Flights from London to Bangkok: Duration, Airports and Routes | News
Employers, holidaymakers, backpackers and round-the-worlders alike have gone to the Thai capital to take a break, start a new life or continue their journey around the Land of Smiles, and connections elsewhere in the region.
If you’re scouring the internet for flights from London to Bangkok, then it’s good to have an idea of what flight times to expect, what airports you can use, what airlines fly the route, how long flights take, and all the other things that will help you plan your trip to Thailand a little more effectively.
Flight Duration
A non-stop flight from London to Bangkok covers about 5,960 miles. The average flight time for a non-stop flight is anywhere from 11 hours, 18 minutes to 11 hours, 40 minutes.
Connecting flights from London to Bangkok will generally be between 14 and 20 hours. The length of time to reach your destination depends on the layover destination that you chose.
Some of the best layovers on the flight to Bangkok are available in Istanbul, Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Singapore. Each of these airports has a number of advantages, including the opportunity for a quick stop at a major international city and the chance to book additional flights to your destination if you conclude that you still have a long way to go.
London Departure Airports
Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow is by far the biggest and best departure airport for flights to Bangkok – the UK’s largest international airport, and the departure point for the great majority of the long-haul flights between Great Britain and Thailand.
In practice, this means that all the biggest and best known of the world’s international passenger airlines have a presence at Heathrow, operating flights with their services to there either on a direct or a 1-stop basis. The frequency of departures, choice of routes, and range of passenger amenities make this the natural airport to fly into and out of for the majority of passengers seeking to travel to Bangkok.
Add in great rail and Underground links, and good road access to London and a good number of other locations across Britain.
Gatwick Airport
London Gatwick provides a strong alternative for looking for flights to Bangkok. Although not as big as Heathrow, it still acts as a convenient long-haul gateway for customers across southern England.
However, connections and direct services from Gatwick are subject to variation – airlines only offer some routes at certain times of year, and in line with their own operational needs. The airport’s out-of-town location and pending departure points can sometimes mean that it is the best option.
Bangkok Arrival Airports
Suvarnabhumi Airport
Direct flights to Bangkok from London will usually take you to Suvarnabhumi Airport, the wider Thai capital’s main international gateway. Although this airport only opened as recently as 2006, today it welcomes the bulk of Thailand’s long-haul flights and is one of the busiest air travel schedule points in the whole of Southeast Asia.
This airport is situated about 30 km to the east of central Bangkok. Beyond its shopping, dining and both city and onward transport (by road and rail), several links exist and operate to get you from it to the city.
Several transport options are available to get to the central city area from the airport. Choose between an airport rail link, a metered taxi, a public bus or a private transfer.
Don Mueang International Airport
Don Mueang International Airport is usually reserved for low-cost and domestic flights. It’s not very common for flights from London to Bangkok to land here, but you can if your domestic flight is taken with an airline that uses this airport.
If you need to get a domestic connecting flight. (from either airport) Always double-check where you are flying. Always be sure to give yourself ample time should you need to transfer between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang to catch your next flight.
Airlines Serving the Route
Direct flights from London to Bangkok are available for travellers from several airlines operating out of the UK, depending on the day of the week and season. Among these are Thai Airways, EVA Air, British Airways and Norse Atlantic Airways.
For those in search of a little more flexibility over travel times or fare options, there are even more one-stop choices. Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines all link London and Bangkok by travelling via their hubs.
These itineraries will be more likely to offer a selection of departure times and fare opportunities as well.
Choosing the Right Route
Travellers who wish to get where they are going more quickly will likely opt for a non-stop flight. As mentioned, in terms of price and available departure times, connecting flights can provide a more appealing choice for passengers looking for the best of both worlds.
London is serviced by two airports, Heathrow and Gatwick. Bangkok is serviced by a number of different airlines; it will be up to you to work out which combination of operator, time of departure and airport suits your needs when figuring out the best route.
