Bangkok to Houston Asiana Flights

 Enter Heading

  About Houston

Houston is one of the large cities in the Texas state of the US. The city extends to the Galveston Bay and is home to NASA's Space Center. Much of the training that astronauts undergo to prepare them for their space venture takes place at the Space Center Houston. The city of Houston is known for its vibrant lifestyle and a slew of educational complexes. Houston is blessed with some immaculate museums and art galleries that celebrate the history of North America and Native Americans.

Due to its proximity with Mexico, the culture of Houston is interspersed with Texan as well as Mexican vibe. In fact, Tex-Mex is a famous term thrown around in the city for the confluence of cultures. Flight connectivity to Houston from major international cities is excellent. However, there are no direct flights to the city from India. Connecting flights and layovers are some of the things a traveller will have to prepare oneself with before boarding the flight. Booking hotels in Houston before the scheduled trip is recommended.

Best time to visit Houston

Houston's proximity with the Gulf of Mexico brings in all the heat while the winters are pleasant too. February to April and September to November, basically the springtime and fall are the best seasons to plan for a trip to Houston. Most of the year, Houston sees a temperature ranging between 26 degree Celsius to 34 degree Celsius. With a warm climate throughout the year, springtime and fall are the only seasons where it blends a balance between warm and cold climates. May to August can be quite hot and humid, which is not the most pleasant time to visit. During this time, though, the hotel prices drop as there are barely any tourists visiting the city. For those coming from hot climates wouldn't want to stick around for long as the humid and stickiness in the air would be quite annoying if anything. Cheap and affordable flight deals to Houston will also be available specifically for the summer months. Luckily, there are events and festivals during this time that will keep you entertained if the heat is bothering your zen mode. Events such as Pasadena Strawberry Festival, Pride Houston, Dragon Boat Festival, Juneteenth Celebration and CITGO Freedom Over Texas.

These festivals basically reflect the culture and lifestyle of Houston. As you participate or play a spectator to them, you will learn a lot about the city as well as its cultural heritage and history. The months from September to November witness pleasant weather and numerous carnivalesque festivals. This could actually be a good time for you to don some fancy costumes and attend the Texas Renaissance Festival. The habitants also celebrate a Native American Pow Wow, which basically honours the tribe and their colourful life. The 2-day fair has a series of events taking place to engage the festival goers.

Festivals in the city continue throughout the year, but it is only during the spring and fall that locals or tourists actually get to enjoy them. The heat can be quite unbearable and especially when teamed with humidity. Spring, between February to April, is also a good time to visit the city. However, many tourists flock over to visit Houston right before the summers kick in. The hotel prices take a staggering hike, making accommodation tough. It would be best to be on the safe side, and book your hotel rooms in Houston, months ahead of the trip.

Places to visit in Houston

NASA's Space Centre in Houston is undoubtedly one of the biggest tourist attractions in the city. Well, you hear space, and you want to see how it works, right? Not to mention how the space centre does organise tours and events for tourists to indulge in as a means to educate them. Speaking of which, you should visit the Houston Museum District too. The complex literally has around 19 museums, including the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and the Menil Collection, to name a few highlights. If you're a space geek, you'll definitely have a good time at the Johnson Space Center House and Houston Museum of Natural Science as well. The city bustles with insightful structures and institutions that would be quite educational and entertaining too. The city also has a Holocaust Museum where you will find exhibits depicting incidents from World War II. There is a specific museum dedicated to motorheads called the Art Car Museum which basically comprises automobiles and derby racers designed artistically.

The city's Armand Bayou Nature Centre is also quite famous for the plethora of flora and fauna it inhabits. With over 370 species of diverse wildlife including alligators, deer, eagles, turtles and armadillos, the place would be quite an engaging expedition as will be the Houston Zoo which has over 6,000 animals including cheetahs, bats, albino reptiles, giraffes and more. If you are a bibliophile, the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum will pique your interest.

