Phuket Thailand - Is Air Asia reliable enough to catch connecting flight?

kimcheese · #1 05-01-2006, 19:45

I am coming to Phuket on Feb 1st with my wife and son with Asia Air but am reluctant to book the return back to Bangkok because I don't want to miss our connecting international flight. Are they generally reliable enought not to worry about this or should I choose another carrier? Which ones are most reliable?

Thank you.

stevem · #2 05-01-2006, 19:48

If your connecting to an international, DO NOT rely on Air Asia to get you there in time. Also there is no interlining, which means you have to collect your bags, and make your way to the International Terminal and check in again, so make sure you have enough time.

If you are travelling out of Bangkok on Thai, then it makes the world of sense to travel Phuket/Bangkok on Thai as well.

geespot · #3 06-01-2006, 05:17

no way, unless uv got at least 3 hours on ur hands

G

aussie dollar · #4 06-01-2006, 06:07

Never Rely On Air Asia
Agree With G And Steve Not Only Late ,but Have Had Them Cancel Flights

ALSO TRY SEARCH FUNCTION ON "AIRASIA" BIT OF INFO THERE
http://www.phuket-info.com/forums/se...earchid=213989

tedkarma · #5 06-01-2006, 09:01

My travel agent here - who I've been using for years (I am on and off the island about 4-6 times a year) always recommends using Thai Air - when connections are important - even if you aren't flying Thai Air out of Bangkok.

The reason he says, is that Thai uses their Phuket flights as feeders to the big flights onward - and are very reluctant to cancel or have them be late. Have had 100% good luck following his advice.

I agree with the other comments on Air Asia's punctuality. Was in the Kuala Lumpur Airport and was startled to see at least TEN Air Asia flight CANCELLED! I felt sorry for all the people stranded.

bigsquat · #6 06-01-2006, 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by geespot

no way, unless uv got at least 3 hours on ur hands

Uh oh- I got a one way from BKK to Phuket- got exactly 3 hours to make it happen....

aussie dollar · #7 06-01-2006, 10:37

my problems have been from KL so maybe u will be lucky !!

kimcheese · #8 06-01-2006, 11:49

Thanks for the advice. I will pay the extra money and use either Thai air or Bangkok air. I will use them to get to Phuket since getting stranded in Bangkok longer wouldn't be such a big deal.

ihavefun · #9 06-01-2006, 13:08

Air Asia is by far the best deal, i use them when i fly out of oz and land in singapore or BKK and need a connecting flight, then i can afford to be an hour or so late(which i expect from them)....I have flown with them about 5 times now and ALWAYS $%^'N LATE...worst was about 2.5 hrs, if you have spare time and want to pay cheap, good choice(or is it, there must be a reason why they are late)...i work in aircraft industry we always have delays , things like paper work hold you up mainly...

Anyway...piont is DON'T rely on them if your connecting flight is not long after...

Gecko · #10 07-01-2006, 09:41

Although I only flew with Singapore Airlines once I found them flawless. I have to get 3 flights to Phuket from Ireland and because I fly the longhaul with Singapore I am able to get very close connection times. 90 mins in Amstradam and 55 mins in Singapore. When I got back from my last trip I booked the very same schedule flights for my next tour in April.

You pay a little more but worth every cent IMHO. Enjoy your trip Kimcheese.

HS

Bello Uomo · #11 08-01-2006, 16:32

I am booked on a BKK-PHK flight with Air Asia leaving late-afternoon.

I hope I will get into PHK by midnight before all the beer is drunk and girls are taken!

california · #12 16-01-2006, 20:53

try Nokair.com, they are more reliable on BKK-HKT

Link: http://www.nokair.com/nokconnext/asp...currlang=en-US

austrekker · #13 16-01-2006, 22:45

Guys
I'm flying to Singapore with Qantas, and then booked on Tigerair to fly the return leg from Singapore to Phuket and back. I've allowed myself 8 hours lay over in Singapore on each leg. Am I safe flying Tigerair? Are they reliable? Thanks.

syeatman · #14 16-01-2006, 23:09

I've flown HKT-SIN return on Tiger twice now and had no problems. Find them to be as good as you can expect for the money you pay.

