Many travelers prefer to move between the different regions in Thailand by flight, rather than long trips by bus or ferry. Most domestic flights are for one to two hours and therefore save a lot of time and allow comfortable and safe transitions, especially if you are traveling with children or older people. Every day there are dozens of flights across the country, between the islands, in the north of the country and in the big cities. The cheap prices, speed and high availability of this means of transport make it more and more popular over the years.
Major airports in Thailand
Bangkok – Mueang Don and Suvarnabhumi are the two airports of The Thai capital And they are the busiest in the country. These are large fields that offer a large shopping complex, restaurants and other services that you can find at any airport in Western countries. Mueang Don is 30 km from the city and is considered the main airport for international flights.
Chiang Mai - The central airport of Northern Thailand, where flights also arrive from the rest of the East. The location is particularly convenient - about 10 minutes drive from the city center and has all the services of a large airport (shops, ATMs, currency exchange, etc.).
Phuket – A large airport, the busiest airport in the country, after the airports in Bangkok. Located in the north of the island, 30 km from the city. The field is international and links to other destinations in the east.
Kosmoy – Airport of Kosmoy Located in the north of the island, near Bo Put beach. It is also an international airport and includes all the important services.
Main routes
Bangkok-Chang Mai - Every day about 70 flights depart on this route, from the two airports in Bangkok (Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi). All airlines operate flights on this route, which takes about an hour and ranges in price from $120-40.
Chiang Mai-Phuket - A less common but convenient route to get from the north of the country directly to the islands in the south. Every day there are 5 flights by Thai Air, Air Asia and Bangkok Airways. The flight takes about two hours and the price varies between 80 and 140 dollars.
Bangkok-Krabi - Relatively cheap flight, prices range from 20 to 60 dollars. The duration of the flight is about an hour and a quarter and the availability is lower but still considered good Crabby It is a popular destination on the beaches of Thailand, especially after part of the movie "Fast and Furious" was filmed there.
Bangkok-Kosmoi – You can reach Kosmoi Airport from both Bangkok airports. About twenty flights depart daily between the two destinations. The length of the flight is one hour and ten minutes. The price is relatively expensive compared to the other destinations and ranges between 60 and 150 dollars. In order to to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui You can also fly to Suratthani and from there take a bus and ferry to Kosmui, which will add eight hours to your journey but will significantly reduce it.
Bangkok-Phuket - A popular route with a high frequency of daily flights and coverage of all airlines. The flight takes about an hour and a half and the prices can range from 20 to 90 dollars.
Airlines
When booking an internal flight in Thailand, you can choose between different local airlines that will offer you different conditions in terms of luggage, meals, change options, restitution, etc. Of course the prices vary accordingly. It is recommended to update yourself beforehand on the terms of service of each company, you can do this on the dedicated websites.
Full service companies
Includes hand luggage of 7-5 kg and in addition luggage of 30-20 kg for the luggage compartment of the plane. The seating is spacious and includes a screen for every seat, snacks and drinks on every flight. The prices are accordingly more expensive.
Thai Airways – The national airline of Thailand. Most of its flights depart from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. Although it is the main company of the country, the flights do not include all destinations, but mainly Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui. The company is considered high-quality, at the level of four stars, and offers good entertainment services and meals, in all flight classes and even on short flights.
It should be noted that the company has a subsidiary called Thai Smile, which offers lower prices on Mid-Coast terms. You can book flights of both companies through the same website of the company.
Bangkok Airways – A small boutique company. Offers good human service and an airport lounge, open to buyers of all types of tickets. The company's flights cover all the main destinations in Thailand.
Low-cost companies
There are many companies operating in Thailand that offer simple flights, at extremely cheap prices. The seating is usually more crowded and the flights allow boarding with hand luggage weighing up to 7 kg only. To add a suitcase, meals or to choose the seat in advance an additional payment is required.
Air Asia - The largest and most popular low-cost company in Thailand. usually offers the lowest prices. The flights cover all the important destinations in Thailand and the company also offers buses and ferries to destinations such as Kolanta, Copenhagen And more.
Thai Lion Air - The main difference between it and Air Asia is the flexibility in baggage weight: you can choose exactly how many additional kg you want to add to the 7 already included in the ticket (30 baht for each additional kg), an option that can save a considerable amount of money. It should be noted that sometimes the frequency of flights and destinations that the company covers is a little lacking.
Nok Air - is considered a "premium low-cost" company as it offers the option of reserving a seat in advance, Wi-Fi service and snacks and drinks during the flight. Offers flights to all important destinations in Thailand as well as bus and ferry services for onward transfers.
VietJet Air – A relatively new company in Thailand. offering flights to destinations - Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Krabi and Phuket. This is the only low-cost company that operates flights to and from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok (the other companies to the airport Don Mueang).
When to order?
The cheapest flights are usually on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and it is recommended to book as much time in advance as possible to reduce the price. Prices also vary according to Thailand's tourist seasons: in the months of April to October (the rainy season), which are characterized by less tourism in the country, prices drop compared to the busy period of November-March when prices climb (by about 30%) and availability decreases.
Where to order from?
In all tourist centers in Thailand there are many travel agencies that offer the purchase of internal flights. This has an advantage as you will receive a comprehensive explanation of the recommended route, you will be able to purchase buses and ferries to continue at the same time and you will have advice from an experienced party. However, if you want to get an affordable deal, it is recommended to check directly on the websites of the airlines as well as on internet search engines, where you can play with flight times, companies and flight routes and compare prices in real time. Please note that when you search on the websites, you should change the price display to Thai baht in order to avoid an additional charge for currency conversions.
