CX matches low-cost fares

Cathay Pacific Airways currently quotes the best online fare to Singapore, Bt6,960 if you book early to catch the limited discounted seats and travel outside the main peak periods.

The cheapest offers are on limited seats and not available during long holidays, either in Thailand and Singapore. During busy holiday periods Cathay Pacific like all commercial airlines hikes the fare to level that will take your breath and your money away fast.

CX?s best base fare to Singapore is Bt4,800. Taxes and surcharges adds another Bt2,160, lifting the net payment to Bt6,960. If flexible with travel dates, the fare can be grabbed in the first week of April and certain periods after the Songkran holidays at around Bt6,960 fare, which is very close to Thai AirAsia?s Bt5,359 fare during 28 April to 2 May.

However, if passengers have to travel during the Songkran holiday week, between 12 and 18 April, Cathay Pacific is definitely not the airline to book as it hikes its economy fare to Bt28,685.

Passengers from Thailand have to be flexible, too, on travel dates to avold the travel peak when Hong Kong residents celebrate the Easter holiday from 29 March to 9 April. Flights are full to all destinations and fares are higher, even on the Bangkok-Singapore route.

Cathay Pacific?s lowest possible fare during the long Songkran holiday is Bt9,760, all in. This is on par with Singapore Airlines?, Bt9,340 fare. Meanwhile, Thai Airways International quotes the highest fare at Bt10,225, all inclusive during the same period.

Post-Songkran holiday, Singapore Airlines? fare drops to Bt8,340 and THAI?s to Bt9,920. If two persons travel together, Singapore Airlines has a GV2 promotion which sells at Bt7,340. That?s a saving of Bt1,000 on each ticket. For a group of four, the fare drops to Bt6,840 per person.

CX?s Bt6,960 online promotion remains a great deal if less than four persons travel together.

However, one drawback for passengers is that Cathay flies to Singapore just once a day departing Suvarnabhumi at 1145 and returning from Changi at 1330. Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines and THAI operate four flights daily.

In addition, SIA Holidays, a holiday division of Singapore Airlines is selling a three- day/two-night package starting from Bt6,950 (room only)and Bt8,700(with breakfast), inclusive of return fare, accommodation, airport transfer in coach, a tourist bus pass and a trolley bag (until stocks last).

Sourced = The TTR Weekly