Flights Chicago (ORD) - Bangkok (BKK)

About the flight from ORD to BKK

Flights Chicago (ORD) - Bangkok (BKK) leave from O'Hare International Airport (ORD), the 3rd-biggest airport in the US and the world's 6th busiest airport by passenger traffic. It is 14 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. Flights arrive into Bangkok's modern main airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), roughly 16 miles east of central Bangkok. Both airports have excellent public transport networks connecting them to the city.

The distance covered by flights from Chicago to Bangkok BKK is 8,561 miles. The shortest flight duration is 17 hours and 37 minutes. However, since there are no direct flights, at least one stopover is necessary, and the layover time will determine the total flight duration. The longest flights last over 40 hours, but most take between 20 hours and 23 hours total.

Including all stopover routes, there are over 400 scheduled flights per week from ORD to BKK, operated by 20 different airlines. The major airlines offering the most frequent services include Cathay Pacific, American Airlines, and Korean Air. Flights are more frequent during the high season (November-March).

Public transportation, parking, and ride-shares at ORD and BKK

ORD can be reached from Chicago by the CTA Blue Line "L" trains, which arrive right into the airport. Metra commuter trains offer services from around the greater Chicagoland area. The Pace Route 250 bus also runs to the airport. ORD has plenty of short- and long-stay parking areas, with prices charged hourly or daily. Taxis, limousines, and ride-share companies all have dedicated areas at the airport, about a 25-minute drive from central Chicago.

BKK has numerous car rental offices in the arrivals hall, airport parking, and it's about a 30-minute drive to central Bangkok. You can find taxis and order ride-shares inside the airport, either using Uber, Grab, or a number of local taxi apps. Alternatively, the Airport Rail Link (ARL) train runs around the clock, straight from the airport to Phaya Thai Interchange in the city center, taking about 25-30 minutes.

Practical information

US passport holders do not require a visa to visit Thailand for fewer than 30 days, but travelers from the United States do require a passport to enter Thailand. Bangkok is 12 hours ahead of Chicago. The most popular time for flights from Chicago (ORD) to Bangkok (BKK) is between November and March, during Chicago's freezing winter, when Bangkok has average temperatures around 80 F.

The annual average temperature of Bangkok (83.5 F) is 32 degrees hotter than Chicago (51.4 F). Bangkok is warm all year-round. Chicago has about 35 inches of annual rainfall and snowfall, while Bangkok gets zero snowfall and over 60 inches of annual rainfall, 85% of which occurs during the rainy season.

Top travel tips

The official currency used in Bangkok is the Thai baht. The exchange rate as of October 2019 is 1 USD = 30.5 Thai baht. Currency exchange offices and cash machines are common, and most accept foreign bank cards.The most common language spoken in Bangkok is Thai, the official language of Thailand, however, many people in Bangkok also speak English, especially at hotels and popular tourist sites.

One of the biggest differences in etiquette travelers from Chicago may notice is that it is considered impolite to wear shoes inside and when visiting sacred sites, too, meaning long trousers and covered shoulders. It is also considered very disrespectful to touch a person's head - including figurines and statues, and especially statues of the Buddha. Negotiating and haggling for prices is common.

What to see in Bangkok

The Grand Palace

The royal family is deeply respected in Thailand, and the Grand Palace, in the heart of Bangkok, is an iconic royal site not to be missed. The sacred Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most important temple in Thailand, is also within the palace grounds.

Ratchada Rot Fai Train Night Market

Bangkok is full of incredible, colorful markets of all kinds. But when it comes to street food, the Ratchada Rot Fai Train Night Market is hard to beat. Its hundreds of busy, steamy food stalls serve everything from insects and crocodiles to mouthwatering pad thai and fresh papaya salad. There's also live music!

Khaosan Road

To see a different side of Bangkok's heritage, get a glimpse of the country's colonial past and Bangkok's backpacker culture at buzzing Khaosan Road. This small, narrow street dating from 1892 has become a famous cauldron of East meeting West in South East Asia. It is full of busy bars, eclectic market stalls, boutique shops, modern night clubs, and delicious eateries.

Read more about Bangkok

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