Reasonably priced business class flights from the UK to Thailand

[monkey_omelette]

For anyone looking at flying over to Thailand from the UK and wants a bit more luxury try Gulf Air.

I've just stuck some dates in for June from Manchester to Bangkok via Bahrain and (Falcon Gold) business class is coming out at £2148.

It's not quite on par with Emirates upstairs on the A380 but the seats are lie flat beds on new 787s and the Falcon Gold lounge in Bahrain is really good and even has a golf simulator.  driving range.

 

 

[monkey_omelette]

I've just put some dates in for August and its still only £2548

[Butch]

Not too shabby at all.

I used to fly Gulf Air to Oman back when they had Tristars and back then it was the Aircraft equivalent of a number 37 bus, stopping here there and everywhere.

These days anything under 3k for BC return is a good deal IMO.

[mrcharliemofo]

Last September I flew Turkish Business from Birmingham for about £2300. The lounges at Birmingham and Istanbul weren't the best but the flight times were spot on as the Ist-Bkk flight was at night so a good sleep was had, same on the return legs.

In February I flew Austrian business from Heathrow for £2200 and it was perfect all the way there and back. I got into Vienna and the place was nearly deserted, there was only me and one other person in the lounge.

Next month I'm flying with Swiss Air business and it's cost me £2136, again the flight times are all good except the last leg where I don't land until 21.45 at Heathrow and then a bus ride back to Leicester.

For this trip Qatar and Etihad came up with similar prices but then both wanted nearly £100 each for seat selection so an extra £350-£400 extra per flight whereas all the others had free seat selection.

All my flights from 4 years ago are searched for through Google flights and usually booked through the airline although I have used booking.com for a couple and I've never had any issues.

[Lemondropkid]

4 hours ago, mrcharliemofo said:

usually booked through the airline although I have used booking.com for a couple and I've never had any issues

You've been very lucky.

Used booking for the first time last month, the problem isn't with booking it's their travel partner GotoGate

Just check out the recent one star reviews. They sent me misleading emails trying to get me to ask for a refund then rebook ( A Qatar flight, so they could charge higher prices and fees). When that didn't work they cancelled my seat on the flight home!! Managed to contact Qatar direct who rebooked me onto the same flight that GotoGate said was cancelled and it wasn't

https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.gotogate.com

 

Never again will I book a flight with booking. Was hours of stress dealing with GotoGate with the war in the Middle East as the backdrop,  Their behaviour was part way to being to a scam organisation, absolutely appalling.

 

Edited May 18 by Lemondropkid

[AJSP]

13 hours ago, mrcharliemofo said:

Last September I flew Turkish Business from Birmingham for about £2300. The lounges at Birmingham and Istanbul weren't the best but the flight times were spot on as the Ist-Bkk flight was at night so a good sleep was had, same on the return legs.

In February I flew Austrian business from Heathrow for £2200 and it was perfect all the way there and back. I got into Vienna and the place was nearly deserted, there was only me and one other person in the lounge.

Next month I'm flying with Swiss Air business and it's cost me £2136, again the flight times are all good except the last leg where I don't land until 21.45 at Heathrow and then a bus ride back to Leicester.

For this trip Qatar and Etihad came up with similar prices but then both wanted nearly £100 each for seat selection so an extra £350-£400 extra per flight whereas all the others had free seat selection.

All my flights from 4 years ago are searched for through Google flights and usually booked through the airline although I have used booking.com for a couple and I've never had any issues.

Those are great prices and anything sub £2500 for me would encourage me to book. This is of course only when there is two of us flying. I / we do like flying direct so that’s the only downside but for me I’m happy to go non- direct, for her less so. 

this is all planning for the future and in a couple of years time so may things can and will change. One thing I do know is that I’m happy to pay more for comfort as I find that as well as price, having a pleasant travel experience is becoming more important to me. I don’t drink in airports or planes so that’s not the motivation and we have lounges access via my HSBC CC, so the principle reasons for looking at BC are comfort, decent food, building points with an airline so at some stage booking a free flight ( minus taxes) averages out the overall flight costs over a period of time.

i aim to do two return flights between Lhr and Bkk annually so this should get some air miles and help contribute to free or reduced price fares at some point. 
 

[Horizondave]

11 hours ago, Lemondropkid said:

You've been very lucky.

