I've flown domestically with AirAsia, Bangkok Airways and Thai Lion Airways all through booking tickets through Airpaz ...and yes, we live here in Thailand too.
We're both British, in our mid-50s and we've retired in Bang Saray. Near enough to Pattaya city for the facilities, amenities and entertainment but far enough away that we have a nice quiet life.
Suburban life here in Thailand is not the same as when I lived in the suburbs of London for the past 20 years nor the previous 35 years growing up and living in East London itself. My wife is an Isle of Wight girl so it's always been the aim to retire beachside albeit a bit warmer than on the south coast of England.
Lots of local eateries worth visiting and cheap as rice compared with a lot of areas we know.
We're also only half hour (300 baht Bolt) from U-Tapao Airport which is really convenient. We just spent 10 days in Koh Samui for our 21st wedding anniversary and we went from our front door here to the hotel on Chaweng Beach in less than 4 hours including check-in, baggage collection and transfers at both ends.
We're moving to the Kingdom at the end of November and are applying for retirement visas with a multi-entry permit. We'll be renting a condo for at least the first year but we were unaware that we'd need to inform our landlord of our movements.
Book a hotel that falls within the 60 days that you'll be in the Kingdom in Cambodia, Malaysia or Vietnam with full cancellation rights where you'll pay at the hotel and tell the airline you'll be leaving Thailand by train, boat or car.
Once in Thailand, cancel the hotel booking. Ta-dah!