Bangkok to Phuket Bangkok Airways Flights

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  About Phuket

Phuket, in Thailand, is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world and a very affordable one at that, too. The white sands at the beaches, the picturesque cliffs and the aquamarine waters in Thailand will make you want to extend your stay. Travellers get a lot of options to choose from for their itinerary. If you want to spend your vacation relaxing, you can book a hotel in Phuket that is next to the beach and has spa treatment facilities. If you want to go on adventures, the city has a ton of water sport activities that you must definitely try. Phuket is also a very happening party place and the perfect place for you, in case you are or want to be a party animal. Not only are there luxury resorts in the city but you will also find a lot of hostels since Phuket has a lot of young tourists and backpackers every year.

Best Time to Visit Phuket

Phuket is most visited during winter and early summer. Any time between November to April is considered as the peak season and sees a lot of tourists. December and January are popular months to plan a trip to Phuket since this is when tourists get to attend the most parties in the town. The weather remains cold from November to February, making it a perfect time to hit the beach, try out all the water activities and go sightseeing. The frequency of flights to Phuket is quite high during this season since the demand is high.

March and April are summer months in Phuket. If you are okay with the heat during the day, you can plan your trip to Phuket during these months. However, stepping out in the middle of the day might be a bad idea. The scorching heat will only make you head back to your hotel room or dive into the pool. But it is a great time to plan a vacation if you are only in for sunbathing or not indulge in any adventure activities. Flight tickets to Phuket from India during this time will be slightly cheaper than it is from November to January. In fact, you can even book a hotel in Phuket at a cheaper rate during this time.

Monsoon hits Phuket from May to October, and it is not the best time to visit the city. You won't enjoy your visit to the beach, and a lot of water activities will also remain shut during this time. It is not exactly a popular time for tourists to go to Phuket. The heavy rains and the powerful waves will only keep you deprived of all the water fun you can have otherwise. But since it is off-season, you might even get lucky with flight deals to Phuket.

Places to Visit in Phuket

Since Phuket is a city that has a lot of beaches, you can spend your holiday visiting each one of them. Patong beach is popular and happening beaches in Phuket. You'll find a lot of shacks, cafes and pubs around the beach where you can chill with a glass of beer. You will also find locals selling beach mats and umbrellas so you can lie on the beach and soak in the sun. You can also rent the beach mats and the umbrella. They will charge around 100-200 Thai Bahts to rent the mats and umbrella. You can also go on an island tour to the Phi Phi islands, James Bond Island, Phang Nga Bay and a couple of more islands. You will find a lot of tour guides who will offer you a combined tour of the islands. Karon View Point is another very popular tourist spot in the city. You get a view of the Kata Noi, Kata Yai and Karon beaches from a height. You will also get to take pictures with tamed eagles here. Not to mention, this makes it a perfect place to take pictures. You can also indulge in beverages and local snacks offered here.

Big Buddha is another very popular tourist destination and the perfect spot to embrace spirituality. Wat Chalong, an old Buddhist temple, is also a popular spot. The Phuket Aquarium and the Tiger Kingdom are also some famous places in the city that you can visit. The city also has museums and a couple of boxing stadiums that you can add to your itinerary.

Things to do in Phuket

Phuket is the perfect place for any vacation. You can spend your weekend sunbathing at the beach or indulging in luxurious spa treatments and going to the fanciest places to dine. You can visit the beaches in the city and try activities like snorkelling, jet skiing, surfing, parasailing and other water activities. You can also plan an adventurous trip and one where you can please the party person in you. Full moon parties are a big deal in Thailand and if you love partying you must definitely be a part of one. You can also check the lunar calendar and the full moon party schedule in Phuket before you plan the trip. Don't fret if you somehow miss attending the Full moon party because the city also throws a half-moon party. If you have chosen to stay at a hostel, make sure you check with the hostel desk about any event that they are planning. A lot of hostels plan pub crawls, which is also something you can experience. Phuket is one of the safest cities in Thailand, but there's no harm in making sure you don't lose any of your belongings.

If you are an animal lover, you can volunteer at the Soi Dog Foundation. Though the shelter is shut on Sundays, it is open on the other days and will be a treat to all animal lovers. Another speciality in the city is the Bangla Night Market. It's a popular place to go shopping but make sure you bargain.

