Thai Airways Ups Redemption Rates For Loyalty Program

19th Jun 2014

hai Airways will soon increase the number of miles flown by members of Royal Orchid Plus before they can earn points in selected routes, especially those originating from Australia.

Starting September 1, 2014, Aussie travelers who are members of the loyalty program will have to earn more mileage to cash in on their awards on flights from either Brisbane, Melbourne, or Sydney.

The increase in mileage points in these routes will mean a decrease in chances for a member to use his points to get awards or make seat upgrades.

Australia to Bangkok Flights

Currently, travelers originating from Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney flying to Bangkok on economy and business class need 38,500 and 68,500 miles, respectively. Those who are lucky enough to be accommodated in Thai's B747's first class cabin, they should earn a whopping 105,000 miles.

When Thai Airways starts to implement the new redemption rate in September this year, only business and first class seats will see a substantial increase; that is 98,000 and 150,000 respectively.

Meanwhile, the economy seat will become cheaper for travelers as they only need 33,000 miles to redeem it using their Royal Orchid Plus.

Travelers who want to get a return flight seat in these routes will soon need 66,000, 196,000 and 300,000 miles, for economy, business and first class respectively.

Australia to London Flights

Flights to London from Sydney via Bangkok cost travelers 49,000 miles for one-way economy, but they would need 170,000 and 230,000 miles for a business and first class seat.

For a return trip, members need a staggering 340,000 and 480,000 miles for a business and first class seat while an economy seat only requires 98,000 miles.

Australia to North America Flights

Flights to North American destinations will require travelers to spend 120,000 for an economy seat, while a business and first class seat will need them to shell out double the current figures, from 150,000 to 300,000 for a business-class seat and from 180,000 to 360,000 for a first-class seat.

The only consolation for Star Alliance travelers is that they are now be able to book half the mileage rates of a one-way booking.

Seat Upgrades

Travelers on G, V and W-class economy 'fare buckets' are no longer allowed to upgrade. Sydney-Bangkok travelers on Y, B and M , meanwhile, require 51,000 miles from 34,000, while the mid-range H, Q, S, T, and K will need 66,000 from 44,000 miles.

Traveling onwards from Bangkok to London on a business class will require travelers 58,000 miles from 69,500. They will need 51,000 and 66,000 for full and mid-range economy seat.

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