Star Alliance partners Lufthansa, Swiss, Edelweiss, and Austrian Airlines are currently offering quite cheap flights to Bangkok and Phuket. Prices to these Thai cities start at only £390 (~€447). While you may think that this is a price that doesn’t sound all too spectacular, we can prove otherwise. This is the decisive detail: These are Economy Flex fares, that not only include a piece of luggage but are also fully refundable. Especially in these times, that’s a great benefit. Should you, however, really not want a piece of luggage and flexibility, you could also fly to Bangkok on a Light fare for only £355 (~€406).
Worldwide travel restrictions are in place to slow the spread of Covid-19. We strongly recommend gathering detailed information about the travel and quarantine restrictions that apply to your desired origin and destination.
A good start is the International Air Transport Association (IATA) website. It provides current updates on a country’s immigration policies. Even better, the Covid-19 Travel Regulations Map is one of the most useful tools you can find.
Austrian Airlines flies via Vienna and Swiss flies via Zurich. Lufthansa will fly from Frankfurt. All flights are to Bangkok. Should your final destination be Phuket, you’ll be flown there from Bangkok with Bangkok Airways or directly from Zurich with Swiss’ subsidiary Edelweiss.
No matter which airline combination you select, these tickets include eJournals, a meal, and beverages. They also include 1 piece of checked luggage of 23 kg and 1 carry-on of up to 8 kg.
By the way, this isn’t our only economy class deal from London:
Search & Book
This deal expires on January 13, 2021. You need to begin your trip before November 30, 2021, and respect the minimum stay requirement of 10 days. Simply use our availability calendar above to be redirected to Lufthansa’s booking site. Alternatively, you can also check for availability on Google Flights.
Why is booking with an airline better than with an online travel agency?
More often than not, online travel agencies offer lower fares than airlines do. We still recommend booking with the airlines directly. There are two main reasons for that:
Better Customer Service
In case any problems like delays, cancellations or missed connections arise, you can communicate directly with the airline. The airline has to take care of you because you have a contract with them.
If a travel agency issues your ticket, you may have to reach out to them first. You also depend on your OTA to forward information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. In many cases, you may get a prime exhibition of responsibility shifting rather than problem-solving.
This especially applies to premium tickets. You don’t want to spend more than €1,000 to wind up with some budget OTA’s telephone hotline in case anything goes wrong.
Baggage and Other Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are industry standard by now. In most cases, travel agencies charge much higher baggage fees than the airlines themselves. If bags are not included in your fare, airlines are often the cheaper alternative.
This also applies to other things like food services, insurances or priority treatment. In almost all cases, you pay less for additional amenities when booking on the airlines’ website.
Mileage
The Star Alliance airlines issue their tickets in booking class K. To give you an example, a roundtrip to Bangkok with SWISS via Zurich should get you:
- 3,670 Miles on ANA Mileage Club
- 3,214 Miles on Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- 3,064 Award Miles + 160 Points on Miles&More
- 3,064 Miles on ITA Volare
- 3,060 Award Miles + 612 PQP on United MileagePlus
- 3,060 Miles on Ethiopian ShebaMiles
- 3,060 Miles on Egyptair Plus
- Customize Calculation
Be careful when selecting flights with Edelweiss, as Edelweiss is officially not a Star Alliance member.
Information & Tips for Thailand
Thailand is famous for its vibrant cities, beautiful beaches, and rich cultural heritage. Key sights include the Grand Palace and Wat Pho in Bangkok, the ancient city of Ayutthaya, and the islands of Phuket and Koh Samui. The currency is the Thai baht (THB), and while credit cards are commonly accepted in tourist areas, cash is often preferred in local markets. The cost of living is generally low, with budget accommodations and street food available, but prices can rise in more touristy areas. The weather is tropical, with a hot, rainy season from May to October and a cooler, dry season from November to February.
Getting around Thailand is fairly easy, with a mix of modern and traditional options. In cities like Bangkok, public transport includes the Skytrain (BTS), metro (MRT), and river ferries, which are convenient but can get crowded. Taxis and motorbike taxis are also widely available. For intercity travel, buses and trains are common and affordable, though train journeys can be slow. Domestic flights are frequent and often the fastest way to travel longer distances, especially to popular islands or northern regions. However, traffic congestion in urban areas can be a challenge, particularly during rush hours.
We’ve compared various esim providers, such as Nomad, Airhub, and RedteaGO. To see which plan is best for your travel needs and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:
The Best eSIM Plans for Thailand 🇹🇭 Compared (Bangkok, Phuket…)
→ All Dealz for Thailand
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