Foods and Restaurant in Phuket

Thai food is quite popular in the city. You can try the local street food, or you can dine at a fancy restaurant. Phuket also has a few Indian restaurants that serve really good Indian food. If you feel like trying out some Thai cuisine, Blue Elephant is a place you must try. You can also head to the Red Duck restaurant at Kata Beach for some great food and good service. The Odysseus Greek Organic Restaurant at Kata beach is where you go to try some delectable Greek food. The ambience and decor only add to a fine dining experience. You can always take a walk on the beach after dinner before you call it a night.

Sam's Steaks and Grill at Patong is another popular restaurant that promises value for money. It's not too expensive, and it is completely worth your time. Head over to Green Tamarind Kitchen for good burgers with toppings that will be a treat for your taste buds. Do make sure you go to the Quip Sky Bar in Phuket Old Town for a fun night. It is the town's first rooftop bar, which makes it a highly recommended place. Wassa Homemade Bar in Patong is another rooftop bar that will serve you the best cocktails and a breathtaking view of the sunset. You can also visit the rooftop bars inside the hotels that you are staying in Phuket.

How to Reach Phuket

Direct flights to Phuket International Airport from India are quite limited. GoAir is one of the only airlines that fly directly to Phuket from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. Bangalore, Delhi and Bangkok are the popular routes to Phuket via connecting flights. Overall, the flight connectivity to Phuket is excellent, and you will get better flight deals to Phuket after January since November to January is high peak season. Thailand offers visa on arrival to a couple of countries, and if you are one of those who qualify for this, you might have to wait in line after you land before you get out of the airport. But the authorities do try their best to reduce time. Also, if you have forgotten to carry your passport sized pictures by any chance, there is a photo booth right near the Immigration section. You can take a picture and pay for it in Thai Bahts. Not to mention, make sure you look out the window while you land to spot the beach on one side. You will get a ride to your hotel or your hostel at the airport, and it won't be too expensive. Make sure you also get a local temporary sim card that will be available outside the terminal. It will only help you access the internet without having to look around for WiFi. You will get cheap flight tickets to Phuket if you book during the off-season or by the end of the peak season. Getting around the city is not too difficult, either. You can either opt for public transport or go for a tuk-tuk or hire a taxi to get around Phuket city.

  About Bangkok Airways

Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited is a regional airline that is based out of Bangkok, Thailand. The airline operates services to various cities in Thailand as well as a few international destinations such as Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Maldives, Laos, Malaysia and Vietnam, to name a few. Bangkok Airways' base is in Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. The airline was founded in 1968 to operate as an air-taxi service. Going by the name Sahakol Air, the airline provided service under a contract drawn by the American construction company Overseas International Construction Company (OICC), United States Operations Mission (USOM) and a few more organisations that were engaged in the exploration of oil and natural gas in the Gulf of Thailand. Scheduled services of Sahakol Air commenced in 1986 and eventually became the first privately-owned domestic airline for Thailand. In 1989, the airline company rebranded itself as Bangkok Airways. The airline is jointly owned by Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth (92.31 per cent), Sahakol Estate (4.3 per cent), Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, at stakes of 92.31 per cent, 4.3 percent and 1.2 per cent respectively. The remaining 2.19 per cent stakes of the company are owned by other shareholders. The airline has also introduced its subsidiary, Siem Reap Airways, which is wholly owned by the company.

Following its rebranding and active operations, Bangkok Airways went ahead to construct its airport in Koh Samui. The airport opened in 1989 and has since been providing direct flights from the island to cities such as Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Krabi, Singapore, Hong Kong and Phuket. Bangkok Airways continued to establish more airports in Thailand as it founded its second airport in 1996 at Sukhothai Province. Following this, a third airport was also funded and constructed by Bangkok Airways in the Trat Province, in 2003. The airport caters to the tourist destination Ko Chang. In 2000, the airline ventured into acquiring jet aircraft in its fleet with Boeing 717s being the first ones. Bangkok Airways previously flew propeller-driven aircraft with the fleet consisting mostly of ATR-72. However, they started adding jet aircraft in its fleet with the inclusion of Airbus A320 in 2004. For a brief period of time, Bangkok Airways also operated De Havilland Canada Dash 8 and Fokker 100 aircraft.

