THAI pitches low fares for Africa launch

BANGKOK, 25 May 2010 — Thai Airways International kicks off promotions to celebrate the re-launch of its Johannesburg service, scheduled 2 June.

Its promotional fares are competitive for both travel classes when compared with offers by other airlines serving Johannesburg with one-stop flights.

THAI flew to South Africa up until  early 2009  when it suspended the service due to a downturn in the economy. Now as South Africa hosts the World Cup, it has returned with a non-stop service  to Johannesburg , four times a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, with a flight time of 11 hours.

It will use Boeing 777-200ER with 292 seats (30 seats in Royal Silk Class and 262 in economy).

TG703 will depart Bangkok at 0115 and arrive in Johannesburg at 0730 on the same day. The return TG704 will depart at 1340 and land in Bangkok at 0555 on the following day.

The promotional Royal Silk class fare is Bt90,240 including taxes and surcharges. Mileage can be accrued.

In economy class, the deal is Bt31,100 all-in flights departing Monday and Thursday, while it is slightly higher at Bt33,250 for Friday and Saturday departures. No mileage accumulation for economy class promotional fares.

For two passengers travelling together, THAI offers a “Fly Together to Johannesburg” promotion at Bt85,940 all-in per passenger.  For a group of five or more, the individual fare will drop to Bt80,565.

Royal Orchid Plus members are entitled to receive bonus mileage accumulation when they travel roundtrip between Bangkok and Johannesburg using a normal fare. Passengers travelling in Royal Silk Class will receive 2,000 miles and those travelling in economy class will receive 1,000 miles.

Also, Royal Orchid Plus members will receive a 25% discount towards redeeming award tickets for travel on this route on all classes of travel.

Promotions are open for bookings now and valid for travel between 2 June and 31 August. All Royal Orchid Plus promotional offers exclude travel during the World Cup period from 11 June to 11 July.

The best web fare currently available is Bt36,825, inclusive of taxes and surcharges.

Other options to Johannesburg are offered out of Singapore, Malaysia, India Middle East and Africa. From these countries, there are convenient daily services with relatively seamless connections. All of flights arrive in Johannesburg in the morning.

Ethiopian Airlines pegs its lowest V-Class fare on the Bangkok-Addis Ababa- Johannesburg route  at Bt34,07, inclusive of surcharges and taxes. It operates four times a week out of Bangkok and there is a one-hour and 30-minute connecting time to its service to Johannesburg out of its Addis Ababa hub.

Kenya Airways flies out of Bangkok, late night, to connect in Nairobi with its intra-Africa flight in the morning with one hour and a half connecting time. The lowest fare is around Bt32,600 for economy class and Bt92,000 for business, all-in.

Singapore Airlines’ economy fares during the World Cup month sell at least Bt44,985 and afterwards at around Bt38,735. A business class fare is ridiculously high — Bt183,900 in June and Bt165,135 from July. Connecting time at Changi Airport is about one hour and a half on both sectors.

Malaysia Airlines, like THAI, flies four times a week to Johannesburg . Its Johannesburg fare starts at Bt37,485 for economy class and Bt96,135, business class, during the World Cup or after. Connecting time in Kuala Lumpur is two hours and a half for outbound sector and three hours inbound.

Jet Airways provides a service via Mumbai. Passengers from Thailand will face a connecting time in Mumbai of two hours and 20 minutes, but only one hour and a half on the return journey. The economy fare starts from Bt34,030 and business class from Bt73,895 . Currently, the airline is giving a 10% discount off the quoted fare for online bookings by filling the promo code “JPBKK0510”.

Going via Middle East airports, Qatar Airways quotes Bt41,145, as its lowest fare in June and from Bt34,150 July onwards. The business class fare starts from Bt78,150 in June, but in the high season month of July, it sells at Bt83,150. The connecting time in Doha is one and a half hours outbound and 45 minutes inbound.

Emirates sells a Johannesburg economy fare from Bangkok for Bt44,740 and Bt136,355 for business class. The connecting time in Dubai is one hour and a half both ways.

All fares are subject to change due to currency fluctuation and offered at limited seats.