Dang! 2010 has been uber frustrating for finding great flight deals. I’m currently searching for flights to Thailand and the best I can find is $1050. This is almost twice the $586 I paid to Japan last year.

In 2010, airfares have pretty much bounced back to normal levels. 2009 was an aberration in deal hysteria. However, I’ll occasionally see prices that remind me of 2009. As is this $291 fare from Seattle to Honolulu. From LAX and SFO it is priced out in the mid-$350′s.

I wish there more cheap flights like these. As for my Thailand flight search, it’s looking bleak!

Go!

Photo credit to mjb84.

Even if Hong Kong isn’t your final destination in Asia, it is usually one of the cheapest flights from the US.

During the month of November, flights to Hong Kong from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle are in the $750 range.

We found LAX to Hong Kong for $765 on Air China (see below).

If you’ve never been to China, read what not to do there. These include, not traveling there during the Golden Weeks, unless you enjoy massive crowds. And, don’t expect much English to be spoken. Also, don’t be shocked by the bathroom habits of small children. Read more.

Search for flights to China.

It’s been frustrating this summer trying to find affordable tickets to southeast Asia. We were so spoiled last year with abundant rates in the $600′s to tropical cities such as Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh and Bangkok. We even found $588 to Manila from San Francisco.

Gone are those days. In 2010 you’re lucky if you can fly to southeast Asia for under $1,000. So when we see prices under $900, we have to mention them.

Below is Los Angeles to Bangkok for $877 on China Southern Airlines for travel next March. Try dates from September through March to Thailand (from the West Coast), before the temperatures in Siam start sizzling.

Go!