Asia Pacific is reopening to international tourism
Asia Pacific region is finally on the road to full recovery, welcoming back foreign travelers from around the world. Most countries in the region have fully reopened borders to all international short-term visitors — lifting travel restrictions and easing tourist visa requirements.
Flying to Asia Pacific from France, Germany, Norway, Italy, Greece, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland
Fly from Europe to destinations across Asia and the Pacific – from the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent all the way to Southeast Asia and beyond to the islands on the Pacific Ocean.
Get insider tips and flight hacks from our team of experienced travelers. Save 40–80% with curated SuperDeals from major European airports: Paris CDG (Charles de Gaulle Airport), Amsterdam AMS (Schiphol Airport), Frankfurt FRA (Frankfurt am Main Airport), Rome FCO (Leonardo da Vinci International Airport), Dublin DUB (Dublin Airport), Vienna VIE (Vienna Intl Airport), Athens ATH (Athens Intl Airport), Zurich ZRH (Zurich Airport) – among others.
What is the best time to book flights to Asia Pacific?
The best time to book flights to Asia Pacific is between 2 to 8 months before your travel date. The prime booking window (the most likely time to find the bargains) for Asia Pacific flights is 4–6 months before takeoff. During this period, you should monitor airfares by setting alerts on popular flight search websites. Book when you notice a significant drop in price.
Why do prices fluctuate?
Airfare prices for Asia Pacific 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
Prime Booking Window
For long-haul flights to Asia Pacific, the best time to book your ticket is around 4–6 months before departure. It 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 am) 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.
Set alerts
Track flight price fluctuations for your desired routes to Asia Pacific using email alerts on search sites like Google Flights to catch price drops. These drops will be your chance to book the flight at its best price.
Avoid last minute
Avoid booking flights to Asia Pacific 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 (learn more about last-minute pricing).
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 Asia), and check the best time to fly to Asia Pacific. If you must travel during peak times, book a bit earlier – 6 to 8 months in advance.
Join ATC
A useful way to find discounted airfare is to sign up for a deal newsletter such as Air Traveler Club. The ATC team is constantly looking for price drops on popular routes, and we share them with our members free of charge.
The cheapest time to fly to Southeast Asia
The cheapest time to fly to Southeast Asia from Europe is during the low tourist season. Since not all regions share the same off-peak season, the precise period for the cheapest flights varies depending on the country. In Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines, it typically runs from June to October, while in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, it’s from October to March.
The low tourist season coincides with the region’s rainy (wet/monsoon) season. Due to lower demand and fewer crowds, you can take advantage of not only cheaper flights from Europe but also competitive rates for hotels and tours. Additionally, you’ll enjoy a more peaceful experience with quieter streets, less-crowded beaches and tourist attractions.
While the wet season in Southeast Asia may not be ideal for some European travelers due to the rainy weather, the region’s location within the tropics (with southern areas close to the equator) ensures warm temperatures year-round. It is common to have daily rain, but it typically occurs in the afternoon and at night, making it predictable and easy to work around.
Why should you book an early morning flight to Asia
It is a seemingly simple but often overlooked strategy: fly at dawn for smoother travel and cheaper tickets. Booking an early morning flight from Europe to Asia can pay off in numerous ways:
- Cheaper airfares. Early morning flights – between 4 am and 8 am – are usually cheaper than other day schedules. 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.
- Lower chance of delay. The thin traffic in the morning leads to fewer delays – all the flights from the night before have already landed, and there is no other air traffic to contend with. Air traffic and delays get worse throughout the day – starting around 8-10 am and reaching a peak at 4-6 pm. If you are flying from Europe to Asia with a connecting flight, arriving on time at your layover airport may be critical to catching your next flight!
- Fewer crowds at the airport. By heading to the airport before rush hour, you can at least halve the time spent in city traffic. With fewer travelers at the airport, there will be no long lines at the check-in and security, and waiting areas will be less crowded. This applies to all major European airports, including France, Germany, Norway, Italy, Greece, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland.
Taking an early morning flight is the best way to avoid crowds at the airport - Less turbulence. Early morning flights offer a smoother ride, with less turbulence. Thunderstorms and unstable air, which can cause turbulence (including its worst kind – convective turbulence) are more likely to occur in the afternoon.
- Cleaner plane. On its first flight of the day, your aircraft will be as sanitary as possible. Airlines generally take extra care to thoroughly clean planes between flights, but boarding that morning flight gives you the greatest chance of a spotless plane.
