Thailand · BKK
Flights to Bangkok
Two airports far apart, three distinct seasons, and traffic that decides your day
Bangkok is a long flight from anywhere in the United States, with no non-stop service and total journey times approaching a full day. Choosing the connection well matters more here than on most routes, because the difference between a good and a bad routing is several hours.
On the ground, two things shape the trip. The city has two airports a long way apart, and confusing them is an expensive mistake. And the traffic is severe enough that the elevated and underground rail lines are not merely cheaper than a taxi but frequently faster.
Getting to Bangkok
Airports
Suvarnabhumi (BKK) handles most full-service and long-haul traffic. Don Mueang (DMK) handles most low-cost flying and is a long road journey away, with no direct airside connection between them.
Flight time
There are no non-stops from the US. Total journey times run roughly 17h 50m equivalent from New York, around 17h from Los Angeles and about 16h 20m from San Francisco before connection time is added, with routings through a Gulf or East Asian hub.
Into the city
The Airport Rail Link runs from beneath Suvarnabhumi to Phaya Thai in about thirty minutes, connecting to the BTS Skytrain. A taxi is inexpensive but takes anywhere from forty minutes to well over ninety depending on traffic.
When to go
Demand rather than price is described here on purpose. Any fare we show you comes from a live search on your own dates, so a fixed figure on this page would be out of date before you read it.
Cool and dry
November to February
The most comfortable months and the main visitor season, with lower humidity and temperatures that make walking viable. Demand and prices are highest.
Hot
March to May
Genuinely extreme, regularly above 35°C with high humidity. April is the hottest month and also when Songkran falls, which is a considerable draw in itself.
Rainy
June to October
Heavy afternoon downpours rather than all-day rain, with flooding in some streets. Fewer visitors and lower prices, and mornings are often perfectly clear.
Good to know
- Currency
- Thai baht (THB)
- Language
- Thai; English is common in tourist areas and hotels
- Time zone
- ICT, UTC+7, with no daylight saving
- Power
- Types A, B and C, 220V
- Entry for US passports
- Short tourist visits have generally been permitted without a visa, and the terms have changed more than once recently. Confirm the current requirement with Thai immigration before you book.
Entry requirements change and we are not an immigration authority. Always confirm the current rules for your nationality with the relevant government before you book or travel.
Worth sorting before you fly
Never connect between the two airports on separate tickets
Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang are a long, traffic-dependent drive apart. If the first flight is late, nobody is responsible and you buy a new ticket.
Use the rail lines, not taxis, in the afternoon
The BTS and MRT are cheap and immune to congestion. Bangkok traffic is severe enough that a taxi across the city at the wrong hour is genuinely slower.
Temples enforce a dress code
Shoulders and knees covered, at the major sites without exception. Cover-ups are sold outside at a markup, which is an avoidable cost.
Bangkok pairs well with a second stop
Given the journey time, most people add the islands, Chiang Mai or a neighbouring country. Domestic flights are frequent and short, but check which airport they use.
Other destinations
FAQ
Bangkok — common questions
Airports, timing, and when it is worth talking to an agent.
Which Bangkok airport will I land at?
Suvarnabhumi (BKK) handles most full-service and long-haul flights, so a US itinerary will almost always arrive there. Don Mueang (DMK) handles most low-cost regional flying. They are a long road journey apart with no airside connection, so if a domestic or regional add-on uses the other airport, treat that transfer as a serious planning constraint rather than a detail.
When is the best time to visit Bangkok?
November to February is the cool dry season and by far the most comfortable, which is why it is also the busiest and most expensive. March to May is extremely hot. The June to October rainy season brings heavy afternoon downpours rather than constant rain, and with lower prices and clear mornings it is more viable than its reputation suggests.
How long does it take to fly to Bangkok from the US?
There are no non-stop flights, so every itinerary involves at least one connection, typically through a Gulf or East Asian hub. Total journey time is usually somewhere between twenty and twenty-six hours door to door depending on the routing and the layover. Comparing connections rather than sorting by price is worth real time on this route.
How do I get from Suvarnabhumi into Bangkok?
The Airport Rail Link runs from beneath the terminal to Phaya Thai in about thirty minutes and connects to the BTS Skytrain network. It is cheap and unaffected by traffic. A taxi is also inexpensive but the journey time is genuinely unpredictable, ranging from forty minutes to well over ninety depending on when you travel.
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