Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [643]
Japan Airlines (Map;0 2649 9520; www.jal.co.jp; 1st fl, Nantawan Bldg, 161 Th Ratchadamri)
Jetstar Airways (Map; 0 2267 5125; www.jetstar.com; Suvarnabhumi International Airport)
KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines (Map; 0 2635 2300; www.klm.com; 20th fl, Vorawat Bldg, 849 Th Silom)
Korean Air (Map; 0 2635 0465; www.koreanair.com; 1st fl, Kongboonma Bldg, 699 Th Silom)
Lao Airlines (Map; 0 2236 9822; www.laoairlines.com; 1st fl, Silom Plaza, 491/17 Th Silom)
Lufthansa Airlines (Map; 0 2264 2484, reservations 0 2264 2400; www.lufthansa.com; 18th fl, Q House, Soi 21/Asoke, Th Sukhumvit)
Malaysia Airlines (Map; 0 2263 0565; www.mas.com.my; 20th fl, Ploenchit Tower, 898 Th Ploenchit)
Myanmar Airways International (Map; 0 2261 5060; www.maiair.com; 8th fl, BB Bldg, 54 Soi 21/Asoke, Th Sukhumvit)
Northwest Airlines (Map; 0 2660 6999; www.nwa.com; 4th fl, Peninsula Plaza, 153 Th Ratchadamri)
Orient Thai (Map; 0 2229 4260; www.orient-thai.com; 17th fl, Jewellery Centre Bldg, 138/70 Th Naret)
Philippine Airlines (Map; 0 2633 5713; Manorom Bldg, 3354/47 Th Phra Ram IV)
Qantas Airways (Map; 0 2236 2800; www.qantas.com.au; Tour East, 21st fl, Charn Issara Tower, 942/160-163 Th Phra Ram IV)
Royal Brunei Airlines (Map; 0 2637 5151; www.bruneiair.com; 17th fl, U Chu Liang Bldg, 968 Th Phra Ram IV)
Royal Nepal Airlines (Map; 0 2216 5691-5; www.royalnepal-airlines.com; 9th fl Phayathai Plaza Bldg, 128 Th Phayathai)
Scandinavian Airlines (Map; 0 2645 8200; www.scandinavian.net; 8th fl, Glas Haus Bldg, Th Sukhumvit)
Singapore Airlines (Map; 0 2353 6000; www.singaporeair.com; 12th fl, Silom Center Bldg, 2 Th Silom)
South African Airways (Map; 0 2635 1410; www.flysaa.com; 20th fl, Vorawat Bldg, 849 Th Silom)
Thai Airways International (www.thaiair.com) Banglamphu (Map; 0 2356 1111; 6 Th Lan Luang); Silom (Map; 0 2232 8000; 1st fl, Bangkok Union Insurance Bldg, 175-177 Soi Anuman Rajchathon, Th Surawong)
United Airlines (Map; 0 2353 3900; www.ual.com; 6th fl, TMB Bank Silom Bldg, 393 Th Silom)
Vietnam Airlines (Map; 0 2655 4137-40; www.vietnamair.com.vn; 10th fl, Wave Place Bldg, 55 Th Withayu)
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased cheaply on the internet through booking and airline websites, which often list fare sales or special internet prices. In Thailand, most travel arrangements are made through an agent. Most firms are honest and solvent, but there are some rogue fly-by-night outfits around. What varies most is the amount of commission an agent will charge; shop around to gauge the discrepancy in prices. Paying by credit card generally offers protection, because most card issuers provide refunds if you can prove you didn’t get what you paid for. Agents who accept only cash should hand over the tickets straight away and not tell you to ‘come back tomorrow’. After you’ve made a booking or paid your deposit, call the airline and confirm that the booking was made.
Booking flights in and out of Bangkok during the high season (from December to March) can be difficult and expensive. For air travel during these months you should make your bookings as far in advance as you possibly can.
Also, be sure to reconfirm return or ongoing tickets when you arrive in Thailand. Failure to reconfirm can mean losing your reservation.
ROUND-THE-WORLD (RTW) TICKETS
A round-the-world (RTW) ticket – where you pay a single discounted price for several connections – may be the most economical way to go.
Here are a few online companies that can arrange RTW tickets.
Airtreks (www.airtreks.com)
Air Brokers International (www.airbrokers.com)
Around the Worlds (www.aroundtheworlds.com)
Avia Travel (www.aviatravel.com)
Asia
There are regular flights to Suvarnabhumi International Airport from almost every major city in Asia. With the emergence of budget airlines, quick hops from, say, Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or Hong Kong are now commonly used in Asia for a weekend getaway. Air Asia and Dragon are two discount carriers that run frequent promotions.
Recommended booking agencies for reserving flights from Asia include STA Travel