BKK to USM options?
 

Hi,
I wonder if anyone can help me please? My wife and I and our two kids will be going to Ko Samui for a week next July, transiting via Bangkok. I have been looking at the options for getting from BKK to USM and it seems there is only one carrier (Bangkok Airways), with prices you would expect where there is only carrier. However, I heard some talk about Air Asia getting into that market next year. I was wondering if anyone else has heard this or if you have any more information?
Many thanks for any help you can offer.

Frank.

Not sure why you posted here when there is a Thailand forum to ask questions like this.

I don't know if FD is planning to get into the market. Just don't pay much attention to them. TG is the only other carrier I'm aware of that currently services the the BKK-USM route. And if the fares are too high (which they undoubtedly are) you could always fly into URT and take the ferry.

As dsquared37 points out, you certainly can fly AirAsia (FD) to Surat Thani (URT) and this will certainly be cheaper, but the ferry will take you to Naton, on the western side of Ko Samui, when you likely want to be on the opposite side. All things considered you'll likely find you just need to pay and fly Bangkok Airways, unless you and your family enjoy spending hours travelling. :eek:

Moved to Thailand forum.

/mod

Thank you
 

dsquared37 and restlessinRNO,
Thank you both for your help. Sorry for posting in the wrong Forum - stupid mistake on my behalf. It looks like Bangkok Airways will be getting our business!

Thank you again for your help.

Frank.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Bangkok Airways owns the airport, so they're not going to allow a low cost carrier to undercut them at their own airport.

Also I believe Bangkok Airways owns several airports in the region.

Just to confirm what has been posted, both Bangkok Airways (PG) and THAI (TG) fly direct to Samui (USM) from Bangkok Suvanabhumi (BKK). There are many more Bangkok Airways flights (approx 14 per day) than Thai (just 2 per day).

This is correct, and also the reason TG does not have more flights to Samui.
This being said, Bangkok Airways is an excellent airline.

if you have time, take the air asia flight to surat thani and take the bus&ferry.
I pretty much liked the ferry trip.
another option is the high speed catamaran from chumporn http://www.lomprayah.com
but also only an option if you have time.

bangkok airways flight is choice number one. but prices for flying to samui never been cheap and they increased a lot in the past year.

You might also wish to consider the Bangkok Air flights from Utapao airport near Pattaya, these may or may not be cheaper than from BKK


If you have the time, I also support above suggestion from cln to take bus and ferry. You could do this directly from Bangkok and break journey for an overnight in Hua Hin to add to your experience. First class buses are very comfortable and quite inexpensive.

If anyone were to go to Hua Hin I would attempt to steer them toward the minivans just east of Victory Monument. A much better proposition than the bus.

...maybe, but not for the faint-hearted, more suited to the thrill-seeker who might enjoy a high-speed ride with cramped legroom. That said, some of my best days in thailand were spent in a minivan :)