Things to do in Houston

Houston has far too many things to do for a tourist to get tired. A walk around Hermann Park would be a good way to relax after all the excess sightseeing. Starting with shopping, The Galleria in Houston is popular for being one of the biggest shopping malls. The 2.4 million square feet area of The Galleria houses premium brands such as Christian Louboutin, Burberry, Chanel, Gucci, Giorgio Armani, to name a few. They have high-end brands like Gap and Forever 21 too. You can take up a walking tour of Haunted Houston Ghost. Located close to the Buffalo Bayou river, the haunted house tour basically takes you through the story of how the haunted house came into existence.

Food and restaurants in Houston

Houston has been holding the title as one of the best cities for foodies in the USA for quite some time now. It doesn't really come as a big shock since the city does have a lovely culinary spread featuring two major dishes, Tex-Mex and barbecued meat. In fact, as a city close to Mexico, the influence of the cuisine is quite strong here. From breakfast burritos to grilled meat, the city majorly favours these two dishes. You can even find some of the best restaurants that will elevate your senses and give you the beautiful blend of spices in Mexican food. Places such as Picos Restaurant, M&M Grill and Pappasito's Cantina have some lip-smacking fajitas and burritos that will make you a fan. In fact, Pappasito's fame also comes from the fact that Beyoncé was spotted in the vicinity. Houston's love for grilled meat is evident in the plethora of dishes that they serve. These also include roasted tender brisket, baby back ribs and more. The city does not fall short of BBQ establishments. In fact, some of the popular ones include Killen's Texas Barbecue, an establishment run by venerated chef Ronnie Killen. Along with the famed BBQ joint is the Jackson Street BBQ, another sweet joint for exquisite meat.

Not just barbecue and Mexican flavours but Houston also hosts a plethora of cuisines ranging from the Mediterranean to Japanese. In fact, their food culture is quite elaborate with some brilliant bars and restaurants serving varied cuisines. You can indulge in some buffet at Aladdin's Mediterranean Cuisine, get some of the Cajun cuisine action at Brennan's of Houston, sip on Japanese whiskey at Izakaya, enjoy a luxe French spread at Etoile Cuisine et Bar and more. The nightlife of Houston is just as lively as the food culture. There are several hip-hop dance clubs with recognised DJs supplying endless beats to keep the city in high spirits.

How to reach Houston

Houston has three major airports that serve the city. However, George Bush Intercontinental Airport is the only airport with international routes connecting the city globally. As one of the major airports in Houston, the airport witnesses tremendous passenger footfall. Hence, it is also known to be the tenth busiest airport in the United States. The flight connectivity of Houston to other major international cities is excellent. Even with cities from India, Houston has flights flying in and out. However, there are no direct flights to Houston from India. Since there are no direct flights to Houston, layovers and even connecting flights need to be taken for the passenger. The major airlines that service flights and connect Houston and India are Japan Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Swiss, United Airlines, Lufthansa, American Airlines, to name a few. Out of all the airlines, Turkish Airlines is the only one that directly connects with Houston with a layover in Istanbul. The flight to Houston takes the Middle Eastern international route to reach the United States.

One way flight tickets to Houston are decently priced. But if you wish to acquire cheap flight tickets to Houston for a round trip, you should ensure to book the ticket in advance and even look for online flight deals. Some of these online flight deals to Houston come as a package with hotel accommodations too. Try to get your hands on those to save as many greens as possible.

  About Asiana Airlines

Asiana Airlines, which was earlier called Seoul Airlines, is South Korea's second-largest airline after Korean Air. The headquarters for Asiana is at Asiana Town building which is in Seoul. The airline was established in 1988, and it aimed at providing maximum safety and customer satisfaction. The airline is known for providing the best service, and it can carry passengers as well as cargo. It is a member of the Star Alliance, and it operates 90 international passenger routes and about 14 domestic routes. It is well-connected to Europe, Asia, Oceania and North America. The airline currently has about 87 aircraft in service. Most of the airline's pilots, flight attendants, ground staff and other employees are based in Seoul. Asiana Airlines carved a name for itself in the industry. The airlines also focused on creating an environment-friendly company in the mid-1990s and completely banned in-flight smoking and cigarettes sales in 1995. It also got recognized for the same in 2001. The South Korean Ministry of Environment appreciated Asiana Airlines for being the first 'environmentally friendly company within the service industry'. It was also appreciated by the government for a lot of things like an emissions measurement and reduction system, working on ground facilities that would help reduce pollution and for partnering with the Rainforest Alliance for the coffee that was served on board.

