Those whose fiancee came from Thailand

[madmanmike 196]

Hi all.

We are so very close. After one hiccup at the initial interview, she is trying again tomorrow, and we hope, all will be well and we will get her Visa.

Since nothing can be scheduled, she will just go to the airport after getting the visa, and buy a ticket as best she can.

I am asking for suggestions on good/bad connecting flight layover locations.

Ideally of course, she would catch the non-stop from Bangkok to LAX, but the cost is prohibitive. About $2200, whereas a flight with one layover can be had for about $900.

So, there are layovers in Japan, Korea, Tiawan, etc. Any suggestions?

I am leaning towards KAL, with a 6 hour layover in Seoul. Plenty of time to find the connection flight, and it arrives LAX at 10:30 am, giving us lots of time for her to make her entry and then we can grab a flight to Vegas.

Oh, she is flying to LAX alone, and I am meeting her there.

She is terrified that her English will not be good enough for her in her layover city. I know hers is fine, she speaks it better than some of my friends here, heh, but we all know how intimidating this trip can look to many of our loved ones.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated, thank you.

Michael

[Jamie76 0]

If this is one of her first international flights definitely stay away from Tokyo. I don't know about other airports but I've never seen a system quite like it where you have to deplane and then go through the whole security process again before getting on your connecting flight. It's assanine. There is no way you can go with her? Of course that would be most ideal but it doesn't always work that way. I think that if her english is pretty good and has no trouble reading signs, gate numbers, she should be ok.

[madmanmike 196]

If this is one of her first international flights definitely stay away from Tokyo. I don't know about other airports but I've never seen a system quite like it where you have to deplane and then go through the whole security process again before getting on your connecting flight. It's assanine. There is no way you can go with her? Of course that would be most ideal but it doesn't always work that way. I think that if her english is pretty good and has no trouble reading signs, gate numbers, she should be ok.

Another $1500 just ain't in the cards for me to fly out and back with her, but your information on Tokyo is exactly what I am looking for. Thanks, we will try to avoid that one.

Michael

[Boiler 45,522]

Sounds like Tokoyo s the same as US International airports.

Probably where they got it from.

I would never just turn up, so easy to get a ticket on line.

[ken and mintra 0]

If this is one of her first international flights definitely stay away from Tokyo. I don't know about other airports but I've never seen a system quite like it where you have to deplane and then go through the whole security process again before getting on your connecting flight. It's assanine. There is no way you can go with her? Of course that would be most ideal but it doesn't always work that way. I think that if her english is pretty good and has no trouble reading signs, gate numbers, she should be ok.

Jaime, Taipei and Hong Kong also make you get off the plane and go through security again before getting back on the plane for the connecting flight. That was on both China Airlines and Singapore Airlines. It's really not a big deal, you just follow the crowd if you've never done it before and they have employees showing you the way. I would have her buy a ticket from a BKK travel agent. That seems to be the cheapest way. What was the hiccup at the interview? It might help others to know.

[madmanmike 196]

SI would never just turn up, so easy to get a ticket on line.

Yes, it is easy to get a ticket online.

But when money is tight, and scheduling is hazy, on-line purchase loses its luster.

E tickets are cheap, but non-refundable and schedule changes are HUGELY expensive.

Plus, just showing up gives the most short-term flexibility. When I flew back from Bangkok to LAX last March, I walked into the international terminal. Within 5 minutes I was approached by a freelance travel agent with a laptop and a cell phone. He asked me where I was going, and when. 15 minutes later I had a ticket for LAX that departed in 5 hours, confirmed, and cheaper by almost $200 than I could have gotten online. I took the first plane he had, but he had lots of other options.

I was a little leery of a guy walking up to me in an airport, and asking for 26,000Baht in return for only a piece of paper, but he had quite a few other international travellers waiting for their confirmation paper, and a few said they used these guys all the time. They are empty seat clearinghouses for the airlines, and it is a win win for all. You get a cheap seat, the airlines have fewer empty seats, and he get a nice living from last minute travelers.

So etickets are not always the best option.

Thanks for responding, guys.

Michael

[qbertz7 1]

After living in Thailand about 2 1/2 years and doing many flight between LA and BKK, certainly the cheapest flights all stop at Taipei, and although you do have to go through security again, it is quite easy. And like another poster said, they have airline people pointing you in the right direction. If completely lost she can always just show her boarding pass and they'll point her in the right direction.

As far as cost, I definitely did my research over there and as crazy as it might seem, the best prices are still to be had at Khao San Rd., no joke. I hate the area, but if you want a cheap ticket fast, you won't find a better price, trust me, I tried.

[Dan J 277]

SI would never just turn up, so easy to get a ticket on line.

Yes, it is easy to get a ticket online.

But when money is tight, and scheduling is hazy, on-line purchase loses its luster.

E tickets are cheap, but non-refundable and schedule changes are HUGELY expensive.

Plus, just showing up gives the most short-term flexibility. When I flew back from Bangkok to LAX last March, I walked into the international terminal. Within 5 minutes I was approached by a freelance travel agent with a laptop and a cell phone. He asked me where I was going, and when. 15 minutes later I had a ticket for LAX that departed in 5 hours, confirmed, and cheaper by almost $200 than I could have gotten online. I took the first plane he had, but he had lots of other options.

I was a little leery of a guy walking up to me in an airport, and asking for 26,000Baht in return for only a piece of paper, but he had quite a few other international travellers waiting for their confirmation paper, and a few said they used these guys all the time. They are empty seat clearinghouses for the airlines, and it is a win win for all. You get a cheap seat, the airlines have fewer empty seats, and he get a nice living from last minute travelers.

