How long is a flight to Thailand?
Flights from the United States to Thailand vary in duration, ranging from 18 hours and 45 minutes to 41 hours and 10 minutes. On average, it takes about 27 hours and 57 minutes to reach Thailand from the US, with 1-stop flights being shorter and 3-stop flights being longer.
Unfortunately, there are no direct flights from the US to Thailand due to factors like limited demand and the lengthy journey.
How long is a flight to Thailand from the United States? The answer depends on a few factors: Your departure airport, the number of stops on your route, and the length of each stop.
We’ll show you average flight times from the US to Thailand, how long the average layover takes on Thailand flights, and tips to get through a long international flight with ease!
How Long Is a Flight to Thailand From the US?
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After averaging flight duration and layover time on flights operating out of popular airports across the United States, we’ve found that flights to Thailand are always 18+ hours from the US.
A flight to Thailand from the US can be as short as 18 hours and 45 minutes or as long as 41 hours and 10 minutes. That’s quite a range, right? The difference is partially related to the airport you fly out of, but the number of stops on your route and the layover length of each are bigger factors.
You should pay close attention to flight duration and layover times as you’re browsing for your upcoming trip for this reason.
There’s a huge difference between hanging out at the airport for less than an hour versus staying overnight to catch your connecting flight the next day!
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We analyzed upcoming flights on Google Flights to find out just how long a flight to Thailand from the US is on average with 1, 2, or 3 stops along the way. As you’ll see, it takes a while to fly to Thailand – you could spend a full 24 hours or more on the plane each way.
That’s okay – it’s a flight to mystical, beautiful, and exotic Thailand after all. And it’s a great reason to upgrade to business class or first class for a comfier flight, too!
For the purposes of this guide, we looked at flights to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. This is where the vast majority of tourists arrive when they travel to Thailand.
Now let’s dig in!
How Long Is a Flight to Thailand With 1 Stop?
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- Seattle to Bangkok w/1 stop: 18h 45m+
- New York to Bangkok w/1 stop: 19h 55m+
- Chicago to Bangkok w/1 stop: 20h 55m+
- Miami to Bangkok w/1 stop: 23h 10m+
Flights to Bangkok, Thailand take anywhere from 18 hours and 45 minutes (flying out of Seattle with 1 stop) to 23 hours and 10 minutes (flying out of Miami with 1 stop).
The average flight to Thailand from the US with 1 stop takes about 20 hours and 41 minutes. The average layover on flights to Thailand from the US are about 12 hours and 17 minutes.
There’s roughly a 4.5 hour difference between flying to Thailand from the West Coast (like Seattle, Washington) and the East Coast (like Miami, Florida).
You’ll find slightly shorter or longer flights depending on your departure location and the duration of the stops on the route.
Layovers or stops can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 27 hours and 30 minutes when flying to Thailand from the United States.
How Long Is a Flight to Thailand With 2 Stops?
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- Seattle to Bangkok w/2 stops: 25h 20 min+
- New York to Bangkok w/2 stops: 27h 0 m+
- Chicago to Bangkok w/2 stops: 29h 11m+
- Miami to Bangkok w/2 stops: 29h 5m+
Flights to Bangkok, Thailand with 2 stops can take anywhere between 25 hours and 20 minutes (from Seattle) to 29 hours and 11 minutes (from Chicago).
That said, the average flight to Thailand from the US with 2 stops takes around 27 hours and 39 minutes. The average layover on a flight to Thailand with 2 stops are about 12 hours and 14 minutes.
Layovers on flights to Thailand with 2 stops can be as short as 41 minutes or as long as 29 hours and 35 minutes. You might have one short stop and one much longer stop on flights of this duration.
The length of the stops on your route as well as the location of the airport you’re flying out of will impact the total length of your flight to Thailand from the US.
Choose flights with shorter or fewer stops to reduce the length of your flight and get to Thailand a little faster and more conveniently.
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How Long Is a Flight to Thailand With 3 Stops?
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- Seattle to Bangkok w/3 stops: 41h 10m+
- New York to Bangkok w/3 stops: 31h 10 m+
- Chicago to Bangkok w/3 stops: 34h 50m+
- Miami to Bangkok w/3 stops: 34h 59 m+
Flights to Thailand with 3 stops take longer, ranging from about 31 hours and 10 minutes (from New York City) to 41 hours and 10 minutes (from Seattle).
The average flight to Thailand with 3 stops from the US takes about 35 hours and 32 minutes.
Your flight duration with 3 stops will be affected by the length of each stop as well as the location of your departure and connecting airports.
Layovers on flights to Thailand with 3 stops tend to be shorter due to the number of stops, averaging about 3 hours and 43 minutes. Stops in our flight analysis ranged from as short as 1 hour to as long as 6 hours and 11 minutes.
Remember to err on the side of caution and choose flights with enough time between them for you to clear customs again and board your connecting flight.
Can You Fly Direct to Thailand From the US?
