Commuters, breathe a sigh of relief: the BTS Skytrain is bringing back its popular monthly travel packages starting tomorrow, September 11. After a period of uncertainty sparked by political upheaval and a proposed nationwide 20-baht flat fare, Bangkok’s elevated lifeline has quietly listened to passenger pleas and reinstated wallet-friendly bundles you actually might want to buy.
What’s back on the menu?
Dubbed the “Xtreme Savings” travel packages, the revived plans allow passengers to buy a block of trips that must be used within 30 days — priced to shave a few baht off every ride compared with standard single fares. You can pick them up through the Rabbit Rewards app or at any BTS ticket office. Important activation rule: you must use your first trip within seven days of purchase to kick the package into action.
Price breakdown (yes, we did the math)
For adults, the options are:
- 15 trips / 30 days — 570 baht (approx. 38 baht per trip)
- 25 trips / 30 days — 900 baht (approx. 36 baht per trip)
- 35 trips / 30 days — 1,190 baht (approx. 34 baht per trip)
Students get an even sweeter deal:
- 15 trips / 30 days — 465 baht (approx. 31 baht per trip)
- 25 trips / 30 days — 725 baht (approx. 29 baht per trip)
- 35 trips / 30 days — 945 baht (approx. 27 baht per trip)
Those per-trip savings might look modest on paper, but over a month they add up — especially if you rely on the BTS for daily commutes, weekend adventures, or quick trips across town.
Why they were pulled in the first place
The packages originally disappeared when the BTS operator prepared for a proposed 20-baht flat fare championed by former transport minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit of the Pheu Thai Party. That scheme promised a uniform fare across the system and opened for advance registration on August 25, with an initial start date of October 1.
But the rollout ran into legislative delays and was later pushed to November 15. Political turbulence added fuel to the fire: Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra was removed as prime minister after controversy surrounding a phone call with former Cambodian PM Hun Sen. That shakeup cleared the way for Anutin Charnvirakul to become PM and brought a cabinet reshuffle that cast doubt over whether the 20-baht scheme would survive intact.
Politics, budgets and the bottom line
Prime Minister Anutin has urged caution. “This matter needs to be carefully considered,” he told reporters, noting concerns about whether the public would clearly benefit and warning that past projects have run at a loss. The government would likely have to subsidize the flat fare by an estimated 6–8 billion baht per year to keep it afloat — a hefty line in any budget.
With millions of trips taken on Bangkok’s public transport every day, that subsidy figure isn’t surprising. Flat fares simplify pricing, but they can also mask the real cost of running a modern rapid transit system: trains, stations, maintenance, safety, staff and energy — all of which demand steady funding.
What this means for riders
For now, the reinstated travel packages are a welcome, practical option. They give regular passengers predictable costs and measurable savings without waiting for political decisions or big-ticket government subsidies. If you ride the BTS often, it’s worth thinking through the package that best fits your rhythm:
- Short-term commuters and occasional riders might favour the 15-trip pack.
- Weekly commuters or those with hybrid work schedules may find the 25-trip option hits the sweet spot.
- Daily commuters taking multiple trips per day could benefit most from the 35-trip bundle.
How to buy
Packages go on sale again from tomorrow, and you can purchase them via the Rabbit Rewards app or directly at any BTS ticket office. Remember: use the first trip within seven days of purchase to activate the package, otherwise the clock could run out on those savings.
In short: while the future of a national 20-baht fare remains unclear, the BTS Skytrain has handed passengers a sensible bridge — the Xtreme Savings packages — that can make daily life in Bangkok slightly cheaper and a little less stressful. Whether you’re a student hunting for every baht saved or a commuter who lives and breathes the Skytrain, these bundles are worth a look.
Stay tuned: if the 20-baht plan resurfaces or the political winds change again, the landscape for Bangkok public transport could shift. For now, though, the Skytrain has put the savings back on the tracks — and that’s welcome news for anyone who rides it every day.
