Tripreport part 1: CDG-BKK/BKK-PHN/REP-BKK

[SabenaForever]

THAI AIRWAYS CDG-BKK

Date: 01/04/2012
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
Registration: HS-TKT
Actual departure time: 10.40 PM
Actual arrival Time: 02.20 PM


This is my first trip report, so don't be to critical

End 2011 i decided to go back on vacation to Thailand (been there 2 times before), but wanted to do something else. So i decided to do Cambodia also. I booked al my flights between December 2011 and March 2012! After a lot of searching on the Internet I booked my roundtrip flight to Bangkok out of CDG with Thai Airways for only 615 Euro (from BRU it was at that time 1200 euro).

I decided to take the car to CDG, only 100 euro for 2 weeks on a long term parking 10 min from the Airport. They bring and pick you up at he Airport with a small 'VW van'. http://www.Aerpark.fr

At the Airport

My flight departed out of Terminal 1, so i went 2,5 hours in front to the Check-in counter. I checked in online but there was no bag drop-off counter so i had to wait in line as al the other passengers .

After check in went to the tax-free zone at the terminal to spend some time before the flight. But believe me Terminal 1 at CDG is terrible, i think 10 shops and 1 bar with sandwiches! And that for a International Terminal.....

At 10.00PM boarding was started ( flight was delayed for a half an hour, but i did know why).

The flight

Or plane was offcourse one of the 777 from Jet Airways, Thai leased 5 of them from Jet.
My seat was 41K (window seat), the seat pitch is great. Verry comfortable for a 11 hour flight. The food was good, for dinner i had a pasta with seafood and for breakfast a ommelet!

Between the 2 dinners i spend my hours by seeing some movies (The Iron Lady and Mission Impossible 4) and because it was a night flight i sleped for 5 hours i think.

Arrival

We arrived with a 25 min. delay. Passport control went smoothly, much better than the 2 times before! Now the lines where marked.

Took the skytrain to downtown Bangkok and vacation could started!


AIR ASIA BKK-PHN

Date: 02/04/2012
Aircraft: Airbus A320
Registration: HS-ABF
Actual departure time: 15.40 PM
Actual arrival Time: 16.50 PM

After 1 day in Bangkok, i continued my vaction to Cambodia

At the Airport

I also checked-in online on this flight.

I went 1,5 hour in front to the Airport. After leaving my bags at the Drop-off counter of Air Asia i went true passport control and spent some time at the nice International Terminal of BKK. A lot of tax-free shops and dinner places (please let's forget CDG ).

For Spotting there are some opportunities because of the glass of the Terminal. But taking pictures is more difficult because of the black dots on the windows.

My plane to Phnom Penh HS-ABF

The flight

This was my first flight with Air Asia so i wanted to know if those Lowcost carriers are the same as in Europe. And yes nothing special to say... You can also order some food, buy a advanced seat, etc... I buyed a coffee.

The flight took around 1 hour, just enough time to fill in my visum papers and those one of a Greek passenger that did not understand a word of it...

Arrival

The Passport Control in Phnom Penh went verry chaotic. Verry Rude and treated you like childeren. My first impession of Cambodia... After i picked up my bags i took a cab to my hotel in downtown Phnom Penh. And Realised that my first impression was wrong, the people there are so friendly.


After spending 1 week in Cambodia, visiting Phnom penh and Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) i went back to Thailand for a week of relaxing.

BANGKOK AIRWAYS REP-BKK

Date: 09/04/2012
Aircraft: ATR 72-500
Registration: HS-PGC
Actual departure time: 09.45AM
Actual arrival Time: 10.50AM

At the Airport

I went to the Airport of Siem Reap 1,5 hour in front. Verry Small but nice Airport ( more to do than in CDG Terminal 1)

Check-in and passport contol went smootly. After that i spend some time at a coffee shop drinking a nice Cappucino.
Boarding was started 10 min before actual departure time. After a short walk to the plane i took a seat at 'seat' 4D.