Bangkok Airways has received the status of being Asia's boutique airline. It has also received tremendous accolades by Skytrax for being the Best Regional Airline in the world as well as Best Regional Airline in Asia, as of 2019. The airport has been carrying the title of Asia's Boutique Airline since 2004. Aside from pioneering new routes linking Thailand's wondrous landmarks to operating three distinct airports under its wing, Bangkok Airways has brought forth luxurious flying to the country. The airports are also designed in such a manner that it enhances the cultural significance of Thailand and caters to eco-friendly measures for sustenance. All the airports under Bangkok Airways also have world-class boutique lounges that promise to elevate the travel experience of passengers. The airline's CEO, Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth, has received the honour from the royal family of Thailand as well. A royal warrant appointment was awarded to Bangkok Airways' CEO from the Royal Household Secretary-General Kaewkwan Watcharoethai, for displaying the Garuda emblem.

Fleet size of Bangkok Airways

Bangkok Airways enjoys a fleet size of 40 aircraft that are currently in service. These include the latest Airbus A320s, Airbus A319s and ATR72-600s. The former fleet included ATR 42-300s, ATR 72-200s, Boeing 717, De Havilland Canada DHC-8-100 Dash 8, De Havilland Canada DHC-8-300 Dash 8, Fokker 100, McDonnell Douglas MD-90 and Embraer EMB-110P2 Bandeirante. However, they do not operate under Bangkok Airways' fleet anymore.

Airbus A320 - Bangkok Airways accommodates Airbus A320, which is a 162-seater aircraft that has been delivered to the airline from its headquarters in Toulouse, France. The aircraft is perfect for longer and dense routes and has great capacity too. It is easily one of the most modern aircraft in Bangkok Airways' fleet as it uses a fly-by-wire control system for operations. The current fleet of Bangkok Airlines has 9 Airbus A320s.

Airbus A319 - Airbus A319, with its phenomenal fuel capacity that matches the standards of an Airbus A320, makes it ideal for long-haul journeys. Airbus A319 also features a 2-class configuration and has great operational flexibility. Currently, Bangkok Airlines accommodates 16 Airbus A319s in its fleet.

ATR 72-600 - ATR 72-600 aircraft is well-equipped with full-glass cockpit and larger overhead bins. The aircraft also offers excellent layout and comfortable seating. Further to its features, the aircraft also opts for brand new technology and is recognised as one of the most reliable aircraft in the market. Bangkok Airways has 13 of ATR72-600 aircraft in its fleet.

Baggage Allowance

Baggage allowance of Bangkok Airways varies, depending on the cabin class as well as the distance that the passenger is flying to. For economy class, the maximum baggage allowance on Bangkok Airways cannot exceed 20 kg. In fact, if the traveller needs to carry extra baggage along, they will need to purchase the same on the official website of the airline. If you are travelling with an infant, the baggage weight for the infant cannot exceed 10 kg. The business class or Blue Ribbon class passengers can avail the extensive baggage weight allowance as offered by Bangkok Airways. They are allowed to carry about 40 kg for adults and 10 kg for travellers with infants. Prepaid baggage purchases are also available on the official website of the airline as well as the call centre. You can make a call and request for an extension on the baggage allowance of Bangkok Airways. According to the airline, the prepaid baggage purchase needs to be done, at least four hours ahead of the flight's departure time. Prepaid baggage is non-refundable and cannot be re-routed as well.

The prices to purchase prepaid baggage also vary depending on whether the flight journey is domestic or international. Details of the same can be found on the airline's website. Checked baggage per piece should weigh not more than 32 kg. The passenger will need to repack the whole baggage in case the weight is exceeded. As for hand baggage, the airport has levied strict rules that differ based on the aircraft. Travellers flying on the ATR72 will need to follow the 50 x 36 x 23-centimetre rule for their cabin baggage's dimensions. As for Airbus A320 and A319, the airline has stated 56 x 36 x 23 centimetre is the ideal dimension. The maximum weight of the baggage should not go beyond 5 kg. It is essential to adhere to the baggage allowance rules stated by Bangkok Airways for a smooth check-in.

