Why are flights to Thailand so expensive?

jesspolo

I'm looking to book flights to Thailand in November (out on the 8th, back on 23rd) of this year. I can't find anything cheaper than £601 which is with Emirates. I have looked on Momondo, Kayak etc but it's not coming up less than that. I've noticed that I could get flights to pretty much anywhere else (including places further away than Thailand) for much cheaper. Can anyone tell me why Thailand is so expensive and can you suggest when might be the best time to book? :huh:

debs66_2

at the risk of coming across a bit flippant, perhaps an answer to your thread title coud be.... 'because it's a long way away'?

seriously, you are looking at a long haul flight, and new fuel surcharges have bumped up all flight prices, particularly long haul.

i'm not saying you won't get cheaper, and i'm sure a super surfer will be along soon with some options, but in all honesty i think £600 sounds a fair price to get you half way round the world .

Alan_Bowen

Firstly nearly all fares are a lot more than last year because of fuel surcharges, last year's £400 is this years £600 and with oil continuing to rise I expect more rises before November. Both your outbound and return dates are at the weekend which may attract supplements but you can do better than £600, Airline Network can cut that doen to £522 with Gulf Air and still beat £600 with at least a couple of other airlines but that fact is there are fewer flights available this winter and prices are likely to rise rather than fall, so book as soon as you can

Sam_Bee

Heathrow - Bangkok - Heathrow on Thai.

This time last year taxes & fuel surcharges = £71

This time last year taxes & fuel surcharges = £307.15

Repeated pretty much across the board (except Emirates, who have massively increased their fares anyway!).

Hope that helps!

jesspolo

Ah, thanks Sam Bee and Alan, that does indeed explain why last year I got flights to the Far East (which I do understand is a long way, thanks!) for much less than I can get them to Thailand this year..taxes...Joy! Oh well!

meester

jesspolo wrote: »

I'm looking to book flights to Thailand in November (out on the 8th, back on 23rd) of this year. I can't find anything cheaper than £601 which is with Emirates. I have looked on Kayak etc

Are you sure???

I just tried Kayak they offer
Oman Air £510
Aeroflot £512
Qatar £513
Gulf £516
Kuwait £516
Etihad £531
Alitalia £588
Jet £591

and of course Eva Air for £645 for the non-stop.

For £513, I'd book this:

Depart – Sat 8 Nov 2008 This flight leaves on Saturday and arrives on Sunday. Qatar Airways
Flights 76 Departs: 08:30
Gatwick (LGW) Arrives: 18:15
Doha (DOH) Coach | Fare code: VLA1MGB1 | 333 (Wide-body Jet) | 6h 45m | 3237 miles | 4 seats remain [ Stopover in Doha, Qatar (DOH) for 2h 25m ] Qatar Airways
Flights 612 Departs: 20:40
Doha (DOH) Arrives: 07:00
Bangkok (BKK) Coach | Fare code: VLA1MGB1 | 333 (Wide-body Jet) | 6h 20m | 3281 miles | 4 seats remain
Return – Sun 23 Nov 2008 This flight leaves on Sunday and arrives on Monday. Qatar Airways
Flights 611 Departs: 20:00
Bangkok (BKK) Arrives: 23:35
Doha (DOH) Coach | Fare code: VLA1MGB1 | 332 (Wide-body Jet) | 7h 35m | 3281 miles | 4 seats remain [ Stopover in Doha, Qatar (DOH) for 1h 35m ] Qatar Airways
Flights 75 Departs: 01:10
Doha (DOH) Arrives: 05:55
Gatwick (LGW)



Of course if you prefer the night flight out of LHR you can go for that
Depart – Sat 8 Nov 2008 This flight leaves on Saturday and arrives on Sunday. Qatar Airways
Flights 2 Departs: 20:30
Heathrow (LHR) Arrives: 06:10
Doha (DOH) Coach | Fare code: VLA1MGB1 | 346 (Wide-body Jet) | 6h 40m | 3253 miles | 4 seats remain [ Stopover in Doha, Qatar (DOH) for 2h 00m ] Qatar Airways
Flights 610 Departs: 08:10
Doha (DOH) Arrives: 18:30
Bangkok (BKK) Coach | Fare code: VLA1MGB1 | 332 (Wide-body Jet) | 6h 20m | 3281 miles | 4 seats remain
And they also have a morning flight out of BKK


Return – Sun 23 Nov 2008 Qatar Airways
Flights 613 Departs: 08:30
Bangkok (BKK) Arrives: 12:05
Doha (DOH) Coach | Fare code: VLA1MGB1 | 333 (Wide-body Jet) | 7h 35m | 3281 miles | 4 seats remain [ Stopover in Doha, Qatar (DOH) for 0h 40m ] Qatar Airways
Flights 1 Departs: 12:45
Doha (DOH) Arrives: 17:30
Heathrow (LHR)

Qatar Airways of course is one of the best airlines in the world, one of only six 'five-star airlines' on airlinequality.com, and you've got nice short stopovers.

I'd be booking NOW (note the '4 seats remain' prices will only go UP).

£513 is VERY cheap in the world of $140 rather than $20 oil

meester

jesspolo wrote: »

Ah, thanks Sam Bee and Alan, that does indeed explain why last year I got flights to the Far East (which I do understand is a long way, thanks!) for much less than I can get them to Thailand this year..taxes...Joy! Oh well!

not taxes, oil costs.....

The taxes are 'only' £40. The oil prices have doubled since last year.