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Inter-Thailand Flights   Bangkok Airways (PG)

PG flights are bookable on points through JAL, CX, EY and AB.

JAL
Required Mileage: Transferable from SPG. JAL uses a distance based award chart and allows up to a maximum of 7 stopovers (8 segments). To figure out how many points you will need, add up the total amount of miles that will be flown (can do this on GCMap.com) and then find the appropriate row in the award chart (http://www.ar.jal.com/ar/en/jalmile/use/partner_air/p_jmb/jmb_mile_ar.html). If you are traveling before 3/31/2017 there is a promotion for trips up to 4,000 miles (see http://www.jal.co.jp/121campaign/pg_discount/index_en.html for reduced mileage rates). The promotion makes JAL the best award redemption option for PG flights. 

Booking the Flight: The only way to find out if there is availability on the flight that you want is to call JAL. Recommended that you do so before transferring points. JAL doesn't allow you to hold a reservation so you have to hope that the flight doesn't get booked up while you're waiting for the point transfer to go through. Once the points post to your JAL account, call JAL back to book.
+1 800-525-3663 (5:00 - 18:00 PT) press 1 - 4 - JAL membership number - # - pin - # - 0 (for human or 1 for computer search)

Traveling with Infant: Tell JAL that you are flying with a lap child. They will put the infant on the reservation, but they will also tell you that you need to call PG directly to get the infant's ticket issued and pay for any taxes etc. JAL will only charge you for the adults on the reservation. Unless you speak Thai, calling PG won't work (when you press 9 for English when calling any of the Asian offices, the message will tell you to go to their website, and the office in Germany can't issue tickets). To add the infant, send an email to reservation@bangkokair.com with your confirmation number and tell them you want to have the lap infant's ticket issued. They will email you back with the price (data point: it was ~$96USD for CNX-USM-HKG for me) and ask you to reply with your cc info split into two separate emails for security (one email with first 8 digits, exp. and name on card, second email with last 8 digits, cvv, and billing address). I believe they only take Visa or MC. You'll then get an email back with confirmation.

Baggage Allowance: Economy passengers are allowed 20kg, infants (and dolls) are allowed 10kg. Excess weight on domestic flights will incur a charge of 80thb ($2.25ish) per kilo. International overage fee chart can be found here. Join the PG FlyingBonus program to receive an additional 10kg.

Contacting PG: In general, if you have any questions, the only way to speak with them in English besides email is PG Live Chat. You can find the link if you log in to your Flyer Bonus account. Chat reps are very helpful.

IMPORTANT: MAKE SURE TO PAY (JAL AND PG) WITH A CC BELONGING TO SOMEONE THAT IS TRAVELING ON THE ITINERARY. PG WILL SOMETIMES ASK YOU TO SHOW THE CC USED TO PAY FOR THE TRIP WHEN YOU CHECK IN, AND RESERVE THE RIGHT TO DENY BOARDING IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT.

CX
Required Mileage:

EY
Required Mileage:

AB
Required Mileage:



Bangkok   BKK/DMK

Hotels                                              Activities                                          Chabad                                                                Additional Info
Viengtai Hotel (Ohr Menachem)
Davis Hotel (Beth Elisheva)
Shangr-La (Even Chen)
Sheraton Resort (Hua Hin)
Riva Surya
Kao Sahn Rd
Night Markets (near stadium)
Shopping Malls
Grand Palace
Kanchanaburi (2 hrs away)
Floating Markets
Beth Elisheva (Financial & Shopping district)
Even Chen
Ohr Menachem (Kao Sahn Rd)
ALWAYS use meter in taxis and
   try to say destination in Thai - if you
   need help with numbers as Cbs ;)
(Free) sim in airport at kiosks -(true move(h- sim), dtac
   (happy(micro) sim for iPhone)
Songkran (water fight week)- April 13th!
Kosherthailand.com
BKK Luggage Lockers - 100 baht/day/bag (~$3)
Public Transport
Domestic flights:
   Air Asia, Tiger Air, Thai, Bangkok Air
Tailor:
   Rajawongse




