Some Thai schedule updates: A380 to London and new Los Angeles service

Lucky, I always enjoy reading your blog and appreciate helpful info like this. It would also be helpful for some of us more novice readers if you could include options for redeeming on Thai (or any other airline when you write about similar availability).

Any Star Alliance program should be able to redeem on TG. I use UA MP miles to book seats on TG all the time.

so what aircraft will they operate on the KIX-LAX route? thank you.

@ Lantean -- It's a 777-300ER with flat bed business class seats.

I'm thinking of heading to BKK early next year - does Thai allow for stopovers ICN or KIX?

@ Brian from DFW -- Depends on the program you're booking with. US Airways, United, Aeroplan, etc., all allow a stopover on a roundtrip award ticket.

@Ben

thank you. it's a bummer there is no first... it's a long flight. 🙁

Nice! I just booked BKk-LAX r/t for a colleague in March. Was surprised to see availability drying up so I bought some US Airways miles and redeemed them. About $1800 for a $5k ticket, not bad! Thanks for the earlier tips Lucky.

@Ben
would you rather fly F on Thai a380 (and then United Global first) or Thai BBK-ICN and then F on Asiana 777-300 (the new suite)?

i am already doing outbound on Asiana, wondering if i should return the same way or if i should try Thai a380 first instead.
thank you.

The bummer about LHR is a few hundy in APD (though routing BKK-LHR on TG and then departing from not-LHR helps with that).

Lucky, I just checked on UA site. It requires 80K for BKK-FRA via CDG on A380 FC. I thought it's only 70K to redeem one way from US to Asia or vice versa on F?

Any idea if the a380 is coming to the SYD-BKK route? I've got an F award booked for next april and would love an equipment upgrade!

@ Lantean -- If it were the Asiana new suite on the way out I'd probably do Thai on the return for the variety and superior ground experience ex-BKK.

@ eponymous_coward -- That's why you never want to originate or terminate there! Just book a connection under 24 hours to avoid it, which is what I always do.

@ RedHat -- It's 80,000 miles in first class between Asia and Europe, though 70,000 miles in first class between Asia and the US, even if you're routing via Europe.

@ Mikey -- While it has been a rumor for a while, I haven't seen A380 service to Australia confirmed yet.

@Lucky - Interesting, so that means, I can continue to JFK from FRA and save 10,000 miles based on below routing
*BKK-FRA - 80,000 miles
*BKK-FRA-EWR 70,000 miles

@ RedHat -- Yes, that's exactly right.

I was trying to do
LAX/FCO Stopover
FCO/HKG Destination
HKG/LAX
but I got an error message. Is this not a legitimate route. Should I call to make the reservation?

@ Deltanuts -- It's a fine routing, United's website just isn't very good at processing complicated routings.

I'm confused. I'm scheduled to be on TG911 next Marc, but when I called THAI to confirm my seat, they said it would be on a 747. I booked using UA miles. When I go on the THAI website and act like I'm going to buy a ticket, the 911 flight shows up as a 747. Any idea what's going on here?

Thanks a lot

@ James -- I suspect the schedule just hasn't been updated that far out yet.

Thanks Lucky! I'll be in the F cabin and really wanted to experience it on that amazing new plane.

Cheers!

Thaio have just announced they'll be cancelling plans to put the A380 on the LHR-BKK route!
I booked with UA miles in F for April/May and initially the seat plans showed up as being on the A380, but now the seat plans are all showing 747.
Who knows with Thai anyway, they keep faffing around on the LHR route all the time. No firm news though whether this is a cancellation or a postponement.

Yeah, this is the response I got from them:

"Unfortunately we have availability issue with the new Airbus 380 and the delivery will be delayed. At the moment the scheduled aircraft for flight TG911 March 2014 is Boeing 747-400. Seats can be pre booked after your ticket is issued by calling us on 0844 561 0911 with your ticket number.

Kind Regards

THAI AIRWAYS INTERNATIONAL"