When is the Los Angeles to Bangkok route most turbulent?

Check the monthly chart for exact patterns. Transatlantic and mountain routes are typically roughest in winter (Dec–Mar). Tropical routes peak during monsoon season.

LAX to BKK Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Los Angeles to Bangkok flight turbulent?

The LAX–BKK route typically experiences light turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on LAX to BKK?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Airbus A350 · Boeing 787, that's rows 24–40. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from LAX to BKK?

The LAX to BKK flight takes approximately 18h 0m, covering 9,930 miles at 39,000 feet.

Is the Los Angeles to Bangkok flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

LAX

→

BKK

Los Angeles · Bangkok · 18h 0m

Turb Score

18h 0m

Duration

8,630 nm

Distance

39,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

⚠️ Light turbulence today

Get exact timing, altitude & best seat — free

Download free on the App Store Get it on Google Play

★★★★★ 4.8 · Free · iOS & Android

Scan to get the full forecast ★★★★★ 4.8 · Free · iOS & Android · No sign-up

Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for LAX–BKK

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h18h 0m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the LAX–BKK route

The Los Angeles to Bangkok route spans the Pacific Ocean — one of the longest commercial flight paths in the world at 9,930 miles. The Pacific jet stream creates moderate turbulence, typically around 3–7 hours into the flight. The sheer length of the route means passengers experience varying conditions: calm stretches punctuated by bumpy patches.

The route is served by Thai Airways, EVA Air on Airbus A350 · Boeing 787 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 39,000 feet over a distance of 9,930 miles (8,630 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Long flight — turbulence varies throughout. Wing seats significantly reduce motion.

Los Angeles to Bangkok Flight Time

How long is the flight from LAX to BKK?

18h 0m

Flight Time

9,930 mi

Distance

39,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A350

Aircraft

The Los Angeles (LAX) to Bangkok (BKK) flight takes approximately 18h 0m, covering 9,930 miles (8,630 nautical miles) at 39,000 feet. The route is operated by Thai Airways, EVA Air. Return flights (BKK to LAX) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on LAX–BKK

What to expect at each phase of the flight

SmoothDeparture & arrival — climb and descent phases are generally calm

LightMinor bumps — drink stays in your cup, walking feels slightly unsteady

ModerateNoticeable bumps — stay seated with seatbelt on, service may pause

HeavyStrong jolts — unsecured items move, crew seated. Rare but possible

Get minute-by-minute timing for your specific flight

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

Best time to fly LAX–BKK

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on LAX–BKK

Airbus A350

Front

Rows 1–23

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 24–40

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 41+

Rougher

Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.

What you'll see in the app

Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

LAX → SIN

Los Angeles → Singapore

Light

LAX → HKG

Los Angeles → Hong Kong

San Francisco → Hong Kong

Light

See all transpacific flights →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

Track any flight in real time

→

Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

→

Clear-Air Turbulence

The invisible rough air that's increasing

→

Turbulence in 2025

Is turbulence getting worse?

→

Is Turbulence Dangerous?

What the safety data shows

→

Passenger Reports

There was some noticeable movement somewhere over the ocean that made me grip the armrest. My seatmate (clearly a regular) didn't even look up from their book. Perspective.

First-time flyer · May

A few bumpy patches mid-Pacific, lasted maybe half an hour total. Drink service was paused briefly. Not unusual for this time of year.

Frequent flyer · May

Flew Los Angeles–Bangkok in April, had some light turbulence in the middle portion of the flight. Brief and nothing concerning. This route is usually fine.

Business traveler · April

All LAX routes→ All BKK routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Los Angeles to Bangkok flight turbulent?

The LAX–BKK route typically experiences light turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated. The turbulence score for this route is 50/100.

When is turbulence worst on LAX to BKK?

Long flight — turbulence varies throughout. Wing seats significantly reduce motion. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on LAX to BKK?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Airbus A350 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 24–40. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from LAX to BKK?

The LAX to BKK flight takes approximately 18h 0m, covering 9,930 miles (8,630 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly LAX to BKK?

The main airlines operating this route are Thai Airways, EVA Air, flying Airbus A350 · Boeing 787 aircraft.

Data Sources

PIREP — Pilot reports (PIREPs) submitted via FAA/ICAO systems, aggregated over 12+ months of historical data
SIGMET / AIRMET — Significant Meteorological Information bulletins from NOAA Aviation Weather Center
EDR data — Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements from commercial aircraft (ADS-B derived turbulence intensity)
Seasonal patterns — 5-year rolling averages of turbulence frequency and intensity by month for this route

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data