Winter fares to Sapporo

BANGKOK, 26 June 2012: Thai Airways International has launched fares to Sapporo, its sixth destination in Japan and due to start in the winter schedule.

Starting fares for both economy and business classes are lower than fares offered by East Asian carriers operating one-stop service via their home base hubs. However, they usually offer more flights, at least daily from their home bases.

THAI announced it would fly between Bangkok and Sapporo, the gateway city closest to Hokkaido’s ski fields, 30 October until 30 March 2013. It will offer three services a week using a two-class A330-300 (42 Royal Silk Class seats and 263 economy class seats).

The flight will depart Bangkok on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 2345 and arrive in Sapporo at 0800. The Bangkok-bound flight will depart Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 1045 and arrive in Bangkok at 1615.

THAI quotes its lowest online fare at Bt28,220 for an economy class seat and Bt62,770 for business class.

Both are very attractive as they are lower than the quotes from airlines offering one-stop services. However, THAI’s non-stop service will only be operated three times a week, while other airlines offer daily services. The Japanese carriers operates twice daily with seamless connecting times in Tokyo.

Some one-stop fare options include:

Japan’s flagship carrier, All Nippon Airways sells its Super Eco Values Fares at Bt32,155 and Super biz Values Fare for business class at Bt67,155.

Passengers from Bangkok have a choice of a morning or late night departure. For the morning departure, the Sapporo-bound flight has a connecting time of two hours via Narita Airport in Tokyo and about an hour on the return journey via Haneda Airport.

Downtime for the late night flight is two hours and a half for both sectors.

Japan Airlines quotes the same as ANA, Bt32,155 for economy class and Bt67,155, business class. It also operates two flights daily between Japan and Bangkok. Downtime is two hours for the morning departure and three hours on the late night departure. There is a two-hour wait for either morning or night flights on the return sector.

Cathay Pacific Airways’ lowest fare is slightly more expensive at Bt33,470 for economy class. But this fare comes with 10-hour wait between flights on the outbound journey.  A better option is the flight with a two-hour wait sold at Bt35,570. The return flight has a downtime of one hour.

Cathay’s business class fare is far more expensive than others at Bt94,790.

Korean Air quotes relatively low fares and can be an alternative to THAI price wise. It sells an economy seat from around Bt26,250, while a business class seat costs Bt55,270.

Connecting time is three hours, Sapporo-bound and one hour and a half, Bangkok-bound.

Above fares are all inclusive,subject to availability and to changes due to currency fluctuations.