How can I earn miles on Thai Airways?

The best way to earn Thai Airways miles is to spend on a Citi ThankYou-branded credit card, such as the Citi Prestige card or the Citi Premier card. You can then transfer the points earned from Citi to Thai Airways. You can do the same with Marriott credit cards, though the transfer ratio isn’t as favorable.

Is it possible to earn Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus miles by using credit cards?

Yes! You can put spending on the Citi Premier card or Citi Prestige card to earn miles quickly. You can earn up to 5 points per $1 spent on dining with the Citi Prestige card, along with other benefits. Alternatively, you can put your spending on Marriott co-branded credit cards from Chase or American Express. As a last resort, you can transfer points from other hotel chains like Hilton, Hyatt, or IHG.

What are Thai Airways miles worth?

Generally, Thai Airways miles are going to be worth around 1 cent per point. It’s possible to get value of 3-4 cents per point on premium cabin redemptions, but that’s generally the limit.

Are Thai Airways miles refundable?

Not always. If travel has commenced on an award ticket, you can’t cancel or modify your ticket and get the miles back. Refer to the guidelines in the guide above to learn more about the rules and restrictions.

When do Thai Airways miles expire?

Thai Airways expire after 3 years at the end of the quarter 3 years after the miles were accrued.

Is Thai Airways part of United Airlines?

Thai Airways is not a part of United Airlines. United Airlines is a Chicago-based carrier, while Thai Airways is the state-owned flag carrier of Thailand. They are both in Star Alliance, but they aren’t the same entity.

How much does it cost to buy Thai Airways miles?

You can purchase up to 30,000 Thai Airways miles in 1,000-mile increments only if you’re short of an award redemption. The price is $40 per 1,000 miles — an astonishing 4 cents per mile cost.

How do I join Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus?

You can visit this link to enroll in Royal Orchid Plus.

Do I need to be a Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus member to search for awards?

Yes. Furthermore, you need at least 1 mile in your account to search for awards.

How many Thai Airways miles do I have?

You can check by logging into your account at the top right corner of this page. Click Log in, enter your frequent flyer information, and click on your profile to view your mileage balance.

15 Best Ways To Redeem Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus Miles for Maximum Value

Updated: October 24, 2024, 9:22am CDT

Edited by:

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Table of Contents

The Pros and Cons of Thai Airways Miles
Using Your Thai Airways Miles
How To Boost Your Thai Airways Miles
The 15 Best Ways To Use Your Thai Airways Miles
Final Thoughts

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Thai Airways is the flag carrier of Thailand and was founded in 1960. A Star Alliance partner, this airline is one of the most highly regarded airlines in the industry, primarily through its sublime first class product. It has also landed a spot on our best international first class airlines.

Thai Airways has been struggling as financial losses mount, so the unfortunate reality is that it has begun to cut back on its offerings. This includes relentless and severe devaluations of its frequent flyer program.

Even after all the years of taking a beating, there are still some areas where you can extract great value from your Thai Airways miles. In this in-depth guide, we’ll be taking a look at the top ways to redeem these miles, uncovering how they can provide outsized value, especially for niche travelers.

The Pros and Cons of Thai Airways Miles

Thai Airways’ frequent flyer program is called Royal Orchid Plus (often abbreviated as ROP). When you take a holistic look at the program, you’ll notice some odd quirks. Additionally, much of the information that other resources published on Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus is hopelessly outdated.

That being said, Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus has these pros going for them:

Access to the Star Alliance network for flight options
1 stopover allowed, subject to fees, even on one-way tickets (except for travel solely within Thailand)
1 open-jaw is also permitted, either at the point of turnaround or origin
Attractive intra-region award pricing
Ability to earn miles through Citi ThankYou Points and many hotel points
Round the World Award trips are allowed, albeit at an absurd price
Attractive round-trip ultra-long-haul awards on Thai Airways

Here are the drawbacks you’ll notice when using Thai Airways miles:

Ridiculously high long-haul award prices
Fuel surcharges are passed on
Round-trip tickets are cheaper than 2 one-way tickets
Can’t search for award space online without miles
Maximum of 4 sectors per award ticket (RTW trips excluded)
The website provides confusing information
Most ticket changes required award cancellation and another ticket request
Once travel has commenced, there are no routing changes or mileage re-credits allowed

To summarize, most of the Thai Airways award chart has been obliterated over time. Furthermore, fuel surcharges are now passed on.