Phuket/Patong/Koh Phi Phi/Krabi   HKT/KBV

Hotels                                                            Activities                                                                            Additional Info
Westin
JW Marriott
Sala Resort
Sheraton Krabi
The Pavilions
Holiday Inn Koh Phi Phi
Ritz Carlton Reserve
places w/ private pools
Beaches
Monkey Show
Cable Skiing
Longtail Boats
Island Tour
Koh Phi Phi:
Diving
Fire Show (wed is biggest)
Maya Bay (full day trip)
Nice Lookouts
Kayaking (to Monkey Beach)
Thai Boxing
Beware of summer weather; monsoon season
Best weather: Jan - May
Island Tour (can be done as a day trip or overnight):
   Andaman River, Maya Bay, Similian Islands, Krabi Islands,
   Koh Lanta (Emerald Cave)




Koh Samui   USM

Hotels                                                            Activities                                                                          Additional Info
The Conrad
Sunday Resort
Sheraton
Le Meridian
The W
Le Murrya (Near Chabad)
Fx Hotel (Near Chabad)
Beaches
Diving (Koa Phangan, Koh Tao)
Ang Thong Marine Park Islands
Water Sports (at chaweng and boh phut),
Safari Island (elephants, tigers, zip line)
Scooter (around island)
Kayaking $30
Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan Island trip w/ snorkeling
The Conrad will gladly make arrangements with
   the Chabad restaurant for Kosher food. Email them at usmks.fb@conradhotels.com




Chiang Mai   CNX

Hotels                                                            Activities                                                                            Additional Info
Le Meridien (10 min. Walk to Chabad)
Shangri La (2 min. Walk to Chabad)
Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi
Sukantara Cascade Resort
Maese Elephant Show
Maetaeng Elephant Park
Patara Elephant Farm
Thai Elephant Home
Thoms Pai Elephant Camp
Bamboo Rafting
Tiger Kingdom
Monkey Shows
Snake Shows
Crocodile Shows
Zip Lining
Trekking
White Water Rafting
Longneck Tribe
Gun Shooting
Night Safari
Temples/Palaces
Chiang Mai River Boat (To Cooking School)
Extreme Sports!
Repelling
Caving,
ATVing
Bungee
Segways
Rent motorbikes (5$ day)
3D museum right down the road from Chabad
   (if you have an hour or two to kill)
Sunday Market (ratchadamonoen  Rd, old city)
Night Market (Changklan Rd, near Chabad & Le Meridien)
Sat Night Market (Wua Lai)
Tiger Kingdom is best in morning
Use ישראל 669  as travel agent for trips
   (next door to Chabad)
Recommended Zip Line: Flight of Gibbon or Flying Squirrel,
   can be reserved through Yackov (המרכז המטייל)
   for best price.
When reserving tours, ask for a discount due to
   using your own transportation
Tailors:
   CM Tailors
His and Hers- 3 minute walk from LM on the way to chabbad.




Chiang Rai   CEI/4hr drive from CNX

Hotels                                                            Activities                                                                            Additional Info
Le Meridien
Four Seasons Tent Camp Golden Triangle
Black House
Queens Residence
Night market
Day trip to Burma/Myanmar
Waterfalls
White Temple
Ruaamit elephant camp
Pai village (3 hr drive)
Hot Springs
Scooters
Golden Triangle

« Last edited by CR on July 26, 2020, 11:38:14 AM »

Author Topic: Thailand Master Thread  (Read 751428 times)

Offline Emkay

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3320 on: April 04, 2016, 02:00:40 PM »
I was definitely taken advantage of. Though I used Google maps and was on a meter just to make sure I'm not taken advantage of but one way was still double the way back. That was BKK.
No I do t have a driver. I'm in Koh Samui now and it would be helpful at some point.
ask any of the drivers by the airport, or any taxi for that matter. the basically all have day rates and take tourists around.

Offline SLMYRCB

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3321 on: April 04, 2016, 02:07:15 PM »
The driver who took me from ap quoted 3000thb for 6hrs.

Offline Emkay

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3322 on: April 04, 2016, 02:08:01 PM »
The driver who took me from ap quoted 3000thb for 6hrs.
Ouch. He's a rapist.
Will you be in CNX? What are you doing there?

Offline SLMYRCB

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3323 on: April 04, 2016, 02:08:42 PM »
...but the Conrad, WOW! Absolutely WOW! The amazing pictures are nothing compared to the service.

Offline SLMYRCB

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3324 on: April 04, 2016, 02:09:37 PM »
Ouch. He's a rapist.
Will you be in CNX? What are you doing there?
Will be there next week iy"H. From what I read Yisroel can arrange 1000thb drivers for the day. That'll be good.

