Two airports, dozens of budget carriers, and year-round sun make Bangkok Asia's best-value long-haul destination.
Suvarnabhumi (BKK) handles most full-service international traffic, while Don Mueang (DMK) is the low-cost hub used by AirAsia, Nok Air, and Scoot. The Airport Rail Link whisks passengers from BKK to Phaya Thai in 26 minutes for just THB 45 - one of the cheapest airport transfers in Asia.
Songkran week (13-15 April) and Christmas/New Year are the two biggest price spikes; fares from Europe can jump 60-80 percent. The real sweet spot is late September through mid-October, when monsoon showers are tapering off and airlines slash prices to fill seats before the cooler season rush.
Gulf carriers - Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad - dominate the long-haul economy market to Bangkok, often undercutting direct services by GBP 100-200 in exchange for a 2-3 hour layover. Thai Airways and EVA Air offer nonstop or one-stop premium options from multiple European gateways.
Check your booking carefully. Full-service carriers like Thai Airways, Emirates, and BA use Suvarnabhumi (BKK). Budget airlines including AirAsia and Nok Air operate from Don Mueang (DMK). A free shuttle bus connects both airports in about 50 minutes if you need to transfer.
UK, EU, and US passport holders enter Thailand visa-free for 30 days (extended to 60 days in recent policy). Arrive with a return ticket and a passport valid for at least 6 months.
Late September and early October consistently produce the lowest fares — monsoon season suppresses demand but in practice rain falls in short bursts, rarely ruining a trip. May-June is a secondary dip worth watching.
