Chiang Mai Flights

Flights to Chiang Mai

Most people will transit through Bangkok for Chiang Mai flights. Unless you are arriving in Thailand on board a charter flight, the chances are you will arrive at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). Passengers must clear immigration and custom formalities at this time. However if you arrive on board a Thai Airways flight and your baggage has been tagged through to Chiang Mai (CNX), you must clear immigration in the transit area of the airport and customs inspection will take place at Chiang Mai where you will pick up your baggage. Similarly, if you are leaving Thailand from Chiang Mai on board a Thai Airways flight you clear immigration in Chiang Mai and your baggage will be tagged through to your final destination. On arrival at Chiang Mai International Airport you will be directed to one of two arrival areas, domestic or international (passengers for the latter will already have been given at Bangkok a brightly coloured sticker to wear to make them easily identifiable to ground staff).
You will find that the airport is conveniently situated with only a 15 minute transfer into the centre of the city. There is a desk whereby you can get a limousine/taxi to your hotel or guest house at a cost of approximately 200 baht and this is probably advisable if this is your first visit to Chiang Mai. In addition some hotels and guest houses have their own shuttle buses. A cheaper alternative albeit somewhat hit or miss, is to hail a Tuk Tuk or Song Thaew which is delivering passengers to the airport. The cost for a tuk tuk will be approximately 100 baht. There is no conventional taxi rank at Chiang Mai Airport. In the arrivals area are ATM machines and the usual shops. There are car rental companies at the airport but for bike rental you will have to go into the city.

Flights from Chiang Mai

On departing Chiang Mai International Airport you will leave through either the domestic or international halls. The latter is reserved for passengers leaving on a Thai flight, any airline belonging to the Star Alliance* or certain other flights. After you have passed through immigration you will have access to the VAT Refund counter, a small duty free outlet, handicraft shops and a small snack bar.
*At the time of writing, April 2009, the Star Alliance comprises the following airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, Egyptair,LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair, Swiss, Tap Portugal, Thai, Turkish Airlines, United and US Airways.
Although Chiang Mai is a designated international airport, the number of airlines offering direct flights is limited to the following which are correct at the time of writing, April 2009.
No airport in Thailand has a departure tax to pay since the cost has already been included in the ticket price.

Map of Chiang Mai International Airport

Airlines with direct Flights to/from Chiang Mai International Airport

Air Asia	Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) http://www.airasia.com	☎ +66 (0)2-5159999
Air Mandalay	Yangon (formerly Rangoon), Mandalay (Myanmar) http://www.airmandalay.com   E-mail  cnxrr6t@sita.gmsmail.com	☎ +66 (0)53-818049
Bangkok Airways	Bangkok, Samui, Siem Reap (Cambodia) http://www.bangkokair.com	☎ +66 (0)53-281519
China Airlines	Taipei (Taiwan) http://www.china-airlines.com/en/index.htm	☎ +66 (0)53-201268
Lao Aviation	Luang Prabang (Laos) http://www.laoairlines.com/    E-mailreservation@laoairlines.com	☎ +856 (0)21-212057
Nok Air	Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Pai http://www.nokair.com	☎ 1318
One-Two-Go	Bangkok (Don Meuang) http://www.fly12go.com	☎ +66 (0)2- 2294100
SGA Airlines	Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Pai http://www.sga.co.th       E-mail customerservice@sga.aero	☎ +66 (0)2-6414190
Silk Air	Singapore http://www.silkair.com	☎ +66 (0)53-904985-7
Thai Airways	Bangkok, Mae Hong Son,Phuket, Kunming (China) http://www.thaiair.com	☎ +66 (0)53-920920 ☎ +66 (0)53-920999

Travel Resources

Thailand Travel Guide The new travel mashup, iGuide, the Interactive Travel Guide, lets you explore Thailand, and the world, using an interesting interactive map interface.
Click on a destination on the map, for example Chiang Mai or Bangkok, and a page comes up supplying various categories of travel information. The user then has the option to search through guides, photos, hotels, flights, videos, and location-related web links. In particular, the photo gallery and travel guide articles help travelers get a better idea of locations.