The other side of the equation is that Thai Airways has a user-unfriendly website, whereby searching for award space requires miles in your account. Lastly, you’re restricted by the ticketing process, which means that you ought to be certain of your travel plans staying the same before you book an award ticket.

However, there are a few things Thai Airways has going for it. Thai Airways is a Star Alliance member, and mixing carriers for award flights is easy, resulting in the convenience of global connectivity. You can also leverage some generous routing rules via the stopover and open-jaw allowance.

Using Your Thai Airways Miles

Thai Airways Award Charts

Thai Airways has 2 separate award charts — 1 for nonstop trips and 1 for connecting trips through Bangkok. The first award chart is for direct, point-to-point travel with Thai Airways.

Here’s what the first award chart looks like (all prices are one-way):

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Zone	One-Way Travel Between Bangkok and Listed Destinations	Economy Class	Premium Economy Class	Royal Silk Class	Royal First Class
	Destination in Thailand: Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Had Yai, Krabi, Khon Kaen, Narathiwat, Phuket, Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani	7,500	8,750	10,000	15,000
1	Cambodia: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap Laos: Luang Prabang, Vientiane Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, Penang Myanmar: Mandalay, Yangon Singapore: Singapore Vietnam: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City	12,500	15,000	20,000	35,000
2	China: Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Xiamen Taiwan-China: Kaohsiung, Taipei	17,500	22,500	30,000	42,500
2	China: Kunming	12,500	15,000	20,000	35,000
3	Indonesia: Denpasar, Jakarta Philippines: Manila	17,500	22,500	27,500	35,000
4	India: Bengaluru, Chennai, Gaya, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, New Delhi, Varanasi Nepal: Kathmandu Sri Lanka: Colombo	17,500	22,500	27,500	37,500
4	Bangladesh: Dhaka	12,500	15,000	20,000	35,000
5	China: Beijing, Zhengzhou Japan: Fukuoka, Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo (Haneda/Narita) Korea: Busan, Seoul	22,500	30,000	42,500	60,000
6	Oman: Muscat Pakistan: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore U.A.E.: Dubai	22,500	30,000	42,500	60,000
7	Australia: Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney	27,500	35,000	65,000	90,000
7	Australia: Perth	22,500	30,000	47,500	67,500
8	New Zealand: Auckland	42,500	62,500	85,000	115,000
9	Austria: Vienna Belgium: Brussels Denmark: Copenhagen France: Paris Germany: Frankfurt, Munich Italy: Milan, Rome Norway: Oslo Sweden: Stockholm Switzerland: Zurich U.K.: London	42,500	62,500	90,000	125,0000

Thai Airways operates several nonstop flights that don’t touch Bangkok and prices them as follows:

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From/To Phuket	Economy Class	Premium Economy Class	Royal Silk Class	Royal First Class
Chiang Mai	12,500	15,000	20,000	N/A
Hong Kong	17,500	22,500	30,000	42,500
Beijing	22,500	30,000	47,500	67,500
Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Stockholm	42,500	62,500	90,000	125,000

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From/To Seoul	Economy Class	Premium Economy Class	Royal Silk Class	Royal First Class
Taipei	12,500	15,000	20,000	N/A
Hong Kong	17,500	20,000	30,000	N/A

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From/To Karachi	Economy Class	Premium Economy Class	Royal Silk Class	Royal First Class
Muscat	22,500	30,000	42,500	N/A

Thai Airways also has separate award charts that include connections in Bangkok. For example, this may include originating in Phuket, taking a short-haul flight to Bangkok, and then a long-haul flight to London.

On the flip side, it may include originating in a city like Frankfurt, taking a long-haul flight to Bangkok, and then a short-haul flight to Chiang Mai.

In both cases, there’s a connection within Bangkok. Usually, the incremental surcharge is an additional 4,000 miles in economy class, 4,500 miles in premium economy class, 5,000 miles in business class, or 7,500 miles in first class.