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With long flight times from the US to Thailand, many people wonder if you can fly direct to Thailand from the US to save time. Unfortunately, the answer is no.
There are currently no direct flights to Thailand from the US. Instead, you’ll need to choose a flight with 1 or more stops to get to Thailand via air.
So why can’t you fly direct to Thailand from the US? The answer is multi-faceted.
- The majority of the demand for flights to Bangkok from the US is from tourists. They usually seek the cheapest flights (unlike business travelers, who will pay a premium for business class seats on a nonstop flight).
- There isn’t much demand for flights to Bangkok (or other parts of Thailand) in the US comparatively.
- A direct flight from the US to Thailand would be a long one – and costly for airlines without enough demand to make it profitable.
With these factors in mind, it makes sense that you can’t find direct flights to Thailand from the US at this time. It could change in the future if traveler demand increases, though.
Things to Consider
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Knowing how long the average flight to Thailand is will help you get a general timeframe in mind for planning your trip. These travel tips and considerations will be great to keep in mind while you plan!
- Shorter stops aren’t always better. Consider how much time you’ll need to get off the plane and board your connecting flight when you’re checking out potential flights with short stops. You might need 2-3 hours between flights to have time to go through customs before boarding your flight.
- Transit hotels make overnight layovers bearable. If your flight to Thailand includes an overnight layover, you’ll want to get as much rest and privacy as possible while you recover from the first leg of your flight! Transit hotels within airports are the answer. You’ll usually find rates much cheaper than regular hotels and you’ll stay inside the airport for easy access to the terminal the next day.
- Pack properly for Thailand weather. Thailand has a tropical climate, so things can get pretty warm and steamy here. It’s rainy during the May-October monsoon season, which is followed by a cooler, dry “winter” season and then a hot summer. Pack accordingly, making sure to bring lightweight layers for rainfall that you can shed if it gets too warm!
- Know the best time to visit Thailand. Thailand is beautiful year-round, but the best time to visit Thailand is between November and March/early April. This is when you’ll enjoy dry, cooler weather that’s ideal for exploring Bangkok, taking outdoor adventures, and eating your way through aromatic street food stalls!
- Take domestic flights within the country. Once you arrive in Thailand (usually in Bangkok), you’re not limited to a single city. It’s easy to take domestic flights around the country to explore all it has to offer! Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Thai Smile Air, and Thai Airways are all examples of small, domestic airlines that operate within the country to bring you wherever you want to go.
Frequently Asked Questions
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If you were wondering “How long is a flight to Thailand,” you’ve probably found yourself with a few additional questions like other travelers had.
Check out the FAQs below to learn more about flying to Thailand!
How long does it take to fly from the US to Thailand?
It can take anywhere from 18 hours and 45 minutes (1 stop from Seattle) to 41 hours and 10 minutes (3 stops from Seattle) to fly to Thailand from the US.
The average 1-stop flight takes about 20 hours and 41 minutes, while a 2-stop flight takes about 27 hours and 39 minutes. Flights to Thailand with 3 stops take about 35 hours and 32 minutes.
Overall, it takes about 27 hours and 57 minutes overall to fly from the US to Thailand with 1-3 stops.
How long is a direct flight to Thailand?
Direct flights to Thailand are not available from the United States, but you can fly direct to Thailand from London in about 11 hours and 35 minutes or from Paris in about 11 hours and 15 minutes.
Direct flights to Thailand are much shorter from Asia: About 3 hours and 25 minutes from Manila (Philippines) or 2 hours and 55 minutes from Hong Kong.
How far is Thailand from the USA by plane?
Thailand is about 8,615 miles away from the US. With no direct flights available between these 2 countries, it takes about 20 hours and 41 minutes to fly to Thailand with 1 stop on the route.
How far is Thailand from New York by plane?
Thailand is about 8,500 miles away from New York by plane. This might translate to a 16-hour flight if direct flights were offered.
But since there are no direct flights to Thailand from the US, it takes about 19 hours and 55 minutes to make the trip between New York and Thailand with 1 stop on the route.
Can you fly direct to Thailand from the US?
You can’t fly direct to Thailand from the US. No airlines currently offer direct, nonstop flights to Thailand from any US city due to the length of the flight and relatively low traveler demand for this route.
So, How Long Is a Flight to Thailand Overall?
A flight to Thailand can be as “short” as 18 hours and 45 minutes or as long as 41 hours and 10 minutes. It all depends on where you’re flying from, how many stops are on the route, and how long each stop is.
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Overall, the average flight to Thailand (factoring in flights from different US cities with 1-3 stops) takes about 27 hours and 57 minutes.
You’ll enjoy a much shorter flight by selectively browsing flights with just 1 stop from the US to Thailand.
Flights to Thailand with 2 stops are close to the overall average (about 27 hours and 39 minutes), while 3-stop flights take 35 hours and 32 minutes on average.
The shortest flight to Thailand from the US seems to be from the West Coast (Seattle, Washington) – worth considering if you really want to limit your time on the plane.