Best route LON-BKK?

[B_itchingtotravel]

Now that BA aren’t flying BKK anyomore, what do people think the best wat to fly LON-BKK is, preferably using avios? And sensible for a solo elderly pax (i.e. no more than 1 stop, 2 hours stopover max,etc). Yes, I’m aware what Google flights gives me, (basically £3k in J, then £1600 Premium, £890 in Y) but not sure how to use Avios on Qatar/Fin etc…. or how to find their reward seats? Cheers!

[Richie]

You can redeem avios on OW partners through BA.com. My preference would be on Finnair via HEL.

[SamG]

Finnair has been very impacted on this route by the Russian airspace closure but I believe they’ve got everything retimed and connections running smoothly again so is a good option and if you pick carefully you’ll get a wide body out of London too

Cathay Pacific isn’t a bad option but their award seats are pretty rare at the moment!

Otherwise Qatar is an option but availability has been tight recently

Other options are Royal Jordanian or Malaysian Airlines (KL is a very easy airport to connect at)

I’d avoid JAL at the moment due to long flight times

But the easiest thing to do is search on ba.com on your preferred dates and see what is available. Not sure when you are travelling but early next year flights to Asia are very busy already

[BJ]

Have you checked prices on Bamboo Airways exLGW via SGN? They have now gone or going double daily I belueve so will have a lot more seats to fill. Full flat beds in J on 787-9s.

[duggie1982]

So jealous, have a barclay upgrade voucher that would be great to use to get to BKK but i am not able to use on other OW flights

[SamG]

Yes, Singapore or HK your only option and then seperate ticket onwards. Both tricky to get seats on though!

Hopefully CX resume their Singapore-Bangkok route and reopen their SIN T4 lounge as that was a great way to travel if you went that way

[Humphrey]

BJ wrote:

Have you checked prices on Bamboo Airways exLGW via SGN? They have now gone or going double daily I belueve so will have a lot more seats to fill. Full flat beds in J on 787-9s.

Bamboo are 2 x per week from LGW (Weds and Sun) rather than double daily.

[moss79]

Qatar airlines all day long 75k one way in Business

[vetjames]

Qatar

[BJ]

A few recent reports of QR downgrading reward reservations but numbers are in reality likely very small.

[SamG]

Yes I’d seen that too. Hopefully not a regular occurence

They do put anything and everything on BKK though so quite a risk of flying in an old seat. Still their great soft product though but something to be aware of !

[B_itchingtotravel]

Thanks all, I’m unsure how to look for Qatar reward space…. whenever I select the flights I want, it takes me back to the top of the page asking me to select my Outward flight (which I’ve already done!). I appear to be in a hell-spiral.

So, I have found a Swiss/Austrian flight for £2150 cash fare which I think is just easier. It’s for a pretty much peak flight at the end of January. Abandoning Avios altogether (seems to be a more and more frequent occurence!)

[MrNick]

I’ve just been on phone to BA call centre merging a RFS Club World return to Singapore. I was saying to the very helpful lady that it is a shame BA no longer fly to Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur which reduces Avios availability to SE Asia. She said an announcement is coming out early in new year of the resumption of Bangkok flights in 2023 but she didn’t know the start date yet.

[B_itchingtotravel]

WOW… I would book BKK in a second when/if they re start the route.

[Gavin454]

I flew to BKK on Cathay Pacific this week and the transfer process is very efficient despite their ongoing COVID rules and restrictions etc in HK (nothing required for transfer passengers though). From stepping off the plane in HK to arriving at the gate for my connecting flight was no more than 15 minutes. Had to scan my passport and boarding pass, and go through a security checkpoint. The Pier business lounge is huge and excellent.

[BJ]

If it’s true then it is most likely to be for the winter timetable.

[Gary]

Gavin454 wrote:

I flew to BKK on Cathay Pacific this week and the transfer process is very efficient despite their ongoing COVID rules and restrictions etc in HK (nothing required for transfer passengers though). From stepping off the plane in HK to arriving at the gate for my connecting flight was no more than 15 minutes. Had to scan my passport and boarding pass, and go through a security checkpoint. The Pier business lounge is huge and excellent.

May I ask if your ticket/s was all on one booking or separate?

[Gavin454]

Gary wrote:

Gavin454 wrote:

I flew to BKK on Cathay Pacific this week and the transfer process is very efficient despite their ongoing COVID rules and restrictions etc in HK (nothing required for transfer passengers though). From stepping off the plane in HK to arriving at the gate for my connecting flight was no more than 15 minutes. Had to scan my passport and boarding pass, and go through a security checkpoint. The Pier business lounge is huge and excellent.

May I ask if your ticket/s was all on one booking or separate?

On one ticket (was actually AMS – HKG – BKK). I had both boarding passes in hand after check-in at AMS.

[BJ]

My understanding is that one ticket and paper boarding passes are no longer necessary though?

[Harry T]

Use Avios on QR.