Here’s the full connecting award chart for one-way flights on Thai Airways:

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Zone	One-Way Travel Between Bangkok and Listed Destinations	Economy Class	Premium Economy Class	Royal Silk Class	Royal First Class
1	Cambodia: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap Laos: Luang Prabang, Vientiane Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, Penang Myanmar: Mandalay, Yangon Singapore: Singapore Vietnam: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City	16,250	19,500	25,000	42,500
2	China: Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Xiamen Taiwan-China: Kaohsiung, Taipei	21,250	27,000	35,000	50,000
2	China: Kunming	16,250	19,500	25,000	42,500
3	Indonesia: Denpasar, Jakarta Philippines: Manila	21,250	27,000	32,500	42,500
4	India: Bengaluru, Chennai, Gaya, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, New Delhi, Varanasi Nepal: Kathmandu Sri Lanka: Colombo	21,250	27,0000	32,500	45,000
4	Bangladesh: Dhaka	16,250	19,500	25,000	42,500
5	China: Beijing, Zhengzhou Japan: Fukuoka, Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo (Haneda/Narita) Korea: Busan, Seoul	26,250	34,500	52,500	75,000
6	Oman: Muscat Pakistan: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore U.A.E.: Dubai	26,250	34,500	47,500	67,500
7	Australia: Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney	31,250	39,500	70,000	97,500
7	Australia: Perth	26,250	34,500	52,500	75,000
8	New Zealand: Auckland	46,250	67,000	90,000	122,500
9	Austria: Vienna Belgium: Brussels Denmark: Copenhagen France: Paris Germany: Frankfurt, Munich Italy: Milan, Rome Norway: Oslo Sweden: Stockholm Switzerland: Zurich U.K.: London	46,250	67,000	95,000	132,500

Note: the award chart for travel with connections in Bangkok does not allow for stopovers.

Star Alliance Airline Partners

Thai Airways has a separate, zone-based award chart for flights that involve Star Alliance airlines. You can freely mix Thai Airways and other Star Alliance airline flights, but the price you’ll pay is dictated by the Star Alliance award chart, shown below.

Thai Airways Star Alliance award chart. Image Credit: Thai Airways

Thai Airways also has a special award price for connecting Thai Airways flights (no stopover) between Europe and Australia/New Zealand as follows:

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Thai Airways Miles Cost for One-Way Thai Airways Flights Between Europe and Australia/New Zealand
Zone 9 (Europe)	Cabin Class	Miles Cost
	Economy	54,500
	Premium Economy	74,250
	Business	117,500
	First	155,250

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Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus Zone Definitions
Zone 1 (Asia 1)	Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Zone 2 (Asia 2)	Brunei, China (south of and including Shanghai), Indonesia, Taiwan-China, Philippines
Zone 3 (Asia 3)	Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka
Zone 4 (Asia 4)	China (north of Shanghai,), Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia Far East
Zone 5 (Central Asia/Middle East)	Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, U.A.E., Uzbekistan, Yemen
Zone 6 (Australia)	Australia, Palau, Papua New Guinea
Zone 7 (New Zealand, Oceania)	Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, Vanuatu
Zone 8 (Hawaii)	Hawaii, Guam, Saipan
Zone 9 (Europe/North Africa)	Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Norway, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, U.K.
Zone 10 (South/Central Africa)	Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Zone 11 (North America/The Caribbean)	USA (excluding Hawaii), Canada, Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Martin, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Virgin Islands (U.S. and U.K.)
Zone 12 (Central and South America)	Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guinea, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela

Awards Bookable Online vs. Phone

In theory, it’s possible to book both Thai Airways and Star Alliance award flights online, though the clunky online system usually makes calling them a better idea.

Furthermore, you can only search for awards online if you have miles in your account. Therefore, it is recommended to book via a phone call to 800-426-5204.

Award Redemption Rules

Thai Airways indicates that the following rules are applicable for award routing and ticketing for flights on Thai Airways, Star Alliance flights, and Star Alliance Round the World.

For flights on Thai Airways, the following award routing and ticketing rules apply:

All award travel must be completed within 1 year of the ticket issue date.
If an award is booked with a Thai Airways office and it is not issued within the ticketing time limit, the booking is canceled automatically. Miles will be re-credited to the relevant amount, minus any expiring miles.
Before the ticket is issued, you can change the flight dates, routing (same zone), ticket holder name, member, or travel nominee.
All other changes required re-crediting your mileage (which may take up to 3 business days) and requesting a new award.
After your ticket is issued, you can change travel dates or flight numbers with a fee, but no other changes are allowed. You must cancel your ticket and request a new award ticket.
When award tickets are canceled and miles re-credited, any expired miles will not be re-credited.
Once travel begins on the award ticket, you can’t make any routing changes or cancellations.
1 open-jaw at origin is permitted within the same country and zone or 1 open-jaw at point of turnaround is permitted as long as it’s within the same zone and direction.
Backtracking is permitted on international award travel. Stopovers when backtracking are allowed only on intercontinental travel. 1 stopover is allowed in each direction, subject to a fee.
A stopover is considered any onward connecting flight more than 24 hours from the previous flight.

