I’m flying to Fukuoka for the week! And for this trip, I’ve chosen to fly with Thai Vietjet Air on their recently launched Bangkok → Fukuoka route. With round-trip prices starting from $215, it’s definitely one of the more affordable ways to travel and enjoy a little holiday in Japan.
It’s been years since I last visited Fukuoka, and while I’m very much looking forward to the trip (and all their amazing local cuisine), the journey starts off at the airport. So how was the experience here? Let’s get to it. How Good is Thai Vietjet Air Actually?
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✈️ Booking Your Tickets ✈️
You can book Thai Vietjet through a couple of places, but one of the easier options is directly through their site.
Side Note: to check for the cheapest fares for the week/month you’re planning to travel in, make sure to hit the “Find Lowest Fare” button to compare prices between flight dates.
Here’s a brief rundown on what Thai Vietjet’s different classes provide.
💺 ECO 💺
Airfare + 7kg carry-on bag
💺 Deluxe 💺
Airfare + 7kg carry-on bag + 20kg checked luggage + Seat Selection + Priority Check-In
💺 SkyBOSS 💺
Airfare + 10kg carry-on bag + 30kg checked luggage + Seat Selection + Priority Check-In + In-Flight Meal & more.
I went for the ECO class + 15kg Baggage this trip. Prices will depend on the season you’re travelling, of course, but with the basic ECO + Luggage combo, flights from Bangkok to Fukuoka can hover as low as around $275
You can check out Thai Vietjet here: https://th.vietjetair.com/
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✈️ Suvarnabhumi Airport & Immigration ✈️
Thai Vietjet departs from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, so the first thing to do is, well, head to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Thai Vietjet’s check-in counters can be found at Counter C on the Departure Hall (4th Floor.)
Once check-in’s complete and you have your boarding pass, take the escalators up to International Departures for hand baggage check and immigration control.
Side Note – How early should you arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport? Well, check-in counters usually open about 3 hours before departure, so for my personal preference – I like to show up basically when the counters open, to account for all the potential traffic along the way (roads, lines, and other random factors.) Might be a bit overkill, but as long as you arrive at least 2 hours before your flight, I think you shouldn’t run into too many issues.
Also do note that the security checking procedure here can take a surprising amount of time at Suvarnabhumi, regardless of how crowded the lines are… so keep that in mind.
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🚶♂️ Heading to the Gate 🚶♂️
So you’ve cleared immigration, the next stop is the flight gates. Suvarnabhumi Airport is shaped like an “H,” so make sure to check which side to head to before actually walking there. (From one extreme end to another, you’re looking at around 30 minutes with no fast-travel options.) But if you *do* have some time to kill, you could use that time for a little walk around before heading to the gate. Makes for some light exercise before the flight.
Side Note: And if it’s your first time at Suvarnabhumi Airport, do stop by the “Churning of the Milk Ocean” statue right after the immigration area for a quick photo opportunity.
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🛫 Boarding the Plane 🛫
Now it’s time to board the plane. Once you arrive at the gate (C5, in my case), head down and grab a seat while boarding begins. They’ll usually stagger boarding by sections, so hang around for a bit if you’re seated towards the front of the plane.
Once at the plane’s doors, you’ll be greeted by a Vietjet flight attendant, and they’ll guide you towards your seat.
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✈️ On the Plane ✈️
My flight to Fukuoka was on VZ810, an Airbus A321Z, with seatings arranged in a 3-3 configuration. It’s actually quite the early morning flight, with the 5 hours and 25 minute journey taking place from 0:30 A.M. to 7:55 A.M. (No delays on my end, with my flight taking off at 0:36 A.M., and landing at 7:49 A.M.)
Inside the plane, it’s pretty comfy all around. The seats were nice and soft, and there’s a decent amount of room to move around.
If I had to nitpick, I’d prefer the leg room to be just a *tiny* bit more spacious. It’s not a major issue or anything, but I did notice it a bit on my shins when I extended and lifted my legs for a little bit of stretching – although I did have a backpack down there as well. Other than that, the journey went by very smoothly.
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✈️ Looking out the Window ✈️
As a late night → early morning route, the most optimal thing to do on the flight is to get as much rest as you can before arriving at Fukuoka. And while some needed rest is in order for this trip, I’m not gonna miss the opportunity to enjoy my favorite part of any flight – the view out the window.
A lot of the views you’ll get from this trip features the standard assortment you expect from flight times like these. You get an evening view of nighttime Bangkok as you take off, the break of dawn about 3 and a half hours in, and the clear morning sky as you make your way down to Fukuoka. All amazing views in itself, but it’s nowhere near as breathtaking as the view you get up at cruising altitude.
Once you’ve gone up past the clouds, gaze up the window a little higher than normal. With not too many light sources this high up, you should be able to see a clear view of the night sky lit up by a sea of stars.
