Asia - Cambodia or Thailand Airfare

Has anyone been to Cambodia? I'm thinking of going.

Where do you think is the best place to get a cheap ticket to Cambodia or Thailand?

I recommend it 100% I went to Thailand and cambodia in October of last year and it was a really nice trip. However I recommend Cambodia over Thailand. If you want/need more advice send me a PM

I suggest going to Thailand and taking the bus to Siam Reap. Air fare to Cambodia appears to have some sort of cartel which jacks fares way up. BKK is much more competitive.

It is around 6-7 hours by bus from BKK to Siam Reap/Ankor Wat and cost is less than $60US for two (one way). Also, rather interesting drive.

It seems like flights to Cambodia are really expensive!

Any tricks to getting cheap flights to Thailand?

Everything seems to have gone up a lot.

It seems like flights to Cambodia are really expensive!

Any tricks to getting cheap flights to Thailand?

Everything seems to have gone up a lot.

I'm flying to Bangkok in April on Delta, and then using AirAsia to fly around SE Asia. There really is no cheap way to get there this year. Cheapest RT I found was $1300, and Bangkok was the cheapest way to get into SE Asia from the US. My flight into Hong Kong in 2010 was significantly cheaper at $950 RT all inclusive. Oil prices have had a major effect, imo.

Moving this thread to the Asia forum. Thanks for your understanding.

Jouy31
TravelBuzz co-moderator

First you should search for the lowest priced day on a good airline. If you use the calendar option at ITA Software (http://matrix.itasoftware.com), it will show you this, as will Kayak.

I am partial to Asiana Airlines, code OZ, but other good ones are Korean, Cathay Pacific, EVA or China Airlines (Taiwan). I would avoid China Southern, and I also avoid the US based carriers (service is so much better on Asian carriers, and US based carriers are usually more expensive).

Both Asiana and Korean fly to Bangkok, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap via Seoul Incheon. I usually buy my Asiana tickets on a third party site such as Orbitz, Expedia or Priceline. Recently I bought tickets (Nov '12) at Orbitz for $1241. (open jaw into Bangkok and returning from Hanoi) on OZ and AS from PDX.

It seems like flights to Cambodia are really expensive!

Any tricks to getting cheap flights to Thailand?

Everything seems to have gone up a lot.

I ran a sample for March '12, Los Angeles-Phnom Penh roundtrip using ITA, and it showed a low of about $937. for only one day that month using China Southern, but I could have gone on another day for $1060. on Asiana. Search carefully, and there are a few days every month that are affordable.

Where are you starting from? What dates, and can you be flexible with dates?

The Matrix program is something I've been looking for.

I'm thinking of leaving March 22-March 31.

Hmm - I have family in Korea. Maybe I can do a layover in Korea.

Has anyone been to Cambodia? I'm thinking of going.

Where do you think is the best place to get a cheap ticket to Cambodia or Thailand?

You could always try try to fly to BKK first. From BKK you can take AirAsia to Phnom Penh and it won't cost you much. If Angkor Wat (Siem Reap) is your destination then is bit more tricky. Only airline serving BKK-REP is Bangkok airways and they will charge you hefty 200-300USD for a roundtrip.

Another possibility is to fly to KUL. From KUL you can take AirAsia to PNH or REP. Should not be very expensive.

Transit is of course some sort of trouble, but why don't you combine two destinations and spend few days in BKK/KUL on your way to Cambodia.

And yes, if you ask me Cambodia is really interesting place to visit.

The Matrix program is something I've been looking for.

I'm thinking of leaving March 22-March 31.

Hmm - I have family in Korea. Maybe I can do a layover in Korea.

Booked two tickets for April on KE, SEA-BKK via ICN for $1161 each. Have a full day layover going from SEA-BKK at ICN and 9+hrs BKK-SEA. Both with comp room at ICN which give us a break from the long flts. So far we had two equipment changes and seat re-assignments. I was told by CS that I can change/request seats 30 days prior or at the airport but I like to have at least some idea where I'm seating prior to that and if it gets better at the airport it be a good surprise.
So, if you have the time and don't mind a possible equipment change, I recommend KE. The layover might give you enough time to visit the family.

You could always try try to fly to BKK first. From BKK you can take AirAsia to Phnom Penh and it won't cost you much. If Angkor Wat (Siem Reap) is your destination then is bit more tricky. Only airline serving BKK-REP is Bangkok airways and they will charge you hefty 200-300USD for a roundtrip.

You might want to check on those PG BKK-REP tix. Your prices are at least 50% too low. Also, PG prices are 30% cheaper when the r/t begins in Cambodia.

As for going BKK-PNH don't bother with FD. You'll get flights for the same, or less, using PG or AF. The latter only flies 3x per week. FD being cheap is a myth that they've been able to convince everyone of. It's simply not true systemwide.

Since you are in FT, do you have airline miles? Star alliance has lot of selection, i tried to go from HK to either Siam Reap or PNH are availabe, but you may have to travel for long distance before you get to your destination, like HK to Beijing or Seoul before to goto PNH or Siam Reap. if you don't have miles, search how you get UA card with 50K bonus, and it will be enough for 2 tickets within Asia, remember you are allow to have one stop over, try ChengDu or Guilin, if you are not going in summer, maybe Beijin is good too.

Has anyone been to Cambodia? I'm thinking of going.

Where do you think is the best place to get a cheap ticket to Cambodia or Thailand?

