Thai Airways began operations in 1951 as a small domestic carrier. In 1960 it began serving regional operations, which quickly expanded to include overseas routes. Thai Airways International was founded in 1988 and has its headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand. It operates out of Suvarnabhumi Airport and currently services 78 destinations in 35 countries, and is one of the largest Asia Pacific airlines serving the European market in terms of passenger numbers.
Search Thai Airways FlightsWhat are the Thai Airways Check-In Options?
What are the Thai Airways Baggage Allowance Limits and Fees?
What Additional Fees Does Thai Airways Charge?
What Amenities Does Thai Airways Offer?
How do I contact Thai Airways Customer Service?
What are the Thai Airways Check-In Options?
Mobile Boarding Passes
Flying with Children
Seating for Kids
Unaccompanied Children
Flying While Pregnant
Senior Fares
Group Bookings
Disabled Access
Guide Dogs
Pets
Mobile Boarding Passes
You can check in via online using this portal by entering your booking details ahead of your flight. You can choose to receive your boarding pass via SMS, Email, Passbook (where applicable), or print it ready to hand in at the check-in kiosk.
Mobile boarding passes are excepted otherwise a printed paper copy in necessary.
Flying with Children
No lap fees are charged on international flights, meaning an infant ticket (where the child is not occupying a seat) will be charged 25% of the full fare (taxes and surcharges not included). Please note the following:
- Babies and toddlers must be held on the lap during take-off and landing.
- Newborns are not permitted to travel.
- Changing cabin pressure cause temporary changes in middle ear pressure, which can result in pain. To minimize this, it is helpful to have a baby nurse a bottle, breast or suck on a pacifier (older children may drink from a cup or chewing gum) particularly during descent. This will help equalize the air pressure in the middle ear.
- For children who suffer from motion sickness, medication should be used 30 minutes before departure.
Seating for Kids
Bassinets are available on board for babies aged less than 6 months, who weigh less than 10 kg and do not exceed 67 cm in length.
For babies less than 2 years old, an FAA-approved car-seat can be used on the normal paid seat for the cost of a child fare.
Any guest over 2 years of age who is not yet 12 years of age is classed as a child and must occupy a seat with their own ticket.
Unaccompanied Children
Any child between the ages of 5 -11 years of age and traveling alone or without an adult is designated an unaccompanied minor and will be escorted by Thai personnel, looked after during a flight, and met on arrival provided the parent or guardian has completed the necessary documents prior to the departure.
An unaccompanied minor handling fee will be charged for international flights and the completed form should be forwarded to the nearest Thai Reservations office for approval prior to travelling.
The completed forms will need to be presented at the check-in counter for all flights. On international routes, an adult fare is charged for children who apply for the unaccompanied minor service and are aged between 5 – 17 years old. Please check with the local Thai office for specific fares and regulations in this case.
The service fee for an unaccompanied minor is $60USD per flight. For domestic routes in Thailand, 75% of the normal fare is charged for children aged between 5 – 12 years old if the accompanied service is required.
Flying While Pregnant
Thai Airways has a policy specifying the latest stage that pregnant woman can take flights:
- Expectant mothers need a medical certificate issued by their doctor stating the number of weeks of pregnancy and estimated date of delivery if they wish to fly after the 28th week of pregnancy. The medical certificate must be issued no later than 7 days prior to departure. This must be carried with the expectant mother when boarding the flight.
- Travel is permitted up to the end of the 36th week of pregnancy on flights less than 4 hours (when the estimated date of delivery is 4 weeks or more away).
- On flights more than 4 hours, expectant mothers may be permitted to travel up to the end of 34th week (where pregnancies with the date of delivery estimated is 6 weeks away or more).
- Expectant mothers whose pregnancy has entered beyond the 36th week of pregnancy are not permitted to travel.
Note that certain countries, such as Malaysia, have restrictions regarding expectant mothers of other nationalities. Non-Malaysian women who are pregnant beyond 6 months are not permitted to fly into the country.
Senior Fares
Thai Airways does not currently offer special senior rates on international routes, but presently has an offer for certain domestic flights.
Domestic Senior Citizen Fares 2015 are applicable for passengers of 60 years or over at the time of departure. Valid document/ID must be presented at the time of purchase. For a current list of deals to selected destinations, international and domestic, click here.
Group Bookings
If you are planning to fly with a group and wish to be seated together, you can do so by requesting a quote through Thai Airways’s city offices.
