Flying to Chiang Mai

Hi there! 

This past weekend we had the opportunity to fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and it was a very pleasant experience! I am usually stressed when flying on an airplane, but this process was very seamless and relaxing. This particular Bangkok airport was a 24 hour airport, meaning there are planes coming and going every hour of the day and it is extremely high traffic.

Something I noticed immediately that caught me off guard was the different policies they have in Thailand airports. For example, if your particular piece of luggage is over the maximum weight allowed, you might not have to pay a fee. The reason for this is that if you are traveling in a group, they calculate the maximum amount of weight allowed for all group members and as long as you don't collectively exceed the max then it's fine. In other words, it's very advantageous to have a friend that underpacks. Before traveling to Thailand, I had never heard of this rule and I think it is very practical. Another policy that is different from the US is that all passengers are allowed into the lounges. I had never been in one before and it was a very relaxing experience overall. The room was filled with comfortable chairs and couches, plenty of outlets, and complementary snacks and drinks. 

One of the biggest differences I noticed on the aircraft itself was the stewardess uniform. The women were wearing pants and the outfit itself wasn't tight. In the US, most airlines have a dress or skirt as part of the uniform and they all tend to be on the tighter side. I wasn't sure if this was a true reflection of the Thai culture itself or simply a coincidence, but I felt that it was a good change. All in all, I've been noticing differences in the culture here that fascinate me and motivate me to want to learn as much as I can in the next two weeks in Thailand!

Talk to you soon!

Maddie Pryor

Below is the best picture I could take on the plane of the stewardess uniform, just to give you an idea.