Practical tips
- If you are flying to Bangkok from abroad, you will most likely land at its main international airport—Suvarnabhumi International Airport
BKK(serves mostly full-service airlines), or Don Mueang International AirportDMK(serves low-cost carriers). Both airports have really good public transport service, however Suvarnabhumi has advantage of Airport Rail Link (city train system) that runs every 15 minutes to central Bangkok.
BKK (approximately 30 km/19 miles east of city center) and Don Mueang International Airport DMK (23 km/14 miles north-east). Since the distance to the city center is not much different, and both airports are quite well connected to the city, they are equally good options to arrive in Bangkok by air.
- Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of Bamboo Airways, Bangkok Airways, Cebu Pacific, Go First, IndiGo, Jetstar, Scoot, SpiceJet, Thai AirAsia, Tigerair Taiwan, and VietJet Air.
Flights to Bangkok
from United States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Bangkok. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Bangkok, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop. There are no direct flights from the US to Bangkok. The only nonstop connection from North America is from Vancouver
YVRin Canada to Bangkok BKK with Air Canada. It is an ultra long-haul flight, as it covers a distance of 11,800 km (7,330 miles) and the flight time is nearly 16 hours. The Vancouver - Bangkok route is set to be part of a seasonal service, running from December through to April, four times a week. Air Canada is operating this route using the airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft - Bangkok is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Bangkok with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta
ATL, DallasDFW, DenverDEN, ChicagoORD, Los AngelesLAX, Las VegasDFW, MiamiMIA, SeattleSEA, HoustonIAH, New YorkJFK, and San FranciscoSFOin the United States and TorontoYYZ, VancouverYVR, CalgaryLAS, and MontrealYULin Canada. Air China tends to be the cheapest on routes from the US to Bangkok, and the quickest (only one short layover), while Emirates economy class is the most comfortable (a seat legroom of 33-34 inches and a width of 18 inches, plus a large library of free entertainment). - The best airlines to fly to Bangkok from the US and Canada are: Air Canada, ANA, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Japan Airlines, and Singapore Airlines. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.
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What is the best time to book flights to Bangkok?
The best time to book flights to Bangkok is between 2 to 8 months before your travel date. The prime booking window (the most likely time to find the bargains) for Bangkok flights is 4–6 months before takeoff. Book when you notice a significant drop in price.
Airfare prices for Bangkok flights fluctuate due to demand, seasonal trends, and competition, causing numerous price drops and increases as your departure date approaches. The airlines use sophisticated revenue management systems to adjust pricing for optimal seat sales.
Generally, as seats are sold, prices tend to become more expensive.
Don’t book too early
Most airlines start selling their flights 9–12 months in advance. However, booking a ticket too early in that window can be an expensive mistake – airlines typically start by setting prices at a relatively high level to capture early demand from those willing to pay more to secure their seats.
Peak seasons are expensive
Peak travel seasons are always expensive – due to higher base prices set by airlines for dates they expect to be popular. Try to avoid the high season during summer and major holidays including holidays in Thailand. If you must travel during peak times, book your flight well in advance.
Avoid last minute
Avoid booking flights to Bangkok less than 30 days before takeoff. Prices spike sharply then, as airlines are taking advantage of any last-minute travelers who have no choice but to pay up.
Prime Booking Window
For long-haul flights to Bangkok, the best time to book your ticket is around 4–6 months before departure. This is the “Prime Booking Window.” After some seats have already been sold, airlines start dropping prices to stimulate demand. They may also offer promotions and sales. This is the ideal time for bargain hunting.
Fly on weekdays
It makes a difference which day of the week you board the plane. Midweek travel (especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays) is less busy and likely cheaper than flying on weekends. Airlines charge higher prices for weekend travel due to the high demand from people going on short getaways or visiting family and friends.
Opt for early morning flights
To save on airfare, select a late night or early morning (1–5 a.m.) flight. Airlines often offer discounts on their first flight of the morning (up to 15-20%) simply because of lower demand—most people are not willing to go to the airport so early. Moreover, morning flights tend to have fewer delays, and airport queues are usually shorter.
Flights to Bangkok from Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Bangkok — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. Direct flights from Europe to Bangkok are about 10-12 hours long. Only some of the largest European hubs have a nonstop connection to Bangkok – among them are Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Helsinki, London, Munich, Paris, Stockholm, and Zurich. Those flights arrive at either Bangkok or Phuket, and are operated by Thai Airways, Air France, EVA Air, Finnair, KLM, Lufthansa, SWISS, and Turkish Airlines
- Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Bangkok include Air France, Air India, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Finnair, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, and Turkish Airlines.
- Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Bangkok from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Leverage frequent promotions from European budget carriers like RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to reach a major hub; from there, take a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination, potentially saving hundreds of euros.
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Duty-free rules
Thailand is serious about the duty-free concession. There is a limit for bringing in certain items. Alcoholic drinks such as wine, spirits or beer cannot exceed one liter per person, and you can carry only 200 cigarettes (or 250g of tobacco). In addition to personal items, you may also carry items in reasonable quantity up to a value of 20,000 baht (~USD 550 / AUD 810).
Anything above those limits must be declared – at the airport in Bangkok, head to Red Lane to declare your goods.
The cheapest time to fly to Bangkok
Bangkok is a relatively affordable destination all year round, though travelers may find the best bargains on flights during the low (monsoon) season – which runs from July to September.
During these months Bangkok experiences less-pleasant weather conditions compared to the dry, hot months of November to May. Despite the less-than-ideal weather, the off-peak season promises smaller crowds and big savings: flights, hotels, tours, activities, and local food are significantly cheaper compared to the high season.
