Phuket

aussie dollar · #1 26-01-2005, 12:29

BLOODY TYPICAL REALLY NICE OF THAI'S OWN AIRLINE

PHUKET GAZETTE

Tuesday, January 25, 2005

THAI slashes Phuket flights

PHUKET: Thai Airways – whose website ironically announces “THAI’s Full Support On Tsunami Aftermath” – confirmed today that it is making drastic cuts to both domestic and international routes serving Phuket, with effect from February 1.

However, the airline’s District Sales Manager for Upper-Southern Thailand, Kalayapha Panich, told the Gazette today that although the carrier would suspend all international flights serving the island until March 26, passengers booked on those flights would be well taken care of.

“THAI flies only a few international routes to Phuket,” she said. “The two routes to Phuket from Australia will be adjusted so that they fly direct to Bangkok without stopping in Phuket,” she explained.

The cuts will include the daily Sydney-Melbourne-Phuket-Bangkok route and the Perth-Phuket-Bangkok route, which flies twice weekly on Fridays and Saturdays.

THAI’s daily Taipei-Hong Kong-Phuket-Bangkok route will also give Phuket a miss, becoming a direct non-stop service between Hong Kong and Bangkok, she added.

Japanese will now also find it impossible to get direct scheduled flights to Phuket on THAI, as the Osaka-Phuket-Bangkok and Tokyo-Phuket-Bangkok routes will also drop Phuket as a stopover.

In addition, the national carrier has chopped two daily early-morning domestic flights between Bangkok and Phuket, TG201 and TG211.

Pattanapong Aikwanich, Chairman of the Phuket Tourist Association (PTA), criticized the cancelations. “They should keep at least one flight on main routes such as those from Japan, which we fought for many years to get.

“THAI is the national airline, the one that everyone thinks of when they want to come to Thailand. The airline should consider this more carefully,” he said.

“I think it should only reduce the schedules, not cancel them. It may create a negative image or give the impression that there are some internal problems.”

He noted, however, that the cuts are supposed to be temporary. “I hope they will resume normal service after [March 26],” he said.

dawsey · #2 27-01-2005, 00:58

I think Thai Air are going to look pretty stupid, if and when the expected increase in tourists starts next month. All European countries are now taking bookings for Phuket and if the changeover point is in Bangkok,without Thai Air until 26/3 it will leave the other airlines serving Phuket under pressure.
I think they will be forced to have a re think and reintroduce the cancelled flights. I had a look, and I'm on TG203 on 24/3 from BKK to HKT so that flight is still running, but I can imagine the hassle if the stopover is a short period and you have to be reticketed with another airline. I know airlines have to be prudent and show their shareholders a profit, but what they have done smacks of desparation,and no thought for the paying customer. This move will put a lot of people off of using Thai Air in the future
My two pence worth anyway

andy50 · #3 27-01-2005, 01:21

money is #1 in thailand-everything else comes 2nd

dizbuster · #4 27-01-2005, 03:55

It does make sense what they are doing. From a business point of view they can manage the flows in and out of Phuket airport a lot more effectively by doing what they have. Don't forget that there is still a hell of a lot of work to be done there in the form of rebuilding etc. It may be that they want to use the airport more for commercial usage.

Alternatively, it may just be a question of logistics in that a plane load of tourists flies over from some far off land, heading for Bangkok via Phuket and nobody gets off at Phuket !! I know we all love the place, but you have to remember that people are saying on this board, that numbers are down considerably, and I don't mean BM's, it's the families that are not arriving for their holidays in Phuket. I know some posts have said that the bars are quite as busy now, us fellas chasing LBFM's will probably always go to Phuket regardless. However, the same is obviously not true for the average Mr + Mrs Joe Soap with 3 dustbin lids in tow, and maybe granny too !! They are steering clear of Phuket and have no interest in Patong.

Don't forget Patong recovered quite quickly, but what about other places that got wiped out ?? What was the name of that place that was devastated - Khao Lak ?? The people staying there would have come in and out of Phuket by plane and if they have now gone, then why should airplanes stop at Phuket just to let off 1 or 2 BM's ?? The airline now flies them direct to Bangkok and then ships them down to Phuket on a scheduled domestic flight.

Sorry if I have bored you all with my business head on !!

