Bangkok airlines ease booking policies as flooding disrupts city’s transport

Six Bangkok-based airlines have introduced flexible booking rules to assist passengers affected by the city’s flooding, amid ongoing transport and access issues at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports.

Bangkok’s flooding has prompted six airlines to loosen their booking rules, giving passengers a brief window to shift travel plans without the usual penalties as the city’s transport network remains under strain. According to reports from local and regional travel outlets, the measures from Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air, Bangkok Airways and Thai Vietjet are intended to help passengers whose journeys have been affected by disrupted roads, slower airport access and wider weather-related uncertainty.

The situation has been particularly awkward for travellers because Bangkok’s two main airports, Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, have remained open even as flooded roads have made it harder to reach them. Air journal and Wego both reported that passengers at Suvarnabhumi have faced baggage delays as well as longer and more complicated transfers to and from the terminal, underlining that the disruption has been as much about access on the ground as about flight operations.

Thai Airways said it would allow one date change at no extra fee for passengers travelling to or from Suvarnabhumi, provided the ticket was issued on or before 26 September 2026 and the journey falls between 26 September and 11 October. The carrier said the revised trip must stay on the same route and fare class, and that passengers would be entitled to a full refund if the airline itself cancels the flight. Thai Airways has also cancelled selected services on 29 and 30 September because of the flooding, according to Thai-language reporting cited by local outlets.

Thai AirAsia, along with Thai AirAsia X and other AirAsia Group flights, has offered one free change for Bangkok travel between 26 and 30 September, with the rebooked journey needing to take place within seven days of the original departure date. The airline has also said passengers may keep the booking value as credit for a later reservation, with the credit usable within two years of approval. Separately, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air and Thai Vietjet have all rolled out temporary waivers covering flights around 26 to 30 September, generally allowing one free date change or the option of a voucher or credit, although the exact time limits and eligibility rules differ by carrier.

Bangkok Airways has adopted a broader window, covering scheduled travel from 25 to 30 September and allowing one free change on the same route, subject to seat availability, with the new date required to fall on or before 10 October. Passengers who prefer not to rebook can instead request a travel voucher valid for a year. Travel publications including Time Out and Nation Thailand said the common theme across all six airlines is simple: passengers need to check the fine print carefully, as each waiver has its own deadlines, route restrictions and conditions.