Offline CS91

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3325 on: April 04, 2016, 02:35:12 PM »
...but the Conrad, WOW! Absolutely WOW! The amazing pictures are nothing compared to the service.
Can't wait! Enjoy!

Offline shmebeble

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3326 on: April 04, 2016, 04:54:49 PM »
...but the Conrad, WOW! Absolutely WOW! The amazing pictures are nothing compared to the service.
Just be careful you know where the breakfast is coming from. The chef is the nicest guy in the world. But he doesn't actually fully understand kashrus.
Enjoy. It'll be over too soon.
Make sure to do the snorkeling trip. (we did it twice because they take to different areas)

Offline SLMYRCB

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3327 on: April 05, 2016, 11:44:58 AM »
Just be careful you know where the breakfast is coming from. The chef is the nicest guy in the world. But he doesn't actually fully understand kashrus.
Enjoy. It'll be over too soon.
Make sure to do the snorkeling trip. (we did it twice because they take to different areas)
Breakfast was double wrapped and had chabad stickers on it and there's no way the chef here can make matbucha, chummus, a challa roll, Israel salad all served with a coke zero for a breakfast. He'd faster commit suicide

Offline shmebeble

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3328 on: April 05, 2016, 11:57:56 AM »
Breakfast was double wrapped and had chabad stickers on it and there's no way the chef here can make matbucha, chummus, a challa roll, Israel salad all served with a coke zero for a breakfast. He'd faster commit suicide
So that was breakfast our first day.
The third day they tried serving us this bread and greek salad.

Offline yitzyul

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3329 on: April 06, 2016, 01:06:22 PM »
So that was breakfast our first day.
The third day they tried serving us this bread and greek salad.
Im not such a big fan of thai noodles (I think that's what they are called) but if you get to Chang Mai Chabad makes them delicious. The ones in Ko Samui aren't so good. And don't touch the burgers in either places:)

Offline HP58

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3330 on: April 08, 2016, 04:52:08 AM »
Anyone have any idea if the Lays or Hershey products in Thailand are kosher?

Offline shwarmabob

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3331 on: April 08, 2016, 01:26:41 PM »
It seems to be difficult to find X fares on the popular routes on PG. Especially that I need 4 seats. Any advice from the Chachamim?

Offline CS91

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3332 on: April 08, 2016, 01:32:47 PM »
It seems to be difficult to find X fares on the popular routes on PG. Especially that I need 4 seats. Any advice from the Chachamim?
How are you looking for availability?

Offline shwarmabob

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3333 on: April 08, 2016, 01:40:12 PM »
How are you looking for availability?
PUTPAC  ::)
any other way?

Offline CS91

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3334 on: April 08, 2016, 01:53:31 PM »
PUTPAC  ::)
any other way?
For X class, no. But you're calling PG or JAL?

Offline shwarmabob

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3335 on: April 08, 2016, 02:47:06 PM »
For X class, no. But you're calling PG or JAL?
JAL

Offline CS91

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3336 on: April 08, 2016, 03:05:32 PM »
JAL
In that case not sure what to suggest. May just actually be booked up.

Offline benjie1305

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3337 on: April 12, 2016, 11:28:38 AM »
Anyone familiar with PG availability on JAL?

Do they open up close in?

Just called for trip 3.5 months out and for 3 flights needed there is 0 seats available.

BKK-USM and USM-BKK have 20 flights a day and they are telling me there is not a single seat available on any of them.
Work hard, Play harder!

Offline SLMYRCB

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3338 on: April 12, 2016, 12:26:07 PM »
Anyone familiar with PG availability on JAL?

Do they open up close in?

Just called for trip 3.5 months out and for 3 flights needed there is 0 seats available.

BKK-USM and USM-BKK have 20 flights a day and they are telling me there is not a single seat available on any of them.
In my experience they were opened ~3 weeks out.
I tried really early like you and then tried ~3weeks out and had some availablity but limited. I checked at a very busy travel season though.

Offline benjie1305

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3339 on: April 12, 2016, 12:45:00 PM »
Checked now with CX and they did see BKK-USM for 2 pax but nothing at all on USM-BKK and those are pretty pricey flights. Ugh.
Work hard, Play harder!