Phuket Thailand

Sleesy · #1 08-08-2006, 17:55

Just wondered if anyone knows of DIRECT flights from the UK to Phuket.

Not for me but for a mate who hates stopovers even with the services offered at the International Airport Massage Centre !!!!

He doesn't mind even if it's a package holiday, ie hotel included ...

Cheers
Sleesy

Ps Does anyone know why scheduled companies (or charter without hotel) don't fly direct on this route ?

steve w · #2 08-08-2006, 18:05

brittania used to but stopped in 2001,i read in the times that thompson are going to start up on this route high season only nov-march probably.

steve@thaib · #3 08-08-2006, 18:30

There was a thread about it, Thompson are reviving them. I did the Brittannia flights a couple of times and they were hell. Also, they will tell you it's direct but will route through the mid-east for a fuel stop. I would honestly not fly with them if they were free.

The other thing is that they might offer you a Manchester or Gatwick departure. What that means is that they leave Manchester, stop at Gatwick to pick up, stop in Abu Dhabi for juice, and then on to Phuket. Around 14/15 hours; total nightmare.

steve w · #4 08-08-2006, 18:40

http://www.phuket-info.com/forums/ac...light=thompson

ThaiLearner · #5 09-08-2006, 00:35

The best way at the moment i think is get a direct flight to BKK then and internal to Phuket try www.airlinenetwork.co.uk

If you put in hkt (phuket airport) it will also give you thai air connecting flight to phuket.

Internal flights
www.bangkokair.com
www.airasia.com
www.nokair.com
www.thaiair.com

landofsmiles · #6 09-08-2006, 17:45

Flights start Monday 6th November...seperate flights from Manchester and Gatwick by ThompsonFLY...both scheduled to arrive Phuket at the same times...no doubt for times when both flights are not full and they can combine and use only one aircraft

Travel agents will probably tell punters that it's direct to Phuket

and not even be aware themselves that it will route via somewhere like Abu Dhabi or Sharjah for a fuel stop. The 3000m runway at Phuket means a fully loaded airliner cannot fly nonstop to Northern Europe.

Mondays
Dep MAN 1600 Arr HKT 1335 Tuesday
Tuesday
Dep HKT 1525 Arr MAN 0055 Wednesday

Monday
Dep LGW 1615 Arr HKT 1335 Tuesday
Tuesday
Dep HKT 1540 Arr LGW 0030 Wednesday

Flight only fare looks to be UKPounds 534 - 10 (exclusive booking online discount...WOW!) + 24 (extras...departure tax probably?) = 548

Oh, and if you want to eat some airline food on the 14+ hour journey it's +17 for a meal to get something like this!!.....

IRISH JONNY · #7 09-08-2006, 17:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by landofsmiles

. The 3000m runway at Phuket means a fully loaded airliner cannot fly nonstop to Northern Europe.....

WASNT THERE A LOT OF TALK ABOUT EXTENDING THE RUNWAY LAST YEAR?
HAS ALL THIS TALK BLOWN OVER...
IJ

steve w · #8 09-08-2006, 18:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by landofsmiles

Flights start Monday 6th November...seperate flights from Manchester and Gatwick by ThompsonFLY...both scheduled to arrive Phuket at the same times...no doubt for times when both flights are not full and they can combine and use only one aircraft

Travel agents will probably tell punters that it's direct to Phuket

and not even be aware themselves that it will route via somewhere like Abu Dhabi or Sharjah for a fuel stop. The 3000m runway at Phuket means a fully loaded airliner cannot fly nonstop to Northern Europe.

Mondays
Dep MAN 1600 Arr HKT 1335 Tuesday
Tuesday
Dep HKT 1525 Arr MAN 0055 Wednesday

Monday
Dep LGW 1615 Arr HKT 1335 Tuesday
Tuesday
Dep HKT 1540 Arr LGW 0030 Wednesday

Flight only fare looks to be UKPounds 534 - 10 (exclusive booking online discount...WOW!) + 24 (extras...departure tax probably?) = 548

Oh, and if you want to eat some airline food on the 14+ hour journey it's +17 for a meal to get something like this!!.....

i can fly with a proper airline for that price.and i like having breaks in the flight to stretch my legs ,drink some good coffee and raid middle east duty free shops

landofsmiles · #9 09-08-2006, 18:23

Ditto....QATAR or ETIHAD for me everytime. Total journey time may be 2 or 3 hours longer via BKK but it's a far more comfortable way to travel and total price can often be done for less than that Thomson fare even with the extra BKK-HKT leg.

Can't find anything about runway extension at HKT. It's currently 9800 feet (Bangkok is 12100)....only way it can be extended is to go out into the sea.

tally · #10 09-08-2006, 18:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by landofsmiles

Monday
Dep LGW 1615 Arr HKT 1335 Tuesday
Tuesday
Dep HKT 1540 Arr LGW 0030 Wednesday

Feck me sideways..... Leaves Gatwick at 4.15pm and doesn't get to Phuket until 1.30pm the following day. Does it go via Buenos Aires or what????

steve w · #11 09-08-2006, 18:42

you gotta take 7 hours off the landing time because of time difference

IRISH JONNY · #12 09-08-2006, 19:09

Jees I Was Pricing Tickets For April On The Ba Website........
From London To Bkk And Back..982 Euro[663 Ster]......
But From Cork To London- Bkk And Back 875 Euro [590 Ster].......
Its A Funny Old World........2 More Flights And Its 107 Euro [73 Ster] Cheaper.......
And I Would Be Using The Same Lon-bkk Flite !!!!!!!!
It Just Doesnt Make Sense...........