Know your time zone
Asia Pacific is a vast region with time zones that span from UTC+4 in the west to UTC+12 in the east. Popular among European tourists Southeast Asia covers a much narrower range, from UTC+7 (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam) to UTC+9 (eastern Indonesia, including Papua and the Maluku Islands).
As you travel eastward, you will “gain” time, and as you travel westward, you will “lose” time. For example, if you fly from Dubai, UAE (UTC+4) to Sydney, Australia (UTC+11), you will gain 7 hours.
Some countries in Asia Pacific have multiple time zones due to their large size or because they span across different longitudes – Australia, Fiji, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Kiribati and the Marshall Islands. Others offset their local time in increments of half-hour or even 45 minutes rather than a full hour – Australia, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, French Polynesia, and Chatham Islands in New Zealand. Also, several countries observe Daylight Saving Time (also known as summer time) during certain parts of the year – Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Cook Islands, Samoa, Norfolk Island, and Tonga.
Your phone (and e-watch) will most likely update the local time automatically when you cross time zones. However, it’s worth checking the current local time of your destination at the TimeAndDate website and taking it into account when planning your journey.
Visit the hottest destinations in the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania
From lush tropical islands to bustling cities – embark on an adventure! Explore a wide range of affordable flight options departing from various airports throughout Europe. Visit these well-known APAC destinations that attract countless European travelers every year.
Last-minute flights to Asia from Europe. The real cost of convenience.
Last-minute flights are often touted as a great way to save money, but the reality is far from it. Booking last-minute flights to Asia from Europe almost always never works out. The convenience of being able to book a flight on the fly is a dangerous game of chance, and you will most likely end up paying significantly higher than booking in advance.
The common perception may be that airlines decrease ticket prices to fill empty seats as the departure date approaches. However, the truth is that airfares depend on demand. Based on years of research and current customer data, the airlines know what people are willing to pay for specific flights and dates. They are also well aware that people are willing to pay a premium for flights they need to take immediately or during convenient times such as European school holidays. To make the most money, the airline will sell its cheapest fares first and then increase the prices right before the flight to take advantage of business travelers and others who are willing to pay the premium price for late booking.
Occasionally, airlines can put some seats on sale to fill the remaining seats, but these are for unusual times and unpopular places. Popular destinations and dates around peak travel times tend to sell out quickly.
Planning ahead is key to securing a good deal on your flight. Last-minute flight deals are hard to come by, so as soon as you have a tentative travel timeline, book your flight. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to save money. If you are looking for a good deal, the best time to book your flight from Europe to Asia is around 60-90 days before the departure date.
Check different departure airports in Europe
Looking for the best deals on flights from Europe to Asia? Consider your neighboring cities when choosing the departure airport – especially look for larger European cities with airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, check prices for flights departing from Paris CDG (Charles de Gaulle Airport), Amsterdam AMS (Schiphol Airport), Frankfurt FRA (Frankfurt am Main Airport), Rome FCO (Leonardo da Vinci International Airport), Dublin DUB (Dublin Airport), Vienna VIE (Vienna Intl Airport), Athens ATH (Athens Intl Airport), Zurich ZRH (Zurich Airport). In 9 out of 10 cases, the cheapest flight to your chosen destination in Asia will depart from one of these hubs, and it may be $500 less or more than your first choice. You may have to fly a few hundred kilometers to this hub, but regional airlines like Wizz Air, Ryanair, and EasyJet will happily take you there for $50 – $100.
Use this tactic if you depart from any region in the world. It’s one of the best ways to save hundreds on trips.
Long waiting times when calling the helpline?
Social media is usually a faster way to reach the airline when a problem arises during your trip from Europe to Asia. Use Twitter or Facebook Messenger to contact the airline customer service and get a response and solution within minutes (see detailed guides for American Airlines, Emirates, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and others).
When it comes to Twitter, there’s one more trick to get in touch with the airline even faster: mention the airline in a tweet about your issue by including their Twitter handle (add “@airline_handle”, for example: “@emirates”). The social media team will often notice the mention immediately, ask you for a direct message, and help resolve your issue on the private chat.
Flights to Southeast Asia from Europe
Flying to SE Asia from Europe can be cheap if you know where to look. Check the best routes and top airlines, see which flights offer the best value and convenience.
Uncover SuperDeals to the most popular destinations in Southeast Asia from Paris CDG (Charles de Gaulle Airport), Amsterdam AMS (Schiphol Airport), Frankfurt FRA (Frankfurt am Main Airport), Rome FCO (Leonardo da Vinci International Airport), Dublin DUB (Dublin Airport), Vienna VIE (Vienna Intl Airport), Athens ATH (Athens Intl Airport), Zurich ZRH (Zurich Airport), and others.
