I'll be flying with Thai Smile, Udon to BKK next week. All in inc 20kg luggage 1090baht. ($31) This is not a special, its a daily price!. About the same distance in kms as BKK to PP, but not $180 as is normal, none sales price for that. Just shows what extra $ and bollox is still added to fly between the Asean countries.

not sure what everyones talking about, $130 flights from DMK > PP????

just checked for flights over the next week and they vary from $51-70,
the whole of october is $51 apart from 4 days which are around $60,
november are all $51 apart from 5 days which are around $70,
december is all $51 apart from 4 days which are $102 over the New Year period

Obv baggage needs to be included on top i added 30kg for $20 last time so still dont know where the $130 figure is coming from, unless you picked a really random day, i saw one day this year that had a figure of $200 and it was the only flight that day (maybe a holiday) 90% of the flights were at $51

First random dates I popped in:

Works out to only around $10-20 less than the average Bangkok Airways flight, only that there's no meal and the airport is in a shittier location. I've flown AA numerous times to both Bangkok and other locations, but it's only ever worth it if you only have carry on and it's a short flight (no leg room). Only negative about Bangkok Airways is that yeah, you have to take that stupid bus and also I feel a lot of their flights are late/delayed. Still, ever since I discovered the sky train, I told myself I would never take AA again. Hotel is right by one of the stations, so 30 baht from the airport and something like 20 mins, plus a full belly.

Fourkinnel wrote:I'll be flying with Thai Smile, Udon to BKK next week. All in inc 20kg luggage 1090baht. ($31) This is not a special, its a daily price!. About the same distance in kms as BKK to PP, but not $180 as is normal, none sales price for that. Just shows what extra $ and bollox is still added to fly between the Asean countries.

Be interested to hear your feedback on how it goes service wise with Thai Smile as I have only used Air Asia in the region until now. From a safety and reliability viewpoint I wouldn't consider the other Thai cheapies. I am flying Chiang Rai return from Suvarnabunmi at the end of next month with Thai Smile for the first time as the departure and arrival times were convenient as well as the convenience of non Don Muang. Great price of around 2,500 baht given the distance involved, and to drive it would have cost me around double. The more flight options the better.

CowshedCowboyRedux wrote:I have only used Air Asia in the region until now. From a safety and reliability viewpoint I wouldn't consider the other Thai cheapies.

all LCC skimp and push back on their maintenance as much as legally possible, 1 look at their ADD log one would faint

phuketrichard wrote:yea but u added the value pack which is $20 each way. so u did get a meal and 20 kilos!!
so it comes down to $126!!!
who needs a seat selection, who needs a meal on a 1 hour flight
who need 20kilos ( well, I never do)

That's why I said it's worth IF YOU ONLY HAVE CARRY ON.

Airfleets.net lists Thai Smile Airlines have 16 Airbus A320s at an average age of 2.1 years. Looks like a new fleet.

Cambodia Angkor Air- 3-Airbus A321- 8.8 years, 2 ATR- 6.3 years

Bangkok Air. 33 aircraft, A319-9.3 years, A320-11.1 years, ATR-6.7 years.