So etickets are not always the best option.

Thanks for responding, guys.

Michael

Etickets are not the part thats cheap, ussualy a flight will cost about $20-30 more to get a paper ticket. But instead its the fare class your ticket is assigned to. The higher the fare class, the more flexible it is, and more miles you earn, but it costs quite a bit more.

Taipei is pretty east to connect in. You arrive on the lower level, which is for arrivals. Follow the signs for a connecting flight. You go a security checkpoint where you need to show your ticket and passport. Then you go back up to the upper level where the international departures are. There are screens at the top of the stairs that show you which gate your flight will be at. There is extra security screening for flights headed to the US, But all you have to do is have your carry on scanned again and dispose of any large bottles that are with you.

[Jamie76 0]

If this is one of her first international flights definitely stay away from Tokyo. I don't know about other airports but I've never seen a system quite like it where you have to deplane and then go through the whole security process again before getting on your connecting flight. It's assanine. There is no way you can go with her? Of course that would be most ideal but it doesn't always work that way. I think that if her english is pretty good and has no trouble reading signs, gate numbers, she should be ok.

Jaime, Taipei and Hong Kong also make you get off the plane and go through security again before getting back on the plane for the connecting flight. That was on both China Airlines and Singapore Airlines. It's really not a big deal, you just follow the crowd if you've never done it before and they have employees showing you the way. I would have her buy a ticket from a BKK travel agent. That seems to be the cheapest way. What was the hiccup at the interview? It might help others to know.

How are the lines in Taipei and Hong Kong? I know when I went through Tokyo this past April the lines were horrible. The people sitting next to me on the flight from the US missed their connecting flights because of the lines.

[Dan J 277]

If this is one of her first international flights definitely stay away from Tokyo. I don't know about other airports but I've never seen a system quite like it where you have to deplane and then go through the whole security process again before getting on your connecting flight. It's assanine. There is no way you can go with her? Of course that would be most ideal but it doesn't always work that way. I think that if her english is pretty good and has no trouble reading signs, gate numbers, she should be ok.

Jaime, Taipei and Hong Kong also make you get off the plane and go through security again before getting back on the plane for the connecting flight. That was on both China Airlines and Singapore Airlines. It's really not a big deal, you just follow the crowd if you've never done it before and they have employees showing you the way. I would have her buy a ticket from a BKK travel agent. That seems to be the cheapest way. What was the hiccup at the interview? It might help others to know.

How are the lines in Taipei and Hong Kong? I know when I went through Tokyo this past April the lines were horrible. The people sitting next to me on the flight from the US missed their connecting flights because of the lines.

When i went through on EVA Air, there were pretty much no lines. On my flight back, I was the first one at the security checkpoint and was through in less than 5 minutes. There are probably times when the airport is busier but not when i went through.

[Ning 619]

Hi all.

We are so very close. After one hiccup at the initial interview, she is trying again tomorrow, and we hope, all will be well and we will get her Visa.

Since nothing can be scheduled, she will just go to the airport after getting the visa, and buy a ticket as best she can.

I am asking for suggestions on good/bad connecting flight layover locations.

Ideally of course, she would catch the non-stop from Bangkok to LAX, but the cost is prohibitive. About $2200, whereas a flight with one layover can be had for about $900.

So, there are layovers in Japan, Korea, Tiawan, etc. Any suggestions?

I am leaning towards KAL, with a 6 hour layover in Seoul. Plenty of time to find the connection flight, and it arrives LAX at 10:30 am, giving us lots of time for her to make her entry and then we can grab a flight to Vegas.

Oh, she is flying to LAX alone, and I am meeting her there.

She is terrified that her English will not be good enough for her in her layover city. I know hers is fine, she speaks it better than some of my friends here, heh, but we all know how intimidating this trip can look to many of our loved ones.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated, thank you.

Michael

She can buy ticket round trip? in BKK on China Air for about $1,100. Tickets bought from Thailand are considerably cheaper than those bought from here.I just did exactly that last month. Have done it 4 times now.There are No non stops. She will stop in Taipai or Japan. Both are fine & easy to do.

The long layovers save a few bucks but what a pain.

She will have zero problems with language. Sounds like she speaks English some anyway. But they have people speaking Thai to help her. In the layover airport they have a great system for assisiting her . She will be given a sticky paper badge to indentify her to airline personnel as well as people stationed along the way looking for lost souls. Really no need to be too worried! She probably wont really be alone because the filghts have many Thais that have been on.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

[qbertz7 1]

madmanmike,

Can't remember the name of the place I always use, I know exactly where it is and what it looks like though! I think I left the business card with my girl, I'll see if she still has it. But it is actually on Khao San Rd., and you could easily miss it cause it is part of a photo developing shop. Lot's of those places are really rude, but this guy and his girlfriend are really cool and try to help you any way they can.

I'll post again if I can get the exact name, and maybe even a phone number...

[Jamie76 0]

madmanmike,

Can't remember the name of the place I always use, I know exactly where it is and what it looks like though! I think I left the business card with my girl, I'll see if she still has it. But it is actually on Khao San Rd., and you could easily miss it cause it is part of a photo developing shop. Lot's of those places are really rude, but this guy and his girlfriend are really cool and try to help you any way they can.

I'll post again if I can get the exact name, and maybe even a phone number...

Any luck with the name?