Cheap flights from UK
to Asia Pacific in 2023/24

The cheapest time to fly to Southeast Asia

The cheapest time to fly to Southeast Asia from UK 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 UK 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 English 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 UK to Asia can pay off in numerous ways:

1. 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.
2. 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 UK to Asia with a connecting flight, arriving on time at your layover airport may be critical to catching your next flight!
3. 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 English airports, including London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield .

   

4. 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.
5. 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 English 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.

Last-minute flights to Asia from UK. 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 UK 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 English 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 UK to Asia is around 60-90 days before the departure date.

Check different departure airports in UK

Looking for the best deals on flights from UK to Asia? Consider your neighboring cities when choosing the departure airport – especially look for larger English cities with airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, check prices for flights departing from London LHR/STN/LGW (Heathrow/Stansted/Gatwick Airports), Manchester MAN (Manchester Airport), Edinburgh EDI (Edinburgh Airport), Birmingham BHX (Birmingham Airport), Glasgow GLA (Glasgow Airport), Newcastle NCL (Newcastle Airport), Liverpool LPL (John Lennon 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 UK 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.

“Hot seats” on long-haul flights to Asia

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 from UK to Asia, 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.

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 your destination back to UK or to another country), you’ll either be forced to buy one online or forbidden from boarding the plane altogether.

Among Asia Pacific countries that require proof of onward travel upon arrival are Australia, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Thailand, Tonga, and Vietnam.

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 booking you on an actual flight out of the country (for example, a flight back to UK) 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.