Thai Airways International is Thailand's full-service flag carrier and a Star Alliance founding member, flying from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. Vietjet is a Vietnamese low-cost carrier headquartered in Hanoi that also operates in Thailand. Travellers compare them on routes linking Thailand and Vietnam and across Southeast Asia, where a full-service fare and a cheap base fare compete.
Quick verdict
Thai suits travellers who want meals, checked baggage, lounges and Star Alliance connections, particularly on long-haul trips to Europe, Asia and Oceania. Vietjet suits those who want the lowest fare on short regional hops and will pay only for the extras they need. Once you add a bag, a meal and a seat to a Vietjet Eco fare, compare the total with Thai's price. Vietjet's Deluxe and SkyBoss fares narrow the gap.
Choose Thai Airways International if…
- You want meals, a checked bag and a proper cabin ladder (Economy, Premium Economy, Royal Silk) on one ticket.
- You are connecting onward to Europe or Oceania, or want Star Alliance and Royal Orchid Plus benefits.
- You value lounge access and a flag-carrier long-haul network from Bangkok.
Choose Vietjet if…
- You want the lowest base fare and will travel with only a cabin bag.
- You fly short regional routes from Vietnam or Thailand and can pick fares by need: Eco, Deluxe or SkyBoss.
- You want fare-difference-only changes on Deluxe, SkyBoss or Business fares.
At a glance
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Key differences
Business model and network
Thai is a full-service carrier built around Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. As of January 2026 it served 51 international and 9 domestic destinations in 29 countries, focused on Europe, Asia and Oceania (Wikipedia). Vietjet is a low-cost carrier with a network of 254 routes, 52 domestic and 202 international, and its busiest gateway is Ho Chi Minh City (2026 industry report). Vietjet is mainly short- and medium-haul, with A330 widebodies on longer routes.
Cabins and seats
Thai offers Royal Silk (business), Premium Economy and Economy, depending on the aircraft. Vietjet sells Eco, Deluxe, SkyBoss and Business, which was relaunched on 1 January 2026. SkyBoss on the A321 occupies the front rows, and Simple Flying found the seat width and pitch the same as economy (18 in and 29 in). The extras are food, priority services and lounge access. Thai has a cabin overhaul planned for 2027 (TTG Asia).
Baggage and fares
Thai allows one 7 kg cabin bag. For tickets issued from 25 November 2025 for travel from 2 March 2026, Economy Saver and Standard include 1 x 23 kg checked, and Royal Silk 2 x 32 kg (HappyFares). Vietjet Eco is cabin bag only, with checked bags extra. Deluxe adds 20 kg checked and 7 kg cabin, and SkyBoss 30 kg checked and 10 kg cabin, according to the Thailand site. Allowances vary by route.
Food and flexibility
Thai serves meals on international flights, and you can pre-select them up to 72 hours before departure. On Vietjet, Eco passengers buy food on board, Deluxe includes a meal, and SkyBoss and Business include food and drink. Changes on Vietjet Eco carry a fee plus the fare difference. Deluxe, SkyBoss and Business changes cost only the fare difference (Vietjet guide). Advance seat selection on Eco is chargeable.
Fleet, punctuality and loyalty
Thai had 84 aircraft as of mid-2026, with 89 on order, including Boeing 787s and A321neos, as it moves to fewer types. Cirium reported 79.29% on-time arrivals for June 2025 (Cirium). Thai belongs to Star Alliance and runs Royal Orchid Plus, with Royal Orchid and Royal Silk lounges. Vietjet is in no alliance, and lounge access comes only with SkyBoss fares where a standard lounge exists.
Frequently asked questions
Is Thai Airways better than Vietjet?
Thai is a full-service airline with meals, checked baggage on most fares, lounges and alliance connections. Vietjet is a low-cost carrier that is usually cheaper at base fare, so which is better depends on your budget and need for extras.
Does Vietjet include checked baggage?
Not on Eco, which is cabin bag only. Deluxe includes 20 kg checked and SkyBoss 30 kg, per Vietjet's Thailand site, though allowances vary by route.
Does Thai Airways include checked baggage?
Yes. Economy Saver and Standard fares on tickets for travel from 2 March 2026 include 1 x 23 kg, and Royal Silk 2 x 32 kg, according to HappyFares. Older tickets keep the weight-based allowance, so check your fare.
