Thailand is full of bustling cities with modern airports. The capital, Bangkok, is among the world’s busiest airport hubs, featuring flights from nearly every major international airline. Airports in the cities of Phuket, Pattaya, Hat Yai and Chiang Mai also serve as global hubs for a large number of global carriers. Most major international airlines such as Air China, Air India, Alitalian, British Airways, Continent, Delta, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Northwest, Qantas and United feature flights to Thailand. With a wide range of competing flights, make sure to check for the most reasonable rates for your trip, as you’re likely to find multiple options among the carriers.
Thai Airways is the national carrier of Thailand, featuring flights from most major cities directly into the country. Thailand also features a wide range of regional and national carriers such as Bangkok Airways which primary offer flights within the country and to major surrounding cities. If you are flying to Ko Samui, Sukhothai or Trat, Bangkok Air has is the exclusive provider of these routes. Travelers can also purchase a Discovery Airpass in their home country which can be used for discounted fares both within Thailand and to neighboring Cambodia and Laos. Other national-regional airlines include SGA, which flies to Hua Hin, PB Air which flies into a number of mid-sized cities as well as Vietnam and Thai Air Asia which is a discounted regional airline flying to China, Singapore, Macau and several other neighboring countries.
Passport holders visiting for tourism from the US, EU, Russia, Australia and Japan are required to carry their passports but need not apply for a visitor’s visa unless their stay exceeds 30 days. If you plan to stay beyond the time period, it is recommended that you apply for a visitor’s visa, lest you have to pay a 500 baht per day fine upon departure from the country. It is recommended that you renew your passport before visiting if it expires within 180 days, and that you pre-arrange for ground transportation to satisfy onward transit restrictions of immigration officials. Make sure to research you flights well in advance of your departure to satisfy all travel restrictions, and to find the best rate for both your international and regional flights.
