Thailand: book flights online
Bangkok: book flights online

Thailand is open to international tourism

International travelers may freely enter Thailand if they can provide proof of vaccination. Unvaccinated visitors must present a negative PCR test up to 72 hours before departure. There is no Covid test on arrival or during the stay in Thailand. Health insurance is not compulsory but recommended.

64 nationalities under the Visa Exemption Program can enter Thailand without a visa and stay for up to 30 days. Foreigners may also apply for a Tourist Visa from the Thai embassy or consulate.

Transit through Thai airports is allowed as long as you remain in the transit area in the airport. Ensure that your connecting flight is booked on the same itinerary and ticket.

Arriving in Ko Samui

  • If you are flying to Ko Samui from abroad, you will most likely land at one of its biggest international airportsits main international airportSamui Airport USM, located on the northeast coast of the island of Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand.

    The airport is privately owned and operated by Bangkok Airways – most flights to and from the island are operated by this carrier (often under code-sharing agreement with other airlines). USM has two terminals, domestic and international, and is known for its distinctive open-air layout.

    In close proximity to Samui Airport, passengers can conveniently access two major piers for island-hopping adventures. The Big Buddha Pier, situated nearby, offers ferry services to Ko Pha-ngan, while high-speed ferries to Ko Tao and Chumphon are available at Maenam Beach Pier, located approximately 6 km northwest of the airport
    .

    These are also the best (and the cheapest) airports to fly into Ko Samui. As they are used by many airlines serving the same routes, the competition for passengers is fierce – with decreased airfare as a result.
  • Once in Ko Samui, take advantage of frequent intercity flights operated by domestic airlines such as Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air, Thai Smile. Those in-country carriers typically offer lower fares, operate from smaller airports located closer to city centers (you save on ground transportation), and provide flexible schedules – with a wide range of departure times.
  • Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations near Ko Samui can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of Bangkok Airways, and Scoot. If you have a layover in Ko Samui and plan to fly only a short distance to one of its neighboring countries, these budget airlines are an excellent way to save money. However, the “no-frills” carrier may not provide free checked baggage allowance, complimentary food, in-flight entertainment systems, and fast customer support. You may not even get to choose your seats, unless you pay extra.

Airports of Ko Samui

Best airports to fly into Ko Samui: Samui Airport (USM)
Ko Samui has one airport – Samui Airport USM (also known as Koh Samui Airport), located on the northeast coast of the island of Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand. The airport is situated approximately 2.5 km (1.5 miles) north of the popular tourist spot of Chaweng Beach, and 10 km (6 miles) from Lamai Beach.
Things to know before flying to Koh Samui
Airlines flying to Koh SamuiAir Astana, Air France, Austrian Airlines, Bangkok Airways, British Airways, El Al, Emirates, Finnair, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, KLM, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, Vietnam Airlines
Thai airlinesThai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, Thai Lion Air, Nok Air, Thai Smile, Thai VietAir
Main airports in Koh SamuiSamui Airport (USM)
Regular price (roundtrip)✈ €800 – €1200 (from Europe)
✈ $700 – $1100 (from USA)
Flight hacks 40% — 80% off regular fare
Airline discountsDiscounted airline tickets to Ko Samui (student/family/seniors/military)

Low-cost flights from Ko Samui

Stay ahead of the game. Fly to popular destinations at a fraction of the regular fare.

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 Samui Airport, head to Red Lane to declare your goods.

The cheapest time to fly to Ko Samui

Ko Samui 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 Ko Samui 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.

Ko Samui, 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 Ko Samui, try to avoid national holidays, when flight and hotel prices soar (even during the off-peak season).

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 Ko Samui 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).

Next tips

Flights to Ko Samui from United States and Canada

  • There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Ko Samui. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Ko Samui, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop. The best option is to fly direct from the US or Canada to Bangkok, Singapore or Hong Kong, and then take a shorter, connecting flight to Koh Samui with Bangkok Airways (the only airline that serves Ko Samui).
  • Ko Samui is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Ko Samui with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta ATL, Dallas DFW, Denver DEN, Chicago ORD, Los Angeles LAX, Las Vegas DFW, Miami MIA, Seattle SEA, Houston IAH, New York JFK, and San Francisco SFO in the United States and Toronto YYZ, Vancouver YVR, Calgary LAS, and Montreal YUL in Canada.
  • The best airlines to fly to Ko Samui from the US and Canada are: 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.