Since you are in FT, do you have airline miles? Star alliance has lot of selection, i tried to go from HK to either Siam Reap or PNH are availabe, but you may have to travel for long distance before you get to your destination, like HK to Beijing or Seoul before to goto PNH or Siam Reap. if you don't have miles, search how you get UA card with 50K bonus, and it will be enough for 2 tickets within Asia, remember you are allow to have one stop over, try ChengDu or Guilin, if you are not going in summer, maybe Beijin is good too.

Several things:

1) It is Siem Reap
2) *A flights into PNH are limited to exBKK and exICN
3) *A flithts into REP are limited to exICN
4) UA does not allow stopovers in a 1-region award (which it would be from HKG). 50K is not enough for a inter-region award for 2 pax.

You might want to check on those PG BKK-REP tix. Your prices are at least 50% too low. Also, PG prices are 30% cheaper when the r/t begins in Cambodia.

As for going BKK-PNH don't bother with FD. You'll get flights for the same, or less, using PG or AF. The latter only flies 3x per week. FD being cheap is a myth that they've been able to convince everyone of. It's simply not true systemwide.

Hmm, guess prices have been increasing a lot. I flew from BKK-REP couple of years ago and paid 11000thb (inc all taxes for a RT). That's more than 300USD, but then again it was quite last minute purchase so I assumed booking in advance would mean lower prices.

I'm aware that FD is increasing prices and keeps adding various additional fees, but you can still usually find relatively cheap fares. I paid less than 4000thb all in for BKK-PNH RT few years ago. On the other hand AF/PG probably doesn't charge much more than that either.

IIWY I'd get myself a 'Discovery Airpass' on Bangkok Air. You have to buy at least 3 legs though. You have to buy them from home too. Take a trip to Laos or Ko Samui as well to maximize the savings and get the 3rd leg. BKK-REP goes down to $120 OW. LINK:http://www.bangkokair.com/en/plan-your-trip/discovery-airpass/fare-per-coupon.php

Hey - that's pretty cool. I didn't know about the airpass.

You have to catch FD on one of their sales. I bought a one-way ticket for PNH-BKK for US$11 plus taxes and the now included in the ticket price Cambodia US$25 departure tax, preminum reserved seat and extra baggage allowance. Total cost US74. I bought the ticket in August 2011 for travel February 2012.

Hmm, guess prices have been increasing a lot. I flew from BKK-REP couple of years ago and paid 11000thb (inc all taxes for a RT). That's more than 300USD, but then again it was quite last minute purchase so I assumed booking in advance would mean lower prices.

I'm aware that FD is increasing prices and keeps adding various additional fees, but you can still usually find relatively cheap fares. I paid less than 4000thb all in for BKK-PNH RT few years ago. On the other hand AF/PG probably doesn't charge much more than that either.

The prices you quotes were, in both instances, from a 'couple/few' years ago. Take this into consideration.

AF is running $180 a/i and PG is at $209 a/i. The difference is PG has 4 flights a day and AF only flies 3 days/week. TG is even more expensive.

FD is charging $160 before bags, seats, payment fee, etc.

To me this breaks down to a very obvious choice when flying.



IIWY I'd get myself a 'Discovery Airpass' on Bangkok Air. You have to buy at least 3 legs though. You have to buy them from home too. Take a trip to Laos or Ko Samui as well to maximize the savings and get the 3rd leg. BKK-REP goes down to $120 OW. LINK:http://www.bangkokair.com/en/plan-your-trip/discovery-airpass/fare-per-coupon.php

This is not true. In December I took friends to the PG office in Chiang Main (on Neimanhemin) and they purchased a Discovery Airpass; were able to book and pay right there.

You are absolutely correct on the BKK-REP leg with one very big caveat: You need to find L availability and that can be very difficult (and rarely exists on PG BKK-LPQ but there is often availability on QV). If L is available then international segments are $120 ++. In all it works out to be a big cost savings. I would stay away from domestic flights unless you really need that 3rd segment.

Also, on random dates I'm finding NO 'L' fares BKK-USM.

You have to catch FD on one of their sales. I bought a one-way ticket for PNH-BKK for US$11 plus taxes and the now included in the ticket price Cambodia US$25 departure tax, preminum reserved seat and extra baggage allowance. Total cost US74. I bought the ticket in August 2011 for travel February 2012.

The special currently running is $45 each way but I don't think that includes airport taxes. See above for fares otherwise.

FD to/from Cambodia is only cost effective when needing a o/w ticket. Otherwise go with another carrier.

D37: Thanks for the info. I've bought 'em 3 or 4 times. They used to be a pain in the a** to purchase. Much more attractive to me now. Excellent. wj

D37: Thanks for the info. I've bought 'em 3 or 4 times. They used to be a pain in the a** to purchase. Much more attractive to me now. Excellent. wj

The Thai Air Pass requires an international ticket but I was never aware of any international requirement for PG's Discovery Airpass.

Ah well, enjoy.

Yeah, I used to have to get ' em from the PG office in LA. They didn't like to answer the phone much either. Old news though. Haven't bought any in 3 or 4 years. wj

The Thai Air Pass requires an international ticket but I was never aware of any international requirement for PG's Discovery Airpass.

Ah well, enjoy.

Yes, there definitely used to be a requirement to get these Passes outside of Thailand. Apparently they relaxed this at some point (exactly when is still murky), but I don't think PG has ever really made a point of communicating this fact.