Planning a family holiday overseas this year? Flying out of Thailand is about to get more expensive with higher airport service fees starting on 20 June.
If you’re booking flights for the next school break, there’s one extra travel cost parents may want to keep an eye on.
From 20 June onwards, international passenger service charges at Thailand’s major airports will increase to B1,120 per person. The new pricing applies to travellers departing from Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Mueang International Airport, Phuket International Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport, Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport and Hat Yai International Airport.
For families travelling overseas, the increase could add a noticeable extra cost once you multiply it across parents, kids and grandparents travelling together.
However, the domestic flights within Thailand are not affected, with the charges staying at B130 per person.
Why are Thailand’s airport fees increasing?
According to Airports of Thailand (AOT), the higher fees will help support airport upgrades and long-term infrastructure improvements.
Some of the projects include upgrades to Suvarnabhumi Airport’s SAT-1 satellite terminal, improvements at Don Mueang Airport and expanded passenger processing systems designed to shorten check-in and queue times.
AOT also said the fee increase follows international aviation standards and is intended to improve airport services rather than generate profit.
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What families travelling overseas should know
If you’re flying after 20 June, it’s worth checking whether your airline ticket already includes the updated airport fee. In many cases, these charges are bundled into the final airfare price automatically.
While the increase may not completely change holiday plans, it’s another small travel expense families may want to factor into their budget – especially during peak travel periods like summer holidays and year-end breaks, as travelling with kids already comes with a lot of surprise costs.
