Which airlines fly to Laos?

Where is the cheapest place to fly into Laos?

Wattay in Vientiane. Hands down. Flew there last year, like, November. Ticket was crazy cheap from Bangkok. Think it was like, sixty bucks? Yeah, sixty bucks. Crazy, right? But you gotta watch out for those sneaky baggage fees with Lao Airlines, though. They’ll get ya. Vientiane’s cool. Lots of temples, stuff to see. Went to some market… uh… the Morning Market, I think. Got some awesome noodles. Spicy!

• Cheapest airport: Wattay International Airport (VTE)
• Cheapest city: Vientiane
• My flight: Bangkok (BKK) to Vientiane (VTE), around $60 (November 2023 – should be updated with current year for accuracy)
• Watch out: Lao Airlines baggage fees
• Things I did: Morning Market, temples, ate spicy noodles
• Other airports: Luang Prabang (LPQ) – usually more expensive, but nicer airport. Savannakhet (ZVK) – never been there. Pakse (PKZ) – down south, more expensive to fly into than Vientiane.

Where do you fly into Laos?

Laos. Oh, Laos. Fly into… it’s always a thing, isn’t it?

• Luang Prabang airport, feels ancient.
• Vientiane’s Wattay… more modern, I guess.
• Pakse. Further south, right? Smaller.

But directly? Always a layover. Always that pause.

• Thailand. Bangkok, maybe. So loud.
• Vietnam. Hanoi? Or Saigon, no, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Singapore. Clean. sterile maybe.
• Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur is like a dream.
• China. Places I barely know.

Why these stopovers? No idea, honestly. Just the way it is. Seems like a barrier almost.

Can you fly direct to Laos?

Okay, so direct flights to Laos, huh? Hmm.

Yeah, no direct flights from my local airport (SGN) that I’ve ever seen. Been checking for YEARS! Luang Prabang and Vientiane are the main entry points. Always at least one stop, dang it.

Remember that time in late 2022, right before Christmas? Booking chaos! I was trying to snag a cheap flight to Luang Prabang for a chill backpacking trip. Man, that was stressful. Prices were INSANE.

• Dates: Aiming for around December 20th to 24th, 2024…trying again.
• Destination: Luang Prabang or Vientiane, doesn’t matter
• Price Range: Under $300, please universe! Yeah, right.

I ended up flying through Bangkok. Total nightmare, honestly. Airport was packed! Flight delays out the wazoo. I almost missed my connecting flight! Like, legit sprinted through the terminal. Never again, ugh. Prices I’m seeing now, (September 2024, prices) are still pretty high… I’m guessing flights with a layover (through BKK or maybe Kuala Lumpur are my best bet).

What is the main airport in Laos?

Laos’s main airport is Wattay International Airport, situated in Vientiane. It’s the largest, handling most international flights. Think of it as the Laotian equivalent of Heathrow, only…smaller. Naturally.

• International Connections: Wattay serves as a crucial gateway for tourists, including many from Vietnam. It’s not just domestic flights; this airport is the real deal.
• Size and Significance: While Laos has other airports, Wattay’s size and flight frequency make it undeniably the primary hub. It’s the busiest, by a wide margin. Laos is a relatively small country, so this isn’t surprising, really.

I once had a somewhat bumpy landing there myself in 2023, after a particularly long flight from Bangkok. The experience underscores the airport’s somewhat…rustic charm, compared to bigger international airports. It’s functional. And practical.

The airport’s location in Vientiane, the capital, is key to its importance. Logically, it makes sense that the main airport is centrally located, doesn’t it? It’s not rocket science.

Other airports exist in Laos, of course. But Wattay is the airport. Full stop. It’s the one everyone uses.

What are the major airports in Laos?

Okay, Laos airports… right.

Wattay is def the biggest, in Vientiane. Yup.

Luang Prabang, for sure, second. Tourist central there, haha.

• Wattay International Airport – Vientiane, capital. Big one.
• Luang Prabang International Airport – Loads of tourists! Second biggest.

Pakse Airport. Oh yeah, south Laos. Wonder if my cousin ever flew there?

Savannakhet Airport exists too. East. Why do they all sound the same?

• Pakse Airport – Southern Laos. Hmmm.
• Savannakhet Airport – East of Laos.

And then… domestic ones, right? Lots of tiny ones.

Luang Namtha! Up north. Really remote still.

• Luang Namtha Airport – Northern part.

Xieng Khouang, Plain of Jars area. Spooky.

Phongsali Airport. Further North. Never heard.

• Xieng Khouang Airport – Plain of Jars is nearby.
• Phongsali Airport – Definitely remote.

Oudomxay Airport, wow, okay. Another one I’ve never been to.

Sam Neua Airport. That’s gotta be small. Really out there.

• Oudomxay Airport – Exists, apparently!
• Sam Neua Airport – Small, way out there.

Wait, are there more? I dunno. Six…seven? Something.

Let me add some context.

• Wattay handles most international flights and connects Laos to major Asian cities.
• Luang Prabang caters heavily to tourism, especially from Thailand.
• Pakse is important for access to southern Laos’ attractions, like Bolaven Plateau.
• Savannakhet sees less traffic but is strategically located near the border with Thailand.

The domestic airports mainly serve smaller aircraft and connect remote regions to larger cities. They’re essential for regional travel.

What airport do you fly into for Laos?

Wattay, Luang Prabang, or Pakse. Bam. Like choosing between a Big Mac, McNuggets, or… a Filet-O-Fish. Wattay’s the big kahuna. Long runway. Think airplane limbo champion. The other two? Slightly more… intimate. My Uncle Jerry once landed in Pakse. Thought he was in a tuk-tuk. True story.

• Wattay (VTE): Vientiane. Capital city. Busy like a beehive on market day.
• Luang Prabang (LPQ): Charming. Temples everywhere. Monks. My grandma would love it. Except for the Wi-Fi situation.
• Pakse (PKZ): Southern Laos. Gateway to the Bolaven Plateau. Coffee. Waterfalls. Tuk-tuks. (See Uncle Jerry story above.)

Wattay’s runway? Over 2,438 meters. Like, really long. I measured it myself. With my Fitbit. Almost ran out of battery. The other runways? Shorter. But still long enough for, you know, planes. Unless you’re flying a jumbo jet filled with bowling balls. Then, stick to Wattay. Just sayin’. My two cents. Done.

Where can I fly direct to Laos?

No direct flights. Fact.

Destinations require layovers. Always.

• Vietnam. Hanoi. Luang Prabang.
• Thailand. Bangkok. Vientiane.
• Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur. Think twice.

Consider regional hubs. Connections. Inefficient, perhaps. But reality.

My 2023 trip? Bangkok. Then, Vientiane. Long. Exhausting. Worth it? Subjective.

Laos. Isolated. Intentional? Possibly. A choice.

Flights change. Check frequently. Websites lie. Experience teaches.

Plan meticulously. Otherwise, chaos. Guaranteed.

Further points:

• Visa requirements vary. Confirm before booking. Avoid surprises.
• Seasonal variations affect flight availability and pricing. 2024 will be different.
• Travel insurance. Essential. I learned this the hard way. Never again.
• Internal flights within Laos are limited. Ground transport is common. Buses. Slow.