Information on Thai AirAsia Flights

Low-cost airlines in southeast Asia have transformed the travel landscape in the region. Among them is Thai AirAsia, which has expanded the options for people to fly without spending a crazy amount. Thai AirAsia is the Bangkok-based offshoot of Malaysia-born AirAsia.

While not as large as its parent company, Thai AirAsia specializes in connecting several Thai cities as well as other destinations in the region. But, there are some key points to consider when flying a low-fare carrier like Thai AirAsia. Here is everything you need to know to avoid a surprise at the check-in counter or gate and enjoy the rest of the journey.

Airline fleet and destinations

Thai AirAsia flies an entirely Airbus fleet of A320 and newer A321neo planes. Unlike its parent company, all of its aircraft are narrowbody planes in a 3-3 seating layout, which can feel tight in the leg room and shoulder area.

The airline can deliver lower airfare by packing in more people to its planes and unbundling the services that more traditional airlines offer (like inflight meals and pre-reserved seat assignments). Thai AirAsia passengers can then choose what is important and pay for what they need (and nothing more).

Its primary base is Bangkok Don Mueang Airport, which is much closer to the city center than the new Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. Don Mueang is unique in that it is surrounded by the city center. It even has an 18-hole golf course that sits between its runways, a result of the airport’s expansion over the years.

Thai AirAsia has gone back and forth between operating flights from both Bangkok airports, which it still does today. This gives travelers more options, especially those arriving in Bangkok on a long-haul flight on another airline at Suvarnabhumi Airport and then looking to build their own connection to a shorter Thai AirAsia flight. Just be sure to allow plenty of time to collect any checked bags and recheck in before the next flight.

The network of flights from Bangkok stretches across Asia, including cities all over China, India, Thailand and Vietnam among many others. This provides significant competition to home carrier Thai International as well as other low-cost Thai airlines like Nok Air.

Thai AirAsia also flies as far as Japan with flights of between five and six hours on tightly packed A320 and A321 planes. I recommend paying extra for an exit-row seat on those sectors if you want some added comfort.

Different fare types

Thai Air Asia only has narrowbody planes with economy class. Do not confuse Thai AirAsia with other branches of AirAsia, which have some planes with lie-flat business class seats on widebody planes.

Instead, Thai AirAsia offers a base fare for its all-economy class aircraft with the option to add on certain perks you may want or discounted bundles of perks. If you choose not to add on a bundle, you can just pay for what you want like an advance seat assignment or onboard meal.

Or you can choose from its Value Pack or slightly more expensive Premium Flex bundles. These package together a bunch of extra perks at a discount, and I almost always opt for the Premium Flex bundle because the overall cost is still only a fraction of what you would pay on a traditional airline.

The Value Pack comes with an advance seat assignment, standard inflight meal (chosen in advance to guarantee your selection), carry-on bag and checked bag allowance. But, the Premium Flex bundle comes with priority check-in and boarding, faster bag delivery, a premium seat (usually one with extra legroom like a bulkhead or exit row seat) and a more substantial meal.

What costs extra?

When buying a Thai AirAsia ticket, you are paying just for the base fare unless you buy a bundle. You will be charged for advance seat assignments (those towards the back of the plane are the cheapest). If you do not pay for a seat in advance, the airline will randomly assign one (and you risk being stuck in a middle seat).

Low-fare airlines love to weigh and check the size of your bags, both carry-on and checked. Even if you make it past the check-in counter without a bag check, it is common for gate agents to weigh bags before boarding.

On one trip, I had to throw away a few magazines and bags of snacks plus wear several layers of extra clothing to bring the weight of my bag down. My pockets were stuffed with a camera and all of my chargers, but I made it on the plane without paying an extra fee.

I recommend weighing your bag before getting to the airport. But, if you do not have access to a scale, my hack is to take my bag to an empty ticket counter to check the weight of my bags before approaching the airline with which I am traveling. This gives you a chance to reorganize your bag or take things out to avoid paying a fee.

You pay extra for seat assignments and meals, which you can reserve in advance. Still, the healthiest and cheapest alternative is to bring aboard your own food (although the airline discourages this so I suggest being discreet about it).

Red Carpet service

Red Carpet is a premium add-on product that is available on certain Thai AirAsia routes. It includes lounge access before departure, priority check-in, seats at the gate and boarding, and faster baggage pickup.

Building your own connection

Thai AirAsia does offer connecting itineraries with other AirAsia branches. This also means that you could book a flat-bed seat on some of AirAsia’s flights to Australia, for example. But, keep in mind that these can result in long layovers where you may not have access to a checked bag. And the flat-bed seat is only available on widebody planes.

If you are booking a flight on a low-fare airline like Thai AirAsia and connecting from a traditional carrier, I recommend allowing a lot of time between flights in case of delays or needing to change airports (Don Mueang is in the city center while Bangkok Suvarnabhumi is farther out).

Interestingly, Thai AirAsia can act like a travel agent and sell tickets on other airlines, too. Let’s say you are flying from Bangkok to Hanoi. The airline might sell you a ticket on its own flights, but also much more expensive tickets on full-service airlines like Vietnam Airlines.

I suggest comparing prices on a metasearch site before accepting the price that Thai AirAsia offers when traveling on another airline. You might be able to find a cheaper deal elsewhere.

AirAsia Rewards

Thai AirAsia participates in the free-to-join AirAsia Rewards loyalty program. It offers points and perks for more than just flying, allowing members to earn a higher elite status tier with more benefits based on the more they spend with the airline and its partners.

These partners include signing up for the airline’s credit card, booking hotel stays through the airline or purchasing duty-free items. The more sectors you fly with any AirAsia flight, the closer you get to elite status.

The higher your elite status, the more hotel discounts and bonus points you earn. Platinum and Black status members also receive priority check-in, boarding and baggage privileges, no matter what fare they book.

What is the experience like?

Unsuspecting travelers may be in for a surprise, but if you understand how Thai AirAsia operates, the experience is not that bad, especially if you buy the Premium bundle of perks.

Just remember to monitor your bag weight and try to keep heavier items, like chargers, in your pocket so you are not forced to pay an extra fee to carry them on at the gate. The onboard staff is as hospitable as can be, after all, they are Thai.

Keep in mind that you will want to bring your own onboard entertainment unless you plan to read or nap inflight because there are few bells and whistles to keep you busy after takeoff. For the bargain prices this airline charges, I would certainly fly with them again when it aligns with my travel plans.

Interesting tidbits about Thai AirAsia

Being a low-cost airline does not mean it has poor standards. In fact, this was the first low-fare airline in Thailand and has one of the best on-time records in all of Asia.

The airline has also launched its own ridesharing service, AirAsia Ride. You can even organize your own discounted airport transfer as many as seven days in advance. I still recommend using the Grab rideshare app instead because I find it to generally be cheaper (although using the airline’s app can help you achieve elite status).

One thing I like about Thai AirAsia is that at many airports, it uses jet bridges rather than bus gates. This is not everywhere, but its main hub at Don Mueang often uses a jet bridge. This is much more comfortable for travelers, especially on hot and humid days.