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 China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited or famously called China Eastern is a Chinese airline which has its headquarters located in China Eastern Airlines Building, within the premise of Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Changing District in Shanghai. The airline is one of the top three in China with operations to a slew of domestic routes, international routes and a handful of regional routes too. China Eastern Airlines is the second-largest airline in the country with respect to the number of passengers carried. The airline follows China Southern Airlines as a top airline in China. China Eastern Airlines is a subsidiary of Shanghai Airlines which became the 14th airline to join the SkyTeam airline alliance, in 2011. The airline's parent company is China Eastern Air Holding Company. It was founded in 1988 by the Civil Aviation Administration of China Huadong Administration. Following the unprofitable China General Aviation in 1997, China Eastern Airlines took over the operations and put up the company shares for grabs on the international market, making it the first in the country.
In 2001, the airline wholly acquired a few airlines such as Great Wall Airlines, China Northwest Airlines and China Yunnan Airlines under its wing to form the China Eastern Airlines in 2003 eventually. The government of China holds a massive stake in the airline with a whopping 61.64 per cent of shares while the other shares are owned publicly. In 2006, the airline received more attention from foreign investors as a report of Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines and Emirates eyeing to invest in China Eastern Airlines were confirmed. A final agreement regarding the same was signed in 2007, and a combined 24 per cent of shares were purchased with Singapore Airlines holding 15.73 per cent and Temasek Holdings to acquire 8.27 per cent of shares. Although Cathay Pacific did plan on quashing Singapore Airlines' expansion plans in China but eventually, they opted out of it. In 2009, China Eastern Airlines announced that they would be merging with Shanghai Airlines. One of the main reasons for this move was to reduce the excess competition prevalent in the zone and at the same time, to consolidate Shanghai's status as an international hub in China.
While retaining its brand name and livery, Shanghai Airlines became a wholly-owned and operated subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines in 2010. Later the same year, China Eastern Airlines also acquired China United Airlines to enhance its expansion plans. A joint consortium between China Eastern Airlines and Qantas Group to commence a new low-cost airline, Jetstar Hong Kong, with a base at Hong Kong International Airport was proposed. However, following some issues including a rejection from the Hong Kong authority to issue an operating license, the plan didn't take off. In 2012, the airline received the title accolade Gold Ting Award, at the China Capital Market Annual Conference 2012 as one of the most valuable Chinese brands. It was also acknowledged in the top ten rankings of FORTUNE China in 2013. In 2020, the airline introduced OTT Airlines (One Two Three Airlines) as a subsidiary with a view to operating domestic-manufactured aircraft, including Comac C919 and Comic ARJ21, specifically in the Yangtze Delta region, along with business jet operations.
Fleet size of China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern Airlines' current fleet size is a whopping 566 with 150 more aircraft that are in order. As one of the major airlines in China, China Eastern Airlines holds an abundant fleet to ensure that the operations for both international routes and domestic routes are conducted without any hassle. The airline presently holds a fleet that comprises of Airbus A319-100, Airbus A320-200, Airbus A320neo, Airbus A330-200, Airbus A330-300, Airbus A350-900, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737 MAX 8, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 787-9, Comac C919 and Comac ARJ21-700. It was the first Chinese airline to order for an Airbus, a European aircraft-manufacturing enterprise. China Eastern Airlines' most important aircraft are all variants from the Airbus family with special emphasis on the services of the A320 series. They are predominantly used for domestic route services. In 2005, the airline announced that it would be placing an order for 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. However, they cancelled the order, owing to the continuous and massive delays faced. Instead, they swapped the 787 order to Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft. In 2011, the airline placed an order for fifteen Airbus A330s while in 2012, they placed an order for 20 Boeing 777-300ERs. China Eastern Airlines received its first Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in 2014.
