Questions and Answers

Hi Ben, et al! Hoping I can get some thoughts here to help me make up my mind for my outbound flight to Southeast Asia I am looking to do next summer (yes, I know, insanely hot – but also, if anyone knows whether there is a significant difference between late May and late June in weather, would love to hear it!). I have narrowed down to three dates that work for me and it looks like I should be able to snag a Cathay Business Class award with AA miles for my return flight regardless of date so I am stuck on my outbound before I lock things in. I can depart from any south Florida airport on either May 24, June 21 or June 28 to Bangkok and it must be a later in the evening flight. Straight cash price actually show what I would think is a pretty good deal on Swiss MIA-ZRH then either Swiss or Thai ZRH-BKK for $2660. Award-wise, on I believe one of the dates, I could pick that same flight up using United Miles saver award (80k miles) or, I believe on all three dates, I could pick up an award taking AC MIA-YYZ, then EVA YYZ-TPE, then Thai TPE-BKK. My question is, given your experience with these airlines and the relative value of United miles vs the cash price, would you recommend saving those miles for a future redemption and pay cash for this flight (and if so, would you take Swiss all the way through, or try out Thai for the second leg), or would the 80k miles still present good value here (and if so, Swiss/Thai or EVA for the longest flight segment)? If anyone else has additional ideas, please weigh in. Thanks everyone!

Hi Ben, et al! Hoping I can get some thoughts here to help me make up my mind for my outbound flight to Southeast Asia I am looking to do next summer (yes, I know, insanely hot – but also, if anyone knows whether there is a significant difference between late May and late June in weather, would love to hear it!). I have narrowed down to three dates that work for me and it looks like I should be able to snag a Cathay Business Class award with AA miles for my return flight regardless of date so I am stuck on my outbound before I lock things in. I can depart from any south Florida airport on either May 24, June 21 or June 28 to Bangkok and it must be a later in the evening flight. Straight cash price actually show what I would think is a pretty good deal on Swiss MIA-ZRH then either Swiss or Thai ZRH-BKK for $2660. Award-wise, on I believe one of the dates, I could pick that same flight up using United Miles saver award (80k miles) or, I believe on all three dates, I could pick up an award taking AC MIA-YYZ, then EVA YYZ-TPE, then Thai TPE-BKK. My question is, given your experience with these airlines and the relative value of United miles vs the cash price, would you recommend saving those miles for a future redemption and pay cash for this flight (and if so, would you take Swiss all the way through, or try out Thai for the second leg), or would the 80k miles still present good value here (and if so, Swiss/Thai or EVA for the longest flight segment)? If anyone else has additional ideas, please weigh in. Thanks everyone!

Well $2660/80K = 3.325 cents per mile, which is a really good value, so if you can find the award space, I’d say do that. As for what the experience is like on those airlines, I can’t say personally but hopefully someone else can jump in with their opinion.

With regards to connecting in ZRH.

The problem with Thai is that you would only have a 2H30M layover, which is short in case of any delays. You would probably make the TG flight, but loose any chances of stretching you legs and getting a shower in the lounge.

And the TG flight leave so early it’s unlikely you will get any sleep having just woken up, not that the Swiss flight is that much better.

I assume MIA-YYZ is Rouge rather than mainline AC? At least they have proper seats in the front these days:
[URL]https://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Air_Canada/Air_Canada_Rouge_A319_Premium.php[/URL]
When they started up they were doing the whole Euro-J thing.
[URL]https://www.johnnyjet.com/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-flying-air-canada-rouge/[/URL]

Is the EVA Air flight the 1:45AM one? That would be a rather long wait in YYZ, even if it’s better time wise for sleep than the ZRH flight.

The problem with Bangkok in the rainy season is not the temperature, it’s just as warm or warmer toward the end of the dry season. The problem is the rain and especially the humidity. That said late June is probably better than late May as you get a lot of rain just as the rainy season starts, then it slows down a bit in June and July before picking up again in August.