Conflicting advice over Bangkok airport is causing confusion for Britons heading to Thailand.

Flights are set to resume from Bangkok’s two major airports this weekend, ahead of the peak holiday season in Thailand, but current Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice tells Britons to stay away indefinitely.

Although protestors have withdrawn from Bangkok’s Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports, the ongoing threat of political unrest means Britons should continue to avoid the airports unless their trip is essential, says the FCO.

Its new advice on the Foreign Office website reads: “… given the protestors’ continuing threat of disruption to the airports and transport network, we advise that you continue to avoid air travel into or through Bangkok for the foreseeable future.”

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However, if airlines including British Airways resume flights to Bangkok in the coming days, as they are expected to, passengers are likely to be subject to normal booking conditions.

This means that customers booked on non-refundable tickets to Bangkok will lose their money if they cancel their flight.

A spokesman for BA said he could not confirm what booking conditions would be, but that if flights were back to normal, he would expect booking conditions to be the same.

He added: “There is no talk of not flying to Bangkok on the basis of the current Foreign Office advice. As far as BA is concerned there is no security issue.”

BA will resume flights once Suvarnabhumi airport gets the all clear on safety and computer grounds – “we need to make sure none of our equipment has been tampered with by the protestors,” the spokesman told Times Online.

Some holidaymakers who wish to cancel Thailand holidays departing in the coming days can switch destinations without penalty. Tour operator Kuoni says clients with flights booked to Bangkok before Monday December 8 who do not wish to travel can rebook an alternative holiday with no amendment fee.

Domestic flights from Don Mueang Airport resumed at 6am Bangkok time today and operations at Suvarnabhumi are expected to resume on December 6, but it is up to the individual airlines when to recommence flights.

The temporary flights check-in area at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre, which has served flights leaving U-Tapao airport, has closed this evening.

Some Britons are still stranded in Bangkok. The Association of British Travel Agents estimates that up to 800 package holidaymakers are still on a extended stay in Thailand, while countless more independent travellers are also yet to fly home.

However, according to Abta, flights are leaving Bangkok with empty seats.

“The problem is that independent travellers can’t always be contacted so they’re not finding out about the flights,” Abta spokeswoman Frances Tuke told Times Online.

BA's Boeing 777 relief flight that will leave Phuket on Friday morning is one example.

A spokesman told Times Online: "Despite having advertised the flight and worked with government officials in Bangkok for the past 48 hours we think that the 272 seat aircraft will come back around half full, as many customers in the past few days have already been flown to Singapore by Qantas for onward BA flights."

For those Britons still stuck in Bangkok, the Thai Ministry of Tourism says it will continue to offer assistance with accommodation and meals, up to the value of Bht 2,000 (£38) a day, until December 9.

Anyone thinking of travelling to, or through, Bangkok airports in the coming weeks should check with their airline or tour operator before travelling, according to the Foreign Office.

For those who plan to travel in spite of the Foreign Office advice, their travel insurance policy should still be valid, but it's worth check with the insurance provider before travelling.

A spokesman for Trailfinders told Times Online: "From our point of view, our customers are covered as normal. This would only change if the Foreign Office upped its overall advice for the city, or the country."

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