SGA calls it a day for BKK-HH service

[troopie]

Just received this from a friend in the travel business:
SGA Closes Bangkok-Hua Hin Air Link

SGA Airlines today announced that due to the progress made on the road from Bangkok to Hua Hin, it would end its flight service.

The last SGA flight will be SE 904, departing from Hua Hin for Bangkok at 14.40 on March 28th, 2009.

I never used the SGA service but I did once use the old Bangkok Airways service. Right enough, the flight's so short, it's hardly worth sitting down!

[lomuamart]

So does the progress on the road mean that they've managed to blaze a trail further south than Petchaburi now?
Only joking

[SoCo MoFo]

Since I'm in the learning phase here, I didn't even realize there was a flight between the two locations. I was planning on taking a train or a bus. At least until I learn otherwise...

[troopie]

When I first visited HH, it was a stop on the old Bangkok Airways service from Don Muang to Koh Samui, but they stopped because it wasn't profitable -- the Thais preferred to drive & they are the main market. It looks like SGA has come to the same conclusion, hence their reference to the road. It is true that the road is better than it was just 18 months ago but even if it was autobahn standard, it would still be a boring 2~3 hour drive, running the risk of hitting bangkok traffic. The air service was a pleasant alternative but it was too pricy & getting from the airport to downtown was too inconvenient.

I'm travelling to Bangkok & back tomorrow, by minibus, & I shall, as always, take a good book & my iPod!

[The understudy]

Well I saw this comming ffor along Time

It's simply not viable enough to justify a flight from and to Hua Hin inspite of using the smallest Airplane there is.

Well better luck with the (proposed) {At spinning the rumour mill stage} New Airport.

Your's The understudy!!!

[STEVE G]

It’s the same the world over, you can’t make money on a flight to a destination that you can drive in a couple of hours on the basis of the fact that the time taken to get to the airport and check-in is going to eat up all the time that you gained by flying.

[JAJA]

We used it quite frequently up until the end of 2006. But we travel business and hence our luggage was way over their allowance. At first they were pretty flexible, but (I think it was in Dec 2006), I spat the dummy when I got stung the full quid for our luggage. I said to them that they could check their computer to see the number of times we had used their service, and that if they insisted on charging me the full sum they demanded, then we would not fly with them again. The response "so sorry but it is our company policy". Well we did not use them after that! So sorry, but it was my policy. The road has improved significantly since then, and whilst it might not be as good as an autobahn, it is a pretty good road by any other standard.

[baron_wastelanduk]

so co

quickest way down to Hua Hin is by minibus from Victory Monument BKK

cheap too!

much better than bus from south terminal which takes forever

another alternative is to hire a car

the train takes longer than the bus coz of so many food stops

[Khundon1975]

We used to use it a lot in the days of Bangkok airways. The 7pm flight was great, coffee was served and before we had drunk it, the stewardess whipped the cups away.

In 2000 the road through parts of Samutsakorn past the big bridge, was little better than a dirt track with patches of tarmac and construction. Driving on it, shook your fillings out.

We could leave HH on the night flight and be with in laws in Pathum Thani by 8.30pm, have a few drinks and a meal and take the return flight in the morning.
Now it's a 3.1/2 hr run in the car.

[BaaBaa.]

quickest way down to Hua Hin is by minibus from Victory Monument BKK

The quickest way is by Taxi for 2000 baht which is a godsend after 20+ hours of flying and waiting in Airports.

I'd use HH Airport if they did Chiang Mai, Surin, etc, etc.

BKK just isnt worth it.

[fft100]

i used to use it every trip until early 2007. if travelling alone it was not a lot more than the taxi, and the evening flight getting to BKK at 8.45pm tied in nicely with the international flights to Europe. But, then they changed the timetable so it meant leaving HH at the same time as if i got a taxi, but then having 3-5 hours stuck in the lounge in BKK.

Shame. I used to like getting a phone call to see if i could leave early as the storms were coming in, or being asked if i minded the plane leaving BKK (coming to HH in the morning) early as there were no other passengers ! Thai/BA/Qatar just dont do that sort of thing.

and flying through / around lightning was cool. very interesting.

[bambergasgoigne]

bugger..

when on my own, used it all the time.

when returning to Europe, if times with connection were right it gave you another 3 hours in bed in HH, which equates to another 3 hours on the town on your last night out.

airports increase tourism and demand. Even if no-one was using it, the fact that you could advertise it and give it as an option was a good thing. (if you are in the tourism business).

How much has the road improved in the last 12 months. I havn't driven it for that long?. Has it cut times down. What is average time for fast but safe driver ?

Bamber

[baron_wastelanduk]

excepting when i got lost in phetburi i did bkk hh in a little over 2 hrs

stupid cow wanted to go to Big C

[Governor]

Presume that means that there are no civilian planes using the airport now, will it stay open I wonder?

[Sabai Jai]

I never flew BKK - HHQ

It is a shame that in all these years of upgrading the roads nothing has been done with the Railways.

Is that rail link from Hualampong to Swampy open yet?

SJ