For Star Alliance flights, the following routing and ticketing rules apply:

Thai and Star Alliance awards are applicable for award travel on Thai Airways and Star Alliance airlines.
Award travel must be on the most direct route possible with a maximum of 4 sectors per itinerary.
1 stopover in each direction is permitted. 1 open-jaw at the point of turnaround or origin is also permitted.
No stopover is permitted in the country of origin or on pure domestic travel.
Backtracking is only permitted as required by the Star Alliance network and stopovers are not allowed when backtracking.
Mixed cabin awards are allowed, but the mileage for the highest class will be applied.
Changing carriers is not allowed after the ticket is issued.
Reservation changes are subject to service fees.
For departures 96 hours or more after a booking is confirmed, the ticket must be issued within 72 hours after booking confirmation. For departures less than 96 hours after a booking is confirmed, ticketing is immediate.

Additionally, the following Star Alliance Round the World rules are available:

Round the World award travel is valid on all Star Alliance flights.
Award travel must be in a continuous westbound or eastbound direction and return to the country where travel originated.
Award travel is valid for a minimum of 10 days and a maximum of 1 year from the date travel begins.
You’re allowed a maximum of 10 stopovers and a minimum of 3 stopovers per journey.
1 open-jaw is permitted in addition to stopovers.
1 stopover only is allowed in any 1 city.
2 stopovers only are allowed in any 1 country.
No stopovers are allowed in the country of origin.
Backtracking is only allowed as required by the Star Alliance network.
Side trips require an additional award or separate paid ticket.
Connections must be on the first available flight within 24 hours when required by routing and are not considered stopovers.
No mileage re-credited in part or whole will be allowed after the commencement of travel.

How To Boost Your Thai Airways Miles

Thai Airways’ major transfer partner is Citi ThankYou Rewards. Citi ThankYou Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio and complete in approximately 3-6 business days. The minimum transfer amount is 1,000 Citi ThankYou Points.

Hot Tip: If you’re thinking about racking up Citi ThankYou Points, be sure to check out our detailed guide on earning lots of Citi ThankYou Points.

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Additionally, Marriott Bonvoy is a transfer partner at a 3:1 ratio. You’ll get a bonus of 5,000 Thai Airways miles for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred. This will bring your normal transferred total up from 20,000 miles to 25,000 miles per every 60,000 Marriott points.

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Welcome OfferEarn up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points. Earn 100,000 points after you spend $6,000 and an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Up to 150,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:
Up to   $1,050

Annual Fee

$650

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

Pros & Cons

Pros

6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
2x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

Steep annual fee of $650 (rates & fees)
6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card

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Card Highlights

Earn up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points. Earn 100,000 points after you spend $6,000 and an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
$300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card at restaurants worldwide.
With Marriott Bonvoy^® Platinum Elite Status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when the stay is booked with a Qualifying Rate at hotels that participate in Marriott Bonvoy, subject to availability upon check-in.
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy^® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X Marriott Bonvoy^® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card.
Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
$100 Marriott Bonvoy^® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton^® or St. Regis^® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck^® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy^® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
Enroll in Priority Pass Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
With Cell Phone Protection*, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. *Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
$650 Annual Fee.
Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Lastly, you can transfer these hotel points according to this chart:

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Hotel Points Transfer Partners to Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus
Hotel Chain	Transfer Ratio
IHG One Rewards	10,000:2,000 (5:1)
Hilton Honors	10,000:1,000 (10:1)
World of Hyatt	2.5:1

Even though there are limited transfer partners, you can still earn lots of Thai Airways miles.

The 15 Best Ways To Use Your Thai Airways Miles

Thai Airways has, unfortunately, devalued its mileage programs many times over the past years. Furthermore, each of these devaluations has been severe.

As a result, there’s an unlimited number of terrible redemptions for wasting Thai Airways miles.These redemptions are extremely expensive, and there are very few that provide solid value.

However, we’ve done some extensive research and here’s a comprehensive guide on how to redeem Thai Airways miles for maximum value.

1. Upgrade Thai Airways Economy Tickets to Business Class Between Bangkok and the Middle East (From 34,000 Miles)

Thai Airways Royal Silk business class 777 300er seat 11B — Upgrade your cheap economy ticket to a lie-flat bed for cheap! Image Credit: Ehsan Haque

One of the best ways to redeem Thai Airways miles is on upgrades. The great news is that with many Thai Airways tickets, you can upgrade from economy to business.

