Picture courtesy of Travel Radar | Raimond Spekking

 

After a decade-long suspension, direct flights between Thailand and the United States are set to resume on 25th October. United Airlines has announced daily flights between Bangkok and Los Angeles, with the airline positioning itself as the first to offer this direct connection since 2015. This decision follows changes in the US Federal Aviation Administration's safety categorisation of Thailand, allowing for the much-anticipated resumption of services.

 

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgraded the status from Category 1 to Category 2 in 2015, effectively banning direct flights due to safety concerns, which led to hopes for a revival after the FAA reinstated Thailand to the top category in April this year, allowing airlines to explore options to reconnect the two countries directly. United Airlines has taken this opportunity, announcing that the flights will transit through Hong Kong, using the technologically advanced Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for the route.

 

Thai Airways International has not resumed direct flights to the US, citing intense competition on the trans-Pacific routes as a major factor. In June, former transport minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit expressed interest in seeing the national carrier return to US destinations to strengthen Suvarnabhumi airport’s status as a major hub. Despite this, Thai Airways’ CEO Chai Eamsiri has stated that US destinations are not currently part of Thai airline's expansion plan.

 

Looking forward, United Airlines’ initiative to resume direct flights is seen as a strategic move to build economic and tourism links between Thailand and the US west coast. Travel and business communities have welcomed the announcement, anticipating a boost in accessibility and convenience for international travellers. It remains to be seen if other airlines will follow suit or if Thai Airways will reconsider its strategy.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• United Airlines resumes direct Bangkok-Los Angeles flights from 25th October.
• The US FAA upgraded Thailand's aviation safety to facilitate this move.
• Thai Airways has no immediate plans to reintroduce US-bound flights.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-10-06

 

 

Yeah, but it's United. They are amongst the WORST of all airlines. I have a friend who works for them - they busted up the union years ago and the folks are now working without a contract. This affects EVERYTHING directly or indirectly.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

United Airlines has taken this opportunity, announcing that the flights will transit through Hong Kong, using the technologically advanced Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for the route.

So directly  via Hong Kong ??   I thought direct meant non stop direct to the destination.

33 minutes ago, johng said:

So directly  via Hong Kong ??   I thought direct meant non stop direct to the destination.

 

That a flight is direct does not mean it has no stops along the way; it simply means that it retains the same flight number throughout.

39 minutes ago, johng said:

So directly  via Hong Kong ??   I thought direct meant non stop direct to the destination.

 

   Direct means not stopping to let passengers on or off .

Probably a fuel stop 

LAX...mehhh.

2 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Direct means not stopping to let passengers on or off .

Probably a fuel stop 

No it means exactly was stated. You will fly BKK/HKG, passengers wanting to disembark may and the connecting passengers HKG/LAX will board. Same plane same flight number. Normally if you are flying BKK/LAX you may remain on board in HKG. 

NOT direct an as u transit /STOP at another country
I'd rather use Singapore, Cathay, Eva or Korean airlines
United sucks!!

PS;  i fly direct phuket to bangkok, HK, singapore, KL, Seoul even 5 cities in India
thats direct!!!

Some people seem to be confusing "direct" flights with "non-stop" flights.

 

A non-stop flight goes from origin to destination without any stops; a direct flight can include one or more stops along the way, but one remains on the same aircraft with the same flight number.

 

Technically, all non-stop flights are direct flights but not all direct flights are non-stop.  
 

12 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

NOT direct an as u transit /STOP at another country

 

Incorrect.  UA820 is a direct flight using the standard definition you can read here (even if it's confusing to many of us).

 

https://www.airhelp.com/en/blog/direct-vs-non-stop-flight/

 

2 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Yeah, but it's United. They are amongst the WORST of all airlines. I have a friend who works for them - they busted up the union years ago and the folks are now working without a contract. This affects EVERYTHING directly or indirectly.

 

Years ago, I sat next to a UA flight attendant union rep on a flight from China to the West coast.  We had a great conversation.  They were abusing the crap out of those poor FAs.

But I think the best explanation of their poor service is that they assigned the more lucrative international routes based on seniority and not performance or attitude.  So they ended up with a significant number of tired and cranky old farts counting the days down to retirement.  Admittedly, some of them were truly gems.  But overall, I was glad when I didn't fly enough any more that my frequent flier miles steered me toward United and Air Canada.

I'm going back to LAX in December and this does not excite me.  It looks like from CNX the best value is through Taipei (EVA, China Airlines or Starlux).  Korean Air looks like they have raised airfares at least  20% to 30% across board. This could be because South Korea's other large carrier Asiana shuts down in 2026 because Korean Air bought them.  

15 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

Years ago, I sat next to a UA flight attendant union rep on a flight from China to the West coast.  We had a great conversation.  They were abusing the crap out of those poor FAs.

But I think the best explanation of their poor service is that they assigned the more lucrative international routes based on seniority and not performance or attitude.  So they ended up with a significant number of tired and cranky old farts counting the days down to retirement.  Admittedly, some of them were truly gems.  But overall, I was glad when I didn't fly enough any more that my frequent flier miles steered me toward United and Air Canada.

Sounds true. The last time I flew Business  from BKK-HKG-LAX on United the entire cabiin crew looked like they were grandmothers. 

3 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

Sounds true. The last time I flew Business  from BKK-HKG-LAX on United the entire cabiin crew looked like they were grandmothers. 

 

That's what she told me.  And some of those grandmas are gems.  But they should outfit them with body cams using AI to assess how cranky they are.  The cranky ones should be assigned to shorter, less stressful domestic routes.  So they can get in more naps.

52 minutes ago, treetops said:

 

Incorrect.  UA820 is a direct flight using the standard definition you can read here (even if it's confusing to many of us).

