I got my last visa in October. Los Angeles consulate, but paying to a Hong Kong bank account under a private name. Looks fishy to VISA. I just had to call and resubmit it
Don’t confuse non-stop flights with direct flights. They are completely different. There are none to Thailand now anyway TG used to have nonstop from LAX-BKK. Probably never happen again it is a low yield vacation market
The most efficient transit was KE flight to CNX from ICN Hope that comes back soon.