It's not just in Thailand, it's everywhere...
World tourism: Caribbean headed for crisis?
excerpt:
"Causing particular alarm is the decision by US-based American Airlines to dramatically curtail the number of flights to the region. Some have already been cancelled, and more suspensions will take effect in September. Delta and US Airways have also cut back on the frequency of flights. Continental and United Airlines say that cuts are imminent, and there is fear that European airlines may soon follow suit."
http://www.viewswire.com/index.asp?layout=...462502&rf=0
LaoPo
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Major Airlines To Cut Long-haul Flights To Thailand
Started by george, 2008-06-30 21:43
#26
Rare Species Member Eating Tough Leaves Posted 2008-06-30 23:27:44 #27
Senior Member Posted 2008-06-30 23:42:55
Maybe the Thai government gets a bit friendlier to their tourists and investors. For the drop in tourist in Phuket, it is a typical case of som nam naa. Ripping off tourists with absurd prices and selling the place as pristine is damaging to the country.
#28
Posted 2008-06-30 23:44:46
CI hasn't dropped any flights as of yet,
China Air, being hubbed in Taipei this is still a prime market for them, 
#29
Senior Member Posted 2008-07-01 00:01:17
...Thai Airways International are cutting long-haul flights into Thailand next year... 
#30
Advanced Member Posted 2008-07-01 00:04:19
Maybe the Thai government gets a bit friendlier to their tourists and investors. For the drop in tourist in Phuket, it is a typical case of som nam naa. Ripping off tourists with absurd prices and selling the place as pristine is damaging to the country. A shame but true. Every year the ripoffs and scams get more in number in Phuket and the prices just keep going up for no reason at most places. Without thai ladies I don't know where the place would be. The only problem is I don't see anything changing because of a small drop in numbers. May just mean the folks that do go get hit even harder. Let's hope not. #31
Senior Member Posted 2008-07-01 00:08:19
Pinched between rising household expenses and increasing costs of an asian holiday, some will postpone or cancel. Simple. ~WISteve New word I saw last week - 'staycation' #32
Newbie Posted 2008-07-01 00:16:18
Anyone getting tickets for the same price they have in recent years is very lucky.
I just checked today's flight invoices in the office and we are now paying £340 on the taxes and fuel surcharge on a Thai Airways return flight from LHR to Bangkok and add-ons to/fro Chiang Mai. This element of a ticket was about £150 14 months ago so it's more than doubled - some of this was the extra charges at Heathrow but most of it is fuel. Certainly when it went up something like £100 very recently (to this new total of £340), it was all fuel. So for a family, if you combine this extra money with already paying higher prices for your tickets for travelling in peak times, it can start becoming very expensive. We were lucky that Thai Airways didn't just apply the recent increase from a particular date (as they have before) but gave a leeway for anything in the system already. Our customers who'd booked in advance with a deposit to us wouldn't have suffered in either case as we'd have absorbed the extra (which would have been painful for us after absorbing the impacts of the fuel increases on the ground in Thailand) but of course we charged any new customers more. Thai Airways gave us minimal notice so quite a few families ended up having to pay £500 more for their holiday or not go. If you're travelling out of peak times, then there is always the odd special fare which will cancel out most of of the increase in fuel surchages. It will typically have restrictions on it (e.g. book and pay for it quickly to help the airline's cashflow, restrictions on changes etc). Also, Middle Eastern airlines can clearly weather the storm a bit better and keep their prices low. There are also some consolidators who operate on really high volume so can manage with razor thing margins. But on the whole, no doubt airline tickets are more expensive than they were. #33
Senior Member Posted 2008-07-01 00:18:35
You gals & boyz don't seem to know Thailand.
 Thai-style 'adaptation' to the new situation will of course mean that prices and rip-offs will increase to compensate for the loss of income.  
Edited by pepi2005, 2008-07-01 00:20:43. #34
Advanced Member Posted 2008-07-01 00:19:12
There has been and continues to be the realization that the major tourist locales in Thailand are pretty much "has-been" locations. Few if any retain the original charm that made them popular. The TAT will go on about airlines, exchange rates, and political tension etc, but the fact is that the fun factor and value is largely gone. The world has moved on (except for the Russians/East Europeans who are just "discovering" LOS). Frankly, an American can have more fun, for the same cost in Hawaii (including female companionship) when you add it all up. And with a whole lot less travel time, hassle, scams, and filth.
