Loy Krathong airfare inflation upsets travellers

CAAT advises Bangkok-Chiang Mai flyers to check with airline if booking platform price looks too high

Passengers travelling to Chiang Mai for the Loy Krathong festival are advised to check fares and seat availability directly with airlines, as some booking platforms may show much higher prices when seats are running low.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) said on Thursday it was responding to complaints circulating online about unusually expensive tickets between Bangkok and the northern tourist city.

The agency said demand for travel between Nov 23 and 26 was higher than usual. Flight schedules are also being adjusted to accommodate lantern-release activities in Chiang Mai, which limited the number of flights and seats.

The squeeze is most acute for flights to Chiang Mai on Nov 23–24 and return flights on Nov 25–26, the agency said.

After checking airlines’ own websites, the CAAT said it found that several carriers had no seats left for those dates.

Travellers have posted complaints on social media showing round-trip tickets priced between 18,000 baht and almost 30,000 baht. Some said such prices could deter the domestic tourism that the country is promoting.

The average price for a round-trip air ticket from Bangkok to Chiang Mai in off-peak times typically ranges between 2,500 and 4,300 baht.

The CAAT said the prices shown were set by ticket agents or online platforms, whose pricing mechanisms can push fares up when seats are nearly sold out. They are not the prices offered by the airlines themselves. As well, seat counts on some platforms may not match actual availability, it said.

It urged passengers to verify prices and seat status with the airline before buying, so they get a ticket that can actually be used and a fare within the proper ceiling.

Passengers should also allow extra travel time and monitor flight schedules closely, as flights may be adjusted for safety during lantern-release activities, CAAT said.

Passengers who encounter problems or are denied their rights by an airline can file a complaint through the CAAT complaint portal.

Loy Krathong this year falls on Nov 24, coinciding with Chiang Mai’s traditional lantern festival known as Yi Peng.