Best carrier to fly between Thai cities - Asia Air or Thai Airways?

[Madison S]

Hello!

Need some help from the experienced folks out there! I'm looking to book a few flights inside Thailand. A one way ticket on Asia Air - from Bangkok to Chiang Mai was only 1000 THB (24 USD)! The same flight on Thai Airways was 1845 THB (44USD). Which is better to fly? Asia Air's websire has a tagline "Now everyone can fly". Is it a good quality airline?

Is it neccessary that I book my flights before the trip or book when I get there?

I read there there's a train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai - anyone have info/experiences with that? I believe it's like 10 hours or something.

If you have any other useful info, that would be great!

Thanks much!!
- Madison

 

[Pleiades]

Would suggest you pay a little more for Thai Airline. Air Asia is new and the flights frequency might be limited.

 

[underwater daphne]

asia air is cheap and it's cheap. i've heard a lot of negative things from various ppl about asia air. and i once hung out with an asia air engineer.
from what i've heard from these ppl i'd pay a little more and go for thai airline.

 

[Vie]

I'd go with THAI Airways. Or you could try Nok Air, the "lowcost" that's affliliated with THAI Airways.

www.nokair.co.th

 

[travelem]

Air asia is cheap and starts gaining ground, it hasn't had an accidents yet.

Thai airways is a good established airlines.

Is it worth to pay more? If that amount isn't that important, why not pay more.
But I won't mind to take the air asia flights. It is the southwest airlines in SE Asia.

I always took the Thai train, basic and comfortable but not luxury. With airasia, I will take the flight now.

Second class aircon sleeper bed is good enough.

 

[travelem]

A few Air Asia trip reports:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=343026
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=334923
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=345751

 

[tboxcar]

My G/F and I flew Air Asia from Bangkok to Kota Kinabula in July. Sure they are a low budget airline 'breaking into the market', what service there was, was great! They were on time, I bought the ticket 'on-line' and had no problems, actually flew o/w for about US$25. The planes seemed in decent shape! I understand they have big plans to buy more planes. I would fly them again, 'in a heart beat'!