Gte439u From Canada, joined Nov 2003, 347 posts, RR: 2 Posted (3 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 3237 times:
January 6, 2006
Bangkok – Singapore
JetStar Asia (3K) 512
1155 – 1510 (local times)
Flight time: 2:15
In an effort to escape the cold of Cleveland, Ohio, I decided to go to Southeast Asia and Australia over my winter break from graduate school.
I flew to Bangkok on Korean Air through Atlanta and Seoul, but I did not take enough photos to warrant writing a separate report. (Those are loaded to my personal homepage if you want to see them there.) I wanted to visit Bangkok again since I was unimpressed on my first visit in 2004. Happily, I enjoyed the city this time.
I wanted to try a new Asian budget carrier, so I decided to take JetStar Asia from Bangkok to Singapore for US$44 including taxes but not the Bhat 500 Airport Departure Tax. I had to go to Singapore to catch my Qantas flight to Perth (for which a report is forthcoming).
Bangkok Terminal 1 was rather empty when I arrived at 0900.
The check in desk for 3K 512 to Singapore.
It took less than one minute to check in, and I received a window seat at the exit row.
I had almost two hours before boarding, so I took a few photos.
The A320 arrived from Singapore at 1055.
Gate 12 opened at 1100.
There were no more than 50 passengers, and there was only one boarding call.
We settled in.
The legroom was great at the exit row, but insufficient at the other rows.
Hilda, the lead FA, instructed those in the exit row on how to open the door, and reminded us not to open it in flight!
We pushed back at 1130, and, Hilda gave the safety demonstration in English and Chinese. She also warned us of the severe penalties for drug traffickers in Singapore (e.g. – death), and asked us not to remove the life jackets.
It took 20 minutes to reach the runway, so I took a few photos.
Climbing out of BKK for 39,000 feet.
The very friendly and professional crew announced that meals were for sale.
I bought a chicken satay on focaccia with a small bottle of Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay. It meal cost me about US$ 7. The wine was good, and the sandwich was acceptable.
After 1:55 minutes, the Australian captain announced that we would land soon in Singapore.
Singapore is one of the world’s most important ports.
We parked at a jetway, and disembarkation was quick and easy. It took only a few minutes to clear customs.
Welcome to Singapore: the land of warnings and fines.
I was satisfied with JetStar Asia, and I would fly it again.
I will post a report from Perth to Cleveland on QF, MH, AK, KE and DL shortly.
FRAspotter From United States, joined May 2004, 1857 posts, RR: 8 Reply 6, posted (3 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 2681 times:
Cool report, my family and I might be going to BKK from FRA over spring break from school (8 April-15 April). We're looking for cheap plane tickets preferably on Thai Airways...
"I wish that my lawn were emo, that way it would cut itself..."
Where did you find the JetStarAsia fare? Did you just check the airline website, or is there a website like Orbitz/CheapTickets for intra-Asian travel?
Gte439u From Canada, joined Nov 2003, 347 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (3 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 2572 times:
Quoting 9V-SVA (Reply 3): Hmm, Jetstar Asia does not allocate seating, being a budget carrier.
JetStar Asia allocates seating at the check-in counter. You may be thinking of Air Asia.
Quoting Tifoso (Reply 7): Quoting Gte439u (Thread starter):
and reminded us not to open it in flight!
Don't think you can
That was said in jest only. However, the life jacket comment was serious.
Quoting Tifoso (Reply 7): Where did you find the JetStarAsia fare?
I checked budget fares on the respective websites of JetStar Asia, Air Asia and Tiger Airways. I also used Travelocity to check the fares on non-budget carriers.
Gte439u From Canada, joined Nov 2003, 347 posts, RR: 2 Reply 11, posted (3 years 10 months 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 2216 times:
Quoting 9V-SVA (Reply 10): Apologies for the oversight, I must have been thinking of Tiger Airways instead..
No worries.
It is good to keep in mind JetStar's assigned seating since it makes the boarding process much more relaxed compared to Southwest's or Air Asia's "last plane out of Saigon" feeling.
Lufthansa747 From Finland, joined May 1999, 2960 posts, RR: 47 Reply 12, posted (3 years 10 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 2206 times:
Quoting Gte439u (Reply 8): I checked budget fares on the respective websites of JetStar Asia, Air Asia and Tiger Airways. I also used Travelocity to check the fares on non-budget carriers.
Travelocity is of no use ex-BKK/SIN/HKG etc. Most fares are local nett fares or consolidator fares - these are usually only quoted by travel agents, zuji.com, airfares.com.sg etc.
Travelocity quotes me full fares for AY business BKK-SIN-BKK (about 25000 THB) whereas the ticket costs 7700 at a BKK travel agent.
Gte439u From Canada, joined Nov 2003, 347 posts, RR: 2 Reply 13, posted (3 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 2159 times:
Quoting Lufthansa747 (Reply 12): Travelocity quotes me full fares for AY business BKK-SIN-BKK (about 25000 THB) whereas the ticket costs 7700 at a BKK travel agent.
Good point. I did not look at Turkish or Finnair's websites since I did not like their departure times. Moreover, I wanted to fly JetStar Asia since I had already flown SQ and TG on previous trips.
Lufthansa747 From Finland, joined May 1999, 2960 posts, RR: 47 Reply 14, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 1974 times:
Quoting Gte439u (Reply 13): Good point. I did not look at Turkish or Finnair's websites since I did not like their departure times.
Yeah, I was just pointing out what in my opinion always happens when you check the "usual" websites. (since somebody asked where to check fares)
Even the airline websites often quote wrong stuff ex-BKK - Finnair and Cathay at least. AY return to SIN in J is sold at THB 7000 (+ whatever commission they charge - usually around 500) at travel agents agents (I-class), AFAIK AY quotes D-class at about 3000 more, and international sites mostly the full J fare. Cathay discount fares also never appear on the CX Thailand website.
Lufthansa747
P.S. Forgot to mention it was a nice report and pics.
Gte439u From Canada, joined Nov 2003, 347 posts, RR: 2 Reply 15, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 1920 times:
Quoting Lufthansa747 (Reply 14): Even the airline websites often quote wrong stuff ex-BKK - Finnair and Cathay at least. AY return to SIN in J is sold at THB 7000 (+ whatever commission they charge - usually around 500) at travel agents agents (I-class), AFAIK AY quotes D-class at about 3000 more, and international sites mostly the full J fare. Cathay discount fares also never appear on the CX Thailand website.
That is really interesting. I found the fares on the full-services carriers' websites to be at least US$200 in Y, and that seemed excessive. Next time that I do this, I'll contract a travel agent in BKK to get a better fare.
COSAMICLE From United States, joined Nov 2005, 19 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 1817 times:
AWESOME TRIP REPORT!!! It's like I was there. Now I don't have to fly JetStarAsia to get the full experience. Can't wait to see your forthcoming Qantas report!
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