#35
Senior Member Posted 2008-07-01 00:29:02
I find this rather odd as Gulf Air tells me there are no seats available in July, High Season is the reason they give................ I think TAT is telling porky pies............  Many carriers are cutting down on the number of flights to accommodate lower demand. Air Canada has. Many employees have been laid off. I am sure others will. I hear some carriers are on the brink of bankrupcies. Seeing how the price of food (and other commodities) is going, pork pies will not be affordable for many!  Heck! Judging how things are going, you might have to bag a sandwich (or pie) for your next flight home! In theory of course fewer flights therefore bigger passenger payloads should lead to LOWER prices - will it heck the airlines will grab as much as they can for this by continuing to charge more as the seats sell out. I can only hope that the spare slots will be opened up to the low cost carriers who will fill planes, give you the choice about what you want to eat and drink and should be able to market at affordable prices and put the major rip off airlines where they belong - in bankruptcy. I totally agree with cutting the number of flights to everywhere since planes fly half empty or less sometimes to accommodate business schedules - we can all be more flexible about when we fly and help not only to make the independent airlines more successful but also to reduce the impact on the environment. This should be something good - I suspect that as usual that travellers will simply be made to pay more on the basis of supply and demand - what an immoral world this is! Edited by gbswales, 2008-07-01 00:30:05. #36
Senior Member Posted 2008-07-01 00:30:27
You gals & boyz don't seem to know Thailand. Thai-style 'adaptation' to the new situation will of course mean that prices and rip-offs will increase to compensate for the loss of income. LOL, I have to totally agree with you there. Maybe they don't need more flights next year because all of the people they flew to Thailand this year are still here on overstay and wont go back. I'm soooo going to get into trouble for that 
#37
Senior Member Posted 2008-07-01 00:52:40
I agree with Naklang:
In Europe (UE), tourism for family in Thailand begins to be a "has been" destination. Many more attractive and cheaper places, manytimes nearer, are becoming "en vogue"... Maybe Thailand AND airways companies have to worry about this... Note, just to be clear: I'm settled in LOS, and nothing seems "has been" to me here
#38
Senior Member Posted 2008-07-01 00:59:46
Prime destination, doubt it will be as dire as the article makes out. Quote for Oct from Manchester £453.00 Go on to booking and you will see TAX is £189.60 Total is £642.60 More realistic But not bad considering the economic climate and Silly OIL Prices #39
Senior Member Posted 2008-07-01 01:16:41
Prime destination, doubt it will be as dire as the article makes out. Quote for Oct from Manchester £453.00 Go on to booking and you will see TAX is £189.60 Total is £642.60 More realistic But not bad considering the economic climate and Silly OIL Prices I got a flight on Royal Jordanian last November for £380 including tax! God knows how they managed that! Apparently they're still doing similar deals #40
Senior Member Posted 2008-07-01 01:18:45
You gals & boyz don't seem to know Thailand. Thai-style 'adaptation' to the new situation will of course mean that prices and rip-offs will increase to compensate for the loss of income. LOL, I have to totally agree with you there. Maybe they don't need more flights next year because all of the people they flew to Thailand this year are still here on overstay and wont go back. I'm soooo going to get into trouble for that I remember a time when prices went UP during low season in the bars! #41
Senior Member Posted 2008-07-01 01:31:52
I remember a time when prices went UP during low season in the bars! Typical logic around here. (Please no Thai Elite flames, I only used it as a prime example of attracting more by making it more expensive.) In a lot of countries if something costs more its because its either better made or lasts longer. In Thailand if something is more expensive it's the same old thing at an inflated price because they didn't sell enough the first time around. #42
Senior Member Posted 2008-07-01 01:38:17
Prime destination, doubt it will be as dire as the article makes out. Quote for Oct from Manchester £453.00 Go on to booking and you will see TAX is £189.60 Total is £642.60 More realistic But not bad considering the economic climate and Silly OIL Prices I got a flight on Royal Jordanian last November for £380 including tax! God knows how they managed that! Apparently they're still doing similar deals #43
Platinum Member Posted 2008-07-01 01:44:14
I found very... opportune... that TAT discontinued... its website with statistics of arrivals (with 2 months lag only, per country, and type of borders, airport, land etc.), based on Immigration datas.