However, the parent company, Kumho Asiana Group, revealed its plan on selling the airlines to make up for its financial loss in 2019. Asiana Airlines served countries and cities on four continents only, People's Republic of China, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and Japan. Asiana also launched Air Seoul, which was a second-subsidiary, low-cost carrier, so some of their loss could be transferred. While there have been several buyers from the aviation industry who have been interested in buying the airlines, no deal has been struck so far. A few services have been suspended though. The airlines decided to sell it as Boeing 747-400 and Boeing 767-300 to reduce the debt considerably.

Fleet size of Asiana Airlines

As of 2020, Asiana Airlines' fleet size stands at 87 aircraft. The airline holds a mixed fleet which comprises aircraft from both, the Airbus and Boeing family. Presently, the airline has seven Airbus A320-200, two Airbus A321-100, 15 Airbus A321-200, one Airbus A321neo, 15 Airbus A330-300, 12 Airbus A350-900, six Airbus A380-800, one Boeing 747-400, six Boeing 767-300 and nine Boeing 777-200ER. O9ut of these, the airline has already placed orders to acquire a few more aircraft and expand its fleet. Asiana Airlines is expected to receive 24 Airbus A321neo, none Airbus A350-900 and nine of Airbus A350-1000. Before this new fleet, the airline had everything, Boeing. Some of the aircraft included Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-500, Boeing 747-400M and Boeing 767-300ER.

Baggage Allowance

The baggage allowance rules as levied by Asiana Airlines differ from the routes chosen by the passengers. For passengers who are travelling by the US Route are allowed to carry a weight of about 32 kg and 23 kg for business class and economy class respectively. Both the class cabin passengers are allowed to carry two pieces of baggage along with them. However, this is only restricted to passengers taking the US route. For passengers who are not travelling by the US Route, the baggage allowance is tweaked. Passengers travelling from business class can carry weight up to 32 kg while the economy class passengers can carry a weight that shouldn't exceed 23 kg. Business-class passengers can carry up to two pieces of baggage for check-in while economy class passengers are only allowed to carry one baggage for check-in. In case the traveller is with an infant's additional baggage allowance can be arranged. The airline will accommodate a bag that cannot exceed 10 kg of weight. Passengers can also carry bassinet, strollers or baby walkers onboard. The passenger must ensure the baggage dimension does not exceed 158 cm for all pieces of checked baggage.

For carry-on baggage, the airline allows a weight of 10 kg and not more than that. The sum of the bag's dimension should be 115 cm. This should include the wheels, handles and anything hanging. The maximum length of every side of the baggage can go up to 55 cm X 20 cm X 40 cm.

In-flight services

Asiana Airlines was one of the only airlines that came up with a lot of sub-classes for its passengers. First Suite Class, First Class, Business Smartium Class, Business Class and Travel class, which is basically economy). The in-flight services provided to you depend on your seat configurations. The First Suit class can be experienced on A30-800, which connects with international routes like Los Angeles, New York City, Frankfurt and Sydney. The passengers travelling by first class are distinguished by their pyjamas, and some can only receive a lot of other comfortable amenities. While the tiny TV is installed in front of every passenger's seat, only the ones in as much high class have access actually to play something on it. The one at the travel class does not play.

The airline, however, does give you two in-flight magazines about travel and entertainment called Asiana and Asiana Entertainment. Travel class passengers and flights that have a total journey of an hour or less do not get to avail any of these facilities. The airline also has a frequent-flyer program for everyone who uses the airlines regularly. It's called the Asiana Club, and it has five tiers, Silver, Gold, Diamond, Diamond Plus and Platinum. Of course, the privileged ones get better service, but the airlines also make sure that none of their customers leaves upset or with complaints. A certain number of earned points can also make you eligible for a free flight ticket or get an upgrade on the seats while you check-in at the counter. You might even get food coupons after accumulating a certain number of points,

