Regular visitors to Thailand will almost certainly opt out of using a combined flight and hotel travel package, otherwise known as a charter flight. Scheduled flights are the more favoured option for the seasoned traveller to Thailand but it’s also important as to which airline and strategy you should take when booking your flight. Beyond The Mango Juice questions whether cheap flights to Thailand are in the long term more expensive than using a preferred airline.

Chartered Flights

This type of holiday package is best suited to families and once a year visitors to the Land of Smiles and for those embarking on their first great adventure to the land of culture, first class beaches and great food.

Charter flights are tailor made for simplicity and in Thailand’s case you get on the aeroplane at your destination airport and board for your return flight at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, hotels and transport in between are usually all laid on for you. I checked out the price available on a package deal for May, staying at the 4 star Amari Orchid Resort in Naklua, Pattaya.The price for a 14 night stay was £872 (45,000 baht), based on one person in a single room, airport transfers in this package were not included. Add on around £55 (3,000 baht) for taxi travel to and from the airport.

These package holidays are ideal for anyone wanting an introduction to Thailand although the Pattaya location would not be suitable for the faint hearted or culture minded traveller. A very reasonable price but one that can be beaten with a schedule flight and do it yourself travel arrangements.

Schedule Flights

This travel option is used by regular travelers to Thailand and allows you so much more flexibility in your travel arrangements. Taking flight at times that suit you and with a choice of direct, transit and stopover tickets available the schedule flight option is tailor made for those who can arrange their holiday at the very last minute. Cheap flights to Thailand are always advertised by a wide range of airlines and those who stay loyal to their regular flight carrier can find some amazing deals as well. A quick Google search on Cheap Thailand Flights for May returned the following prices on a London to Bangkok return ticket involving one stop and taxes inclusive. Listed below are the cheapest Thailand flights I found.

• £399   Emirates
• £400   Gulf Air
• £412   Jet Airways
• £422   Qatar Airways
• £430   Royal Jordanian

All these flights were readily available and adding on taxi transfers and 14 nights stay in a reasonable Pattaya hotel the highest price ticket plus travel and accommodation brings the total to about £760. A little bit cheaper than the package deal and  much more flexible, but it can long term still be beaten pricewise.

Flying with a regular airline carries many advantages even if the air ticket seems a bit more pricier than the cheaper deals. Most of the flight companies offer rewards. For many years I used the cheap flight option and have flown Aeroflot, Eva Air, Thai Air, British Airways and a few others all of which had low airfares on offer at the time.

Nowadays I have allied myself to Etihad Airways who fly a London – Abu Dhabi – Bangkok route in around 15 hours, just over 3 hours more than a direct flight. My flight next month cost me £520 which is considerably more than those listed above but I have good reason for paying that little bit extra.

I am a Etihad Silvercard Guest member and I recently used some of my accumulated air miles to book my Christmas flight to Thailand for free….well almost, I had to pay the flight taxes. The current price of an Etihad flight to Bangkok at peak season Christmas time is £822 and my flight was secured for £217. A big saving that makes paying that little extra each time totally worthwhile.

Frequent Flyer Club

Etihad Guest is a loyalty program that gives you one air mile for every mile you fly. A London – Bangkok round trip returns 13,000 air miles to your guest account and after stacking up 25,000 miles your status is upgraded to Silvercard member. With the higher membership card comes a few extra perks.

• Access to worldwide airport guest lounges
• Extra 10 kg baggage allowance
• Enjoy wait list priority on all busy routes
• 50% extra Air Miles for every mile flown

Most flight companies offer loyalty membership and taking advantage of those on offer can reduce your long term travel fees by a considerable amount. When you check in next time for your Thailand flight ask at the desk if they have a loyalty reward club, in the long term it makes good financial sense.

Credits

Photograph China Airlines      by Alaskan Dude

Photograph Suvarnabhumi International Airport by Swami Stream