Thailand: Getting There

Airports Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is a sparkling, spaceship-like airport hailed as the new gateway to Asia, though expect labor pains like exhaustive queuing and long distances to gates. Chiang Mai and Phuket receive charter flights from Asia. Local flights operate from Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport (DMK).

Airlines The globe’s major carriers – among them Thai Airways, ANA, Northwest, United, and EVA Air – get you across the Pacific, though only Thai Airways offers a non-stop flight to New York City’s JFK.

Flight Times About 20 hours from the West Coast, depending on the connection. Flying from the East Coast adds another 5 hours, though the non-stop flight from JFK takes only 17 hours.