Thailand is handing travellers an unexpected sweetener: 200,000 free domestic flight tickets for trips taken between September and November.
The push comes as the country’s tourism engine splutters, with summer visitor numbers reportedly down about 7 per cent. The aim is simple – tempt arrivals to stay longer, spend more and spread out beyond Bangkok and the usual beach circuits, giving a lift to provincial economies just as shoulder season kicks in.
The giveaway sits inside a wider government campaign to shore up tourism – a pillar of growth that still hasn’t fully recovered its pre-pandemic rhythm. Ministers are frank about the goal: fill seats, fill hotels and fill restaurant tables across the regions. If you were already eyeing a late-year break, this is Thailand effectively paying for your domestic hop – north to Chiang Mai, east to Isaan, or south to the islands – provided you meet a few conditions.
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How to be eligible: the airlines, the timing and the small print
There’s a catch, and it’s not hidden. To unlock a free ticket you must book your international journey to Thailand with one of these carriers: Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air or Thai Vietjet. Once that long-haul (or regional) booking is in place, you can claim a complimentary domestic sector to a participating provincial destination. The scheme is one free one-way per traveller, designed to nudge you beyond your arrival city rather than bankroll a full multi-stop tour.
Officials say the pot for the promotion runs to roughly €18.5 million, enough to underwrite the 200,000 seats earmarked for the autumn window. Expect the usual safeguards: limited inventory, blackout dates around peak weekends, and a first-come, first-served scramble once the most popular routes are released. If you’re travelling with family, move as a unit – mixing airlines will likely disqualify someone in your party, and free seats on the same flight won’t always appear at once.
Practically, think of it as a bolt-on to your inbound ticket. You’ll still pay for bags where airline rules require it, and you’ll need to travel within the September–November window to keep the offer valid. If your plans already include a domestic hop, great – this is a straight saving. If not, it’s an invitation to add a side trip you might otherwise have skipped: a food weekend in Chiang Mai, a national park fix in Khao Sok, or a quieter island beyond the usual suspects.
Japan is giving away flights too – for the opposite reason
Thailand isn’t alone in dangling free seats. Japan is also offering complimentary domestic one-ways – but for the mirror-image problem. With tourism booming, Tokyo wants to spread visitors away from overcrowded hotspots, steering them towards Sapporo in Hokkaido or Naha in Okinawa. The mechanics differ: travellers must book their international ticket with JAL (Japan Airlines) and then add the free domestic leg on the same reservation. As in Thailand, it’s typically one free sector per person. Not every nationality can access every tranche, and availability is tight, but the message is the same: use incentives to guide the tourist tide.
Taken together, the two schemes show how Asia’s big hitters are trying to shape visitor flows rather than simply count arrivals. Thailand wants to re-ignite demand and push travellers deeper into the map; Japan wants to ease the crush where the crowds are thickest.
Claim your free domestic flight – autumn window
If Thailand is on your list, this promotion is a nudge to lock in your flights early with one of the eligible airlines and claim a free domestic hop while seats last. It won’t cover every itinerary and it won’t wipe out every cost, but for shoulder-season travel it’s a tidy perk – and a reason to add a second stop you’ll still be talking about in January. For Japan-bound travellers, keep an eye on JAL’s release windows; the free one-ways go fast, but they open doors to less-trodden corners when they appear.
Either way, the travel story this autumn isn’t just about where you go – it’s about how smartly you book.
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