About Thai Airways International Read more
Overview
Thai Airways International is the flag carrier of Thailand. According to Wikipedia, it was founded in 1960 as a joint venture with Scandinavian Airlines and began operating in its current form in 1988 after merging with Thai Airways Company. The Ministry of Finance holds 42.94% of the shares, and the airline is listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Its headquarters are in Chatuchak, Bangkok. Thai is a founding member of Star Alliance. Its regional subsidiary Thai Smile was merged back into the mainline carrier from 2023.
Network and hubs
The main hub is Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. As of January 2026 the airline served 51 international and 9 domestic destinations in 29 countries, with a network focused on Europe, Asia and Oceania. A return to North America is under discussion, according to Aviation A2Z (July 2026).
Fleet
Wikipedia lists a fleet of 80 aircraft as of January 2026, with a large order book (see the fleet page). In July 2026 Aviation A2Z reported a Boeing 787 fleet of 45 aircraft, including those on order. TTG Asia (25 September 2026) reports that long-haul flying will rely on the Airbus A350-900, Boeing 777-300ER and Boeing 787 family as older wide-bodies retire. It also reports that the Airbus A321neo fleet will grow from nine to 15 by the end of 2026, with a target of 32. The fleet is to be streamlined to four types, with a cabin overhaul planned for 2027.
On board
- Cabins: Royal Silk (business), Premium Economy and Economy, depending on aircraft. Royal First is listed in some baggage tables.
- Meals: Thai and international dishes, which vary by route and month. Pre-selection is available up to 72 hours before departure.
- Seat pitch, entertainment and Wi-Fi: not confirmed in the sources reviewed, and these vary by aircraft. Check the airline before booking.
Good to know
- Cabin baggage: Thai's official page allows one hand-carry bag of up to 7 kg.
- Checked baggage: third-party sources such as HappyFares report a piece-based allowance for tickets issued from 25 November 2025 for travel from 2 March 2026. Economy Saver and Standard include 1 x 23 kg, and Royal Silk includes 2 x 32 kg. Older tickets keep the weight-based allowance. Check the official site for your fare.
- Punctuality: Cirium reported 79.29% on-time arrivals for June 2025.
- Lounges: Royal Orchid and Royal Silk lounges. The loyalty programme is Royal Orchid Plus.
About Vietjet Read more
Overview
Vietjet (Vietjet Aviation Joint Stock Company, ticker VJC on HOSE) is a Vietnamese low-cost carrier. According to a 2026 industry report, it was founded in 2007, began commercial flights in December 2011 and is led by chairwoman Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao. Its headquarters are in Hanoi. It does not belong to a global alliance.
Network and hubs
The same report puts the network at 254 routes (52 domestic and 202 international), with the busiest gateway at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. The group operates in Vietnam, Thailand and, more recently, Kazakhstan. It carried 28.2 million passengers in 2025 on more than 153,000 flights.
Fleet
The report lists a group fleet of 135 aircraft in 2026, of which 101 are in Vietnam. Types include the Airbus A320, A321, A321neo, A321XLR and A330, the Boeing 737-8, and a planned batch of COMAC C909 aircraft. Fleet figures change often and come from a secondary source.
On board
- Eco: lowest fare; seats, meals and checked bags are extra.
- Deluxe: includes a checked bag, free seat selection and a meal.
- SkyBoss: the first three rows of the A321, in a 3-3 layout. Simple Flying found the seat width (18 in) and pitch (29 in) the same as economy, with food, priority services and lounge access added.
- Business: per Happy Fares, relaunched on 1 January 2026 with leather seats in a forward cabin.
No verified information on in-flight entertainment or Wi-Fi was found.
Good to know
- Baggage: allowances depend on fare and route. The Thai site FAQ lists 20 kg checked and 7 kg cabin for Deluxe, and 30 kg checked and 10 kg cabin for SkyBoss. Check the booking for your route.
- Changes: Business, SkyBoss and Deluxe changes carry no fee beyond the fare difference. Eco changes incur a fee, per the Vietjet guide.
- Seats: advance seat selection is chargeable on Eco fares, subject to availability (Vietjet).
- Lounges: Vietjet does not sell lounge access separately; it comes with SkyBoss fares.
Sources (8)
- Thai Airways International - Wikipedia
- TTG Asia: Thai Airways sets fleet, cabin overhaul for 2027
- HappyFares: Thai Airways baggage allowance
- Cirium On-Time Performance Report June 2025
- VietJet Air Strategic Analysis and Outlook Report 2026
- Vietjet Thailand FAQ
- Simple Flying: Vietjet A321 SkyBoss review
- Vietjet flight change guide
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