Baggage Allowance
China Eastern Airlines has 'free checked baggage along with ticket' type of baggage allowance model. The airline basically reserves a specific number of baggage allowance along with the ticket for passengers. This varies depending on the domestic route and international route transit of passengers. According to the airline, passengers who are travelling from the regional and domestic routes are allowed to carry a baggage weight of up to 40 kg. Meanwhile, the baggage allowance for business class and economy class stands at 30 kg and 20 kg respectively. With respect to the baggage piece concept, China Eastern Airlines allows passengers flying from first class to carry around three bags which can weigh no more than 32 kg each. As for the business class, super economy class and economy class, the airline allows passengers to carry two pieces of baggage that should not weigh more than 32 kg. Additional baggage can be purchased at the airport's check-in counter or on their official website. The added tariff is usually levied depending on the extra weight per kg.
In-flight services
China Eastern Airlines, with its illustrious fleet, has ensured to provide the best of in-flight services to its passengers. In fact, they have made some significant upgrades with their seats and in-flight services and facilities. Not just that the seats are comfortable but even other services such as impeccable in-flight meals, amenities like personalised entertainment systems, provision of pillows, toiletry kits, earplugs, eye masks and more, have made it quite the memorable experience for passengers.
Popular routes and top cities for China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern Airlines holds a prominent presence in the continents of Asia, North America and Australia. With an increase in its flight frequencies from Shanghai, the airline has managed to become the household name for all domestic route connectivity. Further, they plan to enhance their reach in the international route destinations too by increasing flight frequencies. In 2016, the airline launched non-stop direct routes flights to destinations such as Prague, St. Petersburg, Amsterdam and Madrid, from Shanghai. The domestic route destinations that China Eastern Airlines covers are Altay, Anqing, Baise, Baoshan, Bangkok, Baotou, Bole, Changchun, Changzhou, Chengdu, Chifeng, Changde, Dailan, Daqing, Dazhou, Enshi, Fukuoka, Guilin, Hangzhou, Jinan, Karamay, Korla, Lanzhou, Liuzhou, Mangshi, Nanchang, Ningbo, Quanzhou, Sanya, Shenzhen, Shiyan, Tangshan, Turpan, Wuhanm Wuxi, Xi'an, Yinchuan, Zhengzhou and Zhuhai, to name a few. As for international routes, some of the top cities that China Eastern Airlines operates in include Auckland, Bangkok, Chicago, Clark, Colombo, Delhi, Denpasar, Frankfurt, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Jeju, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles, London, Madrid, Melbourne, Moscow, Nagoya, New York City, Ngari, Paris, Rome, San Francisco, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo (Narita and Haneda), Vancouver, Toronto and Yangon, and more.
Why travel by China Eastern Airlines?
China Eastern Airlines is the perfect and ideal airline to pick if a traveller needs to explore the domestic route destinations of China. The airline has expanded its domestic routes tremendously in the past few years and even acquired a series of competitors to ensure that they have a certain quasi-monopoly in the market. This has only extended its domestic route wing to be more attractive and convenient for travellers. Further, they have also extended much of their international routes with the severe competition with Singapore Airlines and even Cathay Pacific. Unfazed by any of the challenges, the airline has worked towards adding more destinations that would get them more passengers.
While the connectivity of China Eastern Airlines is worth mentioning, their fleet is just as amazing. China Eastern Airlines has ensured to provide the best services to its customers, and they are utilising their strong fleet with upgraded facilities for the same. This has enhanced China Eastern Airlines' in-flight services and other facilities too.
Adding to its perks, the airline has also brought in better services with respect to the administration-related chores. China Eastern Airlines has introduced web check-in services along with flight status updates on the website. Along with this, China Eastern Airlines' flight schedules have also been shared on its website. Passengers can receive an updated list on their website as well as the mobile app. Further, travellers can also book a China Eastern Airlines flight ticket online as they have a presence on all travel portals and their website. The airline has ensured to share baggage allowance details once the flight ticket has been booked as it will help them plan accordingly. With such good upgrades, China Eastern Airlines easily becomes the best airline to opt for, especially when travelling to China.