In-flight services

Bangkok Airways' in-flight services are exemplary as they cater to a slew of facilities that would enable a comfortable journey for the passengers. The airline offers a diverse global cuisine that one can book on their website. The seats of the aircraft are also quite perfect. Additionally, you can purchase seats that would accommodate extra space. The reclining leather seats are blessed with extra legroom too. You can actually opt for a Forward Zone seat that would give you more space and legroom. Expecting mothers can also avail some good in-flight services from Bangkok Airways. There are certain rules and restrictions along with in-flight services of Bangkok Airways that passengers with infants need to learn about, ahead of the flight. As a boutique airline, the services match the global standards. It is not surprising why the airline has received Best Regional Airline title consistently by Skytrax. The airline does have aircraft that offer business class and economy class cabins too. The business-class cabins have private spaces with great legroom and other amenities such as power plugs in the seat, complimentary drinks and meals, to name a few.

Popular routes and top cities for Bangkok Airways

Bangkok Airways mainly caters to Southeast Asian countries including Cambodia, India, China, Maldives, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Bangkok Airways has excellent domestic route connectivity as it caters to cities such as Ko Samui, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Phuket, Trat, Sukhothai, Pattaya and Lampang, to name a few. As for international routes, Bangkok Airways connects to cities namely Chengdu, Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur, Male, Singapore, Bangkok, Mandalay, Hong Kong, Siem Reap, Hanoi, Yangon and Da Nang. The airline also has codeshare agreements with airlines such as Aeroflot, Air Astana, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Lao Airlines, Japan Airlines, China Airlines, British Airways, Philippine Airlines and Qantas, among the 27 airlines.

Why travel by Bangkok Airways?

Bangkok Airways offers excellent domestic and international route connectivity. Simultaneously, as a boutique airline, Bangkok Airways also offers top-notch in-flight services with brilliant hospitality. You can visit their official website or download their mobile app for web check-in and also know about the flight status. Bangkok Airways' flight schedule is also available on their platforms. You can book a Bangkok Airways flight from various travel portals. Even the baggage allowance of Bangkok Airways is decent and more than what major airlines offer. Bangkok Airways' lounges in three of its airports also provide world-class amenities and facilities.

  About Bangkok Airport

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is often referred to as Bangkok Airport. It is one of the two major international airports that serve Thailand. Although Don Mueang International Airport was also recognized for its international flight services. However, the same was halted in 2007. Now the airport serves as a hub to low-cost airlines that connect in Bangkok. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is sprawled across 8,000 acres of land and is one of the biggest international airports in the Southeast Asian region. It is also a hub for aviation in Bangkok.

Suvarnabhumi Airport was originally chartered with limited domestic flight services. However, it soon started expanding to add more domestic and international flights. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is currently the important hub for Thai Smile Airways, Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways. The airport basically serves as a regional gateway to several foreign carriers too. It has been recorded to be the 17th busiest airport in the world and 11 busiest in Asia. The airport has the capacity to accommodate about 60 million passengers in a year. There are over 95 airlines that operate from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.

About Airport Terminals

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport has three terminals in total. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are responsible for operations of international flights. Meanwhile, Terminal 3 is focussed on domestic flights to cater to connectivity in Thailand. The two terminals are located right next to each other while the domestic terminal or Terminal3 is 500 meters away from Terminal 2. The distance between the terminals is not massive. The proximity often makes it confusing. The departure and arrival zones in the international terminals have dedicated immigration counters as well as check-in and baggage to make it easy for the travellers. The terminal's roof has been designed aesthetically with the use of structural elements and bays that have been placed in cantilevered wavelike forms. The airport is capable of accommodating an Airbus A380. There are two parallel runways at the airport with a total of about 120 parking bays for flights. The passenger terminal is recorded to capacitate about 76 flight operations every hour. An underground rail link station has also been constructed to connect the terminal with the city centre. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport's terminal passenger terminal is famed for being the fourth-biggest building in the world, following Hong Kong International Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport and Dubai International Airport.

About Airport Authority

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is funded and operated by the Airports of Thailand Public Company Ltd. (AOT). The airport's body is responsible for six international airport ventures in Thailand. Four more airports have been added recently under its wing. The statutory body received recognition as one of the most valuable airport operators across the globe. The organization was established in 2002 after a consortium between private firms and the state-owned Airports Authority of Thailand. The Thailand government holds a higher share in the consortium with about 70 per cent stock. The Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is the most profitable venture for the airport's authority with passenger statistics of about 63,379,077, as recorded in the year 2018. Over the years, the airport management has done a phenomenal job of efficient connection of the international airport with the city centre. They have also worked towards fixing some of the pressing matters to bolster the functions and efficiency of the airport in terms of safety and connectivity.

