Been a while since I've been at the Talking Travel desk and a lot has happened, most of it good news for travelers. But not all.
It's getting to the point where just about anything causes problems at Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA), which is already the world's capital for delayed flights. Snow cancels flights. Smog cancels flights. Cold cancels flights. Thunderstorms certainly delay or cancel them. Yes, I understand this is all in the name of safety. However, airlines the world over manage to fly in inclement weather of various kinds. Couldn't the Russians help out here? Just give yourself a break and take the train whenever feasible.
Airline websites, especially those of Asia-based airlines, remain awful to use. Case in point: to share the Thailand anecdote related below, I tried to look up some flight information on the Thai Airways website. Next time, I think I'll just drive to the airport and ask the counter staff directly, as it took five attempts just to get the site to load. Isn't this thing supposed to sell tickets for them? Thai isn't alone. There's also Cathay Pacific's vile and unreliable payment system for Chinese mainland-based travelers.
Anyway, the recent cold snap and an impending departure to Thailand leads me to relate the following story. Especially for newer arrivals to Beijing or those who have not yet visited the Land of Smiles, when the low temperatures and early sunsets begin to get you down, consider burning a few days of vacation for one of the finest experiences the Beijing-based foreigner can have. Take the 5.05pm Thai Airways flight (TG615) from Beijing to Bangkok. You'll leave work in the middle of the afternoon, which is almost always a plus anyway. You'll board as the sun is almost setting, and by the time you've received “Sawasdee khap/kha" and a traditional wai greeting from members of the flight crew, you'll settle into your seat with your blood pressure already down 20 points. Four hours and change later, you'll land in Bangkok, which will feel like arriving on a different planet. The temperature will be at least 20 degrees Celsius warmer, you'll be greeted with smiles, and there will still be time for a very late meal, a drink, a Thai massage, or whatever else you'd like to do before bed. The best part? Flights on Thai Airways booked for a December 7 departure and December 14 return are currently as low as RMB 2,246, although the above itinerary is quite a bit more.
Recent searches of flights around Greater China and Southeast Asia are revealing some really good deals prior to Christmas in the couple of January weeks before Spring Festival, all in the ballpark of RMB 2,000-2,500, including Hong Kong. Now, Hong Kong is not at its best in January, and it can get pretty cold there and with no heat in hotels or many private homes. Still, when certain events pop up, travel there is necessary.
The same is true for hotels. A stroll through Agoda is showing some nice prices in those same periods. My favorite hotel in Koh Samui, which I won't mention here so that it remains available when I want to book it, is only USD 10 per night more during high season than in summer. Hotels around the region just don't seem to be showing the demand they have for peak season in recent years, although outbound departures from China are now at a record high.
People are writing about SkyTeam's new lounge at BCIA like it's the new black. Found in Terminal 2, from which the SkyTeam network (which includes airlines like Delta, KLM, China Eastern, and China Southern) airlines fly, the facilities include showers, free Wi-Fi, and a hot and cold buffet, with hot and cold beverages including alcohol. Read all about it here. I'm a dedicated Star Alliance flyer but would be interested to hear what travelers who visit the new lounge think.
Lastly, if you're interested in travel to Southeast Asia, don't miss my esteemed colleague Robynne Tindall's guide to visiting Angkor Wat. One road flat safe.
More stories by this author here.
Email: stevenschwankert@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @greatwriteshark
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Image: SkyTeam
HarryJ,
Thank you for your comment. I've sadly found this problem on several airline websites, although usually not from top-tier airlines like Cathay Pacific: as there is no disclosure about how many of the advertised seats are actually available, the traveler never knows what the supply is. The airlines know well that once people check their calendars and get a set of dates for a desirable destination in mind, they may still want to buy even if the original deal is not available.
