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Ko Samui Airport (USM) Flights & Flight Status

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Ko Samui Airport: Expert advice and recommendations

Expert travel writer Duncan Madden shares all you need to know before booking a flight to or from Ko Samui Airport.
Duncan Madden
September 12, 2024

It’s only fitting that on such a paradisiacal Thai island, the airport should look like Koh Samui’s does. Short of some barely-there dirt runways and shacks on the remotest of South Pacific islands, it’s hard to imagine a more picturesque, placid and relaxed place to fly in and out of. Koh Samui is my absolute favorite airport in the world and a leading contender for its most beautiful too. It has plenty of awards to prove as much.

Don’t let its chilled out approach and park-like appearance fool you though. Koh Samui is a tourist hotspot and its airport sees around six million passengers pass through its gates each year on domestic and international routes. That’s around 16,000 people a day. Bangkok Airways is by far the biggest operator, which comes as no surprise considering it owns the airport too. I’ve traveled through it many times and have consistently found it to be one of the best run, easiest to navigate and most welcoming airports I’ve ever used.

As a lifelong believer in spending as little time as possible in airports, I’ve spent years refining my process to get through them quickly and efficiently. Koh Samui Airport (USM) is one of a small handful where I encourage everyone to go against that advice. Get there early, enjoy its gorgeous gardens, incredible cafes and restaurants, and imagine what travel could be like if all airports were this way.

Arriving at Koh Samui Airport (USM)

Koh Samui Airport doesn’t look like other airports. You’ll find no stadium sized multi-story terminals surrounded by acres of car parks. No miles of badly patterned carpets and remote, endless corridors. Instead, a series of beautifully designed, eco-conscious, low-level buildings, most without walls, surrounded by wide green park spaces dotted with water features, shaded seating areas and groups of tourists lazing in the sun.

Getting around isn’t really a question of navigating. Rather, you just follow the flow of people along the indoor-outdoor walkway, called Samui Park Avenue, that takes you past check in, shopping, immigration and customs, and on to the six gates that peel away down separate walkways as you wander. It’s impossible to get lost and getting to any gate is seldom more than a two or three minute stroll.

Getting to and from Koh Samui Airport

Koh Samui is not an urban metropolis (thankfully), but the airport is located in its most developed district, Bo Phut, in the island’s northeast, just a mile or so from Chaweng, the main resort area. There is no public transport, so you can either arrange a private or shared transfer or taxi, or rent your own car.

The easiest option is to ask the place you’re staying to organize your pick up and drop off, which is what I always do. After long international flights, I’m always willing to pay a little extra for the convenience. If you don’t want to pay the (usually minimal) surcharge your accommodation will add, you can arrange your own transport online in advance.

You can also book either a private taxi or shared minibus after you land, at the transportation desk just past baggage claim. The most established and reliable island taxi company is called SmackONE, which even promises their drivers can speak English. In my experience that’s been mostly true.

There are car rental options too, as long as you’re happy driving to island rules! You can choose from international agencies like Sixt, Budget, Europcar and Avis, as well as Thai based Drive Car. I prefer to let a driver take care of the commute and then rent a moped as and when I need to get around. It’s cheaper and much less hassle than hiring a car.

Check in and security

If you choose to ignore my advice to arrive early and revel in the loveliness of Koh Samui airport, 90 minutes is more than enough time to see you through check in and security. Bangkok Airlines has a near monopoly on the airport, with Scoot the only other commercial airline operating a single route to Singapore. This makes checking in and dropping bags a largely hassle free affair – I’ve never waited more than 20 minutes.

One thing worth checking is that there are no full moon parties on neighboring Koh Phangan island around your time of travel. In the days running up to and after one, the airport can see a serious uptick in passengers and queues lengthen accordingly.

Next, there’s a strange quirk that I haven’t encountered at any other airport. Pass through the doorway from the check-in hall and you’ll see a TV screen showing random checked luggage bags. You must wait here for ten minutes and monitor the screen for your checked bags. If they appear on the screen or your name is called, you need to go to the baggage inspection office for a spot search.

It’s a slightly confusing, poorly signposted setup that usually results in fellow travelers lingering with no amount of uncertainty if they’re clear to carry on. My bag has never appeared and my name never called, but be sure to wait the full ten minutes just in case yours is.

Once you’ve navigated the checked luggage lottery, security is a breeze. Follow the only walkway down Samui Park Avenue past its lovely shops and eateries and follow directions to the domestic or international security checkpoints. There are few security scanners at either but queues are fast moving and the security staff friendly, and seemingly enjoying themselves. It’s all very convivial.

