Thank you for that! Yes, Thai Airways had a smiley face 3 days before, but the day of it was PACKED- on a 777!!!
We tried for two flights and didn't make it, so we took NOK airlines, which I read was the low-cost airline UNDER Thai Airways, so I was hoping that would mean the safety standards were the same as Thai. It was a very nice 737, and even though it was $75 one way (at the last minute) versus the $40 ZED, it was a guaranteed seat.

Thank you for sharing about Chinese new year. We might take buses instead. And, we aren't really the grungy backpackers, we just have backpacks. We do dress up as much as possible and are CLEAN before we go to the airport. I agree, many backpackers look like bums!