Bangkok, like most of Thailand, experiences its peak tourist season from November to March (or even into April and May) – it’s the time when airfares skyrocket, so remember to book your flights well in advance to avoid overpaying.
When planning your visit to Bangkok, try to avoid national holidays and large conventions, when flight and hotel prices soar (even during the off-peak season). Check out the EverythingBKK events calendar for updated information.
Know your time zone
Thailand uses only one time zone across the country – Thailand Standard Time (THA) or Indochina Time (ICT) – which is UTC+7 (GMT+7). As a result, clocks in Bangkok are 7 hours ahead of London and 11 hours ahead of New York. The country shares the same time zone with Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Western Indonesia. It does not have an associated daylight saving time.
When checking flights and airport transfer times, ensure you know the local time zones. The departure time on your plane ticket is always listed based on the time zone of the departure airport. We suggest resetting your watch during the flight – it will help your brain adjust to the new time zone and to deal with jet lag.
Use the Thai Post Office to send your bag ahead
You can walk into a post office in any Thai town and send a suitcase ahead to your next destination in Thailand. Just contact your next hotel or Airbnb to notify them of the upcoming package delivery. Even a large, heavy suitcase should cost you no more than 300 Bahts (less than $10).
Use Grab to get around town
Uber is no longer available in Bangkok – it ceased business in April 2018 and has been replaced by its Asia alternative – Grab. It’s a good way for a cross-city journey: the cars are safe, secure and usually air-conditioned. Similarly to Uber, it has fixed distance-based fees, so drivers can’t overcharge you for journeys.
Bangkok also has GrabBike, where you can hail a ride on the back of a scooter to get to your destination cheaper and faster in congested traffic.
If you don’t have Grab Taxi yet, download it for your Thailand vacation and set up your account, payment options, etc before arriving.
Use Thai budget airlines
It can be time-consuming and uncomfortable to travel on overnight buses or trains in Thailand. Opt for domestic air travel instead, as it is usually cheap, easy, and convenient.
Most flight routes around Bangkok are reasonably priced and short. For example, to fly from Bangkok to the southern island of Koh Samui takes only one hour on a direct flight, at the cost of around 2000 bahts (~60 USD / ~85 AUD / ~55 EUR).
The cheapest flights can be found on Thai budget airlines – Nok Air, Thai Air Asia, Thai Lion Air, Thai VietAir, and Thai Smile. Most of these budget airlines fly out from Bangkok using Don Muang (DMK) airport, and Thai VietAir flies from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).
Long waiting times when calling the helpline?
Social media is usually a faster way to reach the airline when a problem arises. Use Twitter or Facebook Messenger to contact the airline customer service and get a response and solution within minutes (see detailed guides for Thai AirAsia, Thai LionAir, Singapore Airlines, and others).
When it comes to Twitter there’s one more trick to get in touch with the airline faster: mention the airline in a tweet about your issue (add “@airline_handle”, for example: “@ThaiAirways”). The social media team will often notice it immediately, ask you for a direct message, and respond privately.
Avoid Thai public holidays
Prices skyrocket in Bangkok during popular Thai holidays – adjust travel dates to avoid expensive tickets. Cheap flights to Bangkok are non-existent during popular “red days” such as Songkran (12-15 April), Coronation Day (5 May), Vesak (26 May), Chulalongkorn Day (23 October), and New Year’s Eve (31 December).
Domestic flights from Bangkok
Most domestic routes in Thailand are operated by local carriers. When traveling to popular tourist destinations such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, Ko Samui, Krabi, Pattaya, Phi Phi, Koh Tao, Surat Thani from Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang Airport, you’ll likely fly with one of these domestic airlines: Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, Thai Lion Air, Thai Vietjet Air, Thai Smile.
This is often the best transportation method, providing speed, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. Local airlines often offer multiple daily flights to key destinations, providing flexibility in scheduling and competitive pricing. They also serve smaller regional airports, enabling access to a wider range of Thai destinations.
Flights to Bangkok
from Australia and New Zealand
- Australia and New Zealand are well-connected with popular Asian destinations, including Bangkok. In addition to domestic airlines – Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand – routes from Australasia to Asia are operated by large international carriers such as ANA, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways.
Currently, there are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Bangkok. You’ll need a layover in one of the major hubs in Asia. - Airfare costs can vary widely depending on the route and the airline’s pricing strategy. To find the cheapest flight to Bangkok, compare ticket prices from various international airports in Australia – Sydney
SYD, BrisbaneBNE, MelbourneMEL, PerthPER, AdelaideADL, CairnsCNS, Gold CoastOOL, CanberraCBR, and in New Zealand – AucklandAKL, WellingtonWLG, ChristchurchCHC, QueenstownZQN, and DunedinDUD. - For optimal savings, consider flying from Australia or New Zealand to a key Asian hub, then connect to Bangkok via a regional low-cost carrier. Among budget airlines that fly to Bangkok are Bamboo Airways, Bangkok Airways, Cebu Pacific, Go First, IndiGo, Jetstar, Scoot, SpiceJet, Thai AirAsia, Tigerair Taiwan, and VietJet Air.
For the first leg, use the budget carriers that fly out of Australian airports, leveraging sales and promotions they run frequently: AirAsia (connects with Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore), Cebu Pacific (Manila), Jetstar (Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo), Scoot (Singapore), VietJet Air (Ho Chi Minh City), Bamboo Airways (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing), and Batik Air (Jakarta, Singapore).
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Flights to Bangkok
from major hubs in Asia
- Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Bangkok look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
- Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Bangkok will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
- Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting Thailand and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet, and VietJet Air. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.
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Flights to Bangkok dataset