Used booking for the first time last month, the problem isn't with booking it's their travel partner GotoGate

Just check out the recent one star reviews. They sent me misleading emails trying to get me to ask for a refund then rebook ( A Qatar flight, so they could charge higher prices and fees). When that didn't work they cancelled my seat on the flight home!! Managed to contact Qatar direct who rebooked me onto the same flight that GotoGate said was cancelled and it wasn't

https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.gotogate.com

 

Never again will I book a flight with booking. Was hours of stress dealing with GotoGate with the war in the Middle East as the backdrop,  Their behaviour was part way to being to a scam organisation, absolutely appalling.

 

That sounds like a Skyscanner type of deal.

Never used Booking.Com for flights but if the onus isn't with Booking.Com, surely you must be told that before booking. With Skyscanner you are offered many alternate agents to book with. I see Gotogate many times (among a few others) and they have always come up short on positive reviews. There are though, many agents that have offered good deals with good after service.

With Skyscanner they just direct you to an agent, it is not Skyscanner making the booking, is that the same with Booking.Com or are you saying you don't know you have booked with Gotogate until after purchase.

I see Skyscanner as a great vehicle for booking flights with full knowledge who I am booking with. Sounds like Booking.Com are different? 

[Lemondropkid]

14 minutes ago, Horizondave said:

but if the onus isn't with Booking.Com, surely you must be told that before booking

Think again, you might think that but think again🙂

I made a booking via Google flights that took me through Booking.com. Only after I had paid was "introduced" to their "travel partner" GotoGate.

18 minutes ago, Horizondave said:

are you saying you don't know you have booked with Gotogate until after purchase

That's exactly it.

 

19 minutes ago, Horizondave said:

Sounds like Booking.Com are different? 

As mentioned I used Google flights, using Skyscanner would have produced the same result I'd guess?

Ive selected my flight dates, times and airlines, the Skyscraper would return a list of places to buy the ticket from including, the airline, Booking, Trip etc

I clicked to use booking thinking I knew them but in effect I was entering into an unwanted relationship with a third party GotoGate( who were a nightmare).

 

[Horizondave]

4 hours ago, Lemondropkid said:

Think again, you might think that but think again🙂

I made a booking via Google flights that took me through Booking.com. Only after I had paid was "introduced" to their "travel partner" GotoGate.

That's exactly it.

 

As mentioned I used Google flights, using Skyscanner would have produced the same result I'd guess?

Ive selected my flight dates, times and airlines, the Skyscraper would return a list of places to buy the ticket from including, the airline, Booking, Trip etc

I clicked to use booking thinking I knew them but in effect I was entering into an unwanted relationship with a third party GotoGate( who were a nightmare).

 

With Skyscanner all the deals are related to agents who you deal direct with. I have always avoided Gotogate due their poor reviews 

It obviously doesn't work that way with Booking.Com, so I will not be booking flights through them.

[mrcharliemofo]

8 hours ago, AJSP said:

Those are great prices and anything sub £2500 for me would encourage me to book. This is of course only when there is two of us flying. I / we do like flying direct so that’s the only downside but for me I’m happy to go non- direct, for her less so. 
 

Another good thing about my flights are that it's only a 2hr flight to Vienna or Zurich and then a night flight from there to Bkk so in effect it's sort of direct. Another plus is arriving in Bkk early afternoon so I'm in Pattaya in plenty of time to relax a bit in the hotel, shower, food and out.

Win win for me.

[Painter]

9 minutes ago, mrcharliemofo said:

Another good thing about my flights are that it's only a 2hr flight to Vienna or Zurich and then a night flight from there to Bkk so in effect it's sort of direct. Another plus is arriving in Bkk early afternoon so I'm in Pattaya in plenty of time to relax a bit in the hotel, shower, food and out.

Win win for me.

Not had a problem with either of the austrian or Swiss flights I've done. Yes, the seat/bed isn't the greatest, but as you say the flight/layover times are great

[AJSP]

2 hours ago, mrcharliemofo said:

Another good thing about my flights are that it's only a 2hr flight to Vienna or Zurich and then a night flight from there to Bkk so in effect it's sort of direct. Another plus is arriving in Bkk early afternoon so I'm in Pattaya in plenty of time to relax a bit in the hotel, shower, food and out.

Win win for me.

That’s a good shout and I’ve also been reading that sometimes a cheap hop from UK into Europe can also bag you decent business class return just takes a bit more co-ordination- 

I think there are certainly options worth exploring and I’m with you on the thought that once you’re in Europe the main leg to BKK is direct so a decent alternative to the usual 6 hours on break then a further 6 hours flying 

[Stillearly]

Two out of my next three flights are with Qatar , Business for about £2,300 ... similar to pre covid prices... and my next one is BA using companion voucher and 105,000 avios points , the cost was £575 return in Business, cheapest deal I've ever seen  ...  all of these include my connections to Jersey 

 

Edited May 19 by Stillearly

[Painter]

I was beginning to worry about the price of flights for my next trip. Initial investigations a few weeks ago came out at 4k+.... but things seem to have calmed down a bit now. Playing with the dates and different airlines a flight could be had for similar to this year's prices. Interestingly ITA were coming up on the Austrian website with some cracking prices, but a daft layover in Rome.  Still contemplating Oman....