US and Canada to Ko Samui.Ticket prices in November 2023.

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Use Grab to get around island

Uber is no longer available in Thailand – 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.

If you don’t have Grab Taxi yet, download it for your Ko Samui 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 Ko Samui are reasonably priced and short. For example, to fly from Ko Samui to Bangkok 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.

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 Ko Samui during popular Thai holidays – adjust travel dates to avoid expensive tickets. Cheap flights to Ko Samui 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).

Next tips

Flights to Ko Samui from UK, Germany, France, Netherlands and other countries in Europe

  • There are no direct flights from Europe to Ko Samui — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. The best option is to fly direct from Europe to Bangkok, Phuket, or Singapore, and then take a shorter, connecting flight to Koh Samui with Bangkok Airways (the only airline that serves Ko Samui).
  • Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Ko Samui include Air Europa, Air France, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Emirates, Finnair, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, Thai AirAsia, 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 Ko Samui 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.
  • These major European airports are excellent departure points for trips to Ko Samui: London LHR and Manchester MAN in the United Kingdom, Frankfurt FRA and Munich MUC in Germany, Paris CDG and Nice NCE in France, Amsterdam AMS in the Netherlands, Madrid MAD and Barcelona BCN in Spain, Rome FCO and Milano MXP in Italy, Brussels BRU in Belgium, Copenhagen OSL in Denmark, Oslo OSL in Norway, Stockholm ARN in Sweden, Zurich ZRH in Switzerland, Lisbon LIS in Portugal, Vienna VIE in Austria, Warsaw WAW in Poland, Prague PRG in the Czech Republic, and Dublin DUB in Ireland.

Europe to Ko Samui.Flight schedule and ticket prices.

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Last-minute flights to Ko Samui. 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 Ko Samui 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.

Last-minute flight cost spike
Late booking penalty: The flight prices rise as departure draws near. Last-minute flights are almost always more expensive 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. 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 to Ko Samui is 2-8 months before the takeoff.

Looking for the best deals for Ko Samui? Check different departure airports.

Airlines often have varying prices for flights to Ko Samui from different airports – even if they are in close proximity to one another. So don’t limit yourself to just your nearest airport. The neighboring cities may have lower-priced flights that include a layover at Ko Samui, or may even have direct flights that are more budget-friendly.

For example, if you’re looking to fly from Paris to Ko Samui, it may be worth checking prices for flights departing from London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or Rome. Yes, you may have to fly a few hundred kilometers to these hubs, but domestic low-cost airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, or WizzAir will happily take you there for less than €100.

Book flights from many departure airports
By entering more than one departure city in the flight search engine (at the top of this page), you can quickly find the airport with the cheapest flights to your destination

The same goes for long-haul flights to Ko Samui from anywhere in the world. By broadening your search to include neighboring airports, you may discover lower-priced options that can save you hundreds of euros!

Domestic flights from Ko Samui

Most domestic routes in Thailand are operated by local carriers. When traveling to popular tourist destinations such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya, Krabi, Phi Phi, and Surat Thani, from Samui Airport, you’ll likely fly with one of these domestic airlines: Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Thai Lion 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 Ko Samui from Australia and New Zealand

  • Australia and New Zealand are well-connected with popular Asian destinations, including Ko Samui. 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 Ko Samui. 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 Ko Samui, compare ticket prices from various international airports in Australia – Sydney SYD, Brisbane BNE, Melbourne MEL, Perth PER, Adelaide ADL, Cairns CNS, Gold Coast OOL, Canberra CBR, and in New Zealand – Auckland AKL, Wellington WLG, Christchurch CHC, Queenstown ZQN, and Dunedin DUD.
  • For optimal savings, consider flying from Australia or New Zealand to a key Asian hub, then connect to Ko Samui via a regional low-cost carrier. Among budget airlines that fly to Ko Samui are Bangkok Airways, and Scoot.