What does bug me now is that their flight times mean you can't do a return journey to SIN on the same day - both flights leave reasonably early in the morning, the same with Jet Star as well when I last looked.

mjochim · #15 18-01-2006, 14:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by california

try Nokair.com, they are more reliable on BKK-HKT

Link: http://www.nokair.com/nokconnext/asp...currlang=en-US

Their prices are cheap but they do seem to have A LOT of delays. My own experience a couple of days before Christmas was the flight was almost four hours late departing from Bangkok (with gate assignment only coming when the plane pulled up to an empty gate -- luckily, I watched where the three NokAir girls were heading...). Returning to Bangkok on Jan. 6, the flight left only about 45 minutes late...pretty good for them from what I gathered talking to some regular passengers.

Still, it's the prices...

Crustasian · #16 29-01-2006, 01:38

I am about to do a Visa trip from Phuket to Penang with Air Asia.These days you have to travel to KL and get the second flight to Penang.They were by far the cheapest and I will post a report on if good or not.

Malaysia full fare was 13,000 Baht

(discount fare if available was 9,600 Baht)

Thai airways via Bangkok and then direct to Penang was 18,000 Baht

I have heard rumours that some airline wants to start the direct flights from Phuket to Penang - that would be great.

stevem · #17 29-01-2006, 01:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crustasian

I have heard rumours that some airline wants to start the direct flights from Phuket to Penang - that would be great.

That would be very convenient. Would probably be one of the cheapies, as short sector times and quick turn arounds fits their business model.

Allybabba22 · #18 29-01-2006, 01:58

Well I had to fly from Bkk to Phuket with Air Asia, And was not looking forward to it, But it turned out the flight was bang on time and I had a very enjoyable flight.... I payed about 2000bt for it....

Now here's the kicker, On the way back I fly Thai Airways... Cost 3300bt... Was not in the slightest bit worried about it, And what happened?

Delayed for 30mins..... Go figure

stevem · #19 29-01-2006, 02:02

The main problem is, that once the lost cost carriers start to fall behind they have basically no chance at all of catching up and will remain behind the eight ball all day.

Where as with the mainline carriers a delay of say 30 minutes as you quote, can be absorbed and even eliminated

syeatman · #20 29-01-2006, 02:18

You're definitely right Stevem, I've been at bkk and seen the board full up with AirAsia delays, looks like they had a bad start to the day and it all snowballed from there. It's crazy the turnaround times they are trying on a daily basis - I'm quite surprised I've not had it worse until now. Luckily I was flying bkk air that day!

I've actually had as many delays on Thai/BKK than I have on the low cost ones, but as has been said already if I did have to rely on getting somewhere I'd swallow the cost and go Thai.

Will be going to Sing soon on JetStar Asia for the first time - hopefully they'll be ok on the day

stevem · #21 29-01-2006, 02:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allybabba22

I dont understand what you mean?

And not sure what your employing when you said the "30mins as you quote" ... The flight was supposed to board at 9.50 and we ended up boarding at 10.20 on the 27th January.... You can check if you want...

Well the low cost carrier will remain behind schedule all day, as they normally have no spare aircraft to use, whereas a mainline carrier, like Thai, can do an aircraft switch, which will bring everything back to schedule.

I'm just saying a delay, and used your 30 minutes as an example. Whats your problem with that!!!

faultytowers · #22 29-01-2006, 02:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevem

Whats your problem with that!!!

Probably a severe dose of LOS blues.

Allybabba22 · #23 29-01-2006, 02:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevem

Well the low cost carrier will remain behind schedule all day, as they normally have no spare aircraft to use, whereas a mainline carrier, like Thai, can do an aircraft switch, which will bring everything back to schedule.

I'm just saying a delay, and used your 30 minutes as an example. Whats your problem with that!!!

I deleted that post, I thought you were trying to say that I was lying about the 30mins delay,
The way you said "as you quoted"..... Doesnt matter now, Forget it, My apoligies.......

Allybabba22 · #24 29-01-2006, 02:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by faultytowers

Probably a severe dose of LOS blues.

Maybe... Or maybe just took him up the wrong way

stevem · #25 29-01-2006, 02:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allybabba22

Maybe... Or maybe just took him up the wrong way

Sorry about that, but I speak Orstalian