The mileage charge you’ll pay will vary depending on your original ticket’s booking class:

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By Zone 1 Sector Upgrade Between Bangkok and Listed Destinations		Economy (Y, B, M, H, Q) to Premium Economy	Premium Economy (U) to Royal Silk	Economy (Y, B, M) to Royal Silk	Economy (H, Q) to Royal Silk	Royal Silk (C, D, J) to Royal First
1	Cambodia: Phnom Penh Laos: VientianeMalaysia: Kuala LumpurMyanmar: YangonSingapore: SingaporeVietnam: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City	12,000	15,000	16,000	18,000	31,500
2	China: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Xiamen, Taiwan-China: Taipei	18,000	$22,500	24,000	27,000	38,500
2	China: Kunming	12,000	$15,000	16,000	18,000	31,500
3	Indonesia: Denpasar, Jakarta Philippines: Manila	18,000	$21,000	22,000	25,000	31,500
4	India: Bengaluru, Chennai, Gaya, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, New Delhi, Varanasi Nepal: Kathmandu Sri Lanka: Colombo	18,000	$21,000	22,000	25,000	34,000
4	Bangladesh: Dhaka	12,000	$15,000	16,000	18,000	31,500
5	China: Beijing, Zhengzhou Japan: Fukuoka, Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo (Haneda/Narita) Korea: Busan, Seoul	24,000	$36,000	38,000	43,000	61,000
6	Oman: Muscat Pakistan: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore U.A.E.: Dubai	24,000	32,000	34,000	38,500	54,000
7	Australia: Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney	28,000	49,000	52,000	58,500	81,000
7	Australia: Perth	24,000	36,000	38,000	43,000	61,000
8	New Zealand: Auckland	50,000	64,000	68,000	76,500	103,500
9	Austria: Vienna Belgium: Brussels Denmark: Copenhagen France: Paris Germany: Frankfurt, Munich Italy: Milan, Rome Norway: Oslo Sweden: Stockholm Switzerland: Zurich U.K.: London	50,000	67,500	72,000	81,000	112,500

Flights between the Middle East and Bangkok are priced competitively. If you book a Q class ticket from Bangkok to Dubai, it’ll cost around $569 one-way or $974 round-trip. You can then turn around and upgrade each segment to end up with a 6-hour flight each way in business class.

You’ll pay either 34,000 or 38,500 miles for a one-way upgrade, depending on the fare class. However, it’s generally a better idea to get a cheaper economy ticket and pony up a few more miles.

Here’s the exact route redemption:

Upgrade a one-way $569 Q class Thai Airways ticket from Bangkok (BKK) – Dubai (DXB) for 38,500 miles for 6 hours in lie-flat business class
Upgrade a round-trip $974 round-trip Q class Thai Airways ticket from Bangkok (BKK) – Dubai (DXB) for 77,000 miles for 12 hours in lie-flat business class

2. Fly Thai Airways First Class One-Way Between Bangkok and Europe (125,000 Miles)

Thai Airways Boeing 747 - First Class — Thai Airways offers first class on select aircraft, including the 747 and A380. Image Credit: Cherag Dubash

Thai Airways’ first class, offered on several different aircraft, is one of the most elusive awards you can book. They are notorious for last-minute aircraft swaps.

Currently, here are some of the routes that have regularly scheduled services:

Frankfurt (FRA)
London-Heathrow (LHR)
Osaka (KIX)
Sydney (SYD)
Tokyo-Haneda (HND)
Tokyo-Narita (NRT)

Nonetheless, they usually make a maximum of 1 first class seat available in-advance if you’re flexible.

Hot Tip: If you’re flexible, be sure to fly from Bangkok (BKK) to London-Heathrow (LHR) and not the other away around to avoid the $225 U.K. Air Passenger Duty (APD) tax.

Here’s a great example route you can take:

Bangkok (BKK) – Frankfurt (FRA) one-way in Thai Airways first class for 125,000 miles + ~$246 in taxes and fees
Bangkok (BKK) – London-Heathrow (LHR) one-way in Thai Airways first class for 125,000 miles + ~$224 in taxes and fees

3. Fly Thai Airways First Class One-Way Between Bangkok and Japan (67,500 Miles)

Thai Airways Boeing 747 400 First Class Bed — Thai Airways’ Royal First Class is truly something to look forward to. Image Credit: Cherag Dubash

If you’d like to fly an intra-Asia flight, what better way than to fly from Bangkok to Japan? You’ll be offered a rare opportunity to savor Thai Airways first class on a shorter flight than to Europe.