My plane to BKK HS-PGC

XU-TSC Tonlesap Airlines

The Flight

This is my second flight with Bangkok Airways and my opinion has not changed. The overall sevice was perfect! Had a nice meal for a flight of only 50 minutes! And yes i love those ATR's.

Maybe one critical point, the price of a ticket from or to Siem Reap! They are the only airline flying BKK-REP so the price of a ticket is not cheap! I payed 250 euro fo a oneway ticket.

So i hope you liked reading it, this is only part one! The last and second part is; BKK-KBV, HKT-BKK and BKK-CDG

[sn26567]

Nice trip you made. Thanks for sharing.

[regi]

yep, nice report.
And you confirm that Bangkok Airways is not a LCC as somebody has stated before, but more a boutique airline. In fact even better than Thai Airways.

[SabenaForever]

And you confirm that Bangkok Airways is not a LCC as somebody has stated before, but more a boutique airline. In fact even better than Thai Airways.

Indeed, for the domestic maket and small international routes It is the best.. But you have to pay for It. That is why i choosed Air Asia for the short flights.

[rix]

Thank you for the trip report!
I enjoyed flying with Bangkok Airways (same route as you)
I did not like the attitude of Cambodian immigration staff and the consular staff in their Brussels embassy, but once you are in the country these guys are totally chill and always smiling

[capetown]

Thanks for the report ! I am a little bit surprised about the Bangkok Airways one-way fare. I flew BKK-REP-BKK in november 2010, and paid something around 260 EUR (both ways)... They DO offer an impeccable service, couldn't agree more !
Besides that (and totally off topic) : I am currently in Hanoi and got here two days ago from BKK with QR. For those who want to venture out of Bangkok to Vietnam for a couple of days and are looking for an alternative to FD or TG (or VN) : it is possible to book BKK-HAN with QR (extension of the DOH-BKK flight) , and it costs approx. 7000 baht return flight (so, approx. 170 EUR)... They fly the triple 7 between the 2 cities. If you want to enjoy their lavish business class, count 13500 Baht (330 EUR) for a return ticket... The flight took about 1.30 hrs..
Cheerz/Sawadee Khrap !

[regi]

If you want to enjoy their lavish business class, count 13500 Baht (330 EUR) for a return ticket... The flight took about 1.30 hrs..
Cheerz/Sawadee Khrap !

I paid 12,000 baht in 1991 for a return ticket BKK-SGN or HAN ( same fare )
I know that the Airasia fare is now much lower ( about 3,000 baht ). But for that 13,500 baht you also get the luggage allowance ! Aha, many people don't realise the advantage of it.
When I am in Thailand, I visit sometimes friends in Vietnam. And they ask me to bring things along. With this Qatar ticket, it sweetens the trip. And of course the luxury is also a benefit
Thank you for the tip Capetown.

[capetown]

If you want to enjoy their lavish business class, count 13500 Baht (330 EUR) for a return ticket... The flight took about 1.30 hrs..
Cheerz/Sawadee Khrap !

I paid 12,000 baht in 1991 for a return ticket BKK-SGN or HAN ( same fare )
I know that the Airasia fare is now much lower ( about 3,000 baht ). But for that 13,500 baht you also get the luggage allowance ! Aha, many people don't realise the advantage of it.
When I am in Thailand, I visit sometimes friends in Vietnam. And they ask me to bring things along. With this Qatar ticket, it sweetens the trip. And of course the luxury is also a benefit
Thank you for the tip Capetown.

Mai pen rai ! Yes, luggage allowance up to 30 kgs, and lounge access in both BKK and HAN (+ fast lane priority customs at BKK, quite nice knowing how things can be there ...) . Just flew BKK-DOH-BRU back y'day. The business class section on the DOH-BRU flight was almost full (including a snorring indian businessman next to me ). Would love to have an idea about the general load factors on these flights...