How to Book Travel on Orient Thai Airlines

Orient-Thai Airlines started out strictly as a charter company, only offering service to refugees for the United Nations. Now, they offer chartered or ticketed services for Asian travelers. With its home base in Bangkok, Thailand, Orient-Thai Airlines offers flights both domestically and internationally. Most of their flights operate primarily from Bangkok International Airport, also known as Suvarnabhumi Airport. Follow these steps to book your flight.

Things You'll Need

• Passport
• Credit card
• A computer with Internet access

Instructions

Book Your Travel on Orient-Thai Airlines

1. Book your tickets through the airline's Web site (see Resources below).

2. Make reservations over the phone at 011 ([phone]. You can also email reservations to them at [e-mail]. Don't assume your reservation has been made until you have a confirmation number.

3. Contact a travel agent if you are concerned about miscommunication. Although the timetables, destinations and fares appear very simple on the Web site, your comfort level is the most important part of your travel.

4. Purchase your tickets at Suvarnabhumi Airport. You can find the ticket counter for domestic travel at the passenger terminal on Level 4, Entrance 2-3, Block 4 and the international ticket counter in the same area on Block 7.

Understand Airline Rules and Regulations

1. Fly off-season to save money. Orient-Thai Airlines has a peak season surcharge that applies to any flight between August 1 and September 2.

2. Book your ticket only when your travel plans are firm. Read the fine print or ask a ticket agent to determine whether the ticket you are planning to purchase is non-refundable or non-re-routable.

Plan Your Travel

1. Decide whether to book through Phuket or Bangkok. Orient-Thai Airlines flies through both Phuket and Bangkok for Hong Kong and Seoul, so if these are your destinations, you might find a better rate via Phuket.

2. Fly through Bangkok International. With the exception of 2 destinations, Orient-Thai sends all of their flights through this hub. From here, they fly locally and internationally to Hong Kong, Seoul, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Surat Thani, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai and Krabi.

3. Investigate the aircraft you'll be flying in. Orient-Thai Airlines recently upgraded from Boeing 727s to Lockheed L1011 Tristar's as well as two Boeing 747s.

Tips & Warnings

• All phone numbers include the U.S. international prefix "011." When calling internationally outside the United States, substitute that "011" with "00."

• All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.

• Contact the airline to discuss travel details such as baggage allowance, meal options and other travel comforts.

• Give yourself plenty of time to negotiate Suvarnabhumi Airport. Newly remodeled, this airport is large and can be crowded, especially when international flights arrive and travelers begin to make their way through customs.