Top airlines flying from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

The demand for Bangkok in India as a tourist destination is quite high. Hence, there are several Indian airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport as well. In fact, the first flight to fly to the Bangkok Airport was a Lufthansa Cargo which took off from Mumbai. Some of the Indian airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport include Air India, GoAir, IndiGo and Vistara. They have direct connectivity and fly on a regular basis. Airlines such as Thai Airways and Thai Smile, which predominantly operate from Suvarnabhumi Airport also have direct services to Indian cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi Ahmedabad, Chennai, to name a few.

As an international tourist destination, the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport also sees much air traffic from international flights. Some of the prominent airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport include Air Astana, Air China, Air France, Air Macau, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Bangkok Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Cambodia Airways, China Airlines, Druk Air, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Finnair, Garuda Indonesia, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, Jetstar Asia Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airways, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Nepal Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Swiss, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways, Vietnam Airlines and Ural Airlines. These airlines cater to various parts of the world and have impeccable connectivity. There are reservations for cargo flights to function from the Suvarnabhumi Airport. They are Lufthansa Cargo, Cathay Pacific Cargo, DHL Aviation and Singapore Airlines Cargo.

Facilities at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

ATMs and currency exchange - There are foreign exchange booths and ATM kiosks available at the airport. You can withdraw money or exchange to local currency to make your trip convenient.

Baggage - Baggage services are available with plastic wrapping and porter services. You can also find trolleys at regular intervals.

Internet and communication kiosks - There are internet kiosks that have established at the airport. You can get your work done while you wait for boarding. There are telecom desks where you can purchase local mobile SIM numbers to avail WiFi. Postal services are also available.

Restaurants and cafes - There are many food establishments and restaurants at the airport's terminals. The departure zone has a slew of joints, including ones with liquor and coffee.

Medical care - Medical rooms and pharmacies have been installed at regular intervals. You can make last-minute purchases of prescribed medicine, or you can get necessary tablets or toiletries.

Prayer rooms - Devoted prayer rooms and multi-faith corners have been established at all terminals. There are monks' reception rooms also available at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Transit hotels - To make the passenger's experience at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport good, they have also installed an in-transit hotel. You can check-in for the few hours you need to wait and even rest as much as you can.

Spa and massage - The airport is blessed with good serviced spas and massage parlours. For in-transit passengers who need to take a second flight or who need to wait due to layovers, can avail this service.

Smoking zones - There are dedicated smoking lounges in the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. These are available at all the terminals' departures and arrivals. You can even purchase boxes in case you need it for the time being.

Special assistance – The airport also has professionals who cater to the special needs of passengers who fall under the category of senior citizens, expecting mothers and physically disabled. The professionals have been trained to help out the individuals by enabling a smooth transition of their check-in and boarding processes.

How to reach Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

By Bus and car rentals

The Airport Shuttle bus operating from the city is another efficient way to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. These buses have a direct connection to the airport from within the city, making travel cheaper and easier. Along with the buses, you can always book a ride to the airport too. There are five routes from the airport that have a direct connection with the Bangkok Airport. These routes connect from Bangkok's downtown as well as Chonburi Province, connections from North Bangkok and Bang Na Bang Pakong which stands at the South. The main entrance to the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport though is at the Samut Prakan Province. There are elevated highways and flyovers which need to be used to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. You can find a car and rental booking booths at the airport's arrival segment. Even the entrance to the airport has a dedicated taxi counter where you can book your ride to the city.

By Airport Rail Link

One of the best ways to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport opened in 2010 after much delay but has since managed to receive good passenger traffic. Called the Airport Rail Link (ARL), the rail is operated by SRTET which is a subsidiary of the State Railway of Thailand. The long 28.6 km gauge line runs at an elevation for most of its length. The link directly connects to the passenger terminal building off the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. The rail services start at 6:00 in the morning till 24:00. There are two interchange stations called Phaya Thai and Makkasan which run on different lines, also available. The future plans to expand the airport is also in talks where the Airport Rail Link plans to merge and complement the SRT Red Line commuter service. This way, you wouldn't need to change the metro links to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.