Popular routes and top cities for Asiana Airlines

Asiana Airlines caters to about four continents with destinations spread across all corners. Although Asiana Airlines' network in its continent is quite strong, over the years, it has managed to acquire more destinations further to expand its reach. In fact, Asiana Airlines now serves as a slew of a gateway to many cities in Europe and North America. The airline boasts strong domestic route connectivity that connects the hub Seoul, to various other parts of the country. Some of the cities include Busan, Jeju, Mokpo, Ulsan, Gwangju and more. Operations of a few of these cities have been suspended temporarily. Not just domestic, the airline also has perfect international route connectivity. Some of the top Western and international destinations include Some of the top cities for Asiana Airlines include Changchun, Brussels, Sydney, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Xuzhou, Tanji, Paris, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Rome, Venice, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Almaty, Saipan, Cebu, Manila, Moscow, Singapore, Seoul, Pohang, Taipei, Phuket, Istanbul, London, Los Angeles, Seattle, Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc, to name a few.

Asiana Airlines currently has a codeshare agreement with a handful of airlines such as Air Astana, China Southern Airlines, Qantas, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Croatia Airlines, Etihad Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Austrian Airlines, Air New Zealand, Air Seoul, All Nippon Airways, South African Airways, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines and more.

Why travel by Asiana Airlines?

Ever since entering the aviation industry, Asiana Airlines has been consistently working towards acquiring the top position as one of the best Korean airlines. While it still has a tough competition with Korean Air, the national carrier of South Korea, Asiana Airlines does stand a chance to be at the top as it is the second-largest airline in the country. The airline has made booking available online. Passengers can book an Asiana Airlines flight from their website and even avail other perks such as easy web check-in, updates on flight status and Asiana Airlines' flight schedules.

  About Bangkok Airport

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is often referred to as Bangkok Airport. It is one of the two major international airports that serve Thailand. Although Don Mueang International Airport was also recognized for its international flight services. However, the same was halted in 2007. Now the airport serves as a hub to low-cost airlines that connect in Bangkok. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is sprawled across 8,000 acres of land and is one of the biggest international airports in the Southeast Asian region. It is also a hub for aviation in Bangkok.

Suvarnabhumi Airport was originally chartered with limited domestic flight services. However, it soon started expanding to add more domestic and international flights. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is currently the important hub for Thai Smile Airways, Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways. The airport basically serves as a regional gateway to several foreign carriers too. It has been recorded to be the 17th busiest airport in the world and 11 busiest in Asia. The airport has the capacity to accommodate about 60 million passengers in a year. There are over 95 airlines that operate from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.

About Airport Terminals

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport has three terminals in total. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are responsible for operations of international flights. Meanwhile, Terminal 3 is focussed on domestic flights to cater to connectivity in Thailand. The two terminals are located right next to each other while the domestic terminal or Terminal3 is 500 meters away from Terminal 2. The distance between the terminals is not massive. The proximity often makes it confusing. The departure and arrival zones in the international terminals have dedicated immigration counters as well as check-in and baggage to make it easy for the travellers. The terminal's roof has been designed aesthetically with the use of structural elements and bays that have been placed in cantilevered wavelike forms. The airport is capable of accommodating an Airbus A380. There are two parallel runways at the airport with a total of about 120 parking bays for flights. The passenger terminal is recorded to capacitate about 76 flight operations every hour. An underground rail link station has also been constructed to connect the terminal with the city centre. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport's terminal passenger terminal is famed for being the fourth-biggest building in the world, following Hong Kong International Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport and Dubai International Airport.

About Airport Authority

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is funded and operated by the Airports of Thailand Public Company Ltd. (AOT). The airport's body is responsible for six international airport ventures in Thailand. Four more airports have been added recently under its wing. The statutory body received recognition as one of the most valuable airport operators across the globe. The organization was established in 2002 after a consortium between private firms and the state-owned Airports Authority of Thailand. The Thailand government holds a higher share in the consortium with about 70 per cent stock. The Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is the most profitable venture for the airport's authority with passenger statistics of about 63,379,077, as recorded in the year 2018. Over the years, the airport management has done a phenomenal job of efficient connection of the international airport with the city centre. They have also worked towards fixing some of the pressing matters to bolster the functions and efficiency of the airport in terms of safety and connectivity.