[Lemondropkid]

8 hours ago, Horizondave said:

With Skyscanner all the deals are related to agents who you deal direct with. I have always avoided Gotogate due their poor reviews 

It obviously doesn't work that way with Booking.Com, so I will not be booking flights through them.

So using AI, GotoGate are owned by booking. You book with them via SkyScanner and your flight will mismanged by GotoGate

I put what's the relationship between GotoGate and booking into Google AI and this emerged, it's the bit I've highlighted in red that you need to worry about

 

Gotogate acts as a third-party aggregator and flight service provider for Booking.com. When you book a flight on the Booking.com app or website, your reservation is essentially outsourced to and fulfilled by Gotogate (which is owned by the Etraveli Group) rather than being handled directly by Booking.com

Contractual separation: According to the terms of service, when you book a flight via Booking.com, you are entering into a contract directly with Gotogate and the airline. Booking.com acts only as a lead platform and does not take liability for the actual flight booking or customer service shortfalls

 

[Horizondave]

9 hours ago, Lemondropkid said:

So using AI, GotoGate are owned by booking. You book with them via SkyScanner and your flight will mismanged by GotoGate

I put what's the relationship between GotoGate and booking into Google AI and this emerged, it's the bit I've highlighted in red that you need to worry about

 

Gotogate acts as a third-party aggregator and flight service provider for Booking.com. When you book a flight on the Booking.com app or website, your reservation is essentially outsourced to and fulfilled by Gotogate (which is owned by the Etraveli Group) rather than being handled directly by Booking.com

Contractual separation: According to the terms of service, when you book a flight via Booking.com, you are entering into a contract directly with Gotogate and the airline. Booking.com acts only as a lead platform and does not take liability for the actual flight booking or customer service shortfalls

 

Never had a problem with Booking.Com on hotels and taxis, just won't book flights with them now I know who they use.

I will also avoid Booking.Com when looking at offers via Skyscanner for flights.

It is also a reason why I have booked directly with airlines for the last 5 years. Mainly for the after service when things may go wrong (usually at the destination).

I learned a lesson a long time ago when I booked with Crystal Travel for flights on Emirates to Bangkok. This was early 90s, I paid for the flight and in those days, once you booked the tickets, there was a time limit on the booking until you paid the agent. I duly paid the agent and jokingly told them to make sure they took the time limit off the flights on their system. (Ex airline employee knowing the system).

Got to the airport to check in with Emirates and was told the booking had been cancelled. I had the tickets all paid for but the agent had forgotten to do exactly what I told her, she left the time limit on the booking after issuing the tickets and the booking got cancelled. I managed to persuade the airline to get me on to Dubai but was advised I may not get on the onward flight. I took a chance and yes, I could not get on the onward flight but because Emirates had taken me to Dubai they were obliged to get me to Bangkok.

A flight on Emirates to the Maldives, onward to Singapore and then Singapore Airlines to Bangkok saw me arrive into Thailand 10 hours later than scheduled. Crystal Travel were incapable of doing anything for me when I called them from the airport, I managed to get on the flight only by my dogged perserverance.

 

[Commander]

Have to be honest that whilst I have been upgraded many times down the years (mainly from FF accounts) I would simply never pay outright for BC in the first place

Lets be extremely generous and say its only £1500 over and above the economy fare (currently I'm seeing around £500 give or take on economy flights that I'm looking at) in reality its more but we'll say £1500

Thats currently 65,000 Baht.....now thats an awful lot of action down Soi Bongkot for the pleasure of landing at Suvarnabhumbi 30 metres in front of economy better meals and a better seat

Last time I was upgraded on an old 777 from Etihad in 2023 on the AD to Bangkok sector I was shocked how shight it was (it clearly was an old motor I acknowledge)

I'm tall as well so often bit of a tight fit in economy but 65,000 Baht no way

[Lemondropkid]

5 hours ago, Commander said:

Have to be honest that whilst I have been upgraded many times down the years (mainly from FF accounts) I would simply never pay outright for BC in the first place

Lets be extremely generous and say its only £1500 over and above the economy fare (currently I'm seeing around £500 give or take on economy flights that I'm looking at) in reality its more but we'll say £1500

Thats currently 65,000 Baht.....now thats an awful lot of action down Soi Bongkot for the pleasure of landing at Suvarnabhumbi 30 metres in front of economy better meals and a better seat

Last time I was upgraded on an old 777 from Etihad in 2023 on the AD to Bangkok sector I was shocked how shight it was (it clearly was an old motor I acknowledge)

I'm tall as well so often bit of a tight fit in economy but 65,000 Baht no way

Your money, your choice.

