Orient Thai: Never again!

[bajm]

We had decided to spend a few days in Chiang Mai, before we would return to Netherlands after a 3 week holiday in Ban Krut. So I booked a return flight from BKK to Chiang Mai with Orient Thai. The price for 2 return tickets was THB 6200,-. Since it was only a short visit, we had only hand luggage. The remaining luggage we left in a friend’s home in BKK.

We had planned to return to Bangkok in the morning and fly to Netherlands in the evening. According to the schedule we had about 6 hours in BKK. Enough to travel from the airport to the house of our friends, pick up the remaining luggage, shower and prepare for the cold weather in Europe.

The incoming aircraft in Chiang Mai was 30 minutes late, but because enough time we were not bothered about the delay. But time passed and after 1 hour there was still no boarding announcement or any other announcement about a delay. And after another half hour the plane left the gate without taking any passengers. So Mrs. B. went to check at the Orient Thai counter and they said there was a minor technical problem and that they would soon announce a new departure time.
More time passed without any announcement and more passengers were pushing at the counter. And suddenly I saw a lot of people running away and Mrs. B. explained to me, that they said that the flight would not be going at all anymore. And that they were going to book passengers with other airlines. Because we had a connecting flight to Europe we asked for priority and the Orient Thai staff said they would try to help. But in fact they did nothing. Our time in BKK had shrunk to one hour if we would be able to leave now. The chaos of pushing passengers was complete.

I noticed that in 90 minutes there would be a Thai Airways flight to BKK and decided not to rely on Orient Thai service anymore but book a flight ourselves, with Thai Airways. I paid about THB 11000,- for 2 one-way business class tickets (economy was full), but the cost of missing our flight home would be much higher.

I the meantime we had called our friends to take our luggage to Suvarnabhumi. We repacked in the departure hall and checked in for our flight 90 minutes before departure. So we just made it.

I have tried to claim the extra expenses with Orient Thai, but they don’t even refund the never carried out flight from Chiang Mai to BKK, because we should have arranged that with them in Chiang Mai. But then, we would almost certainly have missed our flight to Netherlands.

Next time we will use Thai Airways again. They are more expensive but a lot more reliable.

[Pagey]

I flew Orient Thai to CM on 13/2 and back on 18/2 no problems, no delays.

Bajm : If you speak to enough people who fly regularly every airline will have a complaint against them, none are perfect. Mechanical failure of an aircraft cannot be factored for. Baggage will get lost. An air steward/stewardess will have a bad day and be grumpy and unhelpful. Delays will happen due to bad weather, staff shortages etc.

Paying more for another airline does not guarantee you will arrive on time.

If you fly Thai Airways enough times I am sure you will encounter a problem there eventually. I think Terry the fish was complaining about the standard of Thai Airways recently.

At least you finally made your connection which would have been more costly to miss.

Just my tuppence worth................

[Lung Per]

Lesson learned the hard way. It seems more and more often that Murphy's Law prevails with airlines.
Appreciate your report, however, all I can offer is my sympathy!

[Big Boy]

I'd agree with Pagey. The one time I've flown from Chiang Mai with Thai, the flight was delayed by 3 hours.

[bajm]

I agree that every airline may have problems. But I have never seen that the groundstaff was not able to handle an exception and cummunicate the situation clearly. This resulted in people pushing and shouting at their counter and resulting in a complete chaos.

[margaretcarnes]

I agree that every airline may have problems. But I have never seen that the groundstaff was not able to handle an exception and cummunicate the situation clearly. This resulted in people pushing and shouting at their counter and resulting in a complete chaos.

I'm afraid it isn't just Thailand. Stranded in Schipol in December 2010 for 30 hours due to bad weather and KLM staff were less than useless and gave precious little information or help. But to be honest (and I know it's too late now bajm) but I would never cut a connection so fine in Thailand by any means of travel. Even if it means a night in a hotel in Bangkok - having an extra days' leeway allows for a bus/taxi/train if the worst comes to the worst. Please don't let the experience put you off visiting ChiangMai or other lovely cities again!