Ij

Captain · #13 09-08-2006, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by landofsmiles

[b]
Travel agents will probably tell punters that it's direct to Phuket

and not even be aware themselves that it will route via somewhere like Abu Dhabi or Sharjah for a fuel stop. The 3000m runway at Phuket means a fully loaded airliner cannot fly nonstop to Northern Europe.

Thought there was a flight HKT-Brussels a few years ago. Was told it was direct, no stops. Played some golf with pilots. Schedule was Brussels-BKK-HKT-Brussels (or maybe stop in Vienna before Brussels). Was def. not a jumbo, thought 757.
But then I am no specialist about planes, hate them.

tally · #14 09-08-2006, 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve w

you gotta take 7 hours off the landing time because of time difference

NO SHIT!!!!!

Still a longer than usual flight IMHO....

The Viking · #15 10-08-2006, 01:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by landofsmiles

Flights start Monday 6th November...seperate flights from Manchester and Gatwick by ThompsonFLY...both scheduled to arrive Phuket at the same times...no doubt for times when both flights are not full and they can combine and use only one aircraft

Travel agents will probably tell punters that it's direct to Phuket

and not even be aware themselves that it will route via somewhere like Abu Dhabi or Sharjah for a fuel stop. The 3000m runway at Phuket means a fully loaded airliner cannot fly nonstop to Northern Europe.

Mondays
Dep MAN 1600 Arr HKT 1335 Tuesday
Tuesday
Dep HKT 1525 Arr MAN 0055 Wednesday

Monday
Dep LGW 1615 Arr HKT 1335 Tuesday
Tuesday
Dep HKT 1540 Arr LGW 0030 Wednesday

Flight only fare looks to be UKPounds 534 - 10 (exclusive booking online discount...WOW!) + 24 (extras...departure tax probably?) = 548

Oh, and if you want to eat some airline food on the 14+ hour journey it's +17 for a meal to get something like this!!.....

Am I the only one that thinks this isn't such a bad deal? You can get Gatwick - Phuket for about £390 return and the flight is 14 hours. Seems reasonable to me and it avoids the hassle of changing flights etc.

landofsmiles · #16 10-08-2006, 03:08

Thought there was a flight HKT-Brussels a few years ago. Was told it was direct, no stops. Played some golf with pilots. Schedule was Brussels-BKK-HKT-Brussels (or maybe stop in Vienna before Brussels).???

Maybe...but there would have been a heavily restricted load on the HKT-BRU sector.

Still a longer than usual flight IMHO....

I've already pointed out why it looks like 14.5 hours flying time. They will tell you it's direct but you'll end up techstopping somewhere in the Gulf.

You can get Gatwick - Phuket for about £390 return and the flight is 14 hours.

Eh!? Where do you get 390 from? I've posted that it looks like 548 return...and that's without a microwaved dinner

The Viking · #17 10-08-2006, 03:52

13 Nov is £384 - return 2 weeks later. I'm sure it's a nightmare and all that, but to avoid changing etc it's not a bad deal as far as can tell, although I'm no expert.

stevem · #18 10-08-2006, 07:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain

Thought there was a flight HKT-Brussels a few years ago. Was told it was direct, no stops. Played some golf with pilots. Schedule was Brussels-BKK-HKT-Brussels (or maybe stop in Vienna before Brussels). Was def. not a jumbo, thought 757.
But then I am no specialist about planes, hate them.

All those European flights stop somewhere for a tech stop. Max 757 range is 3,900 miles while HKT/BRU is 5954 miles. Would not be too much fun sitting on a 757 for such a long flight.

johnaalex · #19 10-08-2006, 08:55

Remember in airline speak "direct" means no change of plane, it does not mean non-stop. Pity Phuket Air never really lived up to its name as even flew via BKK.

Regards

John

Captain · #20 10-08-2006, 21:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevem

All those European flights stop somewhere for a tech stop. Max 757 range is 3,900 miles while HKT/BRU is 5954 miles. Would not be too much fun sitting on a 757 for such a long flight.

It was Sobelair. Checked it they had 767, not 757 sory. Does this makes a difference.

johnaalex · #21 11-08-2006, 00:19

A 767 ER (extended range) can fly further than a 757, but I think it would be at its limits to do UK to Phuket without a stop.

Regards

John

Spector · #22 11-08-2006, 00:56

FYI...A 767-300ER can go 6550 miles while a 767-200ER is about 3500 miles

landofsmiles · #23 11-08-2006, 13:24

13 Nov is £384 - return 2 weeks later.<<

Great price if you can get it. I guess it's a leadin fare though and there won't be many seats available at that price. Might find you're sat outside on the roofrack