Online group bookings are not possible. In your request, you will need to give the following information:
- Name of the person to be contacted
- A daytime telephone number
- Number of passengers (including children)
- Flight dates
- Destination
Disabled Access
Wheelchairs/mobility aids are carried free of charge when required for personal use. Due to restrictions in aircraft hold space, there is a limit on the amount of electric wheelchairs/mobility aids permitted per flight. If your wheelchair weighs over 32 kilograms (71 lbs.), special authorization from Thai is needed due to weight and space restrictions at some airports.
Guide Dogs
Thai Airways can accept guide dogs for the blind and assistance dogs for the deaf in the cabin to some destinations. Passengers must ensure that all animal quarantine regulations and documentations for the entry/transit are provided. This service will be carried without charge, but you need to contact Thai local office at least 48 hours in advance of flight departure. The dog will remain in the aisle next to you but not at the emergency exit row. The dog must be harnessed during the flight.
Pets
Thai Airways accepts dogs and cats for pet travel on international flights, but they must fly in the hold. Pets as Checked Baggage are not included in the free baggage allowance and must be checked-in separately. The following rates currently apply as determined by combined pet and container weight:
What are the Thai Airways Baggage Allowance Limits and Fees?
Thai Airways Hand Luggage Size
Thai Airways Checked Luggage Size
Extra and Overweight Baggage Fees
Musical and Sport Equipment
Thai Airways Hand Luggage Size
Each passenger is allowed to hand carry one piece of baggage with a maximum size of:
- 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm
These dimensions include wheels, handles, and side pockets.
The total weight of the carry-on baggage must not exceed 7kg.
Note that if you plan to bring any liquids into the cabin, you can do so as long as they are stored in containers no bigger than 100ml and are carried in a clear, re-sealable plastic bags with maximum dimensions of 20 x 20cm. Each passenger can carry a maximum of 1000ml (e.g. 10 x 100ml).
Thai Airways Checked Luggage Size
The amount of items and their respective weight allowance differs depending on your international fare type.
Note that the following baggage allowances apply for international routes within TC3 (Asia, Australia, New Zealand) and a journey between TC2 (Europe, Africa, Middle East) and TC3 (Asia, Australia, New Zealand):
- Royal First Class: 50 kg (110 pounds)
- Royal Silk Class: 40 kg (88 pounds)
- Premium Economy Class: 40 kg (88 pounds)
- Economy Class: 30 kg (66 pounds)
- Infant not occupying a seat: 10 kg (22 pounds)
- ROP & Star Alliance Gold Members Extra: 20 kg (44 pounds)
- Royal Orchid Platinum Member(On TG sectors only) Extra: 30 kg (66 pounds)
- ROP Silver Member(On TG sectors only) Extra: 10 kg (22 pounds)
Extra and Overweight Baggage Fees
The Excess Baggage Charge rate applied depends on which route you are flying. The table below defines the cost of excess baggage per kilogram in $USD. The second table contains the zoning definitions:
|
USD Per Kilogram |
To Zone 1 |
To Zone 2 |
To Zone 3 |
To Zone 4 |
To Zone 5 |
To Zone 6 |
|
From Zone 1 |
7 |
10 |
25 |
30 |
55 |
– |
|
From Zone 2 |
10 |
25 |
30 |
35 |
55 |
– |
|
From Zone 3 |
25 |
30 |
35 |
40 |
55 |
– |
|
From Zone 4 |
30 |
35 |
40 |
55 |
55 |
– |
|
From Zone 5 |
55 |
55 |
55 |
55 |
55 |
– |
|
From Zone 6 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Zoning definitions are defined as follows:
Musical and Sport Equipment
One portable musical instrument is allowed as part of checked baggage allowance so long as it does not exceed 100cm in length. If so, a Special Unit (Flat Rates) fee applies.
Bicycles: One bicycle can be included in a passenger’s checked baggage allowance. If it exceeds the checked baggage allowance normal excess baggage fees apply. A second bike per passenger may be added and will be charged as as normal excess baggage.
Surfboard: Are not included in allowance and must be paid for separately with Special Unit (Flat Rates) fees applying.
Exceptions are made for passengers travelling to or from Australia and New Zealand where one surfboard is can to be included in checked baggage allowance, if it exceeds the allowance Special Unit (Flat Rates) fees apply. The same exception is made for tickets purchased in Japan for travel to or from Denpasar Bali.
Snowboard/Ski: Are included in normal checked baggage allowance. If the equipment exceeds baggage allowance Special Unit (Flat Rates) fees apply.
