Thailand Discount Airfare
Bangkok is a hub for many destinations in Southeast Asia and, as a result, there are a large number of airlines flying directly to Bangkok from Europe, USA, Australia and Asia. If you plan to travel around the Christmas and New Year period book well in advance since this can be a busy time of year.
With the most expensive flights available from British Airways and United Airlines, if you wish to begin your exotic, Siamese journey from Day zero, Thai Airways fly direct from US and European and Australian hubs, other top-end Asian airlines like Singapore Airlines (currently boasting one of the best all-round travel experiences in terms of service, facilities and in-flight cuisine), JAL, Cathay Pacific, Malaysian Airlines, Emirates, Korean Airlines and EVA Air should also be considered for stop-over flights. Cheaper options include Qatar Airlines, Finnair, Swiss Air, and Philippine Airlines for reasonable service.
Domestic air services are operated by Thai International and its new no-frills option, Nok Air; Phuket Air; Air Asia; Bangkok Airways; and Orient Thai Airlines, with its no-frills start-up One-2-Go. Aircraft used are modern, service is good, and the fares are competitively priced.
No-frills carriers have recently sprouted in Asia. Malaysian budget carrier Air Asia has started flying between Singapore and Bangkok through a Thai joint venture, and is planning to set up an airline joint venture in the city state. Just a month after the launch the Thai subsidiary of the Malaysian owned Air Asia has just started flying from Bangkok to Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Hat Yai. The airline operates a fleet of all Boeing 737-300 aircraft, the current work horse of the aviation industry. Fare start from 500 baht and vary according to the day and time of travel. Flights departing in the middle of the day mid week tend to have the lower fares.
Most international airlines have offices in Bangkok. If you want to reconfirm your flight either telephone the Bangkok office or ask a travel agent to do it for you.Text by Peter Myers, a Bangkok-based travel/lifestyle editor & writer. peter@monsoon-media.net
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