Domestic airlines have advertised that they are offering deeply discounted tickets to allow mourners to travel to the capital to pay their respects of the late king.
Both Thai AirAsia and Bangkok Airways have publicized the fares. However, when possible buyers went to the sites to book the tickets, they were unable to find any at the low fares promised, some of those fares were as low as THB890 round trip (not including airport service charges) in postings that have been widely circulated over the last few days.
Customers are calling it a “bait and switch,” the same kind often used to lure possible buyers to the site, reported Bangkok Post.
Thai AirAsia also publicized low fares that were meant to be a public service and show of solidarity and goodwill to the Thai people at a difficult time.
Those fares also hovered around the THB1,000 mark and different slightly depending on the different airport service charges.
Bangkok Airways’ low rates were supposedly available from Nov. 26 until Dec. 2 and couldn’t be booked on their site. Those wishing to avail themselves of the low fares needed to call the airline’s call center.
It was said that as many as 20 percent of the seats on all flights had been earmarked for mourners, but few people have been able to access the publicized low fares.
AirAsia Thailand wrote about fares as low as THB490 that could be used through Nov. 30 and included a special link. But, again, people seemed unable to access these prices.
Netizens were not happy about feeling like they were getting tricked at this difficult time.
Posters claimed that the call center for Bangkok Airways was always engaged or the line just rang and rang.
Over at Thai AirAsia, customers complained online because there were no mourning rates available on any flights — although there were plenty of pricey seats available.
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