Everything was in nice Excel files, per month. It was great to follow precisely the flows of tourists. But they stopped in february 2008 (with december 2007 figures)... And then the website... just gone. The link was : http://www2.tat.or.t...oad.php?Rpt=nmt Even though it's still possible to manipulate hard datas, now I guess, we will have to rely on super late press releases. No more figures for tourists arrivals. No figures for number of work permits, for visas (per type, tourist, O, business, retirement etc.)... No figures that could embarass the authorities... Edited by cclub75, 2008-07-01 01:51:09. #44
Titanium Member Posted 2008-07-01 01:48:57
Doom/gloom is the trend these days, take the optimistic approach and half the battle is won. I'm optimistic. If tourism suffers, more discounts will come our way. #45
Newbie Posted 2008-07-01 01:50:26
Yes on my return flight last week to New Zealand, i was told by the head steward that all direct flights to New Zealand would stop by the end 2008, and would need to fly through Australia.
#46
Senior Member Posted 2008-07-01 02:30:54
You gals & boyz don't seem to know Thailand. Thai-style 'adaptation' to the new situation will of course mean that prices and rip-offs will increase to compensate for the loss of income. #47
Titanium Member Posted 2008-07-01 03:00:53
Just done a quick check on a local outfit travel agent E-Book...s for a couple of dates in October ...next joli and WOT .
 ..Thai Airways to Bangers is 786 quid while the "Bahrain sand dancers" at Gulf Air are dong the trip ...(albiet with a stop in one of my old stomping grounds) for 476 pound. ...difference of over 300 notes.Must admit that I have enjoyed TG over the years (usually 2-4 trips a year )and had lots of good times with them .. even a Gold card until they messed about with the miles but looks like history repeats itself....in ...Pop Gun Mai Krup....see you....NO MORE CUSTOM....Hoe-Zay.. Wifes GC expires in Jan and even she reluctantly agrees that the "as smooth as rip off silk"price hike merchants have had their day.......shame ...... Next years first visit (March) I will have 5 other with me plus wifee but when the difference between Taliban air..oops...and TG hits over 2,000 quid ..guess wot. .....would rather spend the dosh in poor Chiang Mai beer bars..or buy another 10 Rai. 
#48
Platinum Member Posted 2008-07-01 03:02:16
Anyone getting tickets for the same price they have in recent years is very lucky. I just checked today's flight invoices in the office and we are now paying £340 on the taxes and fuel surcharge on a Thai Airways return flight from LHR to Bangkok and add-ons to/fro Chiang Mai. This element of a ticket was about £150 14 months ago so it's more than doubled - some of this was the extra charges at Heathrow but most of it is fuel. Exactly. 4 years ago I flew LHR-BKK on Thai for £376 all in, 100% airmiles. The taxes are nearly this much. Just been quoted £986 for late July, over £1000 for August  RAZZ #49
Platinum Member Posted 2008-07-01 03:03:46
My major worry right now is getting stranded here in Thailand after something like another 9/11, bird flu and the already f^%* up global economy combined with skyrocketing oil prices. Many airlines almost didn't survive 9/11. What if those guys had made it leaving Heathrow and blown up those planes? If anything like that happens again, millions will be stranded abroad.
I seriously think that every day, especially extended stays abroad is a huge risk these days, unless you re not planning on going back where you are from. We are all together in a veeery fragile situation these days and I wish my family and I could leave right now... The moment my wife's PR card is ready... Edited by Tony Clifton, 2008-07-01 03:19:01. #50
Platinum Member Posted 2008-07-01 03:09:42
I Think that is plus TAX Just been on Etihad site Quote for Oct from Manchester £453.00 Go on to booking and you will see TAX is £189.60 Total is £642.60 More realistic But not bad considering the economic climate and Silly OIL Prices Interesting name for a fuel surcharge. |
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