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FlyingFlying is much safer than taking a bus or driving, and of course is quicker and more comfortable for long journeys to the far north and south to places like Chiang Mai, Udon Thani, Phuket, and Koh Samui. However, medium distance trips are often better driven, considering the time spent booking flights on rigid schedules and at the airport waiting for the flight after going thru security. Also, you have a car for freedom if you drive, and you see more along the way. Which airline you use may depend on where you are going. There are monopoly routes. Thai Airways serves most of the country, and has a website at http://www.thaiairways.com , but it is usually the most expensive carrier. I've flown Thai Airways several times, both domestically and internationally, and have found their service to be quite nice in all other respects. Budget airlines include AirAsia , Bangkok Airways, and a few others who seem to fly to niche locations in Thailand and/or neighboring countries. Routes and schedules change fairly often with budget airlines, and in fact some of the airline businesses tend to rise and fall such as Nok Air and Phuket Air. See also www.flybudget.com/asiavisit.html The Airports Authority of Thailand has a website at http://www.airportthai.or.th, which in turn has flight schedules for all carriers at http://www.airportthai.or.th/html/b-sche-r.html With budget airlines, note the terms and conditions about booking on budget airlines, as they often won't allow any changes within a few days of the flight, and a fee before the deadline. Many of their offices run very limited hours, and they aren't as full featured. Open seating is common, and refreshments during the flight are sometimes at an extra charge, including the water they are lifting up into the air for you. If you are needing to make a connecting flight, be aware that budget airlines more often run late. Airports in ThailandThe main airport in Bangkok was changed to a new airport called Suvarnabhumi (but pronounced like "Suwanapoom")and is located east-southeast of town. The old Don Muang International Airport in northern Bangkok, which operated for many decades, closed entirely at that time. Public transport to/from the new airport is still a bit confusing. There is no rail line to the airport, though one is under construction. The most feasible way is just by taxi with your luggage. There are public buses running various routes, but it's still a little bit confusing. The Suvarnabhumi airport is located just east of the Eastern Ring Road, and is accessible only from the Chonburi Motorway which is an extension of the expressway that runs parallel to Rama 9 Road. Traffic sometimes jams near the airport, so go early. If you plan to go to Phuket or Koh Samui from elsewhere in Asia, then check for direct flights to those destinations rather than going thru Bangkok. There have also been direct flights from Russia and some other places to Utapao airport near Pattaya and Rayong, which was previously a B-52 bomber airfield during the Vietnam War. It's a minimal airport but with a big runway. Most airports in Thailand are quite decent. The Koh Samui airport is the most boutique. It is all outdoors with a natural architectural design, and it's somewhat exciting watching the airplanes land and take off fairly closeby. Footnotes: The Suvarnabhumi airport was previously called the Nong Ngu Hao airport while under construction. Being located east of Bangkok, it's a little quicker to get to Pattaya and the eastern seaboard from the airport than it was before. Traffic around the old airport has reduced significantly.
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