The points cost will be significantly cheaper. Besides, who doesn’t want to go to Thailand and Japan? Here are some great example routes you can take:

Bangkok (BKK) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) one-way in Thai Airways first class for 67,500 miles + ~$100 in taxes and fees
Tokyo-Haneda (HND) – Bangkok (BKK) one-way in Thai Airways first class for 67,500 miles + ~$114 in taxes and fees
Bangkok (BKK) – Tokyo-Narita (NRT) one-way in Thai Airways first class for 67,500 miles + ~$100 in taxes and fees
Tokyo-Narita (NRT) – Bangkok (BKK) one-way in Thai Airways first class for 67,500 miles + ~$114 in taxes and fees
Bangkok (BKK) – Osaka (KIX) one-way in Thai Airways first class for 67,500 miles + ~$100 in taxes and fees
Osaka (KIX) – Bangkok (BKK) one-way in Thai Airways first class for 67,500 miles + ~$114 in taxes and fees

4. Fly Thai Airways Business Class One-Way Between Bangkok and Dubai (42,500 Miles)

Thai Airways Royal Silk business class 777 300er cabin — Thai Airways’ 777-300ER business class features seats in a 2-2-2 configuration. Image Credit: Ehsan Haque

Remember how we talked about using miles to upgrade flights between Dubai and Bangkok above? Well, you can redeem miles at an attractive price for an outright business class flight.

Here’s the exact redemption you can make:

Bangkok (BKK) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Thai Airways business class for 42,500 miles + ~$76 in taxes and fees
Dubai (DXB) – Bangkok (BKK) one-way in Thai Airways business class for 42,500 miles + ~$85 in taxes and fees

5. Fly Thai Airways Business Class One-Way From Bangkok to Australia or New Zealand (From 47,500 Miles)

Thai Airways separates award prices by destination when flying on Thai Airways. You can fly business class from Bangkok for as little as 47,500 miles. Check out these example redemptions:

Bangkok (BKK) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in business class for 85,000 miles + ~$157 in taxes and fees
Auckland (AKL) – Bangkok (BKK) one-way in business class for 85,000 miles + ~$25 in taxes and fees
Bangkok (BKK) – Brisbane (BNE) one-way in business class for 65,000 miles + ~$$134 in taxes and fees
Brisbane (BNE) – Bangkok (BKK) one-way in business class for 65,000 miles + ~$67 in taxes and fees
Bangkok (BKK) – Melbourne (MEL) one-way in business class for 65,000 miles + ~$125 in taxes and fees
Melbourne (MEL) – Bangkok (BKK) one-way in business class for 65,000 miles + ~$61 in taxes and fees
Bangkok (BKK) – Perth (PER) one-way in business class for 47,500 miles + ~$105 in taxes and fees
Perth (PER) – Bangkok (BKK) one-way in business class for 47,500 miles + ~$62 in taxes and fees
Bangkok (BKK) – Sydney (SYD) one-way in business class for 65,000 miles + ~$157 in taxes and fees
Sydney (SYD) – Bangkok (BKK) one-way in business class for 65,000 miles + ~$65 in taxes and fees

6. Fly Thai Airways First Class One-Way From Bangkok to Sydney (90,000 Miles)

Thai Airways A380 First Class. Image Credit: Thai Airways

Thai Airways operates first class flights, which are redeemable for 90,000 miles one-way as follows:

Bangkok (BKK) – Sydney (SYD) one-way in Thai Airways first class for 90,000 miles + ~$157 in taxes and fees
Sydney (SYD) – Bangkok (BKK) one-way in Thai Airways first class for 90,000 miles + ~$65 in taxes and fees

Each of these flights is around 9-9.5 hours long, so you’ll experience Thai Airways first class on a true long-haul flight.

7. Fly From the U.S. to Europe or North Africa in Lufthansa First Class (100,000 Miles)

Lufthansa B747-8 First Class Cabin - Cherag Dubash — Lufthansa’s first class is an immaculate experience you can book using Thai Airways miles. Image Credit: Cherag Dubash

When you collect Thai Airways miles, you’re able to redeem them on Star Alliance partners as well. While booking flights from the U.S. to Europe is generally a terrible definition, you can leverage the lumping of Europe and North Africa together to book additional flights for free.

The only real point redemption you can make in first class is Lufthansa first class. Even so, you can only book a maximum of 2 weeks in advance, though it’ll probably be closer to 2-3 days in advance. Also, Lufthansa doesn’t offer first class to North Africa, so the best you’ll get is business class on your connecting flight from Germany.

