planning trip to Asia for June--how to avoid Mid east

[Anonymous]

I need to book a flight to Bangkok for June but the routings all seem to go through Doha or New Delhi. I can't really find an obvious booking going west (eg through SFO to Japan etc) although of course could put one together but it would be $$$$ more. Any reactions to if it is worth just doing that so we have a greater likelihood of being able to not have the flights cancelled if the mid east conflict is continuing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I need to book a flight to Bangkok for June but the routings all seem to go through Doha or New Delhi. I can't really find an obvious booking going west (eg through SFO to Japan etc) although of course could put one together but it would be $$$$ more. Any reactions to if it is worth just doing that so we have a greater likelihood of being able to not have the flights cancelled if the mid east conflict
is continuing?

Yes, obviously go west.

[Anonymous]

It depends how much money you have and how much you would be upset if the flight was canceled. Clearly the risk of cancellation is much higher flighing over the Atlantic than the Pacific.

[Anonymous]

We've been to Bangkok twice in the past 18 months, so I've done a lot of research on this. The best option I've found is piecing it together yourself via a multi-city trip via Tokyo. You can even book round trip tickets to Tokyo direct from IAD and then book a separate ticket on an Asian discount airlines to go to and from Tokyo.

The first time we went, I was able to book the entire thing on United on one reservation, stopping in Tokyo for a few days on the way there since they codeshare with ANA.

The second time, we booked to Tokyo on AA (connecting in DFW) and then took Air Asia X to Bangkok.

Another alternative is to look at KLM and Air France, If you search flights from Washington to Bangkok, it will give you options for flights layovers in Amsterdam or Paris and then direct to Bangkok. It's about the same flight time as going west.

[Anonymous]

Go through Seattle or Vancouver

[Anonymous]

Look at Starlux Airlines

[Anonymous]

I've only ever gone west to
Thailand.

[Anonymous]

Just recently flew from BKK to IAD with a layover in Seoul for $600. There seemed to be quite a few flights taking a similar route (avoiding middle east) when I booked.

I usually travel to Latin America and I have to say that the long flight and time change is a huge downside to the region and won't be back anytime soon lol

[Anonymous]

Try Asian airlines

[Anonymous]

I am taking the train to/from NYC and am flying direct to Singapore on Singapore airlines. My flight out leaves at night and my flight back arrives in the morning so I don;'t need to stay overnight in NYC.

[Anonymous]

PP here who is flying into Singapore. We are then taking Scoot airlines to Thailand

[Anonymous]

Go west. Singapore is a hub.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just recently flew from BKK to IAD with a layover in Seoul for $600. There seemed to be quite a few flights taking a similar route (avoiding middle east) when I booked.

I usually travel to Latin America and I have to say that the long flight and time change is a huge downside to the region and won't be back anytime soon lol

Yes the best options from DC are Korean through Seoul, or ANA/United through Tokyo. Both can get you to Bangkok on a single ticket with just one stop.

[Anonymous]

thank you! and I guess the same strategy would hold for other SE Asian destinations like Kathmandu??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:thank you! and I guess the same strategy would hold for other SE Asian destinations like Kathmandu??

KTM probably has a lot fewer flight options because it's much smaller than BKK. Not sure which airlines serve it. Just go to Google Flights and take a look. Some flights may not operate every day, so useful to search different days of the week.