What Additional Fees Does Thai Airways Charge?
Booking Fees
Flight Change Fees
Flight Cancellation Policy
Travel Insurance
Booking Fees
The amount of the booking fee depends on the fare purchased and is stated at the time of reservation on the first page of the booking details
Flight Change Fees
A Flight Change Fee may apply if you plan to alter your departure date or time (per passenger, per flight).
This is outlined in the terms and conditions available at the time of reservation on the first page of the booking details.
Flight Cancellation Policy
Should your flight be cancelled, you can either:
- Change/move on to another Thai Airways flight free of charge.
- Be refunded if you no longer wish to fly at all. Thai Airways will waive cancellation fees and provide you with a credit.
- Re-route to your destination on another carrier under comparable conditions.
Thai Airways will pay for hotel accommodation as well as transport to and from the hotel for you. Contact a member of staff in the airport to arrange this.
Travel Insurance
Thai Airways offers a range of travel insurance products via three different providers. Depending on the coverage purchased, the plans may provide cover for:
- Tickets and Baggage
- Domestic flights
- International flights
- Multi trips
The different plans may include benefits such as hospital cash allowance, disability, loss of income, theft of cash, as well as cancellation fees and lost deposits. More info from the respective providers here.
What Amenities Does Thai Airways Offer?
In-Flight Entertainment
Food
Seating
Frequent Flyers
Lounges
In-Flight Entertainment
Thai Airways offers in-flight entertainment on domestic, short-haul and long-haul international flights.
Free kids gifts are also available, and toys for children are available on board (limited in number).
Food
Complimentary in-flight meals and drinks are available.
Thai Airlines caters to the particular needs of passengers with special requirements because of religious, health, or dietary restrictions. A full range of special menus are offered which should be ordered, in advance, when making flight reservations and tickets purchased.
Seating
Normally free advance seat assignment is allowed, however some rows will be blocked.
Thai Airways Frequent Flyer Program
The Thai Airlines frequent flyer program is called Royal Orchid. Qualifying miles that you earn with THAI and Star Alliance airlines determine your Royal Orchid Plus membership status.
Each membership level, Member, Silver, or Gold has unique benefits when travelling with THAI and Star Alliance airlines. For a full list of benefits, from hotels, lounge access and extra baggage allowances, click here.
Lounges
If your Royal Orchid Plus membership status is Member or Silver, you can access Royal Silk Lounges at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok by redeeming miles (5,000 for an individual member and 7,500 for a member and a guest).
When departing from Bangkok on a THAI operated domestic or international flight, you have to present your boarding pass and Royal Orchid Plus card to lounge staff to obtain access.
Royal Silk Lounge in Concourse A is applicable for THAI operated domestic flights, and Royal Silk Lounges in Concourses C and E are applicable for THAI operated international flights.
How do I Contact Thai Airways Customer Service?
Thai Airways Customer Service
Delayed, Missing or Damaged Luggage
Thai Airways Airline Compensation
Thai Airways Customer Service
For your local Thai Airlines office, use the widget here.
Delayed, Missing or Damaged Luggage
In order for THAI to commence baggage tracking, you need to report any damaged checked-in luggage within 7 days of the receipt of the checked baggage, and any missing baggage upon arrival, in writing.
Claims related to missing items, lost and delayed delivery of baggage must be reported within 21 days of the date you checked in your luggage with Thai Airways. Tracking of lost baggage is done via the website WORLDTRACER.
Thai Airways Airline Compensation
The process for damaged luggage is that Thai airlines will firstly attempt to repair the bag. If this cannot be done, it will be replaced with an alternative bag. Compensation to contents is made in terms of weight (USD 20/kg).
In the event of a baggage delay, a one-time per passenger daily necessity fee will be reimbursed to you upon request, and upon presentation of a receipt for the relevant daily necessities. This does not apply if another passenger takes your luggage by error or intent.
If your checked-in luggage is lost, Thai Airways will attempt to trace your lost baggage for up to 3 weeks from the date you reported the loss. If your baggage is irretrievable after 3 weeks, compensation will be paid out by weight (USD 20/kg).
For most international travel (including domestic portions of international journeys) liability for loss, delay, or damage to baggage is limited to $400 per passenger for unchecked baggage unless a higher value is declared in advance and additional charges are paid. Excess valuation may not be declared on certain types of valuable articles. Thai Airways assume no liability for fragile or perishable articles.
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