Here are some great example redemptions you can make:

Chicago (ORD) – Munich (MUC) – Marrakesh (RAK) one-way in Lufthansa first class and business class for 100,000 miles + ~$880 in taxes and fees
San Francisco (SFO) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Lufthansa first class and business class for 100,000 miles + ~$881 in taxes and fees

8. Fly From the U.S. to Central or South America in United Polaris Class (65,000 Miles)

United Polaris business class 787 10 window seats HND LAX — United Polaris Class is bookable to/from South America using Thai Airways miles. Image Credit: Ryan Smith

Another great way to redeem Thai Airways miles is to fly from the U.S. to Central or South America. The best way to fly will probably be United’s Polaris class.

Here are some great example redemptions you can make:

Houston (IAH) – Buenos Aires (EZE) one-way in United’s 2-4-2 Polaris class for 65,000 miles + ~$29 in taxes and fees
Houston (IAH) – Rio de Janeiro (GIG) one-way in United’s old Polaris business class for 65,000 miles + ~$29 in taxes and fees
Houston (IAH) – Santiago (SCL) one-way in United’s old Polaris class for 65,000 miles + ~$29 in taxes and fees
Newark (EWR) – São Paulo (GRU) one-way in United’s real Polaris class for 65,000 miles + ~$29 in taxes and fees
Washington, D.C. (IAD) – São Paulo (GRU) one-way in United’s old Polaris business class for 65,000 miles + ~$29 in taxes and fees

9. Leverage the Generous Definition of North America and the Caribbean for Intra-Region Flights in Air Canada Business Class (27,500 Miles)

Air Canada 767-300 Business Class. Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

As we mentioned above, the region of North America and the Caribbean is extremely generous. It includes regions like Aruba, Canada, Cuba, Curaçao, Jamaica, and more.

Believe it or not, Air Canada has some astonishing connectivity to the Caribbean, primarily from Toronto (YYZ). When you couple these 2 facts together, you can book some great seats in lie-flat business class that would otherwise be extremely cash-intensive.

Here are some great example routes you can take:

Montreal (YUL) – Curaçao (CUR) one-way in Air Canada business class for 27,500 miles + ~$122 in taxes and fees
Toronto (YYZ) – Bridgetown (BGI) one-way in Air Canada business class for 27,500 miles + ~$117 in taxes and fees
Toronto (YYZ) – Port of Spain (POS) one-way in Air Canada business class for 27,500 miles + ~$106 in taxes and fees

10. Fly From Northern South America to Southern South America in Avianca Business Class (27,500 Miles)

Avianca Boeing 787 Business Class small rear cabin middle — Flying on Avianca’s 787 Business Class is a great way to use Thai Airways miles! Image Credit: Daniel Ross

Yet another generous zone definition is “Central and South America.” Oddly enough, Thai Airways considers Mexico as part of this region, which means we can build some valuable itineraries.

Check out these example redemptions:

Cancun (CUN) – Lima (LIM) – Asunción (ASU) one-way in Avianca business class for 27,500 miles + ~$122 in taxes and fees with a stopover in Lima (LIM)
Mexico City (MEX) – Bogota (BOG) – Montevideo (MVD) one-way in Avianca business class for 27,500 miles + ~$189 in taxes and fees with a stopover in Bogota (BOG)

11. Fly Within Oceania and New Zealand in Air New Zealand Business Class (27,500 Miles)

Air New Zealand Boeing 787 business class cabin rear — If you have a chance, you can also try the Air New Zealand 787 Dreamliner Business Class product! Regardless of what plane you fly, Air New Zealand business class is a great product. Image Credit: Daniel Ross

Air New Zealand is a full-fledged Star Alliance partner, which means you can redeem Thai Airways miles for flights on Air New Zealand.

The best value is to leverage intra-region flights for Oceania and New Zealand. Here are some great example routes you can take for fully lie-flat business class seats:

Auckland (AKL) – Apia (APW) one-way in Air New Zealand business class for 27,500 miles + ~$25 in taxes and fees
Auckland (AKL) – Nadi (NAN) one-way in Air New Zealand business class for 27,500 miles + ~$25 in taxes and fees
Auckland (AKL) – Rarotonga, Cook Islands (RAR) one-way in Air New Zealand business class for 27,500 miles + ~$25 in taxes and fees
Auckland (AKL) – Tahiti (PPT) one-way in Air New Zealand business class for 27,500 miles + ~$25 in taxes and fees

12. Fly 6 Hours Non-Stop in Business Class Within Central and South Africa (27,500 Miles)

South African Airways A330-300 business class. Image Credit: South African Airways

Just like all the other generously defined regions in Thai Airways’ Star Alliance award chart, you can get some value in Africa, too! Specifically, within the large “Central and South Africa” area.

