Getting to know Thailand’s major airports

1. Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is one of the largest and busiest airports in the country. The airport is about 30 minutes from Bangkok’s city center and has handled more than 50 flights to all cities in Thailand and other countries. In addition, it is the 19th busiest airport in the world and the second busiest airport in Southeast Asia after Changi Int'l Airport.
2. Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport (DMK) is actually one of the world’s oldest airports and was Bangkok’s main base until Suvarnabhumi opened back in 2006. It’s now a hub for most of the low-cost carriers in Asia, so don’t be surprised to land here if you’re flying with one via another city. (There previously were direct flights here from Australia, but they now all fly to BKK.)
3. Phuket International Airport (HKT) is located at the northern tip of Phuket and provides easy access to the island and Southern Thailand’s beach destinations. The airport has three terminals operating for domestic and international flights. Terminal 1 is for international travelers, terminal 2 is for domestic flights, and Terminal 3 is for transit and transfer flights.
4. Chiang Mai International Airport (CMX) is one of Thailand's most extensive and fourth-busiest airports. There are two terminals at the airport which are divided into a domestic terminal and an international terminal. In addition, the airport has more than 50 international flights to all cities worldwide.

Direct flights from Australia to Thailand

You can fly direct to either Bangkok or Phuket from a few cities in Australia. Unfortunately, if you’re looking to explore Chiang Mai, Krabi or islands like Koh Samui, you will need to either book a connecting flight or travel by land to get there.

Here’s where you can fly direct to Thailand from Australia:

If you’re flying to Bangkok…

• Brisbane (Jetstar)
• Melbourne (Jetstar or Thai Airways)
• Perth (Jetstar or Thai Airways)
• Sydney (Qantas or Thai Airways)

If you’re flying to Phuket…

• Melbourne (Jetstar)
• Perth (Jetstar)
• Sydney (Jetstar)

What month is the cheapest to fly to Thailand?

Since Thailand’s peak seasons change a bit depending on where you go in the country, the time you can get the cheapest flights will be dependent on where you’re flying into. No matter where you’re heading though, we advise against flying during peak periods like school holidays, long weekends and over Christmas and New Year to get the lowest price.

If you’re heading to Bangkok, look for flights from February to October. While the first half of this period can be very hot and the latter half of these are the wetter months, they do tend to have cheaper flights. You’ll also miss the high prices that come with Christmas, New Year’s and summer travel. We recommend looking at April for the combination of dry weather and the chance to experience Songkran, or Thai New Year.

Search for flights to Bangkok

If you’re heading to Chiang Mai, you’ll want to look for flights between February and April, which makes it ideal for combining with a trip to Bangkok. The earlier in that window, the more likely you are to have drier days and more comfortable temperatures. Things really start heating up as you get into May and June before the rainy season kicks in.

Search for flights to Chiang Mai

If you’re heading to Phuket, February to May tends to be the cheapest time. Like Bangkok and Chiang Mai, this is also one of the driest times to go… As long as you’re planning on staying in Phuket. Beaches and islands on the Andaman Sea coast of Thailand (or the west coast) have an opposite monsoon season to those in the Gulf of Thailand. So travel during these cheap months and stick to the west coast, and you’ll be having yourself an affordable and sunny holiday.

Search for flights to Phuket

How much are flights to Thailand?

Flight prices to Thailand will change depending on where you’re coming from, and where you’re flying to. Here’s a handy guide that can help you understand what’s a fair fare. The ranges below will factor in whether it’s a low-cost carrier or a full-service airline, so the price jump is likely as one is including extras like meals and checked baggage while the other is not.

If you’re heading to Bangkok:

• Adelaide: AU$425-$600 each way
• Brisbane: AU$400-$500 each way
• Melbourne: AU$225-AU$350 each way
• Perth: AU$175-AU$300 each way
• Sydney: AU$250-AU$350 each way

If you’re heading to Chiang Mai:

• Adelaide: AU$500-AU$700 each way
• Brisbane: AU$400-AU$600 each way
• Melbourne: AU$300-AU$$500 each way
• Perth: AU$275-AU$350 each way
• Sydney: AU$325-AU$450 each way

If you’re heading to Phuket:

• Adelaide: AU$400-AU$550 each way
• Brisbane: AU$400-AU$600 each way
• Melbourne: AU$225-AU$375 each way
• Perth: AU$175-AU$300 each way
• Sydney: AU$250-AU$400 each way

Tips for getting cheap flights to Thailand

Know when to go and be flexible

As we mentioned above, there are some months that are much cheaper to fly to Thailand then others. So if you’re not restricted to any school holidays or set holiday dates, try to be flexible. Traveloka pro tip: Use our handy tools available on all flight route pages that can help you find the cheapest month available at the time you’re searching.

Be willing to connect

There are limited options when it comes to direct fights from Australia to Thailand. And that means you may be charged a premium for a non-stop flight. Consider taking a connecting flight with an airline like AirAsia or Scoot, which are both known for their bargain fares to destinations across Southeast Asia. You may have a slightly longer journey, but you may be able to save heaps!

Start somewhere cheap

Touring around Thailand but the only budget flights available for you go to Phuket? Just because Bangkok is the biggest city, that doesn’t mean you need to start and and your trip there. If you’re looking to explore the islands of the south of Thailand, consider just flying into the cheapest airport near somewhere on your itinerary. Land travel is very affordable once you’re there and minivans are readily available at airports ready to take you to your final destination.

Visa requirements for Australians

Great news! Australian passport holders looking to visit Thailand for 60 days or less don’t need a visa. If you are hoping to stay longer, you can easily apply for an extension at an immigration office. You can get an extra 30 days on your stay by doing this. Alternatively, if you leave the country, say to a neighbouring nation, you can come right back and your clock will re-start.