Hi -- I have to fly from BKK to Chang-mai and Chang Mai - Phuket and Phuket to BKK. Actually I don't HAVE to fly but thought it would be the quickest most efficient use of time - but could be convinced to use other transport if anyone on this extremely helpful board tells me otherwise. What are the safest airlines to fly within Thailand and also, is there a website to check what is not safe???? Thank you!

Cindy, Thai Air is excellent. The budget airlines haven't been functioning long enough to have reliable safety ratings yet, but so far there have been no problems.

Well then that is what I'll fly. Thanks Kathie. One more thing. Do you agree that flying is the right way to travel for that kind of trip?

Flying is definitely quicker(and safer) than the other mode of transportation(train & car).

Bangkok to Chiang Mai by car would take you around 8 hours per way and train around 6 - 7 hours. Flying = 1 hour.

Bangkok to Phuket is even longer by car and train but flying is only around 1 hour.

Apart from Thai, there are the budget airlines which are quite reliable. Nok Air would be perfect for you since they are own by Thai and if there are delays(especially for your Chiang Mai to Phuket sector because you will have to transit in Bangkok) Thai will take care of you - Thai will put you on a Thai flight. ANother plus is that Nok Air has business class and the upgrade is relatively cheap!

I would agree that Thai air is the best way to go, for sure. You do not need to book your flights far in advance, at all. We typically book our in-country flights the day or two before we want to go. We have a friend in BKK who is a travel agent and he always helps us out.

Carol

If you plan to do alot of shopping, like I do, be sure and check the baggage limitations. The Nok Plus, the upgrade, allows more luggage per person than the others.

GIVE ME A BREAK. the saftey issue should not even be an issue on the budget airlines. I think james A has posted details about the planes they use. luggage allowencel. number of flights per day, pirce. are probably more important matters too weigh.

I'm one of those crazy lunatics who thinks, paying 2-3 times as much for flying thai (domestic) on a 1-2 hour trip is just a waste of money.

I just went on the thai site and punched in bkk to phuket for sept 7 return sept 9. they quoted $480 that CANT be correct.. anyways you can probably get something on thai for around $150 +

I also checke out air asia punched in similar dates and times and the totoal price was about $53

bangkok airways which is a darling on this site. offers bkk - phuket for about $125

Hey Orgy - try Nokair.com.

BKK - Phuket, same date as your Sept 7 return on Sept9, price = 2,800 baht for a return ticket including taxs, fuel surcharge etc. That comes to about US $67.

For an extra US $12 per way you can upgrade to Nok Plus which is the business class for Nok Air and that comes with extra luggage or weight allowances.

Hunaman.. . thanx but I'm not the one flying. I was just trying too show that budget airlines should not be discarded so easaly as some on the board do. and you actually beat me on the value issue by posting about NOK PLUS which is an exallent option which anyone flying domestic should consider.

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actually sept 7 Im going too Singapoer and may try jetstar asia too sin and fly back on airasia.

thanks everyone. fyi -- I plugged into the dates and places I am planning to fly on Thai Air (which are in August) and the total trip with all stops was about $250. I'll check out Nok Air as well though. Thanks for the help!

wow -- I just compared BKK to Chang Mai on Thai Air vs Nok Air. $113 (economy) vs. $35(first class). Am I missing something? Is Nok Air safe? I hadn't heard of it. That is the most important thing to me.

The bangkok air discovery pass has also been recommended on this board. One question about the discount airlines - I see on a couple of their sites that you cannot make reservations more than a few months in advance. We're looking to reserve at the very end of dec/beginnning of jan. If we call them, could we book so far ahead? We really need to lock in our flights (in this case from Luang Prabang to Bangkok, and r/t Bangkok-Phuket) to confirm all our other travel plans. Thanks for the help.

Cindy1,

Nok Air was formed by Thai Airways and the various other companies owned by the Thai Government as well as the crown property of Thailand to compete with the various budget airlines that had started to show up in the Kingdom.

Pilots are from Thai Airways and maintenance are at the same standard as Thai Airways.

Flights in business class(Nok Plus) are quite comfortable and hard to beat at this price level.

Sharon815,

Try this link for your BKK - Luang Prabang flight with Bangkok Airways(they are the only one who fly there from Bangkok):

http://booking.bangkokair.com/birts/plantrip.aspx

You can reserve upto June 2006.

For the BKK - Phuket I would go with Nok Air or Air Asia but since you cann't reserve that far ahead I would wait since there are a lot of flights and airlines that fly to Phuket.

Thanks so much for the clarification and advice!!!

Another question about the Bangkok Air discovery pass: the airline's website says that the price does not include various taxes and charges. With those taxes, how much do the flights really cost?

Hi hitman.
I just spoke to Bangkok Air and the taxes/fees on the 50 pass from Bangkok to Phuket and the same route back are 9 each way. The taxes on an 80 internatl pass ticket from luang prabang to bangkok are 17. You must buy a minimum of 3 passes and I believe they told me a max of 6. You can change the dates or times with no penalty, but not the route.

My parents live in Chiang Rai and when I was visiting a few months ago, my friends were also visiting with their families in Bangkok. Trust me on this, FLY between BKK and Chiang Mai. The 10+ hour drive is just not worth it, nor is sitting in traffic anywhere near Bangkok. I've lived in Chicago my whole life and rush hour on the Eisenhower has got NOTHING on Bangkok. I flew Thai Airways, but there are other, slightly cheaper airlines. My flight between Chiang Rai and BKK was 5,100 Bht (approx. $111 USD) The next airline was only 3,100 BHT, however the flight schedule was extremely restrictive. You can most definetly find cheaper airlines to travel by, however you may not find a schedule that accomodates your needs, which makes the cheaper fare a moot point.