Cheers
Diz

sishow · #5 27-01-2005, 18:00

I know this is slightly off topic. But i was wondering the other day why Thai airlines have massively reduced the prices of the airfare for when im thinking of going back! Maybe this is the reason, as all flights now have to go through Bangkok, more people will be using them!

stevem · #6 28-01-2005, 12:51

The reality of it is a difficult business decision made by TG. Any business will reduce/cut back services when the $'s arent coming in. Its basic economics.

no1patto · #7 28-01-2005, 15:16

Thai airways changed my flight Melbourne -Bangkok-Phuket

Not direct to Phuket losing all most 4 hrs i would'nt mind so much but im stayn 3 nights in Bangkok on the way back the reason i picked this flight was bacuse it flu straight to Phuket

Josssie · #8 28-01-2005, 20:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by no1patto

Thai airways changed my flight Melbourne -Bangkok-Phuket

Not direct to Phuket losing all most 4 hrs i would'nt mind so much but im stayn 3 nights in Bangkok on the way back the reason i picked this flight was bacuse it flu straight to Phuket

3 nights in Bangkok is way better than 3 nights where I stay now

glassmanengland · #9 28-01-2005, 22:40

Thai and Eva are doing flights from London to Bkk for less than Four hundred pounds for travel upto end June. Thats the cheapest Ive seen these airlines offer these flights for. They must be trying to generate extra custom that way.

andy50 · #10 28-01-2005, 22:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by glassmanengland

Thai and Eva are doing flights from London to Bkk for less than Four hundred pounds for travel upto end June. Thats the cheapest Ive seen these airlines offer these flights for. They must be trying to generate extra custom that way.

westeast travel are offering eva flights lhr--bkk for £320 -excluding taxes

Agent007 · #11 29-01-2005, 05:40

I'm flying in on 31st of March flight TG 980 direct from Melbourne to Phucket, so far I haven't heard anything from my travel agent, so I've just emailed her to see if anything has changed. I'll post here if any cancellations are confirmed.

Mac · #12 29-01-2005, 06:17

I am trying to book to Bangkok and patong at the end of March - Easter Holiday. The EVA Flight is full in delux every day. Thai are offering 22nd Travel at £318 and 24th Travel at £645. Return on April 6th, £320. Return on April 7th £750. Hmm.. These flights are full!!!

Mac

andy50 · #13 30-01-2005, 00:05

hi mac -gone are the days when flights were half empty ,i remember when i used to work in the middle east, some flights from uk were only half full, you could fold up the armrests on the empty seats an lay out and have a sleep!

dizbuster · #14 30-01-2005, 01:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mac

I am trying to book to Bangkok and patong at the end of March - Easter Holiday. The EVA Flight is full in delux every day. Thai are offering 22nd Travel at £318 and 24th Travel at £645. Return on April 6th, £320. Return on April 7th £750. Hmm.. These flights are full!!!

Mac

EVA are always busy, don't forget it's not just people going to BKK because the flight goes on to Taipei afterwards, this is why it gets busy. Add to this the fact that they offer cheaper premium economy seats (evergreen deluxe) than BA. I always use EVA but have found that I need to book 6 months in advance to guarantee a booking of my choice.

andy50 · #15 30-01-2005, 01:54

hi dizbusta what are premium seats on eva ?what do u get for the extra money?--cheers

dizbuster · #16 30-01-2005, 02:00

I have just checked on www.benztravel.co.uk and found they have flights available in evergreen deluxe going out on 22/Mar returning 06/Apr for £673.35

Good luck
Diz

dizbuster · #17 30-01-2005, 02:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy50

hi dizbusta what are premium seats on eva ?what do u get for the extra money?--cheers

EVA do a class called Evergreen Deluxe which is the same as BA's Premium Economy. It is between Economy and Business Class. The space between the seats is an extra 7" compared to Economy and there are less seats across the plane, so instead of 3-4-3 they have 2-4-2.

I'm a big guy and have found this to be the best way to fly to/from BKK. I have used BA economy + business, Thai business, Lufthansa business and EVA's evergreen deluxe is almost on a par with all the business class seats I have had. Only 2 things that they fall down on, but neither bother me too much, they are a bit stingy on giving out alchohol and there is only movies but no games. However, they are introducing new planes this year and maybe they have games on them.

cheers
Diz

andy50 · #18 30-01-2005, 02:29

thanks for that info diz,im big as well so the extra width would be a good thing

dizbuster · #19 30-01-2005, 02:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy50

thanks for that info diz,im big as well so the extra width would be a good thing

I recommend you spend the bit extra and fly evergreen deluxe with EVA. The travel agent (Benz Travel) I mentioned is OK, I have used them 3 times and without problem. I am 6'5 and over 20 stone (pic on the photos thread) and am very happy flying with EVA in this class.

Good Luck
Diz