[hellencomstar]

I am going to Bkk. on 21st, Feb. My 3rd. trip, and what is on my mind is ratio of Bahts to Dollars,...in last 2 and 1/2 years, since I started exchanging Bahts for Dollars, ammount of Bahts is constantly shrinking, as I remember most bahts I could get was 42 for 1$...now it`s just over 31,...so what is happening here?...is Thai economy/Baht, getting stronger?..or is U.S. economy/Dollar getting terribly weaker?

[Arkadiyas]

..or is U.S. economy/Dollar getting terribly weaker? Oh please, if you've been in Chicago, awake, breathing for the last 5 minutes... you've surely noticed that, haven't you?

[hellencomstar]

Yeah,...I knew it,..but its more fun to get others` opinion too...as one gold buyer here in Chicago said,"Dollar will turn belly up, not far in the future,...so buy GOLD"

[zlopikanikanzax]

i hope the airfare to the us is getting a lot cheaper soon. LOL

[Baromaro]

The dollar is having a free fall atm, but it doesnt help that bath is increasing in strength too.

[zlopikanikanzax]

Hey the price to the us is now approximately 25,000 baht(checked this morning for a round trip). Last year was almost 40,000 or higher.

It's still not cheap enough, though. LOL

[hellencomstar]

Hmmmm... 25,000bahts/800$?...what airlines is that?...least expensive my travel agent could find for me, about a month ago, was this fare I got-the Korean Airlines- round trip Chicago-Seoul-Bkk. for 1,050$/32,500 bahts....well maybe fares dropped some what in last month...and maybe you got a better bargain there

[hellencomstar]

You`re right Mr. Sved....not only is Dollar losing in exchange market, but it`s losing its buying power here at home. Prices of everything are going up month by month, and $ is shrinking

[MaigicyuNinia]

Basically the US dollar has fallen against most major currencies, The Thai currency is very strong. Higher Interest rates in Thailand due to inflationary pressure is part of the reason the Baht is strong, But I think eventually you will see the pangolin swing the other way with in the next couple of years.

[hellencomstar]

But since we are comparing air fares from U.S, -Thailand,...how about we look at the cost of the fares?...an American avarage worker gets about 20$ an hour-I believe-some get lot more-like licenced plumbers get 70$ (2,100 bagts) an hour, painters (my job) get from 15$ p/h, to 200$ (6,200 bahts) per day,...so for an average worker here in U.S. it takes about a week and a half to pay for a trip to Thailand. How much work does an average Thai worker need to earn that same amount?..or other workers, like Australian, Swedish,..etc,?

[Baromaro]

You`re right Mr. Sved....not only is Dollar losing in exchange market, but it`s losing its buying power here at home. Prices of everything are going up month by month, and $ is shrinking

Will probably recover. Not that Im an expert but we been at this low level before.

[hellencomstar]

Thanks for that informative comment Betti....So you are originaly, or were living in Wien for longer time?...I lived in Wien for 2 years,..way back in 1971, and still remember it very well..the Prater, Westbahnhof,Schoenbrunn, and other attractions there...when were you there last time?

[JennyStewarta]

Just did a quick web search via the site I always use and the cheapest flight I could come up with for a one month round trip from Chicago to Bangkok for a one month stay was US$957. That was on American Airlines via Tokyo.

However if you were to travel the same dates in the other direction, i.e. Bangkok - Chicago - Bangkok, the cheapest was again via Tokyo but with United Airlines and would cost US$1,360.

David

Now I don't subscribe to the view that everything Thai is better but Bin Thai leaves the abovementioned two airlines totally for dead for quality of food and general service. It also has Thai language in-flight films. You'd want to check out what cities different airlines fly into, of course.

[Wr8dIAUk]

I don't know how they come up with these prices, I mean flying from Vienna to Bangkok by Eva air takes 10 hours altogether, no layover, and the price is MORE than these US flights. and sure it takes over a month to earn it back home, if my family wants to visit.
I would have to spend 2-3 months savings AT LEAST to get back to Vienna from Bangkok, simply not worth it, not planning to go in the near future. better spent on a tropical beach holiday.

[Wr8dIAUk]

sometimes things work differently on different continents. maybe no small independent shops or huge online sales where I come from?

I'm not from Vienna but that's where you can get direct flights from. Budapest only has a seasonal direct flight to Bangkok, and it is way more expensive than flying via a big European hub or from Vienna.

[Fvmfrctt]

Maybe it will get better some day Paul au ...... after The world wide economic crash takes place over the next couple of years.

[Fvmfrctt]

$1050 for round trip ch bkk ch is very very good. Assuming it includs taxes fees charges. Doubt if you will get a better price. Flown Korean AL at least 6 times to bangkok. Just fine. Layover in korea is , or was, about 4 hours. Who knows now what overlay time is. If you have an EVA Air departure from ch. Deluxe class is great. Probably cost $1200 RT.

[hellencomstar]

Yes, Mr. Lenss I agree, I think that 1,050$ for Korean Air is pretty good. stopover wait in Seoul is 1 hour on the way to Bkk. and about 4 hours on the way back. Not too bad, in my opinion. On my first 2 trips both stopovers were in Tokyo with about 4 hours wait-each way.

[Mjyzpzph]

Hmmmm... 25,000bahts/800$?...what airlines is that?...least expensive my travel agent could find for me, about a month ago, was this fare I got-the Korean Airlines- round trip Chicago-Seoul-Bkk. for 1,050$/32,500 bahts....well maybe fares dropped some what in last month...and maybe you got a better bargain there

Just did a quick web search via the site I always use and the cheapest flight I could come up with for a one month round trip from Chicago to Bangkok for a one month stay was US$957. That was on American Airlines via Tokyo.

However if you were to travel the same dates in the other direction, i.e. Bangkok - Chicago - Bangkok, the cheapest was again via Tokyo but with United Airlines and would cost US$1,360.

David

[Mjyzpzph]

Cheapest fare today doing the same search is US$1,080 using All Nippon Airlines via Tokyo with a 3 hour stopover in both directions. And yes the fares I quote do include taxes.

The ANA flight is

US$ 775 for flight
US$ 305 for taxes and fuel surcharge
US$1080 total cost

David