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Update: Booking window closed for this promotion on November 21, 2024.
Thai Airways has just released a large batch of award seats. Royal Orchid Plus members now have one million award seats for 2025 available to book by November 21, 2024. Here are the details of these award seats and how to book them.
Thai Airways Released One Million Award Seats for Travel in 2025
Some airlines have a set booking window for award seats. For example, Aeromexico, Avianca, Cathay Pacific, and Scandinavian Airlines award flights are available to book 360 days out. JetBlue and Southwest offer much shorter booking windows. However, some airlines, like Thai Airways, only release award seats in batches.
Thai Airways just announced its next batch of award seats for 2025. Royal Orchid Plus members now have one million award seats they can book for flights from January 1, 2025. The caveat is that members must book these award seats by November 21, 2024.
These award seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis for both domestic and international flights. A limited number of seats are available per cabin based on demand and aircraft type.
Although Thai Airways is part of the Star Alliance, these award seats are not available to other alliance members. Only Royal Orchid Plus members can book these award seats. The program is free to join, and new members can earn 2,500 bonus miles after completing their first international flight.
Then, you can transfer Citi ThankYou Points, Marriott Bonvoy points, Accor Live Limitless points, or other points into Royal Orchid Plus to book one of these flights. (More about that below.) Or, if you miss the booking window, you can use your Thai Orchid Plus miles to a partner airline to book an award flight.
Key terms
- Thai Airways has opened one million award seats for departures starting on January 1, 2025.
- Royal Orchid Plus members must book flights by November 21, 2024.
- Book award seats directly with Thai Airways.
- Award seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis for both domestic and international flights.
- Each cabin has a limited number of award seats.
- Star Alliance partner airline members are unable to book these award seats.
Thai Airways Award Chart
You might not be too familiar with Thai Airways (or its award chart), so now is a great time to highlight some awards you can book with Thai miles. Thai has a simple redemption table for domestic and international destinations.
A high-level overview of some of the best ways to redeem Thai miles for Thai Airways flights include:
- One-way economy between Bangkok and Beijing or Japan for 22,500 miles.
- One-way business class between Bangkok and the Middle East for 42,500 miles.
- One-way first class between Bangkok and Europe for 125,000 miles.
You can also redeem Thai miles for flights on Star Alliance partners. But, note that partner space is not part of the million seats now available for redemptions.
How To Earn Thai Airways Miles
If you don't have Thai Airways miles now but would like to take advantage of this award availability, you have a few options to stock up. The fastest and easiest method is to transfer points into the Royal Orchid Plus program.
Thai Airways has a few transfer partners, but two stand out: Citi ThankYou® and Marriott Bonvoy. These two partners will give you the best transfer ratios. However, be aware that transfers aren't instantaneous.
Related: Do Thai Royal Orchid Miles Expire?
Our Take
Unlike some airlines with a rolling award booking window, Thai Airways releases its award seats in batches. One million award seats present plenty of opportunities, but Royal Orchid Plus members only have three weeks in which to book their flights.
If you're a Royal Orchid Plus member and have been eyeing a redemption, now is the time to book your flights for 2025.
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