    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).

Australia and New Zealand to Ko Samui.Flight ticket prices today.

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“Hot seats” on long-haul flights

Those days seat selection is considered an optional, extra paid service – seats with extra legroom (front and exit rows) are usually priced higher. However, if you’re about to take a long-haul flight to Ko Samui, those “hot seats” are worth considering – expect to pay $50-$100, which is much less than upgrading to Premium Economy.

If you want to choose your seats, do this early (ideally during the booking) for a more extensive selection of available options.

Booking hot seats (preffered seats with extra legroom) on plane
Choosing a hot seat during the flight booking process is usually worth it. For a reasonable price, you will get more room to stretch your legs, as well as a wider seat pitch.

Booking group flights to Ko Samui

Flights are cheaper when purchased in bulk rather than as individual tickets. Booking group flights to Ko Samui can be a cost-effective option for a school trip, family reunion, or corporate group traveling to a conference.

To qualify for the special group rate, the group must usually have at least 10 passengers. Discounts depend on the airline, group size, and travel dates, and typically range from 5% to 20% off the regular airfare.

Airlines and flight search websites typically limit automatic group bookings to 10 passengers. This limit reflects the complexity of managing larger groups, which require personalized service and more time to coordinate. To get the price quote for your group, you’ll need to contact the airline or a travel agent directly.

If you’re open to different airlines or want more personalized service, a travel agent may be a better choice. Travel agents may have access to discounted group rates to Ko Samui and can help with logistics and scheduling.

Flights to Ko Samui from Bali, Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and other major hubs in Asia

  • Only a few airports in the Asia Pacific region have direct flights to Koh Samui: Bangkok BKK, Chengdu CTU, Hong Kong HKG, and Singapore SIN.
  • 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 Ko Samui 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 Ko Samui 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 AirAsiaCebu 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.
  • Most major Asian airports have convenient and frequent flights to Ko Samui — including Changi (Singapore), Dubai (UAE), Hong Kong (China), Incheon (Seoul, South Korea), Indira Gandhi (New Delhi, India), KLIA (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Narita (Tokyo, Japan), Denpasar (Bali, Indonesia), Soekarno–Hatta (Jakarta, Indonesia), Ninoy Aquino (Manila, Philippines), Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok, Thailand), Taoyuan (Taipei, Taiwan), and others.

Ko Samui from major Asian airports.Flight prices in November 2023.

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Proof of onward travel – a simple hack

Travelers who go on long trips often don’t have a set itinerary and fly on one-way tickets. The problem? For many APAC countries, proof of onward travel is a legal requirement. If you arrive at the airport without an onward ticket (from Thailand to another country), you’ll either be forced to buy one online or forbidden from boarding the plane altogether.

The cheapest solution? Renting an onward ticket! Use the websites such as OneWayFly or OnwardTicket to get a flight reservation for a limited amount of time (usually 2 to 14 days). They work by actually booking you on a real flight out of Thailand and giving you a confirmable flight reservation with a PNR (Passenger Name Record) under your name. After the time limit, your spot on the flight is automatically canceled. Such “temporary tickets” tend to cost anywhere from $10 to $20.

Confirmed flight ticket reservation
Proof of onward travel: confirmed flight ticket reservation (source: OnwardTicket)

Fly now, pay later

Book Now Pay Later (BNPL) plans for flights have become a popular trend in the travel industry, allowing travelers to book flights and pay in installments. Among the airlines that offer this option are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines. They partner with external financial companies to offer their loan services on the checkout page.

The BNPL plans come with varying terms and fees. Some may be interest-free but have fees for late-payments and require forced autoplay on your bank account, while others may have high annual percentage rates (up to 30-40% APR).

When considering BNPL financing for your flight to Ko Samui, it’s crucial to carefully evaluate the pros and cons, and thoroughly review the terms and conditions.