Korean Job Discussion Forums

[huck]

I'm going to Bangkok at the end of July. My travel agent reserved me seats on Korean Air, but said Thai Airways was booked, and put me on the waiting list...she also said that the prices weren't set yet for any airlines.

I just checked the Thai Airways site. They're quoting 560,000 won, and they say there are seats available, but I have to book it by Tuesday...

The big question is - do you think the travel agent will be able to get something cheaper?

I don't know...

[the eye]

don't book directly with the airline unless they offer a sweet deal. 560 is pretty bitter.

travel agents' wholesale ticket prices usually come out by the 2nd or 3rd week. why not call up some of the agents in the newspaper and try them for availability? get on the waiting list now if they are booked.

BTW, if you're going to BKK in July, better take your umbrella and rubber boots.

[chiaa]

I have said this a million times on this board.

Travel agents are nothing but scammers in this country. I cannot begin to tell you how many people have either:

1. Been put on a "list" told to pay for the ticket three days before the flight and then told there were not tickets available.

2. Been told prices are not set yet and then ass raped three days before the flight.

Airlines set their prices nine months before the flight. They have a certain amount of tickets at one price (Y class being the cheapest--this is different from coach and business) and on.

Every single time I get a ticket to leave this country I pay for my ticket a month or two in advance and get my ticket delivered to my home 24 hours later.

Why do travel agents do number one and two I mentioned above?

Bucket shops buy large amounts of tickets for flights and get a greater discount because they bought a bunch of seats. These bucket shops then sell the tickets to the travel agents. They kind of play the market. They can try to hold on to them and get a higher rate if demand is high or get rid of them earlier. They first want to use up all the seats that they have purchased for package tours and/or hotel/air packages.

Thus, if they sell a lot of these packages before you have your actual ticket in hand you are shit out of luck. If they do not sell out of the package tickets, but have a high demand, the tickets will go to the highest bidder.

If you have a Korean friend I highly suggest that you have them go to daum.net and then click on the travel button which will bring you here http://www.tourexpress.com/korea/ I have heard but cannot confirm that they have English speaking agents available. Have a friend call them and find out for you then you can do the leg work yourself. Or, you can just have your friend book the flight right on their site for you.

The prices are always good You may find it 20.000 won cheaper someplace else but get put on the "list" and chance getting screwed.

[huck]

I waited.......now Thai Airways is quoting 917,000 won, and all of the seat are full.......only 3 days after they were all available and they were quoting 570,000...

and now the travel agents and the tournexpress website are quoting 670,000 won...

i hate this place sometimes...

[chiaa]

I just jumped on Tour Express for you and came up with the following:

7/27-8/10 420.000 Won. Seats available on all flights.

Let me know the exact dates (or how flexible you are) and I will do a search for you.

[animalbirdfish]

560,000 at the end of July seemed pretty good to me. I've never been able to get any such prices for late July out of Korea.