Top airlines flying from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

The demand for Bangkok in India as a tourist destination is quite high. Hence, there are several Indian airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport as well. In fact, the first flight to fly to the Bangkok Airport was a Lufthansa Cargo which took off from Mumbai. Some of the Indian airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport include Air India, GoAir, IndiGo and Vistara. They have direct connectivity and fly on a regular basis. Airlines such as Thai Airways and Thai Smile, which predominantly operate from Suvarnabhumi Airport also have direct services to Indian cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi Ahmedabad, Chennai, to name a few.

As an international tourist destination, the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport also sees much air traffic from international flights. Some of the prominent airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport include Air Astana, Air China, Air France, Air Macau, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Bangkok Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Cambodia Airways, China Airlines, Druk Air, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Finnair, Garuda Indonesia, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, Jetstar Asia Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airways, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Nepal Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Swiss, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways, Vietnam Airlines and Ural Airlines. These airlines cater to various parts of the world and have impeccable connectivity. There are reservations for cargo flights to function from the Suvarnabhumi Airport. They are Lufthansa Cargo, Cathay Pacific Cargo, DHL Aviation and Singapore Airlines Cargo.

Facilities at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

ATMs and currency exchange - There are foreign exchange booths and ATM kiosks available at the airport. You can withdraw money or exchange to local currency to make your trip convenient.

Baggage - Baggage services are available with plastic wrapping and porter services. You can also find trolleys at regular intervals.

Internet and communication kiosks - There are internet kiosks that have established at the airport. You can get your work done while you wait for boarding. There are telecom desks where you can purchase local mobile SIM numbers to avail WiFi. Postal services are also available.

Restaurants and cafes - There are many food establishments and restaurants at the airport's terminals. The departure zone has a slew of joints, including ones with liquor and coffee.

Medical care - Medical rooms and pharmacies have been installed at regular intervals. You can make last-minute purchases of prescribed medicine, or you can get necessary tablets or toiletries.

Prayer rooms - Devoted prayer rooms and multi-faith corners have been established at all terminals. There are monks' reception rooms also available at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Transit hotels - To make the passenger's experience at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport good, they have also installed an in-transit hotel. You can check-in for the few hours you need to wait and even rest as much as you can.

Spa and massage - The airport is blessed with good serviced spas and massage parlours. For in-transit passengers who need to take a second flight or who need to wait due to layovers, can avail this service.

Smoking zones - There are dedicated smoking lounges in the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. These are available at all the terminals' departures and arrivals. You can even purchase boxes in case you need it for the time being.

Special assistance – The airport also has professionals who cater to the special needs of passengers who fall under the category of senior citizens, expecting mothers and physically disabled. The professionals have been trained to help out the individuals by enabling a smooth transition of their check-in and boarding processes.

How to reach Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

By Bus and car rentals

The Airport Shuttle bus operating from the city is another efficient way to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. These buses have a direct connection to the airport from within the city, making travel cheaper and easier. Along with the buses, you can always book a ride to the airport too. There are five routes from the airport that have a direct connection with the Bangkok Airport. These routes connect from Bangkok's downtown as well as Chonburi Province, connections from North Bangkok and Bang Na Bang Pakong which stands at the South. The main entrance to the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport though is at the Samut Prakan Province. There are elevated highways and flyovers which need to be used to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. You can find a car and rental booking booths at the airport's arrival segment. Even the entrance to the airport has a dedicated taxi counter where you can book your ride to the city.

By Airport Rail Link

One of the best ways to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport opened in 2010 after much delay but has since managed to receive good passenger traffic. Called the Airport Rail Link (ARL), the rail is operated by SRTET which is a subsidiary of the State Railway of Thailand. The long 28.6 km gauge line runs at an elevation for most of its length. The link directly connects to the passenger terminal building off the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. The rail services start at 6:00 in the morning till 24:00. There are two interchange stations called Phaya Thai and Makkasan which run on different lines, also available. The future plans to expand the airport is also in talks where the Airport Rail Link plans to merge and complement the SRT Red Line commuter service. This way, you wouldn't need to change the metro links to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.