You can get up to 6 hours in lie-flat business class on some of these great example redemptions:

Cape Town (CPT) – Addis Ababa (ADD) one-way in Ethiopian Airlines business class for 27,500 miles + ~$75 in taxes and fees
Johannesburg (JNB) – Accra (ACC) one-way in South African Airways business class for 27,500 miles + ~$172 in taxes and fees
Johannesburg (JNB) – Lagos (LOS) one-way in South African Airways business class for 27,500 miles + ~$162 in taxes and fees

13. Fly Between Hawaii and Guam in United Business Class (27,500 Miles)

United 2-4-2 Business Class — Flying between Hawaii and Guam means United’s 2-4-2 business class. Not ideal, but a lie-flat seat, at least! Image Credit: MileValue

United Airlines offers business class seats on its 7-hour nonstop flight between Hawaii and Guam. Cash tickets are expensive and the business class is the dorm-style business class seats in a 2-4-2 configuration.

However, it’s still a lie-flat seat, which can make a big difference on such a long flight.

Here’s the redemption you’d be making:

Guam (GUM) – Honolulu (HNL) one-way in United’s 2-4-2 Polaris business class for 27,500 miles + $177 in taxes and fees
Honolulu (HNL) – Guam (GUM) one-way in United’s 2-4-2 Polaris business class for 27,500 miles + ~$37 in taxes and fees

14. Try a Domestic Lie-Flat First Class Flight on Air China (35,000 Miles)

Air China Forbidden First Class — Believe it or not, you can use as little as 35,000 Thai Airways miles for domestic first class flights on Air China. Image Credit: Air China

Air China offers first class flights, even on domestic China routes. Its first class product aboard the 777-300ER is a stylish and luxurious way to make short Star Alliance trips in North Asia.

If you book using Thai Airways miles, you’ll redeem as little as 35,000 miles for Air China first class. The only challenge is finding routes that offer first class within this zone definition.

Here is a great example redemption you can make:

Beijing (PEK) – Urumqi (URC) one-way in Air China first class for 35,000 miles + ~$7 in taxes and fees

15. Book Economy Tickets Wholly Within North America and the Caribbean on United (17,500 Miles)

United Airlines Economy. Image Credit: United

United Airlines offers exceptional connectivity within North America and the Caribbean, which means that you can book some expensive economy tickets for as little as 17,500 miles solely within the region.

The reason this is great news is that United’s flights are often cash-intensive, especially if you’re traveling to a little-known island in the Caribbean.

Here are some great example nonstop routes you can take:

Chicago (ORD) – Aruba (AUA) one-way in United economy for 17,500 miles + ~$39 in taxes and fees
Chicago (ORD) – St. Lucia (UVF) one-way in United economy for 17,500 miles + ~$34 in taxes and fees
Houston (IAH) – Grand Cayman (GCM) one-way in United economy for 17,500 miles + ~$29 in taxes and fees
Houston (IAH) – Turks & Caicos (PLS) one-way in United economy for 17,500 miles + ~$29 in taxes and fees
Newark (EWR) – Antigua (ANU) one-way in United economy for 17,500 miles + ~$65 in taxes and fees
Newark (EWR) – St. Kitts (SKB) one-way in United economy for 17,500 miles + ~$39 in taxes and fees
Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Punta Cana (PUJ) one-way in United economy for 17,500 miles + ~$70 in taxes and fees
Washington, D.C. (IAD) – St. Thomas (STT) one-way in United economy for 17,500 miles + ~$29 in taxes and fees

Final Thoughts

Yes, it’s absolutely true that Thai Airways miles have been devalued many times of the years. Yes, using Thai Airways miles is actually quite difficult in practice.

However, if you find yourself accruing a bunch of Thai Airways miles, it’s totally feasible to get great value from your miles.

The absolute worst redemption value and craziest redemption prices belong to long-haul routes. However, if you’re open to medium- or short-haul flights, you can actually get some excellent value for your Thai Airways miles.

Of course, you’re essentially limited to Thai Airway’s Star Alliance partners, but you should be able to find an itinerary that works for you.

Now, you have an idea of some of the best ways to redeem Thai Airways miles for maximum value!