Your flight

Use our advice below to hunt down your ideal flight to Thailand. When you get to Bangkok, we will meet you and host you for your 2 week trip.

The best person to find the best flight is yourself! We don't include the ticket as standard because volunteers travel from all over the world, air fares also change constantly and some volunteers prefer to arrive early or leave late so they have a longer trip.

Find the best ticket

Let's get started...

First, you should definitely check the two best-known worldwide OTAs (online travel agency): Expedia and Travelocity. Both have large international operations, sometimes under other names.

Then there are sites such as Kayak and EDreams, which search various sites (including airlines and OTAs) to offer you a range of air fares. There is also Which Budget, which tells you which low-fare-airlines (LFAs) fly over specific routes. In addition, there are of course, the actual airline sites, and sites of the established travel agency groups such as American Express, Kuoni, Thomas Cook and TUI.

In Thailand’s peak season for tourists (broadly October-March), the price of air fares is usually higher. This means lower fares in the low tourist season.

In general, Thai Airways has the best range of services to Bangkok, not surprisingly. Next would generally be your national airline, such as Qantas for Australia, Lufthansa for Germany, and British Airways for the UK. But Thai and the national airlines are likely to be more costly than others.

If you select an LFA, please note:

• There are usually charges for many services that may be included in the ticket price for regular airlines - such as check-in baggage, inflight meals, special seat requests, pillows, etc.
• The baggage weight allowance on some LFAs is only 15kg. For the suggested necessities for your Holiday Volunteers trip, you would likely be close to if not over that 15kg limit. Add ‘comforts’ such as a camera, hair dryer, or even 2/3 books, and you will likely be over your limit.
• If you are transferring from or to an LFA flight, remember that it is your responsibility to get to all flights on time. If your arrival flight is late, you may not only miss your connection, but there may be no refund for your connecting flight, and you will have to pay again, and possibly more, for your new booking. We would suggest allowing at least five hours transit time - but, of course, even that may not always be sufficient.
• Some LFAs do allow you to change your flight booking, but always for a fee. Plus the (usually higher) cost of the fare on the new flight.

Travelling from Asia

Useful websites for flights include Zuji, CTrip, Elong in China and Jalan in Japan. An LFA based in Thailand, named Thai Air Asia , has a growing network, but this is an associate of the first Air Asia, based in Kuala Lumpur, and in our experience, does not match the standards of its KL partner. Two more cheap airlines to try are Tiger Airways and Jetstar which both operate out of Singapore.

Travelling from Australasia

Lower prices may be available from airlines where one change of plane to Bangkok is required - such as Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong, Malaysia Airlines via Kuala Lumpur. LFA Air Asia operates from Gold Coast to Kuala Lumpur, but most travellers would have to get there first, and then again book another flight from KL to Bangkok - which starts to become a long trip. It's also worth checking the Zuji site.

Travelling from Europe

The only LFA operating out of Europe to Asia is Air Asia X, from London Stansted airport to Kuala Lumpur. There are flights from there to Bangkok and Chiangmai - but see our notes above reference LFAs.

In addition to Thai and the national airlines, one lower-cost airline is Eva Airways, actually based in Taiwan but with good service from many Europe points to Bangkok. However, its administration is not always as good.

In Thailand’s peak season (broadly October-March), there are usually other airlines flying into Thailand, such as Air Berlin and Finnair. Some of these are charter flights, but some also sell individual fares.

Another option is the leading airlines in the Gulf - Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar. They often some good services to Bangkok from Europe via their home bases (respectively Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha).

Additional OTA websites that may be worthwhile visiting are Opodo, Lastminute, and Ebookers.

Travelling from North America

Routes from North America to Thailand are not extensive, and limited primarily to Thai and US airlines Delta, Northwest, and United. There are no direct services from Canada. Lower prices may be available from airlines where one change of plane in required - such as Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong, China Airlines via Taipei, Japan Airlines via Tokyo, Korean Air via Seoul.

An additional OTA website worth visiting is Orbitz.

Travelling from other regions

Best option is to use either Thai, if it flies into your country, or your own country’s airline. Or check third-country airline flights. The leading airlines in the Gulf - Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar - often some good services to Bangkok from markets west of the Gulf states (including the rest of the Middle East and Africa).

See the general section above for websites that may be worthwhile visiting.

Our partner in Thailand

In Thailand, we work with Asian Trails for local travel services. This company, part of the Kuoni group, also offers travel services in addition to those included in the Holiday Volunteers program.

We suggest you contact this company if you have additional requests or requirements outside the Holiday Volunteers program. You may of course choose any other travel company you wish.

Bangkok: Asian Trails
9th Floor, SG Tower, 161/1 Soi Mahadlek Luang 3, Rajdamri Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Telephone: 66-(0)-2626-2000. Fax: 66-(0)-2651-8111. res@asiantrails.org

Phuket: Asian Trails Phuket
100/368 Srisuchart Grand Ville, Pracha-U-thit Rd, Moo 5,Amphur Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Telephone: 66-(0)-7626-1878-9. Fax: 66-(0)-7626-1852. atphuket@loxinfo.co.th