Saturday, February 20, 2010

Cheap Bangkok Flights ?


On Cheap Bangkok flights I always have a problem sleeping in the cramped positions so I was surprised when I actually slept a lot of the flight to Bangkok do to the new chairs on the updated China air 747 from LAX to BKK, the seats slide forward giving the felling if not the actual increase in the angle of the recline and it really felt much better.

The other thing that you will notice on this again the cheapest flight to Bangkok that I could find at the last minute deal on, the Boeing airplane was also equipped with a great entertainment system that had a large selection probably at least 10 movies and then lots of TV shows as well as a very cool interactive map that you could manipulate and you could even send text messages via SMS if you had a credit card or debit card with you Very cool a big cheap Charlies Thumbs up for that!

The only thing that I would improve would be the food it was good but I was hungry soon after, to be fair they did have sandwiches and fresh fruit available but on long flights I like to get myself into a food comma which is usually when I will get a short cat nap in.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Best Deal Asia Flights China Air?


Best Deal Asia Flights China Air?

I use to take China Air for many trips over to Asia especially Bangkok as Eva and China Air almost always had the best deals Asia cheap flights, however for the past few years I have been getting good rates on Star Alliance Partners either with Asiana which if you are going to Bangkok, routes through Pudong Airport in Inchon or United going through Saigon Vietnam.
At the last minute I had to make a change to my flight reservation and when I called United to get my cheap flight changed on one way they wanted almost $100 more for the change than I paid for the round trip! So I hopped online to see what was available. The best deal that I could find to get to Bangkok at the last minute and China Air was the only game in town, everything else was a couple hundred dollars more on a one way ticket.

I remember that the thing that I really hated about the China Air flight schedule was that there was a 6 hour layover at Chaing Kai Sheck Airport in Taipei, which is besides LAX the worst airport in the world, there was no internet and the food and drink was horrible and to add insult to injury they were charging 5 star prices. I use to bring a pool mattress and a alarm clock and sleep on the terminal floor it was that bad. Well they have made some improvements to the airport but thankfully the layover was only 2 hours which after a bathroom break and stretching your legs was a easy one to do.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Air Asia No Admin Fees Really?



Come On Air Asia Who are you kidding with this No Admin fee and then you are charging a convenience fee to use a credit card to book a flight on AirAsia, do you really think that the traveling public is that stupid that we would accept this as anything but a Convenience to your stock holders? Tell me how I can book a flight without a credit card, because if I call your flight reservations center to book a flight I get charged more for the Convenience of talking to a air ticket specialist and I still have to use a credit card! The only way you can book a flight otherwise is to go to a Air Asia ticket office and I am trying to remember if you have one in Los Angeles or Aspen or Chicago?

Is it a Convenience to the flying public or a Convenience to you that if your security for credit cards is faulty and you get decertified to accept them, is that a inconvenience to us or to Air Asia? Gee I guess that if you use a direct debit that is a good way to go then the cost is bore by the customer that is convenient that I get charged more than if I paid the Convenience fee, Very convenient and you make more money because you get part of that money back right Convenient!

I guess you could show a effective business model that does not have you using credit cards, maybe send out couriers to collect cash or maybe we could mail cash to you, or hey, we can hire somebody to bring a payment to you, or hey everyone can make a savings account with you and keep cash in it just in case they want the Convenience of booking a flight with you! Really for 50 baht didn't make more sense to just include it in the Airfare and not say anything at all?

Convenience Fee
With effect from 2 November 2009, a Convenience Fee is now applicable for all online payments made via credit, debit or charge cards. Please see below for more details on the fee.


What is Convenience Fee?
A convenience fee is charged when payment is made through credit, debit or charge cards. The fee is charged per guest for each way and only applies to the initial booking. Any changes or addition to existing booking is excluded from the Convenience Fee.


Why is the fee introduced?
To ensure that our guests are provided a comfortable and safe booking environment AirAsia has invested substantially to expand, implement and maintain our online payment systems and especially, to upgrade, enhance and improve the security features for online credit, debit and charge cards payments. The Convenience Fee is to subsidize the costs of the payment systems.


Are there other payment options which do not attract a Convenience Fee?
Yes, the Convenience Fee does not apply to direct debit payments.