London to Bangkok flights

When fares to Bangkok are lowest

Fares to Bangkok are usually lowest outside the busy weeks, so aim for dates away from Christmas and New Year, Songkran in April and the UK school summer holidays in July and August. The live fare calendar on this page shows this month's lowest fares, and the Slashtel Fare Index tells you whether now is a good time to book.

The Slashtel Fare Index compares the lowest fare in the next three months against the route's usual monthly fare. A reading of 100 is the usual price, and 85 or under is a good time to book. Check it before you commit to dates, then compare a few departure days in the same week.

Flexibility helps more than anything else. If you can move your trip a week either side of a school holiday or a festival week, you often land on lower fares for the same journey.

1. Open the live fare calendar on this page and look at this month's lowest fares.
2. Check the Slashtel Fare Index for the route and note whether it sits at 85 or under.
3. Compare a few departure days in the same week before you choose.
4. Avoid the busy weeks listed below if your dates are flexible.
5. Set a price alert so you hear when fares fall for your dates.

Direct flights and airlines on the route

Three airlines fly nonstop from London to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK): British Airways, EVA Air and Thai Airways. If a nonstop is your priority, these are the names to look for when you search. Other airlines appear in our fare checks with a stop.

Nonstop flights suit travellers who want to arrive fresh, especially on a long haul route where the time difference adds to the tiredness. The three nonstop carriers all land at Suvarnabhumi Airport, so your arrival arrangements are the same whichever you pick.

Stopped options in our fare checks include AJet, China Eastern, Hainan Airlines, Pegasus, Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet. Some of these are self transfer routes on separate tickets, which carry risk if a flight is delayed. You may need to collect bags and check in again, and a missed connection is your problem rather than the airline's.

Weigh the saving against that risk. On a route this long, a missed self transfer can cost more than the difference in fare.

Busy weeks on the London to Bangkok route

The busiest weeks on this route are Christmas and New Year, Songkran (the Thai New Year, 13 to 15 April) and the UK school summer holidays in July and August. Fares and demand both rise in these periods, so book early or travel outside them.

Songkran is a major draw for visitors, and the water festival period pulls in travellers from the UK and elsewhere. If you want to be in Thailand for it, plan well ahead and expect less choice on departure days around it.

Christmas and New Year combine UK holiday demand with peak season in Thailand. The UK school summer holidays in July and August bring families, which pushes fares up on nonstop services in particular.

If your dates fall in one of these windows, set an alert and book when fares dip rather than waiting for a late deal that may not come.

Arriving in Bangkok: phone, data and entry

Thailand's main mobile networks are AIS and True, with coverage up to 5G. A travel eSIM or a mobile top up set up before you fly means data works as soon as you land at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Check the official entry rules for your passport before you fly.

Buying an eSIM before departure saves time at the airport and avoids hunting for a shop after a long flight. If you already hold a Thai SIM, a top up keeps your number and data going for the rest of your trip.

Thailand is 7 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 6 hours ahead in British Summer Time. Set your phone to update automatically, and remember that a call home at a reasonable UK hour may land in the middle of the night in Bangkok.

Entry rules depend on your passport and can change. Check the official rules for your passport before you fly rather than relying on older advice.

How to get a price alert for your dates

Set a price alert and we check fares every day and email when they fall well under the usual price for your dates or under your own target. It takes the guesswork out of watching the route yourself, whether you fly nonstop or with a stop.

Enter your dates and, if you have one, your own target. The alert runs in the background while you plan the rest of your trip, including any onward travel around Thailand.

Pair the alert with the Slashtel Fare Index. If the index is at 85 or under and an alert lands in the same week, that is a strong signal to book rather than wait.