 

https://www.airhelp.com/en/blog/direct-vs-non-stop-flight/

 

point taken but 
this is not great news as its United and far better airlines do the same route at a better price

so what if u need change planes?

the ONLY direct, non stop flight i have done on united, was dc to sf and that put me off of united for life

1 hour ago, zzzzz said:

this is not great news as its United and far better airlines do the same route at a better price

so what if u need change planes?

 

  Politely disagree.  Unless you want to fly through Manila, the UA flight BKK-HKG-LAX is significantly less expensive than the "better" airlines.  

 

  I concur with your opinion that the "soft product" (meaning service and dining) on UA (like with most US based airlines) is of lesser quality than that of Asian based airlines.  The "hard product" - as in the Polaris business class seats - is every bit as good as that on EVA or Japan Air.  (ANA might be a bit better.)

5 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Yeah, but it's United. They are amongst the WORST of all airlines. I have a friend who works for them - they busted up the union years ago and the folks are now working without a contract. This affects EVERYTHING directly or indirectly.

Your information is inaccurate; talk to your United employee friend to find out what the situation really is.

For this to work, they will need to issue visas to Thais. Might as well table it for now.

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai Airways’ CEO Chai Eamsiri has stated that US destinations are not currently part of Thai airline's expansion plan.

I find this very telling, actually. If not THAI then who?

 

While United is doing Bangkok now (only on a milk run basis, stopping in Hong Kong first), I recall a previous news report that indicated most major US airlines probably wouldn't add BKK as a non-stop service - or even as a direct destination. So let's see. I think I read the other day that next year Air Canada would upgrade its nonstop to Bangkok to year-round service (from the present seasonal routing). So that would be two Star Alliance carriers making the Pacific crossing - maybe THAI (also Star Alliance) will just do a code share with them.

14 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

I think I read the other day that next year Air Canada would upgrade its nonstop to Bangkok to year-round service (from the present seasonal routing). So that would be two Star Alliance carriers making the Pacific crossing - maybe THAI (also Star Alliance) will just do a code share with them.

 

United Airlines can call it "direct" all they want but it isn't. It's a term I find misleading, only thing is that it has same flight number. Non-stop is what is really needed. Best option for us was to book Air Canada from Bangkok to Seattle for next April. A 13 hours transpacific and then 40 minutes from Vancouver to Seattle. Fastest connection possible. Did Air Canada from Bangkok to Vancouver roundtrip in February this year and it was great - much better than expected. Currently only 3 times a week I think, however, they will likely add extra dates as they did this year. A real shame Thai Airways don't offer direct non-stop to west coast USA.

 

2 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

 

United Airlines can call it "direct" all they want dut it isn't. It's a term I find misleading, only thing is that it has same flight number. Non-stop is what is really needed. Best option for us was to book Air Canada from Bangkok to Seattle for next April. A 13 hours transpacific and then 40 minutes from Vancouver to Seattle. Fastest connection possible. Did Air Canada from Bangkok to Vancouver roundtrip in February this year and it was great - much better than expected. Currently only 3 times a week I think, however, they will add extra dates as they did this year. A real shame Thai Airways don't offer direct non-stop to west coast USA.

 

If it is on the same aircraft, which it appears to be, it is a direct flight. 

 

Yes, a nonstop would be better, but direct with a stop it better than changing, 

6 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Yeah, but it's United. They are amongst the WORST of all airlines. I have a friend who works for them - they busted up the union years ago and the folks are now working without a contract. This affects EVERYTHING directly or indirectly.

 

Really? United workers are members of some of the most powerful unions in the USA. There are multiple unions, and none is  busted up.  Here are the main unions at United Airlines:

1 Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA): Pilots. 

2 Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA): Cabin crews and some floating agent classes. 

3 International Brotherhood of Teamsters (Teamsters): Mechanics, technicians, and ground personnel 

4 International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM District 141):Fleet service, gate and desk agents, concierge,  club, baggage administration  and reservations workers 

5 Professional Airline Flight Control Association (PAFCA) UAL: Aircraft dispatchers. 

 

Yes, it is an unpleasant and  low quality airline. However, much of the experience reflects the customers and markets it serves.

 

It's been a while, but the last time I flew United Bangkok to Los Angeles, the service was great, and I loved the 787. The Bangkok-Narita leg was (maybe) ANA 

9 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

direct with a stop it better than changing, 

 

Only marginally in my experience and opinion. I also rate the airline, schedule and quality of service too. Add price and frequent flyer affiliation into the equation before making the ultimate choice. 

 

Eva is the best plan for me. Quality service, a couple of hours in Taipei where there's great duty free(macallan for $80), and then off to wherever, BKK, MNL, BALI, etc. My only concern with that route these days is that if/when China invades Taiwan I could be stranded in SE Asia.

That's not "direct."  "Direct" means no stopovers.  I came here on a 14 hours "Direct" flight from LAX to BKK a whole bunch of years ago.  Excellent flight. 

2 hours ago, connda said:

That's not "direct."  "Direct" means no stopovers.  I came here on a 14 hours "Direct" flight from LAX to BKK a whole bunch of years ago.  Excellent flight. 

You have a choice; I only have Thai. Everything else means stopover.

Ah the old "Direct Flight" scam  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_flight   The only upside is if your connection is delayed due to externalities such as weather or Air Traffic control the Airline will pay for your layover hotel in HK.

 

No the plane does not wait for you and the aircraft type can also change. 

5 hours ago, connda said:

That's not "direct."  "Direct" means no stopovers.  I came here on a 14 hours "Direct" flight from LAX to BKK a whole bunch of years ago.  Excellent flight. 

I flew the Thai BKK-LAX nonstop a number of times, and it was great