Finally — this is great news. I take the BTS every day so the 35-trip pack will probably save me money. Hope they don’t pull it again for politics.
Are we sure it isn’t just PR to calm people before the 20-baht debate heats up? Feels like political chess to me. They’ll hype it then change it.
Flat fares are naive — subsidies always vanish and service suffers. These packages are a stopgap, not a solution. People forget maintenance costs.
As a transport policy researcher, I disagree that flat fares are inherently bad; properly structured subsidies can improve equity. But transparency in budgeting is essential, or public trust erodes. We need data-driven decisions.
I don’t care about politics, I just want cheaper rides. Students need more support, not media drama.
Quick tip: activate the package quickly — I forgot one month and lost value. BTS should send reminders. Also watch out for the activation window.
So the 20-baht plan needs 6–8 billion baht a year? That’s pocket change for a state if it reduces car traffic and pollution. Maybe politicians are short-sighted.
Reducing congestion yields long-term economic gains but metros need sustainable financing. Blanket fare cuts must be paired with efficiency reforms and alternative revenue. Cross-subsidies and land value capture are options.
But who pays the subsidies? The poor benefit, wealthy commuters too. It’s not progressive unless targeted and smart cards can help.
As a university student I use BTS daily — the student prices actually help a lot. The 25-trip student pack looks perfect for my semester.
I only go to campus thrice a week, is 25 trips overkill? Maybe share passes among friends? Or split semester passes?
Sharing passes is illegal and risky, don’t do that. Buy what fits you and stop gaming the system. Universities could offer campus shuttle subsidies.
Sharing isn’t worth it, you’re right, Sina. I’ll try the 15-trip first and upgrade if needed. I’ll track usage and switch if needed.
This is typical — they give little crumbs instead of fixing the rail network. Trains are crowded, late, and overpriced even with discounts. The station near my office is filthy.
Have you tried different hours? Crowding’s worse in rush hour but overall service has improved since last year. But staff have improved over the year.
Grumpy commuters love to complain, but the system runs on schedule mostly. People forget all the investment it took. Investment took time and political will.
Maybe I’m grumpy, but I pay taxes and expect better. Better isn’t just more trains, it’s cleaner stations and less delays. I’ll file a complaint if things don’t improve.
From a public finance angle, the 20-baht flat fare is regressive without means-testing. The estimated subsidy could be better spent on frequency or maintenance. Redistribution needs careful design.
You’re overthinking it. Make it cheap and people will ride more. Price elasticity matters.
Ridership boost is good, but if trains break down more often because of underfunding, it’s a false economy. Balance matters and we need impact studies.
Glad students get a discount, but what about seniors and people with disabilities? They deserve better fares too. Campaigns should include seniors.
I bicycle sometimes, but rain kills that option. Affordable BTS would make me commute more reliably. Still, 34 baht per trip is not revolutionary.
As a motorbike taxi driver, more affordable BTS means less work for me. Not thrilled. I might diversify my routes.
That’s a fair point, Preecha. But urban transport needs to shift away from bikes and motorbikes for safety. Policy should include job retraining.
The activation rule is annoying — seven days is tight for tourists or infrequent buyers. They should extend it to 14 days. Tourists will be confused by short activation.
Politicians mess up big solutions, so small packages are safer. But why do companies take years to implement decent apps? Streamline app rollout please.
Rabbit Rewards app once glitched and charged me twice. Trust issues. They held my refund up for weeks.
They fixed the app glitches last month, but customer service still lags. Keep emailing them; channels sometimes respond. Keep feedback coming.
I’m skeptical: this could push regular fares up later to cover losses. Watch for hidden hikes. Hidden fee hikes are common.
This is a stopgap, politicians get headlines, commuters get short relief. Long-term planning is missing. But celebrate small policy wins.
Stop being cynical — small wins matter to humans. People save real baht each month, that’s tangible. Even small saving changes behavior.