Orientate yourself and find your gate

Despite how open and uncluttered the airport feels, it’s remarkably compact. There are two terminals in the loosest possible sense, divided into four domestic and two international gates. But in reality there’s little difference or distance between them – around 160 feet to be precise. From check in, security is a three-minute walk away (or a two-hour stroll if you let yourself get distracted!) Once through security, you’re less than a minute from your gate, international or domestic.

Waiting areas at the gates are stylish and comfortable, continuing the inside-outside aesthetic that creates cooling breezes in the often stifling heat. That does open them up to nature, so don’t forget your mosquito spray!

Impressive wood-built halls are dotted with wicker furniture and padded benches, although there usually aren’t enough seats for everyone when it’s busy. There are three lounges, two in domestic and one in international, although I’ve never visited them. Why would you when the rest of the airport is already so lovely?

While there are shops and cafes airside (past security), the domestic terminal has far more than the international terminal. Thanks to that ownership and near monopoly by Bangkok Air, domestic passengers are also treated to free drinks and snacks in the gate waiting area ‘Courtesy Corner’. The pastries in particular are worth seeking out. The best facilities, however, live landside on Samui Park Avenue between check in and security.

Shopping, eating and relaxing

Samui Park Avenue is the airport’s crowning success. A lovely wide street, it’s fringed by manicured laws, swaying palms and plants everywhere. The architecture is just as rich – open air with shops and cafes built in wood and bamboo, some with glass roofs.

The shops, cafes and bars are a reflection of the island’s growing status as a place for wellness and revitalization. You’ll find none of the stalwarts so familiar in major airports around the world – no McDonalds or Prada, no Starbucks or Swarovski. Instead, mostly Thai businesses like fun eco-friendly souvenir sellers PooPooPaper and high-end jewelry shop, Oh La La. The fresh seared tuna salad at Daymoon is worth stopping off for and then take your pick of the ice cream, smoothie and coffee shops for dessert.

The last essential stop on your mini airport vacation should be to its botanical garden. A spectacularly chilled out area, it bursts with colors and fragrances. Orchids and frangipani vie for your attention but the star of the show is the cannonball tree. In bloom, it can hold a thousand flowers and more than 100 of the woody spherical fruits that give it its name. As pungent as it is beautiful, I always go to see it as my last taste of the tropics before embarking on the long flight home.

This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.

Flight Status - Ko Samui Airport

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Latest Ko Samui Airport flights

Recent round-trip flight deals

1/6Mon
2 stopsEVA Air
25h 05mSFO-USM
1/28Tue
2 stopsEVA Air
27h 40mUSM-SFO
$1,025
3/12Wed
1 stopSingapore Airlines
21h 10mLAX-USM
3/26Wed
1 stopSingapore Airlines
24h 05mUSM-LAX
$1,038
1/6Mon
2 stopsEVA Air
30h 10mSFO-USM
1/28Tue
2 stopsEVA Air
29h 00mUSM-SFO
$1,044
2/10Mon
1 stopSingapore Airlines
31h 20mSFO-USM
2/20Thu
1 stopSingapore Airlines
37h 55mUSM-SFO
$1,048
3/12Wed
2 stopsSingapore Airlines
28h 15mLAX-USM
3/26Wed
1 stopSingapore Airlines
24h 05mUSM-LAX
$1,051
3/1Sat
2 stopsEVA Air
26h 40mSFO-USM
3/23Sun
2 stopsEVA Air
23h 35mUSM-SFO
$1,063
3/12Wed
2 stops
25h 20mLAX-USM
3/26Wed
2 stops
24h 35mUSM-LAX
$1,069
3/16Sun
2 stops
23h 40mBOS-USM
4/2Wed
2 stops
33h 30mUSM-BOS
$1,204
11/26Tue
2 stopsCathay Pacific
34h 58mLAS-USM
12/3Tue
2 stopsCathay Pacific
41h 13mUSM-LAS
$1,652
12/4Wed
2 stops
31h 50mMIA-USM
12/11Wed
2 stops
35h 10mUSM-MIA
$1,793

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FAQs about Ko Samui Airport

  • Is Ko Samui the only airport in Koh Samui?

    No, there are 3 airports in Koh Samui. These are Ko Samui, Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat.

  • What is the busiest day to depart from Ko Samui Airport?

    The day with the most flights departing from Ko Samui Airport is generally Sunday, with an average of 51 flights leaving the airport.

Airport information - Ko Samui

IATA CodeUSM
ServesKoh Samui
Hub forPhilippine Airlines, Japan Airlines, Tibet Airlines