BANGKOK Airways adds flights to its Phuket-Bangkok route, Nok Air takes off on weekends but is due to stop flying yet again soon.
The topsy-turvy world of getting in and out of Phuket from Bangkok continues to deliver surprises . . . and not much in the way of extra seating.
Below, Phuketwan offers a brief user's guide to flights between the capital and the holiday island.
Our advice: book early, and book often to make the most of dynamic pricing and ensure you have your bum in a seat.
The grounding of One-Two-Go for safety reasons and the up and down and up again approach of Nok Air has produced a low season crisis for many people who want to fly between Bangkok and Phuket.
Spur of the moment holidaymakers just cannot get to Phuket, which is not what the tourism industry needs when long-haul travel is becoming more expensive.
What will the airlines do next? Well, the need will eventually be met by the airline with the greatest courage to jump in and deliver what customers want.
What will the situation be like for the high season in November? That's anybody's guess right now. Here's what the airlines told us today:
Bangkok Airways: Two flights daily to and from Bangkok-Phuket. An extra flight has just been added on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, beginning on August 15. The additional service will remain in place until October 25, Phuketwan was told today. The new Friday-Saturday-Sunday flights leave Bangkok at 1.45pm, sandwiched between the existing flights at 1145am and 5.30pm. Flights leave Phuket for Bangkok at 1.50pm and 7.40pm, with the extra Friday Saturday Sunday service at 3.50pm. No seats are available on any flights on the route ''until next week,'' Phuketwan was told. The Bangkok Airways Airbus carries 160 passengers. Fare price rating: Dynamic pricing can work in advance
Thai Airways: Eight flights a day on the Bangkok-Phuket route. Capable of carrying more than 300 people on each flight. A spokeswoman in Reservations said that consideration was bering given to adding flights. Any announcement would be made three days in advance. Bookings on all flights are full every day. The number of pilots may having a bearing on whether additional flights can be made available, she said. Existing staff were fully stretched meeting current flight commitments. Fare price rating: Most seats and flights but . . .
Thai Air Asia: Seven flights each day on the Phuket Bangkok route. The Air Asia flights carry 148 passengers. Their advice is, for weekend and public holiday flights, book three weeks in advance to ensure you get to your destination, whether in Bangkok for business or on holiday in Phuket. For weekday flights, book one week in advance. Fare price rating: Cheaper with advance booking
Nok Air: Flight reservations said that Nok Air will cease its Saturday and Sunday Bangkok-Phuket flights from the end of August. The budget airline, an offshoot of Thai Airways, cancelled its daily services on the route without public announcement then restored the weekend flights. There are 150 seats on each Nok Air flight. Phuketwan was told there was no plan in place yet for any services at all on the route beyond August 31. Fare price rating: Best deal, if you can get a seat
Essential Reading:
Phuket Relies on Jetstar Hoppers Not Nokkers
The topsy-turvy world of getting in and out of Phuket from Bangkok continues to deliver surprises . . . and not much in the way of extra seating.
Below, Phuketwan offers a brief user's guide to flights between the capital and the holiday island.
August 15 Agenda: The governor is to speak about the effects of oil prices on tourism, and tourists' security. In the afternoon, expect an announcement about a Langham Place resort for Phuket. Read it all first on Phuketwan.
Our advice: book early, and book often to make the most of dynamic pricing and ensure you have your bum in a seat.
The grounding of One-Two-Go for safety reasons and the up and down and up again approach of Nok Air has produced a low season crisis for many people who want to fly between Bangkok and Phuket.
Spur of the moment holidaymakers just cannot get to Phuket, which is not what the tourism industry needs when long-haul travel is becoming more expensive.
What will the airlines do next? Well, the need will eventually be met by the airline with the greatest courage to jump in and deliver what customers want.
What will the situation be like for the high season in November? That's anybody's guess right now. Here's what the airlines told us today:
Bangkok Airways: Two flights daily to and from Bangkok-Phuket. An extra flight has just been added on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, beginning on August 15. The additional service will remain in place until October 25, Phuketwan was told today. The new Friday-Saturday-Sunday flights leave Bangkok at 1.45pm, sandwiched between the existing flights at 1145am and 5.30pm. Flights leave Phuket for Bangkok at 1.50pm and 7.40pm, with the extra Friday Saturday Sunday service at 3.50pm. No seats are available on any flights on the route ''until next week,'' Phuketwan was told. The Bangkok Airways Airbus carries 160 passengers. Fare price rating: Dynamic pricing can work in advance
Thai Airways: Eight flights a day on the Bangkok-Phuket route. Capable of carrying more than 300 people on each flight. A spokeswoman in Reservations said that consideration was bering given to adding flights. Any announcement would be made three days in advance. Bookings on all flights are full every day. The number of pilots may having a bearing on whether additional flights can be made available, she said. Existing staff were fully stretched meeting current flight commitments. Fare price rating: Most seats and flights but . . .
Thai Air Asia: Seven flights each day on the Phuket Bangkok route. The Air Asia flights carry 148 passengers. Their advice is, for weekend and public holiday flights, book three weeks in advance to ensure you get to your destination, whether in Bangkok for business or on holiday in Phuket. For weekday flights, book one week in advance. Fare price rating: Cheaper with advance booking
Nok Air: Flight reservations said that Nok Air will cease its Saturday and Sunday Bangkok-Phuket flights from the end of August. The budget airline, an offshoot of Thai Airways, cancelled its daily services on the route without public announcement then restored the weekend flights. There are 150 seats on each Nok Air flight. Phuketwan was told there was no plan in place yet for any services at all on the route beyond August 31. Fare price rating: Best deal, if you can get a seat
Essential Reading:
Phuket Relies on Jetstar Hoppers Not Nokkers
