Mumbai30 Nov 23 1 Traveller Economy
Showing International Flight from Phuket
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 Air Astana
Air Astana is the official flag carrier of Kazakhstan which is based out of the capital, Almaty. The airline operates scheduled passenger domestic and international flights. Overall, Air Astana caters to about 64 domestic routes and international routes from its main hub, Almaty International Airport. Its secondary hub is Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport in the Akmola Region of Kazakhstan. The airline is originally a joint venture between the sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna of Kazakhstan and the British multinational, BAE Systems plc. While the wealth fund holds a major stake of 51 per cent in the airline, the remaining 49 per cent of stakes are held by BAE Systems plc. The airline came into existence in 2001 with commercial flight services commencing in 2002. Originally, the airline was conceived for purely domestic route services. However, with BAE Systems' involvement, the airline agreed to participate in a proposed start-up, as requested by the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev. The idea behind acquiring an airline start-up was to facilitate an air-radar contract which was being negotiated by the government.
Sir Richard Evans of the BAE Systems played a key role in finalising the deal with the state. Things didn't materialise the way the British-owned organisation planned and eventually, with subsequent changes in the management and closure of BAE Systems in Kazakhstan, the airline was left with no big stakeholders. Despite the lack of support faced by Air Astana, the airline did take off. The airline's first president and former executive of British Airways, Llyod Paxton took charge. They leased three Boeing 737s from the International Lease Finance Corporation to commence commercial operations of Air Astana in 2002. The following year, the airline acquired Fokker 50s on lease from Aircraft Finance Trading BV along with three Boeing 757s from Pegasus Leasing Corp. The same year, the airline declared a net profit keeping operations of its full year in consideration. With the shutdown of the country's national flag carrier Air Kazakhstan in 2004, Air Astana's operations expanded as its domestic route network along with important international routes were also enhanced. The airline started operations to routes such as Dubai, Moscow, Istanbul, Beijing and later added London and Frankfurt.
The airline did face tremendous challenges within the management as there were disagreements over fleet expansion plans as well as hub strategy. The shareholders and the management were in disagreement regarding these subjects, and it eventually led to a change in the management in 2005. Peter Foster, who made quite a name for himself as a former executive of Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways was roped in to be Air Astana's president in the same year. These changes didn't affect the airline's profitability as it consistently showcased profits and even found itself on the global list of the top 20 most profitable airlines with respect to the net margin. In fact, it was recognised for three consecutive years from 2010 to 2012. Up until 2016, Air Astana was known to be the only airline from Kazakhstan that was allowed to fly to the European Union. In today's time, Air Astana's fleet is recognised as the youngest in the European Union as it consists of about 30 aircraft acquired from Western manufacturers. The airline further restructured its fleet by replacing their old Airbus A320s and Boeing 767s. The airline does have the vision to expand its fleet size to 43 by 2020.
Fleet size of Air Astana
Air Astana's fleet size stands at 32 with an additional 20 aircraft yet to be delivered. Currently, the airline boasts a fleet that has a majority of aircraft from the Airbus and Boeing family along with Embraer. The aircraft in service are two Airbus A320200s, four Airbus A320neos, two Airbus A321-200s, two Airbus A321LRs, four Airbus A321neos, four Boeing 757-200s, three Boeing 767-300ER, six Embraer 190s and five Embraer 190-ERs. The airline is expecting its first Boeing 787-8, three of which are in order and expected to be delivered between 2019 and 2023. Simultaneously, Air Astana's fleet will also see additional Airbus A320neosm Airbus A321LRs, Airbus A321neos and one Embraer 190-E2. The airline is expected to receive its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner which would be used to commence operations to the United States of America. In 2018, after replacing much of its Airbus A320-dominated fleet, the airline received its first Airbus A320neos. The same year, the airline commenced the use of the aircraft to cater to some of the post-Soviet countries. The airline also received its second Airbus A321neo while the fleet's Embraer 190-E2 were replenished to carry flights to post-Soviet countries.
Baggage Allowance
Baggage allowance on Air Astana is quite strict as the airlines refuse to accommodate baggage that exceeds the limit stated. The maximum weight of checked baggage as allowed by the airline is 32 kg. Passengers who arrive at the airport with baggage weight exceeding the mentioned number will be asked to repack and re-accommodate their items to fit the weight allocation. In case you do wish to purchase additional baggage from the airline, prior bookings need to be made and for the airline to be informed about the same. The free baggage entitlement comes with the type of ticket that the passenger has purchased. Based on the ticket type, the passenger will be allowed to carry extra weighing baggage. The dimension for the checked baggage should not exceed 158 cm, a globally recognised measurement. As for cabin baggage, the airline allows the maximum weight to be no more than 8 kg. While the weight rule applies to business and economy class, the passengers of the premium cabin class can carry two baggage instead of one. The dimension for the hand baggage should not exceed 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm.
In-flight services
Air Astana's in-flight services have tremendously improved over the years. Since its inception, there have been some massive changes and upgradations with respect to their in-flight services ranging from their phenomenal cabin class setting, the seating configuration and their in-flight meal services. Passengers can book the meals ahead of the journey or order meals onboard. The airline also offers entertainment systems that have been attached to all the seats for long-haul flights.
Popular routes and top cities for Air Astana
Air Astana caters to 64 routes in total out of which the number of destinations in the neighbouring Central Asian and Russian countries has better connectivity. From 2009, the airline launched flights to cater to routes of Baku, Bishkek, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk and Tashkent, with a view to catering to nearby top destinations. Air Astana further expanded its international routes by going down south and starting flights to Delhi, Beijing, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Hong Kong, to name a few. The airline also launched services to connect to Frankfurt and Seoul from Kazakhstan's Nur-Sultan Airport. The airline's top cities are Baku, Beijing, Paris, Tbilisi, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Amsterdam, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Omsk, Seoul, Bangkok, Istanbul, Kyiv, Dubai, London and Tashkent, to name a few. It's domestic route connectivity to cities namely Almaty, Aktau, Atyrau, Kostanay, Nur-Sultan, Oral, Oskemen, Shymkent and Aktobe. Currently, Air Astana has codeshare agreements with a few airlines namely Air France, Bangkok Airways, KLM, S7 Airlines, Air India, Cathay Pacific, LOT Polish Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa and Ukraine International Airlines. Further, the airline has signed interline agreements with a bunch of airlines including Aeroflot, All Nippon Airways, Korean Air, EgyptAir, British Airways, Thai Airways International, Qatar Airways and Qantas Airways, to name a few.
Why travel by Air Astana?
Air Astana has flourished as an airline in a very short span of time. With strong leadership and expansion strategies, the airline has managed to become one of the most sought-after ones to be opted by passengers in Kazakhstan. In terms of connectivity, Air Astana is perfectly in sync with some of the top cities within the country. Not just its domestic route expansion but the airline has worked towards extending its international route to accommodate more cities. Currently, the airline has a limited number of international destinations, but they do intend to change that soon. The positive here is that the airline has many codeshare agreements which help Air Astana extend its connectivity.
Apart from the good flight connectivity, the in-flight services and facilities provided by the airline are just as good. They have recently enabled web check-ins for passengers travelling by Air Astana. Travellers can sign up on the website and do web check-ins to skip the long queues at the airport. Further, the airline's website is also equipped with other updates regarding the flights such as flight status and flight schedules that can be found on the website. Prospective travellers can book an Air Astana flight ticket on their website too. There are some amazing deals that can be availed with respect to baggage allowance and in-flight services that come with booking an Air Astana flight online. Basically, travelling by Air Astana is quite an affordable and convenient deal.