Used to feel exactly the same, paid 125k baht for a BC flight this year from my own cash for the first time. Would do it again.

Nothing about 30 metres, for me about comfort where I've got to in life. Worked for it, why not enjoy it?  Be treated like a civilised human being as opposed to cattle. Arrive after kipping on a flat bed rested and be productive as opposed to no sleep for me and feeling like s88t

I live here now, for the forseeable. Don't intend to go home that often, having flown BC class once, I don't see myself turning back

Spend so little here compared to the UK. 3 months living here as opposed to where I was in the UK(am now in Bangkok) I'll have saved the cost of the flight.

Edited May 25 by Lemondropkid

[forcebwithu]

By choice I don't own a car, nor do I have expensive hobbies, so I have plenty of discretionary spending available. What I choose to spend some of that discretionary money on is BC as a luxury treat for myself.

[Lemondropkid]

2 minutes ago, forcebwithu said:

I don't own a car, nor do I have expensive hobbies, so I have plenty of discretionary spending available.

I'm exactly the same.

Used to have one bad expensive hobby and bet money on horses but  now have been restricted by the sportsbooks and  legislation in the UK. so there's a window of pleasure closed down😐

 

[Stillearly]

Business flights for me were my reward when I giving up smoking 18 years ago , the cost of two return flights were more than covered by not buying two packs a day ... for me it was the whole experience free transport to / from the airport ( I dont think many offer that now ) , no queues for check in , the comfort of a lounge , no queues to board , the service onboard , first off the plane, free fast track and the luggage arriving first  .... I still travel Business when the price is right , but will also look to premium ( I have status with a couple of airlines , so can still skip the queues and use the lounges) 

[boydeste]

The above few posts have outlined quite nicely different opinions on where one spends their hard earned cash.

I have never justified paying for business, prefer to spend my money else where at the moment. 

 

[Derek Dangleberries]

9 hours ago, Stillearly said:

Business flights for me were my reward when I giving up smoking 18 years ago , the cost of two return flights were more than covered by not buying two packs a day ... for me it was the whole experience free transport to / from the airport ( I dont think many offer that now ) , no queues for check in , the comfort of a lounge , no queues to board , the service onboard , first off the plane, free fast track and the luggage arriving first  .... I still travel Business when the price is right , but will also look to premium ( I have status with a couple of airlines , so can still skip the queues and use the lounges) 

Most of my life as a very well paid contractor I always flew BC whether it be South America, Africa or Asia but this was at a time when BC seating was the same a PE seating nowadays.

If you are flying direct or via the ME, Business class is worth it but if flying domestic or via Europe then BC seating could be an economy class seat but with the middle seat(s) blocked off or 2 seats side by side. Not worth the money in those situations.

I monitor Gulf Air BC prices as sometimes they are around 2,000 quid, have good seating and with the added luxury of having a bidet function in the toilets .. (According to a travel YTer last year anyway) .. 

[Commander]

12 hours ago, boydeste said:

The above few posts have outlined quite nicely different opinions on where one spends their hard earned cash.

I have never justified paying for business, prefer to spend my money else where at the moment. 

 

Yes my oroginal point of view wasnt intended to inflame anyone re economy v business

I could certainly afford the Biz but perphaps one of the reasons I do have money if the fact I wont waste it on what I consider unnecessary options

I simply cant comprehend spending 65,000 Baht extra but acknowledge others do

But then I dont consider flying on Air India of China Eastern a slightest problem so maybe my judgement is faulty 😁

 

[boydeste]

3 hours ago, Commander said:

Yes my oroginal point of view wasnt intended to inflame anyone re economy v business

I could certainly afford the Biz but perphaps one of the reasons I do have money if the fact I wont waste it on what I consider unnecessary options

I simply cant comprehend spending 65,000 Baht extra but acknowledge others do

But then I dont consider flying on Air India of China Eastern a slightest problem so maybe my judgement is faulty 😁

 

Everyone's budget and principles are different. 

Your money, your choice.