It’s really an experience you can’t miss if you’re on a nightime flight, so make sure to stay up and admire the view! (Night Mode is really the only way for you to get the stars on camera. But, trust me, the real view is leagues better than what you see here.)
Yes, this section only applies if you’re at a window seat. But use this as a little incentive. Arrive at the airport early and request for a window seat! (Or reserve a seat via their add-on services when you book.)
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🛬 At Fukuoka Airport 🛬
After an evening on the plane (and possibly a short nap,) you’ve finally arrived at Fukuoka. The next leg of the trip is to clear immigration and customs. Finding where to go is relatively straightforward – either by following the signs, or (the easier option) following where literally everyone else is headed to.
Side Note – Like any other country, Japan also requires you to fill out a couple of forms before getting through customs. You can fill them via paper forms once you arrive, but for a smoother ride through the airport, I recommend you complete those forms through their Visit Japan site.
After creating your account and setting up your personal details, you can fill out your immigration and custom forms through the “Register Planned Entry/Return” section of the site. The entire process takes around 10 minutes to complete, and once you arrive, scan your QR codes on the machines for a smoother entry to Japan.
Pre-Register for Immigrations and Customs here: https://www.vjw.digital.go.jp/main/#/vjwplo001
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🚅 Heading to the City – Your Various Options 🚅
While Fukuoka Airport isnt as big as something like Narita or Kansai Airport, one distinct advantage here is that the airport is located surprisingly close to the city center, with multiple convenient ways to get there (depending on your preferred balance of time, cost, and convenience.)
🚅 Subway 🚅
¥260 / 25 mins to Hakata Station, 30 mins to Tenjin Station (From International Terminal)
One of the more common ways to head to the city in Japan, and Fukuoka Airport is no different.
From Fukuoka Airport to Hakata Station, you’re looking at an insanely short 2 station / 5 minute ride! While for Tenjin, it’s only slightly longer at 5 stations / 11 minutes. At ¥260 for both stations, it’s also one of the cheaper options available.
Sounds really convenient, doesn’t it? But is there a catch? Well… sorta.
The subway can be found over at the Domestic Terminal of the airport, so you’ll have to take their shuttle bus before you start the journey (Bus Stop 1).
The bus itself is free, so the trip doesn’t cost extra. But if you’re heading to the city via the subway from the International Terminal, don’t forget to add around 15-20 mins to the total travel time. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still one of the better ways to head to the city. (In fact, this was the route I took this time around.)
🚔 Taxi 🚔
¥1,500 – 3,000 / 10 – 30 minutes to Hakata & Tenjin areas
(From International Terminal)
Taxis in Japan aren’t cheap, let’s get that out of the way. (Their service and experience is really good, though.) But since the airport is so close to the city, this is one of the few times where taking a taxi is actually quite a decent option. It’s also one of the most convenient options out there, since the journey starts from the International Terminal and ends exactly where you need to be – without having to carry your luggage along the way.
Do note that I only recommend this route if you’re travelling as a group. Travelling solo, you’re looking at a 10x price increase compared to the other options. But as a group of 4, it works to just about double the cost (~¥500). Factoring the convenience, I say the extra ¥250 is well worth it.
🚌 City Bus 🚌
¥270 / 15 minutes to Hakata Bus Terminal / Every 15~20 minutes
(From International Terminal)
When juggling price, time, and convenience, the City Bus is probably the most balanced option available (assuming you’re staying near Hakata Station.)
At the International Terminal, you can find buses headed for Hakata Bus Terminal, Dazaifu, and LaLaPort over at Bus Stop 2. Buses depart from here every 15 minutes or so, so make sure to grab your tickets over at the ticketing counter inside the airport.
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⭐VERDICT⭐
So how good is Thai Vietjet Air actually? As a low-cost airline, the two most important factors to consider are the price and scheduling. Price-wise, with a starting one-way price of around $110 (~$135 with checked baggage,) I say it’s incredibly affordable compared to some other full-service options.
As for the flight schedule? The trip’s from midnight to about 8 A.M., so you’ll be able to explore Fukuoka first thing in the morning. Perfect if you wanna maximize your time in Japan, but if you prefer to head straight to the hotel after a long flight, you will need to wait a little before you can check-in. (You can find luggage storage areas all around Fukuoka’s subway stations.)
But enough about the numbers, how was the overall flight experience? Yeah, the journey was very nice. The check-in process went by smoothly, the plane was quite comfy, overall just one smooth sailing experience. Sure, you lose out on a few things compared to a full-service flight (in-flight meals, lounges, etc.) but at this price range, it’s well worth the cost. So if you fancy a trip to Fukuoka at a very affordable price point, then head over to Thai Vietjet Air and book your tickets.
Thai Vietjet Air
💻 Website 💻
https://th.vietjetair.com/
