never been, international travelers who change planes in Narita (Tokyo) get treated as if they were never screened in the first place, thus you have to stand in one of three incredibly long queues for passenger screening. On top of that, if you survive the wait and eventually make it to the screening area, you are then greeted by an official sign explaining that Narita prohibits ALL LIQUIDS, right above a trash can which is to be used for, among other things, those very expensive bottles of wine that you thought you could safely keep in your carry-on. I'm betting that Narita gate agents have, far & away, the best office parties in Japan!

It is becoming more common place in International Airports for transit passengers to be screened again through a security checkpoint. It is the same procedure in Hong Kong where transit passengers are recreened though security. (http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/passenger/transfer-transit/all/transit_procedures.html).

I don't remember the re-screening being more than 5-10min for NRT but it may have to do with the time of day I was transiting. YMMV

[AaronLV 12]

After some searching, it appears it is easier to ensure the same flight and easier on the bank account to just book two round trip tickets to start with.

This route... I can have two seats side by side for a some-what comfy ride to Thailand since I'm not the size person they used to design the seating and on the return flight... I KNOW we're seated together!

I am surprised you are having so many problems getting tickets. I had a round trip ticket, and I booked a one-way from Thailand, called the airline and they seated us together with no problems. It was cheaper doing the 1-way for us on Eva, than buying a round trip where I would never use the return leg. If I remember correctly it was 700 for a one way in premium economy vs 1300 for a round trip.

[Dreadnought 1]

I normally fly Eva also, but this year the prices were more than the Thai air direct flight. Now that I have done the direct, I think I will always be paying the extra money, plus the food and service was great, compared to my last few trips on Eva.

Hi, I've lurking around this forum for awhile. Wife has a J-1 visa - we were married in Nov. We will be submitting our I-130, and I-485 Package at the end of this month. Exciting time ahead I am sure. As for airports / airlines - I have traveled internationally in the past. I have not been through Japan yet. However, I have done:

Taipei, Taiwan

Inchoen,, South Korea

Hong Kong, China

Taipei is a bit dated. Reminds me if LAX before the major face-lift that has been going on for seems like forever.

Inchoen is pretty nice -- has a 12 hour layover there once. Everything seems expensive - however, but then again I didn't look at the exchange rate....

Hong Kong, China -- Probably my favorite airport outside place for a layover.

I have also flown several different air carriers:

Air China -- At the time did not have in seat entertainment -- I have not flown with them since. I will pay the extra $100 or $200 for in flight entertainment on long flights. Wish some of the US carries would get a clue on this.

EVA -- I'd rate EVA equal to Cathay Pacific ... but nicer staff, and less expensive rates.

Cathay Pacific -- Good Airline, but one of the staff was snotty -- so I now Avoid Cathay.

Thai AIr - Nice and expensive -- But worth it, if you don't want to deal with layovers.