Best way to book international flights?

eDicky

textbook said:

But I didn't book seats on klm I was so angry you have to pay.   £900 already.  Do I have to pay for them? 

Unless you don't mind standing all the way..!

I don't know about KLM these days, but with some airlines long haul, although seat selection initially had a price, in a final period or during check-in you can choose any standard seat(s) gratis.

textbook

eDicky said:

textbook said:

But I didn't book seats on klm I was so angry you have to pay.   £900 already.  Do I have to pay for them? 

Unless you don't mind standing all the way..!

I don't know about KLM these days, but with some airlines long haul, although seat selection initially had a price, in a final period or during check-in you can choose any standard seat(s) gratis.

So, you think just leave it and wait for checking.  Even if I have to pay surely it won't be more than what it is online 

badger09

textbook said:

eDicky said:

textbook said:

But I didn't book seats on klm I was so angry you have to pay.   £900 already.  Do I have to pay for them? 

Unless you don't mind standing all the way..!

I don't know about KLM these days, but with some airlines long haul, although seat selection initially had a price, in a final period or during check-in you can choose any standard seat(s) gratis.

So, you think just leave it and wait for checking.  Even if I have to pay surely it won't be more than what it is online 

KLM lets you select your standard seat at check in with no charge. 

If you want a specific seat with extra leg room, or to sit near the front, you can pay to reserve your seat in advance. 

Doshwaster

On-the-coast said:

IMO 5hrs is the bare minimum time you need to get to and from airplane to central Bangkok and that assumes airport queues are working well.  

I allow an extra 2 hours for hold ups so 8hrs would give you a safe 1 hour of sight seeing.  

Not worth it I think.  12hrs is worth it (5hrs sight seeing) as long as you can safely store luggage. 

8 hours would be enough time to get the train into town, a bite to eat and then go back to the airport but, if possible, I would stop for the night. Bangkok is one of the best cities in the world for a night out.

jimi_man

textbook said:

eDicky said:

textbook said:

But I didn't book seats on klm I was so angry you have to pay.   £900 already.  Do I have to pay for them? 

Unless you don't mind standing all the way..!

I don't know about KLM these days, but with some airlines long haul, although seat selection initially had a price, in a final period or during check-in you can choose any standard seat(s) gratis.

So, you think just leave it and wait for checking.  Even if I have to pay surely it won't be more than what it is online 

You only have to pay if you want to reserve specific seats now. As has been said, once checkin opens then you can generally select seats for free though some exit rows are often still subject to a fee. Most European long haul airlines are the same. 

I second the comment about BKK - one of the best night life scenes around so do a night if you can. Generally under 24 hours is a transit and thus free, over 24 hours is usually considered a stopover for which there is a charge. 

textbook

Doshwaster said:

On-the-coast said:

IMO 5hrs is the bare minimum time you need to get to and from airplane to central Bangkok and that assumes airport queues are working well.  

I allow an extra 2 hours for hold ups so 8hrs would give you a safe 1 hour of sight seeing.  

Not worth it I think.  12hrs is worth it (5hrs sight seeing) as long as you can safely store luggage. 

8 hours would be enough time to get the train into town, a bite to eat and then go back to the airport but, if possible, I would stop for the night. Bangkok is one of the best cities in the world for a night out.

In future I want to stopover in Bsngkok on the way to Tokyo.  What's the cheapest way to do it?

SSM2025

If you have the time/funds, I would recommend a stay over of 2-3 nights in Bangkok.  It will give you time to do what you want to do (it is an interesting city) before leaving for Tokyo. 

Pickpockets are out in force in Bangkok, so be careful.  I would avoid the trendy tourist areas as some as some are extremely expensive (think legalised robbery). 

I'd recommend you eat at street vendors, and go off the beaten path to explore.  

Enjoy x

textbook

SSM2025 said:

If you have the time/funds, I would recommend a stay over of 2-3 nights in Bangkok.  It will give you time to do what you want to do (it is an interesting city) before leaving for Tokyo. 

Pickpockets are out in force in Bangkok, so be careful.  I would avoid the trendy tourist areas as some as some are extremely expensive (think legalised robbery). 

I'd recommend you eat at street vendors, and go off the beaten path to explore.  

Enjoy x

Sure.   Is the best way to book this to do a multistopover booking on Thai airways?   I think it was £1200 which is why I was put off.   But I'm paying just over £900 for KLM to get to Tokyo

Doshwaster

SSM2025 said:

If you have the time/funds, I would recommend a stay over of 2-3 nights in Bangkok.  It will give you time to do what you want to do (it is an interesting city) before leaving for Tokyo. 

Pickpockets are out in force in Bangkok, so be careful.  I would avoid the trendy tourist areas as some as some are extremely expensive (think legalised robbery). 

I'd recommend you eat at street vendors, and go off the beaten path to explore.  

Enjoy x

While, of course, you need to be careful I don't find Bangkok any more risky than other major cities. I certainly feel safer walking back to a hotel in the small hours there than I would in London or New York.

The glory of Bangkok is that it can be a cheap or expensive as you want it to be from the back street food carts to some of the best hotels, bars and restaurants in the world. There are parts of Sukhumvit which have become the playground for the global wealthy but there are still a lot which can be done without spending much.