This month the B cities are standing up to be counted with amazingly low Business Class fares. First Bologna, Italy (as covered in this month’s Adviser here), and now Bangkok, Thailand. This is great for FCF devotees because both are right smack in the middle of their respective continents, and so offer great low-cost entry points for further exploration. They’re also great places to visit in their own right.
A Thai-tanic Fare Reduction and Thai-riffic for Elites
Examples: Chicago—Bangkok fares start at $2,876 r/t; Los Angeles at $2,904; New York $2,886; Toronto $2,575; and from Vancouver $2,873.
Thai TakeawayS
Nestled near the southern coast of the country, Bangkok is a bustling city of noisy street activity, delicious aromas, floating markets, ancient temples, grand palaces, museums, and shopping galore.
It has topped the MasterCard Global Destinations Index as the world’s most visited city for five of the past seven years.
Beyond Bangkok
Many sites outside of Bangkok are quick and easy to get to, for example:
- The tropical paradise islands of Phuket (1 hour 20 minute flight).
- The cultural delights of quieter Chiang Mai to the north. (1 hour 15 minute flight).
- The Golden Triangle – where the Mekong meets the Ruak, and Thailand meets Myanmar and Laos.
Beyond Thailand
Part of Bangkok’s appeal right now is that it gets you to the Asian continent for a low(er) fare than other destinations. You can add on cheap Business Class tickets to other countries—some examples:
Hong Kong: $429 round-trip, 3-hour flight one-way
Kathmandu: $642 round-trip, 3-hour and 15-minute flight one-way
Phnom Penh: $530 round-trip, 1-hour and 30-minute flight one-way
Saigon: $414 round-trip, 1-hour and 40-minute flight one-way
Singapore: $485 round-trip, 2-hour and 30-minute flight one-way
