The 8 Best Airlines for Flying to Thailand from Australia

1

Thai Airways

Best full-service direct flights to Bangkok

Thailand's national airline flies nonstop to Bangkok from Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Meals, drinks and checked bags are included, and you land at Suvarnabhumi, Thai's home base, with easy connections on to Phuket, Chiang Mai and Krabi on a single ticket.

Flies direct from

Sydney, Melbourne and Perth to Bangkok

Why it stands out

The full-service experience at a price that's often close to the budget carriers once you add bags and meals

Best for

Travellers heading beyond Bangkok who want everything on one ticket

Tip:Thai is a Star Alliance member, so you can earn points in programs such as Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Air New Zealand Airpoints on its flights. See current Thai Airways deals.

2

Jetstar

Best for cheap direct flights

Jetstar has the most direct flights between Australia and Thailand, and it's the only airline flying nonstop to Phuket. Its Boeing 787 Dreamliners fly to Phuket from Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, and to Bangkok from Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

Flies direct from

Sydney, Melbourne and Perth to Phuket; Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to Bangkok

Why it stands out

Regular sales with return fares to Phuket that are hard to beat on any airline

Best for

Beach holidays, and travellers who pack light

Good to know:Starter fares don't include checked bags, meals or seat selection. Add a bag when you book, since it costs more at the airport. See current Jetstar deals.

3

Qantas

Best for Qantas Points

Qantas flies nonstop to Bangkok from Sydney and Melbourne. It's rarely the cheapest option, but you get the full-service Qantas experience and Status Credits, and you can use Qantas Points to book the trip outright or upgrade.

Flies direct from

Sydney and Melbourne to Bangkok

Why it stands out

A familiar product, plus Points and Status Credits for Frequent Flyers

Best for

Qantas Frequent Flyers, and anyone booking with points

Tip:Classic Reward seats to Bangkok are good value for points. Check availability as soon as the booking window opens. See current Qantas deals.

4

Singapore Airlines

Best one-stop option from anywhere in Australia

If your city doesn't have a direct flight, Singapore Airlines is the most comfortable way to get to Thailand. It flies to Singapore from almost every Australian capital, plus Darwin and Cairns, then on to Bangkok and Phuket. Singapore's Changi is also one of the best airports in the world for a layover.

Flies from

Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Darwin and Cairns, via Singapore

Why it stands out

Consistently excellent service, and often the cheapest full-service fare from Adelaide, Darwin and Cairns

Best for

Travellers outside Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth

Tip:Book a longer layover and you can spend a free day in Singapore on the way. See current Singapore Airlines deals.

5

Scoot

Best for reaching the islands and smaller cities

Scoot is Singapore Airlines' low-cost arm. It connects Australian cities to Singapore, then flies on to Bangkok, Phuket and smaller Thai airports such as Krabi, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai. That makes it a handy way to skip the extra domestic flight from Bangkok.

Flies from

Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and other Australian cities, via Singapore

Why it stands out

Low fares to more Thai destinations than any other airline flying from Australia

Best for

Budget travellers heading straight to Krabi, Chiang Mai or the south

Good to know:Like Jetstar, the base fare covers you and a small carry-on only. Book Scoot-to-Scoot connections on one booking so you're covered if the first flight runs late. See current Scoot deals.

6

AirAsia

Best for rock-bottom fares

AirAsia X flies from Australia to Kuala Lumpur, where you connect to AirAsia flights to Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai and more. The trip takes longer than a direct flight, but AirAsia's sales regularly produce the cheapest fares to Thailand from Melbourne and Perth.

Flies from

Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and other Australian cities, via Kuala Lumpur (and sometimes Bali)

Why it stands out

Fares that can undercut direct flights by hundreds of dollars

Best for

Flexible travellers who'll trade a stopover for a big saving

Tip:Pay for checked bags and a meal when you book, not at the airport. They're much cheaper in advance. See current AirAsia deals.

7

Malaysia Airlines

Best value full-service airline

Malaysia Airlines flies to Kuala Lumpur from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, then on to Bangkok and Phuket. Fares are often well below Thai Airways and Qantas, and you still get meals and checked bags.

Flies from

Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, via Kuala Lumpur

Why it stands out

Full-service comfort for close to budget-airline prices, especially in sales

Best for

Value hunters who still want a meal and a bag included

Tip:Malaysia Airlines is in oneworld, so you can earn Qantas Points and Status Credits on eligible fares. See current Malaysia Airlines deals.

8

Finnair

Best for cheap direct flights from Melbourne

Finland's national airline is the surprise on this list. Finnair flies nonstop between Melbourne and Bangkok, and its fares are often the cheapest direct option on the route, undercutting even the budget airlines. Like Jetstar, the cheap fares don't include checked bags, so add one if you need it.

Flies direct from

Melbourne to Bangkok

Why it stands out

Direct flights that are frequently the cheapest way from Melbourne to Bangkok

Best for

Melbourne travellers who pack light and want a direct flight for less

Tip:Finnair is in oneworld, so you can earn Qantas Points on eligible fares. Compare the price with a bag added, since that can change which airline is cheapest. See current Finnair deals.